How to Get Dog Tired

August 9, 2015August 10, 2015 Shirleyjdietz3 Comments

I could lie down on the floor just like this, right now.

A couple of weeks without writing goes by so fast – I don’t even notice. Sometimes I just want to go live life for a while so I have something to write about. I think so much better when my hands are busy, especially when I’m outside and busy.

This morning it was English Ivy.

“That’s a really pretty plant covering your fence now. Couldn’t you plant some of that after the new fence goes in? It looks like it grows pretty fast.”

My daughter and I were discussing plans for replacing the existing fence which is nearly ready to dissolve in the next rain. It has been there since the house was built in the 50’s. The dogs keep finding/making holes and escaping. The new fence has been in the plans for a while but fencing here in Washington costs so much it takes my breath away.

“There’s a problem with that plant – it’s an invasive species so I don’t think we should keep it”. So that was settled. It had to go, and I had a new project. I love having a clear, understandable goal with a probable outcome (because it helps make up for all the unclear, non-understandable elements in my life that have no known outcome…)

Armed with gloves and two sizes of nippers I took off the outermost layer of vine, hoping to see fence. But as with many plants with dense foliage, there was another layer of dead, dry leaves, mold and dirt beneath the living. Clipping and hacking my way down to the fence, I began to notice the dust in the air, especially when a new section was pulled clear. The thought occurred that it might not be good to be breathing all that. This thought was soon followed by coughing that I couldn’t control and a nasal sinus condition that made me wish I had an inhaler. I’ve never had allergies, but this stuff wanted me to develop one.

Eh, no plant easily deters me from a well made plan. I coughed my way through and stuffed all that section of ivy into trash bags. Some of the main branches were two inches thick and many of the vines had grown right into the fence and become part of it – and I only mention that to impress you and to explain why I’m now tired as a dog. And I don’t know if dogs are really tired or just bored so I’m just sayin’ that they look tired and that’s how I feel.

There was a fence under there and I found it.

The Birthday Problem

July 27, 2015 Shirleyjdietz2 Comments

I have no one to blame but myself. I think it all started for me with that first picture (I have no actual memories of the event), the one where I’m in my high chair with a cake with one candle in front of me. I have an unknowing look on my face but I’m about to start a lifelong habit of expectation. People are lined up on both sides of the table and I’m obviously the center of attention. And why not, it’s my birthday.

Ever since then birthdays have presented one kind of problem or another. Sometimes it’s a problem for those who remember and must plan an event, a card on time, a meaningful greeting or those who forget and have to assuage their guilt. Other times it’s a problem for the birthday boy or girl who can’t decide if they want people to know or if it would be better to pass the day in anonymity

There are some people, the husband for instance, who must not have had their birthday expectation pump primed in infancy. There is never a hint about the approaching holiday. There is never a post birthday let down. It’s just another day and these people might even be surprised if you remind them that they are a year older on that day. There are others who, like me, anticipate what might happen with a fair amount of excitement. I have a list of these kindred souls. Some years I even go out of my way to feed their birthday appetite.

And so it was several years ago with my friend J. Carroll Barnhill. He talks about his memorable birthdays and always includes the one where I kidnapped him out to the beach with a picnic supper. He hadn’t been there in years and it was quite a trick to get him out of his boots to wade in the surf. A little sand on the fried chicken, a picture of the sun setting with a sailboat silhouetted against the sky, and you have a birthday memory.

There was also the year that he actually cleaned off the back porch and I got him a swing to hang from the rafters. Another time we had a breakfast party with a stack of whipped cream frosted pancakes for a cake. And the year he turned 80, I managed to get the word out to most of his family and friends for a get together complete with presents and pot luck food. Why do I do these things? Because I know he loves the fuss. How do I know that? Because, like a kid, he is reminding me that his birthday is coming. Sometimes once, sometimes twice or more. He clearly hopes to have fun because of what happened on seven, twenty-seven,thirty-three.

This year, knowing I would be out of town on the infamous day, I took him out to dinner at a restaurant. It wasn’t his favorite restaurant but it was convenient and he had a good meal. And we enjoyed ourselves. It’s your day J. Carroll and I’m giving you a little notoriety on my blog to memorialize the event. Happy birthday fella!. Hope you’re having a great day.

Here you go, birthday boy! Not bad for 80+.

