Etcetera ! Nature

As a few of my family and I were enjoying outside this past weekend, a critter was spotted in the yard next door.
After a few minutes of debate, we determined he was a groundhog.
We named him Gregory.
Something must have caught Gregory's attention because he kept venturing out of his cozy quarters to check it out.
He had a pattern.
Gregory would waddle out, look around at the world, hang around a bit, then go back home.
Waddle. Look. Hang. Home.
Waddle. Look. Hang. Home.
Family and I decided he was either shy, lazy or Mrs Gregory kept beckoning him back.
After awhile, Gregory decided his hideaway was the better place to be.

wink wink

I was talking to my new neighbor recently.
She had moved in during Winter, so this was the first time we had a chance to really chat.
My new friend informed me that she is very frightened of insects and critters.
I told her she sounds like me thirty years ago and if she needs any help or advice, just ask.
I've literally seen it all living here
& what used to scare me now intrigues me so.

As Neighbor and I parted ways, I came across an ant hill.
I can't tell you the last time I took notice of an ant hill.
WoW.
I'm so glad I used that moment to watch those busy little creatures.
Talk about working together.
Go Team.
We should all take a lesson from that teeny tiny production line.

And I'm not sure why I do this but, I do this.
I wake up every morning between 2 a.m. and 3:15 a.m.
No biggie.
I wake up, think about stuff and eventually go back to sleep.
zzzzzzzzz
But, that's beside the point.
The point is the time.
I always know if it's before or after 3:15 a.m. by what the birds are doing.
If it's before 3:15, I hear crickets and other night noises.
After 3:15 always, always brings me a wonderful symphony of chirping.
But it's always 3:15 a.m
Not before
& it's always the same guy that gets the chirping started.
He wakes the others up with his beautiful tune.
I've often heard that the early bird catches the worm but, I never realized until recently how early.
3:15 a.m.
Like clockwork.

Awwwwww.
Nature.

Lessons to be learned, songs being sung, busy, curious, lovely, awesome, etcetera ...etcetera ...etcetera ..  nature.
It's truly an everyday gift.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

 :)

I Am My Feelings

The Water Cure

That's what Mom called it.
It was her go to for all things grumpy
& it worked like a charm.

Anytime one of her children, grandchildren or great grandchildren had a case of the whimper whines Mom would put them in water
& although a pool was her ideal choice, whatever happened to be available would usually do just fine.
A sink, bathtub, hose or bucket.
Didn't matter.
Once that child came in contact with water, their crabbiness would fly right out the window.
Poof !
Like magic.
Every time.

As I was walking my trail walk yesterday, I came across many a puddle.
It has been raining on and off, pretty steadily for a whole lotta days now.
There were quite a few raindrop gatherings to maneuver
& each time I dodged, I wondered if children still stomp through puddles.
As if on cue, along came a mom and her two daughters.
Mom and older daughter were walking ever so slowly so that younger daughter could enjoy those puddles.
Seriously enjoy those puddles.
Stomp Stomp Stomp.
Giggle Giggle Giggle.

& I thought ...
How awesome is that ?!?

weeeeeee

Before I finished my yesterday's walk, the sky opened up, once again.
A steady, misty rain came a tumbling down on all who had ventured to the park.
Everyone adult began to scramble, grab their things and run for cover.
The children ?
They preferred slow motion.
No hurry, no worry.
Those little bodies were enjoying that warm, wonderful feeling of gentle rain.

awwwww.
The water cure.
That thrilling, delightfully mystical water cure.

Works every time.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Waffles

Google tells me there are more than 1,500 Waffle House restaurants in the U.S.A.
Each restaurant is opened 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Google also informs me that this American icon has been around since 1955.

That's a lot of waffles.

The reason I mention these Waffle House tidbits ...?
Because every time I travel somewhere by car, I see them.
The restaurants are everywhere.
In fact, I would make a fairly good size wager that there is a Waffle House at every exit I've ever exited on the highway
&
Every
Single
Time
I see the legendary Waffle House sign, I think to myself  'I should go there'.

