Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Random February Stuff

Remember in school when you had a month to write that paper and found yourself on the last couple of days scrambling to start and finish the paper?  Don't even talk to me if you were the person who had the paper written one week after it was assigned, I can't even comprehend such a thing!  Well, as February is near its end, I find that I have mulled over several blog topics during the month and managed to find dozens of ways not to bring any of them to completion.  Last night, as I lie awake, my mind went through those poor never written blog posts.  There is the one that goes through the playlist of my life.  I see it as the musical score to the many stages of my life.  Someday I really do hope to sit down and write that one.  I am currently just gathering the songs, albums and artists...while not sleeping.  There is the one I come up with a unique thought, finally, and write something eloquent and witty with great perspective.  I reflected on some of my favorite posts and wonder how I was able to come up with those ideas and why my brain just doesn't feel as sharp as it did...8 or 10 years ago!  Hmmm, maybe those 8 or 10 years have something to do with my fading sharpness.  One more reason to put the fingers to the keyboard and write.  But, alas, motivation is fleeting.  I have found that I have also become very skilled at making excuses for just about everything, be it writing, playing good or bad golf, working out, cleaning my house, cooking, yard work...you know...all the "fun" stuff.

February was a good month; it usually is for us.  It began in Park City, Utah with a glass of wine to celebrate the end of dry/damp January and to toast my ski bum obsessed husband who has taken his ski career to the next level.  He was enjoying his season pass for a couple of weeks before I arrived, and he loved every minute of it.  Since I am still retired from my illustrious ski career, spending a month in Park City does not appeal to me as much as it does to him, so we compromise, and I show up for a week of winter.  My sister, Lee Ann, joined us since she loves the snow and visiting winter as much as I do.  No, we really do enjoy it!  We have however, transitioned from skiing to snowshoeing and still get to enjoy being out in the snow plus it gives us a chance to take in some of the views we grew to love.  

I still like to sit at the bottom of the hill
and remember the days I was one of "them".  

From Park City we went to San Francisco to enjoy one of the gifts that comes along with being a grandparent, watching the grandchild while the parents go to an out-of-town wedding.  One of the unfinished blogs for the month was started after our visit to San Francisco when I got home and was bursting with energy that comes with keeping up with a 3-year-old. 

After raising 4 children and grandparenting 6 grandchildren past the age of 3, I have...in my "expert" opinion, decided that 3 must be one of the best ages in life.  We spent a week with our 3-year-old grandson, and it was pure joy.  It reminded me of the precious moments we spent with our other grandchildren at the same age.  There is such joyful innocence in a 3-year-old!  They are no longer "babies", so they talk, run, have developed tastes, have opinions, are soaking up life like sponges, and are more physically and mentally able to enjoy more grown-up activities like going to the zoo and eating sushi.  I did not necessarily notice this every day when my own children were 3 because I lacked the perspective that comes with hindsight.  Sure, there were moments of sweetness when my cup overflowed just watching them explore, play, smile, learn and grow but there were also moments I was just dog paddling to keep my head above the water and get through to the next day.  Grandparents don't have the burden responsibility of raising grandchildren most of the time, we just get to enjoy them and say "yes" a lot more than "no"!  The farther along in my grandparenting life I get, the more I appreciate this!

Yes, you may have a giant donut
if you are a good boy in church!!

I just love following them on the way to "school".

And I did my first Transformer!  
"Gigi can you turn this monster into a truck?"
Only took me 3 days!

The joy and innocence was refreshing and inspiring.  When you get older and are not around children as much you forget how precious it is!

Once we got back home it was Lent.  This year Lent means no weekday drinking for me.  It seemed to be a good behavior pattern in January so I decided to continue, call me crazy.  You would think with all the time and energy I have in the evenings I would be writing a lot more...nope.

I have been doing a lot of walking while listening to books, reading books, working on my golf game and coming up with more creative excuses for my high score.  So far, I have read West with Giraffes (probably not for everyone but I really enjoyed the story!), Things We Never Got Over (had no idea how racy this would be...didn't stop me though😉) and am working on The Five Star Weekend and The Way, My Way.  None of this can be considered fine literature but boy have I enjoyed them.  

