When the House is Quiet

When the house is quiet once more,

my foot falls the only sound,

still a new energy lingers, a joyous whisper......

When the house is quiet once more,

one cup of coffee before me

shared meals are cherished memories.

When the house is quiet once more

echoes of laughter grow distant,

but will never vanish.

“The aura given out by a person...........

is as much a part of them as their flesh.”

~ Lucian Freud, British artist

Adventurous Day's End

Our adventures ~ with a planned mission ~ began with driving a forested, turning, twisting highway leading us to Sooke, B.C. Poking about in quaint shops and thrift stores led us to a coffee shop in a strip mall for a break with snacks, coffee and Scrabble on a very old, and incomplete Scrabble board. Time needed to complete our mission extended, we took up a Museum ramble to see rusted ancient machinery, old crafts and new before a trip to complete our mission, a most serendipitous and wise purchase. Wandering on Whiffen Spit, breakwater on the Juan de Fuca strait, we shared a wide graveled path with visiting families, happy dogs, grey skies and brisk, cold wind.

Home to Victoria for delicious fish and chips from a local landmark Fish and Chip restaurant, then an evening walk, this time to Dallas Road dog park, down and along the beach at sunset. Home for a final game of Scrabble, a few bites of chocolate and off to bed.

“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.”

~ William Feather

Singled Out

On any hospital ward or unit, nurses watch as many caring spouses attend as often as possible to ailing loved ones.

It is always especially poignant on Valentine’s Day.

Once, some 35 years ago, I watched such a scene play out between an elderly couple, together thirty years and more.

One of my patients, many days in hospital, very ill and in my care; 

the other attentive and caring each and every day with great delicacy and kindness.

As always when Valentines Day arrived, there was much speculation among nursing staff ~ ‘Which spouse will bring roses or chocolates to their ‘Valentine’?

On this day there was only one.......

One dozen beautiful long stemmed red roses arrived at Harry’s bedside Valentine Day morning, a handwritten card tucked in the greenery ‘All my love, always ~ Bob’

“True love stories never have endings.”

~ Richard Bach

Visits with Sisters are Good Things

Susan and Kate

Twas a great day!

From airport trip to breakfast

Onward home via Dallas Road dog park

A short stay to deposit suitcases with a look out on the yard. 

Then another walk through street and alley, with cameras clicking.

Cook Street village shops examined,

Serious Coffee a brief stop on our trek.

Another round on Dallas Road to see gulls riding wind currents

Home once more, messages sent both far and near with plans afoot for the morn.

Off once more in the afternoon, our mission led us downtown

to Arq Hair Workshop and a bit of shopping

then home to settle for the evening.

After supper, Scrabble and a movie we’ve each retired to our beds.

Good night all!

“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. 

And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”

~ Walter Hagen

Tangles

Quickly

She thought

what’s next to be done

Tangled thoughts

made sense

quickly

“All action results from thought, so

it is thoughts that matter.”

Sai Baba

Intention

Set your intention.

Goals for distant horizons are important.

Intention is the anchor preventing 
stray hurricane winds 

unwelcome undercurrents from 

creating unintended drift.

“A good intention clothes itself with power.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Child's Play ~ 1

A lovely chattering girl, 

edging past middle age,

slowly swung back and forth 

toes barely reached the ground.

Late winter air cool and soft

bushes and trees full of chittering birds

thin grey cloud stretched high above

thoughtful laughter about an old joy 

as the child came out to play.

“Deep meaning lies often in childish play.”

~ Johann Friedrich von Schiller