Blue sky day

Finally . . . a weather warm up in Central Florida.

If you read the last post, you will know that I am one happy person today . . . temps in the 70's by this afternoon!!  Now I can get to the mounds of laundry that has been haunting me this week.

It really feels like a blue sky day.  That saying originates from a soap I watched for many years . . . many of you probably still watch it . . . All My Children.  The character Ryan spoke of his now departed mom, who gave him his blue sky days in the midst of a horrific childhood.  He fondly recalled his happy days often on the soap and I never forgot it.  Happy days are like that . . . even if they are not memorable.

Today is my mom's birthday . . . also my cousin Vince's birthday and my friend Rhonda too.  It is also the day my sweet girl dog Betsy passed away 10 years ago.  The date is memorable and bittersweet at the same time.  Any day can be a blue sky day . . . it is what you make of it, despite the life circumstances that surround you.

Rather than think negatively about this day and the passing of the sweetest little baby I've ever encountered in my life . . . she WAS like a baby to me . . . I'm gonna have a blue sky day even though I still haven't gotten over her being gone.  She was my constant companion and gave me years of love and joy.

Betsy was the little girl I never had and I treated her that way . . . look at how I dressed her up . . . I would even paint her toenails.  And she loved it.  When I painted her nails, she would hold her little paw up for me.

She was my prissy girl!

My husband passed away two years after . . . while I was still grieving the loss of my little baby.  These days I celebrate having both in my life and experiencing innocent, unconditional love that I was blessed to feel.  

Thinking back, I realize why I had so many years of being lost and screwed up, wound up tight like a spring, ready to uncoil and crawl out of my skin at any minute.  They were my immediate family . . . here one day and gone the next.  It can be devastating . . . and it was for me.  But I've come back to life again.

In all the years she has been gone, I have not replaced her.  We had another dog, who was my husband's dog, but that little bugger totally hated me, especially after my husband died, but that's another post that I've already written that is buried somewhere in this blog.

My nickname for him was Cujo . . . not a cool dog.

The Captain informed me this weekend that it is time for us to get a dog.  I agree wholeheartedly!!  Now that I am not working away from home, I have all the time in the world to give another baby dog all my love.  So it was decided . . . we will be on a quest to find another baby girl for me to love after the holidays.  I can't wait!!

"Our perfect companions never
have fewer than four feet"

Colette

Animals can be living proof of a simple abundant source of love . . . 
we just have to let them into our lives and allow them
 to be our creature comfort.

Dogs are definitely my creature comfort!

Hope you all have a blue sky day :)

  

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The need to be grateful

Finally, I'm feeling better.

Although I am still sneezing and coughing, at least I am not having to stay in bed for periods at a time because the dizziness of stopped up ears are making it impossible to do anything but lay down.

I've blamed the cold snap that has hit Florida and being outdoors way too long for catching this nasty cold.  Well, I'm also to blame because I quit my routine of taking handfuls of vitamins to boost my immune system.  I was trying to save money since I was "feeling so good I don't need them" . . . I didn't stop to think that is why I was feeling good!

Living on the edge of a zone 9 climate is very strange.  The fluctuations in temperature from one day to the next is enough to bring on a cold.  In the days before the cold snap, we had the air conditioner going.  Seems like from one moment to the next, it goes from AC to heater.  I hate the cold weather and have been a bit grumpy because it has inconvenienced my life, along with this nasty flu or cold . . . whatever you want to call it.  

The laundry room is part of the outdoor carport.  Part of my grumpiness is brought on by not being able to catch up on the stacks of clothes staring at me . . . begging to be washed.  They are mocking me since they know that I won't step foot outside until I am done with this illness.  Now that I am feeling better, I have the energy to get it done, but don't dare subject myself to the cold temperatures that can lead to taking a step backward and having to deal with stuffy sinuses and stopped up ears all over again.

As I sat at my computer with my cup of coffee, all comfy in my heated house, visiting other blogs, it hit me.

What I had forgotten is to be grateful instead of being grumpy about those things that are inconveniencing me.

My grateful list is extremely long this morning and an overwhelming feeling of contentment took over.

Yes, it is unusually cold for my part of the world and I hate it . . . but I read the blogs of those who live in colder climates, experiencing blizzards.  At least the sun is shining in sunny Florida and have one more night of extreme cold before going back to normal.  They are in the midst of it with no end in sight.  I had forgotten about them while wallowing in my misery.

My cold will be gone in a few days . . . but I read the blogs of those with chronic illnesses who suffer pain routinely . . . it is their norm.  I had forgotten about them too.

And more than anything . . . I'm so grateful for the love of a man who loves taking care of me and appreciates how I take care of him.  It is our first holiday season together after spending last season hundreds of miles apart in the midst of a long distance relationship.  My life has finally come together and it is my first joyous and happy holiday season since my husband passed away eight years ago.  I am so blessed . . . good things come to those who wait!

Ok . . . so I exaggerated my message for today with way too many details to target on how it is human nature to wallow in what is wrong, being negative and feel sorry for ourselves.  In the midst of the pity party, it is difficult to see the positive aspects in our lives and be grateful for them, no matter how small.  They are blessings that should be embraced for the treasures they are.  

Simple abundance!

It took me going back to being grateful to get back to feeling better.

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The Journey

The journey that you are making now is most wonderful. 

It is called human life. 

This life, as you have manifested a body, a career, a dwelling place, a mate, co-workers, experiences of workshops and places of gathering, this experience of life is most wonderful, because you have created it. 

You are creating it moment by moment. 

