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 drown so I swam strong and steady, straight to shore. At one point I know it touched my leg. It was that leathery feeling of a dolphin, but I knew that wasn’t what it was.
I’d swam out to our boat buoy simply for someplace to swim to. It’s quit a ways but that’s the point. I’m always trying to challenge myself and get a little exercise. On that particular day, I decided to wear swim fins, something I don’t normally do, but am so grateful I did. It’s amazing how fast a person can swim wearing those fins.
Anyway, I got to the buoy, noticing how covered the line was with mussels, when something black and very long swam past me. It gave me the creeps. I didn’t normally see anything but possibly a seal in the distance. Nothing ever came close. I almost screamed but decided to save my breath and get to shore, telling myself it was probably nothing more than an otter or a seal. No more than thirty seconds later I felt it behind me. I spun around in the water and came face to face with…I don’t know what. It’s head was at least the size of mine but the neck was very long. It was towering over me and had solid black eyes that scared me to death. This time I did scream.
The creature flipped it’s head backward and it’s whole body followed. It had short arms as an alligator has and as it rolled backwards it exposed a bright red underside. The tail alone was at least as long as me and it was thick, slapping the water hard when it came down.
It was all I could do to aim for shore, close my eyes, and swim with everything I had. I knew if I saw it again, I’d be paralyzed. Somehow, I made it. I stumbled out of the swim fins and ran up the beach, scrambled over the pile of logs and threw myself over the bulk head onto our little patch of lawn. Then I collapsed onto the grass and tried to calm my heart by breathing steadily and slowly. I turned my eyes to the water watching for the creature to show it’s head again, but it never did.
When I pulled myself together and thought I could talk, I went to the neighbors to wait for their boat to return. Soon they came back, swinging a wake boarder close to the swim platform. I waved and they came close to shore. I’d stopped crying and felt somewhat composed so I asked if they’d noticed something odd swimming around out there. They hadn’t. I said I’d maybe seen something weird, like, I didn’t know what, but not anything normal. They smiled and then laughed like I’d told a good joke and went back out to wake board. I didn’t try to stop them.
After all, who knows what it was that I saw? One things for sure; I’m not going back out there any time soon.
Just kidding!
Later,
Mary Ann
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 looking bunch and most of us have a good brain. We’re all stubborn and we’re all hard working, fun loving people doing our best, some better than others. And the older we get, the closer we become, reconnecting on a regular basis without too much time going by. Not at all as it was when we were young and had all the time in the world to catch up with each other. Time is running short these days.
I’ve come to realize that the things we want to do in life need to be done now. Every day needs to count. We were wrong when we were young, to think we could put things off, use our age as an excuse. I can’t believe how many things I left to do for the time when the kids were grown and on their own. I’m amazed at how little time I gave to my siblings and extended family back then.
I wish there were a way to impress the importance of staying connected to everyone. To convince people that the effort they put into keeping family ties strong is worth it beyond anything one could possibly realize. It’s what keeps us feeling good about ourselves, knowing there are special people in our lives that care, that will check in, that will help out. Knowing there are those who’s personality traits are much like our own, as are the traits of their children. It’s part of belonging.
If it’s been a while, maybe you should pick up the phone. Brothers and sisters need to hear from each other as do parents and grandparents. You won’t be sorry and you just may be the one to start something good beyond your belief for the years to come.
Later,
Mary Ann
A Tree With No Limbs
I met a woman years ago I consider more of an acquaintance than a friend. We met through a mutual friend but have never gotten together on our own. Perhaps we feel we wouldn’t have anything in common without her, the elastic band that stretches between us. Or, maybe we fear it would be unfaithful to get together without our mutual friend.
Whatever the case may be, I’ll never forget a particular conversation we had one day, the three of us, while meeting for lunch downtown. The mutual friend and I were discussing our families, particularly our daughters who know each other well. Suddenly, the acquaintance blurts out, “I feel like a tree with no limbs.” We looked at her with questioning eyes.
A tree with no limbs? What was she talking about?
She went on to explain how sorry she was she never had children. Regardless of anything else people may or may not have in common, nearly everyone can talk about their kids. It’s a topic that guarantees conversation.
