Life does that . . .

It was a little chilly this morning when I took the dogs for a walk and it's been cloudy all day. Not that I mind a little bit of coolness after a hot and humid summer, but am I ready for fall? Perhaps, but definitely not ready for winter and the cold and snow that comes with it.

This month has certainly been filled with ups and downs. My dog, Shelby, has transitional cell carcinoma (which means he has bladder cancer). We're ever watchful and have decided to do palliative care rather than put him through sessions of chemo and trips to unknown places with unknown people. He seems to be doing well on the medication given to him by the vet and I'm hopeful he has many more months with us.

On Sunday we came home after being out doing errands and at supper time I noticed that part of Keeya's lower beak was missing. We're not sure what happened, but a trip to the vet was in order for pain meds. I'm amazed at how far avian care has come as they were able to fashion a makeshift beak for her until her's grows back in. Poor little thing!

My dear friend's husband lost his job (but got a new one right away). Still, my trip to Pennsylvania has been postponed indefinitely. Bummer!

On the upside, it's my 21st wedding anniversary this Thursday. We're not celebrating in a big way, but we'll be spending time together and that's what really matters. It's also my friend Carl's birthday this weekend so I've planned a birthday bash for him which I'm really looking forward to.

There are many ups and downs along life's highway, but if we can stay focused and not get derailed by the twists and turns in the road, we'll make it through, hopefully, with a smile on our faces at the end of the journey . . .

On Turning 50

Well, here I am at last. After a year spent anticipating and dreading this momentous occasion, it's finally here ~ over and done with. I was half-expecting the light bulb to go off. You know. That magic 'Ah-Ha' moment like Oprah had when she turned 50. But it didn't happen. It didn't come.

Instead I'm left with a feeling of peace and dare I say it, contentment. I'm going into the next phase of my life in a good place. I've found my spirituality and am developing it. I'm no longer obsessed with losing weight to fit into a size 6 bathing suit that quite frankly, would look better on a 20 year old. I'm not as concerned about what other people think of me ~ take me or leave me ~ this is who I am. Material things, while nice, aren't the focus anymore. Decluttering and enjoying what I have and finding new ways to use them is. And relationships, old and new, are more important than ever.


So turning 50 isn't quite as bad as I thought it was going to be. Perhaps the next decade will bring unimaginable success, joy and happiness. And maybe that 'Ah-Ha' moment will come when I turn 60 . . .

Blessings Abound

'I made it through the wilderness, somehow I made it through, didn't know how lost I was until I found you . . .'

(Madonna ~ Like a Virgin)

Okay, so the name of the song isn't exactly what I was going for, but this line from the song says it all. If you read my previous post, you know that I've had a few discouraging days going through the loss of a friendship because of my beliefs. I questioned myself and those beliefs . . . making it through the wilderness and finding that I'm indeed not lost, that I have so many loving, supportive and encouraging people in my life. Thank you all for your encouraging words and I'm truly blessed that in some small way I was able to help some of you as well with situations in your lives. Blessed Be the Goddess and the God.

And now for some fun! I arrived home from visiting my friend Linda on Friday to find a strange package waiting for me. Brian was giving me the gears for ordering something again (little did I know it was part of his ploy) and I told him I was at a complete loss ~ that I hadn't ordered anything (at least nothing shaped like an elongated triangle ~ wink, wink). So together we tried to get the package open to see what was inside. It was no mean feat! That package was sealed up good and tight!

Do you see the little aura above my hand on the handle . . . a wood spirit no doubt!

Anyway, with a great amount of effort, we managed to get the package open and to my utter astonishment, delight and surprise . . . it was a hand-made broom! Well, the secret, er, the broom was out, and so Brian had to admit that he knew a package was coming for me from my best friend Bernie for my 50th birthday. He's getting so sneaky in his old age!

Yes, it was a beautiful hand-made broom from a company in Vancouver, British Columbia called the Granville Island Broom Company. Apparently Bernie had bought herself a broom while on vacation there in September and upon sitting in her kitchen mulling over what she should get me for my birthday, looked up and saw her own beautiful broom. AH HA moment! So she ordered one up especially for me! And I have to tell you, it's perfect!

Oh, as a side note ~ the Granville Island Broom Company also made brooms for the Harry Potter movies, Bewitched and several other shows.

The broom's handle is made out of Manzanita wood and the bristles are made out of unprocessed broomcorn, a durable natural fiber (it says so on the tag). So now I have a beautiful broom to use in my practice and display proudly in my altar room. It really is a work of art.

So thank you, Bernie, from the bottom of my heart! I can't express in words what this gift means to me . . . I'll treasure it always.

Here's a great link regarding care and feeding of your broom ~ Ancient Broom Lore