Bird's Eye View

I've been a church organist since I was 13 years old or for 42 years, which ever way I say it, it's been a long time. Most churches that I've played at, I'm usually sitting up front with my back to the congregation. But when I do play at my own church, as a sub, I'm sitting upstairs and can look out over the balcony and see the people below.

It's rather interesting what you see, children playing, some people snoozing, other people paying very close attention to every word and maybe just sitting there because they were made to be there.

Today I played for a funeral of a gentleman who was 90 years old and left behind his wife of 70 years. WOW! What an accomplishment. While listening to the sermon, I was watching the people below and noticed one couple, probably in their late 50's (I'm a very poor judge of age, especially when all you really see are the tops of their heads!) When I first noticed this couple, I noticed the woman and I assume wife, had her hand on the man's knee. Later I noticed they arms entwined and they were holding hands. How sweet!

A few years ago I use to watch a couple, Bill and Buna, as they sat together in their usual pew. I would see Buna rubbing Bill's leg during the service. They were in their 70's at the time. Bill has since died and Buna lives in an assisted living home down the road a piece from the church so is still often in church. But what I remember most about watching them was how I felt like I was seeing the must intimate feelings being expressed by two people who after so many years, they were still so much in love. How Sweet, How endearing, How Romantic, How Real. I would wish for everyone such tenderness of spirit for another person in their lives. What a rare commodity and one to be treasured! OH Bill and Buna, you were truly blessed and I hope the couple I watched today have the same in their lives.

Surreal Weekend

What a strange weekend this was. My ex-husband got married in town on Friday night. I had heard it was going to happen quite some time ago and laughed and smiled the rest of the day, heck, who am I kidding. I smiled and laughed the rest of the whole week!

So the time rolls around for the wedding and I'm doing just fine. My daughter and her family came in for the "festivities" and I couldn't wait to see them. Of course they got here and left right away for a family gathering. No big deal, I knew that would happen. Then Friday I started getting a bit jumpy. I couldn't figure out why when I was so happy that some other woman was going to be stuck with him. Nicki and her husband were getting ready to attend the wedding, leaving their son Sean with me. I got edgier and edgier until I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. Suddenly it came to me in a flash. I wasn't upset about the wedding, not at all. I was upset to think that my children were going to be there to witness that lying son-of-bitch make wedding vows to another woman after the many years he treated out vows like shit. How strange. I can understand that my children love their father, but by going to his wedding I still felt like they were betraying me.

OK all you armchair analyst, go ahead and say to me "get over it". Well, a person can't help their feelings can they? The minute Nicki and Rick walked out the door for the wedding, I felt 100% better. I was glad they were gone, I was glad I didn't have to see them walking around the house getting all dolled up to head out for the big occasion. How strange.

This morning we went out for breakfast and I was feeling so much different than the night before. We enjoyed our time together and then parted ways, me heading out for a ride and them to go to the mall. As it turned out, they were home before I got there. We once again said our goodbyes and they were out the door again to get ice cream then head to the reception. How strange.

I spent the afternoon having lunch with my former daughter-in-law, then going for a nice long ride heading to the windmills to get some pics of my bike then an enjoyable ride home. What a day, what a weird weekend, what an amazing life. How strange.

The Birds, or at least one bird

AUGH! Do you remember the movie The Birds? It is a great Alfred Hitchcock movie, one I watched on a wintry Sunday afternoon with Cory when he was just a little kid. He says he still remembers watching it with me and how it scared him.

Well, I have a bird attacking my house, or rather attacking the bees that have been attacking this house for years. This year seemed particulary bad as far as the bee attacks on the house and so I guess the woodpecked attacking their holes has some good eats hiding out in the wood. I heard the pecking so grabbed the camera hoping to get some pics. I only got a couple and haven't made an identification yet for sure but it looks like it might be a "hairy woodpecker"

I think I hear the woodpecker out on the front of the house now so guess it's time to see if I can get more pictures.

Extra Wheels

I've been riding motorcycles for a few years now (20+) and it's just a part of me. I haven't been able to imagine my life without riding for quite some time. A few years ago a friend added some extra wheels to her bike and made a trip with me and another friend to AZ for a Women On Wheels(r) Ride-In. I remember thinking I would rather give up riding then ever add wheels to any bike of mine! How cavalier of me.

Fast forward a few years and suddenly I'm having some back problems which start affecting my legs and I start feeling like maybe I shouldn't be riding. I found myself doing some rather dangerous stunts when riding so I wouldn't have to put a foot down when stopping. I was so afriad of my leg giving out on me along with the pain it caused to have to lift my leg back up to the riding position.

Then another friend called me to let me know that he no longer needed the extra wheels on his bike as his leg had healed enough after an accident that he was able to ride on two wheels again. Next thing I knew, he was bringing the kit up to attach to my bike.

I take my first ride, heading out the driveway and down the road. Within the first few hundred yards I'm thinking, "this is the biggest mistake I've ever made". Then I get to the first stop sign and I don't have to put down my feet or worry about falling over and I start thinking "hey, maybe I could get use to this". I continue around the block, pull into my yard and tell the people gathered there "well, it's not great, but it's better then sitting in the livingroom in front of the TV". That was just about a month ago and now I have 3000 miles on the bike. I did a good 900 miles getting use to it, then took off for a week trip to Springfield, MO. I'm riding every day, back and forth to work, doing grocery shopping, running errands and going for ice cream. I'm on the Road Again and I couldn't be happier. Another lesson learned. Never say Never!