She said it doesn’t matter where in the world a person lives, where they work or what they do, women with children have something in common and it’s a big thing, an important thing. It’s also a topic every parent needs and enjoys talking about. She told us how being a woman in her fifties without ever having raised children has made her an outsider all her life. She doesn’t share the common ground that so many women our age do, and she regrets it. She’ll never have the joy of grandchildren, of helping a daughter decorate a nursery or hold a newborn and know they are part of her.
I must admit, I’ve never looked at it from that particular view point. A tree with no limbs. No branches for birds to nest in, or big leafy greens to offer shade. Just there. Tall and rooted well with questionable purpose.
Now, I am sure there are a lot of people who have chosen not to have children and have no regrets. Yet I have to say, I’ve given a lot of consideration to her analogy and I see her point. I’d like to hear from other people who made the same choice twenty or thirty years ago. How is it now? Are you glad you opted out or do you have regrets?
Later,
Mary Ann
Nothing Like the Auroma of Fresh Coffee!
When our son was a toddler, he followed me to the coffee maker every morning. He waited for the beans to be freshly ground and then he’d give me the signal which was a tug on my leg. Before anything else could happen, I would bend over to offer him a good long wiff of the fresh ground beans, then I’d make a pot.
We always knew he’d be a coffee drinker. For years he poked his nose in the grinder and inhaled all the way to the bottom of his toes. He’d smile and walk away having his fix. When he was about nine or ten he asked me if he could have coffee with us. We explained that he couldn’t for many reasons. The poor guy was going to have to wait. Now days he makes his espresso nice and fresh every morning and revels in the luxury of rich gourmet blends invading his senses.
I don’t know what it is about the aroma of fresh coffee dripping in the pot every morning, like a welcome mat set out for a fresh new day. I think it has a lot to do with holding that hot mug in our hands, especially in the Seattle area where mornings are usually chilly. I love the first swallow. I love the variety and the richness of the beans. We are a unique bunch, us Seattle-ites are. We have discovered and embraced a rich culture we enthusiastically share with each other every chance we get.
Do you know anyone around here that isn’t immersed in our proud coffee culture? I do. I often wonder if they don’t feel out of place, not part of the community, invisible. I mean if you can’t meet at Starbucks for coffee, what is there to do? That is a basic social requirement in the Pacific Northwest. The non-coffee people should at least pretend. Go meet your friends for “coffee” regardless. Order a hot chocolate or something and act like our vision of normal. Otherwise, the non-coffee people will surely find themselves abandoned. It’s not worth it.
So, I’m going to go pour another cup and get to work. Have a great day everyone and enjoy the brew!
Later,
Mary Ann
Energy
It’s all about how we use it. Energy is energy. Weather it becomes positive or negative…well…that’s up to us. The surprising thing is how many people use it in a negative way. The question is, why waste good energy on the negatives?
Let’s use an example. Your are stuck in traffic and will be late because of it. Most often our reaction is to fume. Fuming takes energy. When arriving at your destination, you notice you are exhausted just from getting there. What if sitting there stuck in traffic, you decided there was a reason for it. Maybe there is an accident up ahead that you would have been a part of if not for the slow traffic. Or perhaps you would have been speeding and gotten a ticket if not for the inconvenience of the traffic. I don’t believe there are any coincidences in life. Everything happens for a reason.
If you decided to accept that philosophy and accepted the circumstances instead of fuming, you would arrive late, but relaxed and still full of energy. The energy would not be used up on negativism and would still be available for positives.
Now, take the example of wind. Wind is energy. Yet Mother Nature controls it and she uses it for both negatives and positives. Negatives being hurricanes and tornadoes; positives being first and foremost electricity. The point is, just as nature controls the natural forces of the wind, we control the usage of our own energy. Therefore we should use it wisely.
Remember when we were kids and the energy literally burst out of us? Those were definitely the good old days. If only…Yet, we are still energetic being, no matter how low the energy flows, and we need to be thoughtful in where we expend our energy and where we don’t.
Food for thought: If you have only enough energy to either take a walk outside or clean the kitchen, take the walk. If there is only enough energy left to laugh or cry, laugh. When you want to scream, use the energy required to do so in two or three controlled and far more effective sentences. When the choice is entertain five people and do all the work yourself or entertain ten people with a little help from everyone, entertain the ten.
If we give some thought and consideration to how we use ourselves up, we’ll get more mileage with the same amount of fuel.
Later,
Mary Ann
If only I could remember where my memory is!
