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 .

A Special Day

Today , July 5th , 2025 , is an extraordinary day... not for its pomp , nor huge events , but for its elegant simplicity . Looking out my back door , I saw a tiny Song Sparrow hop halfway up my steps , then cut through the iron railings to a storage bin . The bin's lid had collected water from our significant three-day rainstorm . At first , the bird hopped on for a few genteel sips , to satisfy its thirst . Realizing perhaps that the slight angle allowed a greater depth of water along one edge , it ventured in for a quick bath , wings fluttering to spread the cleansing coolness . After flying back to the ground , to peck among the pebbles , it must have decided the new shaded "pool" was an opportunity not to be missed ! A second bath ensued ...longer and more thorough than the first . Having satisfied a need in an unexpected gift , the bird flew up into the ripening Choke Cherry tree to dry off and have a quick snack . It is the discovery of these small blessings that brings such peace : the bees in my lavender plants...the little porch garden and its gifts of herbs and tiny tomatoes...the kindness of good friends , a son's genuine caring and an adoring cat with a huge personality , sassiness and much wisdom. My life now is small , simple and brings much contentment ...and I am most thankful !