Bloomin' and anniversary...

(edit: I just realized the photos are reversed from where they should be. It is my birthday and I don't feel like redoing the entire post, so please use your imagination and flip the photos! Thanks!)

27 years ago today my beloved and I eloped and joined in Holy matrimony. We have been like a hook and eye ever since... joined in lock-step, and even when seperated by work or travel, we are always ready and waiting to rejoin. The bond is strong, and colorful!



51 years ago today my mothers water broke as she was riding the up escalator at Jordan Marsh department store, surrounded by her 4 small children. They were off to buy Easter shoes and outfits. She marched them right back down the opposite direction (much to their chagrin!) and went to the hospital where she then delivered ME. I have always felt that having a birthday in the early spring was a special gift. A time of new beginnings seems just right. 10 or so days ago my friend Sonia gave me some naked forcythia branches and told me to stuff them in water. I did as directed, and today those branches opened up in a thousand yellow bells, as if celebrating my birthday.

From locks to flowers, I find my blessings where I may. And they are bountiful.

Dreams and reality...

Today is the 26Th anniversary of my marriage.
I began the day having a long chat with a woman in her early 20's. Her boyfriend is in the Air Force, currently stationed in Iraq. She was starry eyed, head over heels, first blush in LOVE. And I could remember that sensation as if it were yesterday.

My husband and I took the day off today. We did one of the things we love to do best; we went exploring. We drove and chatted. We drove and were silent. We took in the scenery, we found a new spot to eat and had a favorite meal. We laughed.

At one point we stopped at a beach and went for a walk. The day had started out overcast and rainy. As the afternoon went on, the sun burst through the clouds. The sky was stunning. I took this photo of a wonderful rock wall, topped by an airy bank of clouds. It struck me, looking at it, that this image portrayed the the relationships of the girl I talked to this morning and her boy friend, and that of mine with my husband.

The clouds represent the airy, fantastic dreams of couples newly in love. Castles in the air... splendid to see, dreamy... but lacking in substance.

The rock wall represents the solid foundation that long term couples build after many years together. The hard times dovetail the good times to build something of substance... to withstand the storms and offer shelter along the way.

It was magical to see the clouds looking as if they were perched right on top of that solid wall. A majestic illustration of our past and present.