In Search of a Mixed Bag

I’ve had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Mine started on Sunday and went through Tuesday. My daughter made reservations for two nights at the beach in Newport, Oregon to celebrate my birthday. I love it there and was looking forward to the cool. It thrilled her to be able to pay for our room and buy our meals for the three days we were there or on the road. The drive takes a whole three hours and we took the scenic route.

A nice spot for reflection and grounding.

For her it was the first time she has been employed well enough to have extra money for such a luxurious gift. Her gifts are always thoughtful, just usually required some thrift. I never minded, always just happy enough to hear from her or spend some time together now that we live close.

Doing some grounding of her own with gratitude.

 

While she is settled in wonderful employment, my son has been laid off from a high paying, highly skilled job. He has always been able to quickly find new work. This time, the work has been outsourced. There are many like him, highly trained and skilled and willing to work long tedious hours that can find nothing left here that can use any of their skills. It’s happened to many industries so he’s in good company. There is a lot of swift activity going on to get his house sold as well as a relatively newer car before the hand of doom sweeps in. Realtors have been by in droves and we are hoping for the best. Keeping a good attitude has been the most helpful tool.

 

There are 100 steps. We did them up and down…twice. Life is like that. The good stuff is always at the other end.

My younger sister is also looking for a fresh start with my new home as her base camp. She is hunting for short-term work at an age she would normally be thinking about permanent retirement. It could be easier if computers were her friend but that’s not the case. She will then try to find a place of her own that is affordable and not so far from where all her activities are.

 These are scenes that have played out over and over throughout history. When it’s happening to you, it seems like the sand on the beach was just washed out from under your feet.

 

Beach was littered with jelly fish that just couldn’t get back to where they needed.

While my daughter and I played tourist, others around us and the world are losing their footing. My son is seeing it as an opportunity for a major life shift. This could well be his base camp in the near future. We’d be delighted to have him closer. Hopefully he can find a way to carve out a new career for himself here. Only time will tell.

 

Heavy machinery required to rescue a capsized boat. Sometimes we have to be the heavy equipment for each other.

Life is always a mixed bag. I’m a pragmatic Virgo. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other till you step on solid ground again. The climb may be steep but with tenacity, relentlessness, fortitude, or whatever driving force moves you in that forward direction, you persevere. I can bet 90 percent of you have gone through something like this at one time or another and come out the other side thinking that it turned out to be a gift in disguise. We are counting on it again. That was my birthday wish this year. All who are struggling with major change, let your light shine at the other end of that tunnel.

 

There is always a sweet ending.

 

 

From my heart to yours,

Marlene Herself

In Search of a Different Way to Celebrate

Ok, I know it’s old news but I haven’t had a chance to really process it. July 4th is over and behind us but for me, this year’s celebration was a whole new experience. It actually happened on July 5th so those that had to work on Friday could stay up late and not have rest disturbed.

I have most often lived where fireworks are illegal and only to be watched by sitting with a very large crowd of people at some arena. Since I’m not crazy about crowds and my children are grown, (I think they are anyway) I most often don’t bother with the fireworks or celebration at all. When living in Arizona, June and July were fire season. We were lucky to get to barbecue and only with gas. So this year, my children and I drove the hour to their cousin’s place and experienced a real block party.

My son took the photos for me.

My niece’s boyfriend has lived on the block a long time and has been doing this July 4th extravaganza for several years. His parents have their own fireworks stand and he builds the displays that go off and dazzle you with ooh’s and ahh’s. I have never seen them up close and personal. The applause at the end of each round of display was worthy of any big time celebrity.

They actually pull a permit from the city to have a live band, block off the street at both ends (short street) and shoot off the fireworks in the middle. They have until 11:30 p.m. to get it all done. They were done by 11 so they were golden. The band was really loud, there was food from the entire block like you could not even imagine. When you thought there was no more food, someone brought in reinforcements.

Happy Hippy Band

Lots of eating took place and even some street dancing. I did very little of the eating and none of the dancing. My cane doesn’t know its’ right from its’ left. We observed. Children were everywhere having a great time playing in the street and waving lighted sparklers. Amazingly, not one of them was injured. Singles mingled, parents’ relaxed, new love smoldered and old couples enjoyed an evening out with no fuss.

Sparklers are an old,old favorite of children.

I brought 36 deviled eggs to the mix and made my rice and noodle pilaf for my niece and boyfriend. That’s what it costs me to get in the door. They didn’t share the rice dish and tried to keep many of the deviled eggs for themselves too. I guess I can cook a little. It was worth it for the novel experience of a block party. The little gatherings we had with our snow-bird neighbors in Arizona was downright sedate compared to this.

I don’t think she had any eardrums left

I’m so ready for a nice block of my own but I’ll leave the fireworks to the experienced hands. I guess there are so many ways to celebrate the holiday. This one took me a little out of my comfort zone but was so worth it. I love to watch people having a good time.
How do you handle new experiences that test your comfort zone?

Holidays are all different depending on the company and time of your life.~Dominic Monaghan

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself

In Search of That Leap of Faith

My sister retired from her job last week. She drove a bus throughout the city and suburbs of Portland, Oregon for 15 years. On my very best day, it’s not a job I could or would do. Driving a city bus is akin to living in a house on a main street with no lock on the doors. You never know who will walk through.

She really liked most of her passengers but each day brought its own special challenge. The threat of violence from a passenger that was asked to pay for their ride or move their feet off a seat to make room for another was a daily reality. She has enough stories to write her own book. The problem is, the stress has left her with the inability to remember an appointment time made just as she tries to write it down.

Her family and friends that care are grateful she is making this leap of faith. We know she will find other work to sustain her, but right now, she needs to rest and recreate. Jobs and life choices that leave a person so seriously drained will inflict damage to the body and the mind. My sister and children have been there to encourage me through my own leap of faith and now we will be there to encourage hers.

So we celebrated last Saturday evening with a surprise party put together by her girlfriend. We met at her favorite East Indian restaurant in downtown Portland. I have never eaten East Indian food. We were brought up on very bland food and I have not ventured very far from those staples. I will never be a foodie, but my education was about to begin.

My sister treated my daughter to a new ethnic restaurant experience each year on my daughter’s birthday for the last 7 years of living in this area. So her education was well ahead of mine. I let my daughter order for me and she did very well. I really enjoyed my spicy food. A cocktail before dinner helped me be more adventurous. I usually pick a German restaurant for my birthday but I think I will learn from my daughter and continue to try new things. We are all taking leaps of faith in one way or another.

A co-worker gifted my sister a journal. Perfect since she is writing her way through this complete change of lifestyle.

Now she can write a book

My children and I together bought her a pocket watch since she is trying not to look at her wrist ever minute to make sure she is on time. It’s a hard habit to break. The inscription read, “It’s time to work at living”. I now have to change the ring tone on my phone for her. It was from that song that goes, “I’m in a hurry to get things done. I rush and rush until life’s no fun.” I’m just not sure what her new ring tone will be. It will be interesting to see where the adventure leads.

It’s time to work at living

You can see the workings from both sides of the watch

Have you ever made a leap of faith and what brought it on? For me, Bells Palsy was the wakeup call. I’d love to hear how you figured out that change was necessary and how you leaped into your adventure.

From my heart to yours,
Marlene