California Dream

Poor Student

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I should have read “Lessons” Monday, before I left for the 9-5. I arrived to find my office floor partially flooded.  A co-worker had moved some things from the floor to my desk top to protect them from damage.  I appreciate her effort.  The mess still left me with a negative attitude.  I had that emotional reaction I wrote about avoiding last week.

That is the way all three of my work days have gone. I did have a few good things after work.  My front flower bed got some attention.  I found a good container and decorations for our candy bowl donations at the 9-5.  Guesses of how many pieces of candy are sold to raise money for local charity.  One of many projects my workplace does to help our community.  I stopped by our newly opened dollar store and loaded a gift bag of goodies for my soon-to-be six year old great niece.  Or is it grandniece?

Last weekend was a fine time with some friends. Festival going and boutique shopping finished off by my first try at a local Italian restaurant. My entrée was delicious!  The coming weekend promises to be wonderful, too.  I will see my all my little girls. Niece, grand nieces, daughter……..I have in mind to revisit a place from my distant past. It will depend on my daughter’s schedule.

I don’t expect the 9-5 to be much less stressful tomorrow. Too much to do in too little time.  Mentally demanding tasks and a multitude of interruptions make for stress.

The simple beauty of things includes a fabulous white cloud gleaming in the sky before me all the way home. Then, at that same dollar store stop, I found Blue Bell’s Camo ice cream.  I had forgotten about them introducing it.  I had looked for it previously without success.  Without paying much attention, it suddenly caught my eye in the freezer case.  I need to wrap up this post and go get a bowl of it.

Now that I think about it, the week hasn’t been so bad after all. Once again, He has used my own keyboard to show me how wonderful is my life.  He and I will get a big bowl of ice cream and be thankful for all the wonderfulness He is pouring into our life.

California Dream arriving in November and now a Texas Honey arriving in late April or early May. Those are the best beautiful blessings.  Nine to five, weeds in the flower bed, a trick back, all those troubles fade away before the wonder of those two little ones.

My heart feels as billowy as that fine cloud I saw shining in the sky before me…………………

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A Ticket

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I have a ticket to fly to California! I am going to see our son and his bride. And I am going to touch a tummy to feel her kick, I hope!  She seems like a half remembered dream.  I can’t get my mind wrapped around the reality of her existence.  I see the pictures of the ultrasounds. And, yet….

I have felt a shift in my perception of my world, too. I don’t know if it is the recent birthday or the slowly developing thought of her coming.  Perhaps, both? Things I thought I wanted are fading. Even the things I thought I wanted for grands is changing.  I had some preconceived ideas about what I wanted to do and how I wanted things to be when they came to our house.  I may be letting go of those ideas in favor of more meaningful ones.

I was thinking about what my grandmothers meant to me. What happened when I was with them that made the difference? What made them so golden in my memory? They listened to me. They wanted me near them always. They just paused and connected with me.

I could tell them anything. Especially my maternal grandmother. I could say whatever and she would never be shocked.  Only one time did she fuss at me.  I was mad at my mother. I was about 18.  She told me to get over myself and be respectful and compliant with my mother’s wishes.  I don’t even know what the details of the disagreement were.

Time. Not toys, games, events, tea parties and costumes. Time is what they gave me. Never too busy to sit and snuggle or hold me in their laps.  Even as a gangly teen, my one granny would hold me in her lap. Our big adventures amounted to walking to the cemetery on a dark night or watching the full moon rise over the lake.

My paternal grandmother would let me do her makeup for her. I would smear the green primer over her smooth rosy cheeks.  Then, the foundation and powder. I think that is all she used.  I was quite young when I started.  I don’t recall ever seeing her correct my work.  She likely did when I wasn’t looking.  Later, after her stroke, when she would come visit, I would help her dress.  She didn’t really need the help, but it was a few moments of intimacy we both loved.

My own children were young when my mother left this world. They have some memories of her. His mother saw them to young adulthood before she left us.  Both of them left their mark on the lives of our children.  Our daughter is so much like both of her grandmothers. Our son, too, has some ideas traced to them.  His love of fun and ability to connect to people are part of that legacy.

What legacy will I create for the California Dream? I want her to know that she is loved as much as one human being can love another. Already. Even though she is elusive in my mind, she is rock solid in my heart.

I will be on a westbound airliner, soon, little one. The love is already pouring out of my eyes and down my cheeks.

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