I have upped my daily mileage to prepare for another part of the Camino de Santiago.  I said, the minute we finished our first one, that I would do it again in a heartbeat...so here we go.  We plan to walk the Camino Ingles in April after Easter.  It will be a road less traveled.  We are walking with one of TJ's sisters and her husband.  I am very much enjoying my daily walks and am adding miles hoping to be ready and able to enjoy the Way.  San Francisco was great hill training, possibly the only hill training I will get since we live in Texas.  So, either there is a giant carrot dangling in front of me to motivate me or it is whispering in my ear telling me to get up and get going so I can be safe and not sorry.  We shall see.

So that was a lot of random February stuff.  I will pray for inspiration in March during one of my many March miles.  One final thought, if you have stayed with this hot mess this far, spring is in the air and you know what that means...only a few months until shore time!!!  Hang in there folks!

 


Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Finding the Quiet

We made it!  We survived January!  Well.... one more day.  As I have said many times here on the blog, January is not anyone's favorite month, especially mine.  Just reference your social media...every vlogger, Instagrammer, Facebooker or friend has mentioned how much they don't love January.  I am right there with them, most of the time.  This year January had its definite downs, but it also had some ups.  

Surprisingly, dry January was one of the ups!  For the first time in a while, I really embraced not drinking.  I found that towards the end of the month I wanted less and less to have that glass of wine and have really looked forward to my diet ginger ale at the end of the day.  Party on, January!   I admit a couple of "damp" weekends but for the most part, it was a great January tradition to continue in the future...or even next month.

Instead of drinking I just did a puzzle about it!

We also experienced the usual things that make January a dreary and depressing month.  There was the week of "real" winter and freezing temperatures.  I see those of you up North rolling your eyes, but we do live in Texas!  One night in the middle of the "freeze" I looked at TJ, from my spot under a blanket in front of the fire and exclaimed, "This is why old people move to Florida!".  I have transitioned to the cold years.  For what seemed like 10 years, I was always too hot, and I don't mean in the hubba-hubba way.  Now I find myself checking the thermostat to see if my husband has turned down the temperature, because he has not yet reached the cold years.  We don't really do winter very well here in Texas.

We "saved" the camelia bushes from the freeze. They were full of buds!
This seems to happen every year...

Then there was a week of solid rain.  We have now almost caught up on our cumulative rain deficit in one month.  Between the freeze and the rain my resolution to work diligently on improving my golf game was really challenged.  For a change I have been home for 7 weeks!  Aside from a few days in Baton Rouge for Christmas and a weekend in Dallas, I have been home, and I can't count those as "away" because I drove, and they were nearby.  I figured in 7 weeks my golf game would be in much better shape.  Sadly, it is not.  Let's blame it on "winter conditions".  

January provided me with much needed and appreciated down time.  I know many complained about the slow pace, the dreary conditions, and the lack of alcohol but to quote one of my uncles, "Call me crazy, but I kinda like it!".  I think January is a necessity.  

The last few weeks have provided me with an opportunity to just be still.  Another thing I actually like about January is the hibernation thing.  I remember many years ago when the kids would go back to school after the holidays. We lived in Georgia at the time and winter would inevitably settle in, the dust of the holidays would settle and so would I... with a good book, a fire and a blanket.  I remember feeling guilty for spending a few days just being still.  Of course, back then "still" was a relative term since I had 4 kids under the age of 16 and at least 3 of them were involved in extracurriculars... the stillness only lasted so long.  Another thing to consider is that there was no social media to distract me, so life was already easier to make still.  

Lately there has been a recurring message sent to me from several different sources.  I get a daily reflection sent to my email and the recent posts have recommended being in the quiet.  Time to be quiet and listen.  Sunday at church the homily focused on just being quiet and listening.  There is quiet time spent alone with no distractions or quiet time outdoors.  These are the times we open our minds to ideas, answers, more questions, and if we are lucky...clarity.  Then there is the quiet time we leave in conversations. My kids would refer to this as The Dixon Pause.  If we just listen and leave some space, there is no telling what we can find out about the other person.  Sometimes it is so hard to do this!  I am guilty of closing that space with what I think the person is going to say next or just answering for them.  The magic happens when you leave some space and listen...and sometimes that is hard!  I can remember having serious talks with my kids and having to fight the urge to fill in the spaces.  Sure, sometimes I lost that fight but on occasion, I left some space it was inevitably filled with some good stuff.  

