"I always wake up smiling... I think it's your fault."
~Anonymous
Thirty years ago today, we said, "I do". And we have been together ever since. Through good and bad. Broke and prosperous, it's been he and me. Our hearts shattered when we lost the best cat ever, Elvis, but our hearts were filled with happiness when we found Hendrix! He adopted Alan, at first look, and then he immediately walked over to me, and assured me that I was loved too. That's the kind of cat that Alan attracts. Soon we brought home Dylan, and then years later, we found Joey, abandoned and lost. Scared. Injured, but Alan gave him a can of food, coaxed him over, and soon he was on his way home with us, and has been our littlest joy ever since. We never had human children, but we have the children we both wanted. Little ones who needed us, and we are definitely, Mom and Dad! There is a lot of love in our home, and I pray we have 30 more year together! My goodness, that is going to be a lot of cats!
"You are never so lost, that your angels can't find you."
~ Jeff Rees Jones
Angels Bright
I am are so blessed! Alan and I have each other, but we also have our three little fur baby guardian angels. Hendrix, Dylan and Joey, fill our house with fun, life, and so much love that, at times, it's difficult to leave to do even the quickest errand! How did I get so lucky, to have found all my joys, in this big world? And it's not just Alan and our boys, I have also found wonderful friends, both online, and in real life! People who fill my heart with love, friendship and support! People who laugh with me, and at me, as I laugh at myself! Those who share my good times, and bad, and who will be there, when the sun shines on me for the last time. They're a gift, and I am thankful for them an infinite number of times.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to say life is perfect, or that there isn't some heavy concerns, my blog is filled with post after post, regarding my fears, battles with Fibromyalgia, the chronic physical pain I deal with, and the darkness which is Trump, but for a little while, I will put all of it aside, and concentrate on the happiness of being together for another year! It feels so good to take a break, for a couple days, to give up second guessing and worry, in favor of happiness! Cats don't have to love you, they choose to! So, if a cat loves you, then you know you have something special going for you! My boys can tell when my pain is overwhelming, and never leave my side. They work hard taking care of me!
So, it's time to embrace as much holiday magic in as I can find! Snuggling while watching old movies, making pies, enjoying snacks straight from the oven, chasing a kitty down the hallway, and giving him great big kisses, playing board games, and even being happy to lose, as long as the one you love most is sitting in front of you! I used to be so afraid of love, and friendship, which is silly, because it was through the magic of hearts open to love, and friendship, that our adventure was allowed to begin, all those years ago! Where would I be without Alan? Where would I be without my friends? And where would I be without my fur babies?
The Brothers Gordon...
Joey, Dylan and Hendrix
Heirloom Ornament #2
Christmas 2013
Berkeley, California
"Don't you just love New York in fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, if I knew your name and address."
~Nora Ephron
You've Got Mail
One day, while on his way home from work, Alan spotted this cool sign. Two of my favorite things in one place! New York and Coca-Cola! The sign is not in New York, obviously, it is downtown Stockton, but it's kinda cool, and it was fun to photograph it! I took it last June, as I was getting myself prepared to take on autumn, 2018! I have been struggling with inspiration this year, like no other since I began blogging in 2003, but things feel like they are looking up. I am trying to feel more upbeat, unfortunately, upbeat isn't something one can force, either you feel it or you don't.
Anyway, it's a daydream of mine to do my Autumn Leaf Of The Day series, with autumn leaves I find in Central Park. From all the pictures I have seen of New York, in autumn, I think I would be still smiling the following august, from the joy of one autumn season, in the Big Apple! Even if the snow came early, I would continue to search for them, you know me, I would hate to think I missed a single one! I have the whole romantic adventure plotted out in my imagination. Alan, me, my camera, and lots of leaves.
"When you appreciate the blessings in life, your soul rejoices."
~Lailah Gifty Akita
Think Great Be Great
I am grateful for so much in my life. Alan and I just celebrated our 28th year of happiness. Our furbabies are all healthy and happy. We have a roof over our head. We are truly blessed! But even in the times of sorrow, I knew that we were given a lifetime of love for each other, and it is never taken for granted. Every Thanksgiving, is another year of feeling grateful for the life I live with him, but we also live that emotion daily, when we share, I Love Yous, through texts! The smiles he gives me, when he comes through the door at the end of the day, is everything! I am so grateful for all that I have!
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude."
