dear diary

its been weeks of rain. and gloom. some pretty scary weather. and devastation for many. heartbreaking. breathtaking. beautiful.

it renews your respect for Mother Nature. such power.

it renews your faith and I count my blessings. such protection.

I don't know if it the dreary days. stormy nights. it is worry. concern. compassion. but I feel inconsolable.

I sit and stare at the monitor and think if I type it out. it will help. so I type. and perhaps you read. and understand. and say, yeah, me too!

I think that is the benefit of you, dear diary. you listen. and help me sort it out.

'today I start a diary; it's against my usual habits, but out of a clearly felt need.'

37

love grows. happy anniversary to us.

'you are my greatest adventure.'

Tuesday ramblings

my reading goes in spurts. even though my books pile up. so last night I picked up Ava Lavender. and I read. and read. and read. and this morning. just now. I finished. tearfully. it will haunt me for a few days. it was an odd. lovely. quirky. emotional read.

I'm feeling today will be that sort of day. odd. lovely. quirky. emotional.

the sky is a mix of half gray clouds and shiny horizon. the threat of rain. that can't quite make up its mind.

the temperature is cool. with a warming afternoon.

the hubs is traveling. he's not been away for awhile. and I've been enjoying. ever so spoiled by. the pre-retirement days. together.

the garden needs weeding. my therapy. and there are beautiful blooms on the yuccas. my delight.

and the next book.

'you must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds.'

groundhog day

you know that movie with Bill Murray. when the day. happens. over and over. I feel like that. these days. I start the day. coffee. emails. facebook. shower. emails. errands. meetings. etc. etc. etc. the day ends. repeat.

then it happens. the occasional. lovely. ray of sunshine. when you come up for air. and breathe.

like Wednesday. when a co-worker. stopped by the house. and invited me to come sit. and savor her garden. so I grabbed my neighbor. and we went. and the hummingbirds buzzed. and the flowers bloomed. and the conversation flowed.

like yesterday. when my friend. who is now in remission from a long battle with colon cancer. called to go to lunch. and we met. and ate. and chatted. and laughed.

like last night. when I was supposed to attend a meeting. but instead. spent some happy. madcap. moments via Skype. with our grandson who turned two.

like tonight. when the hubs. and I. and friends. are headed out for happy hours.

the moral of this story. get out of the rut. the mundane. daily. routine. time flies. stop the madness. enjoy the moment. repeat.

'normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.'

just right

I went. with some friends. to a book talk last night. a local-ish author. a friend. of a friend. she's written a few books. one optioned now for a movie. a very likeable woman. a very enjoyable evening.

as she was chatting with the hostess. who was also doing a mock interview. she was asked. if she had super-powers. what would they be. she didn't hesitate. but answered.

kindness. and. courage.

I smiled. and whispered. yes.

'sometimes someone says something really small, and it just fits right into this place in your heart.'

withdrawal

this is the hard day. the day. after. hugs. smiles. kisses. laughter. chatter. love. love. love.

my head. heart. are full of happy thoughts.

here is just one of them.

'she glances at the photo, and the light of memory flickers in her eyes.'

on the ottoman

my regular reading is temporarily interrupted. happily. with an new assortment of fine literature.

the boys are big readers. listeners. learning-to-readers. I am. happy. to. oblige.

so my accumulated pile of much-anticipated books has gone back to the GPL. to be put back on my reserve list. delayed. but not forgotten. with the exception of one. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton. can't part with this one yet. opening soon on my bedside table.

ps The Girl on the Train. a poor poor version of Gone Girl.

'let the wild rumpus start.'