Quiet is at a premium.  We fill our days and nights with noise.  Shoot, I seldom take a walk without listening to a book or a podcast.  Before the availability of these on my device I listened to music, and I think it was probably a lot better for me.  I thought many good thoughts while walking and listening to music.  One good thing about cycling is that I don't listen to anything other than the traffic.  This provides me with a lot of time with my own thoughts.  Win win.  

Quiet lives here. 
 I have logged many miles over the years on this levee.

Cheers to January, the unappreciated month.  If we just listen it is telling us to slow down and hear what it has to share with us.  

  


  

Friday, January 12, 2024

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing

As I returned something to Amazon today, I had a thought...yeah, it happens now and then.  Our easy return choice happens to be going to Whole Foods to return.  Simple and quick...sorta!

There was a steady stream of people coming in and going out of the side entrance/exit with packages to return or ones they had picked up from Amazon.  I thought to myself, "Amazon has created a gathering space!".  There is a constant flow of people in and out and they (Whole Foods) have capitalized on the situation by setting the return space next to the ready-made food section and the bakery.  They are no fools!  "Come on in and return your package and while you are here, please buy some yummy cookies or maybe some delicious bread.  We have also prepared some tasty soups, salads and main dishes for you to take away!  You know you don't want to cook tonight!".  This is what beckons you as you wait a couple of minutes to get your phone scanned, turn around and attempt to leave but get distracted.

After I quickly returned my goods, I just had to peruse the produce section of the store to see what they had that my much more affordable Kroger did not have.  Well...I fell prey to the sample of clementines.  I tasted one and they were delicious!  Yes, I bought a bag of clementines that TJ and I will be eating until the end of the month!  Once home I ate 2! and they were both just as good as the one in the store.  Maybe I just needed some vitamin C!

Anyway...the genius who came up with Amazon return at Whole Foods should get a pat on the back because I not only appreciated the easy return process, I bought clementines and some yummy granola.  And...I will probably be back next week...for more produce or to return more stuff from Amazon!

 

Saturday, December 16, 2023

"Someday" is Here

 Apparently, everyone in the world is touring Christmas markets in Europe this year!  It is really a thing now, at least for Americans...Europeans have been doing it forever, seemingly.  We had the pleasure of visiting some markets at the end of November and first week of December.  It was a trip that materialized on a dreary, lonely, afternoon and evening in September at the shore.  I was experiencing the "end of summer blues", and said to TJ, "Remember that trip to Strasbourg we planned and had to cancel?  Maybe it would be fun to visit and see the Christmas markets.".  All I had to do was plant the seed and within a few hours he had purchased tickets and put the ball in my court.  There was a time, or there were many times in our life, that the mere suggestion of a trip would have been met with sighs of, "someday".  As a result of many air miles, a retired and restless husband, an empty nest and our desire to see and do... "Someday" is here! 

Our trip began in Paris on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Turns out the Saturday after Thanksgiving is a great day to travel abroad because everyone in the states is home with their families.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with our son in Kansas City, came home on Friday and left on Saturday.  Yes, there were moments I said to myself and TJ, "Are we crazy?  Why did we plan it this way?".  One reason we planned this way was that nobody travels abroad on the weekend after Thanksgiving which meant our upgrade to the flat bed seats came through!  "Someday" is definitely here.

Paris in November is gray and damp.  BUT...it is still Paris!  I really do love that city!  I have been many times and will go again...any time.  We stayed in the Montmartre area because our train to Strasbourg was leaving from Gare de l'Est and we wanted to be close by.  Montmartre is an area we know a little but not a lot, so I scheduled a food tour for our arrival day.  I like to have an activity on arrival day with someone to point me around and lead me in a direction, so I don't have to think.  Perfect.  We sampled many sweets, some wine and cheese, heard some interesting and tragic stories and met a new friend.  

