MaryAlice Musings and More

I am not always deeply nostalgic on Sasha's birthday.  In the early years there was lots of planning.  Sorting out how to have the party that Sasha most wanted to have.  Baking the cake, inviting the kids and buying Champagne....I think the champagne started on the 2nd or 3rd birthday.  During those times and for many years Sasha's birthday was a much bigger birthday than my own.   From the very first moment that I saw Sasha and held her in my arms I was so in awe that she was her own person.  Of course she was my baby, but she was so much more, she was this bigger than life tiny little new baby who was in this world.  Her own self no longer within me.   What an amazing gift.  Today Sasha is 45.  It is Saturday and she was born on Saturday.  5:15 pm.  Spent a little over 8 hours at the hospital.  First "Lamaze" baby to be born at Vernon Memorial Hospital.   I had a good time this morning looking through a small box of photo's that I could easi

Best laid plans.... I had made a really good list this morning.  I am in the "things have to get done" mode.  I do not like to wait until the last moment.   Today I woke up feeling better than I have for the past week.  No coughing, no headache, more energy.   There just seemed like whenever I started something today,  another something happened.  It was all good.  I got phone calls this morning.  I remain happily surprised when I actually get a phone call vs. a text!    I had phone time to do a little more planning for the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Water Open House that I am hosting on May 16th!  It is a fun event and it will really be spring!   I know I have "moved into" my house as I now have piles in too many places.   I tried to attack a few of those.  With so so success.   Then it was boots on and off to run a few errands.  Went to the post office.  Then off to Richardson's where I made my accessory list to my new propane gas grill.  My li

It was a sunny day here in Patten.  I am feeling better and spent the day doing things that I need to do to get me ready for my trip next week.  It is hard to for me to imagine that at the end of next week I will be in London.   For today my making this real consisted of finishing up the individual planning cards I have made for each day.  They have options,  sights to see,  addresses,  good places to eat - and some fun ideas for each day in London.  I finished my overnite kit for the plane -- earplugs, eyemask, blow up pillow, and arnica for jetlag. At noon my new phone arrived.  I thought of this upgrade as getting a new camera.  So I am going to be able to take really good pics while vacationing!  I spent this afternoon doing all the necessary steps of the download and amazingly all has been transferred and all I need is my new protective case which will come on Friday in the mail. I started laying out clothes imagining what to wear when it is in the high 50's or low 60&

I have been laying low,  I have "the crud"  which is probably an old fashioned cold.  A cough, aches, stiffly nose and generally low energy.  It has waxed and waned.  I am trying to do all the right things to move this along.  It feels like my body is just saying enough, my body, mind and heart have been stretched and stressed over these past months.  So I am focusing on taking care, being present, resting, and listening to how to help myself get better. This morning started slowly a luxury of my retirement.   Before I even had a cup of tea the snow guy came,  moving the latest "dump" of white stuff.  While he was working away the sun just burst forth, it was beautiful and bright and felt warm.   I went out and did all of the "clean up" shoveling.  I felt those first moments of giddiness as the warmth seems to overcome the winter.  The sun was so warm,  the ground was a little soft and my shoulders were lowered and relaxed.   I dug out the oil pi

I had a full day today.  One of the last things I did before I came home today was stop at our local drug store and bought a wrist brace.  For the past couple of days I have been noticing an increasing amount of pain in my right hand and wrist.  There were more times that I felt something was not ok. So while at my annual physical exam I talked with my doctor about what was going on and how it felt.  The verdict is unclear, but carpal tunnel seems likely.  So I am trying a brace and will be going to OT.  Here's hoping that this will make a difference and that I can reverse whatever is going on with my wrist.   Of course it is my dominant hand and now I get to try typing.  Good thing you can't see the results of my wobbly braced wrist. Back to my full day. It started with fasting.  So with only water to start my day I headed off to East Millinocket to have my taxes done by the AARP volunteers!  I was feeling very good after I had done  initial worksheets and forms and wa

