May 2 - Colorful Shoes in Dillards

 

May 1 - Picking Strawberries

A Most Special Song

Here in the gallery I usually have some sort of neutral music playing. It cuts the deathly silence and gives life to the place. 

Today I asked Alexa to play Johnny Mathis. Old timers like me who remember the sixties probably have fond memories of his soft singing style. Amazon had quite the repertoire of Johnny's songs, and after about twenty minutes, I hear The Sweetheart Tree - or as I call it, The Tree in the Forest.  Nostalgia welled up inside. It is not even played on oldies stations, so I hadn't heard it in years. 

It was 1965 or ‘66, and I was at a church picnic with my parents, husband and baby where, after the eating portion of the evening was over, the entertainment began, and someone sang this briefly popular song on a makeshift stage during the talent show. (Talent shows were common and a great source of entertainment during my childhood through young adulthood.) It was the first time I had heard it, and I loved the easy melody and tempo and learned to sing it. It became my go to song, replacing Brahms Lullaby, that I sang quietly to my children at bedtime. All through the years. 

When I was fifty and my daddy lay dying, I sang it to him. I just had to. Sometimes after a death, things happen to let you know God is paying attention to you, letting you know He is there. It was my first day driving to work after my days off. The car radio was on as usual and seemingly from out of the blue, Tree in the Forest played. How and why did it happen on that station at that time? Some people talk about seeing cardinals, or finding a penny, but for me it was the sweetest and most nostalgic of songs.

Cold night at FF

In Honor: Mother's 100th birthday.

My mother was born 100 years ago today, and I feel it calls for a tribute. 

During World War II, she found and married the love of her life. Two days after the informal church wedding, Daddy became a soldier and left on a military truck for parts unknown. She was a war bride, and I was her war baby. An old and very sweet story. 

During my growing up years, I didn't know enough to appreciate my mother. In adulthood, by getting outside my small circle and into the real world, through my work and hearing thousands of family stories, by observing and studying cause and effect in human lives, I realized her worth and became incredibly thankful for who she was and how she reared me. Eventually I knew it was her abiding love and dutiful care that lifted me to go forward during hard times. I felt her like a rod of light within me. 

So today in her honor, I will laugh over some funny situations, find something beautiful to delight in, listen with enjoyment to a new story someone is telling, be more expressive, love more deeply, have fun, and once again be grateful to have grown up being her daughter. 

Today so far

It’s another nice day along the river, cool with a breeze. There is always something marvel at, whether a giant ship gliding up to port or on its way out to sea, the jumping fish that leave expanding concentric circles in the water, or the beautiful clouds that don’t collect over a city. The cool wildlife sighting earlier today was the two hawks soaring around grandly in the white sky. I have developed such an appreciation for the river and all that is natural around it. When I no longer have this nice gallery, I can still come to the river anytime I like, since it is only a mile away - by car. As the hawk flies, it’s probably a half mile at most. For some reason, when I bought my house here I had no idea it was so close to the river. Speaking of marveling, I think of how unaware and immature I have been about so many things. 

And speaking of no longer having the gallery, my days are numbered. I told the guy in charge that I do not want to re-up. Like everything else it has it ups and downs with magic moments and boring hours. I stuck it out for almost two years! But I am losing interest, getting older, and don’t like being restricted four to five days a week. I want to be free! Other than that, I don’t know what I’ll do. 

tonight's sunset