Small Moment From My Past

My sister and I were in one of those moods when we did not want to go down for our nap.  I being the oldest, may have been the instigator although I don't remember that part very clearly.  Colleen, a year and a half younger than I  was and yet we were both very young.  It was before we started kindergarten and in those days there was no preschool. Mother stayed home and she was our preschool.

Our mother had already attempted to put us in our shared bedroom for a nap multiple times.  Normally, if we didn't comply, there would be some scolding and threats of what would happen if we came out of our bedroom one more time.  

This day was different and perhaps that is why it is a strong memory of a moment from my childhood.  

We were not cooperating and had left our bedroom yet again.  Both of us were playing around the legs of our mother as she was standing at the sink doing the dishes.  I remember that she was quietly working and her mood subdued.  As a small child, I looked up at her from where I sat at her feet and saw quiet tears streaming down her face as she methodically washed a cup, rinsed it and set it in the drainer.  

I felt empathy for mom at such a young age.  I grabbed my sister's hand and we went off to our bedroom and fell asleep for a good long nap.

What do you do when there's no internet?

I haven't written since Monday and so I feel like I'm starting all over!  No wi-fi where we were and so I just decided to relax and enjoy.

What do you do when there's no internet?  The first feeling I got was, well I have to admit, it was panic.  No internet?  For five days?  I realized how much the internet opens up my world.  I can Skype, FaceTime or see my children and grandchildren instantly.  I've grown accustomed to being able to see their little faces whenever I want to.  Five days,  I felt a little selfish actually.   After my initial feeling of panic, I settled in to sun and surf.  We saw whales, fish and birds.  We hiked and swam.  My instinct was to keep checking my email, blog and Facebook.  I'd see an animal or fish and want to look it up on the internet. Nope.  I talked to more people, read more of my book and relaxed more.  I have to admit that I'm glad to have the internet back, but it was a lovely five days.

I didn't relax quite as much as this guy!

In Search of the Brandt Cormorant

                           

 In search of the Brandt Cormorant and found a guide with insight and heart

In Baja California

Lives Maria

Native

Educated

Defender of birds

Their ecosystems

Sharing

History

Bird identification

Passion for her country

Stealthy, whispering

Vanessa – Look

Right there, do you see that handsome Cormorant?

He has attitude

He’s looking right at you!

Who is watching who?

The birds are shy, secretive

Camoflauged so well

There he is

Do you see his blue throat?

He is showing off for you.

Appreciation

Love for what she does

Maria, Bird Guide

You can find Maria at this website!

Slicing is Helping me Live in the Moment

Normally I walk aimlessly around the bookstore, but today I had purpose.  I have heard of people doing this.  They find books they want to buy and take a picture of them.  The reason for this is either they can't buy all the books they want today so put those pictures on a … to be bought list.  The other reason is to buy them later at a cheaper venue.

I had another purpose today.  The Friends of the Library group in our town is having a book sale the end of March where they let you fill the bag for $2.00 and the money goes back to the library.  Well, normally I go in there and just feel dazed and confused.  I forget which author I'm looking for or what book titles I had in mind for my classroom.  So this time I want to be armed with pictures from the bookstore to help me regain my focus.

As I'm walking around, I notice a tall thin gentleman with curly hair and glasses.  He walks quickly among the books, talking fast mentioning books that he really likes or books that he's seen the movie.   I try not to stare but I enjoy him and his enthusiasm is contagious.  I see that there is an attractive blonde woman with him.  She's looking at the books he shows her and nods and smiles and shows him other books.  

He becomes very animated when he sees a young man in the store looking at the book, The Hobbit.  I love the hobbit he says, and it comes out loudly because of his obvious knowledge and his need to share what he knows and feels about this book.  I have the movie.  You can come over and watch it with me anytime.  I look over at the blonde woman and we both smile broadly.  

These are the types of moments that I'm beginning to stop, notice and enjoy. 

Camouflage

Have you ever wanted to just disappear?  Melt into the scenery and hope nobody notices you?

 Let me just start this slice by saying that I do have a reputation for being a bit of a klutz.  Sometimes I wonder if there are invisible ropes put out there just to trip me.