I. Should. Go.There.

I swear sometimes I think Waffle House is calling my name
"Ooooooo Jacki ! Stop. Enjoy !"

Sadly though in all my years of travel, each time I have heard my Waffle House mantra, I have ignored it.
Next time Waffle House.
Next time.

But then along came yesterday.
YaY.
Yesterday, Daughter and I decided to walk our bodies down to a nearby Waffle House for a good morning breakfast
& I finally ate a waffle at Waffle House.

! ! JOY ! !

Maybe it's because I've always wanted to but never did ...
Or maybe it was the friendly people inside that happy little restaurant.
Maybe it's because the food at Waffle House was absolutely heavenly
Or maybe it's because life's simple pleasures really are the best

But that waffle I consumed at Waffle House ?
It was Sooooooo Goooood.

Yep.

Life's simple pleasures.
They don't cost much
You don't have to search high and low to find them
& no far away travel is necessary.
Because they are right there every single day.
Patiently waiting to be found
& enjoyed.

Seek and ye shall find your simple pleasures, my friends
& a whole lotta happy too.

:)

I Am My Feelings

& Again

There are certain people in this world that I feel I already know.
It's like we've been here before and are just picking up where we left off.

I visited with such a person recently
& it makes me even more sure of what I already believe.

This person and I met in January.
We just happened to be on the same bus
& although that bus was pretty much empty and she had her choice of seats, she asked if it would be alright to sit next to me.
I said yes, automatically
But, I didn't really give her much thought.
I just figured she would get lost in her thoughts, I'd get lost in mine and that would be that.

Instead, we talked
& talked
& talked.

After the bus arrived at our destination, we parted ways.
But after about 10 minutes or so, our paths crossed again.
My new friend knew I would be waiting for my daughter to pick me up.
I had mentioned I would be sitting at that station for awhile.
As it turned out, the ride she was expecting would be late in picking her up too.
Instead of going off and doing her own thing to kill the minutes, she chose to sit next to me
& our conversation happily continued.
Soon, her ride arrived
& we said our second goodbye.

As I sat waiting on Daughter, I thought about my new friend
& how very much I enjoyed our encounter.
& although I was thinking 'how nice' I figured that was pretty much that.
She has her life.
I have mine.
We would be a brief moment in time buddys.

Enter Facebook.
A new conversation began and continues on that friendly social site
& somewhere in FacebookLand, I mentioned I would be visiting Grandson, who happens to live in my new friend's state.
Knowing this, she contacted me about getting together while I am in town.

We did.
& it was very, very, lovely.
Which leads me back to knowing someone before.

What are the chances of being so in tune with someone I happened to meet on a bus ?
Someone who's background, age and upbringing are so very different from mine.
I feel a such a strong connection with her
& with other certain someones in my life.
A feeling that we all have been here before
& we are all meant to meet up again.

So to the people who calm me just by hearing their voice & knowing they are in my life.
To my family
To my long lost but now reconnected, life long friends
& to the new people I'm still meeting ....
I want you to know that I feel a wonderful, cosmic connection with all of you
& I very much appreciate this chance to meet up again

& again
& again

:)


I Am My Feelings





 

Fess Up Steps

I did something yesterday that I have never, ever done before
& I'm still trying to get over the shock of it all.
I refused a Hamburger Deluxe no Relish.

Yes.
You heard correctly.

I refused a Hamburger Deluxe no Relish.

I declined because it was getting into the evening
& I hadn't walked my walk yet.
I needed to walk before the sun went down you see, because I am in a competition with fellow step enthusiasts
& I needed my walk.
I needed those steps.

So yep.
I turned down the best burger in all the world and I walked instead.
oh, yes I did.

Which brings me to my fess.
This step competition ?
Yeah.
It's a little on the competitive side. 
Some would call it spirited.
Others might say it's heated.
Uh Huh.

