what if's that can change your life, even if only for a couple of days....

Up until this morning ... I was seriously pondering my own mortality.  There have been times when it's brushed through my mind in a moment of time, but this was different... it lasted for days.  I was having some symptoms that resembled those of a life threatening condition.  And because I know a little too much at times, while not knowing near enough... I was reading & worrying & FORTUNATELY- it kicked me into gear into making a dr appointment that was a bit over due.  Leading up to the above mentioned appt, I had some tests run & some of their results explained my symptoms!  In this time bubble I find myself in, none of this is as important as the thoughts I dealt with for these past few days.  I was evaluating decisions and setting priorities, and .....wondering.  Wondering if I needed to start getting my affairs in order.  Wondering how long I might have to adore the things I am most passionate in my life.  Before I came to any conclusions ... this particular bullet was dodged.  In the meantime, I hugged & kissed my husband a few extra times each day ... and I wrote a few letters.  
And now, the fire beneath me has been turned down just a bit, to give me time to take care of things that need to be a-taken care of!!  (with this, I turn my eyes upward & thank my lucky stars)

a day off from retired life

I made a comment to a friend a few weeks ago about Weds (at least the morning) being my day off.  She immediately chortled back "you're killing me ... a day off?  You have every day off, you're retired!"  She's right!
And she's wrong too.
At least 80% of the time... I am wondering how I ever had time to work?!!  Or maybe more specifically.. when did I find the time to PLAY?
My guess ? .... when I was working, I managed my time better to allow for the things I wanted to do in between the things I HAD to do!  I obviously did NOT get up at 8... I did NOT go to bed at midnight!  At first ... I seemed to have a lot more time.  Then, silly me.. I began volunteering,  I rejoined Sweet Adelines, I started doing some of my OWN gardening, I turned 60!!!  ALL these things affect my leisure time, as SOME of them are a LOT of work.... the fact that I volunteered or took it on by my own choice ... doesn't make it any less work!  But with all that being said ... I have a great life, albeit a little fuller than I would prefer at times.
At any rate ... I have taken up the "time off" I had for this morning by blogging ... so off to chores I go.  til next time.

the "what have I got myself into" phrase ...

I THINK I made a comment close to a year ago that may have landed me where I am now ... writing the script for our summer show (Celebration Chorus- Aug 17th!)

I was given the theme.
ANIMALS.
uh .........

That's the FIRST time I wondered what I had gotten myself into!  (WHIGMI)
So .. with the help of some funny ladies (particularly when we are tired or under the influence) .. ideas started floating in my head and onto paper in disjointed paragraphs.  Last night was the first official script meeting where additional story ideas were bandied about to begin filling in the gaps created by my fractured thoughts and occasional writers' block!  I am told that it is moving at the normal pace and in the next few days I will be adding some more texture to the "animal quilt" in my head.  So far so good, considering it's my maiden voyage!  I'm sure I have a few more "WHIGMI" on the horizon, but I'm over the first hurdle.  I'm thinking I better get some new running shoes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY PRECIOUS BABY BOY

April 14, 1975 .......
I awoke around 6am, to a noise in the ceiling and listened for a while before waking my husband & asking him what he thought it was.  (turned out to be a couple of mice) ... it was a few minutes before his normal rising time so we were lying there talking when my water broke.  I called my mom- described the feeling & the mild cramps that started a short time later and she told me I was in labor.  It wasn't uncomfortable .. just noticeable.  Within an hour we were loading into the car to head to the hospital.  The contractions were a little closer together, but not urgent.  By 9'ish, I was settled into my room & awaiting the OB's arrival ... the contractions got a little stronger & a monitor was attached.  Jerry (baby-daddy) & I talked about how excited we were to see this baby we had longed for and wondering if it was a boy or a girl.  We are talking about 38 years ago when ultrasounds were ONLY done when there was concern during the pregnancy!
WELL- to make the next 4 hour story a little shorter (!), my son Terry was born at 1:11pm that afternoon.  Which, I might add, was his actual due date!!  His arrival did not disappoint me, for I fell in love the moment I saw him ... and he has yet to do so since (okay, maybe a couple of times .. after all, he WAS a teenager for a few years!!)
I love my baby, who has since grown to a very tall, funny, intelligent, hardworking, & beautiful man!!  And today- I wish him a BIG Happy Birthday!!   I love you T.

what a difference an hour makes ....

from time to time the Capt and I "escape" life.  for many... this would seem odd, since we profess to love our lives so much .. and I again profess that fact this moment.  THIS, however, is  a different type of escape.  It is from those things in our daily or weekly routine & obligations, and allows us to concentrate on US.  Most often ... it is simply 24 hours long and a few minutes from home.  But, most importantly of all ... it is away from chores that are ever present, no matter how diligent we are at keeping up with them.  it is away from responsibilities we sign up for in earnest .. regardless of how much time it takes from our home & free time.  it is away from all those little things that don't mean much individually ... but together build to become the bigger parts of our life together, and are difficult to set aside when face to face with them.  These "parts", as I call them, are things we love .. things we are passionate about .. but- NONE THE LESS - things that begin to control our lives if we aren't conscious of their all-consuming time commitments.  And so, to make sure we never lose sight of the TRUE purpose of our relationship .. the Capt & I have our little retreats.  the sound of the ocean is about all we require .. but if a fireplace or a jacuzzi tub is available ... it's frosting on the cake.  and so- as I nestle under a down comforter, with the last of my magazines finished off ... a full tummy, a warm latte near it's end and the Capt at my side, I am reminded of how much I love being with this man ... any 'ole time!!   

evidence that college does NOT make someone smart!!

TODAY was the day that hundreds of Cal Poly students chose to bombard the normally quiet sands of Shell Beach.  It happens a couple of times a year ... & costs the city thousands (many thousands) of dollars in overtime & extra shifts ... to protect the drinkers, partiers, & all-in-all STUPID kids from themselves!!!  They arrive inebriated, they continue to imbibe, they urinate in the water (except for those who are so drunk, they just whip it out in public), they leave their trash behind, they parade around partially clad, & make continual fools of themselves.  They show no respect for property or law enforcement... or for themselves for that matter!
I suppose what bothers me most is that these young people are our future ...
Are their parents aware of how their education dollars are being spent?  On beer & bail?!!!  Several arrests were made and with any luck at all ... HOPEFULLY some lessons learned.  Whatever happened to good, clean, fun?  I can only imagine the good that could have been done with the money that was wasted today as a result of many poor choices.