What day is this?

This is the question my son asked me today when I called him at 9:00 am our time, 6:00 pm Italian time. He was navigating from the passenger seat of their Italian Fiat rental car while his brother was driving them. They had camped the night before in Pompeii, visited the amazing ancient city and had spent the day, Friday, traveling along the Amalfi Coast of Italy. At the time I talked to him, they were about to stop at a store to load up on snacks, drinks etc and head on down another coastal highway towards the tip of Italy, spend some time hopefully on some non-tourist beaches and ultimately catch a ferry over to Sardinia.

After I got their assurances that they were successfully avoiding trouble with the crazy Italian drivers they were heading away from cell phone coverage so I told them both I love them and hung up the phone. As the day went on, that question kept hitting me.

Now, anyone and everyone who has to work 40 hour or more work weeks understands the significance of Friday. Of all the days of the week, we would never not know when it was Friday, excuse the double negative. So that got me thinking about two young men just a couple of weeks away from entering that real world of looking for, finding and keeping one of those 40 hour a week or more jobs. Those two young men who have opportunities more than most to experience life in many different ways, places and times separately, are now having unforgettable days together. Right now it is the coast of Italy, after London and Romania. It's not so much the place that matters but the times they have wherever they are. I can just see them driving along in some little rental car, radio blasting whatever they can pick up, not understanding the words but surely absorbing the meaning of it all. The conversations will go full circle I'm sure from the past, to the present an on into the future.

What thrills me the most is that they are able to have the present. Both have had their ups and downs in the past. The future is sure to hold lots of stress in job hunting, paying bills, finding and keeping relationships and simply not knowing. But now, in the present, they are so worry free that they don't know and likely don't care what day it is. I can see their beautiful smiles, enjoying life and that makes me happy.

What day is this? As cliche as it sounds, this is the beginning of the rest of their lives and they are off to a great start!

For the second straight weekend, the weather in Washington has been summer-like and rejuvenating. And, for the second straight weekend, we have worked non-stop in our yard and garden.

I am too old for this! We started with a mountain of soil. The problem: The soil is at the top of our 2.5 acre property and the garden is at the bottom of it. The solution: Susan has to fill wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow and wheel it down to the bottom of the property to go in the garden. The outcome: Our first vegetable garden in 7 years!

It was not all work and no play. It was actually a lot of fun. We took breaks, sitting in the sun and I have to say, my tan is in late summer form already. I may not have that much Indian blood but what I do have serves me well in the tanning department. Every night, we went out to dinner, last night being the most fun going to Porter's Place with my brother and his girlfriend. More on that in a later post. And that much hard work all day lends itself to a great night's sleep!

In addition to the box garden with tomatillos, lettuce, radishes, carrots, beets and swiss chard, we have three pots by the garden with rhubarb, zucchini and cucumbers and two pots up by the house with tomatoes. We still have a bunch of herbs to plant, oregano, cilantro, parsley and of course, catnip.

This is only the beginning, this year. Next year we have even bigger plans. Who knows, we could be a farming household by this time next year.

Enjoy the summer!

Proud Mama

Yes, while they are away playing on a beach in Romania, I still have news to report. My son is no longer a teacher in Alaska but as a parting shot, he was named the "Staff Person of the Year" in the LKSD school district. What a perfect way to end his two year experience there.

Some day I believe he will realize the amazing experiences he was able to have in those lonely two years. But for those years, would he be the musician he has become? Would he have the appreciation for his profession? Would he know how to skin a fox? It truly was like being in a foreign country and it is something we will all be able to remember via his blog entries.

Come home soon Kale and congratulations!

If they were here....

We went to the Tahoma National Cemetery today to visit Mom and Dad. It is a very special place on Memorial Day and it is the kind of place I know Mom and Dad would be proud to have as their final resting place, if they were here.

If they were here, with the beautiful, sunny weather I am certain I would have them over for a BBQ. Mom would show up in her pink outfit, happy as a clam just to have somewhere to go. Dad would find her a comfortable chair from which to reign for the events of the day. He would bring her a plate which would have to include Cheetos, red licorice and of course, a cup of coffee. If they were here, they would have been married for 65 years!

If they were here, I would love for them to meet my son's new girlfriend and Dad would clearly fulfill his duty to embarrass my son in front of her but I am certain he would be very smitten with her.

If they were here, they would be so proud of their family. They would dote on their new great grandson, Haywood and Dad would most certainly declare how he had to special with Briana for his mother. I can just hear Dad boasting of Jordan's prowess on the baseball field "you should see her throw the ball!". And Dad would most certainly chime in with the rest of us urging Casey to fulfill her brilliance and earn her GED. Mom would be so proud to know that her two grandsons had both become teachers, following in her footsteps. Both would have been so glad to have their oldest daughter near them again and by now I am sure would have spent a few weekends in Sequim with them. Dad would rave about Beth's museum, Mark's art and certainly would be proud of Steve who is about to run a marathon!! Dad would be anxious to see Barry and Lori and hear all about Lori's trip to Thailand and he would be ever so fretful about Lin and Candy, however, he would also be very proud of the way his oldest son has kept his attitude hopeful and certain of better days ahead. In a perfect world, those days would include a complete family gathering, including his two grandsons and four great grandchildren who have not been together for such a very long time. That would make them happiest of all, if they were here.

If they were here, my Saturdays with Dad would continue. Off to Shari's for breakfast, no matter what time of day it was, one hotcake, well done, crisp bacon and if he was really hungry, one egg over easy. Once nourished and full of coffee, off to Wal Mart to buy supplies which would most certainly include his nicotine gum because the Wal Mart brand was so much better than Nicorette. I could take Mom to the beauty parlor to get her hair done. She may not have said much but I know she felt good when she had that done and she was always so beautiful.

If they were here, they would tell me how much they loved me. And even though they are not here in body, I do hear them tell me that every day. So, I guess it shouldn't be, if they were here but rather, they are here with me and for that, I am grateful.

Happy Memorial Day