Surfside Serenity: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

I Remember

Today I received an email from my dear Muh. He is my Mum's only surviving sibling. He is the last of his generation. His email came from one of his old WWII buddies. I was honored to be the recipient. It was a message that I have been sent before but it meant even more coming from Uncle P.

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.; When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person..; When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.; They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,; To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.; They may seem like a godsend and they are.; They are there for the reason you need them to be.; Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,; This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.; Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.; Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.; What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done.; The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons,

Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson,

Love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life,

Whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

As a young woman I used to carry around a photo that had been sent to my Mum during the War. It was a photo of one of her brothers and his platoon. I had a connection to that photo. I'm unsure if it made me feel protected or if I somehow felt protective of those very young men in that photo, even though they were all adults.

In any case

God bless my Uncle and all the men and women who protect and serve our country.

Peace!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Long Weekend

So it's a long weekend. Memorial Day. First I would like to extend my thanks to all the brave men and women who have given so much so that we remain free. We are blessed to have people who are willing to risk everything to protect us here in the United States. I am grateful for their service.

Holidays such as Memorial Day that are marked with an additional day off from school and work are often marked by family gatherings, cookouts or parties. It's a time when many families celebrate the unofficial start to summer. Years ago, many years now... over 10 years ago we would have been spending this weekend enjoying the company of our parents. I'm certain there would have been a cookout at both my Mum's house as well as at Richie's Mum's small mobile home. I would have been very pregnant with 'n' at the time yet delighting in the food and festivities of family. I miss those times. I miss the connection with close family. I miss my Mum, my MIL and my Dad.

While I love the summer and the free time that comes with the season the change into this season marks the beginning of the remembering. In my mind I think 'well it was 10 years ago in August that we lost Ma(R's Mum) and then just 5 months later that my Mum passed. Now we continue to not only process those losses but also the loss of my Dad this past December. The summer was his favorite season. He loved the heat. The hotter the better for him. Not so for me but he would basque in the warmth of the season. When I think back to my childhood I remember summertime being a time when family (Aunts and Uncles and sometimes cousins) would either stay in our extra rooms or rent little cottages down the street. There would be trips to the beach, lobsters and other yummy food and many, many exciting hands of Wist! Oh those were the days. I wish that I could create memories like these for my children.

We will create our own small family summertime memories. They will be small but mighty. It is like writing on a clean page of a new book.

Peace!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Friday Fill Ins

1. German potato salad -- the best food to take on a picnic.
2. Summer and the living is easy...
3. I love flip flops.
4. To love someone is to accept them for who they are and to realize that you will not change them; it also means to be loved unconditionally.
5. From then to now has been a long hike.
6. When I crave food, it's usually something sweet followed by something salty.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a couple Stellas, tomorrow my plans include a yard sale and showing Dad's house for the second time to the same lady with her Mom and Sunday, I want to accept an offer for Dad's house....fingers crossed that our showing tomorrow will bring forth an offer!

Peace!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Last Week

So things have been busy. This is the last week at school with the children. I am so ready for summer!

I spent this past Friday on a solo photo adventure. I visited the local public beach, the Jenny Griss Mill and the town cemetery. It was fun and a bit liberating. I have to push myself often times to get out of my own box. It was well worth it! Here are a few of my favorite photos.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Friday Fill Ins

1. My Chidren never fail to make me smile.
2. I'm looking forward to the end of the school year.
3. R and n jamming and Penguins of Madagascar is what I'm listening to right now.
4. Potato salad must have potatoes in it!(DUH)
5. Grilled provolone cheese, bacon and tomato sandwich was the best thing I ate today.
6. Today was productive; I went on a solo photo adventure, cleaned the house and put together my first set of handmade photo cards.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to eating out and stopping at Luke's on the way home, tomorrow my plans include Shrek the Final Chapter with the kids and Sunday, I want to spend the day at home but alas I must attend a wedding shower!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Owls

I arrived to school today to find out that the owl's nest had disintegrated and the babies had moved onto greener pastures. At least we hope they have. It seems to me that the owlets were a bit young to be moving on but nature has its way. I will miss seeing the owls each day on the playground and documenting their growth and progress.

I thought I'd share some of the most recent photos with everyone.

Peace!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Ho Hum.....

So it has been relatively quiet here.

Over the weekend I was happy to go and have my hair done. All my grays are now covered by a beautiful warm brunette color. It should last me for about 5 weeks before I start seeing roots again! I just love going and having my hair done. The salon that I go to is owned by the girl who cuts my hair. She is a doll and does a great job coloring, cutting and styling my hair. I think my favorite part is the shampoo. What a luxury to have someone massaging your scalp with luscious emollient shampoos as the light scent of citrus wafts through the air and awakens your senses. I'm relaxed just thinking and writing about the experience. Maybe that's what a massage feels like, only it's an all over body experience. I've never been for a massage simply because I'm rather ticklish and think it would be a challenge for me to manage. Perhaps I'm wrong.

