From Your Heart to Mine

Valentines Day 2012 - still magical, still celebrated.  We have been married more than 34 years now, and there is still sunshine, sparkles and fireworks.  Our relationship has grown, matured, and consolidated over time.  We seem to have weathered the worst of challenges and still come through the other side with a positive attitude and a strengthened resolve.

This year my husband took an afternoon off work to go home and prepare a delicious dinner.  He went to the trouble of laying a very romantic table replete with red candles and red roses.  I could only come home and heave a great sigh of contentment.

 I am very thankful and grateful for what we have together.  Here's wishing that we have much more time together.  How lucky can one person be??

Love You Forever and Always.

Escapade to Buffalo

This is a late entry that should have been posted pre-Christmas.  But in line with my 'intentions' it's worth a few finger taps to keys.  The story is about our sojourn to Buffalo for a weekend with two goals in mind:  shopping for bargains with no HST attached; and a few days of living in a bubble.  I am happy to say that both goals were accomplished with ease.

Firstly, the outlet malls on the south side of the Niagara Falls are a veritable Aladdin's Cave of treasures.  We found clothing marked down 50% and then received another 10% at the till for shopping that day - everyone was happy with our choices of Eddie Bauer, Ann Taylor, etc.  I was particularly pleased with a Kate Spade find.  And was it just my imagination or wishful thinking?  We found retail staff to be smiling, happy, and eager to help wherever we went.  In the big stores like Fifth Ave and Macy's, to the little ones offering very specific goods - all staff were available, easy to find, and ready to help - which is not always the case in our home town in Canada.  There, Sears at the local Mall sometimes feels like navigating a labyrinth - you have to negotiate walking sideways down dark alleys of racks of clothing, and then rummage through the stacks to find a worthy item, where bargains are usually no bargains - certainly not in the 50 to 80% range we experienced in Buffalo.  No sales people to be found anywhere on the floor so don't expect any help there.  The fitting rooms require standing in line weighed down by your prospective purchases, and then the final quest to find the check out cashier - an exercise in patience as you stand in a long queue waiting your turn to pay.

Our second goal of rest and relaxation was easily met - no phone calls, no interruptions, no chores - just quietly   relaxing in a bubble of contentment - quiet room, lots of books, a couple of movies, good food in restaurants with much cheaper bills, and a lie-in Sunday morning - something we never seem to do at home.

Have to talk about the game we played in parking lots - counting the number of Canadian number plates in a row - 11 was the most we saw - so we were in good company!

Wonderful weekend and one we will repeat soon.  

New Year Intentions

2012 is upon us and as usual I have a myriad of resolutions flying around my head.  Research tells us that about 50% of us make New Year's resolutions, but 22% fail within one week and 60% after 6 months (R Koestner, McGill University).

So instead of resolutions this time round, I will contemplate ten intentions.  A measure of success will be if I can accomplish time goals at least 75% of the time:

1. To write: a monthly newsletter to friends and family and a weekly blog.
2. To phone home to mom every Sunday.
3. To be fit enough by October to run the CIBC Cure for Cancer 5km race in Burlington.

4. To eat more healthy: less sugar, smaller portions, and lose 20lbs before the wedding, whenever that is.
5. To listen to my Spanish tapes in the car twice a week and actually practice speaking to someone.
6. To finish the Blurb book in the summer.
7. To get back to posting actual photos in actual albums.
And 2 more of the less measurable kind:
8. To procrastinate less. 
9. To be more organized.
And 1 to always keep in mind:
10. To be more relaxed, more patient, and more generous to others; and on the other end - less anxious, less cynical, and less impulsive.

Let's see how it goes....

Reflections

Today I have a new vision:

The ocean will be the icon by which I will steer my course.

I will surf its waves, find its ports, ride out its storms.

And most of all, I will cherish its safe harbours.

I will float, peacefully and quietly,

on a sea of calm whenever it presents itself,

storing up energy for days when gales may blow,

or when waters are rough, turbid or unforgiving.

I will be unperturbed by dark and ominous clouds overhead,

for they too, must pass.

I will know that

Change is a constant.

