vacay time

Leaving tomorrow for parts unknown. Literally. But that's okay--it's good to face the unknown, learn new things, meet new people. It's a bit scary, but in a good way. Duh--it's called anticipation. I have packed and re-packed at least three times. No more! Now I can concentrate on just what comes next. I don't have to think a month in advance. Or a quarter in advance. I can just relax and do the next thing. Get on the plane. Relax. Get off the plane. Get back on the plane. Relax. Land in Istanbul. Go to the hotel. Relax. Go to Hagia Sophia. Yippee! Turkey, here we come. ; )

first day of summer?

Greetings from the lovely Pacific Northwest, where the calendar declares that it's officially summer but the thermometer claims it is still early spring. The sun hides behind the clouds and the temperature is in the 50s. Well, maybe 60s. The good news is that there is little humidity in the air. Unlike the deep South, where the heat index is well over 100 already, I'm sure. Everything's a trade-off, right? I really miss that heat sometimes, though. You walk outside and the air is so thick it's like you're breathing water. But that's why God invented AC! I'm about to go to a part of the world where it is considerably warmer, so I suppose I shouldn't complain too much. By the time we get back, summer will be in full swing here. Plenty of sunshine left to bask in. . . .

travel jitters part two

and the adventure continues. found out today that our friend from England won't be flying over to house-sit while we're gone because his mom, who is 99 years old, may be on her way out. We totally understand that he doesn't want to be away right now--I've been where he is. I knew when I went to Finland in 2002 that my mom might not be there when I got back home to Mississippi, but I was also supported by a ton of family. In our friend's case, it's him and his brother--and he is closest to his mom. I really feel for him. Not a good place to be, losing a parent. It's best if he's there when she leaves. . . .Meanwhile, the packing continues for me. I keep changing my mind about what to take. I think I've pretty much decided on a wardrobe that will fit for every occasion, but there's no way to completely plan for the unexpected. I just expect that we are going to a country that has clothing stores, for goodness sakes, so if I need something, I'm sure I'll be able to find it! Mike packs so little that anything I take looks like I'm overdoing it. Oh well, I do pretty well for a girl! Ha, ha, ha! In a few hours now, we'll be on the plane and there will be no more time for changing my mind, no more time to mis-decide. I look forward to getting into my plane seat and relaxing! Got a book, a journal, a crossword puzzle book, and my iPod. I'm ready!!!

Sunday

Keeping the Sabbath: a lost art. I was brought up to go to church every Sunday. And to put my tithe into the offering plate. When I was a kid, it was 10 cents in the little offering envelope. I never questioned any of that. It was just what we did. The Sabbath has a rich history--I have much to learn about traditions and rituals associated with this day. But one thing has remained consistent for me through the years--that it is a day of rest, reflection and re-grouping for the week to come. In the Deep South, the stores were closed on Sunday. The only store I remember going to on Sunday was the donut shop. Later on, the stores were closed in the morning and opened up after lunch. And of course now, stores open at their regular time. Chik-Fil-A is one exception to this modern approach to the Sabbath--their owner is a Christian and chooses to run his business according to Biblical principles. The money he could make by staying open on Sundays--just think of all the fried chicken dinners he could sell!--runs second to his religious traditions. At any rate, taking time to relax at least one day a week has its roots in a tradition that is thousands of years old. Perhaps we could all do better than just putting our feet up on the couch and turning on the tv--maybe a little tradition should make its way back into everyday life. Maybe the Sabbath should be "kept holy."

Buck Haggard

Went to Forza to hear Buck Haggard tonight--a band formed by some friends of mine. They play--obviously--country music, much of it by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard--maybe all of it. Only three of them--lead, bass and drums. Great music! Great friends. What else in life do we need? A little food, clothes to wear, some money to spend on the essentials and a few pleasures. Love, music, food, . . .Ah, life is good. I want to know more of this simple life--I want to live my life with as little stress as possible. Playing music--my own and other people's--is the most relaxing way I know to live--I want to make music the rest of my life. To write music, to play music--for my own edification, if not for other people. YES!

today's subject: travel jitters

I love to travel. I love to see the sights, meet new and interesting people, sample other cultures, etc. What I don't like is the waiting, waiting, waiting the few days before flying. I get what I like to call "travel jitters"--my heart beats a little faster, which makes a little bit dizzy; I have a bit of an upset stomach; I can't sleep; I feel irritable. I wonder if other people experience this phenomenon as well? I almost wish there were such a thing as suspended animation for trips like this one to Turkey. Then I could just go to sleep and wake up in my hotel room in Turkey, no problem. Oh, here I am. I'm in Istanbul. Cool. Let's go see some mosques! But no, I must deal with this unpleasant malady and live like the rest of humanity--on the edge of my seat, breathless with anticipation, sleep-deprived, anxious, but--also hyper with happiness at the prospects of what await us in Istanbul and the rest of our vacation. I'm already packed and we aren't even leaving for four more days. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! The only thing left to do is get on the plane. Oh, but first, I have to make sure all of my little "toiletries" are ready to go in my little travel pouch: make-up, facial cleanser, meds, ear plugs, etc. . . .Oh, the joys of travelling. Sunglasses, sun screen--it's going to be hot in Turkey. ; )

Question: why do I let mean, small, manipulative, insecure women get me down? I looked so forward to growing up--getting out of high school, going to college, expanding my horizons, having a career, but mostly, just growing up and all that means: leaving behind the pettiness, the strategically placed comments meant to hurt and undermine the person on the receiving end. Alas, this behavior, perpetrated in my high school by mean, small, manipulative insecure girls, does not seem to have happened only in high school. Such girls grow up to be such women. And too bad for the rest of us who have to deal with their bad behavior. Too bad someone in high school didn't set them straight. Too bad. I need a strategy that will sustain me through having to deal with such women throughout my life--I realize that now. I must find a way to guard my heart and secure my own soul against the attacks launched by such women. And I should pray for all of my friends for this same protection. The worst offenders are those who mask themselves as friends and then--voila--they become another creature right before our eyes. In the twinkling of an eye, they transform themselves into the all-too-familiar Bitch we've all be warned of by our mothers and our friends. By the time they have snuggled up to you as a so-called friend, you have, unfortunately, opened up your heart in acceptance and trust, only to have that trust trampled on. I don't want to stop trusting; I just want to prevent further hurt--as my husband says, "Buck up!" The Bitch is just an insecure woman who wants to feel big and important by putting someone else down. And often is jealous of other womens' accomplishments. So, instead of anger, it is pity I should feel. And I should feel lucky to have escaped this same fate myself. Whew!

Couch Time

Oh my--it's finally summer vacay--time to stretch out, relax, take stock, and regroup. My favorite time of year without a doubt. But then, as soon as the leaves start to turn in late August, I'm looking forward to another school year. I wonder if every teacher is like this--we are geared into that school calendar. It probably shows up in our DNA or something. My blood has chalk in it--or is it white board marker ink? At any rate, yay for summer! Mike and I are getting ready to head to Turkey for a few weeks. Another adventure--last time it was Australia--koalas, gators, and huge bats, believe it or not. I'm not sure what to expect on this trip--we'll be spending some time in Cappadochia--I'm really looking forward to seeing the caves and the quirky landscape there. And we'll also go to Ephesus and walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. The ruins of that city are supposed to just be incredible. And then, there's the Aegean Sea! and in Istanbul the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Top Kapi, etc.... It should be pretty darn cool. I wanted to learn a little Turkish before I went, but that plan didn't exactly come together. I'm not very disciplined, I'm afraid. Maybe there's still time to learn Please and Thank You! Later. . . .