Mike's Bike Rides

Just recently Mike has begun to take early morning bike rides for an hour before work. It was because the days were so hot and we could not take our noon walks regularly. He avoids busy streets riding through the neighborhood residential areas to El Dorado park. When he returns he tells me what he saw. September 5th he showed me this picture which is worth at least 1000 words.  

The Way The World Works

I just finished about two hours of face time with Sofia. We play different themed acts in which she directs me. She calls them "episodes". Now she says "we need to change costumes" and while she's putting on fairy wings and tutus she tells me "please get fancy. Put on something shiny". Once changed she says the scene takes place in the nursery and we are taking care of babies. I pick up baby Sasha and then I say "Now what?" She says "We must teach the babies 'the way the world works.'" Hmmm that's a tough challenge.

Hair in the Time of Covid 19

A Matter of Attitude

"The pessimist complains about the wind;
the optimist expects it to change;
the realist adjusts the sails." -William Arthur Ward

 

"Don't give up on this year

Keep Fighting for the good

Keep showing up

Keep loving

Keep giving back

Keep being brave

Keep caring

Keep trying new things

Keep showing grace

Keep on

This world needs you

To believe in the good."

 

Our Book Club Celebrates Birthdays 2020 Style

On Wednesday September 2nd in the year of social distancing and masks our book club met in the park to celebrate four members birthdays. Three (Jo, Kathy and Lynda) are September babies and our resident Greek Goddess Maria was born in March.   Since the shut down began in March we belatedly are celebrating Maria's birthday now. At 4:00 we brought our chairs and found a shady spot under a big tree. It was grand to see each other in person after months of only seeing each other via our weekly zoom chats. We call them our "Happy Hours" but more recently Lynda coined it our "Yappy Hour".  Presents were exchanged and the usual flurry of conversations pervailed. Though our masks may have hidden the smiles on our faces,  there were smiles in our hearts that were most apparent.  Each of us so elated to be out together with each other.  It was wonderful! Jo brought champagne and Karen brought lovely individually wrapped lemon bars from Creative Cakery. Gifts were exchanged and various treats as well.  It was a "REAL" celebration of friendships.   

 The Birthday girls:  Maria, Jo, Kathy and Lynda

 Jo and Karen led a wonderful  discussion of our book options for October and November.

This simple meeting of friends in the year of self isolation filled each heart with gratitude for the friendships we share. How lucky are we to have the gift of knowing and  loving each other.  The lyrics to "That's What Friends Are For" came to mind.

"And I never thought I'd feel this way
And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe, I love you

And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more 
That's what friends are for.."-Bacharach and Sager

Spoolies

Another thing one can do when they have lots of free time is curl their hair after dyeing it purple with “spoolies” the rollers we used as kids.

Happy Birthday Athena

Happy 32nd Birthday Athena!  

"She was beautiful, but not like the girls in magazines.
She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful,
for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. 
She was beautiful, for the ability to make other people smile
even if she was sad. No she wasn't beautiful for something as
temporary as her looks. She was beautiful deep down to her soul." -F. Scott Fitzgerald