I belong to a "household family" within the SCA called Rolling Thunder. Our local clan had a 3 day event last weekend and I attended. So many wonderful things happened to me there. First, my eldest son said he would use his pick up to transport me and all my camping gear and things I was taking for the classes I was teaching. We had one of our very special talks, which don't happen too often because I rarely get to see him alone. That set a gold star on the start of my day. Then he stayed to set my camp up. Huzzah! I hate that part of camping. Love him for that. Going home was even better. We had an even better talk and I felt so blessed in his trust. I had volunteered to be in charge of the Arts and Sciences. I had located four teachers for classes, gotten all of my handouts printed, and woven a belt for each of my teachers as a thank you gift for coming out and teaching. I set out the A&S Competition, including my five belts as my entry. I looked at the entry of two of my friends and figured I had a pretty good chance of coming in 3rd or 4th. To my astonishment, I won 1st prize!!! I am still dumbfounded over winning, and thrilled beyond belief. I was so proud. We had a wonderful two days of fighting competitions, rapier competitions, food, conversation, got to help Lady Alesandra with the fund raiser lunch for breast cancer, and profound conversations with two beautiful souls. I stayed for the revel and the bardic competition and laughed myself silly. Drank some mead and turned it. It was a fantastic day. Sunday, I was elevated from a "Patch" (probationer) to a Bronze (full family member), which was a total surprise too. I thought I would have to wait for Gulf Wars. That was such an honor and I teased my sponsor about the size of my thunder wheel. I'm a wee woman and he made me a large wheel. It is so beautiful. I hope, over time, to have a blue and a green ribbon decorating it. I want to make him very proud. I'm an Elder, and disabled. I am also an Aries and fiercely independent. It's difficult for me to ask for help. With my Thunder family though, it is easy as pie. I had to ask for help carrying some of my things a number of times over the weekend, and no one ever hesitated. They treated me with so much respect and love and caring that they almost brought me to tears. I love my Emerald Thunder family! I feel so blessed to be a part of them.
This is Bee, my new Service Partner. He lets me know when I have had a chemical exposure, and alerts me when the phone and doorbell ring. He is a born clown and makes me laugh all the time. I waited five years to get a new Service Partner. I was so afraid that no other dog could match up to Luna, my first Partner. Also, losing Luna was devastating. I didn't want to be that emotionally vulnerable again. Then came Bee and he captured my heart. Bee is a toy Chihuahua, weighs just under 5 lbs, and he holds his own. What a great and loving little guy. I am so grateful for his love and his help. I don't think I'll ever be depressed again with him around.
This is a post that I forgot to post last year and it has been sitting in "drafts" for quite a while.
You know that Mercury is in retrograde when..... Oh boy have I ever felt it this time around! I'm a very careful driver because I can't afford tickets. Except for fixer tickets, I've never had one in my life until now, and I am 72 years old. I got stopped by a very nice officer to alert me that I had been speeding through a school zone, having missed the flashing lights. No ticket for that one thank the goddess.
A week later I was taking a friend home and got a ticket for running a red light. The law reads that if your wheels are over the lines on the yellow light, you aren't running a red. The little town we were passing through takes pictures of you if you are in the intersection when the light turns red, and they ticket you. Nothing counts but that pic. You can't fight it unless you want to pay $200 in court costs in addition to the $150 for the ticket. Boo hiss.
Third round: My registration is due this month. I didn't get a notice from the DMV though. I've tried repeatedly to reach the DMV to pay it by phone and consistently get messages saying that, "You are being transferred to the operator. That extension is not valid.". How can you transfer someone to an invalid extension? Needless to say, I am going to have to pay a late fee now to register my car. Boo hiss. Mercury is definitely playing a number on me. I did get it registered finally though.
So much has happened since my last blog. I had the worst Chronic Fatigue Syndrome relapse I have had in 15 years this past summer and had to spend nearly 6 months in bed. For an Aries, that is horrible. Thank the gods for books!!! I usually read up to 100 books every summer. I at least doubled that this summer. I sure hope that is the last time I have a relapse that bad. When I can neither weave, nor knit, or sew, I'm in trouble. My eldest took pity on me at Christmas time and gave me a Nook Tablet so that I could play while in bed. He is so thoughtful.