I say It's On.

This competition is so on it has turned me into a woman obsessed.
Steps.
Steps.
Steps.
It's all I can think about.
I want them.
I need them.
I. MUST. HAVE. THEM.

I do believe I am addicted to steps.
I will do anything I can to get them.
Anything.

My !  how energetic you say.
How nice....!...
yeah yeah
That's all good and good but, truth be told ?
I'm piling on the steps because of those darn fellow steppers of mine.
They are relentless.
Unceasing.
Persistent.
Non stopping.
I'm thinking they just might be a little bit crazy.

They're crazy
&
I'm obsessed.

Oh Yes.
It is most definitely ON.

Fess.
Fess.

Step.
Step.

stepstepstepstepstepstepstepstepstepstepstepstep

:)

I Am My Feelings

! Enthused !

One of my favorite things about visiting Grandson is hearing him wake up.
His little voice chattering to himself is absolutely priceless.
Only he knows what he is saying right now but, he sure is giggly saying it !
Every morning when I hear him I think, if only the world could wake up that happy.
Happy just to be here.
Happy for a new day.
Happy for this thing called life.

My daughter has been pestering me for a year or two to go to church with her when I am in town.
For one reason or another it didn't happen until last Sunday.
When we settled in, we were told there was a guest speaker and band visiting from Kenya
& although Daughter had told me this church was unlike any I had ever visited, even she didn't know what to expect.

Words cannot express the joy of that night.
The happiness of the music.
The emotions of the songs.
It was beyond beautiful.

The enthusiastic speaker talked of the people, especially the children of Africa.
He said they may just be the poorest of the poor but, they are continually, joyfully dancing and partying for Jesus.
The faith in that building was palpable that night.
It was pure, simply, gleefully Jesus
& it was awesome.

Yesterday, as I was having coffee with my sister her phone rang.
It was a friend wishing her a good morning along with a silly question.
After ten straight minutes of hearing Sister's hearty giggles, we were all chuckling.
Friend said the reason for the question was to start his day hearing her wonderful laugh.
I couldn't agree more.
Laugh Laugh Laugh she did
& we did.
What a jolly way to start a day.

& THAT is my wish for you.

! Giggle !
! Laugh !
! Be enthused !
! Enjoy !

Grab onto whatever it is that makes your heart smile and go for it.
Live it.
Love it.
Do it.
& do it again
andagainandagainandagainandagainandagain

Happy really is that incredibly simple.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Changing Plans

Something that has never happened to me before happened to me yesterday.
The plane Husband and I were traveling on turned around mid flight and took us back to our starting point.

Seems a navigational screen went dark.
not good
& we were heading into storms.
yikes
So the powers that be decided the best thing to do was to turn around, go back, change planes and start fresh.
whew

Thanks, powers that be.
I appreciate that.

Have I mentioned I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason ...?
Oh yes.
Yes I am.
My mind had a field day with this one.

Was our plane just saved from disaster by a broken navigational screen ?
Or were we the doomed flight that should have just stayed the course...?
Would our new plane get us to our destination safely ?
Or maybe this new plane was faultier than the first.

hmmmm

How about all these people ?
Were we all supposed to be at a certain place ?
At a certain time ?
Did destiny just get interrupted ?
Or did destiny just occur ?

hmmmm

And then you have the whole domino effect of what just happened here.
Our plane being diverted meant a whole lot of people maneuvering a whole lotta things.
Everyone involved day's shifted a bit yesterday.
&
hmmmm
I find that absolutely fascinating.
Absolutely domino effect fascinating.

! ! ! hmmm ! ! !

So YaY.
We made it to our destination safely.
& since our arrival was later than planned we decided to stay the night at Sister's.
We would drive home in the morning instead.

Oh boy.
Another change of plans.
Which gets my mind to thinking ...

hmmmm

:)

I Am My Feelings