Wordless Wednesday - Curiosity

Aging

I am convinced that the degree of enthusiasm with which you embrace aging is directly proportionate to your level of satisfaction with, and contentment in your life.

Live and thrive
Don't just survive.

Aging to someone who is living the life they want to be living is a footnote; a gentle scorekeeper of more good things to come.

What I've Learned in the First Fifty

Today on my 50th birthday I made an inventory of things I've learned and what I know to be true. So in the spirit of sharing ....

Everyone has a story worth hearing. Listen.

We are not all born equal. Some are born more fortunate; others with liabilities.

Those who have, should share with those who don't.

Always part ways as if you are saying goodbye for the last time. Some day it will be.

Don't go to sleep on  a bad note. Kiss and make up.

Our life is a result of every choice we have ever made - and some others that have been made for us.

We are responsible for creating the life we want to live.

The best way to instil self confidence in children is to let go ... and show them that you trust them to make the right or best decision ... even when we know differently.

As a parent my job is not to make my kid's lives easy, devoid of pain and suffering, but rather, to teach them how to handle - and seek the lesson in - each adversity.

I am a spiritual being living a human experience.

I am living to evolve into the best possible version of myself.

Do more and give more than is expected - without being asked.

Empathy is powerful. Slip into the shoes of the person you are trying to understand.

Have the means and obtain skills to be self sufficient. It is liberating.

Expect the best. Optimism is energizing.

Thoughts materialize so be mindful of what you think. Be careful what you wish for.

Worrying is completely non-productive; a waste of time!

Say I love you to the people you love. Say it every day.

Leave things better than you found them ... the earth, relationships, public washrooms ...

Those lines around my mouth and eyes tell the world I have laughed and smiled alot.

It is an honour to take care of the people we love.

When people need you the most, it is rarely convenient.

Nothing says I love you like dinner!

Have dreams and share them without the worry if they will come true or not.

Family is forever. Nurture it.

A crowded dinner table is the ultimate abundance.

Life is richer with someone to share it with.

I don't need alot of friends, just a few true ones.

Write a note in the card - not just your name.

You will never regret the special things you do with and for others - but you may regret not doing them.

Be with someone because you want them, not because you need them.

Our love for our children has to be greater than any anger, resentment or dislike we may have, and we must conduct ourselves accordingly.

Our kids don't need another friend - they need a parent, and boundaries.

Don't leave the good thoughts left unsaid -- tell people why they are important to you and the impact they have on your life.

Put as much - or more - effort into caring for your inner self as you do into your outer beauty.

Treat others the way you want to be treated. Jesus was on to something ...

Live life consciously, in the now.

Baking soda is the miracle ingredient. Buy it in bulk and use it for everything ... cleaning, laundry, in the fridge, on the carpet, in the sneakers and on your face as an exfoliant.

When you give, or do a good deed - do so freely without expectation.

When you give, you get back more than you give.

Don't burn bridges.

Green food is good for you!

Put your moisturizer on while your face is still damp.

Respect your elders and learn from them. They have lessons to share that we need to learn.

The best way to learn more about who your parents and grandparents really are, is to ask them to tell you their love story.

Ask yourself what you would do, what changes you would make if you knew you had only months to live -- then do it.

We can't expect our children to achieve that which we couldn't. They have their own destiny to fulfill.

There are worse things than dying.

We spend the majority of our waking hours on the job; make a point to laugh and have fun.

It's okay to feel pain and grief. We have to go through it - to get through it.

Don't lend money you can't afford not to have paid back.

Don't spend money you don't have. Only use a credit card if you can pay it off at the end of the month.

Remember there are three parts to a proper apology: Acknowledgement (what you did and why), Apology (I'm sorry), Reconciliation (what you are going to do differently so you don't repeat the demeanor).

The most powerful thing you can say to your child as you drop them off is "I know you will make good choices".

We have to be the change we want to see. Gandhi knew what he was talking about.

The intention with which you do something is as important as what you do.

