#29 Playing at Nana's

Traci came by tonight to have dinner and watch Ellen with me; of course our sweet baby and Little Man came along.

As she and I chatted and watched TV, Little Man was busy setting up his town on the mat we got him for Christmas.

I'm not much of an expert in child development, but I do declare this is a pretty meticulous layout for a 2-year-old. He was careful to put buildings beside, not on, roads, and is quite particular that the school building gets the roof with the clock on it. 

Yes, there is a building upside-down. It's ok. Overall I am overwhelmed. He did this 100% by himself. 

#LoveMyLife

#28 The Big Date

I had a big date with our Little Man today, and what a time we had.
His preschool is closed for Christmas break, and at two-and-a-half he is too little to understand. So I picked him up at our regular going-to-school time.
We dropped the dog at the groomer’s and headed to a popular breakfast restaurant. They offer a kid’s breakfast of 4 silver-dollar pancakes. He was in high heaven. After each and every bite, he leaned back against the booth, rolled his head side to side and said, “Mmm-mmm.” It just doesn’t get much better than that.
From breakfast we headed to the car wash, where he knows I allow him out of the car seat. He sits beside me on the armrest in the front seat and we watch the car get soaped, rinsed, waxed and blown. I guess it’s high drama when you’re two.
Back at the groomer the dog wasn’t ready so we strolled around the shop looking st the animals. He spotted a snake camouflaged on a branch and yelled, “Snake!” with such delight I could only wonder why. We watched hamsters and fish. He insisted the angelfish were sharks and made great chomping motions to be sure I understood.
We headed back to my house and played with cars and trucks. His dear cousin came by and they played pretty amicably until it was time for them both to head to their respective homes for nap time.
After such an adventurous morning, I took a nap myself.
#LoveMyLife

#27 Shampoo

True love is a husband who will wash your hair while you hold a towel over the stitches in your face.
#LoveMyLife

#26 Gray and rainy

There are 1,000 things I could be doing right now, but my eyes are so swollen from surgery it’s actually painful to keep them open. So instead I’m on the couch by a lovely fire, guilt-free.
#LoveMyLife

#25 Support

Had a little minor surgery yesterday and I’ll be home for a few days. Sweet hubby has jumped every time I’ve made a sound. Even Scout the mighty dog knows something’s up and has given me plenty of space.
I mentioned it on social media and tons of friends sent their love. One friend posted, “Can you tell lots of people love you, Maggie?”
Yes, I surely can.
#LoveMyLife

#24 FIESTA!

Sweet hubby returned last night from visiting his mom in TN for a few days. Carefully packed in his car were two giant boxes of Fiesta!
We’ve used Fiesta dinnerware since we married in 1995– the new department store stuff.
This motherload is the ORIGINAL stuff: a sunny yellow pitcher, a rose casserole with the iconic curved handles. The matching ball salt and pepper shakers. What FUN!

Their family used these dishes when hubby was a boy 100 years ago. He vividly remembered many of the pieces. How kind of MIL to share them with us.
We’ve got to figure the perfect way to display them, but for today I’m going through them just one more time, just for the pleasure of it.
#LoveMyLife

#23 Simplest Pleasures

I’ve enjoyed the simplest things the last few days. Like cleaning out my pj drawer. All the things that have waited for me to wear them —for 10 years — out, out, out. Ironing my handkerchiefs; mending things.
It’s not like I was too busy every moment to get to these things; I think I was just too preoccupied to notice them.
It may get boring at some point but for now it’s just very satisfying.
#LoveMyLife

#22 Home Sweet Home

Everyone was happy to see me back home: the dog. The cat. Hubby. My poor plants.
Feeling greatly loved and energized.
Tonight the littlest man in the family was in his first performance: a Christmas program at the day school. The first 5 minutes or so he stood well on stage with all the other kids.Then something upset him — we’re not sure what— and he spent the remainder in his teacher’s arms. Sobbing. Maybe it was the immensity of the place. To a little guy like that it must’ve seemed as large as Grand Central, filled with people. But he recovered, and afterward was happy to be in Papaw’s strong arms.
 I’m working on two new stories for the paper. Squee!
#LoveMyLife

#21 Vacation, Day 4

My hopes of getting out in the morning were  a bit dashed when I awoke to another couple of inches of snow. The official count seems to be 11” of snow we’ve gotten in the past few days.
The morning sun grew bright, though, and the city does a phenomenal job of clearing the streets, so I was able to get out after all, just a little later than planned.

