First Day of Spring

A cold, cloudy day, 

with periods of rain

and snowflakes...

Are you sure it's the first day of Spring? 

Bursts of colors that have been missing from the landscape

peaking, poking, and leading me to believe

that it could be the first day of Spring.

Free Italian ice from Rita's. 

Now I know that it is the first day of Spring.

Measuring Life

This morning I attended the funeral of a friend's mother. 

Sitting and reflecting on how you measure a life. 

How would my life be celebrated? 

What stood out today about the eulogies given...

Laughter, kindness, adventures, love, dedication, encouragement, 

more laughter, 

and more love.

Grateful for the stories shared. 

Traveling Ideas

Lucy and Ethel at it again, 

Sometimes we get to talking

And get distracted on our journey while journeying. 

Today our exit was missed

As we excitedly were talking about ideas. 

No worries though, 

As we figured how to get back on our original path.

Laughing at another instance of being somewhere else

While at the same time being present.

Gender Colors

"Colors have no gender." I hear a student tell her table mates as she is working on creating her art project.

I stopped as I tried to figure out where the table was in their conversation. 

It started as "What makes it a boy's color?"

"Colors have no gender." 

And the rest of the table nod their head in agreement. 

Casual Conversations

"Did you run in the race this past weekend?" 

I hear a voice from behind me.  Then I remember that I am wearing the shirt from the race.  I assume that "The Race" that she is referring to is the marathon. 

"I ran the 5k part of 'the race'" I reply almost apologetically.  

"Did you run?"  I ask. 

"No.  I saw your shirt and I know that the race was this past weekend." 

"Are you a runner?" 

"Yes. But I haven't yet run a marathon.  Just a half.  I was wondering how the course was." 

From there we compared races that we have run and goals that we have set.  I explained that I was coming off a foot injury and the 5k was a test to see if it had healed.  At that point, I realized that I shouldn't feel guilty that I didn't run "the race", that goals are individual and independent from other people, that I need to run my race. As I finished loading my groceries, we wished each other well in pursuing our goals for future races. I am now ready to run my race. 

Bridesmaid Dress

My daughter is in the throes of "what was I thinking when I agreed to be a bridesmaid."  It is her first time of being a bridesmaid and she excitedly said yes when she was asked last year at this time.  

Eight months ago she ordered the dress as mandated by the bride-to-be.  It was supposed to come in October.  When October came, she was told that the dress had come in but it was not the size that was ordered.  It will come in November.  No dress in November.  Definitely December.  Santa didn't have it on his sleigh.  January snow, and February seemed to leap right over the dress.  Now it is March.  It finally came and it is now in her possession.  

Upon trying it on, she sighs, unhappy with the design and the fit of the dress.  Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she asks "what was I thinking when I agreed to be a bridesmaid?" With images of the movie 27 Dresses flashing through her mind, she vows that she will rethink saying yes the next time she is asked.  If only. 

Springing Ahead

Daylight savings time has me feeling like I am falling behind.  I keep looking at the clock and figuring out what time it would really be and what I would normally be doing. I know a week from now I will be grateful for the change.  Then my body will feel like it has a spring in its step.  Until then, I sit here yawning due to the loss of sleep, and waiting for my new bedtime.