Pact with my Children

July 20, 2015July 24, 2015 Shirleyjdietz2 Comments

To My Children: Putting Words Toward the Pact

There are various kinds of promises people make to one another in moments of devotion or need that are significant to their relationships. Some are of their own making, others I believe to have been modeled by God and meant to be carried on. One of those is the pact that parents make with their children – probably more like a covenant since it is more of a unilateral promise. I believe that God extended to me an unconditional love guaranteeing his care, his forgiveness when needed, his support, membership in a spiritual family that I can’t quite comprehend, and all the other benefits he is able to provide. He knew I would have trouble feeling the depth of his commitment to me, so he came up with an idea to help me experience his side of the covenant. He gave me a family.

When you children came along I began to love you immediately. I watched you grow and studied your natures and found you fascinating. I loved being with you. There were hard times and disappointments but none of that lessened my desire to work toward your highest potential and greatest good. I saw what God was trying to show me through our relationship. The trouble was, I was not God. My performance falls so short of his, and my understanding is never going to be complete in this life. But he also enables me to have his help. His help often comes from a spiritual, unseen world that many have trouble believing in and accepting. But I believe it and do not need confirmation from those who haven’t experienced that other world.

I promise as much as is humanly possible to love you, my children, without end. Nothing depends on your ability to return love perfectly because I know you are human too. I will try to listen to you, understand your messages, not be quick to conclude or brittle in my responses to you. Whatever you are going through, I want to be a safe place for you to express it, to examine it, and to process without it becoming “all about me”. God will help me do this.

Others will love and support you, but none of them will be quite like me because I am your mother. It doesn’t mean I will always care for you as when you were little and needed so much direction and teaching. It will be more like a friend who is putting you as a high priority when you need physical help, financial help, supportive time, care when you are sick, and all those things we all need even as adults. I am here to go through life with you. I am held responsible for that, right behind my responsibility to God, and then to my husband. I am told in scripture that this will bring me purpose and fulfillment in life and so far that has been true. In all its stages, being your mother has been my favorite career.

I will grow in my understanding of what God is doing among us, but I’m just saying, I think I’ve got this right.

Another Seattle Adventure

July 16, 2015July 7, 2020 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

On the 4th of July this year, we (Mom #1 and Daughter #1) searched out a hike near Seattle just to get out of town and into nature. Some friends, another mother and daughter team, who lived in the area we visited went with us. We stopped to pick them up on the way. The destination was Twin Falls State Park. It is east of Seattle on I-90 and we probably did an hour of driving to get there, some of it through forests (beautiful!) and some of it on freeways through traffic (um… not so beautiful). There was not a lot of parking room at the trail head but we got there early enough to find a spot. My daughter had to buy a day pass with a tag for the car.

This is a forest, so there are a lot of trees, naturally.

And it's a mountain, so the direction is basically up.

We headed out along the trail up the river. Mom #2 was already ahead of us and had taken off her shoes to go wading, and it did look inviting. We continued up the trail and came across a beautiful pool which looked even more inviting, so Mom #2 decided to stay and swim. She had been up the trail before and was determined to spend time in the water.

Could you not have told us this before we got way up here...? Thank you for the exercise.

Switchbacks and rock outcroppings, old growth trees and ferns made the trail interesting enough, but when we finally got waaaaay up there we came across this fine sign. Oh great.

So down we trekked to the pool where Mom #2 was still swimming, and this time really swimming not just wading. What a beautiful spot! Daughter #1 was tempted to try wading but not really wanting to get her clothes wet. There were a couple dramatic moments there until she got safely in to a good wading spot. Others were climbing a large rock above the pool and doing some jumps – more drama there.

I’ve since learned there is an alternate trail to the falls and I’m thinking that calls for another trip. We drove to the closest town, a nice little village with several shops and eateries, and had lunch before heading back to Seattle.

...eating some pretty delicious looking crepes.

A Lighthouse

July 13, 2015July 13, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

I’ve had a love of lighthouses for years. I know it’s a common obsession that many people have. Souvenir shops anywhere near water have lighthouse books, pictures, figures, night lights, calendars, you name it… I’m not quite that bad, having only six or seven collectibles on that theme that I treasure for one reason or another. Most of my fascination with lighthouses is the underlying message that they stand for, that of caring enough to warn. There are many known dangers in our world and we have a desperate need for lighthouses of all kinds, not just those on the water. To me, lighthouses stand for that larger picture.

