Family & Friends

As much as I enjoy being alone, there are times I NEED my friends & family. Being with them is like a feast. Each of the individuals in my life is a perfect snack. Put them together & they're a fine meal. This trip has been one of the best ever, starting out with one of my oldest & dearest friends, Tom, who I met nearly 38 years ago (July 1972). Mornings are spent lazily sipping (guzzling by me, actually) coffee made with freshly ground beans of fine quality. Breakfast choices include toast, fruit, yogurt, nuts, granola that's consumed over a couple hours. We discuss the news, old & new. We don't always agree, in fact we've had some incredible disagreements that took some time to resolve. We talk about life, new & old, our hopes for the future, the good & bad in life & what we're doing about all of it. We agree that one may complain only if he or she does something about the complaint or at least tries. Otherwise you're just a whiner. So my birthday started with a morning like that. A walk on the beach, a quick lunch, then a fond farewell for a few days.

That afternoon it was off to pick my grandson Josh up from school & go see Alvin & the Chipmunks-The Squeaquel. <--- cute. Oh my goodness, there's no feeling quite like squeezing the dickens out of a grandkid! John had left his phone on the bus that morning so he rang to ask me to go retrieve it at the transportation center. After that it was off to the movies. After the movies we met up with John & Trish & went to a Vietnamese restaurant they frequent. John was jazzed to introduce me to the proprietor as his Mom. It must be fun to bamfoozle people with the truth. Saturday Josh had 2 basketball games, both of which were fun to watch but not fun to witness...get it? Later that evening we played Rock Band (I suck) then went to play Laser Tag, my first time. It was a blast but I suck! I came in 16th out of 17 but as Beck said, "At least you weren't last!" More Rock Band & then a good collapse. Sunday we joined Gordon's family & Ian's girls, Torrey & Morgan, for a BBQ at Michelle's. It was absolute joy to see everyone! Gordon said I have to move back here. (I'm at LAX awaiting my flight home) Too bad I love my Home Sweet Home Reston too much to move. Besides, it just seems so packed here except for sunrise at the beach on chilly January mornings. That's peaceful. Monday I stayed up at John & Trish's to take care of Josh on MLK Day. After Josh retrieved Bogie from a neighbor's yard due to a fallen fence board we went to see Avatar. I loved it!

Monday night was dinner with the old pals. Always fun :-) Tuesday was half a day with Tom & then out to dinner again with the pals. Oh, Matthew adjusted my spine (first time ever for me...could be a convert) & the pressure in my neck melted away. Such a lovely feeling, I must say. More on that another time. Here I am on Wednesday AM making my way home. It'll be nice to be back in my home town & get back to some routine...coffee with friends, PlayGroup, weight-training, decent meals, as well as any new adventures that come my way or that I cook up.

Despite the troubles along the way, I still feel this life is a joy & mustn't be spent complacently. The future is uncertain but the possibilities are exciting. So, when I'm not feeling like hunkering, I'll give you a ring so you can join me for a snack or for the feast that is life. Bon Appetit!

You know...?

Some days are just better than others. Today has been better than others. Meeting up with certain souls makes a day better. However, lately there has been so much negativity swirling around that I've felt a need to change direction. My LinkedIn page shows my retirement from the Doula biz in July '09 & recently from the volunteer position as Treasurer at Winterport Cluster Assoc. This is true. Mostly positive on both fronts & I've enjoyed both occupations to the max. But you know when the time comes to switch out & move on? I reached it. Now comes the transition time when a new Mommajohamma emerges. Hoping to have my crew onboard but you never know.

Year-end gifts

So, I didn't visit the dead relatives that day after all because of weather. Somehow I knew they'd wait for me. You get that vibe after you bury them...somehow. But today, because of those dead relatives, I received good news from my portfolio. Physically as well. Longevity is a gift. If I behave myself I might attain a good old age. Terrorize my offspring in a way my parents couldn't. (I was 3k miles away from them) By design? No, not really. My firstborn is 3k miles away from me & I still manage to terrorize. Wait, is this an epiphany? Could be. My offspring are closer than they'd like...physically & metaphysically. Anyhow, the fact is that I'm smug in my existence & I'll die when I die. So be it. You guys will remember me.