On The Road ( Again )

I had so forgotten the FUN I have had thru the years by just driving...

This past week - circumstance - fate - and perhaps a little bit of blind siding luck took me back out on the road.

Serendipitously - my son has recently become a long haul truck driver.

Was the Universe indicating their approval by allowing me another peek into this world I had so enjoyed and he was now entering?

Whatever the reason - there I was - climbing into the pre packed utility van on a dark and chilly pre dawn morning.

My travel mate - Peter - had already done some 50 miles just to pick me up at my door.

Caffeine in hand and armed with great fortitude and determination we headed out into the wild dark but soon to be blue yonder.

Laredo is a mid sized city on the Texan / Mexico boarder,

Our purpose was to deliver materials to the broker for an upcoming job the company is doing in Mexico City next month.

The round trip included almost 800 miles for the day.

No matter – I was up for the challenge.

In fact – I was looking forward to it!

There were the obligatory “pee stops” … the snacks breaks and of course the fueling up but for the most part we just drove right on thru.

Texas is “big” and the drive – which was primarily on the hwy – was laden with mostly long flat (and yes – sorry Texans) boring open spaces.

We amused ourselves with the radio … finding two stations that played older “pop” selections from the 70 and 80’s.

Down memory lane we compared the “where we were” and “what we were doing when” AFTER we competed for the honour of “who is the artist” and “what year was the hit” took place.

Ill just say it was a tie because most of the time we were just lost in the moments …

During the journey I ate too much “junk” food (especially the donut holes from Krispy Crème but Kat would never have forgiven me if I had not indulged), 

drank too many carbonated beverages (including a Red Bull which Peter later regretted ever having let me consume as I apparently went into “over drive”) and gave away too many secrets which I hope and pray will eventually be forgotten  … LOL.

All in all though – what a GREAT Day!   

Saturday Morning Bed Bug

It was a late night for us last night ... 
I dont think I actually drifted off to sleep until well after 1 am - but thats another story - TBC
It was such a pleasure to open my eyes to the sunshine this morning !
The wind was dancing up the lake creating white caps that - as they hit the shore - bounced off the bulk head
It truely is a magnificent site
You could hear the chatter of the birds as they all joined chorus to celebrate the arrival of the new day ...
The BEST part though was being snuggled up in the bed with my girls and Johnny 
THAT doesnt happen very often
I rose to put the coffee pot on and let the pups do their morning duties 
They too were elated to see the sun which has been absent for some time now 
If this were another place perhaps we all would not be so obsessed but here - in Texas - it is suppose to be "sunny" ( most of the time ) 
With all the cold temperatures and rain of late you would swear we were in Seattle or some such other " weather trodden" place
Anyway - with the dogs watered and fed and the morning beverage cups prepared - filled to the brim with love and affection - I toddled on back to bed where I was greeted with a warm smile and hug. 
As age has become us both we then reached in unison to our nightstand drawers and pulled out our weapons of choice - the spectacles which would allow us to engage in the coming event
Armed with our materials - he with a novel - 1984 to be exact - and I will my manuals - for I am preparing to take another certification ... we prepped the pillows and hunkered in for what would be one of the loveliest mornings we have spent TOGETHER in a long time 
You see - it isnt so much what you say but what you do - and more importantly - how you do it - especially when you are with the ones you profess to love 
Quality time - shared - separate - yet - only a touch and a breath away 
Small moments that last a lifetime 
Real 
Unforced
Simple yet filled with a genuine affection
Thats what was here in our bed this morning and I am so grateful and blessed to have been given the opportunity to have it 
One moment in time that will last an eternity.

The Pines DO Speak ...

Pines In Texas

I pulled up into the driveway

It was dark for I had forgotten to leave the porch light on when I had left earlier this morning

Actually - I wasnt anticipating getting home quite so late

No matter - the illumination from the moon was more than enough to get me to my destination safely

I turned off the car and reached across the console to gather my belongings

Stepping out of the car into the quiet of the night I noticed an old familiar smell ...

Taking a deep breath I looked up and watched the wind dance thru the trees.

Peering out through the clouds was the moon who would soon guide me up the path to the door.

For now though I just stood

Frozen in time between two places very different yet somehow much the same.

Where WAS I ?

Here - in Montgomery Texas where many strange twists of fate have brought me to a place I would never have been able to predict

Yet

I had traveled back in time ...

I was in the "Park"

I was standing on our street - Burns Avenue ...

I was SAFE !

The smell was the same ...

The branches reached out to embrace me

I could FEEL it

How could this be ?

Two places becoming one

Suddenly I awoke

My moment was gone

The pounding of my heart so strong I thought I was going to wake the neighbours up

I heard the dogs bark ...

Johnny drove up the road

I was back in Texas - in the here and now
( For now ... ) 

Pines In Lorne Park, Ontario, Canada
( taken on the path that led from my childhood home to the lake ) 

Love In Our Lives

As Ive gotten older I have come to realize that time is fleeting ...

