Signs, Signs: Friends

When I came across this sign in a shop, I laughed out loud. 

I know I have good friends, and others who are true indeed, but clearly I am lacking in rowdy friends.

Luckily,  I do have my husband, (partner-in-crime and chief instigator), who absolutely gets the sentiment in this statement.

We have often said, "Damn...that was fun!", occasionally in situations it might have been wiser to avoid. (A few things come to mind.)

So far, we have managed to stay out of prison.

Some might say that's because we've been extremely lucky, if not always especially smart.

Now that we're senior citizens, it's undoubtedly time to settle down. I'll try to remember that next time we go on a road trip...:)

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I'm linking up to Signs, Signs today. Do pop by to see other signs from around the world...

http://signs2.blogspot.ca/

In Aunt Helen's House

In Aunt Helen’s house, time seemed to pause in its endless journey, as if lulled into forgetting its usual sense of urgency.

Pale afternoon sun would arc across warm, wood floors and come to rest in the folds of a cardigan draped loosely over a chair. Logs would crackle gently in the  fire, filling the air with a familiarity that declared this was home.

The first thing one noticed about Helen was that each and every day of life was an adventure, a cause to exclaim, “Well, isn’t life wonderful”.

 At ninety-seven, she still  lived alone, yet she never had to fear feeling lonely. Family and friends, (of the two-legged and four-legged kind) dropped by daily to soak up the atmosphere of contentment in a life well-lived that Helen and her surroundings exuded. There was always a bracing drink for the humans and cheese and biscuits for the many dogs embraced as loving friends now that her days of pet ownership were behind her.

 

 With time, she weakened and could no longer get around as well as before...but she still missed little and continued to greet each day with anticipation.

 From her wing chair by the fire, Helen would tilt eagerly toward visitors. “Now tell me what you did today, dear,” she’d encourage us, her interest genuine, her focus centered on the response.   

When questioned about her own day, she’d beam widely and talk about the history article she’s just read, or give us her take on the latest news story. 


Of course, conversations inevitably came back to the widespread family she adored. It was clear we were all of us cherished.

 Helen’s life is the standard by which I’ve begun to gauge my own journey. I may or may not manage to write the book I’ve talked about for years, or finish getting my Fine Arts degree. Other interests may prevail, obstacles will no doubt demand my time and attention. 


But if I live each day to its fullest, and find joy in every one of them, as she did, I will be content. 

To the best of my ability, I want to be present in each moment , and if I’m fortunate enough to share my days with the people and animals I love, then I too will be able to say, “Isn’t life wonderful!”

We lost our beloved matriarch this weekend, when her tired body gave up the fight and led her to Heaven,  but we will forever bask in the light of grace that blessed those of us fortunate enough to be taken into her boundless heart.

Now it is in our hearts that she will rest with us always.

We loved you immeasurably, Helen. We will always remember your kindness, your generosity of spirit and your capacity to wring the best out of each day even when it seemed impossible. 

We will do our best to embrace life with the same vigour you did, and when we meet again, it will be to sit once more by a crackling fire and exchange the stories of our lives...

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White Rock Skies and Reflections

We are blessed to have lived near the hamlet of White Rock in B.C. for over thirty years, yet each time we walk on the pier or meander alongside the railroad tracks, I find myself charmed by it all over again...

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 My favourite time to visit is late afternoon, when the crowds thin out as people head home to cozy up by the fire after their wind-swept walks.

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We've had an inclement spring so far in our part of the world, with more rain than usual and very cool days.  Disliking the heat, this has been perfect for me...more importantly, I love that the lingering clouds we seem unable to escape provide endless photo ops.

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I was very glad I'd thrown my camera in the trunk for this recent visit, as was my husband...I've been known to whine horribly when glorious sunsets appear before me and I have only my eyes with which to record them!

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 I recently met two of my favourite blogging friends here for afternoon tea and had a splendid visit with them. Longtime lovers of White Rock, Kay and Penelope are only too familiar with the radiance that so often paints the sea and sky with a light that's almost magical. I took these shots with them in mind...I know they will nod in recognition upon seeing them and say, "Ah yes...that's our wonderful beach".

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I am participating in two memes today, and you might like to check out these sites...

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Weekend Reflections...

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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

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Skywatch Friday...

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http://skyley.blogspot.com/

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And if you get a chance, drop over and visit

Kay @
http://unfittie.blogspot.com/

and Penelope @

http://penelopepuddle.blogspot.com/

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I know they will make you feel right at home...:)

Succinctly Yours

In this age of technology and online chats, it remains a special joy to plop into a comfy chair and visit a friend in person….

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Sit awhile, dear one…

tell me what moves your heart and

what can make you cry.

Two souls with voices

mingled in both joy and tears,

meeting face to face.

