ARIZONA MICHIGAN
*Silhouettes of peaceful, purpled mountains *The way a blanket of freshly fallen snow
and the towering ink palm trees against the dusts the top of previously fallen snow so
backdrop of rose-blush and tangerine sunsets that all the sharp lines of the footprints &
that never disappoint. snow angels are softened. And how snow
can appear white or ochre or a serene,
sparkling perewinkle, depending on the
time of day and the mood of the sky.
The above was saved so I could move to a computer that would allow me an hour of use, but it's all jumbled. I read it over and thought it was kind of cool. It was supposed to be side-by-side columns listing the sunny spots in both Arizona and Michigan, but it didn't save the way I formatted it (by hand, not using the tools because none of the tools allow 2 lists next to each other). So here they are; separated: (grrrr)
ARIZONA
*Silhouettes of peaceful, purpled mountains and towering, inked palms and cypress trees against the backdrop of rose-blush and tangerine sunsets that never disappoint.
*Nearly scalding hot water straight from the tap--no wait time. (Good for washing dishes and boiling water for hot tea or noodles in a jiffy!)
*Which brings me to the curiousity of: Butt facials...buttials? Even the toilets have hot water! A steam bath for the butt.
*Our neighbor, Heather, who out of the grandness of her heart simply handed Grace and me a stack of books she thought we'd like to borrow--three of which were SARK books (five of which were doggie books and kid craft books that Grace loves...we've started a dried apple head person already...). I've finally read a SARK book! (Eat Mangoes Naked) Could SARK be my long-lost aunt?
*Sedona (I haven't actually been there yet, but I know I'll love the red rock vistas and the energy vortexes.)
*No matter how short or involved the errand, I am always driving toward magical magnetic mountains. We are surrounded. I marvel at them in front of me, through the windshield, and behind me through the rearview mirror as I drive. My eyes gobble up a feast no matter where they look.
*Bigger bugs (so I can qucikly spot them to escort them back outside).
*DRY heat.
*The shiny glint of palm leaves dancing with the warm breezes in the ubiquitous light of the sun that make you stare in wonder: surely someone placed polished, plastic, paper up there for fun? But no, this is one of Mother Nature's quirky delights!
*The abundance of freshly baked (and cheap!) corn and flour tortillas available at any store that sells groceries.
*Any spot on the rim of the Grand Canyon.
*Sizzling sepias!
*Our second storey stoop where I can observe everything--the mountains, the trees, the 20 people that will most certainly walk by our apartment within an hour's time.
*The way Arizonians share their roads with bikers.
*Joel.
MICHIGAN
*The way a blanket of freshly fallen snow is like fairy dust on previously fallen snow; all the sharp lines of the footprints and snow angels are softened. And how snow can appear white or ochre or a serene, sparkling perewinkle, depending on the time of day and the mood of the sky.
*Crisp, cold water straight from the tap--no wait time. (Good for drinking and cooling down a freshly brewed batch of iced-tea.)
*Together, two hands serve as an instant map of Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas (right hand upright, facing you, left hand perpendicular, to left of and above right-voila!). Those of us born and raised get quite a bit of use out of our hand maps when discussing locations with others.
*Our neighbor, Phyllis, who is 93 years young; she always has an interesting story or local history tid-bit to tell.
*Saugatuck.
*Apple orchards and Cider Mills in the fall (hot cake donuts, hay rides, pumpkin patches...).
*Smaller bugs (so as not to startle me so easily).
*Cool breezes.
*That maple tree on our street that turns to a fiery red-orange while the other trees still sit with their greens.
*The bounty of fresh (and cheap!) locally grown produce.
*Any beach on Lake Michigan.
*Gorgeous greens!
*Our front porch swing where I can sit and be solitary with our sheltering Oak; or share it with my family and attend to tales of their day's events.
*Plentiful parks perfectly plunged into nature's oasis, complete with running and biking trails.
*Nathan
* * *
Showing posts with label beautiful friends and family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beautiful friends and family. Show all posts
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Hallelujah
I've been hearing Leonard Cohen's music in my head all day today and all last night. When you are a single-parent, the simplest acts of kindeness mean so much more. Not that I wouldn't be thankful otherwise, and it's not that I'm any more aware, it's that it means so much more... Exactly what I already said. I know I'm basically expounding upon my blog from yesterday--but I must. I am so deeply grateful to those that have reached out to help. And the single word Hallelujah is what I keep hearing (in Leonard Cohen's melody). I'm repeating myself. Okay, so on with it.
