A Geography Lesson

One reason for moving to my latest address was to reduce the distance gap in a special relationship.

Sadly...

...the 'distance' turned out to be far more complex than mere geography.

But still - it was necessary and important to try. 

It was the right decision.

No regrets.

Sometimes you have to love someone enough...

...to let them go.

I have let go.

Ho Ho Ho(ping) 2011

I was hopeful that this holiday season was going to be better than the last two.  

Jury's still out. 

I did manage to display my ceramic tree - a gift from my parents in the late 1970's. 

It has managed to survive two curious toddlers, 35+ years of storage, and (at least) 7 moves.



I tried to take out my decorations and ornaments of Christmases past with the thought of having a real tree this year.  

But no tree this time.  I couldn't even bring myself to open the ornament box.  I guess it's still too soon.  So...In the closet they'll stay for another year.

I still struggle to figure out how to move on...

...to create new Christmas memories.

But I remain hopeful and have faith. 

After all - isn't that what Christmastime is all about? 

I Ho Ho Hope so.

Hey Dad...

Happy 86th birthday!

I miss you.

Wish you were still here.








Love, Holly

The one of your 6 girls who looked the most like you...

...except with more hair.   : }

 
I am my father's daughter.

(Not so) FAQ's #17

At what age does someone stop learning new stuff?

At any age - life can be filled with new experiences and little tidbits of unexpected information.

Take bleach, for instance.  I've known of the cleaning properties of bleach and have used it - albeit sparingly - for about a hundred years or so.

I know it makes white things whiter - and isn't a good idea for colors.

Recently I decided to bleach some white wash cloths that had taken on a funky aura of their own.

I also had a set of 2 (ugly) gray and purple striped washcloths - one of which I was willing to sacrifice to the bleach gods in hopes of improving its aroma.

So - I dropped it in a sink of diluted bleach.






I had expected that it would end up a lighter version of its original self...but in a few seconds it literally changed colors before my eyes.

The purple and gray had become hot pink and orange...it was kinda cool!

Maybe the affects of bleach on a striped washcloth is less than earth-shattering - but I want to consider even the silliest of experiences as an interesting mystery or life lesson.

Then there was the time while raking outside -

that I thought I'd unearthed a pig snout!...

...Until I turned it over and realized it was just a nut! 


What a relief!

...And then - there's the common "side affect" of eating asparagus - one that I never knew about until just recently.

I guess I didn't get the memo.

...but that's another story for another time.



And the (Not so) FTA to the (Not so) FAQ?:  No age limits!

Veteran's Day 11/11/11

On this Veteran's Day 11/11/11....Thank you to all our Veterans...past, present, and to come.

And....let's not forget those first American Veterans...

...the Patriots who got the whole ball rollin'.

"All the world's a stage...

...and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances,  And one man in his time plays many parts,  His acts being seven ages."  Act II Scene 7 from Shakespeare's "As You Like It"

The other night I went to see the Westminster College production of Victor Victoria.  It was well done, entertaining, and fun.

Afterward there was a reception with the actors.  There was an energy level in the room that only those who take the stage to perform can truly understand and experience.

I thought of the many theatre shows that my sons participated in - and recalled how exciting and fun it was as parents (and the immense pride we felt!) to watch them perform.

One time in particular came to mind...

 
Ryan was involved with a small group of young actors with Child's Play Theatre Company (now called Stages) that were being coached to perform short dramatic plays.

I'm guessing he was around age 14.

The parents were invited to come and watch their performance of a play called The Lottery.

The Lottery was about a small village that had an annual ritual to ensure a good harvest.

Every June 27th the children gathered stones - as the adults congregated in the town square to participate in the lottery.

In the first round of the lottery, the head of each family drew a small slip of paper. The slip with a black spot meant that family was "chosen".

In the 2nd round, each family member drew a slip.  The individual who picked the slip with the black spot was then surrounded by the other villagers and stoned to death.  EEK!

Ryan was playing the character who was running the lottery.  There was a scene with just him and a young woman....my memory is vague on this....but probably the lady who picked the slip with the black spot.

The scene was going well - until there was an evident lull in the dialog.

Looking at the actress - you could see that panic that comes with having no memory of her next line.

