25 June 2009

Theme Thursday-Summer


Summer means vacation. When my nephews were in elementary school I always planned an adventure during the summer with my friend and her two children, my honorary niece and nephew.

Summer means "Let's go to the beach!" One year we visited one of my favorite places, Martha's Vineyard. We packed my friend's van with four bikes, food and the endless gear four kids require for a week's stay at the beach. We survived the trip up 95 from New Jersey with frequent stops at the MickeyD's. The ferry ride was a big hit. My nephews were a bit concerned that there was no boardwalk or games awaiting them but once there, quickly fell under the spell of the Vineyard. We stayed at a lovely place in Edgartown, rode bikes and visited the beach every day. In the evening, we walked about town after dinner to the book store and ice cream parlor. The first night there, the three boys travelled the narrow sidewalk at the speed of light from our lodgings to town with ice cream and adventure on their minds. My dear friend, appalled, as they barrelled through crowds, causing people to step aside and at times, off the sidewalk, corralled them--ages ~10, 6 and 6 into a single file and began the march that would become our nightly walk-left, left... one two three! It was controlled and for the most part, blissful chaos from thereon in.



Summer means riding bikes. Our treks began as so- my friend riding with my two year old niece, her daughter, on the back of her bike, my oldest nephew, his brother and my friend's son with me in the rear. The two younger boys had varying degrees of cycling ability--younger nephew rode very well but didn't fully understand the need to stay on the right side of the path and honorary nephew wanted a 'big' bike like younger nephew so was learning to navigate and trying to understand why he had to pedal so much. Luckily, the Vineyard has a great system of bike paths so vehicular traffic was never an issue. So it would begin--my friend would start off , followed and quickly passed by my older nephew who had strict instructions not to exceed more than a half mile lead, his younger brother pedaling gleefully albeit on the wrong side of the path and honorary nephew sometimes pedaling with me following yelling, "Right! Right! The other right! to younger nephew and "Pedal, Pedal, Pedal!" to honorary nephew.



I am pleased to report, we made the trip, without injury or injuring other cyclists. A good time was had by all.



Finally, summer means popsicles and the potential for an 'all girl getaway' since the boys were now too old to hang out with us. Hence, this popsicle moment in Chicago with my honorary niece after a day of sightseeing and shopping at American Girl. A whirlwind of a weekend filled with great sights, museums, food, tea with our favorite American Girl and no boys! Priceless.

4th of July weekend is just around the corner--time flies...enjoy the summer!

19 June 2009

SkyWatch Friday-Full Moon






Watching the moon at midnight,solitary, mid-sky,I knew myself completely,no part left out.-Izumi Shikibu


This moon called me out into my backyard a few weeks ago with its glow and I sat there thinking, wondering about my place in the universe. Looking up into the night sky reminds me to take a breath and honor this place we live on and to recognize the possibilities.





18 June 2009

Love Thursday


A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
―Mignon McLaughlin
Mr. Jackson came into my life about six years ago and never left. We've been married almost two years and each day I wake up knowing that he is here --I smile.


17 June 2009

Theme Thursday-Roof




"The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof." -– Barbara Kingsolver


This was one of the first views I had when Mr. Jackson and I climbed the stairs into the upper reaches of the Duomo in Siena Italy. What inspires and amazes me about Italian architecture is the commitment to the past and the ability to add new to the old. What would our cities be like if we aspired to the same commitment?

Get your Kicks on Route 66


GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
HEAD OUT ON THE HIGHWAY
LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE AND WHAT EVER COMES OUR WAY...
Born to be Wild-Steppenwolf

In case you are wondering about my sidebar entry- "thinking about.." here's the scoop. Mr. Jackson and I are planning our next trip out to New Mexico and the subject of Route 66 came up. We have driven it (in a car), to Gallup and back, but it seems that Mr. Jackson has a dream. A dream to ride Route 66 on his Harley. I agreed with him that this is a wonderful dream, but I said "Your Harley is in New Jersey."

He said, "No problem, we can rent one in Albuquerque for the day.

"We?" I gasped, knowing it wasn't the universal, the royal or the financial 'we' he was referring to.

"Yeah, it would be great!" he said and proceeded to talk about the route we would take and how I could take photos.

I just sat there with images playing through my mind. I did this once when I was twenty--I didn't like it. Leaning into the turns with the pavement coming up to meet me riding at 55 mph(hopefully), bugs hitting my helmet, sunglasses steamed up and not for a moment thinking about anything else other than getting off the motorcycle.

Here's the thing--I am a Vespa kind of a girl--you know, Roman Holiday and Audrey Hepburn in those wonderful gladiator sandals and beautiful skirt riding throughout Rome. Mr. Jackson knows this and figures he can get me to ride with him if I get some cool boots. It's not that I am uncertain of his ability to ride or don't want some really cool boots--he is like Rainman, "a very good driver", it is about my hesitancy to go really fast without a car surrounding me.

We are in discussion and exploring short trips here. I will report back.

16 June 2009

Let's Dance


"It is utterly false and cruelly arbitrary to put all the play and learning into childhood, all the work into middle age, and all the regrets into old age. " Margaret Mead



13 June 2009

A Raven's Call


Mr Jackson and I traveled to New Mexico last year for Indian Market and were very lucky to stay at Casa De Las Cuervas.



Located in the historic Guadalupe/Railyard District of Santa Fe, this amazing adobe was close to the Plaza so we could walk to and fro but not be in the midst of the madness that consumes Santa Fe during the market.



What made our stay extraordinary was not only the presence of Mercede Velarde's art and the collection of American Indian antiques but the presence of Mercedes and her partner, Mary Leonard checking in on us to make certain we were enjoying our visit. We spent many mornings and afternoons talking about Santa Fe, life, politics and the hope we had for the future.



Since then we have continued our garden talks via email keeping tabs on the happenings in Santa Fe.

Mr. Jackson and I hear the call of the raven and are working our way back, looking forward to experiencing the enchantment and wisdom we felt during our stay.

12 June 2009

They Say it's your Birthday




Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.- Victor Hugo
Happy birthday little sister! Enjoy the day and know that your laughter brings joy to all you touch.

08 June 2009

Here's looking at you, kid.


The cone is off and therefore, a photo op. Max thanks you all for the kind words and healing thoughts. He is chasing but not catching squirrels,birds and cats--generally the same dog he was was two years ago. Very cool. Posted by Picasa

02 June 2009

Checking In...


Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end.- Unknown
Wanted to stop by and let you all know that I will be back soon --until then, life's a beach --go for it!


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