If we were having coffee: Rambling edition

A few of my favorite things.

The desire to go home that is a desire to be whole, to know where you are, to be the point of intersection of all the lines drawn through all the stars, to be the constellation-maker and the center of the world, that center called love. To awaken from sleep, to rest from awakening, to tame the animal, to let the soul go wild, to shelter in darkness and blaze with light, to cease to speak and be perfectly understood.

~Rebecca Solnit

In Jane’s garden.

If we were having coffee, tea, water, a potent potable, or some other beverage, I would be delighted to see you again.  Welcome back to the Wabi-Sabi Ranch.  I’m thinking we should change the name to Wabi-Sabi Acres since this isn’t, by definition, a ranch.  It is neither a farm nor a place where large cattle are bred and raised.  However, we do grow vegetables and flowers, and the critters that live on this land are free to breed and roam so maybe it is a ranch of sorts.  I’m digressing already!  How rude of me.  Come on in!  We’ll see what there is to drink and eat in the kitchen, and then I think this would be a good day to either hang out at the kitchen table or in the great room.  It is hot and humid outside, and it has been raining on and off.  Best to stay in where it’s dry and cool.  Or relatively cool.  I’m still sweating in spite of the air conditioning.  I went out for a walk a little while ago and got a tad bit overheated.

How are you?  Has life been treating you well?  Have you traveled anywhere or seen any new sights?  Have you gone on any good strolls or hikes?  Read any good books or seen any good films?

A time to reflect.

If we were having coffee or something else to drink, I would apologize for being late this week.  It’s a holiday weekend here in the U.S.  Memorial Day is today, and for a lot of folks, that has meant a three-day weekend.  Memorial Day, as you probably already know, is a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the military.  It was originally called Decoration Day.

The Three Soliders. (Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C., December 2014)

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.

~ General John A. Logan, one of those who helped to establish Memorial Day as an official U.S. holiday after the U.S. Civil War

In Jane’s garden II.

This three-day weekend is also the unofficial start to summer which on the Eastern Shore means going to the beach.  M and I traveled Elsewhere because we wanted to be traveling against the flow of incoming tourists.  We went to Annapolis to visit with friends and listen to some good music.  One of our friends is a member of the legendary Jello Boys band, and they played on Friday night at 49 West (a coffehouse, wine bar, and art gallery) in Annapolis.  I wish I had taken my big camera with me because the band members looked so joyful at times, something which certainly came across in their music.  As far as I was able to judge, a great time was had by all.

In concert.  (Taken with my phone camera.)

If we were having coffee or something else to drink, I would tell you about an incident that happened last month so you would understand what this short trip meant to me (in addition to spending time with good friends, of course).  Last month, shortly after Little Wookie (our new grandson) was born, I was in a car accident.  I took my first ride in an ambulance, an experience I hope not to repeat.  I was already shook up from the accident, and then to be driven in the back of a vehicle that was speeding down the highway with sirens blaring did nothing to settle me down.  In fact, I told them that I was not dying and that I’d rather not be in another wreck on my way to the hospital, thank you very much.  I guess they thought it was funny or sweet or whatever it is young people think about things said by people they deem to be old (although I hardly think 57 is OLD).  As it turned out, I probably didn’t need to experience the wild ride in the ambulance.  None of my injuries were serious.  Just a lot of bruising, abrasions (from the chemicals in the air bags), and soreness for a while.  One of the EMT’s in the ambulance told me I was lucky that the impact hadn’t occurred a second earlier.  I was in what he referred to as the “blood” or “death” seat (passenger), and a second earlier might have resulted in something more serious.  I have no recollection of the moment of impact.  Maybe that’s good, but it feels weird to have those gaps in my memory.

Having a good time.  (An Instagram shot from this weekend.)

The thing is, the accident made it difficult for me to get back in a car.  A friend said I have PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), but I dunno.  Maybe.  I suppose she’s right.  Post-accident, I was jumpy as all get-out whenever I was in a car.  Any car.  But I did notice that on our trip back, it wasn’t so bad.  I still have moments when I am startled, but mostly it was OK.  And OK is better than being too frightened to get in the car.  I can’t, even if I wanted to (and all my life I have mostly wanted to) walk everywhere I’d like to go.  As much as I love having my feet in contact with the earth, it would be impossible for me to visit my grandchildren, for instance, if I wasn’t willing to drive or ride in a vehicle of some kind.

In my garden.

If we were having coffee, I would ask if you’ve heard about Bonnie?  She’s a tropical depression.  I didn’t realize we’d gotten to the letter B already.  Bonnie has made landfall in South Carolina and the rain we’re experiencing today is a result of the remnants of Bonnie.  Did you know they used the name Bonnie in 2004 and again in 2010?  It seems to me there ought to be plenty of B names, especially since they don’t have to be female names anymore.  What’s up with that World Meteorological Organization?  No originality there or what?  Since I have an inquiring mind, I looked it up.  It turns out that there are six lists of names and they are recycled every six years.  Seems like a waste of a lot of good names to me.

In the woods.

Anyway.  Bonnie came ashore near Charleston, South Carolina which reminds me that I am currently reading The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd (the author of “The Secret Life of Bees,” a book I loved).  The book takes place, at least in the first half, in Charleston, a lovely old southern city that I visited many years ago.  I will probably finish the book today since it’s raining more often than not, and a good day for reading a good book (and it is a good book).

The air is thick with humidity.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I took a walk when I got home yesterday and the biting insects are horrid this year.  Usually we have a progression.  Ticks (who last throughout the spring, summer, and part of the fall), little black flies (that I think of as midges), deer flies, and then giant black flies (which don’t bite but are a terrible nuisance) and chiggers.  Mosquitoes, of course, appear whenever it’s warm and humid, and hang around until it gets cold.  This year the first four appeared at the same time along with the mosquitoes.  I don’t go out without netting over my head and face, and insect repellent.  I also wear long sleeves, long trousers, and tuck in whatever can be tucked in.  I don’t know how the other critters (bunnies, deer, etc.) can stand it.

A baby box turtle walking through the backyard yesterday.

If we were having coffee, tea, or something else to drink, it would be time to turn things over to you.  I’ve rambled enough for today.  Thank you so much for stopping by for a chat.  I’m looking forward to getting caught up with you, and maybe visiting you over at your place.  If you stay for a little while, you might get to meet my grandchildren.  The oldest two (who are now 11 and 7) are meeting Little Wookie today and we’re going to Skype so we can be a small part of the gathering.

Redbud leaf.

Be good, be kind, be loving, be well.  Just Be.  🙂

Drip, drip, drip.

This post is in response to Part Time Monster’s #WeekendCoffeeShare.  Thank you to Diana for hosting it.  Also, a big congratulations for the #WeekendCoffeeShare being featured on WordPress’s Daily Post.  So glad to see it being shared among the rest of the community!  Put the kettle on, start the coffee maker, open a bottle of wine, or whatever your preference is, and join us.  I’d love to hear all about what you were up to this week.