Carpe Diem Wherever you are!

At times the swiftness with which time has passed just boggles my mind and I would love to turn the clock back and relive especially times with our four children.  As ambitious and adventurous as I am, I still miss their noises in the house, the laundry, and the amount of food that passed in and out of our refrigerator and pantry everyday.

Today I am feeling that sense of missing them, and yet rejoicing in their independence and individual ambitions.  The oldest, our son, is en route to Australia for yet another surfing documentary that carries him across the globe.  Our second, one of three daughters, is enjoying a break from her PhD program in El Salvador with her husband.  Our youngest leaves for Washington DC tonight for Former President Clinton's Global Initiative conference, and the middle daughter will be leaving for Paris for design and architecture study within weeks.  And once again, my husband is off slaying dragons all over California. 

It reminds me of my first night on the Inca Trail.  We had hiked about 11 miles or so from the trail head up in to the wooded and wild mountains.  My roommate was ill all night, poor thing.  She had to go out several times in the night and I went along, hoping to comfort, and to prepare us for any wild thing that might show up though the trees.... At one point, in our tent, I started to write in my journal, "Why am I doing this???? "  I am thousands of miles from my family, the ones I love. This makes no sense.  (My husband changed his plans last minute, and I chose to go anyway) 

As I imagined the things they were doing at that time, one surfing and filming in Barbados, one at a bachelorette campout in Malibu, one meeting an old friend in town, the other at a country music concert in LA, and my husband doing the work that he loves, I realized that they were all quite happy, and I decided that it was time to let that go and have the best time I could.  The freedom was a foreign feeling for a short time, but not for long.  I embraced the hike, the new friends, the amazing country of Peru for all I could.  It almost felt like early college days when I felt like the world was just waiting to be explored.  It reminded my of how important it is to have our own dreams and goals and to not be afraid to try something new, or depend on someone to do it.  

Parenting is the hardest and most important job in the universe.  It is worth giving up much to gain so much for your children.  I will be thinking of them all while I am at home enjoying the quiet and bare basics in the refrigerator or walking the beach with Hurley. 

Whopper Wall Eye!

Nice day of ice fishing! Patience and ambition pay off as Davey hits the ice!

With ice drill, ice hut, hot thermos, and fishing gear in hand, er, glove,  he meets with success and the smile on his face is very clear.  A happy man today! Northern Minnesota cousin! Love ya!

Magic of Mac and Moonstone

This was a day that I won't forget!  Warm and mellow California day.  Stopping by the Mac Superstore for Doug to check out computers, and lo and behold I discovered something I never knew existed! When I saw it it was as if I heard chimes and angels singing... a piano keyboard that hooks up to the computer with a USB adaptor and you can be playing piano as much and any way you want!!!! The price was unbelievable... Of course I now have it right in front of this keyboard...  waiting to be played the minute I finish here.  My own piano has been at La Perla del Mar Chapel for years and I have missed it, even though I can play there... still miss having it right here at home.  This is a real gift and miracle.... that satisfies the need to create my own rhythm, melody, or disappear into a different "dimension" with Bach, Cat, Joni, or Bacharach... Ah!!!!
After leaving the Mac store, we headed up to Moonstone Beach south of San Simeon for a lazy walk and glorious time belly down and finding treasures in the acres of stones warmed by the sun... It was like time standing still for a bit... We could have stayed there forever, entertained by the magic of these stones that must have travelled and been tossed and tumbled for ages...

   We did finally decide to head south toward home and find a place for lunch.  Funny how laziness worked up our appetites!  Doug had his favorite oysters and a happy man, one who would turn around in the next few hours to rise to the demands of the Emergency Room of a valley trauma center once again.  The day was food for the soul,  just the medicine he needed!

I hope these photos reflect the calm and escape of those hours!