Gratitude

I am one of the most fortunate people that I know. I have had a good life and I am aware that there are many souls out there that have been dealt a bad hand and bellies that are left hungry at the end of the day. I have my days, especially with my mom's passing, that I have the blues or I miss home....well my original home I should say. I don't claim to be Mrs. Mary Sunshine or the picture of optimism. But even on those sad days, I know that I am blessed, my needs are fulfilled and I should be wearing a T-shirt that says "Life is Good." With that in mind, I have to share some exceptional things that happened this week that have touched my heart and are the proof that life has it's ups and downs, but loving thoughts and kind words are right outside your door.

The weather in this area never ceases to amaze me.  The thunder storms come on in a split second and the rain just dumps down.  The trees look like they will blow over from the force of the wind.  I got stuck in the store one afternoon during such a storm and was chatting with my in-laws while waiting it out.  Once the rain stopped, this was what we saw right outside.  Of course, the picture does not do it justice.

I was in the shower house one day, scrubbing away when I had a visitor.  Joe and Rona are a few doors down in our campground, we've met a few times and chatted about all things Angle and my lovely state of Washington, which Joe has visited before.  Rona is from Scotland and knows a thing or 2 about being homesick. She also has a daughter living in California and understands the feeling of missing your loved ones.  Rona stopped by the shower house with this book, "642 Things to Write About." The purpose is to get your creative juices flowing with suggestions for writing subjects, like your first heartbreak or "that time you peed your pants. (That's a story I'll tell sometime after I've been to Jerry's maybe.) It turns out they read the blog and saw my entry on writer's block. She saw this book and thought of me. We had a tearful chat about what it is to miss your family and be far from home. She offered an ear when I need to talk.  I was so touched by this gesture that a lump remained in my throat for at least an hour after her visit.  Thank you to Rona for the book, and to everyone that reads the blog and enjoys it.  Who knew my rambling would lead to such sincere gestures.

Since my return from Washington, countless people at the Angle have expressed their condolences about my mom.  People that don't have to say a word and that I would never have known that they even knew.  Everyone, and I do mean everyone, knew that I had been home and had lost my mother.  I wish I knew the proper thing to say when someone says they are sorry, and to express what it means to me that they would bring it up.  The feeling is one of warmth and security that I am surrounded by such caring people.  This community is full of such people.  Our neighbor Gloria stopped by one night with this lovely bouquet of Hydrangea and said she has been thinking of us.  She lives in North Dakota and is only here on the weekends, but had brought flowers from her home for us.  After she left, I had to get all choked up and remind Rick that when we lived in Washington, we knew about 3 people in our neighborhood and only said hello at the mailbox.  One neighbor that lived directly across the street was on the Neighborhood Housing Committee and never even came to introduce herself to us.  I am convinced that there is something magical and charming about the Angle.  Don't get me wrong, there are some iffy folks here too, let's not get carried away. Perhaps the exceptional ones make up for those that make you raise an eye-brow.

On one of my blue days, we took a little boat trip to a beach called Rabbit Ears and played in the water.  It was a Friday afternoon and there was work to do, as always.  But we live in a place with water and beaches right around the corner and work with family who understand my need for distraction sometimes.  I reminded Rick that we never would have had opportunity to do such a thing in our previous life.  He likely would have been out of town, I would have been working and the kids would have been with someone else that we were paying to watch them for most of the day.  This day was something we never would have believed could happen to us.

Sunday is usually a busy cabin-cleaning day and in a strange turn of events I didn't have to clean yesterday and we were able to attend church.  The speaker was using a projector to show his points and the words stood out at me as if they were being shouted.  MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.  I think that sums it up.