Halfy Birthday

Three of my four children were born within nine days of each in the Christmas season - on the calendar that is, of course. Some people would comment: "Isn't that terrible to have their birthdays then.' I would respond 'Not at all!' For me it was a huge gift, significant in the fact that my Mother had lost three children - the same combination, two girls and a boy - within a 9 day period at Christmas. It was never lost on me that I was given exactly what was taken from her.

There were lots of positive things about having Christmas babies. It made my favourite holiday season even more magical & memorable. There wasn't a chance for Christmas 'letdown', as the celebrations just kept coming. What some people might have thought as a negative, was just Reality in our house. 99% of the time, birthday gifts were wrapped in Christmas paper. We were (correction - I was) so over done with sweets & desserts, that the thoughts of a fancy birthday cake just seemed over the top & actually I had no money by that point. So when they were really little, my children thought that 'Sara Lee' cakes were really birthday cake. They were at a friend's house one time & when she brought out a Sara Lee cake, they said 'Whose birthday is it?!' Yeah, there might have been some times that I was a little over-spent those years - physically & financially, but I tried to make their day, THEIR day. I worried more that our one child who didn't have her birthday then was feeling left out.

It was a long time between celebrations for them though, so I instituted 'Halfy Birthdays'. On the day that they would turn the 'half' mark, we'd have a half of cake (again, likely Sara Lee) & we'd sing 'HALFY BIRTHDAY TO YOU'. No presents, just recognition & attention. Which was hard enough to come by being one of four, so it was greatly anticipated and enjoyed.

It's neat to see my daughter keeping that tradition going. Yesterday was my darling grand daughter's 'Halfy Birthday' - 5 and a half. And don't you be forgetting the half at this stage - it is of great importance. She was so excited, you would have thought it was Christmas. When I called her to sing 'Halfy Birthday to You', she giggled delightedly, then said 'Are you coming over to bring me presents.' I love the directness of children, it would be so refreshing if people kept that authenticity. I said 'We actually don't give presents for Halfy Birthdays - just Love.' She said 'It's good to get Love, isn't it.'

Ah yes, it is. And any day, any way, that we can celebrate someone we love is special day indeed.

Aprons

My Mother wore an apron. Always. She did take it off to go to church & go to town, but other than that, it was attached to her like a security blanket. It seemed that she couldn't function without it - it was like Superman & his cape, but lower. It was a wonder that she didn't slip into a phone booth to put it on. Maybe she did - I wouldn't know. I never saw her put it on, it just was automatically always There.

I was an obnoxious early-teener when I became aware of her curious attachment to her apron. I tormented her unmercifully about it. I'd start out with 'Why do ALWAYS have to wear that grubby old apron.' She'd dismiss me with: 'Because I do.' Now if she would have just come up with some story why it was necessary in her world, I most likely would have let it drop and moved on to something else. But oh no, she'd get very defensive & would clutch it it when I'd bug her to 'Take it off. Try it... take it off.', so I kept it up. Whenever I walked past her, if her back was turned, I'd undo the apron strings & if I was quick enough, I could be off with it as she chased me through the house, yelling 'Give me back my apron, you silly ass.'

There are some things that I made a conscience decision to steer clear of because my Mother did it ... like saving things 'for good'. And things that were perhaps unconsciousness - like never having worn an apron - probably ever. In the image of my Mother in my mind, she is always wearing her apron. That's not a picture that my kids would have of me.

It's not all that bright though - I have ruined countless shirts & sweaters & pants and even pajamas by spilling & splattering & wiping everything ... food, paint, ink, stain. I do have to admit, aprons actually are a very good invention.

On Monday, I came across one here - whose it is, I have no idea. It's one of those chefy things with the bib. I slipped it on. That's when all the memories of my Mother & her apron came rushing back.

