...sunset....

...Sharon and I paddled the boat around in circles before we finally figured it out!

...Scrabble....

The "Group" ready for a morning walk around the lake....

A couple of swinging chicks....

THE END... : )

Journey...

(back row: Peggy, Sharon [the birthday girl!], Sherri, Carole, front row: Joycie, Carol, and me)

Home.

Exhausted.

Filled with emotion.

Reflection, self-analysis, soul searching.

I'm not quite sure how to put it all into the right words yet.

Seven women together for 24 hours a day for 3 wonderful days....what a journey.

Celebrating my dear friend's 60 years of life on this earth... (Where has the time gone?)

I know that other women reading this can understand what I mean when I say that these precious times that we spend with our closest girlfriends can be so deep and meaningful.

Non-stop talking.

...listening.

Introspection.

Laughter and silliness.

...and, more laughter.

Crying together.

Sharing.

Breathing.

Continuous eating.

Scrabble.

Boggle.

Toasting.

Friendship.

Heart-searching..

Lessons to be learned.

Seeing yourself reflected in the beautiful faces of these women who have been there with you on your journey.

Recognizing each other's moments of pain and hardship.

Cheering each others triumphs.

All the while, searching for our own place in this craziness of life...and, if we are lucky, finding that soft place to land.

Reality hits.

...as we each head home.....

"Ghoul"ie Trip!!

My girlfriend Sharon turns (gulp) 60 in a few days... so the "Girlies" are heading out of town to celebrate!

We are going to Guntersville, AL. tomorrow (Tuesday) through Friday and staying in a 6 bedroom home on the water there! (not exactly roughing it!?!).

Sharon invited the group, found the house online and rented it sight unseen.... so we are hoping for the best! It looks wonderful in the pictures....and the weather for the rest of the week is going to be heavenly.

But, in the meantime, getting all of this "together" has been as formidable as trying to create a world peace summit. : )

So many decisions.....What to wear?.... what food to bring?.... what games?....hairdryers?...make up?....shoes?.....reading materials?......how much wine?......where and when to eat out?....how many cars to take? ...who's driving with whom?....etc. etc. I have to laugh as we go through this routine every time we leave town.

Men would be so different....pack some underwear, sweats, and beer, and they'd be ready to go!

But, I wouldn't have it any other way...it is part of the wonderful rhythm of female friendships...and I so cherish these wonderfully incredible women that I call my dear friends...

Tomorrow cannot get here soon enough....

: )

P.S. Happy Halloween....and don't eat too much of your candy!!!!!

one last gasp....

Just as some much cooler weather has made its way down to the deep South, Dave came upon this solo impatiens flower seemingly coming out of his brick steps and happily growing there....so, he went inside, got his camera, and snapped a picture of it.

To me it shows great courage on the part of this little flower to hang onto a little more summer, basking in the sunlight, and showing its lovely face for all to enjoy.

Bravo. : )

My "Address Book of Life"

Scrolling through my address book today I came to a realization.

This book represents so much of what goes on in one's life...a microcosm of sorts.

In a strange way, it tells me where I have been and gives clues as to where I am going.

Each page holds the names, addresses, and phone numbers of those who have been/are a significant part of my life. So many of the names hold stories of my past and I smile as I read through some of them. I have sadly lost touch with many of the people listed through the years. I guess that I leave them in there..."just in case".

I also feel a sense of loss as I see so many names of people who have passed away through the years...I do not want to "x" them out. I like to hold their memory on these pages. It is almost as though they are still around if I don't remove them from "the book".

There are little scraps of paper tucked into the well-worn pages. Some return- address labels have been scotch taped in. These hold new addresses of people who have come into my life more recently. I haven't made the time to put them in permanently, but I will....eventually.

There are also scratched out names for the people who have moved...and their new addresses are printed on other pages. Some people have remained at the same address for over 20 years or more....some have moved several times in that same amount of time...I have their history right before me.

There are couples who are no longer "Mr. and Mrs."and now appear as separate listings....there are children that have grown up enough to have their own addresses listed in my book...I notice that I have many "notes" written throughout with a little extra information that I don't want to forget such as my relationship with that particular unfamiliar person...justifying my having them as part of "my book".

As I look over this old, outdated address book I keep thinking that one day I will need to purchase a brand new address book and fill it only with the most current info and names. It will be shiny and neat and updated. The newer books even have places provided for email addresses and cell phone numbers. I know that it could be a lot more organized if I did that....and I will....

Someday....but not yet.

Discoveries....

My little Owen is getting big!

Owen sitting in the grass while visiting family in St. Louis last week....

....catching the softball with his foot?

...studying his other grandma's face. I love this picture!!!

FRENETIC

frantic...

agitated...

hectic...

frenzied...

distracted...

overwrought...

crazy...

beserk...

raging...

wild...

impassioned...

hyper...

No matter what you want to call it...

...it's what I am today.

: O