Asheville boasts a lovely toy store carrying all the basic things, not a lot of things that go beep. I was able to buy all I needed for the little ones in the family. The guy who started the store in 1987 was there, looking just the same. He mentioned in the spring he was pondering retirement and I’m thankful he stuck around for yet one more Christmas.

In the afternoon my friend invited me to a neighborhood art sale with the proceeds benefiting the local food bank. We walked to a woman’s home where I met all sorts of neighbors. Cider and wine were offered as well as a spread of food. Both of us bought some lovely things for a good cause.

Later we walked to a lovely local restaurant and shared dinner and wine. After so much solitude, today was a nice transition back into the real world.

I head home tomorrow and can’t wait to see my sweet husband, my dog and my Sleep Number bed.
It’s been a wonderful week of unplugging and reflecting. Enough time of navel gazing — I feel recharged and ready to go forward.
#LoveMyLife

#20 Vacation, Day 3

Another yummy, delicious sort of day.

After waking up to 7 or 8 inches of snow, I sadly contacted my massage therapist to cancel my appointment. An hour later my sweet friends texted: "Will drive u to massage 4WD." WHAT?! You can bet I quickly called the massage lady back to be sure she'd still have me.

My friend's hubby picked me up in his Dodge Ram and we OWNED the streets all the way there. I have to say I had the best massage I ever had, even better than the NFL player at Disneyworld, but that's a story for another day. It was amazing.

So I walked outside all blissful and zen and my driver was waiting for me in the warm truck and safely delivered me home. Am I the luckiest thing ever?

Once home I sank into a deep nap and slept the afternoon away. Drew for a while and listened the Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites 1-6. Warmed up a little chili from yesterday and watched "The Crown" on Netflix. It's Season II. I often have to pause the movie and run to Wikipedia to bone up on the history of the times.

I've looked up a yoga class for tomorrow. The local book and news opens at 9 and if the streets will allow, I'll make a paper run, maybe snag a Starbucks on the way back.

So it's a day. One day remaining of my yummy, delicious vacation. Dinner tomorrow night with the friends.

For now, here is the early morning scene out my back door today. #LoveMyLife

#19 Vacation, Day 2

I heard something on the roof early this morning and wondered if it were raining. No! It’s SNOW! Snow for an Alabama girl means just one thing: MAGIC. My little vacay is just perfect.
#LoveMyLife

So I had no outings today except for my private art class, which is a short walk down the street. I attempted to draw my snow picture. 

I still have more work to do on it yet, which I fear I'll do tomorrow instead of the long-anticipated massage due to the roads, but we'll see. In the meanwhile it's a start and I enjoyed the class. 

#18 Vacation, Day 1

It's cold and gray in Asheville, just as it should be in December. today was nearly perfect, starting with a leisurely morning, a good walk, a noontime pedicure, an afternoon art lesson, then a run downtown for a takeout Harmony Bowl. Brief chat with my love, time for a book, then bedtime yoga.
Dammit, I have to do this stuff again tomorrow.
#LoveMyLife

#17 Stepping Down

For the past month, I’ve been marking lots of “lasts” in my adventure on City Council. Last Housing meeting. Last closed session. Last Transit meeting. And so on.

Today marked my last “last.” I had my last elevator ride upstairs where I turned in my keys. Last morning Staff meeting.  Funny, it was grey and overcast and my car seemed to be the only one on the road. My world was reflecting my melancholy.

Then the sun peeked out for our last City Council meeting. It was a celebration of us as we stepped down and a celebration of our historic new Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and Council.

We speechified and clapped and stood. I received lots of love, many thanks, and some great hugs. A commemorative Bell Tower and a proclamation.

Now I’m sitting in the dark rejoicing in all the love. Tomorrow I wake up a regular citizen again.

