California Dreaming

Hi Everyone!
I just got back from a week in California where the average temperature was 75-80 degrees.

Jealous?

Wow, I thought St. Louis drivers had a death wish.  Drivers in LA must do the 'bumper car' method of navigation: just keep going until you 'bump' into something.

Of course, that something could be a trash can, pedestrian, or another car.  It's all the same to them.

Fearless, that's what they are.  Or clueless.  Or just so self-absorbed and distracted they don't even know that their lives just passed before their eyes.

But I knew! It was amazing how many drivers tried to get into the same small place on the freeway.  Then I discovered that my braking foot was less cramped when I spent the ride either looking at the houses built high up or by staring at my knees.I cleaned my purse several times, too.  And checked my cell phone.

Don and I went to CA to visit dear daughter Kari and her hubby Gareth.  Plus our two grand-kitties.  We drove around locally in Sherman Oaks and went to the Santa Monica Pier.  There Kari and I watched both Don and Gareth take surfing lessons.  Poor Don was the oldest student on the beach and he worked so hard to keep up with everyone (personally, I thought he did great; I don't think I'd have even survived donning the wet suit...).

Of note was all the quality time I spent with my baby girl.  We shopped ourselves to death and I even tried on jeans (now THAT'S love!).  We talked and talked and caught up on life.  I bet we shopped everyday for at least 3 hours, more on other days.  Normally I would start whining about 2 hours into a shopping trip but this time I had the stamina of 10 men (or a mom with a preschooler).

It got me to thinking about situations we get ourselves into and how difficult the journey can be.  We feel isolated, exhausted and hopeless crawling through the challenges.  Sometimes even having 'encouragers' along doesn't help much, especially those who spout platitudes about how we need to trust and pray more.

But put us with someone who is meaningful in our lives, someone who knows us and is willing to travel with us and we can find that extra ounce of strength and courage to keep going. Those friends/relatives are few and far between but well worth hanging on to.  I hope you have such a person in your life.

Even to trying on jeans.

You're HOW Old???

Greetings from Ye Olde Funny Farm!

I just recently celebrated yet another birthday and I've made several observations:


You know you're getting old when:


Your friends admire your new orthopedic shoes

Even teenagers open the door for you

Waitresses automatically show you the back of the menu

When clothes shopping you find yourself saying, "It looks comfortable."

When you still have your favorite songs on cassette

Your adult children search your closet for the retro party they're throwing.

You can pretend you can't hear someone and they believe you

You find yourself comparing yourself to a peer and wondering if you look as old as they do

You realize a cute male model in a store looks like your grandson

When someone says your white hair looks good on YOU but THEY'D look too old

You see a photo of yourself from behind and you think it's your elderly aunt

Facebook pictures of your old high school friends show they've gotten older

You make fun of an old lady not dressing for her age and realize you're wearing the same shirt

While car shopping you skip over the red sports car in favor of the 4 door with more comfortable seats and is easier to get in and out of.

Those large print books and magazines at the library aren't funny anymore (and you find yourself cussing that the font size on your cell phone is miniscule)

and finally,

You know you're getting older when letting your hair go gray and you can't decide if you're embracing your age or giving up.


So my friends, thanks for the well wishes on my birthday and may I have many more!

See you later;I'm going over to a friend's house and steal her walking cane.

Reality Check

Dear Hubby and I went camping last weekend.

Call me romantic, but when Don gifted me with a 2 night basic camping reservation at my favorite local park I was delighted.

No delicates or expensive jewelry for me; the only fluffy stuff I'm interested in right now is toasted marshmallows over a roaring campfire.

Not a tough decision- would I rather wear something pretty or eat something yummy?

Yummy!

Anyway, despite some dark clouds and a few rain drops we threw our gear in the trunk and drove to the campground. Right away I settled into the limitations of basic living- you eat only what you brought, you cook in the one pan you have, use only that which you have with you.

It was nice. And peaceful.

I couldn't think about all the stuff I had to do because I had brought no work with me. Don and I walked and talked and generally allowed ourselves to unwind. (btw, I think I did better than Don at unwinding because our second day camping he began to experience detox from tv- it almost got ugly there for a bit).

It stormed, too. Our stuff got soggy. We managed to wring stuff out and carry on.
Didn't change my clothes for 2 days but that's another story entirely.

When our trip was over (sigh) we packed up our gear and went home. We were relaxed and content. We sat in our favorite chairs and just stared off into space.

Then daughter Kari came upstairs, sat down and looked at me expectantly.

"i'd like to go to the mall."

Expectant pause while looking at me.

I deflate.

I hesitate.

And then I cave in.

So we drive to this nice mall and I am struck by how different the mindset is among shoppers than campers.

Camping mindset: The marshmallows are crunched? You dropped the hot dog on the ground? Pick it up quick and brush it off! I'm sure it's still good if you eat it fast. Forgot your hairbrush? Don't worry about it- you're wearing a hat anyway and we all look homeless.

Shopping mindset: I NEED new shoes. No, those are too plain. I want some fancy ones. But they're pretty. That outfit is pretty; it looks like the other one in the other store. Lots of accessories; I need lots of jewelry, purses, hats, etc...

By the time I got back home I was mentally scrambled. The change in reality was exhausting.

I'm not criticizing shopping, malls, materialism and espousing all nature and simplicity.
I'm suggesting I need to be reminded what is valuable to me. Sometimes there's nothing like a great shopping trip with a great companion. It allows you time to share opinions and learn about each other.

But so does simplicity.