Picking It Back Up

Vacation was fun and it was probably healthy
to take two weeks off from skating.
I took yesterday off of work too and even
though I wasn't able to get everything I
wanted to accomplished, I was busy all day.
Among other things I rearranged the living
room and now my slide board isn't in the middle
of the floor but along the back wall.
I can still use the glass doors of my hutch
as a mirror to check my form so that works.
What once was the TV room has turned into my
training room. LOL
We don't watch TV or get much company,so what
the heck.
Practice at Emrick tonight, and I'm looking
forward to getting my skates back on.
My lower back has been acting up and I think
it well be happier soon.

Home

At 7:15pm we climb aboard the Shuttle to
Seattle whose pick up location is down
the hill at the Seven-Eleven, and we begin
our journey east.
Our first flight leaves at 11:10pm and we
will both try to sleep that one out.
Then it is on to Houston and then to
Cleveland, and then to Allentown.
Should see the tarmac there about 1:30
Sunday afternoon.
I'll miss this Pacific Coast climate,
and it's geology.
And my Dad.
But this isn't my home, it's his.
Took me 6 days to slow my walk down, and
while in Oak Harbor I achieved some clarity
on issues that were, well, issues.
This past week has been like having a
freshening wind blow through the open
windows of my home.
Out with stale and old perspectives, and
in with enticing new ones.
Now I look forward to getting back to my
world.

Can't Beat It

Sitting in a kayak with your son in front
of you, paddling in unison around one of
the islands in the Puget Sound.
Burrows to be exact. (I think) lol
A beautiful day to be on the water and
"Cory", our guide, gushed on about how
lucky we were to have to such a fine day.
The two other girls in our group, Jen and
Rebecka agreed.
Jen, an anaesthesiologist from a hospital
in Seattle, was the smartest among us. She
had, and slathered, her exposed body
parts with sunscreen.
Since the kayak trip was an un-expected
gift,I hadn't even brought a hat from home
so picked one up in town.
Thankfully I have a decent base tan, so in
three hours I got darker with a little
Pacific Coast sunburn. My son on the other
hand just got the sunburn.
He was lobster red last night and pretty
bright this morning.
That's what happens when your a computer
gaming geek and spend every minute online,
inside the house.
LOL
Didn't come across a ton of wildlife, but
we did see Kingfishers, Blue Heron, Harbor
Seals, a Porpoise, Lion Mane Jelly Fish, and
some diving birds.
And of course seagulls.
Once, when we stopped in a cove to chat and
float a while, I pulled my cell phone out
of a pocket on my life vest, and the plastic
bag it was sealed in, then called a friend
on the east coast.
That was just so cool!
Sure, I wasn't on the moon, but technology
can still amaze me.
In a kayak, in the Puget Sound, nothing but
nature in sight, and I can talk to someone
on the other side of the country.
Simple pleasures for the simple minded I
guess..
Not much happening today.
I'll walk the few miles from the Library
back to my Dad's and my son and I are going
to catch a movie later.
I would have loved to have gotten on a Ferry
for the day and gone out to the San Juan's
but I guess that will have to wait for another
visit.
Dad, his wife Lois and my son are content to
read all day and while I chomp at the bit to
get up and moving.
I'll be having to do much more of that when we
get back east, and go on a diet to boot.
We sure have been eating well out here :)
Talk about eating, tomorrow we're going to the
Casino to gamble and have lunch!

Sitting

Ichee Mama!
There's been a lot of siting.
Sitting in the car to get to the airport,
sitting there waiting for plane #1, sitting
in the plane for an hour and a half, sitting
at Dulles waiting for plane #2 and sitting
for 6 hours on a 767 in seat 26D.
Sitting in the Sea Tac terminal for 2 hours,
waiting for the next shuttle to Oak Harbor,
(because we missed the one we were supposed
be on), and sitting in the back seat of that
shuttle for the 2 hour drive north.
Sitting in Dad's car after he picked us up,
and sitting in his living room for an hour
chatting before laying down to go to sleep at
2am, 5am EST.
We sit in the morning, sit in the car, and
sit at night. We sit to eat and sit to talk.
And I'm sitting in the local library as I type
this short entry..
My back is having a hissy fit with the extremely
soft bed in the guest room..
I'm keeping myself less than stiff as a board,
by taking a 1 hour walk twice a day.
Since my Dad lives in "Scenic Vista", it's down
hill to the harbour, via a very interesting nature
preserve, and back up the very steep hill that
gives scenic vista it's view.
Thank God for that hill..
'Cause old people sit a lot!
LOL