Enjoy the journey. 

This lifetime you will never live again, so make the most of it. Enjoy the journey of this lifetime. Allow yourself to come completely truly alive in this lifetime, to be able to speak to other ones from the heart, not fearing that you are going to fail or have some other tragedy befall you. 

(Author unknown)

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Serendipity . . . fate and destiny

accidentally discovering something fortunate

while looking for something else entirely

The word derives from an old Persian fairy tale

“life is not merely a series of meaningless

accidents or coincidences . . .

but rather it’s a tapestry of events . . .

that culminate in an exquisite, sublime plan . . .

if we are to live life in harmony with the universe . . .

we must all possess a powerful faith

in what the ancients used to call fatum . . .

what we currently refer to as destiny.”

dialogue from the movie “Serendipity”

Sooner or later, most of us
encounter “love at first sight”

we know it isn’t love, it is intense chemistry

. . . or is it?

The movie Serendipity is one of the most unusual romantic love stories I have ever seen . . . what a concept . . . I think about all the time since serendipity has happened for me several times in my life . . .

Here is a synopsis of the movie:

It was a busy holiday rush shopping day . . . two strangers among the masses in New York City . . . Jonathan meets Sara in a busy department store when both try to buy the same pair of gloves . . . their paths collide and they instantly feel a mutual attraction.

Despite the fact that each is involved in a relationship, Jonathan and Sara spend the evening traveling Manhattan and are quickly forced into pondering the question “what is the next step?” when the night reaches its inevitable end.

When Jonathan suggests exchanging phone numbers, Sara proposes an idea that will allow fate and destiny to take control of their future. 

If they are meant to be together, she tells him, they will find their way back into the life of the other.

The movie is about their seven year journey back to each other . . .

a beautiful story of fate and destiny that asks the question . . .

“Can once in a lifetime happen twice?”

The Greeks didn’t write obituaries . . .
they only asked one question after a man died . . .

“Did he have passion?”

Passion, romantic chemistry and “love at first sight”
is all that . . . it is everything, a beautiful gift!


This post is an update of an older post.
The update answers the question "can once in a
lifetime happen twice?" . . . the answer is YES!


If you've been reading my blogs, you'll know I strongly believe in fate and destiny.  When I had given up on ever finding love again and embracing my solitude after becoming a widow, a wonderful online friendship turned into finding that "twice in a lifetime" love.

What are your thoughts on
passion and romantic chemistry?

Do you believe in fate and destiny?

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Passion flowing through your veins

A kiss can be a comma,
 a question mark or
 an exclamation point

Mistinguett

It is all about passion.

Passion has many meanings . . .

powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate

strong amorous feeling or desire; love; ardor

an instance or experience of strong love or sexual desire

a person toward whom one feels strong love or sexual desire

a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything: a passion for

 music the object of such a fondness or desire: Accuracy became a passion with him

Passion is the emotion that gives me the zest for life, the motivation to work on a project or do a  job that I love, gives me that intensity to love with all of my heart and is the fuel for my compassionate nature.

Since I am an extremely passionate person, I see those things that excite me with lots of exclamation points.

Life should be more than a peck on the cheek . . .

live like passionate kisses with sparks

What are you passionate about?

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What you want . . . what you need

After many years of prayer, I am finally at peace . . . I am finally happy because I found love again . . . these things have been my wish list. This year I am giving thanks that I have everything that I have wanted to enhance my life.

Since posting my traditional holiday post "Sentimental Lady," I've received comments and emails from well-wishers asking if I have finally reached that moment of true joy in this holiday season and many prayers have been sent out.

First of all, I am touched that my post moved so many people into thinking differently about those they love . . . they must be cherished . . . life is short. It also touched those dreading the holidays . . . a message of hope that even though things look grim at one of our life's phases, it shall pass.

Anyway, the answer is a definite YES!!! I have EVERYTHING I needed to enhance my life . . . of course I have many wants . . . most of us do. I am happy beyond words . . .

There is one thing I really really WANT . . . it is just "stuff" . . . a frivolous thing that I can't afford at this time and haven't for a very long time . . . a laptop computer. I am a very serious computer geek! When we go off for more than a day, like to stay with my mom for more than just a visit, we both go through computer withdrawals. It would be so nice to have the luxury of taking that little package of joy with us.

What determines what you want

. . . and what you need? 

There seems to be a fine line!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday!

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Simple Abundance

As we move into the Thanksgiving holiday,
my theme for this week is simple abundance
 and being thankful for our blessings.

“Many women today feel a sadness we cannot name. 
Though we accomplish much of what we set out to do, 
we sense that something is missing in our lives and . . . 
fruitlessly . . . search “out there” for the answers. 
What’s often wrong is that we are disconnected
 from an authentic sense of self.”
Emily Hancock

The simple abundance lifestyle is a spiritual and practical course in creative living leading to contentment that comes from within. One of the fundamentals is the awareness that we all possess the inner wisdom, strength and creativity needed to make our dreams come true.

This is the core philosophy of the book
“Simple Abundance” by Sarah Ban Breathmach

At the heart of Simple Abundance is an authentic awakening, one that resonates within your soul. The way you reach that is through an inner journey that brings about an emotional psychological and spiritual transformation that produces inner peace, well-being, happiness and a sense of security. It all starts with gratitude and knowing we have everything we need to take that inner journey within ourselves.

For me, part of it is being true to myself, being my authentic self. I believe in the philosophy that “you must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want” . . . the quote comes from the book “Simple Abundance.”

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