I've been
meaning to...
OK Gang,
Summer has officially started here in Florida (that means it's June-for the
uninitiated).
Last year,
after a long and catastrophic illness, Summer became "The Summer of
healing" for me.
For the most part, I took my facebook friends
and church friends and my best friend (who am I kidding, it was more like I
dragged you all with me) on a journey of my own healing.
Because, I
learned, during my illness, that sea air was good for my lungs, I was
determined to spend gobs of time at the beach.
The first thing I learned, was how weak I had
become, when wading into the surf, I was overcome again and again by 2 and 1
foot waves.
The second
was that the sunshine was healing for me too.
So each
weekend , Walt and I (and often times, Tammy) would trundle to the
beach--sometimes even Sebastian beach. I had the first genuine tan I'd had in
years.
We'd gather
sea weed for the garden-a master gardener at church uses sea weed as mulch and
he has the best crop of tomatoes I've ever seen.
I'd
remember, with longing, running into the surf and body surfing with abandonment
of the young.
So this
Summer, along with going to the beach, I am planning this to be the "I've
been meaning to..." summer. Little and large things that I have found
myself saying "I've been meaning to.." (fill in the blank). I've been
meaning to call someone. I've been meaning to bake bread for someone. I've been
meaning to send someone photos. I've been meaning to sort through my Tarot
Cards. I've been meaning to get business cards made. I've been meaning to see
my relatives. I've been meaning to wash the cats. I've been meaning to have
people over for dinner. I've been meaning to re-arrange my living room, kitchen,
dinette, computer room.
I've been
meaning to create "I've been praying for you" cards.
So here is
where the journey begins, online, anyway.
My dear friend James passed last year
(Christmas, actually) and at his memorial, I wore a purple feather in my hair.
He always loved it when my hair was purple for Lent, and I wanted to honor him
by having "something purple in my hair".
Since then,
I had been "meaning to" laminate the feather and give it to his
father, for a bookmark for his Bible. So yesterday I did that.
His father
thought it was "cool" and accepted it
with the spirit in which it was given.
About a
month ago, I was sorting through photos for THROWBACK THURSDAY and found a
bunch of pictures, that really should go to my cousin's side of the family in
Ohio.
So those are
sorted and should go out this week.
I designed
and ordered and received my new business cards (last month).
When we
moved IN this house (which, I confess, I do like) , my husband and I were
combining my mother's home with ours, so mom could live with us and we would
become her caregivers.
I'm sure you
all are far too organized to allow this to happen. But we put furniture and the
like where it would fit, giving little thought to aesthetics. I've been cramped
and unhappy with my dining room ever since. So I had been "meaning
to" consider other options for placement for 3 china cabinets and a
mini-bar and my dining room since my mother passed in 2009.
This
weekend, Walt and I did it. moved cabinets, changed the orientation of my
dining table.
It changed
the "light" in the room. I really has changed my attitude coming out
to the dinette in the morning (our master bedroom is off the dinette).
So, after
reading this entire thing, you might be thinking I'm rambling, and I might be
doing that too. But I want you, my friends to come with me on the journey this
summer, just like I asked you to come last summer.
Starting
this week, starting now, tell me one of your "I've been meaning
to's".
With me,
change it to an "I intend to".
and
together, let's see, what the summer brings.
Until next
time,
Eat
something delicious
and live a
life worth loving.
