Something to share

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I often think of the folk here as I go about my days. There'll be a particularly beautiful tree changing colours, a flock of geese practicing their V formation, a wonderful sunset or moonrise and I wish I were home to write a quick haiku and post it - or to find some other way to share with you the things I enjoy in my days. Then by the time I get here, the words have forsaken me and I say nothing at all. So I decided to start a thread and try to add to it now and again just a line or two to let you all know that I do think of you as I go.

Today I went to a farmer's market and wished Aunt Bee could be there - she'd have enjoyed the colours and the people (not the weather though! it's fall here now, it was in the low 60sF ~15C). I made a stop at the library and picked up Kay Hooper's newest book, a mystery I think she'd enjoy. Then I went through the river valley and saw several doves sitting on the tops of the street lights and thought about how Rob would add something like that to his story as a sign of strange things about to happen. There was a group of geese starting to practice their formation that weren't very good at it yet and I got a giggle out of thinking about good Sir Cook's response to their efforts. I didn't get to walk in the river valley today, but there were lots of people walking, biking and exploring which brought to mind how much I would like to bring Gayla with me the next time I'm out hiking along our river valley trails. Admiring the changing colours of the autumn leaves brought to mind that for Carol spring is coming - and I wondered if she looks forward to her summer as I do to mine, or if she prefers the cooler weather of "winter" (not that any of you really get that nastiness ;-). Any time I see animals other than cats and dogs, I think of Helen and her goats, chickens and Mike the mule. A particularly lovely sight makes me wish I could turn a phrase half as well as Lon, and a sweet smile brings Kit to mind. Those rare times that I do manage to scratch out a reasonable haiku bring a mental thank-you to our haiku master, Unk. Some of the lurkers that speak up now and again linger in my thoughts, too - hilltops bring to mind our hilltop folk and the sight of a boat always gives me a bit of a giggle thinking of Linda's stashing. If I mentioned all the various ways you're brought to mind individually or as a group, I'd be here a loooong time, so just know you're appreciated - that even when I'm not speaking out I think of you often. Each one of you is special to me. Thanks for being in my life.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), September 14, 2003

Answers

Hi Tricia. I nearly missed your lovely post. Serves me right for always going to the new answers page.

I always think of Kit when I see the Hulk ads., and tonight I am thinking of Kritter as she waits for her surgery.

And yes I am looking forward to summer. I love the hot weather and often wonder how you survive up there with your short summers and bitterly cold winters. But then you get to see those beautiful snowy scenes that we only see on Christmas cards from England. I guess every land has it's own special beauty.

-- Carol (c@oz.com), September 15, 2003.


You're welcome Tricia, and thanks to you too, for posting your thoughts here. I do know what you mean about everday living, and somehow the persona, those words written on a screen, with a name attached, seem to take on a living presence in your life.

Funny, some days I get up and look I the mirror, and think of Unk. Odd, you may all be thinking, but if it weren't for Unk giving me the push, I woulda never cut two feet off of my hair a coupla a years ago! I can still hear him say "Jeeze, Abie, it ONLy hAir!" (that was my DEiteR impression!).

I would have loved to have been at the Farmer's Market with you! They are a delight to all the senses, and make my mind conjure up visions of delectables converted by all means of heat, and knife! And 60 isn't really that cold, I have heavy sweaters-LOL! It actually gets down in the teens here, some days of winter. That's when I decide it is a good day to put on a long cooking pot roast, and bake bread! Some times, in my mind's eye, we are all sitting around the kitchen table, feasting, laughing, and loving being in each other's presence.

I can see Helen, with Mike Mule standing over her shoulder, drooling just a little. Next to her is seated Tricia, and Gayla, both chatting up a storm about their next hiking adventure, laughing and smiling kindly at each other. Lon would of course be thoroughly enjoying all the company, and Kit would be fascinated by us all! But then we would all have to wear Hulk T-shirts in his honor! And I am sure we could pull a story about doings down at the bayou during dinner, doncha think? Then Lon could begin his story telling of all things ethereal, UFO, and beaverdom. And Carol could be giving me the Kiwi definitions of American foodstuffs, and we share how much we love the heat. How great a time would that be?

