Light the Night

Yesterday was a busy, wonderful day. First, I headed to Mocksville for my friend Meredith's baby shower. I say friend, but Meredith and her family are more like family to me. I grew up with all of them, her sisters and brother and mom and dad. It is hard to believe Meredith is going to be a mom! Time flies! She is going to be such a great, fun mom. She was hilarious yesterday, as always, and the shower was so much fun--and it was great to see everyone I love.
Then, last night I went to the Light the Night walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As many of you may know, my friend Kim has a son Jake who was diagnosed with Leukemia when he was three. He was diagnosed just as her youngest, Nathan, was born. Nathan turned out to be a perfect bone marrow match, and Jake is now a happy, healthy six year old thanks to a successful bone marrow transplant.
A group from Computer Associates in Charlotte, who had never met Jake or Kim, had been walking in Jake's honor at this Light the Night walk every year since his diagnosis. This year was the first year Jake came and got to meet the team. I went with Kim and all her kids to support them. It was a fun night, and no doubt had all of us thinking how lucky we all are for little Nathan, for our health, and for great friends and good people. It was just a beautiful night all the way around.
Kim >^..^<

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Cat Tales

Thought I would show off my little furry babies today, especially the SO cute, SO photogenic Baxter. He is such a character...his personality is as adorable as he is. He and Lilly are pretty much pals now, she even bathes him! He and Lucy, not so much. Lucy's favorite thing to do is BAP! him on the head whenever possible. But, as always, he could care less, he is the happiest little guy.
All three of them are endlessly entertaining. They seem to like our new place, and racing me (and each other) down the staircase is really fun for them evidently. Lilly likes to bring balls to the top of my 17 stairs and then drop them down and chase them. With carpeting, you wouldn't think this would be noisy. But, at 3 o'clock in the morning (prime-stair-ball-game-time evidently) it is quite loud.
I just returned from another trip-(Denver) and I am officially tired of traveling! But, I think there is more to come, with things hopefully settling down a little at the end of this month or at least by mid-October. But things are good, and I can't complain.
I am off to enjoy a beautiful day here in Huntersville!
Kim >^..^<

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Memories, poetry, and unpacking

I am still busy unpacking, and I have accomplished more today than any other time since I have moved. Moving is a funny thing, at least for me, as I unpack boxes, I find unexpected memories sometimes. The whole process takes forever because I get caught up in old journals, or keepsake boxes that I haven't looked through in years.

This time is especially like this because I am going through some boxes that never made it to the "unpacked" stage through the last 2 moves. There were some hard moments to read in my journals...but the person I was in 2004 and 2005 seems so distant to me now. I can't even say I am back to my old self..recently, this has seemed to be a new me-- a new start somehow. As I read those journals, I was ever more grateful than I can begin to write for who and HOW I am today.
I came across a book from one of my old English classes in college. I remember this moment so well. The moment I discovered what is my favorite of all poems, a poem I can write and recite from memory. The class was an evening class and we were shuffling through pages to find another poem and I happened upon this one in class and read it. I was lost in it, and completely forgot the class around me. Of course, I got called on for a question-- this particular professor loved to catch us daydreaming-- but I simply exlained what had happened, and the professor (surprisingly) had us all turn to that poem and asked me to read it. She seemed moved that I was so moved. Here it is:

When You Are Old

by William Butler Yeats

WHEN you are old and gray and full of sleep

And nodding by the fire, take down this book,

And slowly read, and dream of the soft look

Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true;

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

And bending down beside the glowing bars,

Murmur, a little sadly, how love fled

And paced upon the mountains overhead,

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

~~~~~

I love that poem more each time I read it. But more importantly, at that time in college, reading that poem inspired me to start writing again--and to read more and more poetry and literature, and to start collecting my favorite poems. I started writing poetry in the 1st grade (!) and I have all of my poems and other writings since then, and I got off track today going through it all. But isn't it wonderful when one piece of work, just a few lines, can inspire and conjure up memories like that?

OK, back to unpacking. >^..^<

PS. Visit a cool site-- The Favorite Poem Project, and click on VIDEOS to see Americans of all ages reading their favorite poems--it is great!

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On the Waterfront

So much traveling lately! I just got back from Plymouth, MA, which is the most lovely area. I fell in love with the place from the minute I got there. The weather was in the 70's and we were right on the water. I was in town for an event we have been planning since I started my job in February.

Things started off a little rough. I had a bad migraine from the moment I landed on Sunday and ended up in the ER there for most of the night. UGGHH. They actually had to give me a morphine drip! I am still battling the same headache today and the doctor gave me some way cool pain meds and muscle relaxers, so this may not be the best time to be posting to a public blog! Oh, well.

Anyway, the event went well, we had a lobster bake, and the setting there was too beautiful. I would love to go back there when I could really relax and enjoy the area. The people there were also so friendly. I love the accent, too!

I have included some pictures from the lobster bake, and also a cute one of my friend's son who came to visit and play with Baxter the day before I left for Plymouth. Baxter was in heaven and took the longest nap ever after their playtime! I love this picture!

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