There seems to be a lesson here.
In spite of overpowering odds, some entities just plain refuse to crumble and die.
On this shortest day of the year---commonly thought of as the first day of winter----my lovely primrose on the deck still fights valiantly to stay alive and to share its beauty.
My hope is that other treasured aspects and entities of this life we know as Americans will exert the same resilience and rise up against the dark forces bent on destroying them.
~~~~~
~~~~~
Other good news: Annie's home for her Christmas vacation. She'll be here for about a week, and Foster is very happy to see her.
Before arriving home, Annie met Jacob of the triplets at Sea-Tac last night. They visited for a couple of minutes, which included time for Annie to inspect Jacob's backpack, which holds all of his belongings for the next two weeks.
Annie said it will work well for him, just as it did for his sister Justine when she walked with Annie on the Camino de Santiago from Porto to Santiago.
As I type, I'm sure Jacob, a junior at Coeur d'Alene Charter School is on his way back to Sea-Tac with his cousin Rory (also 16) and his Grandpa Mike (young at heart).
They're spending Christmas in South America, with some time in Buenos Aires and most of their time hiking trails in Patagonia.
We're all excited to live yet another neat family adventure vicariously through photos they post over the next two weeks.
Godspeed, Jacob, Rory and brother Mike. May you have the time of your lives.
~~~~~
In other news, Bill reported to me this morning that he got a "better fruitcake deal" than usual for his annual fruitcake order from the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Tex.: a medium-sized rather than small AND sliced, no less.
Same price as the usual small cakes he orders. The down side: having a sliced fruitcake could mean that it disappears faster.
Nonetheless, Bill is pretty thrilled with his deal.
~~~~~~~
In other good news, I received a lovely item in yesterday's mail, all the way from New Zealand.
Giselle Clements is the daughter of my late penpal Robyn who passed away a few years ago from brain cancer.
Robyn and I began corresponding back in the early 1980s after her younger sister Sally had attended Sandpoint High as an exchange student.
The letters and photos traveled back and forth between hemispheres for a couple of decades.
Then Annie decided to go to New Zealand for a semester on a college exchange to Waikato University, through Boise State University.
During that time, she took a day, drove to Taupo from Hamilton and met Robyn and her family.
The "you should come and visit" email from Annie shortly afterward was all the encouragement I needed to do just that in 2003.
Over the years I had read in the numerous letters (many hand-written) about Robyn's family, which included her husband Steve, a surveyor, and two daughters, one Annie's age named Sarah and and older daughter Giselle, a trained opera singer.
Well, thanks to Facebook, I've been able to stay in touch with Robyn's daughters over the years. Recently Giselle asked for my snail mail address.
Yesterday two CD's featuring her talents with her hauntingly beautiful vocals and with her flute.
I have since listened to most of the selections on the two CD's and have told Giselle that the experience of listening to her amazing gift brought back a lovely connection with Robyn, who was, indeed, a treasured friend and a wonderful human being.
So, in the midst of all the bad news of yesterday, bright moments still continued to shine, just like that primrose.
We'll hope that continues.
Happy Friday, Happy Solstice, Safe Travels to the adventurers and GO, ZAGS!
Before arriving home, Annie met Jacob of the triplets at Sea-Tac last night. They visited for a couple of minutes, which included time for Annie to inspect Jacob's backpack, which holds all of his belongings for the next two weeks.
Annie said it will work well for him, just as it did for his sister Justine when she walked with Annie on the Camino de Santiago from Porto to Santiago.
As I type, I'm sure Jacob, a junior at Coeur d'Alene Charter School is on his way back to Sea-Tac with his cousin Rory (also 16) and his Grandpa Mike (young at heart).
They're spending Christmas in South America, with some time in Buenos Aires and most of their time hiking trails in Patagonia.
 |
| Yup, this just in; the adventure begins! Rory, Jacob and Mike. Thanks, Maureen, for the photo. |
We're all excited to live yet another neat family adventure vicariously through photos they post over the next two weeks.
Godspeed, Jacob, Rory and brother Mike. May you have the time of your lives.
~~~~~
In other news, Bill reported to me this morning that he got a "better fruitcake deal" than usual for his annual fruitcake order from the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana, Tex.: a medium-sized rather than small AND sliced, no less.
Same price as the usual small cakes he orders. The down side: having a sliced fruitcake could mean that it disappears faster.
Nonetheless, Bill is pretty thrilled with his deal.
~~~~~~~
In other good news, I received a lovely item in yesterday's mail, all the way from New Zealand.
Giselle Clements is the daughter of my late penpal Robyn who passed away a few years ago from brain cancer.
Robyn and I began corresponding back in the early 1980s after her younger sister Sally had attended Sandpoint High as an exchange student.
The letters and photos traveled back and forth between hemispheres for a couple of decades.
Then Annie decided to go to New Zealand for a semester on a college exchange to Waikato University, through Boise State University.
During that time, she took a day, drove to Taupo from Hamilton and met Robyn and her family.
The "you should come and visit" email from Annie shortly afterward was all the encouragement I needed to do just that in 2003.
Over the years I had read in the numerous letters (many hand-written) about Robyn's family, which included her husband Steve, a surveyor, and two daughters, one Annie's age named Sarah and and older daughter Giselle, a trained opera singer.
Well, thanks to Facebook, I've been able to stay in touch with Robyn's daughters over the years. Recently Giselle asked for my snail mail address.
Yesterday two CD's featuring her talents with her hauntingly beautiful vocals and with her flute.
I have since listened to most of the selections on the two CD's and have told Giselle that the experience of listening to her amazing gift brought back a lovely connection with Robyn, who was, indeed, a treasured friend and a wonderful human being.
So, in the midst of all the bad news of yesterday, bright moments still continued to shine, just like that primrose.
We'll hope that continues.
Happy Friday, Happy Solstice, Safe Travels to the adventurers and GO, ZAGS!
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