04/13/19

No! NO!! N O ! ! ! I'm sooooo NOT having
this! Winter is OVER!! Is Mama so out to lunch
that she didn't get the missive?! ~@#$%^&*()_+
Well, she is the boss, o.k. QUEEN, after all, so
I guess I'll just have to grin and bear it. Still,
if any of you hear me complaining about the
heat this summer, I want you to give me a
swift kick in the nether regions! And, I do
know and understand that we need all the
moisture we can get . . . still . . .

so tired of snow
winter winter go away
dont come any day

04/12/19

The winds blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy, while cares will
drop away from you like the leaves of autumn.
~John Muir

I'm not quite certain if I've only just reconnected
with the wind or only met it for the first time. In
this trip over the passes, both going and coming,
we've experienced wind as never before. It may
be a case of first time hauling a travel trailer
through the breezes from hell, but several friends
and family have commented on it as well. This in
turn, brings to mind all those souls who have
suffered the horrors of extreme weather through
the long winter months . . . flooding and fires,
hurricanes as well. Makes me realize in our little
trip, we truly experienced nothing of the kind.
Me thinks Mama Nature is faunching at the bit,
as it were . . .

prithee winds of strife
pray bring your sorrows no more
quaking in my boots

04/11/19

Blows me away that I am nigh onto 70 years
of age and it still matters to me, on some level,
what people think. I would imagine this is the
case with most people, but all of us admire
those who somehow manage to escape that
sense of need for personal and/or public
approval and acceptance. Interestingly enough,
I find that if we, ourselves, don't happen to
approve of a given person or faction, their
approval is neither sought after nor required.
Aren't we an amazing, interesting, entangled,
diverse, counterintuitive bunch . . . aren't we
just?!

growing up and growing old
striving for the hang of it
alls right with the world

04/10/19

Adventures ahoy . . . fun trip, despite the winds.
Still, a very interesting experience. I find myself
'twixt and 'tween the whole, "There's no place
like home." and "Home is where the heart is."
Our first adventure in the travel trailer, trying
everything on for size, as it were. Realizing  some
things work better than others, those pleasant
surprises of small successes, the anticipation of
joys to come. Where shall we go next . . . and . . .
do I actually have the shekels for that fab idea?!

such machinations
so longing for adventure
retirement rocks

04/09/19

Emergency! Emergency!! Everybody off the street!!!
We're so excited . . . our first trip with Lady Salem.
We're off to the great metropolis, over the hills and
through the woods. We're going to give our sendoff
and blessings to our Marine grandson on the way to
his MOS Station. We wish him well and hope to be
honored by visits in the future. As we've been gifted
by trips from our Army grandson, I imagine it will be
similar. I pray the gods protect him; here's wishing
him well.

adios farewell
caught betwixt pride and sadness
prays for your safety

04/08/19

Honey, I'm home . . . with travel trailer in tow.
Me thinks we're in for some pretty fab experiences!
Right now, we've just returned from a shopping
spree of must haves. As soon as I've had breakfast,
I intend to load them on. My guy is working on a
special hitch; thanks Len, for helping out with that.
Actually, you should be here helping with putting
it on! Ha! So, I imagine this summer will be all
about experimenting. It will be quite interesting
learning the ropes, trying things on for size,
finding out what works and what doesn't. Does
anyone know who the gods of travel trailers are?

fun and games ahoy
here we come ready or not
been waiting so long

04/07/19

Glorious day of phenomenal reconnections! I was
fortunate to have found an old friend and fellow
teacher on Facebook. Such interesting connections
life offers. Who would have thought it . . . I imagine
part of growing up and growing older, is the whole
finding interesting people, making friends and
enjoying the resulting relationships. I so honor
these gifts that life doles out unexpectedly! Truly,
meeting people, and enjoying the ensuing sharings
that result, are one of life's marvelous gifts. I raise
my glass and toast life's capricious machinations!