I do wonder where some of the oldies are like Sis-I do miss her Indian recipes, and Brooke had some good cookie recipes, like her Honey Meltaways, and Sheeple, with her recipes for homemade libations!

And there is the good Sir Cook, who is hiding around the corner, waiting for long ago promised Christmas cookies.

Funny, how you are all in the kitchen with me.

Yes, each of you within my mind's eye. It's a beautiful thing, truly.

Perhaps one day, for all of us to meet in person-what a time that would be! One day, I tell myself, yes, as I drift off to sleep with each of you within.

Thanks for being there!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), September 15, 2003.


What a timely thread, Trish! I cannot tell you all how much I've thought about our little community of friends in the last weeks. Right now, I'm writing from a borrowed computer as I wait at my brother's house. He's the one that I told you all about, almost 3 years ago; the one with cancer. I've been here a couple of days, just sitting and trying to recall the memories of a lifetime.

Richard is no longer responding to stimulation. I tell him goodbye each night, not expecting him to make it to morning.

I've been thinking today that dieing at home in one's own bed is not all it's cracked up to be. As I watch him waste away, my always healthy,6'5" big brother, I wonder if a sudden unexpected passing isn't the better hand to be dealt. My wife lost an uncle recently. He was found slumped in a lawn chair where he usually watched the birds on a summer afternoon. I think that is what I shall hope for. It's been a long summer, what with Dick failing, and my mother's passing, both lingering in that fog of not living/not dead.

But, Kit has made marked immprovement. He's very attentive of his uncle right now; he knows something's wrong, bit I don't think he totally understands. I have tried to shield him from the reality of death;it seems to not belong in his little world.

So, I have to say once again, to each of you here, thanks for letting me share moments, laughs and tears. Thank you for being my friends.

-- Lon & Kit (lgal@exp.net), September 16, 2003.


Raises a glass to Lon in admiration.

To you, good sir.

-- Robert & Jean Cook (RobertCook@GA.herewith Lon), September 16, 2003.


(((Lon and Kit)))

-- helen (holding@you.in.my.thoughts), September 16, 2003.


Lon; First, know that your 'little community of friends' have been thinking of you too, and sending you our heart-felt thoughts and prayers still.

= = = = =

Sweet Princess; I have something to share that's kinda funny. We had to take a stray kitten that hangs around here (Marie feeds it) to the vet cause it got hurt somehow. At the clinic, in the 'feline' waiting area there was a dog. It was a fully-grown golden retriever. I went over to the desk to ask what the heck a dog was doing in the feline room, and was told that there were two poodles in the doggy waiting area and they in no way got along with the golden retriver. So in the interest of keeping the peace, they let the retriever stay in the feline room till it was called. But the really funny thing was that the lady behind the desk had a name tag on, and it said "Julie." So naturally I thought of our little community here. This happened five days ago. Normally I wouldn't bother writing about such a thing but then here comes this thread, and there was Julie and a golden retriever at the vets. LOL.

-- (sonofdust@yahoo.com), September 16, 2003.


(((Lon)))

Rob, that is eerie! It reminds me of the story written about the biggest ship ever built - the Titan, which in the story was supposed to be an unsinkable ship that sank. The story was written years before the Titanic. We'll hope that the Julie in your vet's office doesn't adopt the golden retriever and end up working for some nameless government agency! Nor slapping good Sir Cook's face, either :-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), September 17, 2003.


Thanks for your post, Tricia. Lon, my prayers for you and Kit and your brother. I wish I had something tangible I could do for you.

-- Gene (notmehere@nowhere.huh), September 19, 2003.

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