Macaron?  Merci!
So French!  Oui, merci!

The next day was...wet.  What to do in Paris in the cold rain/drizzle?  I had heard that there are passages in Paris, covered walkways with shops and restaurants.  I had never seen one before, so we set out the find the passages.  What a great concept!  The shops were so cute, and we stayed dry!  We also toured the Pompidou Center and museum which we had only walked past and never toured before.  Both great choices and when we were finished, the rain had disappeared.  We had a lovely dinner, are there any others in Paris?  Went to bed pleased with our choice to fly into Paris en route to Strasbourg.  Paris is always a good idea!

A great way to stay dry in Paris!

The next morning, we walked to the, very close, train station and took a 2-hour train to Strasbourg.  Train stations in Europe are so different than the ones in the states.  They are so busy and many of them are just beautiful if you ask me.  They are also very utilized.  The Strasbourg station would prove to be a very lovely and unique building as well.  We found our apartment, ate lunch in a very local place and commenced our Christmas marketing!  The smells, the booths, the vibe, the food, the lights, the decorations!  All of it together just makes your heart swell.  

The markets below give a little perspective.
That Cathedral is huge!!!

Our routine had become explore the city in the morning, lunch someplace, walk/shop a bit and then go back to our accommodation until dark...which was 4 pm!  Around 5 we would go back out, do more exploring, have dinner and then really walk around and marvel at the shops and the lights. This routine resulted in an average of about 15,000 steps a day!  

As a coincidence, on our food tour in Paris, we met an interesting young woman from Australia and found out she would be in Strasbourg the same day we were.  We invited her to meet us at the restaurant we had reservations at on our first night for dinner or even just a drink. I mean, we are older...maybe she wanted to hang with some younger people!  We did not know if she would show or not. We did spend 3 hours together eating our way through Paris... why not?  Well...she showed up!  We proceeded to spend the whole night together, talking, eating, drinking and generally having fun.  We ended the night...shutting down a Christmas market.  Small world indeed. 

We visited Colmar, France the next day and my oh my!  For one, the sun was shining brightly for the first time since we left home.  For another, Colmar is the cutest place on earth!  We felt like we had been dropped into a fairy tale!  This was probably the most perfect day of our trip.  Sunny skies, market after market, buildings and streets decorated to the hilt, great food, and a very manageable size place to fully explore.  I would go back!

Love the use of all red locks on the bridge!

Christmas, everywhere you look!

Cute beyond words!
Welcome back to Strasbourg

Our next destination was Baden Baden.  Why Baden Baden?  It is on the way to Frankfurt, where our flight home was departing, smaller and famous for its thermal spas.  We figured we would be chilled to the bone by this point in the trip and in need of some warming up.  We were back to the winter gray skies and as we headed north it just got colder.  Luckily, Baden Baden was charming, easy to navigate and a lovely place to spend a day and night.  Yes, we did go to the spa, no, we did not opt for the "textile free" areas.  We enjoyed every pool we could, inside and outside.  What a luxury!  Good thing our hotel was nearby, I was so relaxed when we left walking was a challenge.  Of course the cold air woke us up pretty quickly.  I cannot imagine how dark these towns are in the winter once all of the holiday decorations and lights are gone.  They are so festive and alive during this season, but with sunset around 4 p.m.  winter is very dark!

Our only sprinkling of snow!

 Our last day was spent in Frankfurt. It was definitely a place that snapped us back into reality.  After spending time in places that felt like walking through a Christmas card, we were in the big city.  Frankfurt is BIG!  We could no longer just walk from place to place, although we tried and got to see the seedier side of the life in the big city.  Let's just say the red light district in Frankfurt is not nearly as charming as it is in Amsterdam.  Another reality check was the markets were shoulder to shoulder crowds and then we realized it was Saturday.  We were definitely on vacation, we had no idea what day of the week it was until then.  Everyone and their grandmother and their kids goes to the markets on Saturday.  Yes, they were just as charming, but there were times I had to tell myself, "You survived Mardi Gras in New Orleans many times, you can do this too!".  We managed to sample some food and found a happening wine bar and lucked out with a seat at a table, surrounded by people.  Guess we were so old, compared to the general clientele, that they gave us a chair.  You know...before we keeled over due to old age 😂



Absolutely loved this booth!