Celebrate, celebrate, celebrate! Find reasons to celebrate and people to celebrate with. This tunes us to a "postive" channel, looking to create happy occasions which will become memories we will cherish and recall over and over again.

And on that note, I am excited to be 50.  I am healthy, loved, and want for nothing. I am privileged and grateful for every year of life that I have had. I know I still have lots to learn so God willing I will have another year to continue my evolution. I am a work in progress and so far, life has been great! Cheers!

Not a Baby Anymore

OK, I haven't been a baby for decades now; I am 49 tonight ... and it will be the last time that I will be able to say that - truthfully. The face in this picture is so serious, but then again, I've been told I was a serious child. But what the heck could have ticked me off at 15 months! Maybe my rubber pants were aggravating me ... or maybe I wasn't hip to romping around topless. OR maybe I was tired of lugging around that life sized doll Bobby I actually remember his name.

There were lots of things that made me grumpy. I hated fairy tales, and any other "tale" that was nonsensical. I remember my mother reading me the story of Rapunzel and I was impatient ... "why didn't Rapunzel cut her braid off herself and use it as a rope to escape from the tower?".  Cinderella made me frustrated. "Why didn't she tell her daddy that her new mommy was mean to her? Why didn't she run away?" Fairy tales never flew with me. And don't even get me started on Dr Suess - cat, hat and all of those rhyming words. B o r i n g. Now a good biography was something that held my attention. Some things have never changed.

The sight of my mother's bulging belly was something else that made me grumpy. The thought of more siblings to share my parents with didn't excite me. There was a certain red maternity jumper my mom wore with a black turtleneck that signaled the impending arrival of a new sister and eventually - brother.

I can remember having my picture taken and being urged to "please smile Lyn". What was my problem? What kid doesn't smile? It definitely made the other side of the lens more appealing to me. As a child I remember feeling happy and contented - and very responsible. I took my role as big sister very seriously. I was often put in charge and I reveled in it. It may have left me a little bossy. This could be confirmed by my sibs.

I have always felt like an old soul ... and if you saw the network of wrinkly crevasses lining my palms, you may agree. I feel like someone who has lived many lives ... and I just hope I am learning all that I am meant to in this one. At the risk of sounding cliche, time is gaining momentum, passing faster each year. It seems that all of a sudden I have almost reached pardon my presumption my half way point and I haven't even figured out what I want to be when I grow up.

This milestone birthday is like a check point ... a reminder to take stock and make sure the course you have charted will take you in the direction you want to go. This I will do - as I like to be the navigator on my own voyage. Of course there will always be those changes in coordinates - those surprises that life delivers to test our resilience and skills. And that is what makes living so rich.

Now that pouty little kid in the picture -- well she still furrows her brows and frowns when she is deep in thought or perturbed. And she has learned that viewing life through a lens can reveal that which goes generally unnoticed by the naked eye. She has also learned to smile often and not take life quite so seriously.

Life at 49 - is good. Life at 50 - really good!

Hour of No Power

So tonight at 8:30 my house will glow from the flickering of candles; the television will be dark and silent; computers will be turned off and hubby and I will sit in the dark to observe Earth Hour. Not really. It will be romantically dim with no distractions. I figure we can make like pioneers and amuse one another without technical intervention.

I may even pour a glass of cold wine - that would be fitting and celebratory. I enjoyed this hour last year. It was a jolt to realize just how much background noise we get from our electrical gadgets and much we depend on them for entertainment. I am looking forward to an hour without power and the peace - and romance- it will bring.

Happy Earth Hour everyone.

You may also enjoy, Do it in the Dark for Earth Hour

Stand Up

I am mobilized, off my butt, vertical! And it is fear that is driving me.

While I was researching an article I am writing on the health effects of prolonged sitting (I may be an expert on that ... the sitting part) I came across new research that showed that sitting for long periods of time without breaking it up can make you very ill, regardless if you exercise or not. Not just sore backs and necks ... we're talking diabetes and elevated blood and fats levels, larger waistlines and increased risk of cancer.  Terrifying!

