My Friend Died

My friend and pastor died yesterday.  My sister called and said Jane had been failing in the last few days and died during the night.  I really didn't want her to die before I could get back home to say goodbye.  You see, I left without saying goodbye.  I didn't know that she was so sick when I left and I was a bit confused about what was happening with her.  I knew she had complicated health issues, but never thought she was going to die from them. 

I was listening to others who were a bit disgruntled because she wasn't more accessible to us at the church.  Yet, when I visited with her I knew she was really suffering and couldn't do anything more. Now I miss knowing that she is there and telling her how much her firendship meant to me.

She was more than my pastor.  She was what fills the definition of a friend. She listened to my anguishing decisions I needed to make when I was in a dilemma about one of my kids. She shared in my enthusiasm  when I came in with the crazy schemes I had cooked up. She was never judgemental and never gave me a look to say I may be off my rocker to try my latest project.

I would share my theological opinions that were probably somewhat off center with the majority of views.  But, like my dad, she never made me feel I was wrong.  She just listenedand let me figure things out for myself.  We shared our concerns for and frustrations with the church.  We shared our political views which we knew meshed with our Christian views for responsible living.  We saw eye to eye on many things and it felt freeing to be able to express these views openly and without judgement.

Jane had a rough yet interesting life that led her to her deep faith in God.  Her faith made mine stronger.  Especially in how she died. She really knew what the next chapter of her life would be.

Bike Ride Today

This morning I rode my bike to Hernando on the trail, 12 miles round trip. Enough since I haven't been riding very regularly.  A woman at the Happy Hour said she has seen me out on my bike.  She said she wouldn't ride on a regular bike (that is not a recumbunt) if her life depended on it.  She said several of her friends have broken wrists, vertebraes and whatever falling off a trail bike.  I didn't tell her that I have ridden my bike all over Germany and the Netherlands and only fell once.  The only thing hurt was my pride and the cheap rain jacket I was wearing.

Of course I could live my life more cautiously, I suppose.  I've been told by friends that they would never ride in a kayak in the lakes and rivers around here either because of the gators.  Yeah, but then I would  miss out on a good time exploring and searching for the gators. It's pretty exciting when you see one swimming by.  What a shame that would be. 

Heck, if I listened to all the fear mongers I would never have gone overseas to teach for 12 years or traveled to the exciting locations I went to like Syria, Jordan, Israel or Turkey to name a few. Those trips really broaden my view of the world.

Yeah, I could live more cautiously like my friends.  They may live a few more years or be assured they won't die from a gator bite, but I'll have more fun.  At least in my view of life.

Happy Hour

Last evening we went to happy hour at the pool again.  We met some neighbors who were new to us, which is always great.  I don't know exactly where they live around here but their names are Gail and Tony.  They brought the most delicious stromboli, one sausage and one pepperoni flavored.  Tony does the cooking.  He is a retired cook for the Air Force Reserves and had a catering service for a while before retiring. He must be Italian to cook like that.  So we riddled him with questions about how to make it, since I had,  much less, never even tasted a stromboli before.

I was raving about the stromboli to Julie who hadn't had a chance to try it, because it ran out so fast.  Tony went all the way home, heated up someextra he had and brought it back just for her to try.  Nice guy, too.

I just think women who have husbands who love to cook are sooo lucky (alright, I admit I'm lucky to be married to Mr. Clean, too).  Men are the best, most adventurous cooks.  Even my son-in-law can take the ordinary and turn it into the extraordinary (don't get a big head here). When fishing in Alaska, we both took the salmon we had caught and cooked it over the camp fire.  Need you guess whose tasted fabulous?  He had even brought his special concoction of spices from home he had mixed just for the salmon. 

Anyway, I'll just have to go to happy hour again next month just  to see what Tony brings.  Yum!

Where do they all go?

I was running on the trail this morning musing about all of the regulars that I don't see any more.  There was the lady with no legs riding on her scooter accompanied by her scottie dog holding court on the front platform. 