We had a great time, better than expected actually!  We were prepared for inclement weather and had mentally prepared for gloomy skies.  I really had no idea that the night lights would provide so much joy though.  

Just some of the calories we consumed, happily, and tried to walk off on our trip.

Christmas came early to the two of us.  As a result, Christmas may come a little late to our families!  Playing catch up on the gifting and greeting this year...their gifts will arrive...someday!

Hope your holidays are as merry and bright as a European Christmas Market!


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Giving Thanks

As I was riding my bike, I had plenty of time to think the other day.  Used to be when I walked or ran, ah the good old days, I would come up with many of the topics I write about here.  These days I find myself listening to a book or a podcast instead of letting my mind wander.  Riding my bike, I don't listen to anything other than the cars approaching for safety reasons.  I think I miss the days of just not listening to anything while walking or just listening to music and letting my mind wander.  Anyway, my brain went immediately to the obvious, Thanksgiving is upon us and so I just started a mental list of things I am thankful for, not just in November, but always.  Every November I consider writing a daily blurb about something I am thankful for and year after year by the end of the month I have written zero blurbs, in spite of thinking about them.  Follow through is not my strong suite.  So this is me, following through a bit and wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope you have many things in your life to be thankful for.  And, this list may make it seem like life is just peachy all the time but rest assured, it is not and I am thankful for those not so wonderful times and things, because without them the good would not be possible. 

I am thankful for:

My faith.  My faith is my foundation, my compass, my joy, the place I go for comfort, a place to leave my fears, worries and troubles.  I am thankful to have that in my life because without it I would be lost.

My family.  I am lucky enough to be part of a loving and supportive family and to hopefully have created the same.  My parents were two very special people who taught us right from wrong, and showed us how to love and live.  I often wondered, when I was a child, why I was born into the family I was born to, in the place I was born, and in the time I was born.  I had trouble sleeping when I was young, so I had a lot of time to think!  But why am I the person I am, in this place and this time?  I could have been born to different people, in a different country under very different circumstances.  Of course, then I wouldn't be me. My family is a gift given to me.  I have 4 great kids, 7 beautiful grandkids, 4 awesome siblings and countless extended family members who make life beautiful.  

My husband.  Again, I would not be the person I am without him in my life.  He is loving, caring, someone who pushes me out of my comfort zone, supportive, occasionally annoying, a lot of fun, someone who makes me laugh, full of random hairbrained ideas, curious and seeking knowledge, and always game for whatever I want to do!

My health.  As I was riding my bike enjoying the breeze and the nice fall day, I was very thankful to be moving.  Having experienced a few setbacks with broken bones or that pesky ACL surgery I found myself immobilized, I vowed to never take my health for granted.  Being humbled by injuries opened my eyes to what many people face every day.  Through my recoveries I am so very thankful for the gift of my health and my body.  It certainly isn't perfect, but it is the only one I have, and it is still working.

My friends.  Many people have come into and gone out of my life.  I have friends I learned from, friends who inspired me, friends who have supported me and who I have supported, friends I laughed with, cried with, traveled with, worked with, shared secrets with, argued with, gotten into mischief with, competed with, prayed with, and sat quietly together with and I am thankful for each and every one of them.  They have all made my life rich.

My home.  I am blessed to call two places home.  Home is where I can just be me.  Home is the everyday routine and stability.  

Finally, I am thankful for all of my life experiences, the good the bad and the ugly.  What a lot of living we have done and hopefully still have to do!  

What are you most thankful for?  