~A.A. Milne
Winnie-The-Pooh
I won't lie, it's been one HELL of a year! But that doesn't mean I have been left with an angry or bitter heart, far from it! I have a lot to be grateful for, and a lot of happiness with Alan and the boys! Life is full of uncertainties, but one thing remains fast and true, I am loved, and appreciated, and I might get scared from time to time, but fear does not fill my heart, gratitude does!
We are getting close to Halloween. My favorite holiday! Certainly my favorite holiday of autumn! I love decorating, I love getting the candy ready for the kids. I love picking out costumes with Alan. And I love creating special graphics with original photographs! The photograph above is one I can't take credit for, it's Alan's. I took one similar last year, but he managed one from a slightly different angle, and it's gorgeous, so I thought it would be fun to post one from my talented hubby!
Our vacation officially began last Thursday, which was our 26th wedding anniversary! We went out to lunch, which was awesome, and then we caught a free showing of one of our favorite movies, Halloween. I told you a little about it last week, but I want to show you a few of the photos I didn't include with that post!
"Halloween shadows played upon the walls of the houses. In the sky the Halloween moon raced in and out of the clouds. The Halloween wind was blowing, not a blasting of wind but a right sized swelling, falling, and gushing of wind.
It was a lovely and exciting night,
exactly the kind of night Halloween it should be."
~Eleanor Estes
The Witch Family
Last night was Punky's BIG NIGHT! Every year Alan and I look through, what seems like a million or so pumpkins, until we find the one that really speaks to us. I MEAN REALLY SPEAKS TO US! This year was the most important search of the perfect punky since our very first punky 25 years ago! This time we needed to find just the right punky for our first Halloween in our very first house! LOL. And because this was a special Halloween, Punky didn't disappoint! Not only did he shine welcoming all the little witches and goblins, but we had a decent turnout of the little ones! It seems this was a true witch night, followed closely by some black cats and super heroes! It was a good night! I love Halloween, and I was lucky enough to marry a man who loves it as much as I do! He was a big hit handing out the candy, all dressed up as a chef, complete with a rubber chicken for making Chicken and Dumplings tomorrow night no doubt! LOL.
"There is nothing as cozy as a piece of candy and a book."
~Betty MacDonald
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic
Alan is such an amazing husband. He knows I love See's Candy, especially the Milk Chocolate Bordeaux with the chocolate sprinkles on top, so for Christmas he got me a $20.00 gift card from there so that when I was in the mood for a bit of candy here and there I could drop in and indulge.
He gets it! He gets me!
He knows that once in a while, all I want, is to curl up with my cats, and a great book, or guilty pleasure movie or television show, and just escape for a while. Am I a lucky girl or what?
"We are all ordinary, we are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day."
~Brad Meltzer
September 11th, 2001
I think to a degree, I am still dealing with what happened on September 11th, 2001. It still seems so surreal... and yet all too real! I remember Alan calling me on the phone, to tell me what had happened, but his words now seem blurry. I do remember that what he was telling seeming so absolutely absurd. You see I had been sleeping really deep that morning, a rarity for me at the time, so when his phone call came I was still in a bit of a dream state. But as I picked up the phone, and before Alan said anything, I mused to myself that the very same episode of I Love Lucy, on TV Land that I had fallen asleep to after he left for work, was playing again. How odd!
Then I said hello and he said hello and the world changed.
It was all just so FUCKING ABSURD.
Just so absurd.
Yesterday, after years of putting it off, I paid a visit to the Flight 93 Memorial in Union City, California. I don't know why I have been avoiding it... (silence) but I have. But yesterday, was a day that wasn't very different than September 11th, 2001 in temperature and color of the sky. So, I got my cameras out, and made the trek. I was glad I did. It is a peaceful place, filled with remembrance and tributes. It has a beautiful tree, planted with actual dirt taken from the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania where the plane crashed. It's leaves are beginning to change. It's beautiful. It's hopeful. There is a pathway, with monuments marking the names of each of the passengers and crew members. And there is an American flag, and at it's base small artistic tiles, done by young people of many Bay Area schools.
After all these years, (silence) it's still so FUCKING ABSURD!
Today, I am also remembering the lives of David and Lynn Angell, who were killed on September 11th, 2001, when the plane they were in, American Airlines Flight 11, crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Thank you David and Lynn, once again, for all the laughter and joy you brought to so many, and all you did for the children who needed you. I will remember you always!
