Bye-Bye Birdie

I visit folks in the hospital as a volunteer.  I'm not just visiting to visit, I have a purpose.  Being sick, injured, dying, or recovering isn't just for the body and mind.  We are three parts, and my goal is to care for patient's spirit.

Several weeks ago, when the weather couldn't decide if it was winter or spring, I met a patient who had cut off several fingers with a snow blower. OUCH!!

I try to visit people who have lost a body part.  Losing a physical part of our body affects our spirit.  I figured there would be something to talk about.

My first thought was to ask him if he was a musician (my bad, as it is my perspective as a musician).  He was silly/lying and said yes, and feigned a tear.  The question was legitimate because I wanted to sum up how much the loss 2 fingers was for this man.

He was in his late 60's, and looked like a fun, clean cut, outdoorsy, grandpa-type.  He raised up his bandaged, stubby hand, and told me that cutting off his middle finger was payback for giving so many people 'the finger' during his life.  He said it with the same light heartedness as before, but in the end it was the spiritual part of the conversation.

Everyday is Earth Day

John Muir was born on this day in 1838. I like Earth Day as much as any day. On this, the 22nd of April, 2012, I have sprouting greens in my garden. So, today I'm celebrating especially because I had to be so patient to get here. See my other blog, real estate vs. real life.

Awesome Blossom

I'm not in favor of the word 'awesome' because it is as descriptive as the word 'stuff'. And yet, this tree did render me awestruck. There really aren't words.

We sat under this cherry and basked in the pink light. I took some photos, but it leaves out the other senses. The images aren't worth 1000 words, and neither was actually being there.

We ate lunch on the patio under this tree, and though the food was good, it wasn't as satisfying as the view.

Love Armadillo

Last week after a lunch out with my husband, he bought me a hat.  I loved this hat before it was mine, in a "stuff-kind-of-love" way.  We walked on the sunny side of the street to keep warm after our meal.  We went into the hat shop, just to try on hats.  I like hats because they suit me.  

My husband loves me because I suit him.  He saw me hovering over this hat, and before we left, told me he was going to buy it.  It was "stupid" expensive.  It was in a tourist shop, so I knew I could get it somewhere else for a reasonable price, so I said no.  He said yes.  I said no.  He said yes.  I said, 'Okay'.

My husband made me feel worth full price and beautiful.  It made me feel like we were newly in love, like back in the early 90's (remember those?).  

I put the hat on, and wore it the rest of the day/week/month.  In the car on the way home from school, full of love in my heart, feeling as beautiful and cared for as a girl can feel just from getting a hat, my kids commented on my new fashion.

My son said I look good in hats.  My daughter said I looked like I had an armadillo on my head.  

http://stevecreek.com/

I didn't know how to feel about her statement.  It seemed true, but I didn't roll up into a little ball with my hard shell to the world.  

Later, wearing the hat, my friend, without provocation or talking to my daughter, told me I looked like I had the cutest armadillo on my head he had ever seen.  

It must be true, it looks like an armadillo.  When I look at it, I see I am worth loving for years, even decades.  

Potato Tower of Terror

Okay, there was nothing terrorizing about my tower of potatoes. It might be terrible if it doesn't work, but supposedly, pounds of potatoes are supposed to grow out of my straw tower.
I've got my soil all ready for planting in the beds.
My uncle told me he was working on his garden today too, so it must be in my genes.
It feels like it!

The Long, Long, Trailer

My new plan is to take photos that are horizontal!
 

I have wanted a trailer since I was small and sat on the floor in front of the television and watched Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, haul a long long trailer on a vacation.

This is our Airstream.  I really wanted something old and nice, instead of new and cheap.  We looked around, and as if by design, I saw this on the way to work.  It then snowed for a few weeks, and the trailer was still for sale.  So we bought it.

It is our plan to haul this to Yellowstone at the end of the summer and a few shorter trips before then.  Now I am scouting out dishes, pots, pans, sheets and towels so we can be ready for our maiden voyage.      I'm read for an adventure!!

Hopefully our only misadventure will be singing in the front seat a bit too loudly (the best laid plans of mice and men....)