Monday, October 23, 2023

Hello New York, It's Been a While

 You have heard the saying, "be careful what you wish for, you may just get it", this fall is proving it to be true.  There were times when I would have been thrilled at any opportunity to get out of town.  Lately, all I have to do is wistfully mention a place I'd like to visit, and TJ has booked a flight in a couple of hours.  Apparently, flight booking agent is his new retirement hobby.  This can be a blessing and a curse.  I think I need to be more calculating in the places I suggest...I've always wanted to visit New Zealand.  He has now planned for us to be out of town for at least a long weekend every two weeks for the foreseeable future.  We will be doing the "tour de children and grandchildren" until mid-December.  Add in one recreational indulgence I merely suggested, and my travel agent husband booked, and our year is now going to be lived in two-week intervals.  I would complain but then people might throw things at me.  Maybe this will also give me some good stories to share in the upcoming months.

Last weekend...or the one before, we took a trip that had been in the making for a long time...like 50 years.  It was TJ's 50th high school class reunion.  I find it absolutely mind blowing that we are old enough to be going to 50th reunions for anything!  I feel like I am only 50 myself!  (oh, I wish!)   If you recall, because I am sure you remember, his 40th reunion was an inspiration for me to witness.  I would say the guys picked right up where they left off 10 years ago.  Attending an all-boys Catholic school in the 70's forged some strong relationships among some very good men.  There were at least 50 - 60 attendees in my scientific guestimation.  The appreciation these men have for each other, especially after 50 years, was palpable.  Not only did they each take time out of their lives to attend, they also took time to speak to classmates whether they "hung out" in high school or not.  Common themes in conversations were - 1. retirement...are you retired, when did you retire, how do you spend your time now? 2. Children and grandchildren 3. Travel 4. knees, hips, shoulders and general health 5. and the inevitable..."remember when you"...or "remember when we?".  I tended to home in on the travel conversations and have concluded that we are certainly in the "see the world while you can" years.   One of the more eye-opening parts of the weekend was the school tour, which we had planned to skip, but due to the rainy weather ended up attending.  The level of technology in the school is amazing!  The high school felt more like a university!  I need to go back to high school!  (not!!!)  My hope is that today's students are able to forge the long-lasting friendships these men of years ago forged while living in our current instant and disposable society. 

I give you the class of 1973
Archbishop Stepinac High School

While we were in a place that experiences Fall as a real season and not just a calendar change, we drove up to a lovely reservoir on Sunday and hiked, hoping to see some leaf color.  The hike was lovely, the Fall color was just beginning.  We bravely drove into Manhattan and returned our rental car.  The next two days were spent getting in plenty of steps, eating great food, seeing and feeling all that New York can give and embracing it!  The last time I was in NYC was December 2019, before the world changed so drastically.  Previous to that trip we were frequent visitors and I really missed all that is the Big Apple.  The energy in that city is something special.  The entire weekend made me think about whether I am an introvert or an extrovert because I felt so alive being there.  Those of you who know me might be saying to yourselves, "total extrovert".  I would be inclined to agree with you.  The way being with people brings me to life and feeds my energy level is the sign of a true extrovert.  Upon closer examination, I wonder if while I do feel so much more alive after weekends like last weekend, I also look very much forward to coming home and just being.  

Teatown reservoir

This introverted extrovert personality sounds very much like our next few months.  We are going to be traveling and enjoying the energy of being around so many wonderful people only to return to our home base and enjoy the peace of being "home" with our batteries fully charged.  Too much of either can make me feel "off".  I have noticed since we got home that I have felt great!  The combination of all the socializing along with the energy of NYC brought me home feeling like myself.  I also noticed it made social outings easier than they are after a week or more in my comfy routine life at home.  I should remember this for the future...but will I?

Back to New York.  We only had 2 nights in the city and did not have any solid plans other than dinner reservations.  I am sure there was a play we would have enjoyed, when is there not?  There was probably any number of things we could have done but I just really wanted to walk around the city.  On Sunday, after we returned our rental car, we walked from 37th Street down to SoHo and just took it all in!  Sundays are such nice days to walk the city especially in nice fall weather.  We stopped here and there, we sat in the park and watched, walked a little more, sat outside and had a glass of wine, continued and finally reached our restaurant.  Our plan was to take a cab back but after dinner, but it was just so nice outside we decided to walk back and call a cab if our legs wore out, they did not.  We stopped in a bar around the corner from our hotel to watch the end of the Astros vs. Rangers baseball game.  The bar turned out to be an LSU bar!  Go figure.  We found our place.  19,000 steps later we slept very well!
Dos Caminos, a walk through the woods followed
by a walk through the city.