I sit tethered to my desk all day and often hours go by without me moving out of my chair or even standing up. And this winter, I logged more couch time that I am willing to admit. Kidlet's independence and her driver's license meant I was off the hook to taking her to practice most nights - more unexpected downtime.

So for some reason, that information I excavated has resonated with me a strange way. I find myself getting sudden urges to leap to my feet. Visions of a flattening backside propel me towards the treadmill. And the ring around my middle has me yearning to crunch. I am going to make a point of standing up when I talk on the phone - even at work.

I read that Nicolas Sparks the author sets his hourglass and takes five minutes at the start of every new hour to stretch and do sit-ups and push-ups. Maybe he read the info too.

I want to stay healthy and vibrant. I want to live for a very long time. So this aging thing, I can't take it sitting down!

Chill After the Bill

Americans fnally passed some significant legislation regarding heatlhcare reform. Yay! It's nothing too radical but it's a start. And compared to our "free" Canadian universal heathcare system, the changes are minor.

But when I watched the news reports of the reactions of those who are firmly opposed to the healthcare reform bill - the violent language, threats and actions - I was shocked. Fear is ramped and sorely misplaced.

I am a huge proponent of free speech and peaceful protest - I have fully exercised this right - but the scenes of vandalism and raging anger both sadden and disappoint me. There is no justification for violence of any kind, certainly not to settle disputes or differing opinions.

Disagree. Vote them off the island. Protest. Sign a petition. Write letters to the paper and post your opinions on blogs. Tweet your discontentment to your hearts content. But keep it clean, civilized and peaceful.

I heard a right wing racist "patriot" on the freedom radio channel advocating people to rise up, form neighbourhood fire teams and look to their arsenals to challenge this government. Ironic -- if anyone gets wounded, they may not be able to afford the medical attention they'll need.

Chill. Lose the fear. Open your minds. Try something new. You may just find that the changes are good for your country. And for some perspective, consider the firestorms of famine, war, disease and oppression raging around the planet - and decide if  pehaps the collective reaction is an over reaction.

If caring for the weakest, sickest and neediest members of society brands us (Canada) socialist, then I  proudly wear that label as a badge of honour.

Water Here, There and Everywhere

It rained today ... I think it was in honour of World Water Day. Still hard to fathom that something as basic and essential to human life - and all forms of life - is not readily accessible to all who need it. As a child in school I remember laughing in disbelief as our teacher told us how people in France actually bought water to drink in bottles. That people couldn't drink the water that flowed from their taps was inconceivable to us - never mind that many others didn't even have taps.

To this day I am shocked by the imbalance of accessibility to clean water and sanitation that exists around the planet. What is an everyday occurrence to us in Canada - flushing toilets and drinking clean tap water - is a pipedream for others who drew the short straw in the birthplace lottery. I can't think of any more basic human right than clean water and proper sanitation systems - the foundation for good health and sustenance. We have been spared the hardships of walking miles for water and then lugging it back on our backs or heads; we have the luxury of privacy and clean washrooms when nature calls and as a woman, I can't even imagine how my sisters in developing countries cope with their menstrual cycles.

It was sheer good fortune that I was born in this land of bountiful resources; most are not so fortunate. Most of the human race struggles with the daily challenge to survive - let alone thrive.

So it is our responsibility to appreciate these gifts that have been so generously bestowed upon us, with every sip and flush.

You may be interested in Not For Granted.

Women Empowered

I have been interested in the concept of microfinance for some time now and became a Kiva lender to learn more about how it works and the impact it can have. Although there is great need everywhere, I have focused more heavily on lending to women entrepreneurs, as in many cultures and communitites, girls tend to be much more disenfranchised. And maybe the fact that I have three daughters has something to do with it ... I am inspired by people who make it their life's work to help solve problems and raise up those who need it most; people who do what they can to make the world a better place.