Last night after the boys' swim meet (they are the silver division undefeated champions for the first time in the school's history whoo-hoo!), my mom asked what I was planning "to do with Grace" for the counties on Saturday (both Nate and Josh made it)--Of course I told her that she was coming with me and that we'd have lots of snacks and books and drawing supplies for her. It's an all day event in a hot pool area, not something Grace was ever excited about attending. I let her know that Jen had offered to possibly watch her, but that her youngest came home from school sick that day, and I had been planning on keeping Grace with me anyway. Well, mom said she had inadvertantly told my brother that she could babysit my neice that day, not realizing it was the day of counties and did I want her to take Grace, too? Hallelu--nope! Not yet. First I made sure she didn't want to see if someone else could watch my brother's daughter, she said no, it was an all day thing and that she'd already talked it over with Cheri who was going to keep her posted via her fancy phone so she may as well keep Grace, too. And Grace would have fun seeing her cousin whom she hasn't seen in ages...Okay, now: Hallelujah---Hallelujah...
My mom loves to be at every single one of her grandkids' events if she can help it, which was why I had planned on taking Grace (and Jen does SO MUCH for me...). Wow. My mom is helping not only me, but Gracie, too. She'll have a blast with her little cuz and I will likely have a much more enjoyable time without having to keep my six year old happy within the crowds of spectators for the county meet.
Then today Jen told me that she put this blog spot on the front page of our business website: soulsisterscenter.com. She said she was trying to get a hold of me earlier in the week to ask me about it (but I fell off the face of the earth for a few days and didn't know she was calling). Finally she took the initiative and did it without my permission (Jen, you know me better than I know myself sometimes--you never have to ask for my permission.). I am so happy that she did. I just went to the soul sisters site and again, wow. What a beautiful friend. She wrote a wonderfully supportive paragraph updating those that know me from the yoga classes we taught and had been asking how I was doing. (I stopped teaching the classes in December so I wouldn't miss Nate's meets and to concentrate on the writing more.) I just love her so much. And I love all of you that are so caring and supportive in your thoughts of me. Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Hallelujah--Hallelujah...
Last night after the boys' swim meet (they are the silver division undefeated champions for the first time in the school's history whoo-hoo!), my mom asked what I was planning "to do with Grace" for the counties on Saturday (both Nate and Josh made it)--Of course I told her that she was coming with me and that we'd have lots of snacks and books and drawing supplies for her. It's an all day event in a hot pool area, not something Grace was ever excited about attending. I let her know that Jen had offered to possibly watch her, but that her youngest came home from school sick that day, and I had been planning on keeping Grace with me anyway. Well, mom said she had inadvertantly told my brother that she could babysit my neice that day, not realizing it was the day of counties and did I want her to take Grace, too? Hallelu--nope! Not yet. First I made sure she didn't want to see if someone else could watch my brother's daughter, she said no, it was an all day thing and that she'd already talked it over with Cheri who was going to keep her posted via her fancy phone so she may as well keep Grace, too. And Grace would have fun seeing her cousin whom she hasn't seen in ages...Okay, now: Hallelujah---Hallelujah...
My mom loves to be at every single one of her grandkids' events if she can help it, which was why I had planned on taking Grace (and Jen does SO MUCH for me...). Wow. My mom is helping not only me, but Gracie, too. She'll have a blast with her little cuz and I will likely have a much more enjoyable time without having to keep my six year old happy within the crowds of spectators for the county meet.
Then today Jen told me that she put this blog spot on the front page of our business website: soulsisterscenter.com. She said she was trying to get a hold of me earlier in the week to ask me about it (but I fell off the face of the earth for a few days and didn't know she was calling). Finally she took the initiative and did it without my permission (Jen, you know me better than I know myself sometimes--you never have to ask for my permission.). I am so happy that she did. I just went to the soul sisters site and again, wow. What a beautiful friend. She wrote a wonderfully supportive paragraph updating those that know me from the yoga classes we taught and had been asking how I was doing. (I stopped teaching the classes in December so I wouldn't miss Nate's meets and to concentrate on the writing more.) I just love her so much. And I love all of you that are so caring and supportive in your thoughts of me. Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Hallelujah--Hallelujah...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Lunches? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Lunches!
