Shoes

OK. I have a lot of shoes but not so many that I can't count them. I have most of them in plastic boxes with labels. I really don't want to count them. But, I know I have fewer than Nancy because she has one of every Enzio flats ever made. What concerns me about these shoes, though, was that we're more than half way through the summer, and I had yet to wear my white sandals. If the truth were known, I'd forgotten about them. So, now, most of the people with whom I come in contact with think I only have one pair of summer shoes - the white ones. My daughter tries to tell me that no one pays attention to that rule of "no white shoes after Labor Day," but she's not constrained by the "old thinking." In fact, she wears white slacks far longer than I would and the thought of carrying a white purse in the winter seems fine to her. I want to appear modern, but I ain't giving into white shoes after Labor Day. So, for all of you that think I only have one pair of shoe this summer, just wait til after Labor Day.

Who knew

that a TV show could generate such excitement on so many levels. We've watched 24, but with sinking expectations. What are we missing? With the many distractions, maybe Lost has captured our imaginations. Poor Charlie. I think his demise has punctured the bubble. Moving on - Maggie goes back to school sometime this week. Mixed emotions. It's been remarkable watching her grow up this summer. And, there's a month to go.

Breathe deeplyq

I've been watching Lost past episode. Whoooo! What a series. I can picture myself in the forest. I feel the heat and humidity of the episodes. I've decided thery\ll all dead. So much for TV acquaintances.

I went to a tea party today . . .

they are a dyeing art. Who had the time or inclination to cut tiny sandwiches, make the egg salad, polish the silver, wash the cups, press the linens, make the tea, roll the salmon rolls? It was absolutely lovely. The best part was that the hostess was assisted by her granddaughter, who is 12. She was dressed in a lovely dress with matching sandals. Her brother, also appropriately dressed, helped with the tea. Tea Party - what comes to mind? Graciousness, formal, by-gone era, antique tea cups, cucumber sandwiches, petite fours? If my mother were still alive, I'd have worn white gloves. I know there are groups that ensure the art of quilt-making doesn't die out. There needs to be one for tea parties.

It's a good day to begin again . . .

It's been a month and a half and I guess I've been hibernating. I've accomplished a couple of things, not in any order of importance. I tackled a couple of long-held squeamish ideas - fish tacos and banana/peanut butter sandwiches. Fish tacos, not so bad. I guess the secret is fried fish and a strong enough cabbage taste to mask the fish. I ate the whole thing! On to the banana/peanut butter. Ooofdah. I'll revisit them as soon as I buy more bananas. Potassium combined with fat. How can that not be delicious.


The second event and far more important was my 45th HS reunion. Why anyone would hold a reunion in SD in the summer is beyond me. In their defense, however, the weather was great. They may have to do more with the fact that we've had a record-breaking heat wave and drought in San Antonio. It's amazing that you can see your HS friends and pick up as if nothing had changed. Why is that? We can laugh, reminisce, and gossip (just a little) and the time goes by so quickly. Too quickly. I believe that should we attend another, one night for the whole class is enough. You've told everyone how well they look and how glad you are to see them and asked what they've been doing and ooohed over their grandchildren. The precious time is investing it with friends from forever. (Notice I did not say, "old friends"). Collectively shared joy and sadness is the foundation of our lives.

My mother was hospitalized when I was in 9th grade, but I don't remember her having "girlfriends." She was in everything - book clubs, PEO, Eastern Star and others. But I don't remember coming home to find her immersed in a friendly cup of coffee with a best friend. I had to learn on my own that girlfriends are what keep you grounded. I hope I can pass this on to my daughter.

Read "We are our Mothers' Daughters" by Cokie Roberts

It's a compilation of great stories about women who have made a difference and pathed the road for the lives we live today. Her Chapter on "Friends" is particularly special as I just spent five days with friends from long ago and relatively new friends.

Just a couple of quotes that caught my imagination. "We were part of the grouop of kids who ran the student government, acted in the plays, organized the events . . . . Little did we know then that the friendships formed from those silly pastimes, the countless hours on the telephone, the sleepovers where no one slept, would in later years bring us back together through happy times and sad--through marriages and births and deaths, runaway kids and runaway husbands." All of us who have those friends are so blessed. Two of them flew all the way to Seattle for my stepson's wedding. And, it was as if no time had passed. Two other friends could not come for personal reasons and we missed them.

And three other friends also made the trip with their husbands. We all joined together as if we'd known each other forever. Another thought from Cokie is that we sometimes get so busy with mundane tasks and trivia that we don't take time to enjoy each other. The wedding provided time out to do that. She again points out that girlfriend lunches are "food for the soul." My soul was enriched this week. They made me take a time out to relax. They took over little tasks that I hadn't finished. I cherish my friends.

Go West, Robinsons, Go West

We've begun the trek to WA state to Joe's oldest son's wedding. We've got a van packed to the gills, one dog ( a lap dog Labrador), and two geezers as our daughter is wont to say. I have to remind her that 50 is the new 30 and geezers don't start until the mid-eighties. And when I'm 80, it'll move. We're sailing through seven states. On the first day, we traveled 8 hours and were still in TX. When you look at an Atlas, TX is not to scale of the other states. We took refuge from a hail storm under the entry way to a nursing home. I'm a big off-the-freeway sort of person and we were on some less traveled roads. The wind generators that dot the landscape are wonderful to watch, rather like large herons. My observation is that the further north and west we go, the higher the gas prices and the lower the octane. Why do gas prices go up during the summer? I cannot believe it doesn't have something to do with gouging, but what do I know. More observations to come.