,42°f/5.6°C, cloudy but clearing to be a really nice day.
After my last post, I thought i had better look for some good things to share. Life is such a roller coaster, isn't it. It feels wrong somehow to just go on about our business when sadnesses fall on us, and yet what is the alternative? As my mother used to say, pull up your socks dear, and get on with it. Still, it feels fitting and right to pause, remember, and appreciate those who leave us behind, and speaking their names keeps them alive in our hearts.
So I am rummaging through my last couple of days, seeking the bright spots, and there are many. First, my son #3 is heading to the Philippines for a month's vacation, so i put him in touch with my cousin Bob in England who has visited those islands many times, and was married to a Filipino lady. Well, as it turns out, Bob's brother Joe, who i have never met, will be in the Philippines at the same time as my son! Talk about a small world. My English relationship are a scattered lot: some are in Australia, some in Canada, one was and may still be in Spain, and I believe one was in Finland. Then of course, there are many still in England. So bright spot #1 is that perhaps my son will be able to meet his second cousin while he's on vacation.
Bright spot #2: after a very busy day of pulling Christmaa from our booths, we rushed home to feed the critters, then left again for the bi-weekly open mic. We debated just skipping it, but I am so glad we went. The lineup was varied and interesting, with some new voices that really added to the mix. I even sang three ballads (West Virginia Mine Disaster by Jean Ritchie, and the traditional Railroad Boy and Pretty Saro). I don't think anyone recorded me, but here are a couple clips of other presenters.
McKenna Hope was our featured presenter of the evening.
I don't know Randy's last name, but I sure like his singing.
The third good thing: we picked up our checks for the last 2 weeks of December, and found that we'd had the best month we have had since starting our booths. Money can't buy happiness, but it will buy badly needed new tires for the truck.
Add in spending time with friends, lovin's from the dogs, phone conversations with sons, and a fridge that is still working (fingers crossed!), and all in all it has been a nice couple of days.
Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.
I wondered why we hadn't gotten a card from Becky, who was the wife of Larry's late brother Maxey. Then my card to her was returned. Had she moved? That would have been surprising, because Becky rarely traveled out of her usual and very limited routine. A Google search provided the answer. Becky had passed away last March, at her home.
We rarely saw her, honestly. Our lives just didn't intersect very often, but we always enjoyed seeing her. Since she wasn't great at answering her phone, contact wasn't easy. Becky had a wry sense of humor, and a kindness that shone from her eyes. She had no children or living children, so there really wasn't anyone to let us know of her passing. She was only 75, so we were shocked when I found her obituary. Rest in peace, dear Becky.
Then the lady I did not know in person, but her reputation as kind, smart, funny and talented, shared by her husband (of The Catalyst blog), made me feel like I knew her, and I greatly admired her too. Her passing impacted many of us who share our lives with each other through our blogs, and I know we all feel her loss. My heart is with her dear mate.
Yesterday came news of our friend Tonya's death. Not unexpected, as she has been fighting hard against that cruel killer, pancreatic cancer. Tonya was only 54, and it seems so wrong that she should be gone already.
An old saying predicts that things come in threes. Well, I am ready for three good things. So if you have some good news or happy thoughts, please pass them along!
Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.
