Naps are for Smart People

Naps are for Smart People

Raw bundles of energy learning to assimilate into life give all in laughter, running and the work of the day which may include miles of trucks on knees, bionicals that soar to mighty heights and giggling with delight when this little piggy goes to market find restful recharging in the afternoon nap.

The simplicity of giving it your all should be a more obvious lesson to those of us who transitioned from toddler to adult.  How did we miss it?  At least for most of the grown up persuasion it seems daily toils are an effort and concentration seems to be on getting through it. We utter words, axioms, as though verbalizing acknowledges the wisdom but feel forbidden to actually do it full time.  Stop and smell the roses.  Love what you do.  

The back end of that last one is do what you love and is something I could never quite figure out.  For one thing not everyone could say what they love and so wander through live gritting their teeth doing something they think they do not love.

I probably could not have named one thing I loved to do in my youth.  Sure, I was a nurse to the core of me and loved it.  It was my calling.  But as a high schooler I worked every weekend and holiday and whether it was a laundry or grocery store or factory I loved it all.  For me I guess the pleasure was in the doing.

What if….we woke up tomorrow and decide to love everything we do?  Love that alarm and morning stretch, love that shower and first sip of coffee, love the action of getting dressed, love that drive or walk, love that work?  

There are all kinds of songs that say be glad for what we are given.  You know it may not change the world but I bet it will change us and who knows energy may abound.

Some have a dream and belief and will reach it but for most of us ordinary folk the true pleasure of life is all around us in the most mundane things.  And yes when we earn our rest at day’s end it will be one of regeneration although I believe the whole world could use the benefits of an afternoon nap. After all some of the most brilliant people in the world grabbed a little midday shut eye, probably because in their waking hours they  gave it their all.

Offenheim Family and Google Searches

Offenheim Family and Google Searches

I love Google!  On Friday I posted about a talented musical family we met decades ago in the Haliburton Highlands.  Yesterday I was thrilled to receive an email from Sandy.  I removed personal family information but am posting the rest here so, as Paul Harvey says you will know, ‘the rest of the story’!

Hello Chris:
I received a Google alert this morning which had your very complimentary memories of Kia Ora and our young children at the lake.  Of course, you mentioned Sandy Offenheim and Family and our music, which you still remember.
 
Yes, it’s been 36 years since our first album of kids’ songs came out.  So hard to believe.  The wonderful thing is that now we have email, websites and the like and so people can locate me and order our 25th anniversary compliation CD, Let’s Play a Statue Game…Again..  and they do.  The orders always come with beautiful comments and happy memories, which makes me very happy.
 
You said you didn’t know what we were doing now, so I’ll fill you in.  After my music began slowing down, I went back to school and became an ESL: teacher for almost 20 years.  I retired from it 5 years ago and am now completing a 2 book series of chants, rhymes and activities for ESL.  I’ve been working closely with the publisher and we hope to have the first book out this fall.  Harold retired too and he is helping me with the book on all the computer stuff.
 
I’ve also been busy for 6 years working on a project with another woman for the ageing population.  We’re hoping to get that out….we have some pokers in the fire and are hoping…..
 
I must say that I was very impressed with your writing.  You express yourself beautifully.  Do you write professionally? I loved the way you described Haliburton.  Those simple, lazy days are amongst my most favourite memories of quiet, family times….before all the technology that so fills up children’s hours these days.  We were lucky to have that time up north.  I believe that Kia Ora was sold to a corporation some time ago.
 
I wrote a song “Dream by the Water,” which is on my 4th album Nicknames, while sitting by the lake.  It’s a haunting, simple song about the effect of that place on me.
 
Anyway, I just wanted to comment on what you had written.  Thank you for making my Saturday morning.  I really appreciate your thoughts.
 
Sandy

To view Sandy’s web site click below.
 
http://www.sandyoffenheim.com/

 
To see Sandy’s interview  Click below
 
http://www.blip.tv/file/4016441?filename=ThatChannel-ThatChannelcomInterviewWithSpecialGuestSandyOffenheim208.wmv
 
To View Sandy on youtube click below

If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours

If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours
 
One or two years ago, thirty odd to be almost exact, I took my children to the Haliburton Highlands each summer to a cottage. It was a delightful little rustic dwelling with a wood stove and screened in porch right on Lake Haliburton with a shallow beach ideal for wee ones and a diving platform further out. When the odd storm came up we would wrap ourselves in blankets and sit on the porch and enjoy nature’s fury as the wind blew horizontal rain and thunder clapped and lightning provided a better show than man could ever construe.

