Looking back at 2011

I rode the wildest roller coaster called life last year and after many lessons am ready for a simple Merry-go-round. At least for a little while.

Stuck in the driveway

I am delighted

 

I should have known that most of you fellow bloggers whom I’ve grown to know and admire are Happy in your chosen lifestyle. In fact I’m overjoyed at the comments from yesterday’s post. In the everyday world of fuel stations, grocery stores and banks it seems I run into a lot of unhappy people in their job. I’m so glad there are many people out there who love their lifestyle. Thanks for sharing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dad, can you hear me?

1956
I was always Daddy’s “little girl.” You showed me love in the only way you knew how, by spoiling me. Before my memory I used to ride on your shoulders and you’d tell me to duck under the doorways. Once I learned to walk I remember walking by your side holding your little finger to ground me to the world. You taught me how to water ski and eat the tops off the asparagus that grew in the garden. You took me for ice cream, burgers and hotdogs, our favorite foods. You called the riding lawn mower my first car and that got me to mow the lawn. Later you bought me cars and together we repaired them when needed. You stayed up to wait for me to come home from a date, even when I was late. You gave me away at my wedding and told my new husband with a smile not to bring me back. Yet I was always welcome home. You and I would have silly secrets that drove Mom crazy. (Crazier than she already is anyway.)

Ray Marvin Olmsted 1940s
I remember as a pre-teen hearing you only occasionally talk about being in North Africa during WWII and how you’d like to go back. As a teen I volunteered to go with you. But it never happened.

2005 at Padre Island
My Dad passed away Friday February19th, 2010 about a week after a massive stroke. Ever since he had several small strokes in the last couple of years I’ve sort of felt like I lost the Dad I knew and that every visit was a gift. Yes, I am sad for myself and family yet I know he’s better off as there really was no quality of life left. Sure glad I got to see him once more on my recent trip to Texas.

June 24, 1923 – February 19, 2010
There will be no official memorial; his body was donated to science. Yet I am taking my Dad’s memory to Africa, even if it it’s south and not north. We can both follow our dreams.

Because of you my life goes on. I will love you and treasure your memory forever. This trip’s for You!

MWT - A-piph-a-tree

Mike loves to landscape; I think it may be meditative. And so we have an A-piph-a-tree in the back yard.

It started with a fence followed by a pond and rock work. I believe this to be an ongoing project. Actually it started with the big Arizona White Oak in the untouched back yard.

This is a marvelously dreamy place to sit and think. And maybe have some inspiration, come to a realization, make a sudden intuitive leap of understanding, have an Epiphany.

Lately, I’ve had many epiphanies. Falling in love filled an empty part of my life I didn’t know I had.

Visiting my parents taught me to accept the things I cannot change. More on this later.

View from bench under A-piph-a-tree
The tree of life has always been a strong image for me. I am terrestrial and usually have my feet planted on the ground. Maybe not barefoot like in my youth as my feet have become soft and tender. My arm-like branches reach out to capture what energy I can from the universe. I grow, especially when watered with the journey of life. My roots reach down into the earth for needed nutrients like the words of a treasured friend. I listen and learn.

To visit more of the world, or to share a look into your own, visit My World Tuesday by clicking here.

My Word dictionary: an epiphany is a Christian festival marking the visit of the Magi to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth or, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the baptism of Jesus Christ. As a noun, an epiphany is the supposed manifestation of a divine being, the appearance of God.

Addicted to Blog

While surfing some of my favorite blogs today I found this quiz at Sarah’s. She didn’t think that it’s very accurate, and for her I agree. Yet I felt it did right by me. Link to this quiz through Brit Gal.

I have become addicted to the blog world. And in the process I’ve met numerous interesting people from around the world. It’s opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities and people. I’m glad to have opened my mind to the technological changes around me.

“Remember when the library changed from card catalogues to computer?” Berta asked me today. Oh yea, and I wasn’t happy about it. Neither was she, and even went so far as to write a letter to the editor in complaint. Yet now she’s certainly computer savy.

Change, one of the hardest things to consciously do. Yet change happens so fast around us that we’re frequently caught in its tail wind, pulled through before we knew whether to resist. Sometimes it’s for the better, or worse. But I figure if something positive is learned, it’s all good.

So, yes, for now I’m 67% addicted to blogging, and 100% to life.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t savy enough to get the quiz’s image here thru a link. Still so much to learn!

Always learning from Mom & Dad

Every time I visit my parents I learn life lessons. Usually not by the “do as they do” method, just the opposite. Like:

Don’t talk too much, allow others to speak and enjoy conversation, no monologues
Be a better listener, quiet the mind, save the comments
Take care of health issues, do research until understanding comes and healing follows
Stay active in mind and body
Keep learning and growing

Be myself with all honesty
Keep up with current events and technology
Don’t let fear hold me back

Choose to have no regrets
Be open to new ideas
Have friends older and younger
Don’t sweat the small things
Go for the gusto
Follow my heart and passions
Be nice to others and myself
Learn from the past, but don’t dwell on it

Live in the now

I don’t really have much else to say about the visit. Mom lives in the past and Dad lives in his head.

I took these pics of pics that hang in Mom’s bedroom.

Mom, her Mother, & her sister 1935

Me and Denver 1974

Change the things that can be changed, accept those that cannot, and have the wisdom to know the difference.