I didn't make a list this morning, but I didn't need to take pen to paper.  My list has been rolling around in my head for awhile and it grew more fully yesterday as I spent the day traveling back to home. I has a slow beginning to the doing part of my day.  One of my "needs" was to just be able to wake up slowly and enjoy my tea, breakfast and the morning light.   I am aware that I will be breaking a new kind of ground in a few weeks - I have left towards the end of March and come back either in Mid-Late May or Early June.  This year I will be gone for two weeks, the last part of March and return on April 5th.  Spring is not my favorite season, at least spring in the north.  Spring in New Orleans, Texas, Arizona is beautiful and very different than Minneapolis, Millinocket or Patten Maine.   After breakfast I went to the basement and brought up a card table.  I am going to use the table for puzzle putting together.  I bought two puzzles on our FB buy and sell g

I don't have much to say today, except that I am really happy to be back home! My house is warm and cozy. Friends are so very wonderful. It is Tuesday, and I am very glad to be safely back home!

What a twenty-four hours.  Last night driving back from the Memorial Service, the Boat House, and then supper at Swan's in Lambertville, NJ I got stuck on the hill of the street where I was staying at my Airbnb place,  someone did come along and he rescued me and the car really he did.  I got back to my place for the night.    I was so ready for sleep and off I went -- only to wake up around 4 p.m.  feeling really cold - no power.  The room was pitch black and very quiet no electrical hums.  I found my flashlight, yes I always carry a flashlight in my purse.  Found an extra blanket.  Power came back on around 5:30 a.m.   During the night I had gotten a message from American Airlines saying that I could change my flight due to the weather.   After several phone calls I decided to just go for it.  I knew that there would be no more snow so I left the house around 9 a.m.   Went to a diner in New Hope, then drove to the airport.  It was easy good ride, and I handled the terrible

We were all together along the Delaware River where Irv used to row.  There were flowers and more flowers, wonderful food, and Irv's favorite chocolate chip cookies that Kathy lovingly made last night.  It was a celebration of life and of love.  I was glad that I traveled so far to be there.   It started to rain later in the afternoon and by evening tonight it was snow and 31 degrees.   I had to wait for another vehicle (A Jeep!) to come along on the road where I an staying at the Airbnb --- I could not go up the hill in the car, and backing down was not good either.   So this fine young man helped me out.  He got the car up to the flat part of the road,  I pushed it along as the front wheels just spun round and round.  I was so glad to park the car and walk into the house.   I am not snuggled in for the night.  I am thinking of Kathy and Irv and the day.  I am hoping that I get to see my dear BFF Lonnie tomorrow.  We have several options - so we'll see.  I am check

I started out my morning in Millinocket.   Jane Mary cooked me a delightful breakfast, with marvelous breakfast tea.  I shuffled myself into the car and went to Bangor.  At 9:00 a.m.  I pulled into the AAA parking lot, I picked up my travel packet for my trip to London in now less tha 3 weeks, and I bought 210.00 lbs. of UK currency.  Then off to the airport.  smooth ride and landing to Philadelphia.  Then  rental car to New Hope, PA.  A few wrong turns and I found my way to the airbnb .  Called Kathy---so much to say and hear...and a clear choice for cocktail and dinner!  I got an Uber and off I went to Martine's .   It waa quite a wonderful time at the bar at Martine's.  Pro ably not the experience that Ir  would have had, but exactly the kind of place that both Kathy and Irv love --- I had an amazing experience at the bar --- it was authentic, it was very gay, it was an incredible moment of connecting with people that in all likelihood you will never meet again!

Turn the calendar,  enjoy the angle of the sun,  feel the warmth on your cheeks.  Watch out for puddles.  Remember there is lots of ice.  Pack lightly for my trip.  Don't worry about Monday's snowstorm.   I left Patten late morning.  Stopped at the post office.  Made arrangements to have friends check in at the house.   Headed off to Millinocket! Worked in the library this afternoon.  Went to the credit union.  Dropped off my things at Jane and Bill's and had a good visit.  Stopped and bought Allagash River Trip at Woods and Water.   Went to Dave and Anna's for supper and to meet Anna's parents and Dave's Mom who lives in Minnesota.   Tomorrow I go to Bangor, get on a plane to Philadelphia.  Drive to New Hope, PA.   All in preparation of Irv's Memorial Service on Sunday.   I want to be with Kathy and Irv's friends.  I want to hear those who will tell stories about Irv's life.  I want to honor and remember and feel whatever it is that I am goi