Here is a shining star for you: Roshaneh Zafar from Pakistan, Winner Of 2010 Global Leadership Award,  was honored for her work bringing economic empowerment to her country’s poorest women. In 1996 she founded the Kashf Foundation, the first Pakistani microfinance organization to focus on women. Zafar has empowered and helped over 300,000 women gain economic independence. I love it - a hand up - not a hand out. That makes her a hero and an inspiration in my books! Watch and prepare to be inspired too.

Peace Seeking

I am longing for wide open spaces; breathing room. A place devoid of the man made commotion soundtrack. I can do without the blaring rhythmic bass tones broadcasting from cars at four in the morning, or the high pitched whine of motorcycles as they race down our street in weekend ritual. I would love to sleep with the windows open - and hear nothing but the snoring from my dog. Our neighbourhood used to be a sleepy suburb bordering on open farm fields. That was twenty-one years ago and now our street has become a main line from the new build area to the mall.

Progress. Yet I  find myself fantasizing about life amongst tall pines with a lullaby of waves hitting the shoreline. I plan how I will spend my imaginary winfall - the land I would buy; the sustainable abode I would build; the goats I would nurture.

And even though I have no reason to expect that I would have money to fund such dreams, my faith and confidence is unshakeable. I know that if I internalize this dream,  think creatively, and set sail in the general direction, the dream will materialize into reality. I just don't know when -- but I can't wait!

For now, the windows stay closed at night. Peace.

Walking on Sunshine

Happy -- that's me! The sun has been shining brilliantly all week with record high temps. It's been warmer here than in Florida. What a gift! And even better, today is my day off. A whole day - hours and minutes that are I mine to spend however ...

Hubby and I took a stroll down the main street in our town the other night, as the sun was still high in the sky at dinnertime. Blooming pots of pastel tulips and spring flowers spilled onto the sidewalk heralding the arrival of springtme. Smiling faces, couples walking hand in hand, dog lovers strutting their beloved pups and the chatter and laughter of a joyful community basking in the renewal of nature - it seemed as though we had all received the same memo -- enjoy the moment. And we did.

That is the gift in our four distinct seasons .... appreciation for change and the possibilities and surprises each delivers. After living through our harsh Canadian winter, the most beautiful flowers are the first of the season. The tender green buds on a tree are the most precious - holding the promise of warmth and sunshine to come.

Springtime ... inhale deeply. Close you eyes and feel the peace as you slowly breath out. You can let it go, 'cause it looks as though Spring isn't going anywhere. And on that note, I am off for a walk in the sunshine.

Pixels from the Nation's Capital

Wordless Wednesday features a few shots from my girls' weekend in Ottawa.

Canadians love their "Tims", especially when it is "roll up the rim" time.

Democracy in action on Parliament Hill.

Rideau Canal

Women are Persons ... glad to hear it!

She's Not Going Nowhere

That's what Kidlet texted me ..."well I'm not going nowhere".

She got her first university acceptance letter and it seemed to come as a huge relief. She has been harbouring a fear of being the only one in her class not to get accepted anywhere ... although there really is no chance of that. Kidlet has been deeply involved in her high school and community and in spite of being on the ice with her hockey 4-5 nights a week/8 months a year - for the past 10 years, she has managed an A average.

This is a nerve wracking time for the high school college hopefuls. They are perched precariously on the cusp of dreams facing infinite possibility. As parents, we have reserved front row seats from which to watch them take flight.

So these are exciting times around our house. Kidlet and I have lots to look forward to in the next six months... graduation, Kenya, university. And over in the corner there stands the double edged sword - holding close and letting soar. God I am going to miss her. But I know I will enjoy the technicolour show that is Kidlet - unplugged and unleashed.

Daylight Loving Time

Daylight
You bid me good morning as I left for work.
It's been awhile and I missed you.

You must have missed me too
Cause you were still around
Even after I finished my grocery shopping tonight.

We had to lose an hour last night
To get you here a little earlier
And you what? It was worth it!

Daylight
You make my step a little lighter
And my smile a little wider.