The human brain is a computer; the original and unarguably most complex computer of all time. The average American uses about 10% of the brains capacity in a normal day, although nearly 100% of our brain will be used at some time or other in a given lifetime.
Now, that’s not saying much for us, in fact, it’s a little embarrassing. Of course, there are some people who utilize a greater amount of brain power in their daily lives; the super stars of eCommerce, of Wall Street, of Brain Surgery. As for me, I’m pretty sure I’m in the 10% category most of the time. Well I was before I stepped over the hill anyway. Now I’m simply struggling to remember to use it. If I could only figure out a way to use 20% of it, I’d most likely start remembering things again. I hate getting in the car and wondering, as I put the key in the ignition, where it is that I’m in such a hurry to get to.
My Google Calendar is a life saver. It’s always sending me little email reminders of where I need to be and when. I love it. I’ve trained myself to check my email first thing every morning just to see what day it is and whats going on. If it’s not on the calendar, it’s definitely not happening. I feel great about this, though. I’ve trained my brain to check the calendar every day. Just think of the things I could train it to do if I could figure out how to access more of it.
For example: What if I trained my brain to shut my mouth at 1200 calories a day and lock-jaw it. Not one more calorie allowed. I would be at my happy weight in no time! And what if I could train my brain to put me to sleep and stay asleep through the entire night. I would be rested and happy and energetic every day! What if I could train my brain to never allow me to forget anything, to speak foreign languages, to be a computer wiz and a financial genius?
The possibilities are staggering. It’s so tempting to give it a try, isn’t it? But, you know, I’m still rebooting every time I turn around and I keep contacting these stupid viruses and I’m outdated and I need tech support big time. If I ever get it figured out, I’ll share the knowledge from the untouched area beyond my normal 10%. I know there’s a way to boot it up and use it. I need to figure it out before I crash.
Later,
Mary Ann
Katie’s Legacy
Katie Parker
Katie died of a brain aneurism. She was thirty one years old. I didn’t really know her all that well but I attended her funeral service out of respect for the family. From that service and the gathering that followed, I discovered I’d missed out on knowing a beautiful soul. This young woman had not only managed to touch the hearts of many in her short time on earth but she’d made a huge impact and an actual difference with her life.
Katie leaves behind a legacy of love. Not a person spoke of her without embellishing on the love and caring they’d always felt from her smile, her laughter, her touch. One young woman spoke of the impact Katie had on her life, particularly over the last few years. How she’d learned to truly care for others and share her thoughts and feelings with family and friends because of Katie’s example. She vowed to “pay it forward” as she knew Katie would want her to do. She vowed to take all the love and acceptance she’d received from her friend and pass it on for the rest of her life, in effect, stepping into Katie’s shoes.
I was astounded by the impact Katie had on so many in such a short time and I wondered at the knowledge and wisdom she held in her heart. Her legacy is like that of an old woman with years and years of overflowing love, yet she was so young. We all wonder why God allows such a beautiful soul to be taken away so early in life, yet I have to believe that she’d accomplished all He sent her here to do. I suppose there are those who not only hear God’s voice long before the rest of us, but are not afraid to follow His direction. I believe Katie was courageous and wise well beyond her years, that she eagerly listened for the words that defined her destiny and in doing so she accomplished in thirty one years what most of us either take a life time to do , or maybe never do.
I don’t think it will be possible to forget her, and like so many, I will try and emulate Katie’s life of love, acceptance, and kindness. She was one of God’s greatest and the world is a better place for having her, even if only for such a short time.
Later,
Mary Ann
She will be remembered
Let’s Not Talk About It!
I don’t want to be a complainer, so I’ve decided not to carry on about my dilapidation. If you’re over fifty, you know what I mean. I’ve decided not to be the kind of person who looks like they’re in pain every minute of their lives, even if I am. You know the people I’m talking about. You ask how they’re doing and they look ready to cry. Then they say, “Well, as good as can be expected under the circumstances, I suppose.” Then you’re trapped. You have no choice but to ask what the circumstances are and that leads to endless whining and complaining about every ache and pain imaginable.
So, I’m not going to tell anyone about the way my feet hurt so badly I can hardly walk, (Plantar Faciatis, if you were wondering), or how my hip wakes me up in the night, (probably need a replacement). And I’m certainly not going to talk about my hot flashes and night sweats and the fact that I’d give anything for a good nights sleep. No, I’m not going there. I have vowed to avoid complaining at all costs.
