DC and more

Once again, my trip starts the same way - My View.  The seats change, but the view is basically the same.

Breaking one of my cardinal rules turned out great.  Wonderful flights, both way. Landed to 57 degrees weather.  We went to Tom's apartment and I got to meet my Granddog, Luke.  His energy level is way more than I had at that time, but so cute.  He's part Golden and Lab combo, but loves to jump up on you.


On the way home the clouds were so beautiful I couldn't resist taking this picture.  This was after we had begun traveling over the ocean.  


For it to be such a "whirlwind" trip, it was awesome.  Saw my Nephew Walter and his wife Nanette, sons Nathan and Chris.  What a joy to see them again.  Thursday we went to breakfast with some friends of Toms.  Rested, then went to someones (Parker) house for an unbelievable dinner with new and old friends.  Back to the hotel and then an early flight home.  (Turkey fixed 3 different ways, ham, veggies, pies, cakes, cookies, 3 different cranberry dishes, several different kinds of bread just to mention some of the food)

Tom gave me an I-phone (early Christmas present) and my trip was an early Christmas present from a "relative I can't mention."

Mock said Ween didn't eat while I was gone.  Hard to believe, she loves to eat so much.  I know she missed me as she didn't leave my side for several days after I returned.

It has been a long time since I have enjoyed so many things at one time. I am so truly blessed.  (The only down side is Dallas lost.  Guess you can't have everything you want)

A Little Miracle Just For Me

Having very few items left from my first husband, Tom, I cherish each with a great deal of love and fondness.  One of these items is a pair of earrings that Tom gave me the year after he died.

I know it seems impossible but I found a "gift certificate" for Tom. One that a student probably gave as a Christmas Gift several years before and he had never redeemed.  There were a bunch of papers that I almost threw away but decided to sort individually. And, there it was.  I called to find out if it was still valid and they assured me there wasn't any expiration date.  I decided to go by myself.  It was a lovely intimate jewelry store on Dodcanese Street in a nearby city that I actually love to visit. 

Tarpon Springs is a unique place.  There are the old sponge docks, restaurants, shops, bakeries, and the most amazing food any where. The primary income for many years was from the diving for and sale of sponges. The history is rich with tales of adventure and memories. I love to hear the stories my friends tell of bygone days.  The sponge economy is just recovering from a blight that killed the business years ago.  The surrounding town has grown into a "tourist" area to experience.

As I entered the store, an older gentleman rose from his desk behind an open area in the back of the shop.  I asked him what could I purchase for this gift certificate.  He showed me an array of items that were available and none were anything that "caught my imagination."  I said that I didn't see anything I could wear and started to leave.  He stopped me with a box from another case.  There in plain sight was the most beautiful pair of earrings that I had ever seen.  They had the "Greek Key" insignia wrapped in a circular form.  They were perfect. When I got home I saw the date was April 6. Tom died on April 7, the year before.  (How neat is that)

I lost one of the earrings three days ago.  My heart was broken.  I COULDN'T LOSE ONE OF THOSE.  As tears were rolling down my face in realization of what it meant NOT to see both earrings, I spoke aloud, "Please Father. Please, please, please.  Don't let that earring be gone. You know what those mean to me.  Please show me where it could be.  I can't lose it."  

I tore apart my bathroom and bedroom.  Nothing! The evening progressed.  I kept searching.  It was bedtime. I am using a nebulizer for my sinus infection so I reached down under the sink to get it ready to use, and there was a plastic bag on top of the liquid I use in my machine.  I started to move it and "My Voice" said, "Look in there."  

Inside were small items that I had gotten in Hong Kong.  I was sorting through them earlier that morning.  There in the bottom of the bag was my other earring.  How?  I remembered scraping the items off the top of the vanity back into the bag and the earring had been included.  I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF LOOKING THERE, but God did.  

Isn't it amazing that He even cares about something so simple.  He knows our heart.  I am grateful for so many things, especially the fact that He loves me and cares about me.  Thank you again, Father.  