Lately I was able to visit the Alki Point Lighthouse. It’s in Seattle and I’ve tried to tour it before but was never there on the right day. Tours are on the weekends between 10 am and 3:30 pm, whenever a group collects, and on my most recent visit I was able to connect with one. The lighthouse is fully automated now, even to the changing of light bulbs, but the tours are conducted by a small cadre of Coast Guard Auxiliary who proudly usher people around and explain the historical aspects.

Alki Point juts out from West Seattle into Puget Sound near shipping lanes and early on the need was discovered to have a warning there. It started with one landowner who decided to hang a lantern on a pole each night – probably got tired of cleaning up his beach after shipwrecks. The land was eventually purchased by the government. As the story goes the price was $9,999.99, the amount that could be spent without legislative approval at that time. The property now has two residences that house Coast Guard officials and their families, the lighthouse and small storage buildings. It is fenced with a security system.

Some of the history was given to us in the parking lot before we headed down to the lighthouse itself. The rest of the tour was a guided explanation of equipment on the ground floor and a self guided trip up the stairway to the observation floor. Here are some of the highlights for me.

The Fresnel lens which was a great breakthrough in technology for lighthouses

the classic spiral stair... — the classic spiral stair…

one of the two houses, formerly for the lighthouse tender, now for a Coast Guard 2 star Admiral and his family.

I had to put this pic in - although I know this plant (Dusty Miller) I have never seen it flower before. Who knew? Must be the salt air... — I had to put this pic in – although I know this plant (Dusty Miller) I have never seen it flower before. Who knew? Must be the salt air…

The Hidden Forest

July 12, 2015July 7, 2020 Shirleyjdietz1 Comment

It’s right in the midst of a city and thousands go past it every day without even seeing it. It’s Schmitz Park in West Seattle and it’s one of the first places I walk when I visit my daughter. One of the entrances to this park is on the hillside above her house. The wide path passes under major streets as they descend to the waterfront. At other points it is high above the city looking out over the sound. But most of it is in the midst of an old growth forest full of clear springs, lush vegetation and towering trees. A lot of the paths are well traveled and I meet a lot of others walking their dogs or on bikes. Gradually the paths narrow and get steeper, and less maintained. Trees fall across the path and are left there, either because they are too difficult to remove or because they are intended to be a natural barrier. When Charlie the dog is with me, I have to lift him over some of the log jams, and the climb makes us both breathless. If we are persistent we come out on top of the ridge overlooking Alki Beach, almost in someone’s back yard. Then we take the easy way down, on the streets where the view is not obscured and we also have beautiful yards and gardens to look at. Take a virtual walk through this beautiful place with me…

Trees soon cover the path with shade and silhouettes

The ground is usually damp with seepage from the many springs and books.

Old growth of several different kinds of trees can be seen...

Towering is a word that comes to mind often

And emerges here... outside the forest in a residential neighborhood clinging to the side of a ridge.

A whole different knd of beauty is on display all the way to sea level.

Good Times and Bad Times in the Air

July 11, 2015July 11, 2015 Shirleyjdietz1 Comment

This sunset was so awesome. I couldn't stop taking pictures of it. — This sunset was so awesome. I couldn’t stop taking pictures of it.

I will start with the good time. While in Seattle I got to visit the Columbia Building with daughter Esther. This qualified as an adventure up in the air because I actually saw airplanes going toward SeaTac on about our level. It was above the Space Needle and every other high building in the city, actually made all the rest look small. What a great view of the city, the harbor and the surrounding geography! We had a special invite to happy hour at the Tower Club – thank you Duncan – and it was a great experience. To relax with some great food and drink and conversation, all the while getting to look at this.

I mean it, I couldn't stop. — I mean it, I couldn’t stop.

The appetizers we shared were large enough to serve as our meal. We had lemon risotto, garlic mashed potatoes with buerre blanc and asparagus on one plate and quinoa with roasted tomatoes, glazed carrots and squash with kale and herb sauce on the other. Delicious. Duncan was very creative with the drink he made Esther, using rhubarb liqueur and egg white. He is the lead bartender at the Tower Club and did such a great job of making us feel welcome. His parting advice to us was to make sure we visited the Ladies Room (even he had been there). And the pics will show you why…

20150709_185338[1] — This was so, so good!

I couldn't resist the mirror shot... — I couldn’t resist the mirror shot…

20150709_200258[1] — Don’t you love this sunset?!

