By Noon

I have come to the conclusion that if you are maxed out on antihistamines by noon, it is spring in Georgia.

Yellow pollen, coats my house, explains why my throat is closed. Some would say, close the doors? I would reply " I have been waiting for warm weather and sunshine for MONTHS! Pop another Claritin!"

My eyes look like a worn out road map, and there are Visine stains on my cheeks, I rejoice in this madness!

I do not remember pollen growing up. I knew of no one who took allergy meds. Maybe when you are young, you have no time for the details. I know that spring is shorter in Florida, due to the heat, and maybe the humidity knocks down most of the pollen. Better yet, those brain cells of youth have left the train station, and I just remember what I want to now!!

Learning to live with a few days of yuck, to get gorgeous days, is worth it. Until I try and clean my back porch. I have tried for a couple of weeks, a ledge, a window, wicker furniture, cushions!! even the plants need washing. Today I thought if I just lit some candles, turned on some music, doubled my drugs, this would help me get through it. Wheezing to the beat of music, certainly helps. Not so sure about the candles, I think they added another smell to the mix, a nice one but.....

So I decided while I can still see, I would sit here at the computer, and share my story. The back door to the screened porch is open, I feel safe behind the computer screen! The sun is streaming through my kitchen windows, I just have to suffer, these moments are too precious. The only noise I hear are the birds, who I know are using all this pollen, to cement their nests!! I know they must be building a strip mall in the trees, they are so loud.

Hope you have days like this, to just sneeze and enjoy. Maybe one spring day come visit and sit on my porch with me. I will supply Kleenex, and allergy med of choice.

XOXOXO
BBB

What Happened To A Backpack And A Smile?

  In a couple of weeks, the husband and I, will head for the hills. The hills of France, and a week in Paris.
We entertain the thought of being young and carefree. Hoping on planes, trains and automobiles, with the wind at our backs. Bill crawling through the catacombs, and I looking for....coffee, artists and books. We shall meet in the middle, for churches and gardens, with a wine chaser. Sounds so romantic, until reality bites.

We have ordered support socks, so legs don't swell. All medicines have been purchased, with a month ahead, because you never know?? Are there tsunamis in Paris??? Special wallets and purses will adorn us, to keep the pick pockets at bay. We have listened to three different language tapes( I think they are called cds??) Downloaded two translator apps to help us look and speak like a French person. The apartment is
rented across from the Louvre, and how many steps to walk there have been counted.

I thought this morning, lets just hop on a plane and go.

I remember a time, not so long ago?? maybe a long time ago, when I would jump in the car, headed to a surfing championship near Cape Canaveral. Packing nothing, wearing a bathing suit, maybe having a towel, and cut off shorts, with ten dollars in my pocket. That was a three day weekend, and it was awesome.

Then a few years later, a rock concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway, another LONG weekend, sleeping wherever there was an empty spot. No luggage, no money, and waking up hearing " Tied to a whipping post" grinning ear to ear.

And there were many more, "Lets head to PC beach", out the door we went. Jane said, " Lets go to New York", gone. Studio 54 hear we come, with again very little money, and two changes of undies at best!! It was instant, without a worry, and some may say no common sense either, but I beg to differ. I did use my car payment for the airplane ticket, but I just worked some overtime in the ER to fix that little blip!!

Now I have a piece of luggage the size of my Vega!! I had a nightmare about forgetting my tweezers!!! These are big things. Traveling at sixty, is different. I still have the joy of being somewhere new, I have my partner of thirty something years, to share in my adventures, and pharmaceuticals are still around.

Plus it helps to have pocket change around.

Backpack and a Smile,( I think that's called credit cards now!)

bonjour

Untethered

The pine trees have cast a shadow on my deck, so I have come inside for a minute. The windows are open and birds are in full tweeting mode, its spring in Atlanta. A chill, although faint, still lingers. March has failed to let go completely, the devil that she has been. 

Mother nature at her finest, and I'm ready to start digging.

Plants are moved onto the back porch, having suffered in silence with me, all winter.

I use to be angry with spring because it meant new life, and my child was no longer. Many a day and night I stood in the tall grass, cursing the birds and the moon!! How could plants begin to bloom when I was dead inside. I would lean on the pine trees, knowing they were not to blame, yet peeling their bark irate that they were standing so tall. Spring winds would cry, there was no joy. Tears flooded my yard, where I stood, broken.

Sometime, I began to feel the love of nature surrounding me. The stars would shine and shout, the tall pines whispered my name. The earth turned through each season, and I turned with her.

I would see Wards face in all, flowers, crickets, all living things. His spirit soared, and I felt it.

Many years have passed, and spring has shown her face again. It is truly an artists palette. This week was no exception. Cherry blossom petals covered our path, and became a painting. My child smiles.

Never are we untethered, in any season. Connected in love, all of us..

Now I need to go back, and soak up some of this sunshine, bank it for another day!

Enjoy