Watching the Astros surrounded by LSU swag in NYC.

On Monday I did have a few items I wanted to check off my list.  First, eat an authentic New York bagel for breakfast.  We stood in line to get bagels at Liberty Bagels, and it was so worth it!  The soft bagel sandwiched the most delicious schmear!  We wisely chose to split one sesame bagel with lox and dill as we raced to our appointed entry hour at The Summit.  I had seen this place mentioned in my researching and immediately knew I "had" to go!  I was a bit worried TJ would not love it as much as I would, but he loved it too!  How had I missed this place?  We found out it has only been open for 2 years, that's how I missed it.  Our eyes were treated to some of the most spectacular views NYC has to offer.  What a creative, mind bending and beautiful immersive experience, not to mention a photographer's delight.  We were also blessed with some chamber of commerce weather.  If ever there was a day that makes one want to return to the city, this was the day.  Lunch was at a random local deli and worthy.  Next stop on my walking tour was Central Park to find Phil Rosenthal's (Somebody Feed Phil) park bench.  We followed the directions and after a couple of tense moments spent questioning each other's intel, we decided to just walk a bit and found it immediately.  We paid homage to Phil and Monica, took our selfie, tagged Phil and hoped he would say "hi" back.  Love that guy! Then we pretended we had money and walked around the Upper West Side, shopped and enjoyed a glass of wine in a sidewalk cafe and watched people.  The best part of the day came on our walk home after dinner.  We passed a place named Keen's Chophouse.  TJ stopped in his tracks.  His father brought him to Keen's on his 10th birthday for dinner.  We just had to go in and see if it was "that" Keen's.  It was!  This was the exclamation point at the end of a weekend walk down memory lane.  
The Summit was a visual treat!

Mind bending

Somebody Feed(s) Phil, I feed TJ!

You should zoom in on this one and see the names on the pipes!  
TJ's Dad smoked a pipe too and I am sure he smoked his 
when he brought 10-year-old TJ here for dinner.

Walking down memory lane.

You would think nothing could top or even match NYC and most of the time you would be right.  Now, I won't say this topped the city, but it did provide a gentler re-entry to suburban life.  We were treated to an evening cruise down Buffalo Bayou in Houston the evening we returned home.  I had low expectations for this, aside from the good friends who we would be spending time.  Boy, was I surprised!  The chamber of commerce weather followed us home and downtown Houston showed up!  We were celebrating one of our good friends becoming a citizen of the United States.  It was a good way to remind us that home really is a good place too.  We need to explore our own city more like tourists sometimes!
Buffalo Bayou showing off.

Believe it or not...
this beautiful scene is the jail building.
The windows are only open at the very top section of each, and the rest of the window is fake...

Golden hour...over.


While it is nice to go away, there's no place like home.  Going away seems to charge my inner extrovert battery but coming home gives my introvert time to appreciate both the away and the home.  I am very thankful for both! 

Friday, September 22, 2023

Farewell to My Life "Away"

 This week is one of the most exhausting and bittersweet weeks of my year.  This is the week we shut down our life at the farmhouse and prepare to fly south for the winter.  I have chronicled this week many times over the years, and one would think after so many years doing this process it would get easier or that my mental state would be more prepared for what lies ahead, but alas, I am a slow learner.  Add to the clean out the fridge, put everything away for the winter, pack up your suitcase, wash everything you can lay your eyes on frenzy that is on my "to do" list, we had to prepare for a hurricane!  I think it was a blessing and a curse.

Hurricane Lee hit Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI last weekend.  We all knew it was coming and hopefully everyone prepared as well as we did.  Hopefully no one needed all of their preparations either.  All last week I kept saying we were going to over prepare and hopefully it would all would work out.  Well.. it actually did!  The hurricane came and went and it was one of the more interesting and lovely hurricanes I have ever seen!  Go figure!

Absolute favorite part of any hurricane I have ever seen!
I watched this rainbow move across the horizon for about 30 minutes!