 
Most times the weather was ideal with sun and gentle breezes rustling the leaves of mighty oaks, elms and maples that sheltered us in a world far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. No TV or Internet just games, running, laughing and splashing ourselves into deep untroubled sleeps at night. The only goal was relaxation and community with other cottagers.
 
We met many people over the years but one family in particular remains a frequent memory. When we first met they were just ordinary folk on holiday and then they told us about their lives. Family singers and musicians were very popular then and this whole family sang and produced records.
 
I don’t remember if we bought the most recent LP (long playing record) or if they just gave it to us but ‘If Snowflakes Fell in Flavours’ quickly became a favourite often played once we returned home. Shortly after that holiday I flew out west to Vancouver Island to visit friends with two young children and took a copy to them.
 
The family of singers have no idea how much pleasure they brought to us and I have no idea what happened to them but for one summer the very thought of flavoured snowflakes brought smiles and happiness to a few of us across the country.

**Thanks to Google again.  A search shows the song  was by Sandy Offenheim and all my favs are there including Let’s Play a Statue Game.  The bio says that Sandy Offenheim is a Canadian teacher, children’s song writer and performer, who recorded four albums of her original kids’ songs with her husband Harold and their children, Nadine and Stephen while they were growing up.

Well I am glad I had that memory today and want to thank Sandy and her family for providing such wonderful entertainment.

Tucking in the Corners of Your Life

Tucking in the Corners of Your Life

 day is done, gone the sun,…oh wait that’s a camp song meandering through my sleepy thoughts as I argue gently with myself  about doing a post on corners.  I have already posted for today but am behind on the dailies and the corner thing is annoying my sandman who is poised to pop a little sand but now must wait because..yes the corners win.

It all started as I drew back the bed covers, a somewhat ridiculously delicious action that signals that day in fact is done and a reward awaits for the toils of the day.  At this point I snuggle in propped by pillows and feeling rather royal to read a few blogs.  This night I paused as an askew corner of the fitted sheet caught my eye.  

Well that won’t do, I tell myself making no move to fix it..at first.

It makes no difference and will not affect your slumbers I tell myself firmly.

But it’s not right, I sigh.

It won’t affect your sleep, I say again with more emphasis.

Aw heck, I give in and tighten the corner.

Now comes the really annoying me thinking that I must check the other corner.

Don’t be ridiculous, the Other corner is fine and you are not obsessive.

Accepting my observation on OCD I then proceed to check and tighten the other corner, which in no way had to be altered.

Throughout this activity and consideration it dawned on me that we really do need to tuck in the corners of our lives.  When something is a little askew that is the time to stop and make an adjustment so we can continue onward and before it becomes a big wrinkle.

Now this could have been more simply said…

A stitch in time saves nine (I know it but never do it as picking up a needle seems outside my skills.  But the idea is there.)

maybe just maybe….day is done..now

I’m a Bear, Barely There

I’m a Bear Barely There
 
If you were an animal which would you be?
Would you be big as a horse or small as a flea?
 
Would you bark like a dog, meow like a cat?
Would you be skinny or very very fat?
 
Would you slither and hiss much like a snake,
Or swim like a fish across a great lake?
 
Would you hop like a bunny or fly like a dove?
Would you be grumpy or growl with love?
 
In the summer I’d be a bird with a flare
But in the winter I’d be a big old bear
 
Cause then I could grow fat and furry
Sleep all winter and never scurry
 
Til spring beckoned with a flowery day
I’d shed all that fat then run and play.

 
If you were an animal – which would you be?

(Hmmm perhaps my three year old daily contact is influencing my style?)  As the days grow cooler I find myself wanting to hibernate.

Do You Ask Why?

Do You Ask Why?

Susan  posted on ‘Why’ today and when I first began reading it my mind was just rousing after a short nap (Yes when G2 has his quiet time so do I, he because of youth, I because of non youth) and at first her wisdom seemed simplistic,  then the magnitude of what she was saying hit.

It was an ‘of course’ eureka kind of moment.  As an adult the initial thought was…the story of my life.  How many times throughout my career and life had I experienced misadventures instead of adventures because I had failed to ask that very question?  I  immediately thought of the countless times a day that sleeping little boy in the next room asks the same question and we all chuckle at the innocence and repetitiveness, perhaps giving a light hearted or limited response never taking it too seriously.

Then I considered G2 who at eight might ask the question but first considers possibilities and puts forth options of either or.  There is such an amazing difference between the minds of eight and three but both are trying to learn, to make sense of their world with that very question.

