Above it All

One afternoon last week we were down near the river and spotted an eagle's nest in a tree on the cliff. Little eaglet heads were peeking out from the nest and we couldn't resist the urge to stop and spy on them through binoculars. I had my camera with me and attempted to get a photo...alas, my telephoto lens has serious limitations (really need a stronger camera). The area around the lake and river are known nesting areas for our national bird, and we host an "eagle awareness" event each year in January. These magnificent birds of prey are fascinating. The population seems to be increasing in the area and we celebrate the fact. As we watched, a parent flew to the nest and brought nourishment to the young ones, then spread those huge wings and took flight. What a sight! If only I could have captured it on film...it is beautifully etched in my memory for the moment. Photos allow the memory to purge any time, yet return to the forefront on command.

Loss

A call last night brought the dreaded news I had expected for several years. My cousin, Pat died quickly yesterday. Her struggle to live had been long and painful and nothing any of us would have wanted for her. She was a beautiful young girl nine years my senior and oh so cool in my childhood memories. When I was in elementary school, she was loving all the in-crowd activities of high school. She wore poodle skirts, danced the bop and went boat riding on the lake with her friends and no parents. She transitioned into a glamorous young mother with the cutest, sweetest little girl. They would drive up in the little white corvair with Ka-Ka (daughter Karen) exiting in her little red coat and cap, and again I was so proud to claim a familial relationship. We never lived in the same city again after those few years, but occasional visits and phone calls allowed the connection to continue. Our parents were siblings and each died much too young. In later years we would remember them and laugh about their quirks. She was my link to that bit of nostalgia. Now that link has passed on and I will miss her so.

Pig Dreams

I slept well last night. Dreams were very vivid. The lead character in my dream was in a storybook I was reading to some unknown children (wonder if the "unknown" is significant"). He was a crusty looking warthog wearing little round reading glasses. Can't really remember much more detail from the dream...they are elusive like that. No doubt though about the inspiration for my character. A day or two ago a neighbor and I were discussing one of the trophies in her husband's "Africa Room". He's a studious looking warthog (the trophy, not the husband) and I asked her if he had a name, to which she replied "No, but he probably should...I name everything else". Must've bothered me that the poor fellow didn't have a name because all that was particularly clear in my dream was Sir Wugsly Warthog as a daringly studious pig in the midst of other creatures without a care for knowledge. Miss Piggy, I am certain would be impressed with his clear insight into the pigish condition. I really must go find out if my neighbor has named her pig on the wall yet.

Age Defying

A good friend only slightly younger but much more agile than me had the nerve to forward a video today. I love to watch the YouTube videos. Often they provide thought provoking information, and some are clever performances by pets. Today's offering made my jaw drop and my hips hurt. An 87 year old woman Salsa dancing, and I don't mean a few little steps. I watched as she spun and shook around the dance floor in full rhythm and spunky speed to the Latin rhythms. The performance was just over 4 minutes, longer than I can walk in place, let alone spin and swirl and click my high heels. I would need CPR. Despite the fact that I have bought new walking shoes and secumbed to the four legged critter's demands for multiple outings, I was totally mortified by the woman claiming to be older than my own dear Mammy acting perkier than I have felt in twenty years. Friend titled the missive "Me in a few years-haha". Does that mean she was kidding...or being facetious? I prefer to think she was laughing with delightful anticipation of her advancing years...You Go Girl!

New Shoes

Anticipation has been building for weeks around here. A new shoe store has had it's shingle out along with big banners in the window promising to "Open Soon" for several weeks. Yesterday's paper included a coupon and partial list of special prices along with a "Now Open" banner on the page. At breakfast yesterday I managed to one up the sis-in-law with news she didn't have yet. Uptown Shoe Store is open for business. Her surprise was only trumped by my delight in giving her news as yet unknown to her. We have a bit of that friendly competition in our family here on the mountain. It's always best to know the latest first. Brother and Ol' Abner were both unimpressed with the news, but what do they know with that limited male perspective.

Today, Sis-in-Law called to see if I wanted to ride over to the big town for a little shoe shopping. Actually, it was more a matter of "how soon 'til you can be ready??. We left old Abner adding to the back deck and Brother camped in front of the TV. Now as a girl true to Dogpatch, my Daisy Mae size feet aren't so easy to fit. I always need the largest size in the ladies department and sometimes larger than anything in the ladies department. It is often a source of great irritation when shopping for athletic shoes and the sales person suggests I buy a MAN's shoe. Beyond me why anyone would think my feet would even want to walk like a man. I may be tall, but I'm just not equipped like the male species and my feet don't walk the same. If you can't understand that...there's no point trying to explain. Uptown shoe store is known for it's wide selection of hard to find sizes and my mission was successful. Almost every shoe I liked was available in my size. Oh decisions, decisions...! I cleaned out my closet and bagged eleven pair of barely worn shoes last week. Old Abner saw no reason to replace them, thus exhibiting his manly lack of knowledge regarding shoes. I returned home with fantastic tales of sandals, slides, loafers, peep toe pumps, casual flats, strappy wedges and dancing shoes. There were flip-flops, vans, jumping shoes, running shoes and walking shoes of every color and style...oh let my feet sing!! He was unimpressed with my details and rather relieved that only two pair made their way home with me. I will have to make another trip soon, the manager told me additional stock arriving next week will double the selection currently on display. Better clean out some more old shoes.