Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jog
We may have used that phrase before but it has become part of our routine rotation. It is really quite similar when we move from north to south although our Philo home is a bit more 'home' than Bucerias. If Mrs.T had control of the garden in Mexico she really would be in heaven. We have been back in Ohio for about one month and things are now quite routine again. We have attended to several repairs and replacements - see below. Taxes and doctors have received their due. R is back to riding horses - also below. And we have gone to several of our favorite cultural events. Mrs.T gives some highlights of our return this year:
Well we are home again and we have been Jiggity Jogging all over the place. We have had lots of medical appointments and tests and have passed most of them with only minor adjustments in medications so far, touch wood, but there are a few visits left to go.
One exciting change in our lives is Dan has a new car.(Replacement for the one that was squished by the tree branch last October. -dt) It is a KIA Soul. It has many, many new gadgets and improvements. (Those of you with newer vehicles probably are familiar with these. -dt) For one thing it has no key. For another it shows you if a car is in your blind spot it goes BEEP!!BEEP!! If you take your hands off the steering wheel it flashes you a message, "Driver must have hands on the wheel at all times." When I used to tell Dan that I was nagging, but when the car says it it is safety technology. When you drift out of your lane the car goes BEEP!!BEEP!! I think all these beeps could get on your nerves but I'm just guessing because although we have had the car about 1000 miles I have driven exactly 0. (She has backed it up to get the mower out of the garage. -dt) One thing I do think is interesting is that it has automatic windshield wipers. If it starts rain they come on; if it rains harder they go faster. Isn't technology grand? Dan is very excited. (These are good features for older drivers. -dt)
Speaking of Souls, Dan has decided we will no longer go to church! (Only up north; could be temporary. -dt) For years we had gone to the 9:30 mass. Well our church changed the schedule so there is an 8:15 mass, too early, and a 10:45 mass, too late. Dan feels very strongly that these are not the right times. Evidently Dan is strictly a 9:30 Catholic. (Any time between 9 and 10 would be okay. -dt) I suggested we could be Lutherans but he didn't want to do that. Dan didn't want to be a Presbyterian or Methodist either, although he did admit Methodists had the best food based on their booths at the county fair.
I don't feel strongly about one church or another but there is something comforting about singing, and sitting quietly and thinking thoughts. I am also very fond of the angels painted on the ceiling at St. Nicholas. To fulfill these needs I have decided to build a meditation labyrinth in my wildflower woods. When I explained it to the stones man (Landscaper -dt) he was a little doubtful but when I showed him the pictures on the computer he began to get more enthused.
I was happy to get back to riding. Jewel, the horse I ride, snuffled at me which is the horse way of saying 'hello'. Of course all the horses like me because I bring them carrots. Tori said I was riding well. Alas I was not mounting so well. Last week when I was trying to get on Jewel I fell off the barrel. Jewel is quite tall (A Belgian. -dt) so I have to climb some steps and then get on a barrel to mount her, at least that is the theory. I suppose if someone told me not to get on my high horse I could take it literally, He! He! He! At first I was pretty sore but now it only hurts when I breathe. Hmm. Jewel stepped back politely and looked down at me as if to say "What are you doing down there?" After I recovered for about five minutes I was able to get on and ride slowly for about an hour. I loved it nonetheless. (Yes, she was on her high horse -dt)
When we got to Ohio the spring wildflowers were in bloom. We had white and purple violets. We had trilliums and bluebells. Forget-me-nots floated like a blue cloud above the grass, After a couple of weeks the pond guy came and fixed the waterfall. We had four turtles, loads of fish, and salamanders. The turtles are named Yurtle, Myrtle, Shelly, and Byron. We look out our windows and watch all kinds of birds and animals wandering by. I dug forty holes to spruce up our wildflower woods even more with new and different flowers. (Rule: If she buys them, she must plant them. -dt) In fact my heart was singing.
Then there was the fire in Notre Dame. I had gone there fifty years ago. The place was special. I remembered the great tall silences, the rose windows, the carved wooden stalls. The sacredness of a thousand years was burning, burning, My joy was gone. Slowly I am recovering but there is a quiet place behind my heart that still grieves. The green things are growing still. And life goes on.
Here are some pictures: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmD89vNt We thought we would include a small nod to motherhood - Rachel, with son Willie, just turned 97! And nephew Phil and wife Shakiyah are expecting Journi and Marli in July. We hope all you mothers had a grand celebration on your day.
Best wishes for a great summer.
Dan and Rebecca
www.casa-de-terrible.blogspot.com
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