Bliss: Pickin' and Paddlin'

Just as Bill and I were setting out to go pick huckleberries for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon, I received a text from Debbie inviting me to join Annie and her on an evening kayaking adventure at Dover Bay.

Debbie told me we would be meeting her friends, Ellen and Denise at the beautiful and bustling resort-style community just west of Dover. 

We came to a big decision almost instantly:  let's go pick what we can pick in an hour and be back in time for the kayak outing. 

And, by golly, it all worked out like clockwork.  We drove up a road, I saw a bush with berries, we stopped and parked and picked for an hour straight, hardly moving from where we started. 

Twas a purple gold bonanza, and when the clock said it was time to go, we put what turned out to be 2.5 baggies of berries in the bucket and arrived home just in time to head to Dover. 

I wondered how much fun it would be to paddle with the brisk wind blowing, but it turned out that after a short paddle on the river, we went under a Dover Bay foot bridge and entered the most peaceful, serene cove.  

The experience was nothing short of magical as the five of us gals did our thing:  taking pictures, talking, sipping on a brew and just plain marveling at the beauty. 

Later, another paddler came into the cove, and when she spotted us (three golden girls and two 40-somethings), it looked as if she had found her tribe. 

She struck up an immediate conversation, and we could actually hear her while leisurely making our way around that quiet, lovely area.  

Twas total bliss, to say the least. 

Having gone on a few kayaking excursions this summer, all phenomenal, I must say that this is the perfect sport for those of us with aging bodies---except for one challenge:  getting in and getting out.

I figure, however, when an old, uncoordinated clutz like me can figure out some somewhat painless ways of climbing aboard, plopping down and later forcing my low center of gravity out of the boat, the rest of the experience is total Heaven.  

Last night's experience finalized a wonderfully productive day and I had the opportunity to get acquainted with a couple of fun, fascinating ladies who could easily star in their own hilarious reality show.

Doesn't get any better than that. 

Thank you, Annie and Debbie, for adding me to your kayaking adventure. It made my day. 

Oh yeah, the trip through the Arby's drive-by window was fun too.  

No real story here except that it was THAT pretty when I looked across the road at the iconic sight in Taylor's field which I love to photograph in any season and especially in the early mornings and the evenings. 

Spectacular this morning with the fog rising and wafting through the air. 

We have a new refrigerator coming later this morning. Once the new stove arrived, Bill went on a roll, especially with memories of the Appliance Doctor telling us the last time he came to fix something (the refrigerator) that "next time it needs a repair, don't call me.  Get a new refrigerator."

And, so, Bill went and picked out a model that matches our new stove.  Should be quite an improved appearance in our kitchen area.

In fact, who knows?  It might even make a nice book with photos of each magnet and the story behind it.

Still, it was sad yesterday to take down images of our lives over the past couple of decades. 

I filled a shoebox with refrigerator magnets which truly do tell a lot about the residents who use that refrigerator.

Our magnets show where we've eaten, the folks with whom we do business and places we or members of our family have traveled.

And, if ours are a true reflection of the lives we've lived, we've been blessed.

I don't think I can put the magnets back on the new refrigerator, so maybe I'll bring them upstairs, set the box next to my computer and start writing.  Nice winter/Pandemic project.

 

Finally, I'm including a re-run this morning in answer to the mean-spirited focus on just about everything that involves decision-making these days. 

Bottom line:  it's downright sickening to see so much animosity and "gotcha" tactics dominating both national and local conversation. 

Yes, there are good reasons for some of this but don't target every little effort made for the good and the well-being of this nation---this whole nation, not just for a chosen segment. 

I've heard the following quote quite often through my life and have seldom applied it.  For some reason, however, the words seem very timely right now. 

"We've met the enemy, and the enemy is us."

Granted, the statement is not meant as a sweeping generalization aimed at all Americans, but it is certainly applicable when increasing numbers of  people refuse to listen and tend to spew ugly, often untrue/totally fabricated/sometimes dangerous rhetoric the minute anyone opens their mouth or takes any step toward trying to improve bad situations.

And, so my rerun today is a song I loved the first time I heard it.  Its lyrics reflect the America many of us have lived and the one that has made us a proud nation.

Be a light!

Happy Friday.