As I'm getting ready to go on my trip to Mexico for spring break, I'm remembering a small moment from my last trip to Mexico 3 years ago when the dreaded invisible rope appeared.  I was SO excited.  It was my first trip ever to Mexico at an all inclusive hotel right on the beach south of Cancun.  Mind you, this was the very first night we arrived.  It was early evening, that time right after the sun has gone down, but not yet dark.  We were walking, exploring and yes, I did have a small plastic cup with a drink in my hand, but I hadn't even taken a sip out of it yet.  

Walking, talking, gazing and then f a l l i n g …. flat on my face.  Ouch.  It felt like slow motion as my drink went flying and I landed on my right arm.  Several of the other guests ran over to help me as I wanted to just disappear and become part of the cement walk beneath me.  Thanks.. it's okay.. I'll be fine, I can hear myself saying as I bravely try to hold back my tears.  Oh not tears of hurt, but tears of embarrassment. 

My arm has a bad case of road rash and we go to the front desk for some antiseptic to put on my fresh wound.  They are so nice and ask if I want them to call the ambulance.  Ambulance?  No no… OH ambulance is the medic that they have on salary at the hotel.  He was so kind and doctored me up and sent us on our way to enjoy the rest of our vacation. 

Now I'm hoping for no invisible ropes on this trip!

Kindness and a Tattoo

I pulled into the local Wendy's in our town.  I go there when I'm in a rush and need something inexpensive to eat.  My expectations are never high and they were especially low today, because I was feeling the same.  Crazy day at school, worried about kids, health and life in general.

To my surprise, a pleasant and energetic voice rang through the machine and asked what I would like to eat.  I was used to the tired, bored voice that usually greeted me there.  This new voice caught my attention and made me even perk up a bit.  I gave her my order and drove around to the window, curious now to see the person behind this voice.

 From out of the window reached an arm with a beautiful sleeve tattoo that matched the beautiful smile on her face.  I gave her my money and she gave me my drink while doing a balancing with it, using the hand attached to the tattooed arm.  She asked how I was doing and I said fine and asked the obligatory question back to her.  She answered with a huge smile that she was exemplary.  I smiled and my spirit was lifted.

 I went back home thinking about my attitude and my ability to make a difference in this world with such a simple gesture.  This experience happened to me a few months ago but it stays with me, especially when I'm feeling sorry for myself.

 I still go to that Wendy's but no longer see my cheerful tattooed lady.  No doubt, she's gone on to management or something better than the Wendy's window.  Even though she's no longer there, somethings happened at that Wendy's.  A cheerful transition. So now whenever I feel low, I go to Wendy's and they make me smile and I remind myself, life is good.

Decisions, Decisions

A week long trip is in my future.  Cabos San Lucas, Mexico in the Baja Peninsula, where I'll be snorkeling, birding, eating and reading.  As I contemplate my trip, I feel elation and excitement and at the same time, a sudden tightness in my chest.  

What books will I bring? This week is my time to read anything that I want too.  I can't choose! 

I walk determinedly downstairs to my spare bedroom and I look wide-eyed and overwhelmed at my bookshelf. I pull some of my favorite authors off the shelf and put some back.  Hmmmmm.  I do this countless times. Arguing with myself, this one is too serious, too scary, not this one.  I want something fun and mindless and adult.  My self imposed book rules for this vacation are, no professional books and no elementary school novels.  

Okay, at last, here are the nominees for vacation reads.

I'm down to eight books.  Yikes, that will make for a heavy suitcase.  I call my friend and he's no help. He tells me, you need to get an ereader. Oh boy, no time and I'm still on the fence about them. That means its up to me.  I decide I need to bring three books, because I do not want to be at the airport on the way home with no book!  It's now three weeks later, and I still haven't decided which three books will get the privilege of going with me to Mexico. 

• Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
• A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie 
• The Hard Way by Lee Child
• Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore
• They Did It with Love by Kate Morgenroth
• The Racketeer by John Grisham
• Odd Apocalypse by Dean Koontz
• OR
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Oh… and maybe I should throw in a swimming suit and some sunscreen!