Thanksgiving Day

  The holiday season begins.  Today is the day of giving thanks for all things big and small...

• I'm thankful I awoke this morning; at my age, who knows?
• I'm grateful for my family and friends, even those that irritate me for they help me learn patience and acceptance.
• I'm thankful that my friends have a short memory!
• I appreciate the kindnesses that come my way.
• I cherish Larry's love pats on my butt each and every day.
• I'm grateful that I enjoy a comfortable retirement.
• I prize my traveling adventures.
• I'm thankful for good health, both mine and my hubby's.
• I treasure my puppy, Max.
• I'm grateful for the smiles of strangers.
• I appreciate the friendship of my family; after all, they don't have to like me!
• I'm happy that my new and untried asparagus dish turned out well for our Thanksgiving Dinner!

And the list could go on and on.   Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone!

Possibilities

"So what do you wanna be when you grow up?"

Haven't we all been asked that question as little kids? We've probably asked it of our grandkids and just kids in general. And, for each kid,the answers changed a thousand times.


"A fireman."
"A garbageman."
"An astronaut."
"An actor."
"A policeman.'
"President of the United States."
"A major league baseball player."
"A rock star."
"A treasure hunter."

The answers are usually so-o-o out there and seem so-o-o improbable and impossible that one stifles a laugh at the responses. But, toddlers are by nature, dreamers of the Impossible Dream. EVERYTHING is within their grasp and nothing seems un-doable. Ah, the magic of childhood. Ah, such enthusiasm! We can learn much from children. Perhaps this "magic" should sprinkle our adult years with such optimism and the idea that anything we can dream, we can do!

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." ~Walt Streightiff

Circle of Life

Two days ago we attended the funeral of our friends' father. "Cotton" was an elderly gentleman in bad health. To be honest, at the age of 86, his quality of life was deteriorating over the last several years. God finally decided to call him home. This morning, ironically, I received a phone call from my brother and sister-in-law in California. Her mother is 91 and is longing to the end of her life. Then, to add to these situations, our long-time neighbors called to say his dad, age 87, has been diagnosed with bone cancer and has little time to live.
Larry and I are at that age, I guess, where we dress in suits and ties for more funerals than weddings. It's a natural progression in life...the young outliving the old. Bearing witness to the death of our parents isn't easy. You begin to look at your own family--kids and grand-kids in a different light. We, too, are in the process of aging and arriving at the point in time where our kids will be the witnesses to the circle of life.

All we can do is live life large... and well.

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done

In the circle of life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life
---Elton John

Fall

It's been almost a month since we've returned home from the Southeast. By now, we've settled in and have gotten into our daily routine. A week ago, though, Larry spent five days in the hospital with an extremely dangerous e-coli bacterial infection in his blood stream. He's mending; after a blood test Friday, he discovered the infection is still there. Guess something like that takes a while to heal completely.
Fall is in full swing: the white pelicans have returned to our cove, the trees are now brilliant yellow/red/orange, the air is crisp and cool, Sunday Football Get-togethers take place, and the guys are preparing for their fall deer hunt! Yeah, all is right with the world!
This is the time of the year when I feel like "nesting." I want to bake, to make soups and stews, clean out closets, and get ready for the winter months. Fall I enjoy--winter, not so much. The older we get the harder winter hits us. Thank God we head for the Florida Keys in February.

Travelin' Tweets VI --The Last Leg

September 22nd-26th, Days 14-18 :

The rain has stopped as we head into the Great Smokies National Park. It's easy to understand why they're referred to as the "Smokies."

We traveled the Blue Ridge Parkway to the entrance of the park and proceeded across it on the New Found Gap Road running east-to-west. The drive was delicious--no rain, but this blue mist in the treetops and in the valleys. As we approached our driveway to our mountain cabin, a 200 lb. black bear appeared--almost 100 ft. from our doorway! Neat! Our cabin on the hillside was exactly what we hoped for! Larry and Patti, friends from back home, joined us Tuesday night in Gatlinburg. Four days we all explored the park's rivers, falls, and hiking trails. At night we entertained ourselves with soaking in the hot tub and playing pool. Of course, we girls never won a game! Saturday morning we headed home--an eight hour car trip. Traveling for me is always an exciting adventure, meeting new people and seeing new sights. But, for all that, home is delightful as well!

Travelin' Tweets Part V

Saturday, September 19th, Day 11:
Early Saturday morning we decided to leave Savannah, mostly because the predicted weather--stormy and rainy--didn't sound so great. We figured that by staying longer in Asheville, NC we could get in some golf. Ran into some rain in Asheville but it cleared up by the time we got settled (3:00). Didn't do much but check out the huge (!!!) mall next door. Ate dinner at 7:00 and planned to go to the Biltmore Estate tomorrow.
Sunday, September 20th, Day 12:
After getting tickets online for the Biltmore Mansion, we headed out. It was less than 10 minutes away--easy drive, too. Wow, what a mansion: 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, 4 acres of floor space!



Monday, September 21st, Day 13th:
What a dreary Monday! Rain, rain, rain! Shoots our chance of golfing in Carolina. When life deals you lemons, you make lemonade! This morning we do chores: bills, laundry, shopping for jeans (we need some warm clothes for the mountains; we only packed one pair of jeans. Who would have guessed that we need more for the cooler weather that set in... Maybe by the time we arrive at our mountain cabin, the weather will be nicer.

Travelin' Tweets IV

Thursday, September 17th, Day 9:
We put in a full day today. Took a 4-hour tour of the historic parts of Savannah on an open tour trolley. There were 15 spots at which we could hop off and walk the area, then hop back on when we wanted. Saw so many old, beautiful homes and historical buildings around the town. Great way to see Savannah.

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Friday, September 18th, Day 10:
Larry and I decided to take the extra 10 miles south of Savannah to see the Wormsloe Plantation. Its 1.5 mile "Avenue of Oaks" was featured in the Forrest Gump movie. Quite impressive.

After visiting the plantation we took a side trip to Tybee Island which was approixmately a fifteen minute ride from downtown Savannah. The beach was wide and pretty, but the town itself,we learned, basically shuts down around August 15th. The buildings and hotels/motels seemed run-down and dilapidated. Located on the island though was the famous Tybee Lighthouse. We ate lunch there at the beach and then headed by to Savannah.