I conclude that the worst thing we can ever do is to stop asking.  My world has changed physically somewhat but more importantly there now exists an astronomical change in perspective.  If I had read Susan’s post a couple of months ago I doubt it would have had the impact of today for now I see the world around us from a myriad of angles.

I also conclude the worst thing we can ever do is not to seek the answers to the question when we hear it and to help others around us in their quest.

Do you ask why?
You can find Susan at susanthecoach.wordpress.com

In Real Life…5 Minute Friday

In Real Life for 5 minute Friday

5 Minutes to speak….

In Real Life there is no happy ever after without acceptance and unwavering love.

In Real Life we cannot heal the pain and sorrow of the world without starting with one person, one place, one time.

In Real Life a moment in time endures far longer than the glitz of movie drama.

In Real Life the fabric of our existence is so interwoven there is no beginning or end, there just is.

In Real Life the answers are not presented neatly and all problems are not solved.

In Real Life our humaness is the best, the worst, the strongest, the weakest the all.  Each of us makes Real Life what it is.  Problem is sometimes we cannot figure out what we are making until the time is long past and we catch a view of it in the rear view mirror.  

Two Weeks

Two Weeks

What have I done?  

For the life of me it feels like I have climbed mountains, swam oceans, dog sledded to both poles, north and south, discovered new planets, personally, one by one,travelled parallel universes, leaped tall buildings in a single jump, righted wrongs and resettled the earth on it’s axis, when in fact, all I did was move.

To go into microscopic detail would just sound like a major whine and snivel unworthy of acknowledgement.  Most frustrating was my failed determination to document my adventures daily, believing I would ‘catch up tomorrow’, never a good idea.  I knew daily postings were not realistic unless I was prepared to bombard y’all with daily…so exhausteds… but figured I could use that info for future posts.

So since the 23rd….moved to Hamilton, returned to steam clean and visit family/friends for few days, unpack, relaxed, then realized car full of boxes so have not finished completely, went to cottage with G1 & G2 for five exhausting days, got home and returned to Kitchener for family/friends events and back again to prepare for first day of school…which is today.

Good thing my son is scheduled home today because here I sit, Walk-in Clinic prisoner, waiting for medical assistance in dislodging ear wax (cerumen)  believe it or not, which has rendered my right ear mostly deaf.  Don’t even consider asking…there is no way I can turn that into any kind of entertaining tale.  Had I known I would have dressed a little more impressive and put some, or a lot of make up, but that particular supply bucket is at home, as my intention on leaving the house this morning was to take G1 to school.  Period.

Just been shown into doc’s office….maybe just maybe…
Computer not hooked up yet..still using iPad so capability  is limited..but ever optimistic!

R&R and Time For Blogs, Reading and Writing

R&R and Time For Blogs, Reading and Writing

Hectic hectic week following the move but leaving shortly for the north and cottage for a few days where my intent is to enjoy time catching up on reading and doing some enjoyable work for my friend.  Time to get organized, get my footing, get balanced….all of the things that seem to have fallen by the wayside.

So looking forward to getting some semblance of normal once I figure out what it is!

Is That a Light at the End of the Tunnel Or……

Is That a Light at the End of the Tunnel or….

I used to love the whole idea of a light at the end of the tunnel – the tunnel being a long and arduous path, some great feat, challenge or test of endurance – and then one day someone commented that instead of it being a light of attainment it just might be a train coming straight at you.

I am still in the tunnel!  As per my previous post on activities which included a Christmas party in August and moving, events are trotting along.

The party was amazing, organized by my two nephews and their Dad.  Two fire pits grilling corn on the cob and beef and chicken and enough salads of every imaginable kind.  And desserts.  Lots of desserts.

My nephew’s country property sports a pool, swings, slides and a trampoline that kept the youngest generation in giggles for hours and triggered tears in the youngest when it was time to go.  A great big Santa stood proudly in the midst.  G1 and G2 could not make it as the whole house came down with a bug but a good time was had by all who did.

That was Saturday and Tuesday was THE MOVE.   I am in awe of anyone who does a move well.  I have gotten settled in..sort of… but must return tomorrow for final clean up which of course is in the  midst of more social activity – Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Muscles I did not even know I had hurt….okay I probably do not have them but pain has settled where they should be.  I keep thinking I must look toned and ripped but a glance in the mirror, when it cannot be avoided, just reveals an exhausted not so hot looking shadow of who I think I am.

I can’t quite see the light yet but at least there are no train whistles.