I'm happy to say and I am coming out of the "down" cycle and feeling much better. I have a commission for 23 feet of narrow band weaving trim for a friend's court tunic. I'm eager to get started on it. Once I get started I'll be fine. I love weaving narrow bands with tablet weaving and brocade. I'm especially happy that I have improved to the point that I can both enter competitions with my weaving, and take commissions. What a joy! This one is so beautiful in black, white, and gold, his colors. He is special to me as a "Household" brother, so I want him to be happy with it.
So, have a wonderful, very blessed Samhain everyone. May your candy bags be full, your year be filled with prosperity, and may your health and joy be always excellent. Bright blessings!
As you can see, it's been a while since I was last on to blog. Thought I would catch up a bit today.
First of all, two months after Suli died, my elder kitty, Lilyrose, died too. She was a grand Siamese queen of 17 years. It was hard to lose both of them so close together, much less lose them at all. I miss them badly.
Now I am looking for a small dog of 10 lbs or less. I plan to train it as a Service Dog to help with my hearing. I am slowly losing certain frequencies of sound, especially the phone, and need a little assistance. The dog will be great company and fill the void left by my wonderful kitties.
Secondly, I have become the Arts and Science officer of my SCA Shire. I am having so much fun teaching and setting up classes for other folks to come here and teach us more medieval things. Our big yearly even is in July and is the premier Arabian event in our kingdom. I already have 10 classes confirmed for the day and a maybe on six more. Huzzah!! I have also set up two A&S competitions and two brewing competitions. It's going to be a grand event this year! Best of all, it's already on our website, which never happens this early.
Lastly, I am having to deal with a health issue that is no fun. For the last 5 years I have had an infection in the top digit of the middle finger of my right hand. The last two times I have had to have surgery on that finger. This time I decided to find out what it is causing the problem. The preliminary tests point to "bone tuberculosis", whatever that is. The good news is that it isn't contageous. (Sorry about the spelling.) The bad news is that the treatment may not be one I can take because it is almost as toxic as chemotherapy. Well boo hiss. I know I am due to live to 104, so I'll get through it. Just another part of my reality. LOL
Now I'm off to the Humane Society and the Animal Shelter to see if
It took me 32 days to fight through the pneumonia and bronchitis bugs that I came down with the 1st of Sept. It seems to be going around to everyone and is very difficult to get over.
While I was so sick, my darling little Sulei boy, my white Siamese, somehow got hold of a mouse who had eaten DeCon, and sustained severe arsenic poisoning. I had to dropper feed him for 3 weeks; he relapsed twice and almost died 4 times, but he fought a valient fight to stay alive.
On Friday, after fighting for his life for 5 long weeks, he woke up with his back legs paralized (sp?). It was obvious his heart was failing and he was in a lot of pain as well as very confused. I called a wonderful friend of mine who came and put him to sleep for me. Almost broke my heart. He really did try hard to recover.
Losing an animal is almost as bad as losing a child. To an Elder like myself, who is handicapped, it is particularly heart rending. My two cats, Sulei and Lilyrose, supply me with the touch and unconditional love that I need to stay healthy and optimistic at my age. I'm a very tactile person and cats fulfill my needs there. I have no one who hugs me on a regular basis and my cats fill that void. It's very difficult to lose one and leaves a void for a while that is hard to fill.
I was so proud of the way Sulei fought to overcome the poison. He had such a strong spirit and was such an inspiration. Live long and well in the Summerland, Suleiman. Chase butterflies, watch fish swim, sleep in the shade and enjoy all that is available to you. You filled my heart and my life with joy and so much laughter. I will miss you coming in to tell me all the news of the neighborhood and what all the kitties in the neighborhood were doing. You were such a sweet gossip. I'll miss you greatly. Of course, Lilyrose misses you, but she is loving being the "only" kittie now, the blue eyed wench!
I recently taught myself how to do "pick-up" inkle style weaving where you have on pattern raised over another. It's a little complicated at first, but it gets easier as you go on and get used to picking the warp threads up. I completed a "sampler" of various designs in pink and green and it came out very nicely. Pic of 3 of the designs to the left. I'm looking forward to trying more patterns in more dramatic colors like teal and mango, black and red, etc. I plan to enter this one in an A&S competition in Dec. I am having so much fun with weaving.