So hair was not all that was in store for this weekend. Unfortunately 'N' was down for the count for the entire weekend! He had a fever, headache and an upset stomach that lasted until late in the day on Sunday. Poor kid. He stayed home today as well. He's had several bouts of illness over the last three weeks. I hope this is the end of illness in this house for a while!

Happily we had a showing at Dad's house on Saturday. 'R' showed the house to an interested individual who drove up to the house in a very expensive looking Mercedes! R took her to see the beach access and view before bringing her into the house. He explained to her that the home was in need of rehab and to everyone's surprise when she entered the house her reaction was "This isn't so bad, I can work with this" Evidently she is looking for a home for herself and her mother. My fingers are crossed that this lady is the one! We've had several emails as well and are in the process of sharing information and photos with a variety of interested individuals. I just hope it sells quickly. This process is like pealing off a band aide a little bit at a time. Excruciating!

So the rest of the weekend was quiet. 'n' and I walked the beach and have made a pact to walk to the beach everyday in the summer. It is always worth the walk. As we searched for sea glass yesterday I thought of my childhood and how much time I spent on the beach as a little girl. I am blessed to live so close to the ocean.

Well that's all for now. This has been a bit of a rambling post but it felt good to just write.

Peace!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Irish Gathering

Thanks to the arrival of the Melletts from Ireland;
my cousin J from New Jersey planned a family gathering

to welcome and share hospitality with our visiting cousins.

The event took place at a quaint eatery, the Old Irish Ale Pub located in Dedham, MA.

It was a lovely event with members from each branch of the American Mellett family tree. In the above photo you can see my Uncle Paul top left, Uncle Jim (cousin J's dad), Uncle Bob, my Mum Joan Mellett Dillon in the middle, Aunt May, and then in front Aunt Kathleen followed by my Dad Robert Dillon. Not pictured here is my Aunt Barbara who had passed away prior to my Mum's 50th b-day party.

Anyway, I ventured into the city by myself. Fortunately for Christmas I received a Tom Tom gps for the car so I easily found my destination. I arrived about 15 minutes. I was happy to see my cousins from Vermont who adopted Dad's Fluffy.

Relatives traveled from Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts to attend this festive occasion.

Perhaps one of the most striking conversations I had throughout the evening was with one of my cousins about the tendency in our family for a reluctance to move out of our comfort zones and come out join in various festivities. I spoke of how my mother had that same tendency. It was very difficult at times for her to go out. Agoraphobia, claustrophobia, anxiety and hodophobia (fear of driving) were some of the afflictions that plagued her throughout her life. One comment my cousin made that really stuck with me was that his brother "keeps his world very small". I thought this a very telling statement. Later in the evening as I spoke with another cousin were talking about our siblings and how difficult it was to get them to participate. It's so interesting that the "small world" phenomenon seems to be spread throughout all the branches of our family. I wonder what it means.

The following is my favorite photo of the evening. My Uncle Paul is the final surviving sibling of my Mum's family of origin. When I look into his eyes I see my mother. His eyes are her eyes.

While it was enjoyable to see everyone and connect with cousins whom I have not seen in many, many years; I left feeling a bit overwhelmed with the emotions that come with the realization that you are the 'matriarch' of your own branch of the family tree. There was definitely a sense of disconnection and loss for me at the end of the night that goes back to my childhood and perhaps stems from being the youngest of the first cousins, having a geographical distance between me and all of my cousins and an internal sense of not ever having fit in with the second cousins. I'm working on all of this and hopefully will sort it out and fix it in my own mind. It was a long tear filled ride home.

Peace!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Cardinal

Well one of my most favorite birds is the beautiful cardinal. When I see or hear this lovely bird I think of my Mum. Last week, on Thursday, Fluffy was adopted and went to live with my cousins in Vermont. Since then I keep seeing my cardinal friends. Even the female, who tends to be more has been visiting. I can't help but think that my Mum and Dad are sending them to me to reassure me that all will be fine. That might sound strange but it is what I think and believe....

Anyway here are some photos to enjoy.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Mum Remembered

Happy Mother's Day

Ma Remembered

Happy Mother's Day

Friday, May 7, 2010

Editing`

So this past week at school the children had their photo's taken by a local professional photographer who's children went through the school years ago. Her daughter and my son were in Kindergarten together. We got to talking about editing photos and she told me about Adobe's Lightroom program. I have downloaded the 30 day free trial and have been watching video tutorials from Adobe's web site. It looks like a great program. I especially like how it catalogs photos in a variety of ways including keywords, color and metadata specific to each photo. I think this feature could be very useful when looking through large volumes of photos. I am looking forward to experimenting with this program. I wish I had more uninterrupted time to spend working on my photos. I've noticed that in the past when I edit photos for school that they look great on my computer, but once they are printed through winkflash they don't seem to look the same. The quality of the image is less than what I remember. Wonder if that is an editing issue or a processing issue.

What programs do you enjoy using to edit your photos?

Peace!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sunset

Last night when I was on the computer I noticed that the light in the room had changed. There was a lovely pink cast to the light. When I mentioned it to n she looked outside and noticed the most magnificent sunset. We both jumped up and decided to try capturing the beauty with our cameras.

This is what we saw.