Cracks Me Up

That the day we leave for an island in the Puget
Sound, the weather here on the East Coast, which
has been uncomfortably hot and humid, does an
about face, and is now exactly what we will walk
into when we get off the plane in Seattle or at
least greet us every morning in Oak Harbor.
It's not quite 60 degrees at 7:30am
And, to top it all, weather guy says it's going
to stay this way all next week.
Ahh, I would not have missed the drone of the AC
while sleeping in my own bed, windows open, cool
natural air causing me to pull the blanket at my
feet, up around my shoulders.
It's always good to get away though, to break
with routine, our own unique daily rounds.
The one that gives purpose to our lives, or where
we find purpose, because we need to.
With the gift of travel, those bonds are set aside,
if only briefly, blinders off, we look right and
left, not only straight ahead.
Doesn't take long for me to take a deep breath,
and let go, go of all the structure.
It begins at the airport.
When my suitcase goes one way and I go another.
The beginning of being unencumbered for a few days.
It's a sweet taste, freedom.
And like sugar, too much isn't good for you.

Out With The Old

My part time, after work filing job is
a thing of the past.
We finally caught up on the huge backlog,
and the college aged girl who normally
does it should be able to stay on top of
things.
Since indoor practice starts up, a mere
two weeks from now, I won't have to deal
with any conflicts between the two.
And it only took a week for my boss
to come over to my office, shut the door,
and go over the opening in the Parts
Department.
The one my son created when he decided
he didn't want to work his Senior year.
None of the regular counter men want it.
Though, before my son started, they were
all obligated to work one Saturday a month
on a rotational basis.
It seems absence does not make the heart
grow fonder when it comes to working on the
weekend.
For years now, I've taken every opportunity
available to get on the Ford parts counter,
only because of the earning potential, but
no one wanted to take the time to train me,
or anyone for that matter.
Not even the manager before this one.
You had to have experience or forget it.
But now they are desperate.
So my request wasn't dropped like a hot
potato this time and I have even received
the official blessing of the owner of the
company, who I was told, was very pleased
with the idea.
My son thinks I'm nuts to step up to the
retail counter,( where everyone new person
starts) experienced or not.
Then he doesn't pay the bills
Learning this particular job as you go along
is a sink or swim situation. It's not going
to be easy, I've been warned.
My boss learned it that way and he said the
first few months will be awful..
I might even want to quit but if I hang in
I'll eventually pick it up.
Sounds a lot like me and speed skating..
With some things you just have to stick it
out, come hell or high water, before you see
the light at the end of the tunnel.
I'll be sure to check the batteries in my
flashlight..

Thanks

It had been along time, too long.
Years.
That time, and changes in my own
life's path, had put space between
what was once a close friendship.
Close enough that she put her hand
in mine, never pulling it out of my
crushing grip, for the 33 hours of
labor it took for my son to be born.
Nine of those hours while I was in
the hell of non-stop jack hammer like
contractions that came "hand in
hand" with having your child's birth
finally induced.
It wasn't pretty, not at all.
Not like in the movies.
And she stood by me as I struggled
to spit out my boy who seemed to
like it just fine enough where he
was.
She was the one who loved kids. I
was the one who had doubted my
ability to have them, much less be
a decent mother.
Life is weird.
I have a son, she is childless.
We got together for an early dinner
last Saturday.
The last time she'd seen my son was
when he was 2 or 3.
She'd come by the farm with a stray
kitten, that we kept, who is now a
15 year old cat called "Edward".
My son didn't recall her at all.
So we sat across from each other,
after ordering our meals, and caught
up on old news and new.
My son shared what a 17 yr old will
of his world, she listened as I looked
on.
We had a wonderful time and she and
I laughed about stuff that only old
farm girl friends can, and it felt
really good.
We parted with hugs and promises to
not let the years slip by again.
Early the next morning there was an
email from her in my mail box thanking
me for dinner and telling me never
to doubt that I'm a good mother because
my son is "amazing", and my face lights
up when I watch him talk or talk about
him.
And, it's obvious he and I are close.
Your right Kathy, I love him.
Thanks for helping me bring him safely
into this world..
I couldn't have done it without you.