unexpected gifts
friendships and reconnections
ever fortunate

04/06/19

2019 and three months under! Seems to me,
I've spent said three months reviewing and
prepping tax materials from '18. Add to that,
a proper look-see into finances in order to
give myself permission to buy a little travel
trailer. And, just when I was giving thanks that
I'm neither an accountant nor a bookkeeper,
(forget Tax Pro) I am assailed with the request
to go over two years medical history. I have
the ability to recognize important papers, but
also have the lousy habit of just throwing them
on the desk for several months. After all, isn't
that what tax prep is all about . . . getting your
files in order? Heaven forbid, if I didn't have to
do tax prep . . . I can't imagine six feet of papers
to deal with.

piles and piles
under attack by paper
revenge of the trees

04/05/19

Sitting by the fire; its warm glow enchanting!
Adding wood from time to time; hoping it lasts
all night. Romance is in the air and its name is
Salem. Yes, Salem! It's painted, by the company,
right on the side of the travel trailer! You'd think
we were enjoying the fire, the moment . . . but,
NO! We're making lists and checking them twice.
Santa can't compete; he doesn't stand a chance.
There is 'an already have' list. There is a 'to buy'
list. There is a '???' list. There's even a 'legal' list.
And, every now and then, when you least expect
it, I just jump up, run and get something, and say,
"Will this do?" And my guy gives the yay or nay?!
Who ever said planning your first road trip in a
new travel trailer wasn't romantic?!

new new new new new
a new kind of enchanting
a new lease on life

04/04/19

Scary biscuits! I've done it! I've bit the bullet!!
I've faced the dragon!!! I actually laid down a
hold it, a save the day, an I've done it, did it!!!
Me thinks I'm shaking as fast as I can and I am
NOT exaggerating!!! NO bullshit intended!
Today, I accessed my bit of savings, a 26 year
savings at $50.00 a month . . . and I'm buying
a little, single axel travel trailer . . . vacays for
the rest of my very limited life . . . WOW!!!
Dreams do come true . . . I sooooo pray there
are more than many!!!

this matters to me
may all my wishes come true
adventures ahoy

04/03/19

Today begins the dream . . . we are
off to peek at travel trailers, perhaps
even choose one! It's a tad scary; I
haven't had the opportunity to feel
properly retired before, as I was taking
care of mom for a few years. Then we
were moving into the cabin; been there
over a year now. Sooooo, time to do
something rather out there . . . exotic . . .
maybe even travel nearby, ha! Really?!
Can't help but wonder what this whole . . .
Transition Survival Training is?!

bring on the dreaming
magic carpet now awaits
nay no maps needed

04/02/19

Me thinks family means different things at
different times of our lives. My father was
one of three brothers, but none of them lived
in the same town. Dad's younger brother lived
only a couple of hours away. I can remember
getting so excited when we were going to see
my cousins. I secretly thought of the two girls
as my younger sisters and their older brother
was one of the great loves of my life. Dad's
other brother lived far, far away in the grand
metropolis of Denver. To me, that was as
magical as any Disneyland. Alas, the visits
there were few and far between. His girls,
somewhat older than me, were exotic. They
even knew how to turn cartwheels! Their
younger brother was a cutie and my Sammy
adored him. Now, lo these many years later,
we are still in different towns and places,
different lives and spaces . . . even some of us,
in never, never land. I find myself missing
them; still, they live in my heart and I wish
them well.

remembering mine
in a land far far away
they belong to me

04/01/19

Childhood friends of yesteryear . . . sweet,
poignant memories . . . not to pick and choose,
but to live and re-live daily. Indeed, I do have
many wondrous memories from my childhood.
Obviously, that doesn't mean there aren't some
difficult ones as well . . . life in a nutshell, isn't
it?! A glorious evening spent with a childhood
friend, one I much admire and care for, helps
remind me who I wish to be when I grow up.
I can remember thinking, lo these many years
ago, that I would be all grown up by now. Alas,
'tis not to be. I've come to believe this growing
up nonsense goes right through to the bitter end.
Sooooo, may I continue to grow, and pray I do
so well!

thinking and praying
guess planning doesn't cut it
who will i become