vacation has REALLY begun now!

one does not have to stetch the imagination to observe the beauty of this complex.  The grounds are kept looking like this year-round and there is a lovely view of some type from almost every unit.  I don't know how much mom & dad shopped before deciding this was the right place .... but they sure made a great choice!  Torches are lit in the evenings .... I think I will venture out & try to catch a shot of one this evening,

signs that we belong here ...

our arrival yesterday was met with overcast skies & a soft breeze ... allowing us to acclaimate to the warm, moist air in a more civilized way than breaking into a sweat that will not leave us for several days.  thank you Maui.  Being armed with our carry on luggage ... packed to "burst proportions", we picked up our rental car & headed to Kihei to face this .... a sunset canvas of pinks that were so abundant, it's hues flowed over onto the waters below.  Had the Gods sung out at this moment, I would not have been surprised.  What a lovely way to start our Hawaiian getaway!

ALOHA awaits

we are literally just hours away from such "treats" in tropical Maui.  This year marks trip #20 (more or less) and our LUCKY 13th anniversary ... so I will be posting MUCH more on that later-  you can be sure.  For today, as I scamble with last minute reminders & perhaps a pedicure ...

I leave you with a visual of the Captain's"usual"  maitai & my 1 time a year annual lava flow ... along with a picture of my favorite shoes (if I must wear any at all).  It indicates what they will be doing whenever I'm in the sand.  IF YOU ARE reading this blog ... I have probably thought of you while I'm away (really), but I will still enjoy myself thoroughly, though you are missed !

I'm a little bit country ...

FALL into color

 It's no secret that I LOVE fall!  The colors, aromas of the harvest, the chill in the air ... I love it all!!  So we took a drive to witness the changes in scenery thus far ... I wasn't disappointed at all.  Camera in hand- I took way more shots than I can possible use and couldn't wait to check them out.  The best part about it is that it's only begun and the best of the season is still yet to come!

yea, yea, yea ... the stuff is WAY overpriced and I'm not buying any of it, BUT- I love looking at it & taking snaps of the displays (& recipe ideas) ... IT'S LIKE the Macy's windows at Christmas !!!  And in lieu of the goodies you see here ... we brought home fresh fruits & veggies instead  :o)

We are days away from our vacation (& anniversary) and weeks away from GREAT food & family gatherings.  What more could a person ask for! 
LIFE IS GOOD ............

I need emotional help after watching "The Help"

I just watched the movie.
I know what I want to say and yet ... I'm literally at a loss for words. (don't you wish)  My limited travel experiences HAVE taken me into the southern states of our United country.  More than once, I have commented that I would love to live in that area on a part-time basis.  Afterall ... I don't like - mosquitos, high humidity during warm weather, too much warm weather, roaches the size of my last piano, water bugs even bigger yet, hurricanes, floods, and more ...  SO, if you narrow it down by these alone- it really only leaves 2 months I think, BUT- then I watch this movie & it reminds me that bigotry, hatred, & unequality still exists- and my romance with mossy trees, green meadows that go on forever, brick homes, the feel of history, & humongous magnolia trees ... is nipped in it's tender little bud!  This story, beautifully manuscripted, gives us hope at the end- but in reality after a book like this (in those times), there would have been much to fear for those involved.  I truly believe, if I were there, in the 60's- I would have been Skeeter.  I (probably) would not have been as brave as she-  BUT, I would have had a valiant purpose to my life!
LET ME JUST (?) ask one question .... if you trusted someone to cook your food, to be in your home for more waking hours than in their own, and even MORE IMPORTANTLY ...to  care for your children- how could you NOT believe them to be a good person?! How could you NOT be repectful of them? ... ok, 2 questions!   (and how could you rip them from your child's life if you loved your child!!!)  These things are head scratching questions for me.
I'm NOT saying everyone deserves equal respect across the board .... I have neither the time or patience for people who don't pay their share of taxes, who live off of society in general, who screw over their friends or the people they are representing.  I have no respect for people who lie their way through life & take no responsibility for their actions ... THESE are all 2nd class citizens in my opinion ... but it is NOT based on color, religion, or politics.  I cannot profess to be totally unbiased, but I do my best ... and if I screw up- I'm gonna be the first to point it out (I hope).  Great movie ... but I think I may lose some sleep over it!  

making a change in position ...

I was watering my flower garden this morning and noticed (for the first time) ... the cute little pistil in the center of the evening primrose.  I was not in my usual position for the task.  had I been- I'm not sure I would have noticed.  And so was born the topic of my blog at this moment.  CHANGE in general, changing a position on or of something ... more specifically.  It is, for the most part, the same thing as looking at something from a different angle or point of view.  It can be time consuming.  It can be frustrating to many.  It can be enlightening to those with an open mind.  Politicians do it on a regular basis .. but for the wrong reasons (and pretty much without fooling anyone), partners do it to keep from becoming bored, photographers do it ALL THE TIME, and I'll bet even us peasants ... do it without even realizing it!