And the couple with the old beagle.  First there was old dad, old mom and old beagle mozying along, stopping to chat with other regulars. Then there was old mom on the bench wating for old dad and old beagle to finish their rounds. Last time I saw just old dad with no old mom or old beagle.  This year I haven't spotted any of them.

Then there was the friendly lady with the old basset hound nmaed Sarge whos belly drug along the ground as he trudged along.  The nice lady pushed a baby buggy for the hound for when he got too tired to walk.  Last year his belly wasn't dragging quite as much and you could see alittle sky under it.  But this year I haven't seen either Sarge or the friendly lady.

Last year smiling ladies from the local black Methodist church would pass out little slips of paper with Bible verses on them while they were walking.  I still have one in a jacket pocket I discovered when I was up north and stuck my hand into my pocket.  Haven't seen them either and I miss them.

The person who faithfully scattered bird seed on the side of the trail for the squirrels(I would guess) must be gone, too because the trail hasn't had one little seed on it yet.  I bet the squirrels really miss him.  I noticed there aren't as many squirrels or rabbits there either.  Must be why.

I miss seeing the alligator in his place each morning, too.  He disappeared when they repaired the hole that was draining the lakes.  Maybe they moved him or maybe he just didn't like all of the ruckus.  Anyway, he's gone, too. So why aren't there more rabbits then?

Well, I miss all of my old friends even as I make new ones who have just started showing up this fall.  We are already beginning to connect, exchanging our "good mornings" and "missed you yesterday" and "you'd better slow down if you don't want to get a ticket for speeding". Sure makes the runs more interesting.

New Priorities in My Day

My new found passion in watercolor painting has begun to take presidence over blogging recently.  I rush through all of the necessities of the day so that I hav e an hour for my painting.

So I went to class early yesterday to take advantage of some one on one time with my instructor so that she could critique my efforts for the week.  I proudly lined up the products of my creative juices for her appraisal, sure that she would marvel at the quick progress I had made for one week.  Well, at first there was silence, then the honest critique which I really did want to hear.  She said, "go outside and look at the trees and see what they really look like".

  I thought that I knew, but today on my run I really looked at the trees and saw what she was saying.  Funny how you think you know something you just take for granted knowing, but when you take a look with a discerning eye a whole new world opens up to you.

So practice, practice, practice and maybe next week I'll amaze her with all that I learned in one week.

new Counter tops today

I have been sooo nervous about what the new counter tops would look like.  I never really noticed them anywhere until after we made out selection.  Then I got all kinds of advice about color and what goes with what. Well, we will just have to love them now. 

Only did a 4 miler today since we needed to be here when the workers came.  So we took turns and the workers still hadn't arrive.  Isn't that what life is all about; hurry up and wait?  Must be for us to learn that ever elucive patience.  That's why we have a lifetime to learn it.

New norm

I didn't run today since I went shopping with friends ( helping the economy again).  Yesterday, however I ran another five miler(actually 5 1/4 if you want to be exact.)  Seems five miles is now my new norm.  Figure once you increase you can't go back since it feels like you are back sliding and a slacker. 

I don't havve a single profound thought to share after spending hours in lines a stores to save a few dollars.  I had the same blank look on my face, I'm sure,  as everyone else did as we stood there surrounded by fellow total strangers, clutching our purchases as if they were precious treasures because we just knew it must be worth it since everyone was doing the same thing and surely all those people knew more than we did or they woldn't be standing in that long slow line like we were.  Whew!

Helping the Economy one dollar at a time

We didn't get to any of the Veteran's Day activities, but we did do something positive to help out our country.  We went Christmas shopping, were able to take advantage of the special discounts for veterans and get it done before the Thanksgiving Day crowd.  First time Michael and I have shared the activity, which has always been my duty.  I loved his imput and assistance with selections and paying.  It went so well, it has been declared an annual event.  He didn't even cower at the thought.

Art class a blast!

I had my very first real art lesson yesterday.  There wasn't time to blog since I wanted to practice what I had learned as soon as I got home.  Now I'm raring to go, practicing over the picture I did in class and planning my next picture.  I look back at some of my febble attempts I had done on my own and see what it was that made them sooo bad. Already I can look at my efforts and see where the palm tree isn't quite right the water isn't quite the right color the bird needs work .  I'm on my way to being the next Gramma Moses!