Spa-ctacular

“No. No way. I am not going to a spa. I hate spas.” The words flew out of my mouth - bypassing the edit function.

My gal pals exchanged nervous glances. “Yes you are. We all are. It’s already booked and we can’t cancel.”

I continued my cranky complaining. “But I hate spas ... I don’t want to go. You go without me.” My mind was made up and I was determined.

She hesitated before speaking. “It’s your birthday present, and it’s all paid for.” Insert both feet and fists into mouth. Oh God ...could I have been any more obnoxious?

I tried to quickly retract the bitchy comment but the damage had been done. The saddened eyes signalled that I had hurt the feelings of two of my most treasured friends. After several minutes of my desperate apologies and gutteral grovelling, I almost convinced them that I had been impulsive and thoughtless and that I was indeed lucky to have people who take such care in providing me with special experiences. The tsunami of regret and shame I felt was relentless and left us all in emotional tatters.

I am on record as hating surprises and my friends and family are always careful to steer clear of them. I become a bull dog the moment I catch wind of a surprise in the making. Simply put – I put everyone through hell and become one giant pill.

As it turned out the spa they had chosen (with the input of far away sister) was spectacular ... a series of log buildings set amongst the pines. Steaming hot pools followed by temperate and frigid pools, new age music and chirping birds surround-sound, and wood burning fire pits. Lots of lounging bodies cloaked in white spa robes slumped back in high back Muskoka chairs as they milked the ZEN of the place. Impressive. At first sight of a half naked aging gentleman descending into the hot bath my stomach became acrobatic. Tension mounted and I silently berated myself for not keeping up with my fitness regime. Darn those floppy thighs and wings. I don’t  look at myself in my bathing suit never mind parading around a bunch of strangers ... I was comforted to find out my masseuse’s name was Rachel and not Rick. She was in for a fistful!

I finally let go just a little and the girls and I stripped down to enjoy our spa adventure. We donned our one-piece suits, made a towel cover more than one would think possible and watched with envy as the other seasoned spa-goers wrap their half nakedness in their crisp white robes. We headed for the steaming pool ... and just as we pushed the door open, we had to laugh albeit very quietly at the sign that announced, Silence beyond this point. Impossible! And so very funny. We shook our heads, contained our giggles and headed off to be steam cleaned and rubbed.

And after all of the cr#p I put my sweet gal pals through ... I thoroughly enjoyed my rub down once I let myself relax. Maybe I am rigid, and a control freak (adjectives courtesy of those closest to me). I’ve always preferred to think I just know what I like ... but I can see the signs of hardened “stuck in my ways” behaviour setting in.

So last week I learned that I have better friends than I deserve; that in spite of my chatty ways I am extremely shy and a little self conscious; sometimes you just have to go with the flow; and that there is no way, no how I cannot speak for more than a few minutes ... not when I am with my pals anyway. I also learned that I am truly blessed – and for that, I am very grateful.

Wavin Flag

I love this new version of Canadian artist's K'Naan's song Wavin' Flag. A group of young Canadian artists got together, called themselves Young Artists For Haiti - and recorded Wavin' Flag to help keep the momentum for funds for Haiti alive. I had to share with you ... enjoy.

Milestone Markers

Tonight we will be turning our clocks back ahead... and we will lose a precious, sacred, solitary hour. My friend Time has become ever more important to me, and it’s passing faster and furious with each year it seems. I was warned that this would happen.

Soon the blur of seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks will deliver my fiftieth birthday to me in a cyclonic swirlwind. I’ve been contemplating this arrival for some time now ... and now that it is almost upon me, I have achieved some clarity around it.

I have always believed that birthdays are special and deserve to be celebrated. Birthdays are markers of the wonderment of life that we are privileged to call our own. Each represents another year of precious life lived ... another year in which I have tasted the sweetness of possibility and abundance and experienced the depths and heights of emotion that are the byproduct of a rich life. I have been truly blessed.