 "Changing your mind", is probably not as correct a term as perhaps "changing your perspective" or "changing your thought".  And so- in the simplest of meanings ... once I noticed the old fashioned TV antenna in the center of the flower ... I moved about and looked at it from different angles and saw that it was a cross, an X, a starfish, a windmill, a twirlygig, and so much more .. just like MOST things in life.  There is often so much more that meets the eye, so much more under the surface, so much more to be learned & appreciated.  And I'm thinking- rather than everyone wanting more, more, more of this, that, & the other ... how about we just take more time to listen.  more time to absorb.  more time to consider.  more time "in the moment".  As I have learned ....these things give you MORE of the good things in life!
umm ... I love flowers .. they ALWAYS  make me smile  :o)

that's what friends are for .... (the BBS edition)

I am amazingly fortunate to have so many friends in my life.  My inner circle, once you add the Captain and my sisters ... is humongous.  NO "real housewives" drama here ... just a lot of laughter & music & support (& a person for every single thing I could EVER want to talk about or need help with).  AWESOME .... and even this word doesn't measure up to the magnitude of my appreciation for their part in my life.  YAY for me!!

"stranded" with a decision

I saw a post on FB just now, asking what 3 things I would want if stranded on a deserted island.  I could take a couple of hours to dwell on it ... but, really- if things were hectic & happening fast, I wouldn't have a lot of time to decide such things, so I went with my first thoughts.  Fair or not- this was what I decided on ...  knowledge, fearlessness, & the Captain (he's can figure out or fix anything!)  just sayin' ......

sometimes I feel, like a motherless child ...

the song keeps repeating in my head.
 Having lost all the parents I'm ever gonna have ... along with the few childhood memories I can  conjure up... I have moments when I really do feel alone.  Funny how one can feel like they need a parent to turn to even at a half century +9.  Sometimes I don't know what prompts it- but, today I do.  I'm in the process of applying for a passport... and I don't have all the answers.  Who expects at this age to be needing to know one's father's DOB.  That being a father who virtually abandoned the child at the age of  2.  As the story goes- it was said that my mom drove away in the middle of the night with my older brother & I in tow ... her husband at work on the night shift.  On the rare occassion that she was able to answer my questions- she told me that all she took was us & the PJ's on our backs & our blankies ....  nothing else.  I'm not sure from what city to what city the journey led, I didn't think to ask at the time.  Years later, the memories were clouded, & there were no answers.  I did at one time inquire what month my dad's birthday was (heretofore to be known as the sperm donor) ... she could not recall.  "Is he the same age as you?" I questioned.  She wasn't sure.  She mentioned in passing once that their marriage had been annulled- finding that she was not legally divorced from hubby #1.  Oddly, though- in doing an online search today, trying to find some record of my sperm donor's DOB- it had mom listed by her maiden name when she married #2.  I actually know where the "donor" lives ... but would rather do without a passport than contact him, so we will see how stringent the rules are of the application instead. 
It just got me to thinking (again) how little evidence there is of my childhood existence!  I have a shoebox of photos, faded and unmarked, of people I remember vaguely, having not been in their company for at least 30 years ... and many of whom I know to have passed.  And so- I sit here ... being one of 5 siblings ... with no memories in common until AFTER they were born, and feeling like an orphan of sorts.  Like I was plopped onto the is earth at the age of 11.  ODD at best.  But with all that being said .... I have spilled a few tears and already feel a little less heavy in heart.  Afterall, it is what it is.  (I use this phrase when I know there is really very little I can do to change a situation.  It somehow removes some of the pressure or emotion I'm feeling at the time) AND ....
tomorrow is a fresh start!

dede-lightful evening

my colorful life

I got flowers, I cried, I hugged, I boasted, & I sang a solo ...just  not necessarily in that order!  It was a LONG DAY, it was a fun day, it was hectic & minorly stressful day ... but mostly- it was a wonderful day.  Partly because of YOU.  Let me digress for a moment.  A couple of weeks ago- I mentioned to my daughter-in-law (April).. that the grandkids might enjoy our upcoming Barbershop show, since it was (loosely) based on Alice in Wonderland.  Within a few days she had decided that it WOULD work out (there was a drive involved), and the plan was set.  Now, considering that she & my son (Christopher) have a busy, busy life & sometime eratic schedules ... I tried not to give it too much thought because I knew I would be disappointed if something came up that agreeably was more important.  We texted the day before the show & she was set to make the trip.  I really looked forward to having them there (and a little nervous that I would live up to their expectations too).  To make a slightly too long story a wee bit shorter- I came into the audience after the show and TO MY JOYOUS HEART'S SURPRISE- my son was there too!!  I was caught totally by surprise and it brought tears to my eyes.  happy tears.  Add to that a gorgeous bouquet from the grandkids (Anthony knows gramma loves flowers) - they are sitting here in view and I love having those feelings all over again.  It was so thoughtful of them to be there for me!  (hence the YOU of which I speak)

 and .... as if all of that wasn't dede-lightful enough, my sister, Lindy arrived later in the day & accompanied my neighbors (the infamous Francos) to the evening performance.  Once again ... flowers were placed in my grasp.  A beautiful arrangement bursting with color!  I believe this is the first time she's seen me perform as well- and since I talk about family so much, my fellow chorus members were looking forward to meeting her! 

A LOT of work went into this show ... and a personal goal was met that will be my baby step toward the next one.  Pictures should be following soon to document the fun  & the flavor.  As I write this- almost exactly 4 days to the hour later ... I am FINALLY caught up on sleep- but still have a few chores to do before I am back on time track.  BUT- it was worth it !