Well, we do. Our kids do, at least. (But crumbled bleu cheese for 10 days straight can get a little old :-)
One benefit (or maybe it's a detriment) of being a single-parent is our ever increasing tolerence to high levels of pain and/or discomfort. We have mastered the knack of mind over matter by appearing serene, peaceful, and happy while in the company of others, even though we have a festering infection spreading throughout our body demanding that we stop.
Stop fixing those lunches.
Stop making breakfast and dinner.
Stop waking your kid or kids up for school.
Stop walking your six year old to and from school.
Stop giving her baths.
Stop fixing snacks for her.
Stop her bedtime routine.
Stop reading stories and playing board games even though it is just the two of you for the long 72 hour weekend and you must do something with her other than lay on the couch and watch her watch TV or play alone.
Stop cutting off all of her hair and then making her cry when she looks in the mirror even though everyone has said she looks adorable. So sleek. So chic. Ooops. Too late. Not a good idea to cut your six year old princess daughter's hair when you are half delirious; your judgement is likely to be off...you might fail to realize that she has no interest in sleek and chic, she is not as dirigible as she was when she was three (when you last cut her hair that way and not that she ever really was dirigible), and would much rather be flouncy and flourishing like a princess.
Stop.
Stop sitting up.
Stop standing up.
Stop walking around the house.
Stop doing the endless cycle of dishes, laundry, and homework helping.
Stop paying the bills.
Stop writing.
Stop blogging.
Stop your carpooling duties.
Stop carrying through with plans and obligations you made to others. (Students and families at Grace's elementary raised over $1200 in 4 days for Haiti! Whoo-hoo!)
No! We laugh in the face of illness (HA-HA!) and say, "I will NOT stop! Give me a bed of nails: I will lie! Give me burning hot coals: I will walk! But I will not stop!"
Okay, well you know I stopped the blogging. And the writing. Because I could. But I can't really stop the other things when I am the sole adult in the household (and Nate is hardly home as it is, because of swimming, but he also spent the weekend with Donnie...). So we become stronger than we thought we already were (just being a parent, single or partnered) when we have no spouse to rely on. Or at least not one in the vicinity. But I've said this before--If we don't stop--no matter how tough and strong we think we are, we will get knocked down. (And we may still smile and say, "I'm fine," but it won't make the illness go away.)
So even though our bodies are screaming...hell, who are we kidding, even though our bodies and our minds are screaming, Please stop moving! Lay down. Rest. Sleep. Just sleep. It's not that easy to listen when you are the only adult at home. Maybe that's why my illness manifested first and most painfully as ear infections...and throat infection (I don't ask for help when I should, but thankfully I do accept it when offered...)
Which brings me to the real benefit of being a single-parent: True and generous friends. Jen and Cheri thank you for easing the burden. Cheri, for helping out last Tuesday (arranging for Herbie to take the boys to the meet on my day--I know that was just to help because of Grace's ballet, not becasue I was sick, but either way, it is SO MUCH APRECIATED), and last Wednesday night, picking the boys up (and Jen, thanks for offering that day, too). Cheri, thank you for bringing my water contribution to the team dinner on Monday so I wouln't have to go, and thank you again for always picking Nathan up at the school after the away meets so I can get Grace home and ready for bed. I'm tearful right now as I type. I am so grateful to have you guys. And mom, too. Mom, thank you for taking Grace to ballet this Tuesday so I could get to Nathan's parent-teacher conferences and to the meet. Jen, thank you for Friday, taking Grace to school and finishing out our Haiti fundraiser duties without me. Thank you for picking her up on Sunday for those 2 hours, and for yesterday (I'm actually bawling now, I had to pause to get a tissue and blow my nose and wipe my eyes...) thank you for taking her in the evening just to play--she loved it and she loved eating the bacon that I never buy anymore! Thank you for picking the boys up for me. And I can't forget my sweet Nathan, he did help me lots of days by getting Grace from school so I wouldn't have to.
So I did stop sometimes. When those that I love and that love me could help, they did. I know this blog starts out like I am lamenting...and I was, most of this blog was jotted down yesterday on paper (I was too sick to drag myself to the computer) when I was still feeling a bit jaded and alone and just plain sick and tired. (But finally ready to write something.) I still had my sense of humor though, and I was able to see that I needed sunglasses because as always, my Soda-Pop core (9th grade nickname ala S.E. Hinton) can't help but be grateful to bear witness to my true and beautiful friends and family. If Joel were here they (Jen, Cheri, Mom) likely would not have had the opportunity or felt the necessity to shine their light so brightly on me when I needed it most. Thank you.