Sit just a while…

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Photo courtesy of Grandma's Goulash

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With Susan at Microfiction Monday on a well-deserved break, Grandma’s Goulash generously invites us to Succinctly Yours, a meme that supplies a photo prompt and bids us tell a story around it in 140 characters or words. A further challenge is offered with a word prompt to work into the piece. Though I did not use today’s word, I offer this 140-character piece. Check out the link below for more fun writes…

http://grandmas-goulash.info/category/succinctly-yours/

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Friday Blessings

In spite of the problems and setbacks that mark our lives in these busy times, we have much to be grateful for. Too often, our appreciation is overshadowed by fear and doubt…we forget the wonders each day unfailingly presents to us in ways both large and small. I am making Friday a special day to count my blessings. Here are three things I am especially grateful for this week:
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1) A good friend: My longtime pal, and poet, Sherry Blue Sky, surprised me with a glorious box of treasures yesterday. It overflowed with books and cows, incense and soap, and a few very special Yorkie treats. We lost our beloved girl, Angel, not too long ago, though we will carry her in our hearts forever. Sherry was able to find a frame that read, ‘Little Angel’ and download a picture of our Angel to put into the frame. This is a friend who knows me heart and soul. For her presence in my life, I will always be grateful.

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2) A good dog: My little Schnoodle, Meeghan, is a furry ball of pure love! Her eyes shine with it every time she looks at me…we are devoted to each other. Everyone’s life is enriched by having animal friends, and I know I have hit the jackpot!

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1) A good book: Few things feed one’s inner fire like a book that inspires and challenges us. As a continent dear to my heart, I read much about Africa, especially where it concerns her children. Melissa Fay Greene has written a brilliant book about Haregewoin Teferra, an Ethiopian widow who runs an unofficial orphanage for children left alone by the AIDS pandemic. It is not a comfortable read, but it is an important one. One small woman is making a huge difference in the world. What might we do?

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A good friend, a good dog and a good book…life is a blessing indeed!
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What are you grateful for?

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I offer a few links to explore..my other blog has travel pics of Africa and an essay on AIDS orphans: http://theimaginativetraveler.blogspot.com/

Sherry Blue Sky's poetry/memoir site is definitely worth a visit:
http://stardreamingwithsherrybluesky.blogspot.com/

Pixie, of 'Pixie's Pages', has a fun blog: http://pixiepages.blogspot.com/

And she offered a link to Rachel who posts a Happy List that inspired me to try my own take on the idea: http://blackeiffel.blogspot.com/

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Thanks to all you ladies for making blogland a magical place to visit!
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My Sister...My Friend

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When I was twenty, our mother announced she was expecting a baby. My brother Martin, three years older than me and living on his own, was as surprised as I was by this news. In her forty-second year, Mum seemed to us decidedly middle-aged. She smoked to excess, loved her nip of rye, and played bingo four nights a week to get out of the house. In the colourful sixties, while I sported mini skirts and disco boots, Mum wore prim wool suits with stockings to work, and still pined for the extended family we’d left behind in Ireland. It was almost impossible for us to picture her pregnant.
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Ours had rarely been a happy home. My parents fought loudly and often, alternately going weeks at a time when they would not speak to each other at all. Timid and amenable, I was groomed early as the go-between. “Tell you father he can get his own dinner tonight” was a common message I got to relay, being then expected to carry back his profane response, rephrased in words I was allowed to use. Alone in Canada without family or support system, the four of us stumbled in chaos through the years, each hurting in ways large and small, yet knowing no other way of life.
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The birth of my sweet and lovely sister changed the family dynamic forever. Joyous event that this was, it could not, of course, fix our life of discord. With time, the rift between our parents became irreparable. When Nikki was four, Dad moved out of town, Mum became seriously ill, and Nikki came home with my husband and I. She was to stay on with us until she was finished school and ready to tackle life on her own terms. With my first child only three weeks old, I became the instant mother of two.
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I loved my new sister from the moment I set eyes on her tiny face. Folding her into our little family when my parents could no longer raise her was the natural thing for us to do, and something we have never regretted for a minute. In the years that followed, there were both good times and bad, but I may leave that story for another day.
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Suffice it to say, we sisters have been many things to each other over four decades, and I am most pleased to say that we are friends. For my birthday this year, she bought me the little figurine pictured above. It is by artist Susan Lordi, and is titled ‘Happiness’. The descriptive blurb about it reads, ‘FREE to sing, laugh, dance…create!’ Nikki said that as soon as she saw it, she knew it was meant for me!
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I adore the little figurine with her arms spread wide open to the world, but even more, I’m touched that my sister ‘gets’ me, as I ‘get’ her. We are sisters and friends…lucky to be alive on this beautiful earth, and even luckier to be sharing it with each other.
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I love you, Nik…

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Mad Tea Party!

Welcome to Imagination Lane!

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Few things are better for the soul than afternoon tea. Pretty dishes filled with creamy treats..the alluring scent of Earl Grey tea..the company of friends who have gracefully accepted you invitation to drop by..all are treasures guaranteed to slow the day to a restful pace and highlight the many blessings in your life.
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When I saw that Vanessa Valencia was hosting a Mad Tea Party, I knew I had to be part of it. I had just discovered her blog, ' A Fanciful Twist' and was captivated by her style and imagination. It was clear this girl would know how to throw a great party!

My plan was set from the start. I have just starting playing with bears. While I haven't made any yet, I've dressed a few in style and have come to realize that bears need parties, too. So please join us for an afternoon with the Bear family...

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A special thank you goes out to Vanessa for so graciously inviting us all to tea. I definitely suggest a visit to her wonderful, whimsical blog!

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http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/