Road Trip to the Gulf

Today after attending a memorial service for a dear friend that passed earlier in the week, I took a road trip to Dauphin Island, Alabama. A good trip to say the least. Actually took the car ferry from Dauphin Island across to Fort Morgan, Alabama and drove back home.

The ferry ride which was about 45 minutes gave me time to reflect on the day and the future. It also gave me some much needed perspective. Being at the water usually does that for me. I spent some time at Gulf Shores State Park watching the water and the waves. I don't know what there is about the sound. It seems to fixate me. I could of stayed all weekend, but other plans would not allow. Just the short time on the ferry and being on or near the water helped me to wrap my arms around things that have been bothering me for a few weeks. In particular, my upcoming back surgery. I can honestly say I'm ready to have the doctors proceed. Recovery of six to eight weeks seems like a long time, but the older you get, time flies by faster.

Sometimes I wish I could be nearer the water, but not a good thing on the Gulf Coast from June to November. But I will plan more trips to the water in the winter.

By the way, I saw a wedding on the beach at Gulf Shores. How happy that couple must be. I actually clapped from the pier when I saw them kiss. Starting a new life together. I wonder if they knew that others were watching with the serenity of the water and waves as the background music? I hope they have a happy life together. This event kind of made my day better especially with the early morning memorial service.

Snowbird needed the road trip and the water/waves to soothe her soul....

What Is a True Friend?

What is a true friend? I've found different definitions over the years, but for me, personally, I've divided the people I know into two categories: (1) acquaintances; and, (2) friends. Acquaintances are those who may know you, but do not know your intimate thoughts or feelings as does a friend. I've been told through the years that a "true friend" can taste the salt in your tears.

This past weekend, I experienced the knowledge of categorizing a person as either an acquaintance or true friend. It all revolved around a telephone call with a question and the receipt of three text messages as I was leaving MI to return to AL. The text messages were revealing to say the least even though cryptic or coy. The messages helped me throw the stone over my shoulder so to speak (see previous post). So for now, I have added another to my list of acquaintances. How long are our list of friends versus acquaintances? I guess that's something to think about. Does it all really matter? I like having both.

Folk Lore and Change

Snowbird made a quick trip to her home state of Michigan this past Friday and returned on Monday. It was a whirlwind trip driving up, making a u-turn and coming back home. Trip was dual purposed and all was accomplished.

The trip actually made me stop and think about where I've been, where I'm at now and where I'm going. It's interesting how things really change in 32 years or even 7 years ago when I was there last. It reiterated to me that you can never go home and expect everything to be as you remembered. The home place, schools, streets, stores, roads, to name a few, have all changed. For me it was a realization that time waits for no man and certain things sometimes can not be had again. You only have your memories.

When I was leaving Michigan, it reminded me of a lore I read once: You stand at the seashore with your back to the sea and facing the shore. You throw a stone over your shoulder into the sea to leave everything behind so you can move forward. I essentially did that when I left Michigan, not literally, but figuratively.

Everything that kept me in knots, with the exception of my family, has been left behind. I will visit, but my thoughts and expectations will be different.

I left the red roses to now change to white....

In Memory of G

I lost a wonderful person in my life on Saturday. For this post, I will call her "G". She was a part of my Sunday mornings for a long while. I would listen to her play the church organ with so much fervor. Music was her joy. You could feel her joy when she played either on the organ or piano. When she had to quit playing because of her sickness, I had to change the way I listened to the music during Sunday services. I was so use to listening to "G' play, it took me forever to get use to the new organist. "G' always had a smile and wonderful greeting for everyone whether at church or when you saw her at the grocery or anywhere.

You will be missed "G". I know you are hearing God's music now. Music that I can't even begin to imagine. We will meet again someday "G". Until then, you are in God's care and surrounded with love and music beyond all thought.

Tropical Storm Claudette?

Where did she come from? I've been watching ANA and BILL in the Atlantic, but this one seemed to sneak up on the Gulf Coast and was named overnight. Oh well! Hopefully, this will be a little breeze and nothing serious. But then, that's HOPEFULLY. We'll see come tomorrow. Hurricane season is upon us.

Save the Children

Not sure why all of a sudden I felt this strong need to support a cause outside of the realm of knitting, but today was the day to jump into something new. I looked at the Save the Children web-site and decided to become a sponsor of a child in the United States. Why the United States? I am particularly concerned about the needs and poverty in our own backyard.

Children have always been of paramount concern to me. I worked for a period of time for a school district in Michigan and I witnessed firsthand the needs of children. For years I have thought about the programs the schools had back then that took care of children and wondered what would have happened to these children without the programs. My thoughts were always about the needs of the innocents--the children. Would the lunch those children received, on any given day, be the only meal for the day? Would the after-school programs be enough to change that child for life? Would the programs give the child the impetus or push to succeed in life? I will never know how some of the children so long ago have faired in this life, but I can now monitor the successes of a program that puts back 91% of their donations to help children in one way or another. Will I quit knitting because of my involvement in this program? NO. I will quietly watch and read all of the updates that will be sent to me by Save the Children and will keep knitting, donating and supporting other causes as well.

Tomato Tango at Cathedral Square

On Saturday, my sisters and I decided to get up early and head to the downtown area to visit the farmers market. In addition, the local botanical gardens had a booth set up to promote their herb gardens -- Tomato Tango in Cathedral Square. They were serving tomato sandwiches and flavored teas for a small donation. I have to say that I am a sucker for a good tomato sandwich. My sandwich had a basil infused mayonnaise and also avocado dressing. Since it has been so HOT in the Deep South, I had to follow it with a peach basil iced tea. Overall it was quite tasty. Finally, our sweet tooth set in and we decided to try miniature pies--sweet potato and buttermilk. Yummy! Little sister came home with a gigantic cantaloupe. It was a wonderful outing with my sisters and we need to do it again sometime -- just the three of us. Thanks to Bunny for letting me borrow her picture of tomatoes for this post. We forgot the camera on Saturday. Tomatoes are compliments of Bunny's little sister Baby. Fresh from her plants.