I just came from a 2 hour meeting that I was facilitating. In my head, throughout the entire meeting, it was being held from 2:30-4:30. I rushed to get people out on time, so they wouldn't have overtime. I marveled that people in the hall were making dinner, staying so late to work they needed to eat dinner at work. I was very impressed that people were gathering to go for walks after work, not rushing home, but rather taking time out for exercise with coworkers. I knew people had carpools to get to, so I didn't want to keep them late. I was so frustrated with myself - why hadn't I turned down the computer before coming? At this late hour, I could have gone straight home, rather to the other building.
Imagine my surprise, when getting in my car, in seeing the clock read 12:09.
Yep. It was a 10-12 meeting.
In all those "clues" I didn't pick up on my mental error.
Good thing I didn't go straight home....
Think it's time to talk to the doctor about some medication? :-)
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
why I love him.....
Our trips to Sturgis always seem to rejuvenate our marriage, our relationship, and our love. It's a chance to put the responsibilities of home and family aside for a few days and focus on us, on each other, and on our life together.
This year seemed to bring a multitude of options for me to be reminded of reasons why I love Ken. It started in Chamberlain, day two, when the camper battery went dead. He didn't think twice about running into town and changing it. That may not seem like much, but to someone as non-mechanical as I, it means the world to me that he doesn't even worry about things like that, he just takes care of it.
Soon after the battery was changed, he noticed the gas refrigerator wasn't lighting, just continually clicking. While I thought our week was ruined along with our food, he simply took the back off, checked it out, and fixed it. Again, his ability to think through things like that always amazes me, and makes me wonder what I would do without him.
Having changed the batter and fixed the fridge, we headed on our second leg of our journey. Within an hour, he was pulling off the side of the interstate because we had blown a tire on the camper. Interstate traffic, under construction, and a road-side tire gone. I was in full panic mode. But he, predicting any needs he might have, had packed the big floor jack, and honestly, within fifteen minutes he had the spare on and we were back on our way. If it ever phased him that heavy interstate traffic was speeding by his head, he never let it show. I don't know if I've ever admired him quite as much as I did that day.
We all tend to take so much of our partners for granted. Both sides of the fence. It's trips like this that remind me not to do that. Be thankful for all they do, thankful for having them in your life.
This year seemed to bring a multitude of options for me to be reminded of reasons why I love Ken. It started in Chamberlain, day two, when the camper battery went dead. He didn't think twice about running into town and changing it. That may not seem like much, but to someone as non-mechanical as I, it means the world to me that he doesn't even worry about things like that, he just takes care of it.
Soon after the battery was changed, he noticed the gas refrigerator wasn't lighting, just continually clicking. While I thought our week was ruined along with our food, he simply took the back off, checked it out, and fixed it. Again, his ability to think through things like that always amazes me, and makes me wonder what I would do without him.
Having changed the batter and fixed the fridge, we headed on our second leg of our journey. Within an hour, he was pulling off the side of the interstate because we had blown a tire on the camper. Interstate traffic, under construction, and a road-side tire gone. I was in full panic mode. But he, predicting any needs he might have, had packed the big floor jack, and honestly, within fifteen minutes he had the spare on and we were back on our way. If it ever phased him that heavy interstate traffic was speeding by his head, he never let it show. I don't know if I've ever admired him quite as much as I did that day.
We all tend to take so much of our partners for granted. Both sides of the fence. It's trips like this that remind me not to do that. Be thankful for all they do, thankful for having them in your life.
grasshopper guts are bright yellow-green...
Just one of my observations from this year's jaunt to Sturgis for the 69th annual rally. We've done the rally four times - and NEVER found the grasshoppers to be such a problem! We take the back way into our campground - through the country - and found when reaching camp that the camper was loaded with grasshoppers. It didn't end there.
I had grasshoppers hit my ear, my forehead, my forearm (left a mark!), and my legs. The bike was so full of grasshopper inards that when sitting at stoplights, or in line, we could smell them baking onto the engine. Every year there is something that sticks out, this year, the bright yellow-green of ill-fated grasshoppers on my shoes, my pants, and everything we owned....
I had grasshoppers hit my ear, my forehead, my forearm (left a mark!), and my legs. The bike was so full of grasshopper inards that when sitting at stoplights, or in line, we could smell them baking onto the engine. Every year there is something that sticks out, this year, the bright yellow-green of ill-fated grasshoppers on my shoes, my pants, and everything we owned....
Friday, July 24, 2009
a quiet friday night
I got a chance tonight to enjoy some of the Blessings in my life. After dinner with family, I weeded the garden, enjoyed some fresh peas (is there any better taste?), and ventured inside. The last few days have been off and on with storms, and the sky seemed unpredictable at the least - large black clouds interspersed with beautiful blue.
Being only 8oclock, I brewed a cup of raspberry tea, grabbed my new book, and headed out to the deck to enjoy the evening. The air had cooled down, bringing a strong wind. In my mind, the wind was my mom, letting me know she was there, giving me a hug. I have been thinking about her so much again lately. No particular reason, but I do like to think she was sitting on the deck with me tonight.
Lots of different birds added their songs to my night. The little house wren was out and about, as well as some robins, and some beautiful orioles new to my yard this year. It was good to see the absence of the jays, as they always seem to bully the others out.
