My Way

I've mentioned before I have a cousin that writes a column for her local paper.  It's always heartwarming and usually about what's going on in her and her family's life. I frequently post a note back to her.

Today she talked about her mom and how busy she always was, and how often times nobody knew where she was, but never worried about her. I got to thinking about that and realized I (for a long time) was much like her.  I would think nothing about hopping the local public transportation and going downtown to window shop, take in a movie or go into my favorite cheap jewelry stores and pick up a few bobbles, bangles and beads. I would encourage my friends to call me and give me 20 minutes to touch up my makeup and I'd be ready to go anywhere, anytime. They frequently did call and we would have some pretty grand adventures; over time we became a group known as the local La La Ladies and we had good times people...very good times.

Now, not so much...I always told my kids, go where you want to go, see what you want to see, do what you want to do and you will never look back on your life and have regrets.  I guess I must have taken my own advice because now I'm happy, content and love being a homebody, my front and back patios suit me just fine, thank you very much.  I've even started to tell folks I could easily become a recluse and I actually have to 'make myself' go places and do things.  And, seriously, I don't think that's a bad thing. I've realized I've gone where I've wanted to go, seen what I wanted to see and done what I have wanted to do. Are there still things on my Bucket List, yes, but do I really need to complete it...no?  Things are complicated now, sadly danger looms just about everywhere, travel isn't fun anymore.  Just thinking about going to an airport makes me want to hyperventilate.

So, as my adventuring life draws to a comfortable close I guess I have to say Frank Sinatra had the right idea when he sang....

"Regrets I've had a few
but then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
and saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course
each careful step along the byway
and more, much more than this
I did it my way."

I'm happy to say I must have lived my life...."my way".  Thanks, Frank.

Oh, hum.

Talk about the doldrums, man, I've been in one heck of a slump.  I can't blame it on Frankie or even Muse, they've been great.  All I can say is "I'm at a loss for words."  They simply aren't coming, I tried to take some time off and contemplate this whole thing, but that didn't work either.  Then I simply decided "Phooey", and stop writing my blog altogether.  And for a while that worked, for a long while that worked.  

Then this evening as I was scrolling down my bookmarks list I happened to stop on Ramblings of an Old Woman and decide to see what was new.  To my surprise and delight I found some folks must be accidentally finding it and at least dropping by out of (perhaps) curiosity.  And, I also notice the one blog that seems to pique the most interest seems to be the blog I wrote about my favorite children's story called Pinky Marie.  Each time I see that someone has looked it up and perhaps actually read it I am even more puzzled.  It makes me wonder what people must think the blog is about.  Mostly I think they suspect is it an adult only web-site, if you get my drift.

Well, one thing hasn't changed I still go off on tangents. Anyway, I decided I would write a quick note to let all of you who stop by that I am still alive and kicking.  

Here are a few things I can report.  I went on a vacation to California with my daughter and two grand-daughters to visit family, and to do lots of sightseeing.  It was wonderful but exhausting; nine days on the road for a Rambling Old Woman, only proved that somebody pushing (mumble, mumble, mumble) is not an easy thing to do.

My sister passed away in November from perhaps the most rapid bout with cancer imaginable that threw us all into a time of....this can't be possible....to this has to be a bad dream....to the realization that cancer is perhaps the most insidious thing that can happen to a person. Especially for a woman as healthy my sister had always been.

Then, I got a horrible bug myself, on Christmas day (of all times to become ill)  And was down for the count for one whole week doing nothing but lie on the sofa and wish I'd just die.  But I didn't and it took another two weeks until I began to feel about 90% of my normal self.  I was talking with a friend today that I hadn't seen for a while and she apparently had the same thing and she commented she had not been that ill for at least twenty years.  I had to agree.  It was awful.

Then today, was a wonderful day.  The temperature was in the 50's, the sun was shining brightly (not filtered through clouds), my crocuses are blooming and I had the doors wide open for hours.  Perhaps my doldrums are about to pass.  I wish I could guarantee I will write more often...but Frankie and Muse (although they are delighted I'm typing) are taking bets this is just a fluke and marking the calendar with various dates I MIGHT write again.

Any....way, I hope you all are doing well, and thanks for keeping in touch.  You've all been good and faithful friends, I do think of you often.  Really, I truly do.  

Bye for now.