“I’ve been working all day,” I defend myself to my ninety two year old neighbor. “Just look at me!” I indicated the mess that I am, as surely anyone can see. “I haven’t even had time for a shower!” “You need to do something. You’re just lazy. And you need to clean yourself up. You’re a mess.” “But I’m not lazy. I’ve been working since seven o’clock this morning! And I know I’m a mess. I’m going to clean up as soon as I’m done cleaning the house, re-potting my plants, pulling weeds, dead-heading the flowers, and scouring out our bathroom. ” “Look at your dogs,” she reaches down to pet one. “They’ve been locked in the yard all day. They haven’t even been over to see me.” She peers closely into Rita’s eyes and asks, “Does she ever take you for a walk?” “I walked them first thing this morning as I do every morning. Really, they’re spoiled beyond reason.” She continues to pet the dogs while talking to me. “You are a terrible dog owner. You should give them away.” “I am not a terrible dog owner. They get a good walk every morning and they get…
Month: August 2011
Imagine That…or maybe not
Not that I think it was the Loch Ness or anything like that. I mean I was under water, and swimming in salt water, so it could have been clouding my vision. The salt water is hard on my eyes and it always takes a while to adjust and for the initial sting to go away. Yet, it wasn’t the usual life in the water, like a seal or an otter. It certainly wasn’t a whale. And it was absolutely not a jelly fish or an octopus. It was….well, I don’t know what the heck it was! That’s the problem. I’ve never felt uncomfortable swimming in Puget Sound. I love the salt water, the cold invigorating temperature that snaps a person right to attention, just in case one was tempted to fall asleep as if in a nice warm bath. That will never happen in the waters surrounding the Puget Sound. Yet, in the same vein, one will never encounter a strange, large, unidentifiable…what should I call it?…a sea creature. Right? There I was with the only other people on the beach being the neighbors who were out wake boarding. I new if I panicked I would most likely…
It’s All in the Family
As I watch my eight year old nephews face break in to a huge smile, I see my niece from another brother. I watch another nephew pull a goofy face and I can’t get over how much he looks like one of his uncles. I have two nieces that mirror my own daughters in mannerisms that make me laugh. It’s all in the family, isn’t it? Our daughters narrow shoulders came from my mother, as does her determination. Our son’s short stocky frame is his grandfathers as is his jovial laugh. My younger sister is so much like the brother we lost; I wonder if she knows it? I hear my mother’s voice coming out of myself all the time. It’s kind of nice. I don’t miss her so much knowing I’ve got a little bit of her in my personality, like her sense of humor. Inappropriate at times, yet good to have. I remember times it got her into a bit of trouble, just as it has me. When we are all together it is apparent we all belong together, the family resemblances glaringly obvious. Yet none of us minds, at least not that I know. We’re an okay…