Another Day Goes By

And Off We Go...

Yes, TWO posts in ONE day! I do make myself proud! :)
Riding back home on the red line to Braintree my daughter texts us "thank you for coming. It was so much fun!" I answer her, then I get to thinking how we came together for a brief few hours, and now we are on our way back to our separate lives.

That's how it is with adult children. They are no longer at your breakfast table, but they are forever in your heart. It's wonderful to watch them go out and make their way in the world, so independent and successful. I'm lucky. Both of my girls are settled and happy in professional careers of their own making.

It's really nice how they make an effort to connect with us, and then text us thank you on our way home. They never fail to say "thank you". Tonight I'm just full of gratitude for my kids, my husband, and my home on the ocean.

Boston was magical tonight. Walking the softly lit streets outside of Fenway, in the rain, was serene and beautiful. Now, on the train heading home, arriving at the ocean with its own quiet sound of the waves splashing on the shore will be just as magical in a different way. I'll keep my window open just a crack so I can fall asleep to the sound of those waves.

And so, as another day has gone by, tonight I urge you to take note of the magic that surrounds you, wherever you are, and spend a minute or two in silent gratitude, and, again, I have written.

The Late-Great Rainout

Today we had tickets to the Yankees/Red Sox game in Boston. We were going to meet our daughter for dinner and the game. The weather didn't look promising - a certain rainout. At noon we talked to her and discussed meeting places.

I was ensconced in my recliner engrossed in the second book of The Shades of Grey trilogy, (which we will discuss another day), when around one o'clock the rain started pelting on the skylights and the wind was revving up. I looked at my husband and said, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" He called our daughter and we cancelled. I snuggled deeper in my chair with a hot cup of coffee, savoring not having to go out in this weather.

Two o'clock my husband gets a text from her. "I'm not doing anything if you guys just wanna come up and meet for dinner." I take one look at him and I'm up off my chair, in the shower and out of the house in forty minutes.

Why did we do this? Because we both know the day was about a lot more than baseball.

And so, as another day goes by, I sit in bridge traffic thinking how lucky we are that our adult children still value spending time with us; when they call, we go, because that's what parents do, and....I have written.

Inspiration & Tea

Today was one of those lovely spring Cape Cod afternoons by the sea. I spent it exploring Falmouth, a cape town I'd never been to. I met an author friend of mine for lunch. We ate at Molly's Tea Room on Main St. It's cozy decor and wonderful smells coming from the kitchen welcomed us. I had the cutest cup of soup - chicken pot pie soup. It was a delicious chicken soup with a tiny dumpling pastry floating on top. We shared a pot of Autumn African tea that was out of this world.

After our meal we walked down the street to Eight Cousins Book Store. This was where I was very proud and inspired by my author friend. Right on the front counter was her first children's book that came out just a few weeks ago. It's called Cape Cod Memory Makers - Explore the Town of Falmouth. I promptly bought a copy and had her sign it. This is a delightfully fun book where two children create a travel journal by visiting interesting places in Falmouth. In between each place visited there are two lined pages where children can record their own memories while visiting Falmouth. Children visiting the cape this summer could really have fun making their own memory book, while enhancing their writing skills. This was an excellent idea for a children's book and more are planned for different cape towns.

Cape Cod Memory Makers by my friend Joan Walsh, illustrated by Anne Sessions Barber, is available at Eight Cousins Book Store in Falmouth for those of you visiting the cape with children this summer.

Many of you know I am writing my own children's picture story book and have walked the journey with me so far. Starting down an unknown road is daunting and, at times, overwhelming when you find out just how much you don't know. Writers like my friend Joan, who had a dream and saw it through to fruition, inspire me to keep going no matter how high the mountain gets. As my email signature says:

"You can't give up on the things you love, not ever..."
Charlotte ~ Private Practice

Walking in that store today and seeing my friend's book on the shelf just proves that. Pursue your dream. Never give up.
Thanks Joan, for your friendship, inspiration, and help, (and the fun day today)

And so, as another day goes by, I give gratitude for the wonderful friends I have here on the cape that enrich my life and help me keep my dreams alive, and...I have written.

Driving Day

Driving day is the day I always return to the cape from NY. Today the weather was extra warm and I think I passed maybe three cars on the Mass Pike. I sailed right along and pulled into my driveway ahead of schedule. I ate a light lunch, relaxed and went to 6 pm yoga.

Yoga was hot, humid, and hard tonight. (Actually the room and instructor were perfect - it was me that was all off). Three poses into it and I knew this was not a night for pushing. Surprisingly I had no breathing trouble. I was just physically tired from sitting in the car all day. I just simply remembered what the instructor said last week. She said not to push and work so hard. Ease into each pose. Find ten seconds in it to be still. Hold quiet. Release. So that's exactly what I did tonight and instead of a hard muscle workout, I had a slow stretching class...easing and leaning in and going to a new place.

Sometimes instead of pushing, it's nice to just relax and see what takes shape. I think I just set the tone for my week. Instead of piling on all the Xmas prep, tomorrow I'll break out the decorations, probably find things I forgot I had, and just relax and see what takes shape.

