I flew from Denver to Orlando Yesterday Morning..arrived in Orlando and was greeted by my son Don at the airport.  The moment I stepped off the plane I could smell the moisture and feel it softly upon my skin.  Denver is so dry and the humidity felt wonderful to my dry parched skin. 

I loved it...in the zenith of summer ...and I was happy!  We drove toward Winter Springs where Don and Lisa and grandkids live...and I felt an exhileration within.  How wonderful to be alive...to have my children...my grandchildren in my life.

 

I marveled at the towering palm trees as the rain storm moved in.  I had watched the clouds building from the plane window as we approached the airport.  Now, the rain began complete with lightning and thunder.  I of course, was thrilled.  I love the rain!

 

I am so relaxed as I write this.  Happy and enjoying every second of my vacation.  We are condo shopping on Monday.  I am excited.  I will soon lay eyes on my future home.  My grandchildren are very happy that I am moving close to them.  I cannot even begin to tell you what this means to me...words fail me ...but my heart is full of happiness.

 

I notice that at sea level I can breathe easily without the labor that I notice in the high altitude of Denver.  I feel wonderful!   I took a dip in the pool a few minutes ago followed by a leisurely shower...tonight the grandchildren and I are going to watch movies while my son and Lisa go out for a night on the town.  I so look forward to spending this time with them.

 

Cape Canaveral is scheduled for a rocket launch on July 1st...we are going to watch it...I cannot wait.  Don tells me that it is a sight to behold.  I, who have never watched a live launch other than on television ...know that I am in for a treat!

 

Kisses to all of you my dearest family...my treasured friends...I am off to sit on the patio and feel the sunlight caress my soul.

 

 

 Mountain Serenity

 

 

 

Thursday night phone call from my youngest son Don in Orlando.  He was flying in on Saturday for Father's Day!  Of course I could barely conceal my excitement as we talked.  Lisa and the children were already at Lisa's parents in the mountains having flown in this week.  Now my Son Don would arrive on Saturday, and we were all going to be together for a picnic and day in the mountain's in Golden Gate Canyon.   I could not wait for Saturday to arrive. 

I needed to commune with family...to sit back and relax and allow the Ancient wisdom of the Mountains to soak within my soul.  Anticipation grew within me as Saturday arrived.  The ride up Golden Gate Canyon was a good hour and a half one way to the family property.  Don had rented a rental car...a Saturn SUV which I was rather impressed with.

The ride over familiar mountain roads brought flashes of memories of Michael and I talking the same drive along the same road in years past.  Sweet memories flooded my mind as I stared out the window.  My son and I talked...conversation flowing warmly between us.  I could see the contentment in his eyes of reuniting with his famly...his Lisa and their children.  He had missed them this past week and he was anxious to be with them again. 

 

The road wound up the mountains toward the property.  My eyes roamed over the lakes at the base of the meadow that was surrounded by the mountain peaks.   A deer stood majestic in the meadow as we drove toward the lake.

 

 

 

 The family was gathered, the picnic table loaded with food.  We could not start a fire as Colorado has been so dry and the Fire Threat was high.  The picnic would suffice without the traditional grilling of fresh meat. 

 

I stretched my legs after the long ride and entered the family circle of camp chairs.  The sun warm upon my skin as I relaxed and the celebration of family together began.  Lisa's brother, wife and children, her two sisters and their husbands and children as well as grandparents and great-grandparents.  The family had grown and I was part of it.  My son sat on one side of me, as we ate .  Laughter filled the air ...

 

My Alec, age 10, grandson, a carbon-copy of his father at that age,  snuggled close to me.  The scent of his skin...a combination of sunscreen lotion and sunshine filled my nostrils. His happy chatter as he proudly displayed  a walking stick that he had spent hours carving from a branch.  My heart smiled as I remembered his father painstakingly making a bow and arrow from a branch surfaced in my memory.  I laughed ...as grandmother and grandson conversed.

 

 Katie, my eight year old granddaughter played inside the tent with her little cousins. I watched her, picturing her a few years from now...a grown teenager bustlling with energy.  But for now I am content in enjoying this eight year old child-woman playing in this mountain paradise.   I realized how sweet this moment as I captured it forever like a still shot within my memory.

 

I felt my mind at peace.  The mountains always center me...balancing me within. Lazily I relaxed in the camp chair as  Don pointed to a spectacular blue bird...as it flew above us.  It was beautiful... truly beautiful as I watched it dip and soar upon the wind. The sunlight glinted upon the blue feathers.  I shaded my eyes and watched the mating ritual as it met high in the sky and spiraled together with it's mate in a mating dance. 

 

 

 

 Conversation stopped and the sweet silence filled the air with their song as all of the family watched in appreciation.

 

 

 

 

 

The day soon ended as the darkness settled in.  The campsite tents had been pitched and the quiet of the night settled about us.  I had spent a perfect day with the family. 

 

 

Today I am home, Don will be flying back to Orlando tomorrow.  I have carried the Mountain Serenity with me back to the city.  Towards the end of the month I will be flying to Orlando for a week over the 4th of July with Don, Lisa and my grandchildren.   I look forward to the Florida trip with joy in my heart.

 

My life has settled down again.  I feel well...my strength has returned.  My energy level soaring.  I have recovered quite well from my two heart attacks and the two angioplasties in the last three months.  Life feels alive within me.  I appreciate my Life.  Perhaps that is what happens when one is reminded how frail and tenuous the thread of Life truly is. 

 

I have not written for awhile in this living journal of Space.  I have been content to be alone with my thoughts.   But once again the words are flowing from my soul to the keyboard...a journal of Life to be shared with all of you who I love so dearly.

 

Sweet mountain Serenity....may it flow within your soul!