Suddenly Senior

Theme Thursday: Light

Oh, my...what a day! I have previously written about my misadventures with my elderly second cousin fondly referred to as 2Cuz. Today's get-together was a picnic, provided by me, at her lovely senior residence nestled in the rolling hills of Marin County.

A phone call last night, opening with the always scary phrase "I was just wondering...", which basically I have come to know means I want this and YOU WILL DO IT, alerted me to a change in our plans.

2Cuz was proposing that I attend a walking class with her before our picnic. I replied that I wasn't much interested in a class, wanted to visit with her, but would accompany her if that was what she desired. Yeah...agreeable me. Her response: "If you like, I'll meet you at 11 for the class." Well, no...I didn't "like" but decided to just roll with it. How bad could a lecture on walking be? Lighten up, Janice!

So I arrived and, as we chatted while having coffee, I found out that the focus of the class was balance, exercise with a chair, requiring - OOPS! - participation. Shit. I know she could see my resistance beginning to ignite, so with an expertly mastered Cheshire cat grin right out of Alice in Wonderland and oooooozing charm from every pore, she informed me that we "older people" need to know about these things, apparently forgetting that she is 20 years older than I am, has had a stroke,  a knee replacement, and a hip replacement. The older people catagory is not a shoe that fits for me...yet.

Never mind. Lighten up, Janice! And into the classroom I trudged. As I made my way through all the walkers, I thanked my lucky stars that this torture was only to be 30 minutes long. I survived it.

And for the first time in my life, after struggling through gym classes as a child and as an adult, I was the most capable athlete in the room.

Yay...or not.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Will these sad green tomatoes ever get enough warmth to turn red? According to the weatherman, not any time soon. This is July, almost August, usually filled with window-open summer days and fruit ripening on the vine.

Also awaiting some action from the sun is this poor, pathetic strawberry. I have managed to harvest a couple but had to put them in a sunny window to fully ripen.

And sadder still is this sickly albino strawberry that doesn't even have the green thing happening.

It seems that the only edible plants that are happy in my garden these days are those who are meant to be picked while being proudly green.

Birthday Fever

Ah, it's that celebrating time of the year when back-to-back summer birthdays rule and parties are the order of the day. 

Last night was Rylee's pizza party with, as usual, presents galore. Appetizers, salad, and birthday cake rounded out the menu and, keeping with tradition, I managed to stuff myself.

 

It seems like only yesterday I got the call that she had arrived and I jumped in my car, hospital bound, to check out the precious little preemie. And now she's eleven...almost a teenager. Yikes.

Yesterday

Theme Thursday - Help!

Seeing that so familiar "Help" album cover inviting participation in this week's Theme Thursday made memories come flooding into my consciousness...thoughts having nothing whatsoever to do with help or assistance. Instead the memory was 1990 when I saw Paul McCartney live in Berkeley's Memorial Stadium. Always a Beatle fan, I was totally captivated. Really, that barely begins to describe the experience.

The only thing better would have been to see and hear the entire Fab Four in all their 60s glory. I am still such a fan, though an old fan, of the same vintage as Paul and Ringo. It seems like only yesterday when I was glued to the TV watching their amazing debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Wordless Wednesday: Guard Pug on Duty

The Grandkids Cometh

The visit was rousing to say the least; it always is. We discovered two new parks for swinging, romping, and digging in the sand. I ate potato chips until they were coming out my ears, a treat that I rarely indulge in because of the sodium overdose that ensues.

With my plastic in hand, we made our usual trek to the toy store and everyone chose something special to add to the ever-growing collection of playthings at home.

A splashful soak for three ended the stay. As I watched the traditional washing fun, I had to wonder how many more scenes like this one I will get to see since it is getting harder and harder to cram those six long legs into my cozy tub-for-one.

Another wonderful visit.

The Way We Were

So long ago. Life was very different then. Jane's playhouse rested in the front yard, ready for eager young occupants looking for some fun. Now the playhouse has collapsed into an almost invisible heap nestled in the ever-encroaching ivy. The only noticeable reminder of what used to be is her lonesome, rusty truck that has clearly seen better days. As trite as it sounds, it seems like only yesterday...when it was just the two of us.

Pretty in Pink

Here's Cleo looking very smug as she models her brandnew collar from The Black Dog in Martha's Vineyard.  Isn't  is funny how a spiffy new outfit can give an old girl attitude?