Well, I've worn that apron every day. Four days into it, it's no longer pristine white - it has some wonderfully colourful permanent ink spots, which may not delight its rightful owner should they ever come to claim it. But but more than saving my clothes, I have found it to have a much greater function. Indeed, when I have donned that apron each morning, I have felt that I mean Business. I have stayed focused & productive. I don't go flitting off in every direction - like over to my cabin to have a wee 'sit', or out to the hammock to have a wee snooze. I'm Working. And the best part was, when someone dropped by unexpectedly, there I was in my apron, obviously looking like like I was working and that's why the house was upside down - not because I was slovenly and out having a sit or a snooze. I was feeling like I had a Real Job and that was my uniform.

Yep ... my mother might have had something going there. And I do believe, after all these years that I just may start to wear an apron every day. Well, every day that I want to look like I'm working. And I'll send her a little chuckle as I know she's up there feeling pretty smug about it all.

(These are some of the inked tiles that I've been working on ... so you can just imagine how pretty the apron is now:)

Stop Thinking. Start Doing.

Oh my ... it seems I lost a week:( I've been diddling & doodling around here for the past few days, not particularly in a rush about anything - just enjoying not having so many things on my agenda as I did last week. I was thinking that it was mid-September and I have a full month to get creating something for our 'In the Spirit' show. Well ... apparently a bunch of days slipped away when I wasn't looking. Which was all last week when I was moving too fast in a different direction.

I'm still in 'What should I make' mode. I need to spend less time in my head and more in my Studio.

TODAY. Today I'm going to stop planning, organizing, thinking ... and start DOING.

I am. I am.

Fast Forward

I have been home from Newfoundland for 7 days. In that time I have attended a wedding, a brunch, had all my family here for a birthday dinner, took & edited 500 photos, attended an organizing meeting for our upcoming 'In the Spirit' show, worked at updating the website, designed & printed invitations & started a Facebook group for the show, reconnected with lots of friends on-line, went to Kitchener, London, Toronto & Brockville (almost 6 hours away) and worked three full (2 nine hours & a fifteen hour) days at a Real Job (as in 'out of this house).

I have NOT unpacked.

So what is the relevance of the photos on this post? Just last week, which now seems like months ago, I kayaked out to the wee rockish island in front of our house. It was a remarkably beautiful evening - the water was calm, the sky was indigo and the sunset cast a magical glow over the harbour. As I offered my thanks to our Great Creator for such a gift - for just being in that serene & peaceful place, there appeared the most striking rainbow, directly above my friends' home. A Gift indeed. Especially since I happened to have my camera. (yes... in the kayak:)

Now that I'm back in Ontario mode, I desperately need to keep this East Coast feeling. Here, I am surrounded by the equisite beauty of autumn - the splendor of the colours & crispness of the air. It's just as much of a gift. I simply need to slow down enough to be awake & aware & grateful.

Gander, Newfoundland

It was Friday that we headed home from Newfoundland. Friday, September 11th. Of course, my thoughts, regardless of where I was, would have been on that tragic day eight years ago. But being in the Gander Airport, it was especially sobering. I envisioned that building bulging with people, and as I flew away, I thought of all the planes that would have been circling & landing in confusion and fear. Such chaos & panic that so many people would have been experiencing in that very spot on that day. Quite different from the rest of us who were watching it transpire. We were watching - they were doing. I wondered how the staff could even begin to handle it - quiet & ordinary one minute, frantic the next - so much emotion contained in that small space. On Friday, with not a single plane in sight, it was difficult to picture what it would have been like that day, when the population of the town doubled in a matter of hours.

There was no hoopla on Friday when I was there. I've actually been surprised over the years that there isn't some kind of public memorial in a predominant spot in the airport, recognizing the part that Gander & the area played on that historic day. Their efficient response & hospitality became legendary - the rest of Canada was certainly proud. I asked someone once why there was all kinds of other history on display there, but not that day. They answered 'Well, I suppose it's because we don't think we actually did anything other than what needed to be done - we don't have to brag about that.'

Very 'Newfoundlandish' in their humility & actually quite refreshing that they don't feel the need to re-live it or put attention on themselves. But for me, it was certainly significant to be in that place, on that date - remembering what was lost and being grateful for what we have.