As a parent - you watch anxiously - wondering what will happen to the scene and to the self-esteem of these young performers.

After a short time - that seemed like an eternity - Ryan started to say her lines in question form...something like... "I suppose you're going to ask me if all this seems fair?"  Then he'd say his line.  Then he said her next line the same way....and followed with his line.

Suddenly - we saw the lights come back on in the eyes of the actress - and she continued with her own lines.

At the end of the performance, Child's Play's Artistic Director came up to us and marveled at how Ryan had pulled that scene "out of the tank" (his words).

An incredible job of thinking on one's feet under extreme pressure! I'm still amazed by it....congrats Ryan!

...and the show goes on.

(Not so) FAQ's #16

What can a girl do to pass the time...

 

...while (im)patiently waiting for an elusive response to an obscene number of online job applications?

Oh.  This.

It's all good.

Gratefulness Galore

I've been settling into life here in Utah...and am very grateful...for many reasons.  Included in the settling process has been job hunting.
 
I had been reluctant to write about what was going on...for fear of jinxing things.

But now I can say...

...as of October 4th, I'm a full-time employee of this beautiful college ------->

For this opportunity - I am extremely grateful! 
 
One of many bonuses is that I live only 5 blocks from the campus.  When the position became available - I knew it had to be mine! 

And the most amazing bonus of all is that my wonderful, long-time friend Diane, works in the same office!

Diane was instrumental in this process and outcome - advocating for me in so many ways.  Thank you, dear friend.

Diane is a Utah native who lived in Minnesota for several years.

Most of those years, we worked together at the University of MN Landscape Arboretum.

Who would have ever imagined our lives intersecting for a second time - and working together again at another university!

My gratitude overflows for her, my family, and other friends...who have lifted me up and helped guide me on this multi-faceted journey.

If friends are gifts we give ourselves...
...than I've outdone myself!

Garage Sales & Mouse Ears

I spent part of last week in Glenwood Springs, CO.  I took a short road trip there to help my sister and brother-in-law move...aka...get ready for a garage sale.  There was a lot of "stuff" accumulated over many years - and they were not holding back about getting rid of most of it.

The first day of the sale was busy and fun.  I was given full power to bargain, deal, and reduce prices.  Many things went for less than the original price...as with any garage sale worth it's salt.

I did dig my heels in and held my ground on one item: it was a nearly new tan corduroy sports coat that looked like it was tailor-made for the shopper.  It was marked $3 and he wanted it for 2.  I told him "no".  He bought it for 3.  Sometimes it's just the principle of the thing.

There were many nice people that showed up.  Some were neighbors that just stopped by to say 'so long'.

One man in particular was just a hoot!

He was from New Jersey and was shopping with his wife and adult son.

He was super friendly and was a non-stop talker - but in a good way.

He kept mentioning a Mickey Mouse hat that was on the shelf.  I told him he could have it for free if he promised to wear it in the car on the way home.

He accepted the terms.  His son, however, shot me a "I can't believe you said that" look.

So I gave him the hat - he put it on - and posed for a photo.  He wore it as he got into the car.  Whether he wore it all the way home is doubtful.

A few days later my sister found a note in her mailbox with an email address.  It was from the New Jersey guy.  He wanted us to email him his picture wearing the Mickey Mouse ears.

I love it!

Dragonflies Revisted

I still feel a special connection to dragonflies - even though they frightened me as a child.

I found this paving stone treasure in a friend's yard under years of "ivy gone wild". 

It had broken in two and I found the two pieces about 4 feet from each other.

I imagine the journey the one half took every springtime as the ivy came to life and it rode the waves of the ivy's growth.

The two halves have been reunited.  I have a feeling of contentment about that...

...it's as it should be.

Ring Around the Roses

Roses aren't my favorite flowers.

But I appreciate how intricate and beautiful they are.

Their petals are like velvet.

Amazing!

Between the Lines

I saw this license plate today.

What makes it most interesting is the license plate frame. 

It says...


"I'd rather be Parasailing"

The Reader's Digest Version

Well...to make a very long story short...which is difficult for me...

 ...I now have a Salt Lake City, UT address.

