Thursday

This has been an odd weather day . We've had thunderstorms all week...some with deluge... some were drier. Today dawned gray and somewhat foreboding , yet plans with a friend for a meal out were to be carried out , nonetheless . The intended destination was a favorite...bay waterfront , with slips where hungry boaters could tie up and come ashore for a meal. The food never disappoints , the view is wonderful and meals eaten in the company of friends always taste better ! The drive there included increasing dark clouds and the beginnings of rain , which never approached a downpour , but made the walk into the restaurant a sprightly one ! All went well , as hoped and as we headed to our respective homes , the weather grew steadily better ,so much so that our streets were dry , with no trace of rain ! An odd weather day , indeed !

A Return to Old Joys

Hello ! Submitting to the inner prompt to blog again , it made sense to scroll waaayyy back... to the beginning of this lovely gift blog . Over the course of its 19 year life , those posts covered the good and the bad (the ugly was not shared )of my rather odd life . It memorialized the arrival and passings of dear kitties , precious daily joys , Mom's gradual descent into an unavoidable medical condition that she never deserved and an unexpected , hard-won resilience...clawing back to some semblance of peace and joy over the ensuing years . Along the way , bits of long-lost recipes , forgotted poems , the kindnesses of friends , now gone , and events that helped us through dark times , floated to the surface . Surprising was the greatly diminished response to what might have been an overwhelmingly sad , emotional reaction , especially to Mom's documented end journey... interesting . I still miss her and our daily banter in all the good times and do not regret the 24/7/365 loving care during those not-so-good times . She passed in peace...the warm summer breezes from the window behind , gently washing over her , bringing the wonderful happy sounds of a family picnic at a neighbor's house...not a bad way to go...

Musings

Greetings ! When working as a caregiver , some folks proudly would show me photos from their youth . There were times when the past images bore little resemblance to their current forms . Delicate diplomacy was called for , but the disappointment on their faces was unmistakable . Fast-forward to a recent gathering of chosen family , when photos of my youth were shared . I was not unprepared for the questioning glances of the young ladies who whispered , "You ??". There is an interesting separation between the conscious awareness of self and the condition of the form that contains it . Aware of this in my 20s , I began to ask friends in their 70s and 80s about it . "When you first wake up in the morning , before you move , at what age are you ?" . After a surprised moment and genuine consideration , the consensus was 17 - 22 .I now share that perception . Those early images still resonate with my inner self , to the degree that reality can take one by surprise ! That inner self may not age , but it does come to a point where kindness to the outer self is requested . Stamina and strength , once boundless , must now be measured and expended wisely...definitely not a compromise willingly taken...rather grudgingly accepted ...sigh .