Long Lost Friends

My friend Lynn was contacted by an old high school friend. Someone remembering, nostalgically perhaps, perhaps about her youth, and wanted to connect. Some people never leave those youthful connections behind. They remain connected for years, from childhood to adulthood into imminent old age. I was struck by the coincident of both Lynn and I having long lost acquaintances reach out; Ray McLain to me and Lynn's friend who gave her a mouse on her sixteenth birthday.

Roger had a friend find him after years of disconnect. They discussed the fact that if they were five years younger they never would have lost touch in the first place due to Facebook, email, the Internet, social networking. I imagine staying put in one location helps like my friend Carol or brother Jerry.

What really got me wondering was the fact of reaching out. Ray said he got involved in reaching back through time by helping with the Northeast High School reunions. I guess that would get you thinking "I wonder what happened to so and so."

I'm fascinated by these childhood acquaintance's contacts. Are we at an age where reaching out for something, I don't know, lost maybe, is surfacing? Are people at a quieter time in their life and feeling something pull them backwards, something unfinished? I never went on the Internet to find old acquaintances, friends, lovers, long lost people.

Or are they just curious by nature. More curious than me. I don't feel the urge. I have no lost friends I'm searching for. As I passed through life it always felt done with, nothing left undone. Or maybe I brought it along with me on my back, like the proverbial turtle I claim to be. What is wrong with me that I don't feel a need or a desire. Did I flash though life too quick -- San Diego one day, New York the next. There is a dichotomie not answered; too quick or too slow.

I don't feel the urge but am enjoying the connections, old friends I do happen upon accidentally thrills me beyond belief. So what is the connection? Still wondering.

A final five-cent analysis; I don't think it is a deep mystery, but instead a personality type, genetic of course, some people do, some people don't. Some people jump off of cliffs, some people shuffle along on the sidewalk.

Speaking of shuffling, our families resident shuffler, a certain Mr Tal Bowman who shall remain nameless, has told me I can't die. That seemed unreasonable to me, and just a tad selfish. If his ticker can give out or explode at any moment well then so can mine.

Sometimes I would rather fail spectacularly than succeed incrementally. Dichotomies number two; too fast or too slow? All my greatest successes were when I slowed down and did it right. I'm not a risk taker, I don't put it all on one throw of the dice. I'm actually quite conservative in that area. I plan and ponder and make lists, but I will hit some kind of wall and say that's it I'm done. I can't guess what that makes me. 

Here is a dainty tidbit. Guess when Ian's next trip to Florida is? You guessed it, right in the middle of my Greenleaf trip. Guess who won't be here to give him a ride to and from the airport. Truly this is getting embarrassing. He swears he has it covered. He will take me to the airport and he has a ride home. Son's a special kind of love.

Here's to long lost friends.
Friends; love of another sort.

Pet Peeves and Passion

I've been sick, I've been happy, I've been depressed, I've been disgruntled, I've been burnt-out, I've been ecstatic, joyful, lonely, entertained, and just about any and all other emotions available. Yep, it's been a busy month.

I OD'd on emotional candy with the pictures of Connor Roger posted on Facebook. Who knew a photograph of a little boys backside could produce such a powerful reaction. Who knew your heart could melt with a few digital pixels. Positively ecstatic.

I've been disgruntled by disgruntled people. It seemed like the last month has brought on a storm of people just under the "it's okay" bar. It seemed like no one was happy about anything, not haircuts, schedules, cookie quality, parking spaces or spouses.

I've discovered I have a pet peeve: People who don't bring their mothers to work. If they don't want to clean up after themselves the least they could do is bring their mothers to do it for them.

I've been hugging the home boundaries. Since no family came to visit The Inn at Mukilteo I took a few days off, just because, and didn't do one single productive thing, it made me happy -- although family would have been better. I think I spent three days in my tee shirt and underwear. Oops maybe too much information.

I'm having fun looking forward to Greenleaf. And some fast food you can't find West of the Cascade Mountains, Sonic, Schloztskys here I come. And I'm looking forward to family fun and fellowship, absolutely.

I've been entertained by my friend Lynn's photographs on her blog, all the Facebook posts from Southend and points west, Judy's sparkly shoes, kids going back to school, my friend Carol's condo buying adventures, Ian's baby gift tutu making adventures, Roger and Stephanie's travels, Lynn's travels, and Christian missing Bo. Sweet.