We swore in a really historic Council tonight, but I’ll post on that another day. For tonight I’m just basking.

#LoveMyLife

#16 Framily

the parents of my daughter-in-law came to see Beacon Hall this week and we had a super time sharing our little town with them.
It’s nice on occasion to see your town through someone else’s eyes. All the things you take for granted are suddenly shiny and new.
#LoveMyLife

#15 So Much Love

This has been a week I hope never to forget. Wednesday brought my last presentation to 3rd graders. I provided cake and we celebrated. Guess what! I made it through without a tear. The press was there.
Wednesday City staff threw me a going away party at a local restaurant. Each of the department heads made a little speech about me and gave me a gift. Each of my colleagues on Council made a little speech as well. At the very end the Mayor gave me .... A KEY YO THE CITY. I was shocked. And happy. And humbled.
Thursday our 3rd grade party was on the front page. Our son’s in-laws came to visit. We toured Beacon Hall and showed off our little town. In the evening we split up. Men went to Jody’s men’s group and we went to my progressive womems group. I was greeted by a GIANT basket filled with gifts for my trip next week.
It’s been a week of so much love and goodbye-ing, it’s been a little overwhelming for this Alabama girl.
On Tuesday I will step down. On Wednesday I head to Asheville, by myself, for a little vacay.
#LoveMyLife

#14 Home

A rare day at home. Cleaning, laundry, long walk with the dog. #Thankful

#13 Friends

Slugging around the house today with a cold, a little exhausted from yesterday, when a text came across the phone. Two friends have bought me a massage in Asheville during the week when I'm taking a little sabbatical -- starting the day after I "step down" from City Council. "You deserve it," they said.
Ohmygoodness. I may deserve a massage but nowhere on earth did I ever deserve such kind and thoughtful friends. Overwhelmed with gratitude.
#LoveMyLife

#12 Thankful

It’s Thanksgiving morning and the sun is just coming up. Birds are beginning to chirp outside my door and it promises to be another beautiful, clear day with a sky of Carolina  blue.
It’s been a whirlwind week. Hubby and I were treated to a trip to the top of the nearby water tower. I cast my last vote as a sitting Council member. I rode in the local Christmas parade in a red ‘62 Chevrolet Impala. Convertible.
Our kitchen is jammed with food waiting to be cooked. In a few short hours our home will be filled with family and friends. Babies. Laughter. Music. I feel so, so rich, and immensely grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Postscript. Dear Hubby took this amazing picture of our sweet great-grandson. His eyes opened wide when he saw me in the parade. If you zoom way in, you can see my red '62 Impala reflected in his loving eyes.
#LoveMyLife

#11 New Friends

We had friends over for dinner last night and it was just a lovely time.
Sweet hubby and I worked all week to clean house for them. I polished silver. He dismantled the oven and gave it a good scrub.
We had a simple but tasty meal and plenty of light wine — but the laughter! We laughed and laughed.
She was elected our new mayor a couple of weeks ago following seriously hard campaigning and they have been exhausted — and we were so happy to share a night with them of pure relaxation. Dear hubby and I are winding down as my term of office comes to a close. We are all in the same experience of public service, at opposite ends of the spectrum. Last night we just relaxed — and laughed.
#LovemyLife

#10 Heartstrings

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I take our great grandson to preschool and return to take him back home. Each and every time I show up, whether to take him to school or to take him back home, his face lights up and he is happy to see Nana. It just makes my heart light up like Roman candles. ❤️

