Thursday in the Mohabi

Early awakening to watch the dawn creep up from the southern hills and light the way for the paper delivery.  Much is in my mind and much remains to be done this day, tomorrow and the next.  The day begins with the local news and the latest crossword puzzle and a cup of coffee.  Then Fritz barks for his breakfast and walk.  One wonders how he will adjust to Marriot suites and hopefully he will remember his command of quiet.  If he does not it will be a short trip to the animal tender so that we do not become evicted and displaced persons.  This is not like any trip we have ever taken and I would much rather be going to Africa if not this summer right now.  Immediately!  My teeth ache and it must be from clenching my jaws as I awake to this upheaval in our abode.  Not that the problem even nears the tremendous tragedies experienced by those whose homes get the blast of tornados, floods and earthquakes or nuclear leaks.  So one knows greater empathy and while my own agony persists I know that this too shall pass away and the house will smile again.  I am luckier that most.

Somehow it is appropriate to count one's blessings shortly before Valentines.  My loved one in residence plugs thru each day with reliable good humor.  Dependable and loving to both me and Fritz.  He has reserved strength previously unknown to me.  Always there to confer about what can be done and how shall we do it.  We manage each day together.  He has been willing to do just about anything to reduce the pressure of the current dilemna.  Movies, shopping, drives, dinner or lunch out.  Honey you just say it and I'm your man.  Yes he is and I am again very lucky.  I promised to make him a new chocolate whoopee cookie with peanut butter frosting.  He said " please don't bother".     Maybe golf balls instead I think.  Whatever.  He is famous for always declaring that there is absolutely nothing he needs or wants.
Lucky me indeed!

Spring has almost sprung.  Almost.  The new tile is going to be set next week.  We will be leaving to stay out of the dust and workmens way and will be in an out while the miracle of rejuvenation proceeds.  We are managing to keep busy although it is somewhat a chore to try to find different wearing apparal to match or not when everything is distributed in sacks, boxes and in the garage.  I cannot say enough about the wonderful insurance company who have thus far been life savers in this tile dilemna.  The cause remains a mystery but the house I believe (I've got to believe!) will emerge as good as new.  Several times lately I have wanted to run away.  Escapism is big on my list.  Unfortunately it mainly ends in chocolate, cookies, ice cream, driving in any direction and shopping.  Movies also rate high.  Hugo, The Artist, Warhorse and I think the Iron Lady this weekend.  Reading my traditional path to somewhere out currently has me in Boston with the Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys.  Great writing by Goodwin.  I read first about Lincoln and his buddies, then Eleanor and Roosevelt and thus far the length of these books have not discouraged me.  I wonder why schools can't offer such tantalizing material as history texts.  I know I will keep these on my shelf and in my mind now realize and see the U.S. in a broader and more interesting way.  And it fascinates me that we have moved to the point we have in 2012 still having biases about immigrants(only the countries have changed) still financial dilemnas and political pandering.  Ultimately one also sees political power that rises to greatness and at the same time stinks in the sewer, all depending on motive and goal.  These stories make the newspaper events of today seem rather repetetive if not somewhat boring.   Not many statesman who will make great strides these days when personal greed seems primary.  And one wonders following our great and wonderous rescue work during WW11 whether we can ever move from the manufacturing of war materials, and armies, and our role as saviour to the world back to education, leadership, and modelling of a free society of our own.  Ah well that too is a dream to escape to.

Changing, Changing, Changing

A New Year, A New Decor


After 12 years it is time to liven up the place.  So fun to look at ideas on paint, tile, lights etc. and etc.  And a side benefit, we must create room for the work to begin which means sorting through books, pics, misalanea all of our clothes etc.  We can leave and the wonderful insurance will pay.  I am opting for Palm Springs but I don't think that will be covered.  Where or how can we get our collected chairs, tables beds, clothes and on and on into a better place that we can find later.  Not bad if we label everything because at 70+ remembering fuses into where did we lose it, who stole it.  Oh my goodness!  I know some younger people who have just conquered all of these issues.  Our grandchildren.  But too far north to help, and too busy working, baby tending and occasionally having a good time.  But somehow I know they will love the new place.  I will think of visiting dogs, boys and hikers and bikers as we move this abode forward.  Now Ava, the gorgeous gal of our group, will just need some art places, some good movies and books and a little shopping.

My life is changing.  I get zapped on Monday and get a good heart review by a brilliant young Doc who is an expert in eletrical impulses of the body.  Imagine someday the whole system will be mapable on a personal basis taking in your own genes, the changes in protein and the entire cellular mechanism which can be immediately accessed by various techy gadgets which can be carried along as you dash thru life's
challenging activities.  I imagine at some point we will be evaluated for recyclables.  Not just donations of kidney, livers etc. but all the metal we will have inside.  Although bone is now being replaced with new bones and stem cells and cells created in mice and so on and on and on.  I somehow believe the current system of replacing generations with new ones is still the miracle over time.

We  are still managing to be sociable in bridge and poker tables in dining excursions and many phone calls.  Some things continue and some things change and most of all as this new year begins we are forever thankful for the loving from friends and family over the years, for the beauty of the desert and the sun that graces our every morning.  And then......there is the golf game or was.

2012 .......What Does It All Mean?

Sometimes in a day or a month happenings become totally unpredictable and out of control.  I am thinking   that control is only an abstract word in which we delude ourselves.  We make schedules, preparations and honor calendars and clocks as if they were sacred markers containing seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, years.  Calendars which go back to the beginning of time as humanoids woke each day and marked the sun.  All is illusion except that the sun, our nearest star, appears each day and then disappears in a flash of brilliant color sometimes.

And movement is instantaneous these days when we can push a key, or a button, hear and see anywhere in the world and those we love playing, laughing or crying.  Robert Burns says in his poetry that the plans of mice and men  "aftimes gang aglay".  So true for this year.  Ed and I are now taking doubtful pleasure in a  seemingly unending redecorating project.  Unseen forces have disrupted the desert dwelling in which we have habited, landscaped and loved.  Of course everything that is man-made has a shelf life.  And we as other living things, animals and plants, afterall must adapt to these shifting sands, hot and cold winds and climate changes.

So much more respect for the Romans and the ruins which continue to force a place in time.  So we as they are connected in our passing.  What enduring marks will we leave in these places where we walk and dwell.  Food for thought occurs when the unexpected appears.  Thank goodness I no longer keep a daytimer and every minute is as flexible as the icalendar which exist in a cloud and synces our days  Or is that "sinks"?