The near death pain from my degenerative disc: cervical flare up is finally under control. Now I know, for sure, what a pain in the neck really means. Is this where I apologize. The real trouble is you can't remove your neck, you can't keep from ageing, and sometimes there isn't enough pain killer in the world to make the pain go away. The doctor has promised anti-inflammatory medicine and I'll keep Christian and his marijuana stash as plan B.

I'm a wee bit burnt-out trying to take work seriously, by right and left politics, Chick Fil A politics, presidential politics, any and all politics.

Lynn and I made a pilgrimage to La Connor to the Calico Cupboard for breakfast and I feasted on the second best bran muffins in the world. I've had their bran muffins at their other locations in Anacortes and Mt Vernon -- they never disappoint. Is this a political view?

I've had fun writing birthday limericks. It started by accident with Jean and Jeff. I'm going to try to keep it going for a year. Whoo Boy!

I have a new neon pink bra -- oops too much information again, new glasses, new hair cut, new pedi, see life isn't all junk. I've given away another 100 books. I had a good birthday month. Lots of treats and attention.

Roger carries gel-packs for his training runs, rides, jogs and such which Connor is not allowed. So, I found some pureed fruit in packaging that looks just like a gel-pack and took him some. When his Momma came home she was reading the package and said, out loud, "Fruit Pal" Connor grabbed the package, and pretending to read it, said "It doesn't say 'Fruit Pal' it says 'NOT Fruit Pal.'" So now you know. He has his very own big boy gel-packs.

The junk in my life is okay because it is interspersed with so much good. You know the old adage about you have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince, well I've been kissing frogs lately. Reading a lot of average books to find the gem. Watching a lot of average, well average to bad movies, to find the treasures.

And isn't all the junk a part of life, potato peelings are part of my world. Where did I read about the peaks and valleys, valleys aren't a bad place to be. Life isn't all ecstasy and adventure like fine crystal that begins as lowly sand, is forged in fire and then polished to brilliance. Life is also about naps.

Is their anything much more satisfying then a good nap.

Oh, and I won another pair of shoes.

And Dogs

There will be lots of dogs.

Greenleaf Teaser

PACK UP THE BABIES AND GRAB THE OLD LADIES
The Annual Taylor Family Reunion is going to happen.

Mark will design a tee-shirt
The menu is made
Jeff will bring a goodie box
and wit
Summer will rock babies
Mike will fish
Julia will walk
Amber will scoot up and down the hill
at least seven, no ten times a day
Nora will bring Andrew
Andrew will bring books
Taylor will bring Ann-Lisette
Janice will bring her bubble machine
Kathy will have a command post
Art will take it all in
Hannah will bring a drivers license
Blaine will bring a learners permit
Watch out Greenleaf
Listen for crashes or splashes
Cathy will drive to town
Brittany will bring a friend
Marc will bring kids
Kids: Clark and Jordan and Jackson
will bring telephones and games and secrets
Jerry will haul stuff
Lynn will imbibe a brew
Jonathan will entertain the kids
The kids will play
Maddy, Avery, Michael
Tal will accept sympathy and care
we will see if he takes a walk
Cara will love on everyone
GG don't know yet
Jane will tend to any and all
aches, pains, blisters, splinters, cuts, bruises and sprains
Chris might drive down
Jan will get a ride and a bed and a chair
Jean will matriarch, I mean cook
Missing family members will be missed

When you are blue get up and do. I read that recently.
Meet you at Greenleaf soon for The Taylor Family Do.

Families

Families:

The young Carrillo clan went to Stephanie's family reunion in Colorado and had a ball four wheeling and razoring (what ever that is) eating and sleeping, camping and climbing. Roger and Stephanie have now bought a pop-up camper that Connor is the proud owner of. He knows which clip to loosen and where the chocks go and how to crank up and down and which bar goes where. He is ready to fill it with water and plug it in if only a daddy would back off a little bit and let a guy do his work.

The young Carrillo clan are getting ready for the annual boat trip to Canada with the Fortener clan. 

My friend Mary came back from her family reunion at Flathead lake in Montana and she had a ball swimming and playing with the grandkids, joining the folks scarfing up food that was laid out by various family members, and taking a grand boat tour of the lake.

My friend Carol is getting ready for her family camping trip at Blue Lake here in Washington and she always has a ball. Just ask her and she will tell you. A tradition of many years with memories of rain, heat, wind, fish caught and not caught, sound familiar?

