PhotoHunt: Broken

You know I love the beach, salt air, waves, Cape Cod, ocean, shells -- especially broken shells. I'm not sure if it's the image they conjure of 'not being perfect' and that's just fine with me.

When I first visited Hawaii in the early 70s, I was surprised to learn there are no sea shells, as I know them on the East Coast, on their shores. Puka shells and deep ocean conch shells, and such are available - but not the shells of the sea - scallops, fishermen's toenails, mussels, clams.....

Gratitude Friday: Roses

This morning, my work desk was adorned by a huge arrangements of luscious-smelling pink roses. Don't I wish every work day began like this! I am grateful for the special love in my life and his attentiveness.

My garden contains 15 varieties of rose bushes, mostly English roses. Thank you David Austin! I am hopeful they will survive this winter season. The colors and scents of roses are one reason I garden.

Happy Valentine's Day early to y'all! (Sorry, I don't have my camera with me. This is from the net, but it portrays the idea).

Reading is my therapy

I have been ravenously reading lately. Sure beats getting over the eating marathons of the holidays - tough chocolate withdrawal!

Reading goes in spurts and sputters for me. Not sure if it's the same for all of you. Since my long Christmas holiday break, I have hunkered down with Conroy's South of Broad, the Penny Vincenzi's series of books, beginning with No Angel. I'm on the third (or is it fourth) book in this never-ending series. Then I progressed to Steig Larsson's trilogy, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, driven by my family's regales (still awaiting the third book from daughter who retrieved it from Europe - not yet distributed to America)!

The other day I was in B&N and noticed Adriana Trigiani has been writing again. Not sure if any of you have read this author. She generally portrays a woman as her central figure who is of Italian-American heritage and colorfully extols this character's life experiences growing up in NYC. She's a masterful story-teller with a wit that is evocative. I've read Lucia, Lucia and her Queen of the Big Time. The latest (to me anyway) is Very Valentine. As Conroy's writing style is literary eloquence, Trigliani's voice is laced with wit and, at times, lyrical dialogue.

"Why is it in the story of my life, that the moments I remember with the deepest affection are the times when I have been alone? I can line them up like faceted perfume bottles on an antique dresser."

I can sooo relate to that thought. My best clarity of thought and decisions comes when I am wrapped in my meditative process.

PS: Soon to be a movie with Jennifer Garner as Valentine...

Fashion

After reading Barb's blog, http://followbarbsbliss.blogspot.com/, about old TV programs, one thing led to another. And last night, Ty and I had a discussion about changing fashions. I am thankful some of them never made a comeback.

PhotoHunt: Average

Average and medium apply to what is midway between extremes and imply both sufficiency and lack of distinction.

OK-This is a tough one this week. Let's S-T-R-E-T-C-H the imagination with determining the average between Ed's (a/k/a Santa's) age and his granddaugher.

Gratitude Friday: Daughters and Sons

...or sisters and brothers. These are my children. The older photo was taken when my son, the youngest, graduated college. This June he graduates med school. My daughter lives and works in NYC - unbelievably she's been there for 4 years already. This past weekend both were home, and it was heart-warming spending 'nothing' time with them. Nothing any of us had to do but enjoy each other's company.

My sister gave me Kibran's poem on the birth of my daughter, and I still treasure his words today.

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable. ~ Kahlil Gibran

Wordless Wednesday

This is Pie Alley in Marian, MA, seacoast town near New Bedford. There is a local debate as to whether Marian is really on Cape Cod as it's located near the foot of the bridge over the canal to the Cape. It's a vacation as well as residential town. Still holds a July 4 parade down the one short street of the town.