Fuck Cancer

 I have a blanket that says Fuck Cancer. Technically it was Dwight's but I can't agree more with those words. I heard another good man is fighting a battle just like Dwight did and I've been praying for him. Then the song "The Dance" came blaing on the radio. Ok I turned it up but the volume really didn't matter. The words hit me like a ton of bricks and I had to pull over for a little bit. Fuck Cancer and everything it does and all those it leaves behind.

My favorite time of day

 Lately my favorite time of day really doesn't have an exact time. It's when I'm sitting in my recliner with a hot cup of coffee and the sun peeks over the mountain.  The sunshine is behind the trees and they look almost golden. My lap is a warm bundle of doggies. That feeling when the first sip of coffee touches your soul and you feel like there's nothing you can't do.

My love

 February 14th.  The day to celebrate love. I knew I'd be in Little Rock today so I celebrated a little bit early. It was a warm beautiful day and I went to the cemetery.  I put roses on his grave and I sat down and talked to my husband. I talked for a long time and I sat on the ground absorbing the sun's rays and I let my heart say things that my mouth couldn't.   I left with a peace that doesn't come easy or often.  I'll always miss him.

Snow 2026

 We got our first snow this year with some bitter cold. Single digits without the wind chill factored in. The dogs, even the long haired ones, were not fans. Honey cried when her feet got too cold.

Coming home

 I don't care if I'm  coming home from the beach, Springfield, Little Rock, or some other location, once I get about thirty miles out my foot is a little bit heavier on the accelerator. Once I cross that Newton County line my breathing gets a little bit calmer and a peace settles over my heart. I know my subconscious is secretly hoping I'll walk in the door and I'll be wrapped in a bear hug like so many times before, but I'll walk in and find five wiggle butts. They'll all be at the door wagging their tails so hard it's almost impossible to imagine their backsides are attached to their front paws. Then they'll start jumping and whining and I'll have to bend down to give pats then the kisses start. All five at once. Lots of kisses and I'll have to smile. I don't know if the smile is for me or them, but it's a good reminder that home is where love is and it comes in so many forms.

Resolutions

 Do you make New Year's resolutions? I do and most of the time they change. I'd like to think it's because I'm changing definitely getting older and hopefully wiser. This year instead of just losing weight, the goal is to be healthier. Instead of being at the beach for one month, it's to be at the beach a minimum of 30 days-already claimed four. I want to learn something new every month and so far I've learned to unlock my phone screen, delete apps, and rearrange the apps on my screen.  I've down loaded the Circle K App so it would be in my best interest to learn how to use it. That should put me up to April or so but I think I'll keep trying.I  want to cook something new each month so I'll post it here to remind myself. I  went to Pensacola Beach for the first time so maybe I should visit 11 more new places too. Sounds doable. 

2025

 I can't believe this year is almost over. What an exciting year. I spent a month at the beach, not consecutive days but a month with my sisters, my son, and some dear friends. I revisited Colorado and made new memories there. I saw my youngest daughter become engaged and my grand daughter take her first steps. My youngest grandson can say granny now. I worked a balloon crew in Albuquerque at the Balloon Fiesta. I traveled by myself and took some pretty great road trips with my youngest daughter Lauren.  I took two great train rides.  I celebrated my sixtyth birthday and retired. My greatest accomplishment? Getting through the year. Learning how to live and have a life without my best friend.  Knowing when to let myself just cry and miss him and letting myself laugh and learn because he would want me to.  I made some of my dreams come true and next year is a whole new slate.