Christian's girl, Bo, is visiting her family in Korea. Haven't got word back on the "ball" bit but I know she was traveling to an island for a wedding and has spent some time in a rural area where she and Christian were out of electronic communication for a bit.

Claire already has her reservations for a Christmas trip to Minnesota. Again family, food, visits and laughter.

There is the world famous Taylor Family Reunion looming on the horizon for those who think of such things.

Ian's friends babies have all turned one year old, so he has gone on a round of family birthday parties lately.

Babies growing is the surest part of families.

I've had son's dinners, another birthday, new bra's, new glasses, a few days off from work, some babysitting duties while Connor's daycare center was closed for it's week of vacation, computer problems, transmission problems, I had to drive into Seattle for an hours worth of mandatory training on my day off.  I read a great book about a tough childhood. I used to think mine was tough till I read this book -- read it -- The Glass Castle. Another good book was Broken for You which was set in Seattle. That is always fun. The book was not quite true but wonderful somehow. No great movies lately.

Families: Roger was going to get me a handy man for my birthday, Christian sent me to his transmission man, Ian does many domestic duties. It takes a village to keep mom going.

Thank heaven for families.

For Jane, oh hell it's for everyone

Jane, thank you for the dancing email: this one is for you...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk&feature=relmfu

and this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBaHPND2QJg

and this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNXTh4A4uS0

That's all for now folks.

Two of these came from Ray McLain and one from the movie Sidewalls.

Sunshine and Flower Sack Dresses

Sunshine; the growing up as kids kind of sunshine. More ferocious. Hours on a red dirt hill blistering your feet kind of sunshine. Sunshine oozing through the flower sack dresses mother used to make for us. Sometimes she would let me pick the 50 pound flour sack with a floral patten that I liked and it would become my romper after mom had completed baking all those pies, cakes, cookies, and bread we grew up with.

Growing up poor. Coming in the front door after school if there wasn't any pie, cake or cookies waiting for us we would just peel a potato, salt it and head out the back door into the fierce Oklahoma sunshine. Off we would go to an abundance of youthful treasures; food to eat, acres to roam, and lots of red dirt hills, red dirt roads, red rock sandstone, tree houses, canyons and bugs, all complimented by dusty back steps and deep well water.

Bugs and such came with Oklahoma sunshine like mud after a rain; June bugs, fireflys, mosquitoes, hornets, wasps, tarantulas, scorpions and eight inch centipedes -- the ugly kind with shiny black bodies and neon yellow legs -- dropping off of door frames or crawling out of rocks. I hope they are still thriving somewhere but I'm glad I don't have to face them anymore.

Mother didn't have much of a green thumb, but she always had zinnias. She would plant the seeds and the Oklahoma sunshine would do the rest. A garden of jewel toned colorful zinnias as hardy as the red dirt they grew in and all of us red dirt children. Tough climate, tough flower, tough kids growing up somehow, surviving somehow. Surviving bar ditches, Johnson grass, crawdad hunting, summer roaming; thriving somehow.

It is strange to imagine that old intense heat of distant summers waking up to the Puget Sound fog hugging my back windows so thick I can't see the school just across the way.

Summer heat, summer play, summer dresses, summer sunshine, summer bugs. Waking up hot, playing hot, and going to sleep hot. Drifting off to sleep absentmindedly scratching the chigger bites on your ankle during those long ago summer nights.


Hey Tal, how are you feeling? Are you out shuffling along yet? It you walk to the end of your townhouses I'll walk to the end of my condos. If you make the loop to Jeff's and back I'll make the loop around here. It will do us both good, but it is still yucky.

Here is a story: Roger never remembered my birthday before he got married, after he got married he never forgot my birthday, so the joke was always marriage worked wonders for the memory. Well, Christian called me up the other day to ask me out to dinner -- huh -- you heard me right. Christian called me up and asked me out to dinner. He wanted me to join him and Bo at a Korean Barbecue restaurant. I thought Bo would be a new favorite, but after I spilled about a quart of salad dressing all down my front and apologized to Bo for being such a mess, she informed me that elders can do no wrong. If an elder does it it is right. So now I have moved past the favorite part and catapulted right straight to being in love.

In spite of the fog the last couple of mornings we have had sunshine for seven days in a row with more to come. It's summer here in the Pacific Northwest and I am in love.

I asked Ian for a word to write a blog about and he said sunshine. You see sunshine is on our minds here in the PNW. Thank you Ian for the inspiration. I love you too, more than sunshine.

Keep the sunshine in your life one way or another.