Just had to go down at high tide to see just how high it was.


Hurricane Lee came and went and left nothing but muddy yards and rain weary people in its wake.  The past week has been dreary and downright depressing!  September did not win me over this year.  After what can only be described as a rainy summer, September has been more of the same.  My brain works so much better in the sunshine!  Add to the rain the cooler than usual temperatures and the mass evacuation for the hurricane and we were left with each other and the dreary gray sky in our final week and try as I might to get motivated to pack, clean and ready the house for our departure, I just kept dragging my feet.  I did manage to get "some" stuff done and the hurricane prep helped get all the flying objects inside, but darn if the day before we leave...yet again...is like a friggin' marathon!

One of us got to power wash not one but 2 lawnmowers, run the 
gas out of them and put them away for the season.

The poor garden had to be cleaned up and we harvested most of the available produce.
Can I say how much I am going to miss eating super fresh, organic produce 
every day?!

Last but not least we had to empty all of the potted plants that
have provided us with so much joy as they 
adorned our various decks and porches.
This truly is one of the hardest things I have to do every time we leave.

This week has provided me with many opportunities to reflect on what I will miss and what I won't miss when we leave.  I will miss a lot for sure, but after spending a solitary week in the cool and gray I am very much looking forward to some sunshine.  Of course, one week back home and I will be begging to come back to the coolness up here.  Such a quandary...but alas, we must go home at some point.

Things I will miss...

-The garden!  The thought of eating vegetables from the supermarket and not minutes old from the backyard is daunting.  I swear every summer my body thanks me for eating organic vegetables.  The vegetable from our garden taste so much better than anything I can buy at the store, and we get very spoiled.  Meals are usually planned around what we just picked out of the garden.  I have this, this and this...search a recipe and that's what we have for dinner!  Easy.  Add to the garden the brilliant flowers that we have up here and I am all in!

-Having people around who are happy to drop by or be dropped in on at a moment's notice.  Until recently when everyone escaped the hurricane, there was any number of people who would drop by for dinner or invite us over for dinner.  Back home it's just the two of us...every night it seems.  There are no spontaneous gatherings.

-The light.  The light up here is different.  For some reason, maybe it is just my shore-colored goggles, but everything is more beautiful up here...especially when the sun is shining.  The air is clearer, the greens are greener, the blues are bluer, and the air is clearer!

-The ease of life up here.  There is no traffic.  There are many open spaces.  The population is sparse.  The pace of life is a lot slower than the one at home.  When I first arrive these are some of the things that drive me crazy, then after a couple of weeks, I have slipped into the easier pace of life up here and greatly appreciate it!

-No TV!  I have not sat down and watched television since I left home.  If I must confess, I really don't miss it 95% of the time.  Then college football starts...or baseball season gets serious...and I feel very left out.  Add to those things one...or two lonely, gray weeks and I find myself resorting to watching Seinfeld on my computer at night just to pass the time.  Desperate times require desperate measures.  I much prefer the nights when digital entertainment is the farthest thing from my mind!

Things I am looking forward to when I get home...

-My hair salon!  Vanity of vanities!  

-A nail salon...my poor neglected feet!  More vanity.

-Eating out...within a couple of miles from my house!

-My golf club which is only 2 miles from my house and where I have made some very good friends.

-My car.  We have one, very old truck, up here and two people living 20 miles away from the nearest golf club or grocery store with one truck is a challenge.  The truck has been in the shop twice this summer resulting in no car...or borrowing cars.  I miss my car, the one with the backup camera and the blind spot warning and the comfortable seats and the Bluetooth connection.  That 2003 truck is nice and all but it is not my car!  I miss my independence!

There is a short list of things I will miss and things I am looking forward to when I get home.  Today has been a marathon and still it isn't all done.  The leaving is a slow and painful tearing yourself away from the idyllic life we are privileged to live in the summer up here.  Yes, I might complain about the details, but for 3 months of living in what can only be described as stepping back in time to a kinder, simpler life it is all worth it!

Until next summer, farewell to my home away from home.  I sure wish I could channel you when I need you in my "real" life!


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