Only 7 years to figure it out . . .

A la recherche du passé

 I've finally figured out why I haven't prepared any big holiday dinners here in our southern home. You would think I would have had this straightened out in this slow moving brain of mine at least 7 years ago but alas, that is not how my body and mind work.

We left home in Connecticut for Louisiana in December 2015, six months after I had undergone open heart surgery to have a valve tightened up and some other such craziness. I have loved our home here in DS but it just never seemed like a 'celebrate the family holidays home.' I've finally figured out that even though the Big Kids' Dad says that we actually have more room down here I still can't get myself to prepare any big get-togethers and it's only recently, after the doctors decided I needed a pacemaker, that my brain seems to be able to understand that our Connecticut Home is where my heart is when it comes to our families - our children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends - that are no longer within our reach physically. We are fortunate that our son, his wife and family are close by but it's terrible to realize that we no longer have all of the ties that bound us to our old Caron homestead. Most of the people that made up our Connecticut families are already in heaven and many of the rest of us are nearing that time when heaven isn't just a quickly passing thought. It is a reality, and even though I'm sure it will bring all of us respite from the aging we undergo, at times it is difficult for me to accept the obvious - life has moved on unceasingly as Big Kids' Dad and I get accustomed to not living in the olden days - say, from when we met in 1964 to our move South in 2015!

Since I have just figured this out in the last few days it makes sense to me. I need to understand that the holidays are beautiful and kind to us old folks but we have to make do with our memories of times past with Ma, Pa, Gram, Matante and our three kiddos around the table in the old Caron home and the Christmases, Easters and Thanksgivings when all three Big Kids and their families came for dinner. So life goes on and we are thankful we have one Big Kid nearby with his family to welcome us for our Southern Holidays. God bless us everyone!

Quote:  I desire no future that will break the ties of the past. _____George Eliot

Quote:  It is to live twice, when we can enjoy the recollections of our former life. _____Martial

Trying to get my composure back . . .

 Can't believe that I actually ended up in tears dealing with tech problems on the computer. The frustration of not understanding how companies work on line and the information I am given when I speak with someone on the phone is more than annoying; it brings me grief unabated by any rational behavior on my part. I absolutely lose my ability to reason as I do believe that some of the people I speak with really don't know what they are doing and I no longer trust the instructions I am given. So, today I signed up for the Geek Squad and hope that it will be helpful! If not I think I may have to throw the computer, the iPad, the iPod and the iPhone into the garbage; better yet I think that I should put them in our covered burn pit and set them on fire! Of course that would probably poison the air in the neighborhood and since the people in our hood are so nice I won't be able to follow through. Oh well, the cardiologists have made me immune to a heart attack with my recent pacemaker/defibrillator implant so I guess I'll just continue to feel sick whenever I have to deal with any thing that deals with 'on line' businesses or social pleasure.

Well that's it for today's complaint. I'm wiped out and disgusted with myself for even worrying about the 'bullshitski!"

Quote:  True fortitude of understanding consists in not suffering what we do know to be disturbed by what we do not know.   ___Paley 

Trying to get back to my blog . . .

 Not sure how I'll get back to writing a few words a day but I'm going to try. I need some kind of outlet for crazy emotions but not certain this will do! Oh well, I'll try. At least I'll put up a few photos and a quote once in a while.

Took a drive to Manchac, LA yesterday. P&D's Pop keeps me safe as I roam around looking for something that catches my fancy. The problem is that sometimes that gets me into trouble - like stooping so low to get a particular shot that I can't get back up again. Yeah, that has happened to me and he has saved me from my own foolishness. I've also taken photos of alligators in the wild and thought they were logs until I got home and realized I had photographed an alligator pretty close to the shore from which I took its photo. We always seem to find something interesting to look at. I think that will be it for today. I have to get ready to go out with a friend who will pick me up to go to dinner with a special group of ladies from Immaculate Conception parish. Since I don't drive at night, unless it is an emergency, she has volunteered to drive, me. I certainly appreciate it. Problem is I'm usually tired and ready for down time at about the hour we leave to go out in the early evening! But I am meeting people and perhaps I can be helpful when there are 'things' to be done for the church.

Quote:  When a person is down in the world, an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching. ______Bulwer

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

 I decided I had to put these photos in my blog. Probably the best ones I've taken. They have not been enhanced in any way - straight from my camera.

Quote:  Surely there is something in the unruffled calm of nature that overawes our little anxieties and doubts: the sight of the deep-blue sky, and the clustering stars above, seem to impart a quiet to the mind.   _______Jonathan Edwards

It's been so long I think I've forgotten how to put a video in the blog . . .

 

Because I was afraid I'd forget how to open up my blog . . .

 Wow, it's hard to believe that I haven't written in quite some time. I've been spending too much time putting photos on Facebook and finally getting my right shoulder in proper working order. Not sure I'll stop putting photos there so I'll have to remind myself to stop in here when I need to blab about something unimportant or something that angers me, like the present government and the way it handles the governing of these once blessed United States! That's it for now. Time to find a Quote!

Quote: Wishes, like painted landscapes, best delight while distance recommends them. --Afar off they appear beautiful; but near, they show their coarse and ordinary colors.  ____Yalden