However one birthday is no more important than another – last year’s is as special as this year’s – and as the one after that. Each is a milestone in its own right. And this weekend, surrounded and nurtured by friends and a sister who I love so dearly, I counted my blessings – my treasures that make up the charmed life that is mine.

I can’t wait to turn fifty and claim that marker that means I may be close to the halfway point ... if I am really lucky! And if I never celebrate another birthday, well, I have had and lived the very best life imaginable.

So in a few hours the clock rolls ahead an hour - and fifty lunges that much closer!

PS - rolling ahead -- rolling back -- can't keep it straight. I just know that we instantly lose an hour! Isn't confusion a sign of aging??

Worn Shoes

OK - so I am working out of town at a conference my organization is hosting ... and I am feeling that right now - at this very moment - I may be young at heart, but man oh man - my body hurts! Wish I'd worn my podometer cause I swear I've walked a thousand miles in my practical shoes! Enough ranting for now; today is International Women's Day. And women before me have walked a road far rougher and longer than any I ever will. So hats off to women - for loving us, mothering, teaching, caring, supporting, discovering, leading, giving and contributing ... And mostly in uncomfortable shoes!

Cheers from the Canadian capital.

Ready or Not

I've only known that I have this business trip for 2 years ... so why am I waiting on a dryer full of clothes, hunting for my missing camera charger, downloading driver updates from the Canon website ....etc etc.?

Because I am a classic procastinator. I thrive on the thrill of "just in time", "by the skin of my teeth", "by a hair's breadth". I loathe the peace of mind that comes with having everything organized in advance, the suitcase packed and ready by the door. Where's the fun in that? No last minute body searches for plane tickets, no repeat trips from the car to the house to retrieve that one last thing ... It's a walk on the wild side, not for the faint of heart!

OK, now that I am done justifying my disorganized chaos, I have to run and finish packing. This post was just another exercise in procastination. God I'm good .... Off I go - for real this time.

My flight leaves in nine hours! Ready or not.

Something(s) to Smile About

This is me today (without the rosacea) ... for lots of reasons. The sun came out in all its golden brilliance after a long hiatus. Just like the first flowers of spring, sunshine on my face with a sapphire sky after so many gray days made it all the more appreciated. Spring -- I am not sure if you are here for a long time or a good time, but I'll take whatever you have to offer.

My sister was able to shower (thank goodness) just days after her shower, and is fighting back to health. I just want to see her stitches!

I finished the small mountain of work I had let accumulate at the office and now - finally, sleepy and spent, I can exhale and rest peacefully.

I am off to the nation's capital for work, but will see my far away sister while I am there. I will laugh much - guaranteed -- especially if she contorts into one of her double jointed postures worthy of Cirque du Soleil.

My two gal pals will join me in Ottawa for a few days of pre half century birthday celebrations. I can see us now - giggling in the Parliament public gallery - catcalling the Prime Minister. Fingers crossed that the Rideau Canal is still frozen so we can skate on our ankles and gnaw on beaver tails. Darn! I just checked the website and it says that the public skating on the canal is officially closed for the season. Blame it on global warming. Oh well -- the hotel hot tub will have to do. Maybe we can find an icicle to suck on.

And if those weren't enough reasons to smile, I got to the Indian food leftovers before Kidlet. A first!  

Hope you are all feeling as yellow and sunny as me today and that you have a great weekend!

Red Faced

Mmmm. [Peering at my face flastered against the mirror]  My cheeks are blazing crimson and this I know:

• I am not blushing or embarrassed
• I am not overheated and
• I haven't been sunning ...

Diagnosis: Severe case of rosacea. My doctor called it the Celtic Curse. (Darn those ancestors.)

Just one of the bonuses of being an aging, pastey white, thin skinned woman with Irish /Scottish descent. Aside from all of the money I save on buying blush, I would prefer that my blinding cheeks not make an entrance before me. They are relentess these rosy red ones; they have no humility - they demand attention. They scream "look at me" when really, the rest of me would prefer to fly under the wire and behind the camera.