And so, as another day goes by, the hardest classes teach the best lessons, and ...I have written.

Turning Home...

Yesterday, our last real vacation day was once again spent shopping and at the beach with my sis, and now we are at the Charlotte airport half way home.

This whole week has been spent hanging languidly "in the space between two thoughts". I watched myself in wonderment as I spent time with family and went back in time to a place visited so long ago. In the beginning of the week I had such a feeling we were from such different worlds, but today I marveled at just how much my cousin and I did have in common and admired how my 77 year old aunt conducts her life alone in her beautiful Florida home. Living alone all week myself, she was a true inspiration as to "how it's done". I should've visited her sooner after I retired. Her house is immaculate and she is always busy with friends and family and volunteering.
My 79 year old dad was also an inspiration. He traveled both the airports and golf courses with amazing stamina that I can only hope to have in twenty years.

My aunt's home, pool, and food were exquisite. The way she took care of us all let me in on some characteristics of my ancestry. I come from a long line of caretakers. It gives us great pleasure to take care of our loved ones, and this week she was the best. (Thanks, Auntie, if you're reading this! We love you!)

And so, as another day goes by, my pool chairs stand empty til next year, my plane has landed in New York, and ...I have written. Below: Me, my Dad, my Auntie, and my sister's husband

Beach Day!

Need I say more? A good day for "no words".....and so, as another day goes by, spent with my sis and her hubby on Ft Walton Beach, and....I have written.

Day 4 - Shopping Bliss!

Day four was just for my sis and I. We ventured to Destin Commons and had a great time. Bought shoes and souvenirs for the kids, had a great lunch, and navigated our way to and from the island without mishap. When we came home, we had a quiet time out at the pool and Aunt Charlotte took us out for a great dinner. Now, all full and pleasantly tired, time to settle down in front of the TV for Glee. The nice thing about this part of Florida is every tv show is an hour earlier and the news comes on at ten, not eleven, so I get to go to bed at a reasonable hour.

Just a another lovely day in paradise, not thinking about any one thought in particular, and.....I have written.

Peace! Day 3...

Just a quiet, peaceful day by the pool, a little walk around the neighborhood, dinner with friends and family...just an idyllic vacation day!

And so, as another day goes by, I finally found that "space between two thoughts", and....I have written.

The Great Florida Adventure -Day 1

Day one started out at 3 am. Up and waiting for my sister and her husband to arrive at 5am to pick up Dad and me and head to Albany airport to begin our week long adventure to visit my aunt in Ft Walton Beach Florida. When they arrived it was eerily dark outside, 30 degrees, and of, course as has been the case in upstate NY - snowing. Needless to say, we were all very anxious to leave that behind.

We arrived at the airport in plenty of time for our flight, had a light breakfast there, and boarded our plane. Since I signed up for this trip last minute, I sat apart from my sister, her husband and my dad. For the first time I had a middle seat and was not thrilled with that idea, but when I got to the seat, it was with another couple and they offered me the window seat so she could sleep on his shoulder instead of mine. That immediately set my trip off on a high note. It turned out I was as tired as my seatmate and was asleep before we were taxiing down the tarmac.

About an hour later I woke up and heard this laughter from somewhere up front. It turned out my sister and her hubby had gotten into the margaritas and she was now the loudest one on the plane.

We promptly landed in Charlotte for our 3 hour layover. We had lunch and wine at a sports bar, then my sister and I spent a lovely hour in some wonderful rockers, chatting, enjoying warm sunshine, and watching the comings and goings of the planes outside.

At about 1:45 we boarded our plane to Ft Walton Beach. Again, I was seated away from my family, this time with a very sick woman who just got in from Israel. I fed her Halls cough drops, and promptly fell asleep once again. We arrived in beautiful Ft Walton Beach about 3pm. My Aunt Charlotte and cousin Diane met us at the airport. I hadn't seen Diane since we were both in high school, so I was so looking forward to time with her.

We drove back to my Aunt's house and it was like a trip back in time for me. The last time I was down here to visit her I was 9 years old. As we had dinner and wine along side her lovely pool and talked well into what I felt like was the night (it was only 9pm), I gradually relaxed and began to let the feelings of being here again after so long, set in. I went to sleep in a comfortable room, with such a feeling of a sense of family and love quietly holding me. Day one of my adventure was pleasantly retired.

Cape Cod to NY...Leg 1 Done

Leg 1 of my great NY/Florida adventure is complete.
I have arrived in Amsterdam NY, about 40 miles west of Albany and the only question I have is, "Where DO you people live?" I came from 50 degrees and green grass to this (pic below). So glad this is the year we picked to take Dad to Florida and will be leaving this on Saturday.

My drive was quiet and uneventful. Usually I have a million ideas pelting me that I've just got to hurry and write about, but for the second day in a row my mind has stayed quiet. I have a feeling I know why, but a few more days we'll know for sure. Trying something new. Let's see what tomorrow brings and I'll tell you what it is. You just might want to give it a try......

And so, as another day goes by, I retire tonight, once again, in snow country, and ...I have written.