Sunday Serenity: Sea Turtle Hatchling...

Oh my!
How hard the struggle of living life is!
Go, little sea turtle!

~~~
xoabb
it's all good!

The above photos are courtesy of my mom and the video courtesy of my cousin, Cathy. My parents, cousin and her hubby are enjoying some snow-free on-the-beach warmness in Costa Rica where they were fortunate enough to witness the hatching and frenzied trip to the water of some sea turtles. How wonderful is that?

Summer

I'd like to tell you I've been very very busy this summer.

But that's not the truth.

I've just been very very curiously challenged. (sigh)

I hope that changes soon.

Because I don't particularly like being stagnant!

xoabb

blah at times!

A Small Blip on Life's Journey

This quote is on a plaque in the rose garden of TIRR hospital in Houston:

"...The realization of potential usefulness remaining to any man appears to be entirely apart from muscular weakness...It is an adjustment that repeatedly demonstrates to all of us that success in living is not success in bodily movement.. Creativity, responsiveness, fraternity, responsibility, and equality are not measured by muscle strength...It is as if the man within the shell of mortal clay unleashes himself from the bonds of muscular might

and uses the tiniest strengths for the greatest purposes."

William A. Spencer, M.D.

Founder and First President of TIRR

Feb. 1958

~~~

Our good friends' son, (and a close friend of our son, Bly) traveled to Cancun for a vacation with a bunch of his buddies in early July. The first day they all arrived, this young man, with the entire world at his feet, and all his friends went to the beach to play in the surf. Something most of us have done at one time or another. Within 45 minutes, he had dived into the surf and hit his head on a rock. Thank God one of his friends was an EMT. He was rushed to Houston, one of the best spinal cord injury treatment cities and has been there ever since. Thankfully, he could not possibly have a better support system. His parents, along with his girlfriend are just amazing in their attitude and support of and devotion to him. He also has legions of friends who are standing by his side as well.

It's the small victories that get him through the days now.

As his mom wrote yesterday: "....4 p.m. came all too fast when {his girlfriend} had to leave once again and the reality of being "stuck" in Houston was difficult. We had a talk about how he and all of us take even the smallest of things for granted, like even being able to scratch your nose! He waited for {his girlfriend's} phone call to hear that she got home safe and sound before turning in for the night. All in all it was a good weekend after much advancement since arriving here late Monday. He would rather be back home with everyone but knows that TIRR will give him the best there is to offer. Once again a small blip on his life's journey."

I can't stop thinking how in the blink of an eye an entire life can change irrevocably.

~~~

xoabb

The above quote was originally posted on CaringBridge at the request of his father. I am honored to repost it here.

Unexpected Carnage

Landing w/dinner in talon.

Yesterday around 5pm I was standing by Julie's kitchen window when I saw a rather large flapping of wings coming toward me that was headed just above the roof line. It also looked like there was something dangling below those wings...and more than just a pair of bird legs. I went out the front door, looked up at the roof, and there he was. A red-tail hawk. With his dinner. I really didn't need to see his dinner. I know, I know - it's natural, that old circle thing, but I really didn't need to see it and be reminded it was a living creature just minutes ago. (I'm a wimp.)

Though this is the best photo I was able to shoot, it's still rather poor as I was too far away from Mr. Red-Tail. (Do yourself a favor and visit Stacy's blogs to see beautiful photos of hawks and other birds of prey, among other things.)

What a magnificent creature Red-Tail is!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Bad Email from my Parents: "Poor Bluebirds"

DAMN that circle of life!                                                                                                                                                                

"Dear Ones, 

We do like snakes - but really! By the time Grand Roger, aka Dad, pulled this black snake out of the bluebird house, we had a snake about 5 - 6 feet long. He had a bulge from one recently eaten baby bluebird, with another one in his mouth. Snake was removed and taken - alive, mind you -  at a great distance from the house area.  I know they have to eat, too, but I would like it more if it wasn't in our backyard!  (By the way, Mama Duck  is doing fine, hatch date is May 26.) 

Love, G-ma Mary/Plain Mom"

~

(an Annie aside:  Had I have had to pull that snake out of that bird box I could not have done that - I'm a country girl to a point, and I must emphasize "to a point"! - but I am not my daddy's girl when it comes to snake removal. Simply couldn't do that. At. All!)

~~~

xoabb

expect unpleasant snake happenings at times!! 

Fleeting...

Bud, our good neighbor that lived in the home seen above (across the pond from our house) died last week. It was such a shock to read the obituaries and see his name. Our families weren't socially close and we weren't called upon his death - which wasn't expected - but we did come together to save and support our mutual pond, so we knew him more than just in passing. 

When I last saw and spoke to him a few months ago, he looked so, well, vibrant.  Tomorrow I'll call his widow and see if there's anything we can do for her. Of course, soup will be made and taken to their home and his memorial service will  be attended...but I wish there was something more I could do for her, his ~Dolly~. It was a second marriage for both, and now Dolly is burying her second husband. This has to be so very difficult for her, but I know she has many children and grandchildren and hope that will ease her somewhat. But still... 

Bud, if you're listening, God speed, good man. You will be missed!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Sunday Serenity

"Said a blade of grass to an autumn leaf, "You make such a noise falling! You scatter all my winter dreams." Said the leaf indignant, "Low-born and low-dwelling! Songless, peevish thing! You live not in the upper air and you cannot tell the sound of singing."

The autumn leaf lay down upon the earth and slept. And when spring came she waked again - and she was a blade of grass. 

And when it was autumn and her winter sleep was upon her, and above her through all the air the leaves were falling, she muttered to herself, "O these autumn leaves! They make such a noise! They scatter all my winter dreams!""

~Khalil Gibran

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!