I ran a slow 5 miler today since my back muscles were sore from lifting weights the other day. I figure if I have to have a weak spine then I have to go with the strenghs I have, like muscles.  Play my aces right from the start to make up for the weak cards in my hand.  Had to do 5 miles tday tho since I skipped yesterday.  Aaak!  I sound like Michael now!

A fiver!

Today I ran five miles, first since I tore my knee.  It felt good, actuallly.  I stopped running in races because I there is a fantastic 75 year old who does  a  5 K  in 29 minutes, putting me to shame.  Why waste the money we could use for a great breakfast after Michael's race?  So today, while I was out on my 5 miler, I did some figuring.  Susie's secret for running so fast, so easily at her age must be that she moves her feet faster than I do.  So that is what I did, and sure enough I ran faster.  Go figure!

Home For Christmas!

I hadn't realized how much I miss being with my family for important holidays.  The years go by and you kind of accept the fact you are here and they are there and the two shall never meet.  Then I had a friend develop terminal cancer and I stopped to realize that what was doesn't necessarily need to be so.  Some things are just too important to just let them be.  So we're going back to Montana for Christmas, where my two sisters and daughters are, for the first time in years.  Yeah, it will be cold, but I will embrace it and not complain.  Maybe get out and cross country ski a bit and Michael can shovel some snow to keep in shape.  I knew I was hanging on to those old outdated winter clothes for a reason.

Michael  had a 5k race yesterday, placing first in his age group, the usual.  It was a cold, dark morning that ended up warming up pretty decently.  Perfect weather for our kayaking in the bay following the race and breakfast out.  Great fun kayaking with the manatees who were swimming under and beside our boats.  They are such big blobs of the most docile animals ever with these cute little noses that surface every once in a while for a breath of air. You can see the propeller cuts on their topsides from careless boaters.  I tried to warn boaters that the manatees were in their path.  They probably had a better vantage point to see them than we did so close to the water.  Just hope they cared as much.

Lighten Up!

People need to keep things in perspective.  Someone was telling me how upset she was because she couldn't afford to buy nice presents for her (grown) kids this Christmas.  I said that isn't important. What is important is my friend who found out last week that she has terminal cancer.  Or the Haitians fleeing for their lives but to where?  That is important. Whether people treat others with charity and love.  That is important. 

When you see the suffering around the world you really realize what is important.  And don't say,  "Well, it's important to me!" What is important to you is whether you have enough food to survive and a roof over your head to keep you dry and warm.  Or whether you have good health.  Or if you have someone to love or loves you. If you have those things, then consider yourself to be the riches person in the world.

The day after

Funny how you think you're going to elicit a reaction from your readers by your musings, but get no response.  Guess that goes to show us that what we have to say really isn't all that relevant to others, as much as we may think we have something profound to say.

Slow start this morning after entertaining friends for dinner last night(always wears me out and makes me feel I'm entitled to an down day the next day.  My dinners never turn out as well as I think they will.  I always envision making a big hit with my presentation.  But, the sauted mushrooms and rice ring that was supposed to encircle the roast and vegetables fell apart when I turned it over out of the ring pan.  So it was a big glob which I dumped into a bowl, losing the whole planned effect. 

Anyway, a long humid walk replaced my daily run since 10:00am is too late in the day to run here.

Voting Today

Now that I have everything ready for my company coming for dinner tonight, I need to go out and vote.  Actually, I'm living in great anticipation for the next few years.  Seems, according to the news media, many people think it is already time for a change.  (No one can deal with slow and steady, but that's how I was brought up that the best things in life are achieved.) Interesting how unaccountable we can be. We buy homes we can't afford, live beyond our incomes(remember the mantra "spend, spend, spend"),cheat, lie and steal from each other for years then expect in two years it is all going to be made better.  Maybe all the computer games in the world of fantasy cause us to think the real world operates the same way.  Just push a button and "poof"everything is rosy again.  Well, guess that's what many people think will happen after they push that button when they vote today.