I've been very ill for over two weeks with the newest crud going around that either is, or feels like, bronchial pneumonia. The coughing was enough to tear my muscles, it felt like. Not fun at all. At the same time, my little white kitty fella, Sulie, got poisoned and I seriously thought he was going to die. I think he walked through a yard seeded with fire ant poison and then groomed his paws.
My cats and I have a psychic bond that allows me to sometimes know what they are thinking. Sulie looked like he was eating. It took me days of him wasting away, with me drowning in my own misery, to pick up on the fact that he was starving to death. The poison he ingested affected his mouth so he couldn't pick up food or move it down his throat, though he could swallow. He finally screamed at me, "Mom, I'm starving here!", and I "got it".
I immediately got a seringe (spelling) and filled it with chicken broth and began feeding him with that every 2 hours. Slowly, he began to respond and gain a little strength. Once I saw that, I began mixing a little wet cat food with the broth and feeding him this mixture. After almost a week, he was finally able to stand alone. It took another week before he could at least bolt food into his mouth, and this morning he was finally able to get food into his mouth and chew. I groomed him and cleaned him up several times a day because he kept wetting himself. He looks and feels so much better and is now well on his way to recovery.
Throughout all of this, I was aware of how thin our hold on life can be. It was a humbling experience to know that the life of my kitten was in my hands those four days. I couldn't have gotten him to a vet if I had tried. I could barely make it up and feed myself. Yet that little guy struggled for days to make me understand what was happening to him. His strength and courage were awe inspiring. Lady Bast, Beth, and Jeff sent so much healing to him and it helped so much. I was too sick to heal him myself, so I am blessed in my healer friends.
My own struggle to breathe and deal with this just seemed to flow. I knew exactly what to do for myself and how to do it. The only medicine I needed was a decongestant and Guafenasin to help me breathe. Once I called my friends, they bought this for me and brought it over, and Michelle made a whole pot of home made chicken/vegetable soup for me so that I didn't have to cook. I slept propped up on the couch arm for 10 days because I couldn't breathe laying down. Thank goodness for pillows and high couch arms!
Now Sulie and I are both mostly recovered, just recovering our strength. I hate being "sick-sick" and feeling so helpless. I imagine everyone does. I am, in spite of this, a good patient though, thankfully. I'm so glad I am able to finally get up and around again. If any of you reading this gets the upper respiratory, pneumonia like crud that is going around, go to Walmart and buy the Equate brand "Severe Sinus Relief" that has guafenasin in it. Or, go to Family Dollar and buy Mucus Relief DM. It will thin the mucus and quiet the cough so you can sleep. Both cost about $3.00. It's worked on everyone I recommended it to. And take Zinc every day. It keeps you from getting as sick as you normally would. Stay healthy!
As I have stated before I am in the SCA. My Shire's annual event is Arabian Nights and it has become the premier Arabian event in our Kingdom. t
This year it was particularly wonderful. The King, Queen, and Prince were present and they all have a very funny sense of fun and humor. They are always interjecting fun into anything they do. We love having them. We also had a full Knighting of a Squire by the King. It had all the Medieval pomp and panoply that one could hope for and brought tears to many eyes. We are all so very proud of our newest Knight. That was followed by an authentic Viking wedding and at the Feast a bard wrote a love poem to his beloved and read it and afterwards proposed to her.
Add to this wonderment all the tourneys, elevations, awards, wonderful food, and classes and you have a most wonderful day that is very full. This and Gulf Wars are my two favorite events of the year. I always get to meet new people and make new friends. I get to learn new things, and I get to teach, which I love.
This year I taught a class on Beginner's Back-strap Tablet Weaving. It was a little chaotic at first due to a miscommunication on my part about who would transport my loom for my students to use. After a phone call it appeared with the help of my dearest friend, and we were all able to do a little weaving. I was blessed by an older couple who were not in the SCA, but heard about my class and drove here all the way from Tallahassee to take my class. They were delightful.
I didn't get to take any classes this year, but I still got to pick the brains of various folk and see what they were doing and how they were doing it. I had such a wonderful time.
