Family Dynamics

Everyone has family "stuff", even mine.  Until five years ago, I lived far away from family.  It seemed to me that we were always just a phone call away and Ma Bell appreciated that!  Since returning to South Dakota, not only are Verizon and Ma Bell happy; but so are half the gas stations across the state.  I have had the opportunity to spend quality time with my siblings, my mother, my nieces/nephews, in-laws and out-laws and family friends.  While that is, of course, a blessing--sometimes I miss the closeness of "long distance" talks and the anticipation of vacation at home.  Recently, I have also been reminded of some of the other benefits of being miles away from small town living and the standards of responsibility.....

Look around

Of course, church is a spiritual encounter; but sometimes I simply seeing the blessings around me is a more spiritual experience.  Last evening, I watched the interactions of couples throughout the church.  Three rows up a young "dating" couple smiled cutely at each other throughout the service (he a Catholic, she apparently not).  In front of me was a 40+ couple, not wearing wedding rings, but beaming with love with each look and gesture.  A row ahead of them, was a couple easily in their 70's..he rested his hand gently on her shoulder and they kissed as a sign of "peace"....Behind me a young couple smiled across the top of the heads of their three noisy little toddlers, sharing a knowing nod.  Yes, love is all around me.....God is love!

Rear-view

The other night as I was preparing to hop in the shower, I caught sight of my backside in the bathroom mirror.  Oh my....more dimples than you might see at the Shrine Circus. I am either gonna have to shower in the dark, or get back to an exercise program!

Yet another lesson ...

It has been a beautiful weekend--in the 70's with very little wind.  So I tackled my yard work--mowing, weed eating, pulling weeds in the garden, potting vegetables, leaf blowing, raking, fertilizing,  mulching and planting grass seed.  Alas, the lesson--prior to the last snow storm, I planted grass seed in the corner of the yard.  Thought I was so smart to capture the moisture of snow to germinate the grass seed.  Sadly, that did not happen so on Saturday I replanted--not just the corner, but I planted seed in some of the winter "bare spots" too.  I tried to ignore it last evening, but realized my mistake this morning....seems every bird in the county showed up for Mother's Day Buffet of freshly laid grass seed.  Now I know why they put those burlap things over the top when they plant grass.

Better with Age

I had a medical appointment....while the rest of me might be malfunctioning, sagging, drying up and wrinkling; my eyes have improved.  Who says one doesn't improve with age?

Charity Walk

I volunteered to participate in the annual MS Walk this year without a second thought.  It is a great cause and how tough can it be.  On Saturday morning, I joined my friends for the three mile paved walk.  We were circling the same space 6 times.  The third time around I was feeling rather proud of myself for keeping up the pace and not being winded.  On the last trip around, I gratefully headed for my car (at a much slower pace).  I noticed that I was walking alone, so I turned to ask my friends if they were going to go in for the promised pizza.  They both shook their heads and had the audacity to tell me we still had one more lap to complete.  I disagreed, but they remained quite firm.  They did offer me the opportunity to sit down while they finished the walk....since they didn't offer to call it good, I joined them for the last trip around.  As we walked to our cars, my friend advised me that I had just completed a 5K--who knew.  Then she suggested that in the future I should not wear jeans for such a run!  I am just grateful they couldn't see me hobble about my house for the next 24 hours trying to get the kink out of my hip!  This may be my first and last 5K.....

Training tools

Today was an education day at the office.  I paid $50 to take an online pre-test for an upcoming certification exam that I will be taking this summer.  I read through each question and frantically looked up possible answers in order to complete the test within the allotted 2-hour time frame.  With a sigh of relief I pressed the submit and score button.  Sadly my score was far from passing...I was exhausted and devastated.  As I reviewed my results for the third time, I discovered that I had actually taken the wrong pre-test....I took the test for nurses as in medical knowledge!  The words of my 4th grade teacher before the Iowa Basics testing slapped me upside the head  "Use a No. 2 pencil and READ the DIRECTIONS carefully"  Now do I pay another $50 to take the correct pre-test?

Traveling the world

My sister asked me to help her with a request from her 2nd grade grandson for school.   Since I was going to the Denver Zoo, she asked me to take a couple photos for him to share with his class.  The photo also needed to include Flat Stanley.  I had never heard of Flat Stanley before and thought it really was a rather cute idea.  So, not only did he accompany me to the Zoo but I brought him along to the Denver Hard Rock Café the next day.  While holding him up in front of the sign to be photographed, a rather handsome young man comes around the bar and actually says hello to Flat Stanley.  The waitress came over and shared the story of her own nephew's school project and receiving Flat Stanley in the mail to circulate as well.  I determined that Flat Stanley is far more a world traveler than I and he doesn't even need to bring luggage or ID.