Good-bye 2009

It really has been a wonderful year for me.  My friends have so enriched my life this past year.  I have made so many new friends thanks to my new church, The Grove.  We’ve worked together to make The Grove happen, and it did.  I’ve also reconnected with many of my high school and college friends.  It has been wonderful to get reacquainted with them all.  It’s almost as if we were never apart.  I’m so glad they are back in my life.  


Some highlights of my past year:


AFRICA – I got to visit my daughter in Namibia for 3 weeks in May.  To see how she lives there, and to watch her teach the kids. . . well, I was in awe.   I will never forget that experience for as long as God allows me to live.


New York – Thanksgiving in New York was amazing.  Daniel and I got to see a Broadway show, then attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade the next day.  It was truly a wonderful experience for me to share with my son, who is my friend.


Writing – I’ve been blessed to attend a few conferences this year and connect with some wonderful writers and find a couple of mentors.  I love having this dimension in my world now.  


Races – I was blessed to race in 3 events this year.  I did the Eugene ½ marathon in May with my friend Jamie.  This summer I was part of an AWESOME team of women competing in the Portland to Coast relay.  That was fun!  Exhausting, but fun.  This fall I competed in Run Like Hell in Portland.  The relay race was exhausting, but Run Like Hell hurt.  I guess that’s why they named it Run Like Hell, go figure.  I will so do it again, though.  What a challenge.


Music – My music world has so opened up this year.  Not only do I have a whole new batch of music friends that I adore, but I started playing my flute again.  It feels great to be able to do that.  


Other things – I got to play softball this summer on a team from work, took dancing lessons at OSU, joined Soroptomist International, got a new dog named Jack,  became a great aunt twice, got a Mustang, and discovered Silver jeans and Moroccan oil (if you don’t know what those are, Google them).


Yes, 2009 has been very good to me, but I’m ready for 2010.  Why, you may ask?  Because I can see the growth and beauty from this past year, and can’t wait to see what wonderful things are in store in 2010.  I so look forward to sharing it with you, friend.

Just Thoughts

There are some things I don’t understand.  I’m 50 years old.  I thought by now I would get it.  But even though my chronicle years are five decades old, my inner years are only two or three decades old.  I mean I have wisdom now that I didn’t have then, and I have a sense of me that I never thought I would ever have.   Those things are great, but I just thought there’d be some click, a change, a revelation. . .something, you know. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m very happy.  I have close, dear friends that I love and who love me no matter what.  I have money to spend which I didn’t have when I was in my 20s and 30s.  I am part of a church that is making a difference in this city.  And I have adult children who are now my friends. . .very dear friends.  I love that.  So I’m not complaining about where I am.

It’s just that I moved from a frightened nervous worry-wart person to this confident, happy person, and there wasn’t a fanfare, an ‘aha’ moment, an epiphany, a noticeable paradigm shift. . . it was just this gradual shift.  I’m slightly disappointed. THAT is what I don’t understand.  I really wanted some fireworks, a roll off, to be able to yell “Ta Da”. . .  I would have done a cartwheel.

And I don’t understand people who just don’t get it.  I didn’t used to get it so you’d think I’d be patient with them, but it just seems so simple now.  Is it the years that give it this simplicity, or is it something in me? 

Anyway, for those of you still on the frightened, nervous, worry-wart path, no worries.  It will all be okay.  Just saying. . . life is what you make it and want it to be.  So just go for it!

Mary's Peak

Majestic Mary’s Peak fills the
   view in the morning
      on my routine drive to work
a parade of cars stream
   down the rural highway
      the smell of fresh coffee
         oldies on my radio
I come around the bend
   there she stands like she
      was waiting just for me
A ring of clouds rest
   around her shoulders
      like a feathery white boa
         worn by a queen
morning rays shine on her
   peak like a spotlight
      highlighting her beauty
a crescent moon low in
   the westerly sky hangs just
      to her right against a
         dark blue canvas
I imagine hiking to the top
   to see the highway that
      she sees each day
to see the valley floor
   as the sunlight kisses
      the tree tops
to see the hills beyond
   to become one with
      Mary’s Peak.

Thanksgiving with my son.

WOW! Let me just start this off with a WOW!

It started Wednesday morning in New Hampshire. Daniel picked me up at the airport and we drove to New York City. Due to traffic, we got to our hotel late and had to change for the show right away so we had a snack on the run. Walking down Broadway to the theater was memorable. All I could say was “can you believe we are here?” It was surreal. Then we saw The Lion King. Beautiful show! Amazing night!

Thanksgiving morning started early because we wanted to get a good viewing spot for the parade and we did. The Macy’s Day parade from the corner of 49th and 7th ave is great, in case you ever want to go. And the coffee shop right there rocks! We had so much fun kibitzing with the people around us and talking to the cops.

But Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without making it to the party at Daniel’s home. We got back to his house just in time. His friends are warm and funny, and the house where Daniel lives is very comfortable. And dinner was delicious. Kate and Alec who own the house are wonderful hosts.

Daniel and I spent the next few days shopping, going to movies, working out at the gym (yes, my son’s a gym rat, too), listening to music, eating way too much, touring the beautiful White Mountains, and just playing.

Last night I got to go to his Jiu Jitsu class. I was allowed to participate in part of the class. It was fun and I learned some basic self defense moves. It was nice watching Daniel spar and grapple with the other people in the class. It reminded me of when he was a wrestler in high school. He was an awesome wrestler.

Daniel is an incredible person. It didn’t really matter what we did, it was amazing. He is such a gentleman, too. He opened my car door, smiled at me across the gym, made sure I had enough blankets, didn’t scold me about drinking too much coffee. . . he is a sweet man, a wonderful son and one of my best friends.

See, I told you WOW!