My beloved mother passed away at home on Sunday morning. She was having a mid-morning nap and just slipped away. We will miss her so much. I am very sad, but glad that she is at peace.
You all have always been so lovely in your comments - thank you for your prayers during the last few days. I will be away from blogging this week, but will see you all next week.
- This is the view from my mother's hospital room in Thomasville, Georgia. There is a lovely little courtyard shaded by that Live Oak tree. I stand and look out at this serene view and have never seen one person down there. Looks like a good place to read to me.
- The young man who transports patients to physical therapy was a local football hero and knows that the high school in my suburb of Atlanta, Tucker, Georgia, won the state high school championship in 2008 and 2011. His team played them. I tell him I remember the banner going across main street last year. He smiles as if he loved that time in his life.
- I love people's stories. A student nurse is pregnant. I ask if this is her first. No, her sixth! She'll have three boys and three girls with this one and then will be done. She's one of seventeen children herself and always wanted a big family.
Mom is back home at the assisted living facility, as of Thursday afternoon. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
- It being Groundhog Day tomorrow, it seems like a good time for Phil's (Bill Murray) Piano Solo from the 1993 film, "Groundhog Day." I love how he riffs into Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" at the sight of Andie McDowell's character Rita.
- Back when the film came out, my mother and sister decided to go to a movie one day and not knowing anything about it, chose that one. And they hated it. I walked into the room at the tail end of a conversation in which they were telling my dad and brother-in-law about the film. I announced, "I LOVED that movie!" Mom and sis looked at each other and burst out laughing and shook their heads. I stand by my original impression of the film and love how Phil took the opportunity to improve his life by learning to play piano, ice sculpt and speak French.
- It was raining last Groundhog Day. How do I know? I looked at last year's post for February 2. But after a couple of really rainy days in Atlanta, we are supposed to be cold today, but sunny. I wonder if that groundhog named Phil will see his shadow?
I'm out of town - mom's in the hospital again. (She will be OK.) So appropriately enough for Groundhog Day tomorrow - this was last year's post. And the third thing refers to 2010. Cheers and here's hoping for an early Spring!
- Taking a sunset walk at Stone Mountain park on Saturday; a brisk and sunny day. I peeled myself off the couch and went at the 11th hour (so to speak.) The sun was setting just as I was five minutes away from my car.
- A man pushes a woman in a wheelchair on the pedestrian part of the street at the park, a feat in itself, since the last stretch is all uphill.
- Stopping by the grocery store after and running into five people I know. That's why I like living in the suburbs.
- My friend Robert drives a school bus part time and one of the children, Lorenzo, likes to give him his artwork. This one was hanging on his refrigerator last weekend. I was delighted and saddened at the same time. Lorenzo apparently comes from a very large family and it makes me think that he might not be getting much attention at home. I tell Robert that he was put there for a reason and he is making a difference in this child's life.
- Another friend finds a friendly, untagged and unchipped dog roaming around her house; all attempts to find its owner were fruitless. She asks her friend the veterinarian what she should do with it. "Name it."
- Astounded that Easter candy is already available, I nevertheless snag a Cadbury's Creme Egg and savor it as a late night snack after a rainy trip to book club. I always smile at the yellow "yolk" in the center. And it was good.
I hope you find many good things around you this weekend, my friends. Have a great one!
- Having a 45 minute walk at my favorite park (Tanyard Creek Park on Collier) at lunchtime yesterday. I changed from my suit jacket to a hoodie, cranked up the iPod and enjoyed a midday stroll. The bonus was the extra energy I had all afternoon.
- The rumble of a train overhead on the trestle and watching the end of it before it disappears.
- My coworker is wearing a t-shirt that depicts a fishing tournament and he is surprised to learn that I used to fish with my dad sometimes. Dad said I wasn't a true fisherwoman since I wouldn't touch the fish or the bait, but oh my, the thrill of catching a fish can't be beat. And most of all I loved sitting by the lake on an early Saturday morning idly chatting with dad or just sitting in companionable silence.
- If this fern could talk, it would say, "I love me some outside!" It was a rainy warmish weekend in Atlanta. The fern comes in and out, but stays outdoors on the back porch if the temps are above about 40 degrees f. It sits on a stool that came from my great aunt's home right now, but in the summer it hangs by my front door.
- Making Spicy Mexican Slaw with Lime and Cilantro for game night with friends on Saturday. Click here for the recipe. It was a hit and went well with the potluck dinner we always have. My favorite thing: red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing for dessert. Yum.
- From the ridiculous to the sublime: watching two movies on dvd this weekend I've heard a lot about, but just somehow hadn't seen before - Bridesmaids and The King's Speech. I definitely recommend The King's Speech. :)
I love looking for goodness, beauty, quirkiness and the unexpected in life and record three beautiful things of the day. The idea of "Three Beautiful Things" came from Clare Grant in Tunbridge Wells, UK. Her Three Beautiful Things is linked above.