Adventure

'Life is an Adventure, or it's Nothing.' Helen Keller said that. That's always been my motto too. I'm ALWAYS up for Adventure. So when Mazda asked if I'd drive down to New Jersey to pick up a car, I jumped at the opportunity. Ten uninterrupted hours of driving, getting to listen to my book - wonderful! I just love getting to drive for Mazda - it's the only way I'll ever get to drive a brand new car. Zoom zoom.

Now, living with the sense of Adventure, as I do - always ready, willing and able to do anything & everything, I figured that I had learned some stuff. Like 'TRAVEL LIGHT'. We really don't need half the stuff that we drag along with us on any given trip. We need far less than we think we do. Getting away from all the accumulated 'stuff' that surrounds us leaves room to allow the new & fresh into our space & time.

So, off I went yesterday, with particularly little, figuring that I'd just be driving all day & turning around & driving right back. As it turns out, the vehicle that I'm bringing back isn't ready - not even sure at this point when it will be. I hadn't factored that possibility into the equation.

So ... revised 'Life Lesson' about travelling light. Perhaps not quite THAT light. I have no book to read, to put in time & the batteries for my audio book are just about dead. I have no 'work' to do - like needle felting or the zillion other things that I could be/should be doing. And I have no decent shoes, so I can't even go for a walk. Since I figured that I wouldn't really be getting out of the car much, I only wore those goofy flip flop things. Here I am - ten miles out of New York City, perhaps with a day that I really could go on an awesome adventure & I have no decent shoes.

But then again, I do have my credit card & they do sell shoes - so there is my theory of having the opportunity with adventure of allowing 'fresh & new things' into your life. I just might get to go Shoe Shopping today:)
They do sell books too. And as far as 'work' goes - give my head a shake - that would just be downright silly. I am having an Adventure.

Missed the Mark

Premature. That's the only way that I can explain it. Maybe it was the full moon that caused Katie to go into labour a whole twelve hours early. At any rate, he missed the mark. If he would have had the good grace to wait just a little while longer, he would have been born on my birthday - which is the expectation in keeping with our Special Day Arrival record. He wouldn't have been the first donkey to arrive on my birth date. I guess he just didn't want to share his day with another Jackass. Or as it were, two.

He arrived in all his fuzzy glory on Sunday, August 2nd ... the second birth that I've missed this year while I was in Newfoundland. He's darling & sweet & tiny - and unusually furry for a mid-summer baby.

I think I'm going to have to call him 'Mister Mark' - because he did.

Pete, Cole & Mark ... my Three Donkey-sons.

Rock Therapy

When people ask Brian what he does at our place in Newfoundland, his answer is: "There's nothing to do, and you won't get it done." Indeed, the day seems to fill itself without pre-planning. It 'unfolds'. Often, as the gals who come out during 'Summer Chick Time' will attest, a 'quick trip' to town will become a full day's journey which takes us to unexpected places & lasts well into the night. At all times, we are prepared and open to adventure & possibility - keeping a variety of footwear and clothing in our 'mobile closet' (my van).

My first companions were my sister, her friend and my aunt. We were delighted to see lots & lots of icebergs still around which stayed until July 28th. The 'Fun, Fish, Folk Festival' was on, so we attended a multitude of parties & concerts - usually having to hit three or more events on a single day. We started each morning with coffee on the porch of Oz, and enjoyed some wonderful'sharing circles' in a candle lit Oz. It was quite rare for us to be in bed before 2 am. We partied, we fished, we sang, we 'mummered'. At 92 years old, my amazing & incredible aunt caught her first cod fish & got 'screeched-in', becoming an honourary Newfie.

I too caught my first cod. I generally leave the fishing to everyone else, under the guise of allowing my visitors to have the experience because I'm there more often. The truth is more in the fact that, although I loves to eat them, I'm not a fan of taking their little lives. I'm the monitor in the boat who says: "That one is SO little - he should go back so he can grow up." or "That one is SO big - he should go back because he's avoided being captured all this time." Six summers & this is the first time that I actually caught & kept a fish. TWO in fact, which we proceeded to turn into our fifth meal in a row of fish chowder. It was a huge deal to get to be there during the 'food fishery' - we did not miss a single day of enjoying the succulent, mouth watering treasure of the sea, caught right out there in our backyard.

