Monday, June 2, 2014

I've been meaning to...

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.