On this date...

Facebook memories...  You know I love 'em!

January 31... through the years

2009

... Just talked to Angie!  Yippee!!!

(My daughter was on the other side of the globe.)

2010

... had a great time with the kids.

(Family gathered after above daughter arrived home from India.)

2011

We got Skype working so we can call Wendi in Cairo!

(Another daughter on the other side of the world - six blocks from Tahrir Square where the Arab Spring had just erupted.)

They are staying in/near their apartment which seems safer than trying to travel anywhere.  They go out every couple days for food.  She didn't mention bread lines or shortages. One potential problem is not being able to access their funds with banks and ATM's closed.  Which is another reason for them to stay put where they have a place already paid for.

2012

Off to the dentist...

2013

We are in Samana today - taking care of business.

(... in the Dominican Republic)

I'm sitting at the Bahia Azul while Bob hikes out on los puentes to the islands. 

Just received a lovely tropical entree that should be photographed... if my photographer were here...

Cocktail de camarones - shrimp, lettuce, pineapple, etc.

So lovely! And tasty, too.

2014

I guess it never occurred to me that we might be surrounded by Spanish this winter.

(...living in Southern California for five months)

Now I just have to improve my own fluency - although we did watch a movie in Spanish the other night.

...

I'm pretty sure I would be buying donuts from next door while my clothes are in the dryer if only I had some cash money with me.  ...  There are SO many donut places in this town!  Almost as many as the number of Mexican restaurants or Mexican markets!

2015

2016

Comfort. That's what I miss today.

And convenience.

Comfort and convenience, but mostly comfort.

Adventures are often not comfortable.

... also 2016

Bird sounds.

Lots of birds

Some loud, some soft and sweet

Chirping various tunes

Together and separately

Polyphonic music

That's what I notice today.

Bird sounds...

And just now a new sound I've never heard.

Really raucous, almost like squawking, and then long and loud.

Right in the hedge just below me!

Almost jumped out of my chair, I did!

2017

"It makes me feel all sorts of sad and angry and scared and helpless and overwhelmed."

- an exact quote from an article I just read

- also a summary of things I'm hearing from lots of people

So...

... maybe we ought to be extra kind to each other these days - whether or not we understand or agree with others' concerns.

Maybe we could even try to understand why they are upset.

But yah, at least we can be nice.

2018

"It's easy to be heavy; hard to be light."

- G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

2019

Okay; I'll play. Why not?

How old are you?    68

Surgeries?        Yep

Tattoes?        Nope

Ever hit a deer?    Nope

Ridden in an ambulance? Not that I can remember

Ice skated?      I wish

Ridden on a motorcycle?    Yes

Stayed in hospital?    Yes

Last phone call?    My mom

Last text from?    Emergency Alert

Watched someone die? Yes

Pepsi or Coke?     Not really

Favorite pie?      Pecan

Favorite pizza toppings?    Bacon, ham, onion, but light on the sauce, please!

Favorite season?    Spring or fall

Broken bones?    None

Received a ticket?    No, sir

Favorite color?    Blue

Sunrise or sunset?    Sunrise

Favorite alcohol?    I don't know yet

... also 2019

I like my town!

2020

Word of the day: sagacious

Having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd

Socrates, that sagacious Greek philosopher, believed that the easiest way to learn was by asking questions