Thank You!

Thanks to all my blogging buddies for all of the birthday well-wishes for my daughter yesterday! You people make my day. Is there any wonder why I would rather hang out with you all day, than do stuff not nearly so pleasant?

For The One I Almost Lost

Twenty-two years ago today I almost lost one of the most precious jewels I would ever know. She was born late - way too late, really. But we were busy that week. We had to put her Grandfather in the hospital for what would be one of the last times. Labor pains was not something we could pay attention to that day. My father telling me over his shoulder, as they wheeled him to his room, to go clean my Auntie's house, as he had been too sick to pick up after himself the week that he had stayed there while she was out of town. The nurse telling him that I didn't look in any shape to be cleaning anything. But, of course, I did. I would have done anything for him. Tears welled, as I stood there with my gigantic belly and my little girl's hand in mine, knowing my fifty-eight year old Dad wouldn't live to see my children grow up.

I didn't get far at the cleaning chore - and the note I left said I wasn't feeling very well. My Auntie called me the next morning at the hospital to say congratulations. Yes, she came early that morning, after a harrowing emergency C-Section. Merconium-stained, they said. She may not make it, they said. I wanted to see her, hold her. She was ten pounds four ounces - how could she die? All the other sweet babies in the neonatal unit could fit in your hand. They put sunglasses on mine and took pictures! She threw the oxygen tent off - not a norm in that unit. She responded as soon as I held her. We went home in four days, also unusual for that type of problem. She doesn't like to be without me. Until now.

Now she has her own life, and I am just a part of it. As it should be, if you do your job right. She's graduating from college in June. She is soulful and loving. She has lots of friends and a family that adores her. She's a vegetarian, and stands firmly by her principals. She has an affinity for small children and they flock to her wherever she goes. She is just superb. Happy birthday to my sweet girl. The world is a better place because you are in it.

Awards, Tags, and New Friends

I received a lovely award from star-forever-young, a very talented writer and storyteller, and would like to pass it on to all of the writers I think are so wonderful. Unfortunately, I think all of the blogs that I follow are wonderful, so feel free to take it, knowing I think you are terrific. Feel free to pass this award on to eight other bloggy friends, if you choose.

Then Expat From Hell, an excellent writer, using stories to discuss life's new rules, tagged me with the following:

1. Tag and link back to the person who tagged you.
2. List six (un)important things that make you happy.
3. Tag six bloggers and let them know they're "it".

Only he added his own spin, and that was to tag only new bloggers. We both feel this blogging community to be one of inclusion, and friendship. What better way than to invite new bloggers into it?  So for my six things:

1. A good cup of coffee in the morning - but it must be made a certain way, and delivered from my husband. Spoiled, I know, but it just doesn't taste the same when I make it.
2. Watching the professional dancers on "Dancing With The Stars". In another life, I would be them.
3. Seeing my grandson's face light up when he sees me.
4. Rain
5. Watching the stream from my window.
6. Listening to Nora Jones.

So six new bloggers, I would like to invite you into our strangest community in the blogosphere, as explained by Expat:

1. A View From The Fairway - Bogey is new to the blogging world, and proves to have some really great things to say. 
   
2. nik's backyard - New to the blogging world, Nikina has a unique perspective on where she lives and what she does.
3. Devils Workshop - A new blog complete with an engineering student from India.
4. Each Day Is A Present - This blog looks like a friendly one.
5. asweetcakes' photograph - A new blogger with a perspective from Nigeria.
6. Susie Said I Should - A new blogger from Georgia.

Welcome, and have fun with this. There is no pressure to participate, only if you would care to. But looking for six more new bloggers could be fun...

P.S. I just visited Empty Nest Evolution and noticed this wonderful writer and photographer also tagged me for this one! Thanks, California Girl.

Happiness Bug

(pic thanks to terragaleria.com)

Here's a bug I want to catch. The British Medical Journal, using statistical analysis, has found that happiness spreads from person to person - up to three connections. So if I'm in need of a little lift in my spirits, I can get it from my friend's, friend. I don't even have to know the person to catch their bug. This is much better than swine flu!

Also, having a happy sibling live one mile from you increases your happiness level by 14%.

A nearby friend increases your happiness level by 25%.

A next door neighbor 34%.

So my question is - how much do blogging friends increase our happiness level?

Personalize Your Space

I think we all need a place in our home that is ours to do as we please. Since downsizing, I have relearned the joy of small spaces. On my side of the bed I have created a little area that is all me. On my husband's side he has done the same. I think he is actually enjoying the activity. We both take our time, utilizing the shelves for additional space. I needed a place for my "jewels" (costume, of course), and he wanted to showcase that motorcycle all made out of wood that we found on our trip from Minnesota at Devil's Tower, in Wyoming. (Some of you may remember this from Close Encounters of a Third Kind, or in the Oregon Trail computer game.)

Anyway, on his side he likes his books mostly, but also that picture I found for him that reminded us of a heron doing exactly the same thing as this bird in a marshy area on the Oregon Coast. It was sunset, and it was so nice to sip our wine and watch this bird doing a little dining of his own. The reflection on the water was breathtaking.

He also likes the neat fossil our daughter gave him for Christmas. He uses it as a bookend. And the leather case for a pocket watch he inherited from his father. The watch doesn't work, but no matter.

I like plants, flowers, and candles, all things outlawed on his side.

I also like my little Buddha statue, and my robin picture that reminds me of the robin family we had the good fortune to follow last spring, right in front of one of our windows. I'll do a special post on that.

What about you? Do you have a little place that is all you?

Intention Board

In the spirit of living my best life, I have once again designed an Intention Board. An Intention Board is nothing more than an area that you set aside that displays snippets of what you would like to see manifest in your life. My belief is that thoughts are energy, and when you put energy out into the world, it should be of the quality that you would like it to be. An "aware" energy, if you will.

So I am sharing my Intention Board with my husband, who has never done such a thing before. New territory for my very grounded, nothing but the facts, kind of guy. You can see his side on the right. He doesn't have anything on his side yet, other than that cute vase I found on vacation and some fresh flowers. I think he's waiting to see how I do mine, so he can use it as a template - although he would argue that point.

The bollo ties were his fathers. He passed away about a month or so ago.

My last Intention Board was just a cork board that was in our study in our last house. I had taken a picture of our house and wrote SOLD across it in red marker. It sold. The only one in the neighborhood.

I think it helps to put the board up and then look at it for a day or two and really think about what you want to happen in your life. Find a picture, or saying, that represents that intention. Think about what that sentence or picture means to you as you put it on the board. Then forget it! Just let it go...

View From A Window

Today is a rainy spring day in the Sierras. My husband is off to Sacramento to meet with my brother on a project, and I am taking the time to just look out the window. The little creek is running high as the snow melts from the higher elevations. This runoff will go directly to the Lake. Do you have a window that you look out? This perch is where I read and think about things. What about you? Care to share a view from your window?