I'm getting better at my tablet weaving. I have my loom warped now to try the Flying Geese pattern in reverse colors. I hope it comes out well. I also have spent the morning downloading various table weaving patterns for future projects. I am particularly interested in the various Egyptian Diagonal patterns. Some of them are so beautiful. I want to try a couple of them.
Last night I stepped off of a curb that I didn't see and fell. I tried to stop the fall with my hand, but landed on the right side of my face and then my shoulder and my ribs. Thankfully, I broke nothing and wasn't concussed, but oh boy and I hurting! Everything on my right sides hurts like crazy. I was told by an RN friend who was with me not to take anything for pain for 24 hours in case of inner bleeding. I can't wait for 9 pm to get here so I can take some Excedrin!
Before I turned 50, I was always so graceful. People told me that I seemed to glide rather than walk. I had perfected walking up and down stairs with books on my head. As a Southern Woman I was trained to be graceful. I also danced and that helped a lot.
I miss those days of gracefulness. Aging shifts the center of your gravity and it takes a while to get used to finding your center and adjusting to it. It's not unlike a toddler learning to walk. Bodily, we appear to regress to our childhood in our movements.
A friend of mine in the UK said she fell the same way and her bosom was what saved her from hitting her face. Ah, said I, no wonder I hit my face; very small bosom....no cushion.
I know it sounds funny, but it becomes the reality of the Elders in your life. Try though we might, we can not walk as fast as our younger friends and family. We are not as graceful in our movements as we see ourselves in our minds. Getting up off of the floor is exactly like a toddler getting up; roll over onto hands and knees, bottom comes up first, and body slowly follows. I have to admit that creates a great deal of amusement for me in my life.
Be kind to your Elders. Slow down for them and don't expect them to keep up with you. Give them a hand when they want to stand up. It will be
What an exciting week this has been <the last 10 days>! I turned 71 on the 12th, am healthy and happy. I got my driver's license on the 12th, found a car the next day and bought it yesterday <a 1988 Ford Festiva which gets 40 mpg!>, got insurance on the car and will register it on Tuesday.
I was without a car and license for over two years and it is so good to be able to get around again whenever I want to. There is no bus service after 6pm where I live, so I have not been able to go out after dark. Now I can do so much more. How exciting.
I finished the two Medieval belts for my granddaughters and they loved them. I also finished two tablet weaving projects that I am proud of. My dear friend Channahzohara received her AoA in the SCA, and I started a 3rd tablet weaving project. The ram's head design I am trying to make is not going well. I can't figure out what I am doing wrong. I am following the directions very closely, but it doesn't look like the picture in the book. Boo hiss. I am very persistent though.
I joined the Unitarian Universalist church on Sunday. They are very pagan friendly. There is such a lovely and loving group of people here. We had a weekend camping trip the day after my birthday for 3 days at Big Lagoon State Park. What a gorgeous park! It's on the intercoastal waterway and has so many different eco systems within it. I had such a great time.
I hope all of you have an exciting week. They just don't happen often enough for a lot of folks.
Yesterday was wonderful for me. I found another Light Bearer and will be mentoring her in the future. She is a fascinating woman and we talked for several hours. I gave her a reading first and she was very pleased. I love it when the magick works!
Then last night a friend asked me if I would give him a chakra healing, which I did. He also is a Light Bearer. Two in one day! His energy is wonderful. We, too, talked for hours, and shared a lot. I know we will be even better friends now. I look forward to that.
Healings and readings always make me high. The energy just fills me up and I get giggly. The energy sharing is like the softest, most tender, caress and soothes my soul. I feel so blessed to have been given this gift of healing and future sight. It's a wonderful thing to be able to help people in their soul's growth.
It is my goal to open a healing clinic this year and work with my friend Beth who is a Chakra healer. I am going to approach my UU church about letting us use a room once a week. If that works out, I'll be able to start teaching healing again. What a joy that will be! I particularly enjoy teaching doctors, nurses, doulas, and midwives. It widens their ability in diagnosis and treatment.
Last Saturday I attended an Ostara Circle with a friend and met some wonderful people. Again, the energy in the circle, along with the love and the feeling of the Divine, made me high. I met a lovely Priest and High Priestess and was very comfortable with them. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. Great folks in the Circle too. New friends. Huzzah! It feels good to move out beyond the SCA for my friendships.