In November of 2009, I made the difficult decision to leave my Minnesota family and friends.  (I miss you N8- with all my heart)

The solace was that after 34 years - I have enjoyed living closer to my sisters in Southern California and my mother in Las Vegas.

But also since living in San Diego - I have lost two jobs.  Facing the daunting reality of yet another job search was discouraging to say the least.
  

But the upside - the layoff did open the door for me to finally make the decision to close the distance gap of a 2+ year relationship with MRW. 

Even though I still face a job search - knowing we can experience a normal dating relationship together - is a comfort.

Thanks so much to my amazing family and friends for your encouragement and support to follow my heart.  I love you all!

It's time has come....

...Woodstar's Journey continues.

Update

...on the road again...

...More later.

(Not so) FAQ's #15

If I follow my heart...

..should I make sure that my heart has a brain?

Poss(um)-ibilities

My San Diego family has been having some nocturnal visitors.  These visitors show their presence by leaving holes dug under the fence.  It was a possibility that the culprits were skunks - mostly due to "eau de Polecat" wafting in the morning air on occasion.

So they hired a guy to come and live-trap them - whatever they were - and relocate them to someplace else.  Cat food is the bait of choice - an irresistible delicacy to most critters who are enticed into said traps.

To their surprise - the midnight diggers were possums.  This is #5 - who was released in the same spot as numbers 1 thru 4 - several miles away by the banks of the San Diego River.

We figure that if they find their way back to the house - jonesing for more cat food - it probably won't be before 2015.

We expect...and hope...that they're having some happy family reunions right about now.

Possums have "smiles" that look rather vicious.  However - the Possum Police insisted that they are really quite friendly and docile creatures.

To prove his point - he stuck his finger in the cage and proceeded to touch the possum's toothy grin.  His finger remained unscathed - still attached to his hand.

Nobody wanted to challenge his theory.  We're all aware that there's a first time for everything.  We prefer our fingers intact - thank you very much.

But now we all have a new appreciation for that cute possum smile.

I think RS has captured the 'essence of possum' quite nicely.

I think he's been practicing...

(Not so) FAQ's #14

How did you get that scar in your mouth?

You may wonder how that question appeared in my mind on this day, July 4, 2011.  I did have to go way back in the recesses of my memory to find it.

This is a question I've been asked by every new dentist I've ever visited.  There really is a scar - on the roof of my mouth - a result of a rather weird accident on the 4th of July (I'm guessing here) 1960.

We were living in Hibbing, MN at the time.  I was on the trapeze on our swing set - holding my

pride-and-joy purchase from the 4th of July parade:  a red, white & blue wooden baton.

One end was a ball adorned in massive amounts of silver glitter.  The other end was basically a stick.

I was holding the baton in my hand - stick side up - and decided to swing strong and then jump off the trapeze.  It was something I did all the time - just never with a stick in my hand.

When I landed - my feet hit the ground and the opposite re-action was the upward motion of my arms.  The stick found its way into my (obviously) open mouth.  Net result - roof puncture! 

I clearly remember that it didn't really hurt. What started the panic was when I realized that I was bleeding.  What I didn't know at the time was how serious it could have been if the stick had gone in about 1/4 inch further. 

I was lucky.  The guardian angel of glitzy batons was watching over me that day.

It healed fine, left a scar...

...and has puzzled dentists ever since.

Button, Button...

...who'll find the button?






While reminiscing in my mind about Jane - I thought of the Button Game and this little memory....

Before I moved from Minnesota, I called Jane to see if she wanted to meet for lunch.  It had been a while since we'd visited.  She was at a shopping mall in Burnsville when she answered her cell phone.

I told her I had just one errand to do first - to go to Joann's Fabrics and buy a button.

I had replaced the buttons on a new blouse and was short one.  I had forgotten to count the buttons on the sleeves.


She started to laugh - because at that very moment she was standing in front of the displays at Joann's...yes... shopping for buttons.

So I gave her the details - and she picked up my buttons for me.

Fortuitous for me....and we thought it funny and quite the coincidence.

Jane found the button.  Thanks Jane.

Farewell to Jane...

Jane was my friend.

We first met when I went to her home to pick up my son Nate.  Nate - and Jane's daughter Laura - were juniors in high school and had met when performing in The Music Man at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre.