The flight home from Seattle was the bad time up in the air. I won’t mention the airline because I don’t think it was their fault. It was a “red eye” flight. I was tired and wanted to sleep. I had a middle seat between two strangers and as I usually do I said a few words just to let them know they had permission to speak with me if they wanted to. I got a one word answer from one of them and that was the only exchange for the rest of the flight. We all wanted to sleep, including the people in front of us who promptly reclined their seats. I mention this because once that seat back was reclined I found I could no longer reach my bag which was at my feet. My arms weren’t long enough. And this became problematic when around 3 am I got a headache that made my whole face hurt and needed some headache relief medicine from my bag. And to make things worse, it was really warm in the cabin. I don’t know if they did that on purpose or maybe I just worked up a sweat trying to get my bag without lying my head down in someone’s lap. Crashing headache, claustrophobia, heat wave and a developing nausea – perfect conditions for sleeping. I was so glad to get off that plane, 5 hours later in Atlanta.

I took a couple Excedrin and started to feel the pain go away on the second flight, but by then I was having headache hallucinations – thinking I was eating my airplane snack while I was really sleeping. It was very strange. But now at home and after a good nap, I feel none the worse for the experience. Travel, you never know what’s going to be next. Just saying’…

Been up in the air a lot lately... — Been up in the air a lot lately…

Making Sense of Life

July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

Sometimes it is just too hard to figure out what is happening in life. It is hard to think of something to write, something that is a finished thought, when you get nowhere with thinking. I have been on a very simple track of just doing what seems necessary and not a lot of questioning for weeks now. And I still don’t feel anything worthwhile on the verge of appearing. What I do know is that even in times like this, especially in times like this, a cute dog or cat is still undeniably cute. That is why dog and cat videos abound in cyberspace. We run to their cuteness like we run to comfort food. Even better is having your own cute dog or cat in your house.

I have been thinking a lot about cute dogs since I am with two of them. They belong to my daughter but they’ll settle for me when she’s not around. How can a dog appear so content just lying in one place or another, most of the day, waiting for it’s person to move so it can follow? How can that be enough?

WIN_20150705_133559 — Appearances deceive… this is not a headless dog.

As I said, any person, even myself, can be adopted by a dog if they can be closely associated with food and petting. I have been here only a week and already this dog knows my patterns of sleeping, waking and taking walks, all of which he accompanies. His name is Charlie and he “dogs” me all day except when my daughter takes him for a walk without me. I get to observe a lot of his cuteness.

On a walk. He's trying to read my mind (and I his). — On a walk. He’s trying to read my mind (and I his).

Charlie looked like this when I first came. He seemed to have a lot of fluffy hair. That changed when I got to take him for a session at the doggie spa. He had “the works” and although he probably didn’t lose much weight, he looks a lot thinner now. He was so hyped up when I came to get him, I could hardly make him sit still for a picture. All the grooming girls said he was very cute – they noticed, and how could they not?

Thinner looking but still cute after his buzz cut.

Like most dogs,he likes taking walks. The first one we took together was a little ambitious for us both. There was a lot of hill climbing and I had to lift him over some fallen trees. But perhaps it bonded us that I was able to get us back home in one piece. He slept very well that night and so did I. Over the 4th of July there were fireworks being set off all over the neighborhood. Dogs, as a rule, do not like these loud noises but Charlie didn’t pay much attention to them. I think he may have had a little anti-anxiety medicine to help him, still he went to bed and didn’t whine or be restless, and I would have expected some of that. His night cuteness is that he curls up in his bed on the floor and sleeps pretty much until I get up. He’s there a lot during the day too, just being cute.

And being cute some more.... — And being cute some more….

Being cute in t he house, — Being cute in the house,

And being cute outside with the other family dog (he just can't help it) — And being cute outside with the other family dog (he just can’t help it)

I’m just sayin’ that this reliable cuteness seems like a gift from God when the rest of life is not making a lot of sense and is not being very reliable. I’m thankful for Charlie (and for cat videos – I watch them all).

Traveling Home: The Cambodia Saga

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

This is the last post of The Cambodia Saga

We arrived back in Phnom Penh and did a temporary camp out in Green Pastures Inn. It was only a few hours until the Hamilton’s flight but it was adequate to make another trip to the Russian Market. On the way we stopped at Alma Cafe for lunch. Alma is Mexican fare and the tortilla soup I had was spicy good.