If you've never consciously tried energy sharing, I highly recommend it. Start with hugging. Not quickies, now; full body hugs. Get up close and really hold on. Let the other person know that you truly care and love being with them. It's the only wa
My eldest son was one of a 200 person team that originally formulated Homeland Security and set it up. 200 very gifted and security conscious folks did a good job. But then the states decided they would make some changes of their own.
Since 9/11, if you move to another state and try to get a driver's license you have to produce a copy of your birth certificate, every one of your marriage licenses, every one of your divorce decrees or death certificate of a spouse. CA has a two year waiting list for each individual document. Unfortunately, I have been married 4 times, two of them in CA. Also 37 years ago I started using the name Angel Winges, but it was never legalized in court. The state of FL likes to make things especially complicated and expensive. It is a Republican state after all so what can you expect? Not my favorite state of the Union.
I moved from WA to FL and went to apply for my driver's license and to register my vehicle, a 1992 vehicle. They informed me of all the paperwork I would need and that to register a vehicle in the state of FL for the first time would cost me $400!! I live on Social Security, so there was no way that I was going to be able to afford that amount. I had no ID that they would accept because everything is in the name of Angel Winges instead of my maiden name or prior married name. No tags and no new license. I had to stop driving. The only way to be able to drive again is to go to court and legally change my name. Rat fuzz and kitty whiskers.
I understand the need for security, but come on! This has reached the height of stupidity. I was born in this country and raised here. I've been using this name for 37 years. I'm Celtic so my skin is very white. There are no rules of recourse to help me and I am stuck. I could be 80 years old before I get all the paperwork that I need to get my license. My passport is expired, and though the US government still considers it a legal document <It has my birth name and current name on it>, the state of FL says it can't be used. I could just chew nails! There should be an appeal process a citizen can go through in situations like this, but there isn't. Grrrrr. I am not happy over this!
<Walks away kicking a can and muttering under my breathe>
I just got over a nine day bout of the flu. Ick, ick, ick! This one centered mostly in the lungs and sinuses - even more icky. I've coughed so much and so hard that my ribs ache. You could hear me wheezing from across the room. It takes a lot of energy to be sick.
When I was studying healing with Roselyn Bruyere in Pasadena, CA, I learned that 98% of diseases known to man have their origins in our past and subconscious. The only exception is viruses. Viruses are a God*dess given consciousness change. At the very least, you feel humbled by how miserable you feel. The flu is a virus. It gives you a chance to rest your body and take stock of your life. You sure don't feel like doing any more than that.
I don't enjoy the flu at all. I'd like to stuff the bugger into a rocket ship and ship it to the Milky Way! Now I'm over the contagious part; fever, aches, most of the sinus congestion, but I am left with this exhausting, hacking cough. At least it is beginning to break up some. I'll sure be glad when this part of it is finished.
Yesterday my new friend Trudy came over and got me and took me for a ride and treated me to a heavenly dinner of seafood gumbo, fried green tomatoes, and fried okra. You can tell I'm Southern. LOL It felt so good to be out in the fresh air and out of bed! Than
This past 8 weeks has been filled with losses within our family, and a wonderful new addition. My second husband, Roy Lee Beshears, a wonderful man with a good heart died in his sleep on the 15th of September. My daughter had been caring for him for the last 3 or 4 years and I know the loss was profound for her because they had been so close.
My eldest son and I were also hit hard. I had loved Roy deeply, but we had issues that we couldn't resolve. We had the misfortune of getting an unethical therapist when we went for help, and he just made it worse. We divorced, but we remained friends. He had adopted my two sons when we married, and we had had a beautiful daughter together. I felt his loss deeply, but I knew he was finally free of his suffering. His health had been really bad for years. My eldest had just gotten where he was healing his relationship with Roy, so it hit him hard too.
I think my children got faced with my chronological age when Roy died. I was older than him. My personality is very fae and sometimes child like, so I rarely seem my physical age. This made them realize that folks they know who are even younger than me are dying and they don't know how many years they now have with me. They actually have 34 more years. I am slated to live to 104. My family, both sides of it, are very long lived folk. I've taken good care of myself so I will live a long time.
On November 11th, Roy's mother, Verna, died. She too had suffered for a very long time. The two of them were always very close, so I was not surprised that she followed him closely. I know he was there to lead her into the Light.