I will remember, each day,

to be thankful for the beauty and vibrancy underneath its waters,

for the hues of colour spread around the world,

and for the life it brings.

I will find solace in tide pools

left to bathe in the sunshine of an outgoing tide,

reflecting a microcosm of the oceans portent.

I will be watchful of high tides, swift currents, and... jellyfish.

I will find happiness in a sibilant shell;

wet, white sand oozing around my toes;

the damp salt spray dancing on a fresh wind,

and the brilliance of a sunset shimmering across the wide horizon.

I am a tiny emblem in the vastness and depths beyond myself.

I am a moment in time

and

I choose to ride on the crests of waves.

ABC's of New Year's Strategi es to Live By

A is for Attitude - keep it positive, Adapt and Accept.
B is for Bold and Brave - take risks, make mistakes.
C is for Children - yours and mine - give them a better world.
D - Dance as if no-one is watching.
E - Efficiency and organization in all you do
F - Friendships to be nurtured and maintained.
G - Go as far as you are able, reach as high as you can, strive for all you can.
H - Help out wherever and whenever possible.
I - Invest your time wisely.  Gain Insight.
J - Jump for Joy at least once a day.
K - Kindness to others - try every day.
L - Learn - to speak fluent French and Spanish or something new: Tai Chi, Cello or maybe Line Dancing.
M - Motivate yourself and others.
N - Now is the moment - live it well.
O - Observe and Listen.
P - Patience and Persistence.
Q - Quality in work and relationships counts.
R - Relax and go with the flow.  Be flexible.
S - Save money and budget.
T - Travel on new adventures.
U - Utilize all your talents.
V - Validate and verify - don't jump to conclusions.
W - Worry less.  Weigh your words wisely.
X - eXercise! Enough said.
Y - You are the author of your life story - choose your path carefully.
Z - zest for life - keep it up!

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A New and Exciting Pathway

The last day of 2011 brought with it winds of change.
Tiffany and Andrew are engaged to be married and we are all very happy for them.
Congratulations to you both.

It will be exciting to follow them on their journey over the next few months.  All those decisions to be made: date, venue, dress, location.  We have hours of fun and discussion to look forward to, and much to accomplish in the coming months.

Merry Christmas to All

To family and friends around the world:

2011 is just a few days from ending and once again we have had a whirlwind year.  It seems I always use the analogy of a rollercoaster - perhaps a better one would be that we seem to be perpetual visitors at Canada's Wonderland or Disneyland USA - rollercoasters, drop zones, and ferris wheels are perennial favorites featuring the joys, fun and laughter on the upswings and stress-inducing, stomach flopping, eye-popping downturns from dizzy heights.

The upswings have included the joys of making it into the ranks of the permanently employed at the School Board, making new friends along the way, and learning more than I thought I ever could at my age.  Patrick slogged his way through another year and is one year closer to retirement - not too many to go now.

We survived a renovation and love living with the results. The house has been updated and modernized with new light fixtures, hardwood floors and a new stairway.  The bathrooms and kitchen have granite counters and all the rooms look fresh with a new coat of paint.  The only thing left on the wish list is a new front door.  Cleaning is a breeze and storage has been vamped up so that we even look more organized. 

A memorable holiday in Peru during the summer was spectacular - Machu Picchu was on the bucket list for quite awhile, but will now make way for a new adventure....yet to be decided.  Our choices are Australia or Annapurna or somewhere in Europe, but whatever the destination, it will have to wait for 2013 or 2014.  Next year will have us zooming off to the homeland in August en famille – all five of us which will make it a very exciting trip – we will most likely head for the Natal Zululand coast – hoping to spend time with as many of the family as we can and maybe taking in the sights like Oribi Gorge, and Aliwal Shoals.

Our girls are well and happy - Andrew and Tiffany bought their first home and have settled right in.  The fence is up, the painting is done and it looks lovely.  It suits the animals as well – now Wes (the very large German Shepherd) has plenty space to play.  Courtney made her first successful moves in life after years of school.  We are looking forward to hearing more of her exploits. 

To all of you, we wish a wonderful Christmas and may 2012 bring health, happiness and fulfill some dreams as well. 

Hoping to catch a glimpse of all of you along the way.

All our love