#9 Performances

It was a hectic day with all the best parts of being a council member in a small town. In the morning I was invited to watch a senior citizen step team perform. What a treat! Then they served us a covered dish luncheon with the best of homemade food: fried chicken, ham, meatballs, macaroni & cheese, potato salad, cooked green beans, corn, deviled eggs, oh my! I can’t remember it all.
As I was serving my plate, a lady touched my arm and said, “I want you to go over there and get a slice of that homemade pineapple cake.” I smiled and said, “OK, Thank you,” and continued serving my plate.
She touched me again. “I mean NOW.” So I left the dinner line, ran to the dessert table, and got a slice of heavenly, made-from-scratch 3-layer pineapple cake with buttercream frosting.
It was worth the special trip.
Then in the evening I headed to our high school where I served as a judge for students’ senior projects.
What a treat.
I was a member of a team who judged 5 high school seniors who presented their requisite projects for graduation. 14 other teams judged kids throughout the school for a total of 70 presentations.
The kids have worked on these projects for a year and a half. They have practiced their oral delivery with mentors and advisors. They dressed up in their Sunday best and presented to us.
What’s always so surprising is how nervous they are.
The topics ranged from History of the Marine Corps to Benefits of Organic Food.
Every team of judges has an asshole, someone who is ultra-critical or loves to hear himself talk —or both— and I try not to be that person. I give them lots of encouragement and if they have given it good effort, I rank them high as the sky and send them on their way.
So the day started and ended with watching people do their best to perform for me.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
#LoveMyLife

#8 Family

Our SIL had his wisdom teeth removed today so T called and asked if we might keep her #1 son. I will call him GGS1. Would we!?

They arrived early  in the morning. He had had a banana, and said he did not want to "eat-eat." Hubby cooked bacon and eggs anyway, and we set a bowl in front of the boy. He ate! We felt that we should give the referees' "touchdown" signal.

We sat a while in Nana's chair and watched choo-choo videos on Youtube. As 9:30 rolled around I packed him up and we headed to the library. A local preschool was just entering for story time but GGS1 just wanted to play with choo-choos.

The library has a train table and rolling bins filled with tracks, trains, people and wooden blocks. They have fancy bridges. They have Y's and V's and all sorts of interchanges.

We had played for about 40 minutes when a mom entered with her daughter, another 2yo. The kids co-played, sometimes handing things to each other, sometimes holding fiercely onto others.

11:00 rolled around and I began to detach him to head home for nap time. He became angry and actually hit me! I picked him up, told him I love him, and it makes me sad when he hits.

He compliantly helped me pick up (a little) and we headed home for nap.

He returns in about an hour so T can work tonight. SIL is still too groggy to watch his kids. We are happy to accommodate.

#7 Warmth

As we count down the last days of public service, I took my last ride in the Veterans’ Day Parade. It was a glorious fall day— brilliant blue sky, cadmium leaves and just a bit of a chill in the air. Smiling onlookers smiled and waved tiny American flags as we cruised by, resplendent in our vintage convertibles. As I thanked veterans for their service, many of them called back, “And thank you for yours!”
It was a real Norman Rockwell kind of experience.
I rushed home to prepare dinner for guests: a friend and his daughter, whom he has not seen in some time. She came to visit from Arizona, where she dissects archeological bits for a museum.
Dear Hubby helped soon as he got home from work, picking fresh kale from the garden and lighting candles around the house.
We had grilled salmon with lemon caper aeoli, buttered rice and sautéed kale. Focaccia and gorgonzola. A light rose wine. Coffee after with just a tiny scoop of lemon sherbet and one piece of chocolate on top.
The daughter is just lovely, physically beautiful, kind and so so smart. Her dad looked at her with a heart full of love. We looked at him looking at her and enjoyed the reflections of pure emotion.
Altogether it was just a great, warm day.

#6 Two Goodbyes

A dear sweet 94-yo man passed away this weekend, and his funeral was today. Clyde Young was a member of the Civitan Club of Salisbury for seventy years. Yes, you read that correctly. He joined the club in 1947.
Thirty of us Civitans  crowded in the front rows of the church for his service. Women and men, most of us past a certain age, all dressed up and paying homage to a kind man who just loved to play his trumpet.
He was a pediatric dentist so early that dentistry barely knew what that was. He served in the Navy in WWII. He was a kind man and a good dad.
Me, I'm not too sure about the Great Beyond. Luckily I can't sing so I didn't have to make professions I don't believe. But I try to get what I can out of every experience and today's message was the simplest of all: Life is a gift. Try to share your gift with as many as you can.

I dashed from the 11:00 funeral to the 12:00 Transit Board meeting: my last as Council liaison. To my surprise, they had a nice little luncheon and cake (my favorite vegetable!) in my honor. One member had written a letter and stood to read it to me. The Director gave a little message about me, too, and presented me with a gift: 100 bus passes for our annual Christmas giveaway at the homeless shelter.

