Good for my Soul

On June 7, 2008 I drove up to Lake Blueridge to the Alford's lake house for the afternoon. Amanda, Robert, Georgia and Winnie were there with a gathering of their friends.

I loved the idea of seeing my "Chicago Family" again for the afternoon, but did not anticipate how many wonderful moments could be condensed into 7 1/2 hours!

Georgia greeted me with the hugest, all enveloping hug...and the day got even better from there. Before I knew it, we were down at the lake. Now, I haven't been on a lake for years...and have done very little "in the water" stuff over the past 10-15 years...(a swim here or there, and a couple of tubing outings). I jumped in the water, held Georgia while she kicked and splashed...then Georgia let me hold her as we jumped in the water...with her Papa there to catch her...her "first jump in"...After that, I went to the upper deck of the dock and took a running leap into the water...It didn't seem like the big a thing at the time, but WOW! and it was FUN!

Georgia was acting like she needed a nap, but I ended up laying down with her to make this an actuality. At one point I was faking sleep and Georgia took her doll and said "Be quiet, dd's sleeping!" Minutes later she was in deep dreamland, and I was up visiting with every one.

Later in the afternoon, we found some bubbles...I was on the sofa with Georgia, Winnie on my lap and little Lillian...I began blowing bubbles and there was such delight for ALL of us!

The drive up to the lake was one of winding roads thru the North Georgia Mountains...a visual of the majesty of nature...and the gathering at the lake, experiences of visual love between families and friends.

The last time I was at the lake house was to begin the planning for Amanda & Robert's wedding. Now, seven years later Amanda and Robert have two beautiful, captivating daughters...they are opening the house and their hospitality to their friends & their families.

Yes, the afternoon was good for my soul! To see four little girls ( Amanda, Abby, Staci and Cynthia) who have grown up to be lovely women...each so different, but with the bond of friendship between them...so see their families (all so beautiful) interacting...if I had just gone to the lake and observed (a butterfly on the wall) it would have been overwhelming in itself, but to be able to interact and enjoy every moment myself...well:

For all that has been - Thanks! To all that shall be - Yes! (Dag Hammarskjold)

You've Got Mail!

I grew up in a time when the written word, delivered through the US Postal Service, was the way we communicated. There were the occasional phone calls, but they were saved for life changing news (deaths, births) and the once in awhile, a very special birthday gift.

I remember from the time I was very young, being so excited when the mail arrived. I would usually be the one to collect the mail in the summer, anxiously going through the letters and bills hoping there would be something for me. Growing up in New York, I had friends and relatives in Georgia and Wisconsin, many with whom I had a “pen pal’ relationship. I was the primary letter writer, often writing 2-3 letters for each one I received, but what joy when I had a letter in response…when I saw that envelope addressed to: Miss Diana Dokken (for those of you who don’t know, I took back my maiden name!) Of course, I would immediately sit down and right a response that went out the next day, and my waiting would begin again.

On vacations, and still to this day, I love selecting postcards and sending to friends and family…(when I have been in Europe, the first thing I have purchased is stamps!)

I found love letters written from my grandfather to my grandmother in 1902-1903…postage was 3 cents! My father had 4 books bound with letters his father and other members of his family had written in the 40s – 60s. (unfortunately my father and grandfather did not have the most legible penmanship, so some are hard to decipher) but the books are a tribute to the written word and the importance of letters - experiences and feelings expressed. I have a few letters that my mother and father wrote to each other when they were young marrieds and my father was traveling for work.

Postage has gone up again, and while I have turned to e-mail as a primary point of communication with friends and family, I still write letters. As someone said, “You can’t re-read a phone call”…and just how long do you keep a special e-mail?

I try not to let too many weeks go by before I send a card to my granddaughters. They are too little for e-mail communication…and they can’t very well carry a picture of a e-mail around with them…but a card with a picture of a kitty, bunny, giraffe on the front …that comes in the mail, with their name on the envelope…I hope is special to them! Remembering them as I create the card, write their names on the envelopes…that is very special to me. Something tangible from their “dd”.

Thank you notes, written with thought and put in the mail…the updated "on my life and family letters" that are written other than Christmas…the cards to let people know that I think of them often…These I love writing and sending…and love receiving.

Another wise person said, “Write the truest sentence you know”.

I still look forward to the mail each day…hoping that there will be a letter, note, card…something personal from a beloved family member or friend. I guess I will never out-grow that anticipation…and I hope, even with electronic communication, the "art of letter writing, note and card sending" through the US Postal Service will not become extinct. When I approach my mail box, I do not hear it say “You’ve Got Mail”, but finding a treasure among the catalogues, junk mail, bills…What Joy!

May 21, 2008 Photographs

PHOTOGRAPH: To photograph is to confer importance. (quote from Susan Sontag)

One morning this week I was on my breezeway and noticed the most wonderful rain drops on the lily of the valley leaves. I quickly ran inside to get my camera...I did not want these beautiful rain drops on a cloudless sunny day to evaporate before I had them preserved.
Later the same day it looked to find a quote about nature, rain, leaves...a quote that would capture the essence of the photos I had taken that morning...instead I found a quote about photographs which to me is a wonderful definition of the word photograph as well as the reason to photograph.

I started thinking about all the photographs I have and have taken...and people's reaction when you want to take their picture...and all the wonderful pictures I have of family and friends, many several generations old. The photos I have bring a warm and loving feeling to me, confirm part of who I am and where I have come from, the blessings in my life...

I have several friends who usually refuse to have their picture taken...One friend was adamant, and I had to do some real debating to get her to relent...I wanted some photos of her with her first granddaughter (who was going to be leaving to live in China)...I felt it important that her daughter and granddaughter have pictures of them together at the start of her granddaughters life...my friend relented, and the moments were preserved - rightful importance was conferred.

Some photos we have printed, some on the computer, and some photos we keep in our heart... but all the photos we keep are of special people, places, trips and moments in our lives and the lives of those dear to us...This year on my birthday morning, several photos were taken of me with Georgia and Winnie...photos with no make-up and "bed-hair" on my part...but you know, it didn't matter...Georgia had such a fun time waking me up...it was my first birthday where Georgia understood what was going on, and my first birthday with Winnie. I wanted it all preserved...who cared how I looked, it was the moment that was being captured...it was not a staged photo shoot!

The photos taken on my birthday morning conferred importance on the occasion...the importance of love, joy, laughter, and family in my life...the importance of living in the moment..."capturing the rain drops, which fall on the lily of the valley leaves".

PHOTOGRAPH - confer importance on the moments on your life...I bet there is something in today worth capturing and preserving...even with your "minds-eye camera"...

Living in the Day

I have just returned from lunch with 4 former co-workers/friends. How wonderful that our relationship continues! We talked a little about my old work environment, but mostly we talked as friends...it was wonderful!

At this point I am on a quest for self-discovery - YES, even at the age of 62 the quest continues.

So many have asked, "What do you really want to do?" Well, sometimes your ideal is not practical...I need to work, and since I am at a new starting point, I would like to work for a non-profit/humanitarian based organization/company. There are so many people that need so much ...Doing administrative assistant/clerical work in that kind of environment really appeals to me.

In the mean time, I am doing some painting, reading...having a great deal of faith that things will work for the best in my life...(understanding that I must help to make the best happen)...but knowing that I am not in this alone...my Higher Power is with me...and Staying in the Day, in the Now, is the best way for this to happen.

"LIVE IN THE PRESENT...MAKE IT SO BEAUTIFUL THAT IT WILL BE WORTH REMEMBERING."