Just a quick note to say hello and wish you well.
I have a “to do” list that is a mile long and keeps me running.
Even though I am busy with work, isolated from my friends and, worst of all, my family, I am still grateful. Continue reading “Hello there”
Today is my son’s birthday.
I could tell many stories about him but this is a favorite.
He joined a year-round swim team the summer he was 12. He suffered from asthma and was a wheezy, underweight kid. We thought it would be good for him. It turns out we were right. (Score one for the parents!) By the end of the summer his breathing was so much better and he was less dependent on his inhaler.
Also at the end of summer was his first meet and he was swimming a 500 for his team. This means swimming the length of the 25 yard pool 20 times. It is a marathon especially for a beginner.
His swimming was much better after taking lessons and practicing all summer. Even so, he was no match for kids who had been in the program since kindergarten.
The 500 started and the other kids literally swam laps around him and the event was over. The official told him he did not have to finish if he didn’t want to.
The other kids were finished but he decided to stay in the pool and finish the job.
The other kids and the parents all waited while this lone swimmer, this little skinny kid, swam back and forth to complete 20 laps. He finished.
He exited the pool to applause and cheers.
He didn’t win any medals that day. but he was a champion.
It is cold and raining in Portland tonight.
The end of a long and sweet day.
I was not sure how the day would be. I just wanted to get through it. Continue reading “Christmas Day 2020”
Most of my days are pretty peaceful.
They are predictable especially now during the pandemic.
My house stays clean and tidy because there are so few visitors.
That’s all coming to an end around mid-September. Continue reading “The end of my sanity”
Every evening, I bring in the nine cushions from my outdoor furniture.
It doesn’t take very long to bring them in and stack them on my dining room floor.
In the morning I take them out again so that I can enjoy my patio furniture during the day.
This is something new that I’ve started after prowlers began to visit in our neighborhood. I have a video clip of one guy pawing through my pillows and smelling them.
I don’t like bringing them in. Continue reading “Good ol’ Herbie”
Well, it seems Americans are in this mess for much longer than expected.
Most people I know are wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
But as with the proverial rotten apple…
It took awhile for it to sink in that life, as I have known and enjoyed it, will not return anytime soon.
The worst part is not seeing my two grandchildren ages 9 and 3.
I am glad that I was able to visit the 9-year old in February.
In fact, it was one of my best trips to Denver.
I last time I saw the 3-year old was at Thanksgiving in Alabama. I went for her Mother’s funeral and stayed a few weeks.
She and I video chat but it is not nearly enough.
There is so much that I took for granted such as the availability of flights back and forth to Denver and Alabama.
A long road ahead, but not a never ending road.
Walking down an alley, I saw this request on a neighbor’s backyard fence.
So, I complied.
I smiled and immediately felt better.
I felt a connection with my neighbor or whoever wrote this.
The neighborhood felt less lonely. Continue reading “So I did!”
Her Mother had just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
Treatment started right away. Continue reading “May 2017”
Give thanks for unknown blessings that are already on their way. ~Native American prayer
Blessings I know about.
The unknown blessings will be a joy unexpected.