I left feeling very loved and appreciated. Life is a gift.

#5 A New Council

Today marked another major step in my transition from Council member to private citizen. The next new Council was elected.
Determined to exit gracefully, I did not endorse anyone. To the dozens of people who asked me whom to vote for, I politely declined.
We had the right to vote for 5 people to serve on Council, but I found only four who deserved my vote. All four were elected. Best of all, my friend Al Heggins came in first and should be selected as Mayor, if our Council honors the city’s centuries-old tradition.
I couldn’t be prouder of Al. She stayed on the high road, steadfastly refusing to say a negative word about her competitors. She tirelessly knocked on doors, even as late as the night before the election. She ran a clean, strong campaign — and she won.
At the December 5 meeting, I step down — and she swears in. Life doesn’t get much better than that.
#LoveMyLife

#4 Appreciation and Beef Bourguignon

I was awakened this morning by a text from a friend: "Great letter from A.R. Should b whole page full!"
Turned out a citizen had written a letter to the editor in the local paper recognizing some things I had done and lamenting my imminent departure from Council. I have to admit it was a great way to wake up.
J and I traveled to Winston-Salem and shopped at Whole Foods for the better part of the afternoon. I made beef bourguignon for the first time ever tonight, and it was amazing. Yes, I drank some of the cabernet as I cooked -- but J loved it, too, and he didn't have any. So there.

#3 Globe

J and I started our day riding our bikes to the Farmers’ Market, then to the downtown bike shop. He cooked a yummy dinner and we watched a Netflix show about a hotel in Singapore.
It’s been a little chilly so we’ve had the tiniest fire in the fireplace.
We are closing out the night learning all about India on Globe Trekkers.
It’s a big world out there. How much more will we see in our lifetime?

#2 Sanity

As I get older, I find that sanity is a highly underrated commodity. We don't say thanks for it when we say Grace. We don't acknowledge it when we see it. It's a lot like a clean house: we only notice it when it's NOT there.

My life is much like yours, jammed to bursting with work and friends and family and a zillion meetings where action is sometimes taken, but more often just talked about. In-between, I struggle to accomplish the mundane but necessary tasks: checkups for me and the family with doctor, dentist, and eye physician. Calendars. Carpools. Laundry. Pet care. Litter boxes. Unload the dishwasher. Eat. Load and run. Repeat.

In-between those, comes self-care: showers, hair, makeup, caring for contacts, reading, philosophizing, mani's and pedi's.

I find the older I get, the more I need to take a few moments every day for quiet. No surfing. No reading. Not even a quiet little podcast. Quiet, calm, and still. Four measly minutes a day.

Ah, sanity.

#1. Returning to Normal. If we can remember what Normal is.

I have not posted to my dear Blog in over seven years. Is this a sign? Are there other things in my life I've neglected for seven years?
With only 31 days left of public service, I've begun transitioning to normal life. With intention.
I've written letters to the people who helped me make public service successful. The street hole guy. The Fire Chief. The City Clerk. Lots of friends who held fundraisers, pulled up campaign signs, that kind of thing.
I've planned a retreat for the week after I "step down." A week by myself in my favorite city. A couple of private art classes. Yoga. Art galleries, long walks, weather permitting.
I've attended the last meetings of my boards & commissions. They had cake. Little gifts.
So.... deep breath. It's happening. This whirlwind life, being "on," being available to the public, is coming to an end. Soon.
After eight years, it has become my normal.
But--
It's not normal.
Normal is normal.
Privacy. Not being approached in public places about problems. Not getting texts or voice mails when someone is shot or killed. Going to market without pearls on.
Will I miss it? Certainly.
But it's soon over. And I have surely missed normal.
So this blog, this dormant blog, is about to fire up.
In a nice way.
Someone I admire has blogged every day for years, at the end of each day -- about something she is grateful for. Not political rants. Not whining or wishing. Just gratitude.
This is what I hope to do. Because, even at my age, I aspire to be a better person.
Don't we all?