I don't know a better way to spend a Friday night. The cool breeze, the clear air, the smell of the no-longer-thirsty lawn and flowers, a wonderful cup of tea, and a great book. All surrounded by my yard noises, the neighborhood noises, and mom.
I stayed out until I could read no longer. The darkness of night turning me in. 70 pages of my wonderful read, and a cup of tea later, I'd had a perfect quiet Friday night.
Being only 8oclock, I brewed a cup of raspberry tea, grabbed my new book, and headed out to the deck to enjoy the evening. The air had cooled down, bringing a strong wind. In my mind, the wind was my mom, letting me know she was there, giving me a hug. I have been thinking about her so much again lately. No particular reason, but I do like to think she was sitting on the deck with me tonight.
Lots of different birds added their songs to my night. The little house wren was out and about, as well as some robins, and some beautiful orioles new to my yard this year. It was good to see the absence of the jays, as they always seem to bully the others out.
I don't know a better way to spend a Friday night. The cool breeze, the clear air, the smell of the no-longer-thirsty lawn and flowers, a wonderful cup of tea, and a great book. All surrounded by my yard noises, the neighborhood noises, and mom.
I stayed out until I could read no longer. The darkness of night turning me in. 70 pages of my wonderful read, and a cup of tea later, I'd had a perfect quiet Friday night.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Independence Day...
Sitting on the hillside watching our town's fireworks on Saturday, it came to me. People all over our amazing country were doing the exact same thing.. Towns big and small, gathered for one night, gazing into the night, watching the explosions of light. I could picture families sitting at lakes, in bleachers, all coming together to celebrate our independence. It's the one thing that ties all of us Americans together. It's part of our identity.
Friday, July 3, 2009
solitude
I found myself this evening with an unexpected surprise..solitude. With my husband at work, and the carnival downtown luring my kids, I have the house to myself.
My oldest child is now a senior, one year before she leaves the nest. My son, five years later. I've gotten several glimpses at "empty nest" like tonight, and I have to say that solitude is not a bad thing to me.
I finished decorating for my party tomorrow. I weeded the garden. I weeded the flower bed. I took breaks reading my book and enjoying an iced latte. And then, I cut fresh lettuce and spinach from the garden for my dinner.
Solitude in itself is such a gift. In today's world, so many of us rush around day in and day out, from one thing to another. Transporting kids, watching them perform, going to work, doing the shopping, and all of the other countless things we do.
It's not easy to find down time, time to just exist. To enjoy a fresh salad, to read a good book, or to just sit. I challenge you each to find some time to enjoy the solitude. Regain that gift of time to yourself. It is truly a gift.
My oldest child is now a senior, one year before she leaves the nest. My son, five years later. I've gotten several glimpses at "empty nest" like tonight, and I have to say that solitude is not a bad thing to me.
I finished decorating for my party tomorrow. I weeded the garden. I weeded the flower bed. I took breaks reading my book and enjoying an iced latte. And then, I cut fresh lettuce and spinach from the garden for my dinner.
Solitude in itself is such a gift. In today's world, so many of us rush around day in and day out, from one thing to another. Transporting kids, watching them perform, going to work, doing the shopping, and all of the other countless things we do.
It's not easy to find down time, time to just exist. To enjoy a fresh salad, to read a good book, or to just sit. I challenge you each to find some time to enjoy the solitude. Regain that gift of time to yourself. It is truly a gift.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A New Normal
I love my drives to work in the morning. It always seems like my "thinking" time. This morning, as I passed the cemetary where my mom is buried, I realized that what I thought would never be ok three years ago has become my new normal. When Mom died, I knew life would never be the same - I'd always miss her. I didn't see ever "getting over" her. But I realize now that those changes just move us to the next step in our lives, to our next "normal".
It doesn't matter if it's a move, the loss of someone, a job change, someone else moving. I always feel like my perfect life is being destroyed. I always feel like I love my life, just the way it is, and a change is going to ruin that. But as I get wiser, I see that each change is molding me into a new shape, that new normal.
In the span of less than a year, I lost my mother, left my store, and had my best friend move three hours away. I was pretty sure at the end of that year that it was over. Life as I knew it was done. And in all honesty, it was. Because it has to.
Can you imagine if our lives never changed? If we didn't make new friendships? Didn't try new things? We would not be the amazingly intense, complicated people we are! Each of those changes brings new dimension to our frame of reference, to who we are.
There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better person than who I was before May 9, 2006. I'm not saying that this journey is easy, because it's not. But I'm beginning to appreciate all of my "new normals", and who they are making me into.
It doesn't matter if it's a move, the loss of someone, a job change, someone else moving. I always feel like my perfect life is being destroyed. I always feel like I love my life, just the way it is, and a change is going to ruin that. But as I get wiser, I see that each change is molding me into a new shape, that new normal.
In the span of less than a year, I lost my mother, left my store, and had my best friend move three hours away. I was pretty sure at the end of that year that it was over. Life as I knew it was done. And in all honesty, it was. Because it has to.
Can you imagine if our lives never changed? If we didn't make new friendships? Didn't try new things? We would not be the amazingly intense, complicated people we are! Each of those changes brings new dimension to our frame of reference, to who we are.
There is no doubt in my mind that I am a better person than who I was before May 9, 2006. I'm not saying that this journey is easy, because it's not. But I'm beginning to appreciate all of my "new normals", and who they are making me into.
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