children

TT and I lived next door to these dear kids when we were at Country Estate. We loved Saturday mornings when we used to awaken to the sound of them riding their bikes in our driveway. We miss them so. What a privaledge to have their company for 23 hours this weekend.

After they played the piano, hauled out all the stuffed animals and toys and books I have in a set of shelves for my future grandbabies, baths and snack, I sang them the lullaby I sang Dot every night. They just melted into the covers.
"Good night, my love, God bless my daughter-love, pleasant dreams of Jesus in your heart. Good night, my love, God bless my daughter-love. . . pleasant dreams. . . of. . . Jesus. . . in. . . your. . . heart. . . Good night!"

Took them to church this morning. They were perfect! Catholic Church is a task for some adults, but they were great with all the standing, sitting, kneeling, singing, giving money, shaking hands during the peace, going to altar during the Eucharist, and listening! Can't wait for grandbabies.

Have always loved the girl-child, but the man-child really captured my heart. He informed me he did NOT like my new haircut, liked it long better! Long hair is a male thing, huh?

We came home after lunch and they brought us rolly-pollies, snails and rusty nails from our yard! They surely simplify the perspective of life.

I should have had more children. So, I wait to be a grammy.

five things

I got tagged by d34dPup!

5 things in your freezer
1. TT's icecream
2. salmon
3. ice!!!!
4. shrimp
5. ice pack for my back

5 things in your closet
1. 60 pairs of shoes
2. jeans
3. tank tops
4. cropped jackets
5. frilly skirts

5 things in your car
1. visor(keeps hair out of my face in the wind!)
2. sunglasses
3. hankies
4. water bottle
5. C.D.s

5 things in your purse
1. 2 checkbooks (one personal, one business)
2. tape measure (never know when you might need to measure something!)
3. hankie (I gotta nose problem!)
4. reading glasses
5. keys to everything

5 things in your wallet
1. driver's license
2. insurance card
3. debit card
4. credit card
5. Wet Seal discount card

5 people I am tagging
1. TremendousTim
2. DT
3. Chana
4. AbandonedInPasadena
5. Buffy

Whatcha got?!

grand

Can you believe this??? And to think I almost turned this down over the price of airline tickets?!! Duh. This is like the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. We would have been happy to stay in a cottage. What love, what care, that our friends would share their treasure with us?

Oh, the grace of God, to give us such an opportunity of a lifetime. That is what Dot said as we watched the Blues on Pensacola Beach. I have learned to listen, sometimes anyway.

We leave August 23. Return the 27th. I will get to ride a horse on the beach! We go as family. TT, me, Dot, Boyfriend.

And I carry all my loved ones in my heart. That would include you, all my dear blogger friends.

For what is a grand adventure if it cannot be shared? 

beauty

Is there anything more beautiful than the bride and her loving attendants?

Dot is the make up artist and I did the hair for the bride, six attendants and two mothers. The girls were all so calm, caring, fun, trusting. . . At the bride's request, all her attendants were to have their hair, "half up and half down." I wanted them each to have their individual look. Probably the most fun style for me to create was the semi-faux-hawk!

Lots of pressure, lots of emotion. . . weddings are always like that. Love partnering with Dot. And btw, TT chauffered us as it was nearly a two hour drive. As we climbed into Boxer (ask TT about that!!!!) nearly comatose, we were both so grateful to not have to drive home.

Another family event. Nothin' beats that! 

plot

Early morning exercise, a little breakfast and by 6:30, I am on my bicycle, happily peddling around the first turn. Push, push, push, get up the hill, and ahhhhhh, the nice coast down.

The wind is whistling through my helmet, the birds are singing, it's gonna be a great day.

Then, IT happens. Just as I get to breakneck speed (oh, I hate to say that, even with wearing a helmet!), I see a squirrel, frozen in terror (I imagine anyway) in the middle of the road.

The only thing moving was it's flickering tail. I must be connected to the animal kingdom, because that is when I began smelling danger. So, I squeezed my break handle. Certainly, I thought to myself, it will just start running in the direction it is pointed, which would carry it the rest of the way out of the road.

Maybe it is not that I am so earthy, but there was this certain Geico television commercial. . . no, no, that wouldn't happen to me, would it?

Dang if that squirrel waited until I was one foot away to turn all the way around and run INTO the path of my bike. I swerved and no fatalities or injuries!

I swear, I could here that little rodent chuckling in the bushes.

"Nearly got 'er, din't I??" 

bob

New hair cut!!!

