Late yesterday afternoon traffic slowed in the bay area before coming to a halt for the rest of the night.

Unbeknown to me, a major bridge across the bay was closed.

This morning, Ron quipped about the closure during his morning meeting.

"Funny story!" an employee called out.

"When I finally got home last night, I was watching the news with my girlfriend. They closed the bridge because some guy was threatening to jump off. We decided he just needed to jump.

Then the phone rang. It was my girlfriend's mother calling to tell her it was her brother."

Ooopsss...

Compassion universally fades quickly as six lanes of the freeway gridlock for hours and hours and hours...along with every byway and highway.

A few days ago, Nikela and I noticed that shoots were appearing in my flower beds. Strange to notice something like this a few days after New Year's.

Then...today my first flower appeared. January 9. My grandmother's birthday.



Grandma is gone, but I love the fact a daffodil appeared today because it reminds me of the sunshine she brought to my childhood.

A few weeks ago, while working on the job site, Ron noticed a hawk that had been roosting on one of the buildings. One day he happened to look up and watch this hawk dive bomb a pigeon. Feathers flew. The hawk was dead on his target.

Then a day or two later, Ron watched again as the biologist began clicking photos of the pigeon feathers and documenting info in his little notebook. Ron meandered over and started a conversation.

"We have a new friend on site," he said as he pointed to the hawk perched above them. "I watched him take down a pigeon." As Ron talked, the biologist immediately shut his notebook and wordlessly began walking away from the scene of the crime.

Nature is violent. Animals prey on each other. Survival of the fittest.

btw

yepp

lol

nope

ttyl

One word texts.

I am not the queen here. I have too much to say. Too many words rolling around in my brain. I want my sentences complete and punctuated. And, honestly, I want to feel the words...the emotion of the sender...and see the entire word!

Perhaps it is a good mental exercise for me to text. Maybe (and I am stretching here...) it is even good for my thumbs, though I will never acquire the speed of my daughters. Possibly I will even learn to like short and sweet.

Or not.

I text because my children text me when they need something or to confirm a location/appointment. Sometimes I text for convenience to ask a quick question or leave a note. Seldom do I text for pleasure. I find it tedious.

I am from a different generation. I will always love to hear the voice of a friend or family member. I will always love the banter of good conversation. One that says I took the time to call and I am listening to you.

I am old. How do I know? My kids tell me so.

Sometimes life tugs at my heartstrings.

Sometimes a kettle of ham and bean soup comforts.

As I was chopping and preparing the soup this morning, I was remembering an old neighbor that lived up the gravel road from us in Montana ten years ago. Dee lived on his family's homestead his entire life except for his military service years during WWII. I am not sure he even had running water...at least if he did he didn't use it very often, but nonetheless, he was always friendly and polite, and he loved my ham and bean soup. Sometimes he would even ask Ron to make sure he didn't miss any. I smiled at the memory.

The soup is simple. I probably make it like the generations before me. The simmering ham bone is the secret flavorful ingredient.

Sometimes it is the simple things in life that comfort...

A Box

I looked in a box today, and it was not near as exciting as the Cat In the Hat. I wish he would visit, though, and help me unpack a few more boxes. I am ready.

I am home.

Home is a very evasive place for me. Sometimes my heart and physical home are in two different places.

We were home for Christmas...to my childhood home. BUT now it is time to embrace my home in California.

It is officially home. Six months ago I arrived, and at times I have struggled to "be" home here; however, after a grueling return roadtrip complete with ice, snow, and blizzard conditions for 800 miles, I was happy to be home where it was 53 degrees and the sun was shining.

Within minutes of our arrival, our faithful neighbor lady came to welcome us home and bring us our mail. Her teenage daughter chatted patiently with Chayse on the curb.

I will unpack a few more boxes within the next few days. I only wish the Cat in the Hat would come along and clean up after thing one and thing two and thing three and thing four!

Happy New Year

As I wrap up our holiday adventures, I hope I can maintain perspective on all the moments of life. Including the...

Onry Moments



Irredescent Moments



Precious Moments



Family Moments



Silly Moments



Dangerous Moments



Sweet Moments



Friendship Moments



And the dawn of a new day...