Monthly Archives:May 2013

The news trickled in over the various feeds – local television news – local radio – and the all too familiar local gossip. Two people were found dead. Because of a recent divorce – because it is a murder suicide – the suspicions are that this is domestic violence related.

To anyone looking in they would appear to have been a happy couple, set to retire, loving and kind to each other. You would think that if you had not been the object of his wrath yourself. Inside you cheered when you heard she had divorced him. Inside you gave her a high five for finding the inner strength to move on and learn to live on her own after so many years.

Inside you winced when you heard the news of her death. The wounded child inside you sobbed for all the years wasted – the years ahead for their children and grandchildren who would miss them so terribly.

It would appear that I am grieving. Yes, those appearances are correct. But I am also MAD! I have called him names because of this. I have stooped low in doing so. And then the words of a psalm come to mind – the words of a hymn – the words of the Word – come to my mind and my heart calms.

It is not for me to judge. It is not for me to seek vengeance. It is enough that I can pray.

It would appear I can find peace.
——————————————–
the trifecta challenge is to write using the third definition of:
APPEAR
1a : to be or come in sight b : to show up
2: to come formally before an authoritative body
3: to have an outward aspect : seem
——————————————–
The above? A true story. Sadly too true. Happened last night. The family is devastated. Your prayers are encouraged.




Have you ever had one of those days? You know – you get up with a plan and then the plan becomes even better in the doing of it? Yup? Hubbymoose and I had the same type day today.

We had originally thought to go to Homer Sunday and spend the night. For a couple of different reasons that did not work out. Plan number 2: sleep in a bit Monday, have breakfast and then drive to Homer for a day trip. Yay! We love day trips.

While waiting for our breakfast to arrive we heard the women in the booth behind me chatting about their plans for the day. We knew they were not from hereabouts when local names were mispronounced many times. I smiled at hubbymoose and turned to ask if we could help them find something.

Turns out they were also planning a trip to Homer and having trouble figuring out the directions and the stops they wanted to make. We chatted a bit and gave them some ideas. During the convo I told them we were also headed to Homer. They asked about hotels there and wondered if they’d be able to find a room, with a backup plan of driving back to Kenai to spend another night here. I loaned them my phone (theirs don’t work in AK – Verizon and Sprint – sigh) and they found a place to stay in Homer.

I turned back the hubby and said – shall we offer to guide them? He laughed and said “I was wondering when you would suggest it.”

We introduced ourselves around made the offer and they accepted. After they checked out of the hotel we gathered in the parking lot to discuss where to stop first, where I’d be turning, etc. We set off with them following – stopped at the Kenai City Dock area to see if they could see any birds – or, lacking that, at least the mountains. Sadly no birds – AND – the mountains were covered in misty clouds.

Onward!

As we headed down Bridge Access Rd. I quickly pulled over so they could take pictures of a small flock of sand hill cranes. Further down K-Beach Rd. was a moose near the highway so more pictures were taken.

This was how our day went, with stops along the way for scenic pictures and points of interest, including a stop for coffee in Ninilchik at the Daily Buzz. We chatted with locals all along the way and generally had a great time.

There, of course, was the requisite stop in Anchor Point at the farthest westerly point on a paved highway in the US. Here’s a picture of Rose, Dotty and Marlene.



Rose and Marlene are cousins. Marlene lives in Michigan. Rose and Dotty live near Tampa.

Our first stop upon reaching Homer was the Heritage Hotel which, by the way, is storied to be haunted. Sadly the clerk could not tell us the story . . . but did show the stairwell involved and the room.

We had lunch together at Fat Olives and had some great conversation. We made sure they had maps and a guide book and some suggestions on things to do, then parted company.

Hubbymoose and I stopped at Two Sisters Bakery, then went down to the Homer Spit and walked among the different shops along the boardwalk, then walking on the beach at the end of the road. We had a great time laughing and talking and getting wind and sun burnt before heading back to Kenai.

It’s a beautiful thing when people are in the right place at the right time and willing to take a chance on trusting each other. Thanks, ladies. And, thanks, hubbymoose. I had a most wonderful, excellent day.

we-make-money-not-art / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Bless me, father. YOU have sinned.

My child, begin again. “I” have sinned.

That’s what I said, father. YOU have sinned.

“I”, child. “I” have sinned.

Indeed, father. And now, you’re under arrest.

———————————————–
Answering the weekend trifecta challenge: confession. Do go over and check out the new Featured trifectan.
🙂

Twenty-one years old!
He was such a cute baby
Blonde haired,
Blue eyed chub
Called me Mom
Called his Mom – well, Mom
Couldn’t tell us apart
Voices alike
She had the sustenance
I shared the nurture
Her baby boy
My grandboy
Twenty-one years ago

Now a man
By age and by law
Still my cute baby boy
Blonde haired
Blue eyed chub
Wisp of whiskers
Crooked grin
Towering over me
Calls me hobbit
Looks up to me

still

Unafraid to hug
and kiss me
Love me
in front of God
and everybody
firstborn grandboy
my one and only
Sean Patrick


Sean at 14 – on our trip to DC with his 8th grade history class. This was taken at “Awakening” near the Patomac River.
————————–
So hard to believe my grandkiddos are getting so old and I am not . . . oh, all right, I’m getting older too. This week, VV challenged us to write 100 words on AGE. These are mine. Your turn.

you are on my last nerve
about to topple off
your high horse
and loop da loop
like a whirlwind
a duster of sorts
bad romance
let’s start over
Hi, my name is . . .
—————————
those prompt trifecta editors gave us a doozy for the weekend challenge: they gave us a list of words (topple, paradigm, underneath, nerve, honey, loop) from which to pick three; we were then to add 30 of our own to make the weekend 33. The above are mine . . . now it’s your turn.