Having died myself and having a vivid Near Death Experience, I don't see the physical loss of those I love like most folk do. I know that I can still communicate with them. They aren't "gone" to me.
My little sister died a year ago and I talk to her every week. Like me, Jackie loved flowers, so I planted her favorite flowers in window boxes on my front porch for her. I would tell her how they looked and even picked bouquets for her. When her house finally was remodeled, I told her all about it. My mama and daddy stop by on rare occasions and I update them on the family. They both passed early, but they are still there for us. Jackie and I had many conversations about the other side during the 9 months I stayed with her. It was a birthing process for both of us; one she was so interested in knowing more about.
Death is merely a transition from one frequency of light to a higher frequency of light. The energy can be scientifically measured with lasers. I had the great good fortune to have a lively conversation with a scientist at MIT years ago, who was using this method. I explained what corrections he needed to make for it to work. I never knew if he used my advice, though he seemed to think it would work.
Don't let loss overwhelm you. It isn't healthy for you or for the person or animal who has passed. It keeps them tied to the earth plane and doesn't allow them to continue on to higher planes. Definitely mourn them. We need that. Let them go and bless them too. Give them permission to go on and learn more on a different plane. Prayers reach them. They hear you when you speak to them. It is very reassuring to me. If you would like to know what it is like on the other side of life, contact the IANDS Society. Those of us who have gone and returned can tell you of our experiences.
On October 30, 2011 I was finally elevated to the title of Lady by King Kenneth and Queen Sabine of the Kingdom of Meridies. I expected to be passed over again, and almost was, but at the last moment was called before the court. When King Kenneth took my circlet to put it on my head, it was so huge it went over my head and fell down over my bosom. We all laughed, he winked at me, and said, "That can be fixed." Then he lifted me up and kissed my hand, something he had not done with anyone else. I was very moved and in shock.
Obtaining an award in the SCA takes a lot of hard work and volunteer time. People have to notice you, see that you are taking on responsibility, and then write to the King and Queen about you and request that you be given an award. It doesn't just happen as a matter of course. You have to earn awards.
When I first came into the SCA, I came into a Household immediately. My household was a loving group of families, but it was not a household that taught classes or gave awards. I thought that was just the way it was in the SCA. I didn't know any better until I moved to Austin, TX and the folks there were horrified that I had been an active member for 5 years and still hadn't been given my Award of Arms. They were also dumbfounded that I knew so little about the SCA and had no idea how to really make anything; no Arts and Sciences training. I was mortified.
Then I moved to the Emerald Coast of Florida and settled into the Shire of Arenal. The folks there welcomed me immediately and made me feel right at home. They started teaching me how to do things I might enjoy right away. When they learned how small my income is, they began making and donating things to me like a medieval chair, 3 chests for my sewing and weaving, an Inkle loom, a Chinese braiding table, and cushions for my chair. They have been wonderful to me and helped me enjoy my experience so much more.
I have leaned more in the past two years than I had in the seven years in the SCA prior to this! It has been so much fun. I have also been to my first week long War, Gulf Wars XX, where I got to learn even more from people all over the country. There were over 3000 people at Gulf Wars when I went. That's a lot of folks all decked out in Medieval garb and armor, teaching and fighting battles. At night we would sit around the campfire with our pavillions around us, drink coffee or mead and tell great stories of heroic deeds. I loved it!
It took me two years to finally obtain my AOA, but then it was the first time I had been shown what I needed to do and how to do it. I worked hard those two years and was very gratified when I received my award. I knew I had truly earned it. Huzzah!!
I was born Sandie Bickham and changed my name about 37 years ago to Angel Winges. One of my fondest memories was living in Opp, AL and beginning school there. Miss Ara Talley was my first and second grade teacher and I thought she walked on water. She was so kind and patient with all of us. Even at age six it was so evident that she loved teaching and she helped me love learning.
Opp was a very small town back in the 40's. It was right out of Mayberry, USA. I loved that town with all my heart, and the people in it to. I discovered the library in Opp; a magical, mystical place of stored dreams, fantasies, truths, and illuminations of the mind. Reading has been my passion all of my life because of Ara Talley and the Opp Library. If I were wealthy, I would build a new library for Opp out of gratitude for the years of learning and joy they started me on. Thank you Opp, Alabama!! You will always be my favorite place in the US.
