Wide-Eyed

i've taken on another job - in addition to what i work full-time and in addition to my other part-time job.  This job is being a cashier at a clothing store in a local mall.  A large clothing store.  There are many customers of all ages.  my favourites are the ones who's head is just above the counter.  Either male or female matters not, they are wide-eyed in watching 'that store girl' fold the clothes and scan the bar codes and tell the total - and let's not even forget taking off security tags and wrapping delicate things - and taking the money or showing how to use the credit card machine...sometimes they watch a book or stuffed animal of their disappear into the bag.

i remember well the pure excitement of going shopping with my paretns when i was young.  Once when i was four-years old, i was with my parents and we left one place and the next stop was Sears.  We had a tan and white VW bus and my father said, (as he always did) "Watch your fingers, nose and toes"  which was the code that he was going to close the sliding door...but that time, i dind't heed his warning and got my fingers smashed in the door.

He quickly opened it and i was ok..just bruised, but it scared my mother (who was hugely pregnant with my sister - and very hormonal) and she held me on her lap and we both cried  (no seatbelts back then!!)

my mother was so upset she just wanted to go home and put ice on my hand.  i was upset because  "pleeeeease Mommmieeee, i wannnttt to goooooo to Searrrrrrssss"  sniff, sniff

And as i watch these young ones, watching me, i learn an unspoken life lesson.

Never lose your sense of wide-eyed wonder.

And sometimes even with smashed fingers, a girl's got to go to Sears!

 

What kind of love that must be!

i just got back from a long autumn walk, air is just perfect for such things and i decided to walk through our local, old and grand cemetery.  Now stick with me for a minute - it's broad daylight, quiet in there and has paved roads.  Peaceful.  i've never walked in there but think it might become some place i will be going often.

Anyway - as i was walking, i looked at some of the tombstones just because i'm curious and more than once i saw where a wife would die (1907 seemed to be a bad year) and a couple of months later the husband would die.  Now perhaps it was because of infulenza or some other disease, but i've also heard and seen where a spouce will just 'give up' and die quite soon after their loved one.

Why is this?  Is it because the love the two had between them was so powerful and strong that when one half of the love was gone, life wasn't worth living any longer?   And why does it seem that men, in all of their strength and manliness, seem to 'give up' before a woman will, in this matter?

And why does it seem that such things used to happen but not so much any more...in other words, has something changed in the way we love that we don't give ALL of us when we do so?

Odd things to ponder while walking, but in all honesty, these things make me wonder.

hmm...more to write on this but perhaps should think it through longer.

Where have i been?

Good grief!  i cannot believe that it's been so long since i last posted!  Where did the time go and what was i doing that prohibited me from posting?  Who knows! LOL

Here it is October, my favourite time of the year.  i just love the smell of the fallen leaves and the feel of the warm sun yet the crispness of the air. i love having four seasons (though the joke for PA is that we have winter, winter, almost winter and road construction as our 'seasons').  Not quite true although it's quite cool today.

i've done a ton of reading this summer as well and only have about seven unread books in my "to read" book pile.  That alone, is a mark of time well spent.  After i'm finished with these i think i'd like to dive back in to many of the classics and reaqaint myself with them.

And i am mourning the terrible loss of my favourite (American) football team.  Philadelphia Eagles.  Ok first of all - they shouldn't play in Florida - i have NO doubt that had they been in Philadelphia, the game would've been completely different.  It was a perfect football day here. Cloudy, temp in the low 50's, breezy - our guys would have excelled and McNabb would've not have to lost his breakfast on National Television.  Yeah, he'll not live that one down for quite some time i'm thinking.  Secondly, it was a game that they played horribly..they are a better team than that and quite frankly they didn't bring their A game...or B or C...  And what's with a 62 yrd fied goal?  Goodnight nurse nancy - that was ridiculous...the guy misses on 28 yrds yet can do a 62 yrd???  Check his blood!  ok ok enough moaning about football - even my favorite of favorites, Brian Dawkins, was quiet - and man when he gets fired up - watch out...that fierce expression that he gets on his face makes me weak in the knees...no, i'm serious...weak....

i hope to be a better blogger...i was lovingly chastised by a friend ((((((((cary)))))))) to get a move on..and i will!!!

Summer

What a summer we've had.  Unusual rain.  High heat and humidity and all before August. 

But today, today is gorgeous thus far.  The temperature is in the mid 70's, the  humidity is low, there is a generous breeze that makes my lace curtains dance with joy.  The sounds of the locust in nearby trees telling us all that summer is almost over. The neighborhood is relatively quiet, which is always welcomed.  i'm lying on my bed reading Hemimgway.  It's a beautiful day.

Where has it gone?  Mercy but time goes all to quickly these days, i think.

And yes, in the midst of the beauty i'm experiencing, i cannot forget that the Middle East and Persian Gulf and Korea are in turmoil.  While i'm enjoying a lovely day, relaxing, doing some chores, a meeting later on...there are men and women, in full combat gear, either patrolling or fighting.  There are Lebanese and Israelis who are waiting for the next bomb, or mortar rounds to fall.  There are Iraqis who are wondering if the person in front of them in line is a cowardly homicide bomber.  There are Koreans who preface their day by wondering if war will also break out for them.  And on all fronts, on all sides, there are regular non-military people who just want to live a happy and peaceful life.  i don't like war - but it is, to me, a necessary evil sometimes.  And in remembering all of this, i think makes my day, here in Pennsylvania, US, even more sweet.  Taking nothing for granted, feeling blessed.

Summer 2006

Wee bit cranky

yes, that's right, i'm cranky.  Went to bed with a huge headache last night.  That's gone but now my stomach is doing crazy things.  And i'm tired.  And i'm mad (at who or what is a mystery, just mankind in general).  And i hate things that go on in our world...the evil, the hurt, the lies, the deceit.  Why can't everyone just live their own life and do it decently and in order?

And why can't folks remember to say 'goodbye' when they're leaving for a few days?

And why do online friends all of a sudden just 'go away' without warning, without allowing closure?

And where's the Advil?

And the coffee?

And the vodka.....

Especially the vodka...


 Edit:  AHA...who knew that three small squares of dark chocolate could lift one's mood.  Lovely!

Auntie Mame

So today it rained...and rained and rained.  Sunshine would follow and then more rain. Warm delicious summer rain.

my niece (2 yrs old) is visiting with her mother from Florida and being the ever mischievous one, i took her to play in the mud puddles.  she was in her bathing suit, i was in my work clothes (i didn't jump in the puddles...much).    Then we took a quick dip in my parents' pool to get all the dirt off (sorry, Dad) and ended up shivering cold...

When the rest of the family heard that i was the one who took her mud puddle jumping - i was dubbed "Auntie Mame"...though i assure you i don't have a living room where the couches move up and down on pulley systems.

No matter how old you get, or how refined and proper you can be, one should never ever lose the wonder and beauty of playing in the rain.  Sometimes it takes a two-year old, blonde haired, blue eyed angel to teach you that.

To Shoe or Not to Shoe

As much as i love shoes (multiple posts on that!) and high heels to be exact, i love also going barefoot. i love the feel of the cool tiles under my feet in the kitchen or the smoothness of the wood flooring in the living room. i love the carpet from the second floor, but what i love the most is to be barefoot outside in the grass.  It connects me with the earth, espcially if i'm gardening - which i love to do.  i don't particularly like to be in mud but even that can be tolerated if necessary.

Love barefeet but i sure do love those heels....got some cute ones on today.