One benefit (or maybe it's a detriment) of being a single-parent is our ever increasing tolerence to high levels of pain and/or discomfort. We have mastered the knack of mind over matter by appearing serene, peaceful, and happy while in the company of others, even though we have a festering infection spreading throughout our body demanding that we stop.
Stop fixing those lunches.
Stop making breakfast and dinner.
Stop waking your kid or kids up for school.
Stop walking your six year old to and from school.
Stop giving her baths.
Stop fixing snacks for her.
Stop her bedtime routine.
Stop reading stories and playing board games even though it is just the two of you for the long 72 hour weekend and you must do something with her other than lay on the couch and watch her watch TV or play alone.
Stop cutting off all of her hair and then making her cry when she looks in the mirror even though everyone has said she looks adorable. So sleek. So chic. Ooops. Too late. Not a good idea to cut your six year old princess daughter's hair when you are half delirious; your judgement is likely to be off...you might fail to realize that she has no interest in sleek and chic, she is not as dirigible as she was when she was three (when you last cut her hair that way and not that she ever really was dirigible), and would much rather be flouncy and flourishing like a princess.
Stop.
Stop sitting up.
Stop standing up.
Stop walking around the house.
Stop doing the endless cycle of dishes, laundry, and homework helping.
Stop paying the bills.
Stop writing.
Stop blogging.
Stop your carpooling duties.
Stop carrying through with plans and obligations you made to others. (Students and families at Grace's elementary raised over $1200 in 4 days for Haiti! Whoo-hoo!)
No! We laugh in the face of illness (HA-HA!) and say, "I will NOT stop! Give me a bed of nails: I will lie! Give me burning hot coals: I will walk! But I will not stop!"
Okay, well you know I stopped the blogging. And the writing. Because I could. But I can't really stop the other things when I am the sole adult in the household (and Nate is hardly home as it is, because of swimming, but he also spent the weekend with Donnie...). So we become stronger than we thought we already were (just being a parent, single or partnered) when we have no spouse to rely on. Or at least not one in the vicinity. But I've said this before--If we don't stop--no matter how tough and strong we think we are, we will get knocked down. (And we may still smile and say, "I'm fine," but it won't make the illness go away.)
So even though our bodies are screaming...hell, who are we kidding, even though our bodies and our minds are screaming, Please stop moving! Lay down. Rest. Sleep. Just sleep. It's not that easy to listen when you are the only adult at home. Maybe that's why my illness manifested first and most painfully as ear infections...and throat infection (I don't ask for help when I should, but thankfully I do accept it when offered...)
Which brings me to the real benefit of being a single-parent: True and generous friends. Jen and Cheri thank you for easing the burden. Cheri, for helping out last Tuesday (arranging for Herbie to take the boys to the meet on my day--I know that was just to help because of Grace's ballet, not becasue I was sick, but either way, it is SO MUCH APRECIATED), and last Wednesday night, picking the boys up (and Jen, thanks for offering that day, too). Cheri, thank you for bringing my water contribution to the team dinner on Monday so I wouln't have to go, and thank you again for always picking Nathan up at the school after the away meets so I can get Grace home and ready for bed. I'm tearful right now as I type. I am so grateful to have you guys. And mom, too. Mom, thank you for taking Grace to ballet this Tuesday so I could get to Nathan's parent-teacher conferences and to the meet. Jen, thank you for Friday, taking Grace to school and finishing out our Haiti fundraiser duties without me. Thank you for picking her up on Sunday for those 2 hours, and for yesterday (I'm actually bawling now, I had to pause to get a tissue and blow my nose and wipe my eyes...) thank you for taking her in the evening just to play--she loved it and she loved eating the bacon that I never buy anymore! Thank you for picking the boys up for me. And I can't forget my sweet Nathan, he did help me lots of days by getting Grace from school so I wouldn't have to.
So I did stop sometimes. When those that I love and that love me could help, they did. I know this blog starts out like I am lamenting...and I was, most of this blog was jotted down yesterday on paper (I was too sick to drag myself to the computer) when I was still feeling a bit jaded and alone and just plain sick and tired. (But finally ready to write something.) I still had my sense of humor though, and I was able to see that I needed sunglasses because as always, my Soda-Pop core (9th grade nickname ala S.E. Hinton) can't help but be grateful to bear witness to my true and beautiful friends and family. If Joel were here they (Jen, Cheri, Mom) likely would not have had the opportunity or felt the necessity to shine their light so brightly on me when I needed it most. Thank you.
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