It is an honor to remember this couple, and I will continue to do so for as long as I can. I got to know them, and about their life, when I honored them for the 9/11 Project, several years ago. They were extraordinary people, who made the world a better place. Please, if you are unfamiliar with David and Lynn Angell's life and work, take a moment to visit the links below.
"Duke" Found near a Geocache hidden in Hayward, California
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "Well, depends a good deal on where you want to get to." "I don't much care where... " "Then it doesn't matter which way you go." ~Lewis Carroll, Alice In Wonderland A funny thing happened a few weeks ago, while watching the Real Housewives Of New York City... I learned something! I know, I know... a lot of folks, including me at times, find it difficult to come up with anything redeemable about the Real Housewives Of Anywhere, but sometimes, oddly enough, you learn something about yourself, that you didn't know. For instance, a few years back when the Real Housewives of New Jersey came through the Bay Area, on their way to a spa vacation in Napa, they spent some time nearby. During their time on the San Francisco Peninsula, they stayed a couple days in an RV park in Half Moon Bay, and found nothing to enjoy. Nothing! Not the town. Not the people. Not the local restaurants. Not the amazing Pacific Ocean, which was just steps away! Not Half Moon Bay Harbor. Not the fresh salt air. Not the... well, you get the idea. I learned, while watching that episode, just how much I really do love Half Moon Bay, and the Bay Area. Not that there was any doubt before, but when I saw their blatant disrespect for the area, I felt strangely protective.
The Bay Area is my home. Leave if you don't understand and appreciate it's beauty. It's as simple as that! I felt like giving up on the show completely, but fortunately, recently, while watching the New York franchise of the series, I had a different experience. I found out about the new hobby Alan and I are currently enjoying... Geocaching! Geocaching is basically a type of treasure hunt in a way, but in this case, you don't find diamonds or money, or anything of real value, what you find are tiny treasures and a log book that you sign with your Geocaching screen name that basically says... "I was here!"
The trinkets are usually anything small and silly. Stickers, buttons, badges, tiny rubber ducks, coins, erasers, marbles, matchbox cars. I have seen a lot of different small items, which for the most part is PG but sometimes, well, PG-13, like the time I found a condom, and of course someone left a antiseptic wipe to go with it! LOL. Social statement? Perhaps. Sense of humor? Maybe. But I prefer to find buttons thank you very much! Anyway, how does this all tie in the the RHONYC? Well, it was one of the ladies who sparked the idea in me, Kristen Taekman. You see, Kristen planned an awesome getaway for the ladies to a gorgeous dude ranch in Montana. As you might guess, the whole concept was lost on most of the them, but a few of them got into it, but not to any appreciable degree. It was sad, I felt bad for Kristen, especially because she had made a real effort to show the ladies a good time with the outings she arranged. One of which was Geocaching!
As I watched how the game was played, I really began to like the idea. You get some exercise. You get to climb out of the usual, every day activities, and you get to prowl around bushes, trees, and fences late at night! Well, you don't have to Geocache at night, but it helps you avoid the muggles. Muggles are folks who don't know about Geocaching. It can feel silly at times, but it's a fun silly! Alan and I are having a HOOOOOOT! And I have Kristen Taekman and the RHONYC to thank for my new hobby!
Here are some of our recent Geocache finds...
What I like about Geocaching is the fact that the game can be completely customized to your individual lifestyle. You can meet new folks who share your hobby... or not... it's all good. Geocaching is done around the world and in most every town, so you don't have to go far to go on a hunt! It's not seasonal specific, and there are a lot of different ways to play. Maybe you don't want to go on a traditional hunt, okay, maybe try a puzzle solving cache. Or perhaps you just want to sightsee, cool, that is part of the game also. The point is, the game of Geocaching can be played every day, or once a month, its completely up to you.
I like that. And I also love that I had passed many different spots in my daily travels, and had NO idea that somewhere, just tucked into the corner of a store lot, or along a park-and-ride fence line, or hidden in a tree at my favorite gas station, there was a tiny treasure just waiting to be found.... or not! Sometimes I really have to think the clues that are provided just a little bit more! It's not as easy as it sounds, but it's fun! Having a GPS device helps. It is the easiest way to find the caches, but not completely necessary. You can just program the coordinates into Google maps and be on your way! Sound like fun? Click here... Geocaching... to learn about the game and how to play!
Thank You Kristen Taekman! I know I would have enjoyed Geocaching with you! Mood: Happy ~Me :)
