my one wish...

is to experiance one last beautiful autumn before i move back to my hometown in south florida

a note...

From Jackie Kennedy to Ted Kennedy after he gave Caroline away on her wedding day:

On you, the carefree youngest brother, fell a burden a hero would beg to be spared. Everyone is going to make it because you are always there with your love.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.

Edward Kennedy (1932-2009)

timing

Slip inside the eye of your mind
Don't you know you might find
A better place to play
You said that you'd never been
But all the things that you've seen
Will slowly fade away
So I start a revolution from my bed
'Cos you said the brains I had went to my head.
Step outside, summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
You ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
And so Sally can wait, she knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away, but don't look back in anger I heard you say
Take me to the place where you go
Where nobody knows if it's night or day
But please don't put your life in the hands
Of a Rock n Roll band
Who'll throw it all away
I'm gonna start a revolution from my bed
'Cos you said the brains I had went to my head
Step outside 'cos summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
'Cos you ain't ever gonna burn my heart out
So Sally can wait, she knows it's too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away, but don't look back in anger I heard you say
So Sally can wait, she knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away, but don't look back in anger I heard you say
So Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as she’s walking on by
My soul slides away
But don't look back in anger
Don't look back in anger
I heard you say
At least not today

~Oasis

There's a story that goes with these photos and the song. The roses were given to my mother toward the end of July by a favorite patron where Mom worked. I put them in this wee glass bowl and brought them outside to photograph for Mom. I liked the light outside, I thought it would bring out the color of the roses. As I was at one end of the deck taking the photos my Mom was at the other end watching and laughing. She often laughed when I took photos and at first it rather hurt my feelings but I think in retrospect she was just tickled to be able to watch me do something that I enjoy. Mom passed away suddenly on August 7. Gobsmacked is the word to use to describe what we all felt. I'm a lover of music, I think it's a little obvious if you look over my blog. I hadn't listened to any since Mom passed. I just wasn't in the mood. Yesterday I decided to turn on the TV and switch over to the "Alternative" channel on DMX. Lo and behold, Don't Look Back In Anger was the song that happened to be playing. Not only does that title apply but my mother's given name is Sally. I was taken aback. I got teary-eyed (I've yet to properly cry...but that day will come) and I croaked along at the top of my lungs as the band played on...

I'm not totally sure what compelled me to share all of this, but there you go.

missing coop...

He could've tuned in, tuned in
But he tuned out
A bad time, nothing could save him
Alone in a corridor, waiting, locked out
He got up outta there, ran for hundreds of miles
He made it to the ocean, had a smoke in a tree
The wind rose up, set him down on his knee
A wave came crashing like a fist to the jaw
Delivered him wings, 'Hey, look at me now'
Arms wide open with the sea as his floor
Oh, power, oh
He's.. flying.....whole
He floated back down 'cause he wanted to share
His key to the locks on the chains he saw everywhere
But first he was stripped and then he was stabbed
By faceless men, well, fuckers
He still stands
And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly
High.. flying
Oh, oh
High.. flying
Oh, oh
He's flying
Oh, oh

-Pearl Jam

my grandma, my hero

Coop and I have been cleaning out the attic when we found my Grandma's suitcase. Within it contains her first nurses uniform. My Grandma really is my hero. She married my Grandfather when she was in her teens and by the age of 40 had given birth to 10 children (My Mom being the oldest). My Grandfather died at a very young age and there were still 5 kids at home. My Grandma didn't graduate from high school but with her new situation things had to change. She took the pre-test for a GED and passed it with flying colors, she got her GED without having to take classes and take another test. Grandma went on to nursing school and became a nurse in her 40's. She retired in her 70's. My Mom had recently bumped into two nurses with whom my Grandma worked at a local nursing home. These ladies went on and on to Mom about how my Grandma was the best nurse they ever had and how hard working she was. My Grandma was older than many of the people she took care of and could rings around women more than half her age. My Grandma is now 87 and showing no signs of slowing down. She'll always be my greatest inspiration and no one will ever replace her as my hero.

(My telling of my Grandma's story really does her no justice--but it's a story that deserves to be told none-the-less).

Photos of some of my favorite little treasures in my Grandma's suitcase. By the way, I actually remember those shoes and always wanted to touch them. Today I was finally able to do it!

for mom

The long and winding road
that leads to your door
will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to your door
The wild and windy night
that the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
let me know the way
Many times I've been alone
and many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
the many ways I've tried
But still they lead me back
to the long winding road
You left me standing here
a long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
lead me to your door
But still they lead me back
to the long winding road
You left me standing here
a long long time ago
Don't keep me waiting here
lead me to your door
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

- The Beatles

more from the farmers market

I bought okra from this old coot.

just finished watching "this is elvis"...

The hopeless immortal's beginning to fade Wrestled down with anchors, impervious chains The ocean's electric reduced to a buzz The pills turn the popper, he probably would The standoff mechanic of cognisance, sighs Mulls brooding through the alleyway, a harbinger's night He pulled the remains, and teeth from the tree When he sat down in memphis, he bound it on a hill How to take it all in stride, win your soul and mind the light How to live around the storm, wind and pressures to befall Here's a question you might need to ask What's self destruction and how can we last?
Anchors

Stone Gossard

when what before my eyes should appear...

A short time ago I heard my dog , Remus Lupin, barking. I went to the front door and looked out of the window. A beautiful doe and her fawn were in the front yard. This isn't new but it's the first time I was quick enough to grab a camera. I started taking photos through the door's windows. I decided that if my crazy dog hasn't driven them off, then I stood a chance of actually taking a few shots from the front porch. The baby did run back into the wood but the mama seemed to be both enjoying Remus and was also being protective of her baby. I thought I'd better just take photo after photo and hope something turns out. She seemed to even stop and pose a few times. She stomped her hoof and wagged her tail...and still Remus barked and barked. I'm clearly not a professional photographer, forgive the blurs and perhaps you can somehow love the moment as much as I did.

tuesday is always my favorite day in summer...

because...

it's farmer's market day! here's a little glimpse of it