Sue and Hershell sitting in a tree... k-i-s-s-i-n-g!

Here's Father with his friend, Sue...

Houston Dallas Austin Texas Billiter McIntosh

Houston is not just a town in Missouri... it's also my puppy's first name...

Hawaiian Time

A friend of mine gave me this book a while back... I had hastily read it and placed it in my library...

This morning, as I was re-arranging my books, I re-discovered it. On the page after the dedication, a cultural adviser (Clifford Nae`ole) from Maui -- no ka oi! -- is quoted on a topic with which I am very familiar: Hawaiian Time.

Here's the quote:
"On Hawaiian Time: I have a term I call Polynesian paralysis. It is the ability to simply be still and listen to your heartbeat, to stop and observe a beautiful rainbow or to watch the dolphins dance with the ocean. I would make this a priority over getting to a destination on time -- the ability of observation, appreciation, and relaxation. When I arrive at my destination, I am much happier!"

When I awakened earlier, I realized that I had experienced this "paralysis" over the past weekend. I set out to visit my grand-niece who is presently visiting my sister. When I set out on my journey, I decided that I had no "expected time." My sister had invited me to dinner on Saturday with the caveat: "... but I don't know what time it will be served..."

So, I took advantage of the trip across the Ozark Plateau. I took along my camera and, unlike the dozens of trips previously, I captured "the moment." When I had arrived in Thayer, I called cousins and asked them to meet me for a photo session. I then called my aunt and asked her the same thing. I was on a mission! My aunt told me to go to her home (she was headed for a Bingo adventure) and visit her son -- my cousin -- and his family. Again, the lens captured the moment.

I hope you enjoy viewing the photos as much as my kinfolk and I enjoyed clicking the camera!

Through the woods, and over the hills...

... to Dad's Place I go!
Misty Blue knows the way
to make my day!

Imagine the Joy, ooooooh...

Through the woods, and over the hills,
To Dad's Place I go.

(sung to the melody of Over the River and Through the Woods)


Alright, I know that it isn't original... but it does express how I felt driving from Pulaski County to Oregon County, yesterday.

I awakened at about 1:00 a.m., after having slept for several hours. I thought to myself, "How do I best use this time?"

The answer was obvious... I have several tasks coming up this week at work... some of them with tightly-scheduled deadlines on Monday... "So," I thought, "knock a couple out now, and enjoy Monday as you should."

With that thought, I rushed into the office; worked for a few hours... went back to bed.

Since Dad had gone to Kentucky to check on Aunt Mae, I wasn't going to be able to connect with him this weekend... what to do? what to do?

Aha! My grand-niece Amari is visiting her nana (Sis Jan)... and I haven't had the opportunity to see her, yet. Let me call that bundle of joy and excitement!

Dialing... Ringing... Hello? My I speak with Amari, please?

Amari: Hello?
Me: Hello, beatiful! How are you?
Amari: Fine.
Me: What are you doing today?
Amari: I don't know. (she checks with Nana)
Me: When are you going to visit me?
Amari: I don't know. (she checks with Nana... I hear her asking her nana when is she going to visit Uncle Chris...)
Me: Well, may I visit you?
Amari: Yeah!
Me: Ok, let me speak with Justis. (Amari is Justis' younger sibling)
...

After a beautiful drive on a beautiful spring day (and 150 miles later), I arrived in their town.

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

For many of us, a Birthday is just another day. For others, it is cause for an extra-ordinary celebration!

Personally, I fall into the first group when it comes to my own birthday. But, I fall into the second group when it comes to special birthdays. What's a special birthday, you might be wondering?

Well, this past Thursday is a prime example of a special birthday. It was Father's 69th birthday! And, what's so extra-ordinary about reaching the ripe age of 69?

For Dad, 69 is a magical age! He has entered this next year of his life looking forward to becoming a septuagenarian. In less than 365 days, he will officially be able to accept this beautiful title.

Septuagenarian... hard to pronounce... easy to understand. A septuagenarian is one who is from 70-79 years of age.

Let's reflect on this... until my next post... Au contraire! Let's reflect on this until he earns the title octagenarian!

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you!