My life on an unexpected path

I have a favorite day for each season. I love a spring shower which refreshes everything. Whether walking in the rain or enjoying the rainbow afterwards, that is a great spring day.

Summer is very hot where I live. A day in the water swimming, floating or just relaxing by the pool with a cold drink is marvelous.

Autumn is my favorite season. A walk with leaves crunching beneath my feet, the scent of a fire, sunshine and the need for a sweater warms my soul.

Winter is unpredictable here. We can go from 85° to 20° in a matter of hours. For me a cold, blustery day with snowfall outside while I am inside baking my favorite cookies, listening to Christmas music has to be a highlight of every season.

Every season offers joy, you just have to take it.

Loquacious

Years ago my youngest was going to take a dance class in high school. She found out that the class would be on the stage in the cafeteria while the football team had study hall in there.

My daughter is shy and the thought of being in front of a bunch of athletes worried her. She asked me if I could get a schedule change for her.

I listened and understood her concerns. Telling her I’d do my best but if a schedule change was not possible, we’d find a way for her to soldier through the class.

She turned to me and said, “You’re the best mom. Most mom’s would say suck it up but you listened and understood. I love you.”

Turns out the class ended up being moved to another location and problem was averted.

I’ll carry that compliment of being the best mom with me forever.

** side note: I had a neighbor who told me if his daughter grew up to be half as wonderful as my daughters, he’d be happy. That is one of those never forget moments.

As long as I’m traveling, I don’t have a preference on mode of travel.

I’ve always dreamed of driving around Europe and still have that plan for post retirement.

I would love to do the Canadian Transcontinental Railway trip in or around a September.

Taking a bike tour for a day would be fun especially in The Netherlands.

Bus travel doesn’t appeal to me. Been there and done that.

Jetting off somewhere too far to drive is always a desire.

I want to see more, experience more, and learn more.

For me there is only one activity in which I can completely lose myself.It’s been the same activity since I learned to read in school.

Books, reading books. Once I start I do not want to stop. My daughters and I used to joke that a bomb could go off and I’d never even hear it if I was reading.

Nothing has changed. A well told story will take me in, hold me and when it’s time to go, I don’t want to leave the pages and characters.

A few years ago I joined my library’s 50 books in 50 weeks in 50 categories book club. Thankfully they give you the categories. Why did I do this? I realized I read only one genre, murder mysteries.

This book club has introduced to me other genres which I wouldn’t have ever picked up and I’m so glad I did because I’ve discovered I love many types of books.

If you can’t find me, I’m lost in a book.

Life can only be a success if you’ve had failures. There is absolutely no way to live a full life without failing sometimes. The key is to see it as a learning opportunity or as a closed door leading you to another one.

I’ve failed a lot. Sometimes I let it stop me in my tracks. Other times I worked, studied and persevered to succeed.

I want a full life so I must expect to fail but not to be discouraged.

I would ban should because no matter how you use it, it makes you or someone else feel bad.

I should have married someone different.

I should have taken a different route.

You should eat better and exercise more.

I should have yelled less.

I could go on and on.