I’m just going to go to the podiatrist and beg to have my feet cut off and then go to a surgeon and beg for a new hip and continue to spend my nights standing in front of the opened refrigerator. A good nights sleep is over rated any way.
I’d like to write more on this subject but the arthritis in my fingers is making it difficult to word process and I’m getting a headache looking at this computer screen. And it’s probably nothing, but my back is quite sore. I probably just need to stretch it or go to the chiropractor. I doubt it’s really broken
Later,
Mary Ann
A Girls Best Friend
My Buddies
These are my dogs, the best little buddies a person could ask for. Rita is on the left, Maggie on the right. Without these two, I would be the size of the Goodyear blimp. They are, first and foremost, my exercise program.
Rita and Maggie rise and shine with the crows every morning. That’s early around here. With the sunrise comes the yawn and stretch of the crows. They have a tendency to hang around on the deck railings bight and early so as to drive the dogs crazy. The barking begins as does my day. Two cups of coffee later and we’re out the door for a good three miles. Rita is never done, never tired and always begging to keep going. Maggie, on the other hand, has short little Corgie legs and has had enough by the time we reach home. I like to get some writing done first thing, so we head into my office and get to work. Their job is to curl up on my sofa and listen to me read as I write. Normally this puts them right to sleep, but they put up with me for a few hours.
In the winter, one of the best thing they do for me is curl up real snug for naps. I must admit, in those long dark days I put myself to sleep every now and then. One dog curls into my stomach and the other curls into the bend of my knees. I hardly need a blanket. I could stay like that for a good long time.
These two pound puppies are social butterflies. Every day, early afternoon, they go out the door to pay social visits with the neighbors leaving me behind. I cannot believe how many people feed Rita and Maggie. They are always walking around with dog biscuits in their mouths and they didn’t get them from us. Sometimes, Rita likes to visit with the neighbors right next door and act like she lives there. She goes in their front door, through the house, and out on to their deck. Then I look over and see my dog and she sees me and she lays down to take a nap with them. They think it’s quite funny and reward her regularly. I don’t know how it is that she isn’t fat. Sometimes she hangs out so long I have to go get her. Then she remembers who she belongs to and is thrilled to be home again.
The other good thing about Rita and Maggie is their sweet personalities. No matter what, they love us. We can be gone for thirty five minutes, walk in the door, and they will act as though we’ve been gone for a week. It’s crazy but so sweet it makes me laugh every time. No one loves quite like a dog. It’s simply unconditional and wholehearted and true blue. I think they’re one of the best parts of life.
If you’ve never had a dog, you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest joys!
Later,
Mary Ann
What to Wear?
It’s that time of year again. I spent yesterday clearing the winter clothes out of the closet and moving them to another closet. Then, I got out all the summer stuff and dumped it on our bed. I was so excited – I love summer clothes, especially summer dresses and skirts. But things are changing in the warm weather wardrobe of this woman in her fifties. For some reason, many of my old favorites don’t look quite right any more. Actually, some of them have gotten a lot smaller over the winter. I don’t know how that happens.
Regardless, I’m in a world of hurt. I have nothing to wear. I either need to go shopping or shrink myself into my shrunken clothes. Is there time to do that? I mean before summer really sets in?
I’m not sure and the last thing I want to have happen is for the eighty degree weather to show up and not be prepared. What would I do? If I wait too long, all the good stuff will be gone, and the stores will start bringing in the fall merchandise. Yet, with the way our weather has been, there’s a good chance we won’t actually need summer clothes this year. I just might get by with the few items that didn’t shrink too much and not bother to go get anything else. I suppose I can wait and see what happens. Then, if I need to get something, I can get the left-overs, probably at a huge discount. All that end of the season merchandise is usually dirt cheap and I’m usually one of the troubled few who are still trying to decide on a summer wardrobe in mid July.
Still, I think I’ll need to put the fork down and see if that doesn’t help. That and up the exercise for a while. What ever happened to the good ol days when I could eat anything and everything in whatever quantity I wanted and not gain a pound? I miss those days.
Apparently they’re gone and never coming back so I’ll just have to move on. To what? Oh, well, to the new and “improved” version of myself. I guess it’s alright. After all, nothing ever stays the same, right?
Later,
Mary Ann