My second set of visitors were three of my Sistas in Creativity & Adventure. We too, filled our days with concerts, visiting, fishing and beach combing. We started with being invited out to breakfast on the very first morning. The hydro must have gone out during the night as the clocks were blinking in confusion. We got the time from Pauline's cell phone & added the required hour and a half, rousting the other two so we wouldn't be late for our 9 am date. As we headed off, the van clock indicated it was 7:35 am, but since we were dressed & ready we chose not to believe it. Turns out it was accurate & we learned that a cell phone automatically changes with the time zone. We also learned that good friends with a sense of humour will still welcome you with a hug & laugh when you get them out of bed an hour and a half early.

Oh yes, we shared many laughs and many memorable moments. We celebrated my birthday on 'the edge of the world' ... Brimstone Head, Fogo Island - one of the designated 'four corners of the earth'. We saw whales & carribou, we had a 'Hen Party', we made new discoveries & new friends. We released ourselves from the rest of the world - no television, no radio, no newspaper, no internet, no cares. Oh how I wish that every soul could have such an opportunity to be refreshed & renewed with 'Rock Therapy'.

The Wedding

A few days have passed since Ashley and Andy's wedding & I still can't wipe the smile off my face. We are all walking around on a total high.

It's such a delight to have your daughter get to have exactly the wedding that she has dreamed of. I can't think of anything that can possibly be any better, in terms of the most perfectly Happy Day. So many friends and family together, celebrating and being joyful, surrounding that wonderful young couple with such love and support. It just made your heart sing.


Ashley, of course, was a beautiful bride - she was the picture of grace and poise. Andy was handsome and charming. Gibson was adorable beyond words.

The greatest joy for me was to have all four of my wonderful children and three precious grandbabes there - healthy, happy and having fun.

As expected, the morning brought a major downpour, complete with a black-as-night sky, as I ran with flowers into the tent. The forecast was dismal, but Ashley had envisioned her day with sunshine, so we held on to that hope. Not far from us, there were high winds & hail that would have wreaked havoc with our decorations, which graciously bypassed us.

The impending storm split - taking major winds & even tornados to both the north and east of us, leaving us with clear skies & beautiful, welcome sunshine. That in itself had everyone happy and joyful.

The ceremony was lovely - very moving and beautiful. A Matron of Honour, Maid of Honour, 4 Bridesmaids, Best Man, 5 Groomsmen, Ring Bearer & Flower Girl ... every one of them a special person in the lives of the Bride & Groom. Live music added to the charm, with the Bride walking down the aisle to 'It's A Wonderful World' on the sax & guitar. As they left, the group sang Van Morrison's 'Into the Mystic'.

The afternoon was absolutely beautiful and perfect for the guests to have a relaxing visit. Then, as if on cue, as the last person entered the tent through the reception line, the sky opened up. With the noise and the force of the water, it was as if we were sitting underneath a waterfall - a special effect that surprised and delighted all. The sun shone through that & when it was over, a full, unbroken rainbow appeared right behind the tent. A most perfect stamp on a purely mystical, memorable and magical day.

Boys and Curls

There I was, sandwiched between a brother who had thick curly hair as a baby & a sister with beautiful long hair, done in ringlets. Not enough to be branded as the Middle Child ... throw in poker straight hair, cut short into a 'pixie cut'. I always knew it was not because it was an attractive style - it was confirmation that there wasn't a thing anyone could do with my hair as it was 'straight as a horses tail.'
I've coveted curls for as long as I can remember.
When I met Brian, my Mother was impressed with his gorgeous, wavy hair, but she professed that it was 'totally wasted on a man'. I had hoped that he could pass some of those genetics on to our children, but oh no - four heads & not so much as a hint of a kink in one of them. Their hair is thick and lovely ... but alas, no curls:(
Two more shots at it with the arrival of my first grandson & grand daughter. Beautiful, adorable, gorgeous children, but again - nary a curl between them.
Well - can you just imagine how delighted I am that our littlest guy's hair is arriving with curl upon curl. They're especially abundant when he gets up from his nap or after his bath. I get tickled every time I see his curly little head. And it's DEFINITELY not wasted on a boy.