My best friend's name was Brenda Jeffcoat. She was the sweetest, funniest friend I ever had. I used to wake up looking forward to seeing her and sharing with her every day. We moved to Florida when I reached the third grade and I lost touch with Brenda. That was 61 years ago and I still miss that woman and wonder what her life has been like. If you happen to know her or know of her, please tell her that I have carried her friendship in my heart all of my life. She touched me that deeply and left an eternal impression on my soul. So did Opp.
And now I live only about 2 hours south of there. I don't have a car at the moment, but I will have one next year. I plan to make a trip to Opp and revisit the school. I don't expect anything to be the same except my memories, but that's okay. The heart of Opp is still there; it's heart is still in tune with mine no matter how much it has changed. Some things are eternal. I wish everyone could have an Opp and a Brenda in their lives. I am so blessed that I did.
Relationships run the whole range of feelings. Family relationships can be so joy filled, and at times a mine field you have to tiptoe through. We tend to see ourselves in each other, both the things we like about ourselves, and the things we dislike about ourselves.
Being a parent can be especially difficult. It might help if every hospital gave you a handbook with the baby entitled "How to be a Good Parent and Avoid Every Mistake You Ever Made". They don't though, so we bumble through life doing the best we can do, hoping we're doing it right, and sometimes even getting it right. Actually, more often than not.
At this stage of my life, it is a joy to have my children, who have their own children, and even their own grandchildren, start to understand what I have been sharing with them and seeing the sense in it. It's especially fulfilling to have them come back to me and tell me that they realize now that even though their lives were not easy, they wouldn't be the people they are today without my examples. Knocks my socks off!
I am so very proud of all three of them. They have all grown into very unique and wonderful people. They are great parents, loving, compassionate, astute, insightful, and a credit to their communities. They constantly amaze me with the insights they have into themselves and the choices that they make. Am I proud? Nahhhh, not a bit. <huge smile> Thank you, you three, for choosing me as your parent. I love you deeply and feel honored to be your mom.
Oh joy. I woke up with a pinched nerve in my neck and one in my mid-back. The goddesses sends challenges to teach us with in unusual ways. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know I'm being "stiff necked" about something and I know exactly what it is. Our bodies always let us know where we need to work on ourselves. I can't get away with a dang thing. LOL
Decided since I couldn't move well I would try to do more on my site. I'll get the hang of this soon. I am thoroughly enjoying the creative process and the help a friend is giving me. Sooz is a new friend of mine; someone who dazzles me with her humor, her unique perspective of life, and her deep awareness's. She has kindly allowed me to copy pics from her website to use on my own, and I am very grateful. Sooz lives in Cornwall, UK and the scenery there takes my breath away. My daddy's family originated from Wales and the area around Bath, so Cornwall is sort of "right around the corner" from there.
The last two weeks have been amazing for me. I have gone through some very profound conversations with my eldest son that moved me deeply. He is reassessing his life right now and looking at what he needs to work on within himself. He has a very deep sense of self and awareness of what makes him tick. He is fearless in facing himself and that is so exciting to see. So many people are afraid of being honest with themselves about themselves. Not this man. Wow.
My daughter's eldest son was married on the 7th to a beautiful woman. He is the second of my seven grandsons to marry. I am so happy for him and his wife. They are both very special to me and I can see the two of them making a lovely life together and not being afraid of the work it takes for a healthy marriage.
I am helping a friend of mine who has to drive her daughter to California finish a Viking Apron dress for her niece, and make a T-tunic for her nephew so they can attend Gatalop the end of this month. Gatalop is held in a Civil War fort on the Gulf of Mexico and is wonderful fun. I will be attending for the first time this year and I am very excited about it. There will be battles, competitions, classes, walks on the beach, good food, great company, and lots of fun.
Well, off to put more of the wonderful healing oil on my neck and back so the pain will wind down. More soon.
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My name is Angel Winges. I don't blog often, but I am trying to be better about putting down my thoughts so my children and grand children know what is happening in my life. You might enjoy some of what I say. I'm 73 years young and still dancing the tango! I'm very creative and and very Fae.