When I arrived - Nate, Laura and some other friends were in the music room - and it was clear they had no intention of saying any quick good-byes.

So I joined Jane in the family room and saw a jigsaw puzzle spread out on a card table.



I loved doing puzzles too - so we sat down and worked on it together and got to know each other.

A new friendship was born.

There were many impromptu family dinners together, photo ops with Nate and Laura at proms and theatre performances, picnics at the Arboretum, weekends at Stevens Point and much more.

One weekend in June 2005, we drove to Stevens Point to see Laura perform in a college musical production.  I drove Jane's SUV there and back.  It was a perfect arrangement as I liked to drive and Jane liked to ride.

The following Tuesday, Jane sent out a group email explaining that she had some blurry vision in her right eye and had it checked out.  Unfortunately, a cancerous tumor was found in her eyeball.

The good news was that it was all-contained - and even though she would lose her eye - there wouldn't be any radiation or chemo treatments required.  It was surreal as she never mentioned or complained about any eye issues when we were together just a few days earlier.

Through it all - she maintained her positive spirit and deep faith...

...and her sense of humor.



She loved the cookie bouquet I got for her - complete with a pirate cookie with an eye patch.

Until it happened... I never knew that Jane's doctors had cautioned her that there was a possibility that the eye cancer could potentially manifest itself in liver or lung cancer within 6-10 years.

Unfortunately they were horribly right - as 6 years later cancer did appear in her liver.  It was unyielding and relentless and took her too soon.

Through it all - she and husband Don were so courageous.  Their CaringBridge posts displayed their unshakable Faith.  It was gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, amazing, and humbling, to be included on their journey. 

Jane was a woman of faith, integrity, and fun.  I will be forever grateful for her being part of my life.  I miss you Jane....til we meet again.

Jane was...and will always be...my friend.

See Jane.

Stop, Jane!  Stop!




Please don't go...


I love you, dear friend.

The Eagle was Banded

I've been enjoying eavesdropping on some eagles' nests that are located off Catalina Island.  These cameras are part of a long-time and ongoing project to help increase the once-endangered eagle population.

The Two Harbors nest has one female eaglet.  The West End nest has 3 - 1 female and 2 males.  It's been very cool to watch the nurturing done by both sets of parents - who would take turns hunting, feeding and watching the kids.

A few weeks ago they banded the single female in the Two Harbors nest.

Young eaglets are banded and numbered so they can be tracked and data gathered as to how successful they are at staying alive and well and potentially reproducing.

It may seem intrusive to some - but without the dedication of those involved - there might not be any eagles to band.

I watched the eagle-cam as the nest was visited by a Dr. Peter Sharpe and his assistant.


 

I took some photos of my computer screen - so they're not the best quality - but it shows the process of how to snatch an eaglet.


This is the eaglet's first ever glimpse of a human.

Dr. Sharpe backed slowly into the nest - about a foot each time.  With each stop he would re-arrange a branch or two and move the dried grass around.

At this point she looked very curious.

By now there's definitely some whiggage going on. 

Baby tries to "get big" to scare away the ginormous intruder.


Then she seemed to settle down - just trying to figure it all out.

He rarely looked at the eaglet - only glanced her way a couple of times.  She looks curious in this pose.

You can see how big the nest is when a man can sit in it with room for a friend.

Note the way he's dressed - a bit reminiscent of a super-sized eagle.

She started to get a little braver here and moved closer to get a better look.

Then in a flash - he reached out and snatched her by the beak!

I jumped about a foot - even I wasn't expecting that!

Needless to say - she was not a happy camper!

Look at that wingspan on a youngster still unable to fly!

His assistant came in quickly to help so the eaglet wouldn't get hurt....

...and in no time she was in the bag - literally.

They took her out of the nest for about 20 minutes to do the banding, figure out the gender and give her an overall well-baby check.

She was returned to the nest - a bit shell shocked...

...but lookin' fine in her new 'wing bling'.

The parents had been flying overhead during the banding process and returned later with some goodies for her.

If you'd like to watch the live action - the link is below.

Happy bird watching!

www.iws.org/bald_eagles/twoharborscam.html


p.s. Baby girl #18 may not always be in the nest.....she's learning to take flight! 


This one is great too!      www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles