Spring ...

 These volunteers in the front side yard have been moved to a safer place in the front yard where hopefully they will brighten the front door next spring.

Progress has been made in the bathroom.  Still a lot of painting, touch-up painting, wallpaper patching, and matching to do.  The rest of the carpet tiles will be laid once I've finished painting, and then the fun clean-up begins.  But this is the general look, with the new ceiling fan too.

Time stands still for no one ...

  When I was a child, the four years we spent in Germany were like living in a magical wonderland.  I didn't realize it at the time but looking back, even in those early months after we returned stateside, I knew that it had been a time in my life that I would cherish.

  We don't often see how quickly time passes, and don't appreciate the time we squandered away doing things that really wouldn't matter in the long run.

  A brisk walk among spring flowers, fall leaves, or the first snow of a white Christmas that we would later regret not lingering over.  Scenery or moments that others would purchase on greeting cards, or postcards, while we were too self-absorbed to notice.

  As children, we couldn't wait to grow up, to become adults, to be able to do this or that.  As adults, we wish we could turn back the clock, or stall Father Time. 

  We shouldn't take whatever time we have left over from each day, week, month, or year wishing it away for the experiences and life that cannot be regained.  

  Instead, perhaps, we should have new experiences, cherish this life, and spend each day as the gift it is.

Participating in Words for Wednesday here.

vacay t's

It would be an understatement to say I'm not excited for my trip.

Almost Three Years Free

I don't even know anymore if it started with love, or if the happiness at the time was more from beer, baked oysters, and the seduction of wanting to dance with someone.

Even then, I bought my own chocolates, single white roses, and always always always paid for our dinners.

At the end of a decade of his lying, cheating, stealing, and addictions it became less about hate and more about sadness and pity for a pathetic, little, insecure man who when given lemons only wanted to add them to liquor instead of making lemonade.

Now, my life is happy, and I'm content.  Drinking coffee, still buying the occasional chocolates, and if I want flowers, I'll buy a whole bush of roses.  I have dinner with friends and family, add lemons to my iced tea, or squeeze them over fried catfish.  I can dance in my kitchen, with my dog or my cats ... although the cats enjoy it less.

I don't need to be in a relationship, attached at the hip, or cell phone to any man.  I can sleep across the whole double bed and if the covers fall to the floor, it's my own fault because I don't have anyone who steals in my life anymore.  If I want cold pizza for breakfast, or eggs, bacon, and cheese grits I can eat it all by myself ... well, I do share a little with my dog.  He's worth it.

Participating in Words for Wednesday here.