With my bike riding, convertible, summer

and swimming pool, and the new trend

of tapered bobs replacing

flippy, shaggy styles,

I thought it was time for a change!

Whatcha think??!!

Blues

I supposed I have always been fascinated with flying. I often have dreams where I spread my arms wide, run across a field and slowly take off in magical flight. I have never crashed.

But I never loved airplanes. Not like TT. He amazes me. We can be in the house and a plane will fly over and he says, "There goes an F-15. . . " or whatever its name is! He reads flight magazines from cover to cover. Sometimes with tears streaming down his face.

See, his daddy was a pilot, and he took TT flying a few times. Since there were 12 children, time alone with the patriarch was precious little. It seems in that plane was a father-son exchange of a more peer-like nature. TT was affirmed as a man. His dad's heart was open and sharing. Sadly, TT lost his dad when he was only 25.

Part of his tears is over that loss. The other is over losing so much of himself from his health traumas. For medical reasons, he can never be a pilot.

Ten years ago, we moved here to Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels. I will never forget November 1996, standing at the Naval Air Station Blue Angel Air Show with TT, hearts pounding with pride, faces wet with tears as we watched those blue giants master the sky and tight companionship. They fly so close it took our breath away.

As they roared and ripped overheard, we stood in awe and gratitude.

Because we have friends with a beach condo, yesterday we braved the beach air show. Dot and Boyfriend set up a darling "taj mahal" gazebo! Armed with plenty of iced water, hats and sunscreen, we waited.



We waited with all of Pensacola, who never tires of admiring her heroes, the Blues. It is gridlock traffic for hours to get to the beach. I believe close to 90,000 people attend the beach show. It feels like that many cars, parked on top of each other and stuck in the sand! Year after year the Blues dance for a full house.


I am a happy spectator.

Except for knowing that inside of TT is a bird whose wings have been clipped.

windy

Ten years and two hundred thousand miles later, TT's van sputtered and let us know she was tired. I gave him my 2004 Honda Element and bought the car of my DREAMS. . . a PT Cruiser convertible!

In two days, we have put one hundred ten fun miles on Windy, driving her to the beach, around lovely Pcola, listening to Cat Country 98.7 and having a great time.

Biking and sweating in the morning, cruising and cajoling in the evenings. Sweet!!!

happy

It was a good week.
Organized my sewing room/office and cleaned out and organized the fridge.
Helped Dot decorate her new room at the salon.
TT may have a new job!
Was very busy at salon.
My heart was light because of last week's epiphany.
Rode my new bike five mornings and am loving that endorphyn high.
Started losing a bit of the belly flab!
My skin feels smoother from drinking one gallon of water a day.
Had a fun Friday night out with TT and friends.
And today, Dot joined TT and I on our yacht. . .

. . .okay, okay, not ours, but a friend of ours!

It was a very good week!

Mary

Last night I met a woman who changed my life. Much needed change.

I was sitting outside BoneFish when Mary joined me. "Beautiful weather, isn't it?" I thought to myself she was incredibly cheerful, as it was hot and humid with only a breathe of a breeze.

She was visiting here from Iowa. It was her first trip to Florida, in her life!! We chatted about her plans, her family and she told me she is 87. She looked at least ten years younger. Her eyes were bright and kind, she was uncomplicated and articulate.

She told me she had retired from banking in 1986 and was so bored. "I just love people and sitting at home is not for me." The bank called her, inquiring if she would like to come back to work. "Only if I can work full-time," she responded.

"That was in 1996. Do you know I am still the bank receptionist today, working full-time? Why, I just love it! And you know what? I can tell you love people like I do!"

So, what was I thinking? Yes, I love my time off and puttering around my house, busy with projects and entertaining. . . but I would go out of my mind doing that full-time! I have been so stressed over trying to get enough money saved so I could quit working in ten years. I have been angry and resentful that I have to work. I have been utterly miserable in my soul. Fighting against my circumstances, yet knowing my husband will never be able to conquer the world (like he once could and did) and bring home a fortune. Small wonder my poor back has been out of whack, huh?

Mary's joyful enthusiasm for her WORK mirrored my immaturity and ingratitude. My new goal is to be the world's oldest and most successful hair stylist! I want to be like Mary, 87, working and in love with life! I will still keep funding my IRA. . . but with God's grace, it will only be a cushion for the unexpected.

The fight is over. I am at peace. What a relief!
Woven chignon on Dot for one of her dressy occassions. I love working on her hair! Dot was attending a VIP wedding with Boyfriend. . . kind of their first "official" statement of their relationship to the local community. Dot's best friend. A french braid does not have to be Hee Haw casual!