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“Lucky the bride the sun shines on”, my aunts intoned as I married in the rain.

As our years reached 46 and counting I would smile and tell everyone, “he’s a lucky man,” knowing full well that I shared that “luck”.

“Your husband is lucky to have survived the cardiac arrest, we didn’t think he’d make it”, shared many surprised doctors.

As I age, even though I have a strong Irish bent, I think luck has far less to do with what happens in my world. I am blessed beyond belief by a gracious and loving God. I am thankful.

Written for the 100 Word Challenge – the word is LUCK.

They scurry and scamper
On feet so spry – so fleet
Into one ear
Bouncing around in my brain
Then
Slipping quickly into
The nether regions of
My mind
Then out again
Into the bigger
Nothingness

I grasp and try to
Bring them back
These ideas
These flitting pieces
Of wisdom
Of brilliance
And then

I awake
They are gone
And I am left bereft
Missing them
Those tiny thoughts
That could be so
BIG!

The bulb dims
The candle flickers
What once was gray
Matter
No longer matters
Is no longer within
Reach

Memo to self
Write the brilliance down!

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100 words – in nearly as many lines – for the current 100 Word challenge by Ms. Tara. Now, you go on over and write your 100, won’t you?

6 months ago I walked into the building, frightened and worried about the love of my life. He’d been flown by helicopter while I’d had to follow by driving 150+ miles. What followed was nearly a month of anxious moments interspersed with moments of joyful improvements.

It felt strange to walk back into that place today. But this was a thankful day. In my arms, a basket filled with goodies for the staff of the intensive care unit. I gave tearful hugs and answered questions about his current health. It was a much better day than that day in July.

100 Word Challenge

8 broken ribs and a crushed sternum (from compressions) meant a heart shaped pillow to cradle.

8 broken ribs and a crushed sternum (from compressions) meant a heart shaped pillow to cradle.

My husband suffered a massive cardiac arrest July 31st and was hospitalized 26 days, followed by 30 days in a rehabilitative care facility. That was followed by 12 weeks of cardiac rehab. Hubbymoose is currently settled in his chair next to me and doing well. We are thankful.

it is H.O.T! in Kenai. To those of you who live “outside” of Alaska heat is a relative matter. But here? 70 degrees is H.O.T!

Hubbymoose and I went for the first of the summer reindeer hot dogs this afternoon. All the windows were rolled down and we were letting the breeze blow through. Got our dogs and went to the bluff to see what we could see. Gorgeous day – blue skies, wispy clouds – boater helping another boater back to shore – looks like he was having engine trouble. Went back to the Saturday Market to get our dessert – ice cream from the truck – and back to another spot on the bluff where we had our own private air show.

And, you wonder why I love Alaska? There you have it in a nutshell.

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Hubbymoose is a talker – as you can see from two of these pictures. On our way out to our small adventure we stopped to talk with the two men who painted our house – made arrangements for one of our grandsons to mow the yard. The other is of him and Father Thomas at the bluff chatting about fish (of course).

A few weeks ago hubbymoose came home and found a man near our house who had sunk his truck (u-haul van) up to its hubs in soft mud. He offered to help. It took a few tries – hubby has an explorer – but eventually there was success. The man, who was down from Anchorage to work on a trailer, was grateful and offered to pay. Hubby shook his hand and said, that’s what neighbors do.

About a week later the man came down to our house to talk to hubby. “I see your house needs painted. I’m going to do that.” Hubby said we didn’t have the money to do that and the man shook his head. “I didn’t ask for money. I’m going to paint your house.”

And that was that.

We had about two weeks of drippy, rainy weather. We went about our normal work schedules and forgot about the offer.

A week ago Dexter showed up with a helper and began to scrape the house. They talked together and laughed – oh, how they laughed. That, in turn, caused hubby and me to laugh. We looked at each other and said, “at least they’re having fun.”

Two days ago they came back, armed with ladders, paint and equipment they would need. The taping began. More talk. More laughter. “Can we treat you to a pizza?” “No, Ms. Barbara. We fine. We fine.” The painting began. It met the neighbors approval. They came back yesterday and got the trim finished. We did treat them to Burger Bus and shared laughter around our table last night.

There is still a bit of finish work to be done. It will get done in due time.

We are humbled and blessed by these two men.

The sign on the side of their truck – GDEW. Hubbymoose asked the meaning . . . God Does Excellent Work.

Yes, yes he does. We are thankful.

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state of the house BEFORE Dexter showed up . . . last paint about 20 years ago.

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and, how it looks today. They even painted the bunkhouse behind the house!

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I spent this morning washing windows and curtains. Hubby asked me to make sure people know that you just never know people. You just never know how your kindness might be repaid. It is not why we do such things, but it is always a blessing when such things happen. I asked one of the men if they were believers. He said, “yes, Ms. Barbara.” I then told him how much he was blessing my husband’s heart by what they were doing.

Pass it on, folks. Pass it on.