Flowers in California

Flowers in California

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

On Meeting Outside The Pancake House

I walked towards the pancake restaurant.  We both knew where it was although I don't think either of us had pancakes during our time in that city.  As I walked, I wondered if I would recognize the person I was meeting.  It had been over 20 years since we'd seen each other.  Some changes could be expected.

I entered the building and saw and knew him right away.  The years were gone.  A friendly connection was still there.  I was happy to see him again.

This reunion wouldn't have happened if not for the encouragement of my friend (his sister) and my brother.  Normally, we live thousands of miles apart.  For a few days, we would be in the same city.

Even with the encouragement to get together, we could have avoided following up, I could have given into my shyness, the whole thing could have gone by the wayside.  We would have missed out, though, on a happy afternoon of coffee and conversation.  We would have missed out on a chance to reconnect.

When we don't take opportunities, we don't know what could have been.  People don't hold up signs to remind us.  It might be better (but weird) if they did.  The trip to see my brother and his family would have been good anyways.  But this visit made it better.  I'm glad I picked up the phone.  I'm glad to have a happy memory instead of an unknown absence in my life.

JAHD






Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Letting Opportunites Go By

I guess that's how it goes.  A local continuing education facility had offered flower arranging courses.  Some of them were for a day or even a morning.  It would offer a quick trip into that activity and as I know very little about flower arranging, a small sample of it was what I'd want.  I love flowers and colours; maybe I would like flower arranging.  The idea was in my head.

I did nothing about this.  At all.  But I knew that the courses were offered.  Today I decided that yes, I want to take one.  I want to see what's it about.  It turns out that those courses aren't offered anymore.

It was so easy to keep this idea, this possibility way at the back of my mind.  And it's not a huge issue for me - I don't plan to pursue this field.  I was interested in seeing what it was like though and I let a chance go by.

For me, this is a reminder to try to "Seize the Moment" a little bit more.  The moment passes.  Sometimes it's too late.  I'm tracking down other flower arranging courses but I've already learned a lesson.  Perhaps it is all for the best as I might sneeze a lot if I worked with flowers for an extended period of time.  But I might have learned to make beautiful arrangements too and I'm sorry I missed that.

JAHD



Monday, September 16, 2013

Fleeing from the Keyboard

I'm having trouble writing.  For a while, I've been starting to write and then, the ideas, the words don't flow and I leave the computer.  I don't finish what I start.  I don't experience the joy.

I want to trust that the flow will begin again.  There is no formal guarantee of that but I choose to trust.  I sense that the words are starting to come now.  I'm pleased that this is so.

Perhaps I have read too much about writing lately.  Perhaps I have read too much about many things lately.  But that's ok.  It is part of the journey.

I won't force writing.  If I have little to say, that's ok for now.  I'll wait.  And tell myself it's ok.

JAHD

Monday, September 9, 2013

A Good Enough Birthday But...

It's not that it was a bad day.  It had some nice parts.  The weather was beautiful.  My husband and son tried to do things that would make me happy.  I really enjoyed a big family walk and watching my son play baseball.  Still, my birthday wasn't as exciting as I'd wanted it to be.  What did I want?  What should have happened?  What would have really made it feel special?  It was weird looking at the date various times and seeing my birthday stare back at me.  So, this is the big day.  Why wasn't it so big?

Some people might say that as an adult, no one should expect much of a splash for a birthday.  That kind of thing is for kids.  They get the presents, the parties, the excitement of reaching a new age.  Maybe.  Maybe we should leave it to them.  I wonder, though, if maybe we should dedicate a day, just one day, each year in which we honour each person and make them feel special.  We don't make them tell us what they want to do.  We take the time to show them that we already know what they like to do, who they are and that we really want to make them happy.  It's something we want to offer to them.

I don't know exactly what I wanted my birthday to be but yesterday wasn't it.  To be quite honest, I want to be celebrated.  I think we all should be.  I think we're all amazing.  We should be reminded of that at least once a year.

JAHD