Highs & lows

Yesterday was high - sort of and today is low - sort of. It's odd how good feelings can be torpedoed by small things.  It was such a nice day yesterday.  A fun run, good food being prepped, my grandkids over and helping out, my son and daughter expected.  Eight seats at the table - all expected to be filled.  Then my phone started making text message beeps - no daughter - headache. Son's friend went elsewhere.  Another was delayed at someone else's dinner.  From 8 to 5 and just as the expected family and friends faded from the table, as I removed each place setting, my mood sank a bit.

A beautiful day today.  An easy day of work - a mixed blessing.  I'd rather be slammed, but it was nice to cruise through the deliveries.  Went to the post office to pick up the mail.  There were many account payments and one bank envelope.  My mood was so high with the payments.  Then, I ripped open the bank letter and discovered someone had put a stop payment on a $4,000 check - ACK!!!  From high to low in the rip of an envelope.  No reason, not able to reach the customer - sigh . . . . 

We work hard.  Our mark up is small.  We put in lots of hours.  I'm having a hard time seeing the sunny side of this.

I'm thankful!

To be alive in this wonderful world - 

To be a part of this kind community - 

To see the such interesting things - and not have to fill this basket!

Thank you!

Pots of gold

Thanksgiving is the warmest, kindest holiday of the year.  All you need is a warm heart and a bit of gratitude and you've got a great day.  You don't have spend tons of money.  You don't have to be a great cook.  

Food for the day can span the range from gourmet to kitsch and tradition to new.  My table will probably feature a bit of all.  My only hope is that everyone finds a nibble that they enjoy.  

Once, I tried that Martha Stewart - magazine perfect - holiday table.  I borrowed my mom's family china.  I polished silver.  I purchased glassware worthy of the settings.  I fretted over tablecloths, centerpieces, side dishes, seating arrangements.  Everything looked great and I think my family and guests had a nice time - except for the argument that broke out between two sister-in-laws - one from each side of the family.  

This was not my favorite Thanksgiving.  I learned that paper plates are just as fabulous as china.  What makes the dinner is a friendly and grateful heart. Be it hamburger or turkey - what makes the day is a warm heart.

My thanksgiving prayer - that all my friends and family new and old, near and far find warmth, love, acceptance, and grace in their day today, tomorrow and always.  I am grateful for your kind presence in my life.  I pray you know you are a cherished blessing. I am so thankful for you. Amen.

This rainbow appeared outside our plant yesterday.  It was huge!

Blooming - I hope

Most of my life I haven't paid much attention to my personal style.  I have never really knew how to find style.  I know what comfort is.  I know how to dress for work.  In between the two, I think style lives.  

Recently I found a great website/blog that has given me hope.  My ambition is to follow in the footsteps of these beautiful women.  My innate style is "old hippie."  But I think I can polish this into some Advanced Style like HERE. and be seedy no more.

delays

I sat down to write about 2 hours ago.  I had a glimmer of a topic.  The phone started ringing.  The text messages started going off - I got way way off track. I have no idea what I was going to write about - those senior moments again.

I've been doing those online memory games - and it says my memory is getting better, but at times like this, I don't think so.  I think what my memory needs is just to slow life down.  If we could take things - one day - one hour - one minute at a time, my memory would come back.  If I could throw in a half day retreat - I'd probably not only get my memory, but maybe my mental health too.  Now, for a whole day off - I probably would drop 50 points on my high cholesterol, get over my insomnia lose those extra 20 lbs and become a practically perfect person - like Mary Poppins.  A truly worthy goal!

Photos of the mind.

This morning I walked just after the rain ended.  It was magical seeing the fresh washed world.  Fading rose canes arched across a fence and diamonds of rain drops followed each branch.  I stopped to take a picture with my cellphone.  I was reminded that some of the most amazing pictures in my life were only captured on the camera of my memory.  

I remember seeing trees gowned in crystal after a sudden hard frost when someone left their sprinklers on.  Backpacking in the Sierras we rounded a bend and a small perfect blue lake was surrounded my pink granite boulders and bright green pine trees.  I remember the look of wonder and trust in the eyes of my newborn.  All are vivid photos - but non captured on film.

Cellphones are miracles of capturing now - but memories are forever.

Climbing to achievement

Are we anointed or do we promote ourselves to pinnacles of being and achievement?  Most of my life I've waited around for someone to tell me I was able and good enough.  Now I wonder of those who do, achieve because they anoint them self with the desire to achieve.  For example, there are thousands of good football receivers.  There is one Jerry Rice.  Did Jerry Rice become a great receiver because he wanted to be great, or because a coach told him he could be great. 

If I want to be a great painter, I need to paint.  I need to learn about color.  I need to study the world around me and how the forms and colors flow.  The same if I want to be a singer, chef, gardener, or detective.  I need to look deep within myself.  I need to face down my fear of failure.  I need to feel the surge of creative power. I need to just go for it and believe in myself.

If I have the desire, the results will follow.  That is what I have come to believe.