Over the past few weeks that point was driven home and has become even more crystal clear

I dont want to waste whatever time I have left

I want to spend it with people I love - doing things I love ( or at least enjoy ) - and I want to make a difference ( hopefully in a positive way )

I dont know who or what is meant to be in my life but I do know I have the power to make the best of it

And in all this I believe the secret is love

I believe the way to recognize true love is to understand that it is in fact a verb - an action - manifested in and thru you

It seems to me to be when - from your position - someone or something elses interests trump and usurp your own

Love is when you sacrifice - only its not - because it is a selfless choice you gladly make

And in this action you find some of the most genuine satisfaction of your life

You have to recognize love when it comes into you life

You have to know it - see it - and go after it - recognizing that there is always a risk associated with it

There is no guarantee that who or what you love is going to love you back

And even if you find love - you always run the risk of loosing it

Nothing lasts forever ...

Life IS like a box of chocolates ... But Im talking Cherry Bowel here !

I'm packing AGAIN

And unpacking ...

Actually - at this moment - I'm really not sure which ?

Point is - I came across it - AGAIN

The bowel

Its tin ... with a hammered out pattern

If I were to guess - I would say it came out of the depression era - but I'm really not sure

We originally crossed paths in my Grandmother Lytle's summer home

It sat on a very distinctive table that also ended up in my parents home after her passing - though I am not sure what became of it after their separation ? ( I think my mother has it - which would mean my brother will end up with it )

Anyway - the bowl - which is the important part - to me - sat on this particular table as a centre piece

When she - my Grandmother Lytle - would take audience of us - her grandchildren - we were paraded in thru the back kitchen door - ushered quickly past the dining room and into the very large and expansive living room.

Now that I think back - I'm not sure if it was because I was so young or it was actually THAT Big but this room gave "Great Room" a whole new meaning

But back to the bowel ...

It was ALWAYS filled with cherries

This in and of itself may not seem significant to you but for me - a Canadian - raised in the cold, white North - where fruit was a delicacy - and being up in cottage country - in the 60's - when a trip to town and the local markets for food and beverage was a major production - well - cherries were at a premium

My cousin Tommy and I would eat SO many of them - ( cherries ) - that our lips would BE cherry red for days - not to mention what the other end of our body was emitting

But the bowl ...

For me - it signified - and still does - a strange and wonderful feeling of heritage - intermingled with transition - the sort you find in the passing of one generation to the next

When the bowl arrived at our family home in the Park my mother placed it in the centre of this very same table

You can only imagine my disappointment when I peered into the bowl only to find nuts - and not cherries

Now - in hind sight - it all makes perfectly good sense - and thru the years - I came to accept - and even appreciate the nuts

You see - cherries are temporal - and perish quite quickly - whilst nuts - which have a wider social appeal - and tend not to be seasonal - not to mention the fact that - given almost any gathering - can be dispersed quickly and efficiently - with half the mess and bother

When I acquired the bowel it came without the aforementioned table

You can imagine the mental gymnastics I went thru trying to find the perfect place and use for it ...

Eventually - it came to rest on my bureau top to be used as a catch all for various sundry bits and bops that come out of ones pockets at the end of the day

Later - it became a coin holder for all or loose change

When the trauma of my marriage demise ensued most of my family heir looms were delicately packed away for transport to unknown destinations

I'm not sure how or why the bowl has recently re surfaced ?

Most of my personal items are still in storage

But - for this - I am GLAD - and its CHERRY Season too !

Roots and Seeds

Surviving Mothers Day 

Another commercial occurrence that has gotten WAY out of hand ( my opinion ) 

Why do you need a "special" day to recognize your mother ? 

EVERY Day is Mothers Day !

Ok - so I stole that one from Joan Lunden - but its TRUE !

I always get weirded out by the celebration and this year was no different - actually - even worse

First - it was just days previous that my beloved daughter had been attacked by Pirates off the Coast of Somali 

TRUE that ! 

What a horrific feeling for a mother to know their child is in harms way and there is NOTHING they can do about it ( except pray - which I did profusely ) 

I had been in that place before when my son was diagnosed with a brain tumour 

Not "fun" 

No secret what that - and subsequent events - did to my life ! 

Anyway 

This year was especially emotional because - not only was I wrestling with all of the above aforementioned emotions but my mother - bless her soul - is battling Alzheimer's and - recently - has had a lot of challenges 

As it has happened before - I was reminded of the circle of life - and just how precious it can be  

IS 

Not to be too Carrie Bradshawish here but - the season finally of Greys Anatomy addressed this very same issue

I am AMAZED at the TRUTH in the "just stay in the moment" - "be real" - "make sure you tell those you care about how you feel" and "dont sweat the small stuff" ufanisms are ... 

I have been Blessed with my ROOTS and My Seeds

And for THIS I give Thanx to My Lord 

Amen - Amin - Ahay

Namaste

A Road Less Traveled and April Showers

Hoping for May flowers ... 

What a month !

It actually started in March when the rug was pulled out from under me ( again ) and all my dreams - life as I knew it - and what I thought I had been creating - was destroyed

When I finally came up for air I realized ALL things happen for a reason and I am better off not being subjected to all the negativity, lies and deceptions

Now - all that is left to do is rebuild - AGAIN 

Re establish

Pick up the pieces - set and be clear on my priorities - and move on

The key - as always - is to thy own self be TRUE 

AMEN 

Someone must think I have a BIG Plate because the shit just keeps being piled on ...

Trying to be and stay POSITIVE 

The glass is 1/2 empty and I am proud of it 

There is ALWAYS room for improvement 

I am SO Thankful for my health, my children and my friends - some of whom I did not even realize that I had 

Funny how when we are down on our knees - broken and humbled - perspectives become clear

GREAT "Reality Check" ( even if it is MY Reality )