In the process of final edits, so this children’s story will be available soon.
If you want to be notified when the book is released, go the Sign Me Up page on my site and fill out the form. This book will only be available in a print copy.
What a weekend! It was Tom’s 50th Class Reunion (twice delayed), which sent us heading to Scottsdale, AZ for Memorial Day Weekend. The class reunion was great and provided my hubby with the opportunity to connect with folks from his past, talk about high-school pranks, project cars and hobbies. We enjoyed much laughter and good connection with some of his former classmates. During the video presentations of senior pictures, I realized those students looked like the kids I graduated from high school with 50 years ago. They sure looked young! My guess is they were like the kids I graduated with. They thought they knew much about life, Didn’t we all experience a surprise?
Though the reunion was fun, our accommodations were the highlight of the weekend. We stayed in the house where Tom grew up. A home built in the early 50s, designed by a renowned architect and built by Del Web as one of his first homes before he became famous for building communities. This house was a one of a kind in a unique neighborhood developed by invitation of the owners of Ride ‘n Rock Ranch. This house was the initial build within the area and identified as the Ranch Guest House. The owner never stayed in the home, but used it as a perk for his executives and for tax benefits. A breezeway separated the bedrooms from the main structure, with each bedroom having its own entrance and a private bathroom. Tom’s parents were the second owners of the structure. During their tenure there, they enclosed the breezeway, which resulted in the first bedroom being connected to the main part of the house.
There’s a one lane road leading to the home, which is set back with plantings and trees lining the walkway to the entry. I felt like I was entering an enchanted zone.
The current owners are passionate about the history of the home and understanding changes performed on the property. They have amassed a huge history on the house and the neighborhood.
Tom has told me many stories of the place and his growing up experiences. I have to admit, I struggled to understand the layout or the neighborhood. His stories came to life for me. It felt like I stepped back in time.
…2020 was the lost year.
I disagree
2020 was the year…
I became focused
I got serious about my writing
Enjoyed contact with writers from around the world
Was challenged and encouraged
To be bold
To let the words out
To trust my voice
Learned the peace of spending time with my thoughts
Found joy in simple pleasures
Around my house
With my husband
Enjoyed time to read
And then read some more
Cooked some amazing meals
Wrote, and wrote and wrote some more
Became comfortable with Zoom and its limitations
Met other creatives who were open about their struggles during this time
Up rooted myself
Moved
Settled in to find myself surrounded by unknown plants
Doors opened to new learning
Writing continues
Meeting neighbors and others
Continue Zoom meetings with writers
Projects progressing…
2020 was the year that continues in 2021!
It’s February
Yet spring abounds
The birds are busy
Calling from one to another
We watch them building nests
Or scavenging in the garden
Buried plants have broken the earth’s crust
Then released their blooms
With these blooms, comes color
Fragrances fill the air
Sweet alyssum flows down the hillside
While the aroma wafts back to the patio
Citrus trees share their harvest
While setting blossoms for next year’s crop
It’s all part of the cycle
The invigorating cycle of life
It feels so good to be in the middle of this
I’m captivated by the sheep dotting the countryside. Once out of town, in County Kerry, Ireland you’ll find many sheep. When we first arrived the little ones appeared quite fresh and so tiny. As we drive around I’ve noticed how much they have grown.
We left early, on our way to a bible study this week. The crisp morning air allowed us to see wide vistas. We drove along the coast and appreciated the view. We came to a spot that overlooks fields in the valley with the mountains in the background. Stopping on the narrow, twisty country roads is usually not an option. Yet we happened upon a driveway on our side of the road with a low gate on the opposite. We parked, got out, expected to take a couple photos and continue to the study.
I wasn’t prepared for what we encountered. The view was beautiful as expected, but sheep filled the field. As we stood at the fence enjoying the expanse before us, they bleated and moved towards us. This put me closer to the sheep of Ireland than I’ve been before. This was a special morning gift.
… and was a blessed start to the day.
I recently read an article from the Washington Post about millennials who nix their parents’ treasures. I can see aspects of this story from both sides.
Several years ago, my husband and I performed a major downsizing effort to move west. It was an interesting experience. We have a large gaggle of adult children. Of things we wanted to find new homes for, some of the kids took a few things. We were surprised at several large family pieces we had no takers for. We sold those pieces of furniture, as they were not going to fit in our new life. It was a bittersweet revelation to us. Sad the heritage of the pieces won’t be maintained. Proud our kids could make those decisions and not take the pieces they didn’t want or couldn’t use just because they thought it would please us.
For us, or at least me, the downsizing project proved to be unbelievably liberating. We kept things with the most meaning to us, and things that would fit in our new home. It’s been good for me to travel lighter and have fewer things. Others who have gone through a similar process also talk about the freedom, which comes from shedding stuff. Perhaps the younger generation has it right. Hold onto things lightly and embrace life.
Yet I wonder if they may someday recognize the loss of some of the things they’ve passed on. We do genealogy research, so we have many photos, scrapbooks and family historical information. I have framed my great-grandfather’s original citizenship paperwork. There is only one original. I hope it will have value to someone in the family, as it is part of our roots as Americans. But I don’t know.
I’m sensory. I enjoy visual pleasures from art and photography; the fragrances of food cooking, flowers blooming or even autumn in the morning air stir me to life; the sounds of wind blowing through the tree leaves adds another dimension to the meaning of autumn for me; holding a book and actually turning the pages is part of the story coming to life; enjoying an old piece of furniture or dishes I remember seeing my grandmother use takes me back in time to her kitchen. Can one savor all those emotions without some of the things from those times?
For clarification – I do believe embracing life and all it has to offer is of far higher value than clamoring after ‘things’.
I look forward to some fun discussion. I don’t think there are any ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers, just different perspectives on this topic. Now for the questions:
1. As the parents, we aren’t ready to part with all those things yet, so how do we discern which things those kids might want later?
2. If you don’t want things, what method do you use to save memories for later enjoyment?
3. Are things of historical value important to you? Why? or why not?
4. How do you embrace life?
Have a great day — and enjoy life!
Journey to the Heights 