Joy

It has been way, way too long since I posted here.  I think I'll pick it back up and blow the dust off the cover.

So, I've been thinking about joy lately and the lack of it.  Which is where I have been living for a while - in the lack of joy.  But this past weekend I experienced joy.  I even have a picture of it....  LG (my niece) was playing with me and right before I took the picture, she threw her hands up and covered her eyes as if to say, "Don't take my picture, Auntie!".   You can see her smile in the corner of her mouth.   Because she is really a little extrovert and this was all a tease.

Photo-journal for July

Someone had a bad day at the airport - notice the little teal square behind the big plane?  Luggage!  I saw it fall off the cart as we were arriving at the gate.  The cart driver never looked back....

Made my way to an Irish Pub near Philly with the express purpose of eating wonderful food and listening to live music.  See the band??  No, we didn't either.  At least the food lived up to it's expectation.  

Bread pudding with NO raisins.  It was as good as it looks!

Airports afford me much amusement - the lady is blocking the way, but the entire concourse was lined with Boyscouts!  They must have filled an entire plane!!

I was so excited to come upon this Duck Crossing!  The boy was trying to herd them out of the road so that traffic could continue - it took him awhile since the ducks were not in a cooperative mood.  It was a very, very entertaining few minutes.  

A good friend and I snickered over this for a long time - great advertising!!

And finally this one - I literally stopped, turned around and went back for it.  Made me laugh!!

The weekend immortalized in pictures.

Baby Duckies swimming in a puddle - how amazing to be so little that a puddle is like a pond!

A silent command from Mama Duck had them all gathering around her, since I was making her uncomfortable with the impromptu photo shoot.

No protests, everyone Out!

I got to hold Kinsley a long time while he slept.  How nice that was, the weight and warmth of his little body!  

Sunday morning: pancakes, coffee and Tim Keller.  And getting to watch Kinsley's reactions to life, very fun. He's discovered Mom is 'Over There'....

...protesting his lot in life...

...and finally, grudging acceptance!  I like watching babies respond to life because they haven't developed the filters we adults have to keep others from seeing how we truly feel!  I completely understood how he felt!!!

To my delight, it rained a lot this weekend!  I loved this - the double silver columns dropping from the  dark cloud!

Small things

A night beetle tap, tap, tapping on the window, urgent to be let in

The music of the wind, dancing through the chimes in the back
The light green of new leaves seen against the dark of older ones
Purple pansies, sweet basil, pineapple sage, hot pink impatiens
The waitress who brings syrup with the biscuits because it's what you like

Living Right

Tonight I went to my friend's art show downtown - and I found a parking spot right in front of the gallery! So my other friend took a picture of my luck!!

Then we went to the grocery store and - look!  Once again a great parking space next to the door.    It was a great evening for parking!  

A Day in the Life of a Handicapped Traveler

I traveled from Jackson to California today - with three legs on my itinerary, no less.  And since I am still having a lot a problems with my ankle, I needed some help getting through the airports.  Especially as the small planes put us out on the tarmac and they wanted us to climb stairs to get into the airport.  In Atlanta I got off the plane and onto a cart.  Then he drove me out on the tarmac around the planes!  It was hilarious!

Once inside my wheelchair was put in a line of wheelchairs - all of us Handicappers waiting for someone to take us to our gate.  I was glad I had a two hour layover because it was not a quick process!  Here are my fellow HT's.

In Salt Lake City I walked myself to the next gate, but once in Long Beach I took advantage of the HT assistance.  And good thing, too!  So I give high marks to the organizations for taking care of the HT population.  They made it possible for me to travel in relative comfort versus lots-o-pain. 

It was also a good thing in that all the people who helped were really nice - no grumps in the lot. 

SO, overall, a positive thing.   But I'll be glad to get back to my non-handicapped traveling- I don't like be that dependent on others to do what I want to do.  

Hospital preachers

Sitting in the hospital again with my mother.  I've seen more pastors/preachers in the last two weeks than I have in the last six months.  It's nice to know that they are visiting sick people, I s'pose.  The one today had my mother saying that she hoped she'd made it on the 'straight and narrow' and was going to heaven.  Sigh.  I told her right in front of them that if she believed in Jesus as her savior that she was fine and she'd be in heaven.  That works had nothing to do with her salvation.  It was pretty amusing to me in a slightly frustrated way

The last one to visit had her saying that her faith in Christ was great!  This was after the topic of her death had come up again.  Hmmmm.....

Icky-ness

I've got the new job nerves going on.  I'm beginning to interact with the new guy I'm supposed to report to and I'm feeling a little anxious.  He's the one I know the least, so he's the one I have the least level of trust with working things out.  Sigh.  I'm sure it will be fine, but I'm feeling anxious about interpersonal work relations.

On another note, I bought plants for my flower beds today!  Ferns, elephant ear, begonias, impatiens, caladiums, a pansy hanging pot, sweet potato vine...  I am SO looking forward to setting them out and then enjoying the back yard.

New Chapter in my Life

I've made several big life decisions over the last five years and I just made another one. There's something about these kinds of decisions - especially when there is no right or wrong answer, just a choice.  And you know you aren't going to get a big neon sign from God saying - "YES. That's the choice I want you to make."  You just know that you'll have to live life with what you chose.

Today I'm filling out paperwork for the new job I start on April 1st.  It's almost more nerve-racking than making the choice.  I hope this is a good chapter for me.

A Brightened Day

I just connected with a stranger who made me want to be better.  It was a brief moment but one with impact.  I was leaving the hotel lounge after dinner, she was coming into the lounge.  She was short, I had to look down to meet her eyes.  She walked on the sides of her feet, her ankles parallel with the floor and she took up more than her share of the entry because her crutches were splayed far away from her body.  I saw her before she saw me because her back and head were bowed in the effort of walking.  And it was an effort - it was painful to see.

I stepped to the side, waiting for her to pass by, but she stopped when she saw me.  She looked up at me and I smiled at her.  "Nice pedicure!"  She said brightly.  I was a little startled, but pleased, so I gave her a big smile.  "Thank you!  I do love a good pedicure!"

"Uh-huh!" She agreed and I stepped past her because she wasn't moving anymore.  I doubt I'll see her again and that makes me a little sad, because that small connection with her brightened my day.  A woman of warmth and courage.