Decisions

When I am headed in one direction, and suddenly the path does a 90 degree turn onto a different path, I'm usually confused at first. Disappointment is sometimes evident or a "what to do now" thought runs through my head.  I am at one of those crossroads even as I write.

I had reapplied to go back to work, part time, to the job that I had left in January.  I wasn't rehired.  Disappointed?  Yes.  Confused?  Some what.  So, where now?  I thought when the department supervisor sent me an email telling me of the opening, that it was more or less a "sure thing."  Over the weeks, the job changed, the requirements changed, and obviously I wasn't rehired under the new refocusing.

Believing God has my best interest in mind, I have to believe it was for a reason.  I still have some money problems, but He knows that.  I still need some sort of job, but He knows that too.  And, last but not least, God is still in control.  And, He knows that too.  I'm excited to find out what is next on HIS agenda.

Sunlight

As the sunlight streams into my living room, Ween is basking in the warmth and enjoying the afternoon.  A butterfly waves at her and moves on to a nearby flowering bush.  For me it's a little chilly but most everyone else seems to enjoy the change in the weather.  From here, the scene is perfect - trees weaving back and forth; leaves turning to an expected orange or red with smatterings of "Christmas Tree" like shadows in the distance.

The high today is 64; warming this week to about 80.  A "relative of mine I can't mention" has decided we need to go to DC for Thanksgiving.  Tom lives there now and we haven't seen him since May, when he moved.  We also have relatives in Westminster, Maryland and Virginia.  We're going to see all of them the 3 days we are there.

I HAD to ask the question, "Does it snow there in November?"  One of my few cardinal rules is "NEVER LEAVE FLORIDA AFTER NOVEMBER 1." And once again, thanks to that relative I mentioned earlier, I'm traveling after that date.  (Makes you want to say - "Hummmm")

Some of my concerns are that I can't find any shoes since I moved.  I mean NOT ONE PAIR.  I only have a pair of open-toed rubber sandals to wear right now.  And, I can't find many "heavy" clothes yet. I found a coat and 2 long-sleeved sweaters, and a couple pairs of long pants. I did find my jeans, but I can't get in them right now due to some weight gained because of inactivity and basic "sitting" ability. What a quandary.  At least I know what "that relative I can't mention" is getting me for Christmas - a round-trip ticket to DC.  (He gives great gifts.)

Shall We Dance

Doing the limbo is an extremely difficult thing to do.  Not the dance, but the "emotional" version.  It seems as if my life has been there for many years; probably since Tom died.  I really haven't noticed for a while, but I am great at ( "de nile") or denial; not the one in Egypt.

I have the perfect "Crab" personality - I'm running along; something happens to scare me, or confuse me, and I run and hide from whatever has happened.  When I feel safe, I venture out to once again take on the world. Not the best way to live life.  I feel reality is highly overrated, and difficult at times.  And yet, I deal with reality every day.  This is probably one of the reasons I like reading so much.  You can escape into another world, "observe" what is going on in the characters' lives and not have to deal with them, personally. That is the easy way to get through life.

But life is not always easy; ironically, it is daily.  Dealing day after day can take a toll on someone.  I don't know how single parents cope without some sort of "back up system."  I had my parents and friends. What do you do if you don't?; not as well I'm sure.

I have a friend that is also in financial problems; a lot worse than mine.  She's a single parent and needs help or she is going to lose her home.  I would like to help.  Wouldn't it be nice to assist people that way?  My friend, Vicki's daughter, Stacy is a real hero of mine. She had 2 great boys from a horrible previous marriage; met and married this wonderful man who also had children and moved into a "broken down" trailer in GA.  She is a RN, who chose to prioritize her family instead of working out of the house.  They have been able to live due to her ability to "creatively find" bargains to remodel, clothe everyone, plan healthy meals, and just "live" their every day life. She should give classes on how to do this.  She could.

When I think of just the people I know that need help, I want to get busy. What do I do first?  I'm praying that God will show me. Anything is possible with God.