The rosacea in the past few months spead like a wild fire from my left cheek, over the boney summit to the right side of my face. It intensified to the point of dryness and bleeding and after some quick research on the Internet, my fear of growing a bulbous WC Fields nose drove me reluctantly to see the doctor. Apparently I do and eat all the things that cause flare ups ... no surprise there.

But the good news is that after I finish the meds and sulphur cream this month and have another laser treatment - I just may look like my old, aging self again. Ho hum

So my take away is that if  rosacea is my biggest health concern -- I am golden. And for that, I am very grateful.

PS -  I will be looking for some organic althernative treatments for the long term ... there has to be a better way.

Waiting

It was deja vu walking through the lobby of the hospital. The familiar antiseptic smell triggered the memory reel. This time it wasn't my petite little mother who was the patient, but rather, my petite little sister. It was day surgery, so the visit wasn't charged with the same dread and anxiety of my previous experiences with my gravely ill mother. But it was still hard  ... my sister had frequented the same hallways with me so many years ago, and I am sure it added a layer of stress for her.

It should have been called ALL DAY surgery ... cause she practically had to wait that long. It was like a game of elimination. We were moved through a labrynth of waiting rooms (appropriately named), each a little smaller and more intimate than the last; each with their own special feature ... the hospital fashion must have - the gown; bloodwork; the hydration IV; the other IV; the heated recliner waiting chair; the visit from the anesthetist; and finally the pre-op checklist.

Ever notice how waiting room TV seems to be stalled either on frenetic game shows or kiddie puppet shows? If that doesn't work out for you there is always the magazine selection that reads like an archive of vintage editions. Sis and I passed the time laughing about things we did as kids and whispering out of the sides of our mouths about the fate of the various people also waititng for procedures. Sitting in a room full of strangers with only an open ended hospital frock to cover yourself creates a level playing field; eveyone is equal in their vulnerability. Sis inadvertently flashed her best bare back side as she attempted to negotiate the IV pole while trying to find closure with the gown. Everyone chuckled when the nurse reminded her that she would never see that man again. No vanity here! I tried to make my sweet little sister laugh, took pictures of her for future clout, and most importantly, tried to make her feel supported.

I remember spending the same kind of nervous, silly, giddy time with my mom as we waited ... and waited. I have come to appreciate these snippets in time when we have nothing to do but "be" - together.

Sis is a trouper and is on her way back to her healthy, strong vibrant self. Almost. She just has to be a little more patient ... and wait - just a little longer.

Put It In Writing

He got it! Today my blogger dad Polar Bear saw his words on the printed page, in a book for the first time. As a birthday surprise I made the first six months of his blog posts into a hardcover book. My life long learner Pops took up blogging last May. I initially established a blog for him as a way to feed  his writing habit and buy some time as I worked on organizing the stack of  pages of his memoir that he had churned out.

I've written about my one of a kind dad here before ... just click on the label "father" in my sidebar. To say he has lead a rich life is a gross understatement. The man lives every day as a cyclone of curiousity, energy, and adventure. His passion for life and living is unmatched by anyone else I know.

In the past few years he has been diligently writing about his childhood, his experiences, his life lessons. When he jumped at the suggestion of blogging, I had to chuckle. I wasn't sure what the blogosphere would be in for. As it turns out, his Peering Through a Porthole is a hit. He has visitors from all over the globe and not just family members either! It's no surprise he has embraced the medium with the same enthusiasm he seizes all new ventures. So in lieu of me properly editing his first draft (memoirs), I set up his blog book and had it shipped to his Florida snowbird nest. I couldn't wait for him to see the results of his sharing.

The pay off was his email today:

I am thriled to actually see my writing in a book form. It is way nicer than I could imagine ...  I am so happy with the gift. Love and appreciation. Polar Bear.

You're welcome Pops. It's the fruit of your labour. You put it in writing - I just put it between covers.

[Photo credit: Theresa , Mrs Polar Bear]