The Russian market was cooler this day. What were people looking for? An odd assortment of aged cow bells, cassava flour, cashews, peppercorns, T-shirts, and a Go Pro selfie stick were just a few of the items. Every trip I learn a bunch of new things. This time I got educated on durian, which you’ve already heard about, and peppercorns. Both are major crops in the province we visited and I was curious to have some of the pepper. I guess I also learned about the selfie stick (which I might never want to have, yeah, probably never). We walked back to the guest house and I had fun taking pictures of Street 450 where we stayed.

And to think that I saw it on 450 Street... — And to think that I saw it on 450 Street… (notice the wiring)

20150624_144250[1] — and the protected construction site, complete with signage…

Behind each gate a private world exists... — Behind each gate a private world exists…

for those wealthy enough to have a house and a car... — for those wealthy enough to have a house and a car…

Make it beautiful if you can... — Make it beautiful if you can…

but don't worry about it if you can't. — but don’t worry about it if you can’t.

throw in a cell tower once in a while... — throw in a cell tower once in a while…

Supposedly, the more privileged live as high above the street as they can get.

Our walk ends here... — Our walk ends here…

On our last evening we finally get a look at this one who has been making a lot of noise.

After Hamiltons left we still had hours before our flight at 11:00 pm so we tuk tukked to Sorya Mall to tour a grocery store and look for the selfie stick again. Julie had curiosity about the grocery store and how it compared to stores in the U.S. The Lucky Grocery in the mall is not where the average Cambodian shops for food but it was pretty busy this time. Other years the prices have been wickedly high and there have been empty shelves, but this time it was quite well stocked, clean, and attractive. The prices were noticeably lower than other years and lower than at home.

After getting back from shopping we had time to take a quick shower and say goodbyes to a group of the dorm students who stopped by. Some of them followed us to the airport to say goodbye again. Goodbye is a pretty big ritual in these trips. Many of the kids and houseparents from PE 4 and PE 5 were there to see us off and there was much hugging and picture taking, and a fair amount of tears. It takes place outside the main entryway from the parking lot. Although this is a very dear time for us, we have often thought it might be easier for all concerned if it were shorter. It is always a late departure time and some always come by tuk tuk and moto – we worry about them. It is also exhausting and emotional. That can’t be helped. We were somewhat relieved to find out that everyone left when we entered the building instead of waiting another half hour to watch us go up the elevator to the departure level. Good move.

A literal layover in Seoul, Incheon airport.

St. Johns River and Jacksonville's harbor in sight as we circled, and circled, and circled... — St. Johns River and Jacksonville’s harbor in sight as we circled, and circled, and circled…

The flight home was pretty much a backward replay of the flight over. The long section was only 13 hours instead of 14 because of a different trajectory across the Atlantic. We slept, we ate, we slept and ate again. We walked what seemed like miles to get to Customs in Atlanta. Our last flight to Jacksonville kept us in the air longer than expected due to a storm over the airport. We finally landed after doing circles over the ocean for half an hour. How good it is to be back in this country. In some ways I can understand the things people say about Americans, because there are differences in the people that give a different flavor to our country. Not all of that flavor is good, but most of it is. There is a craziness and a casual acceptance of unusual behavior that is fun to watch. Glad to be here.

Leaving Kep: The Cambodia Saga

July 3, 2015 ShirleyjdietzLeave a comment

Last Day in Cambodia – Thoughts in the Car

We had another gigantic breakfast buffet at the Secret Restaurant this morning before leaving Veranda Natural Resort. We are now in a rented van driving to Phnom Penh where we will spend a few hours before boarding our flight home. It is still raining.

Moody, persistent, wet weather... — Moody, persistent, wet weather…

The sky is crying and just won't quit — The sky is crying and just won’t quit

We were told that there has been no rain and the land was in drought condition until last week when this new weather pattern started. The countryside we are driving through is sodden, flooded, covered in mist. Periodically, I take out my camera and get some shots out the side window. There are rice paddies with lots of water in them and rice in various stages of growth. Sometimes a person will be visible planting rice or working with a cow or two pulling a plow through the water, but most people must be inside somewhere. The people on the road are wearing raincoats or they are wet.

I am sitting in back with the luggage. Julie, Trish and Bora are sitting ahead of me where Bora is entertaining them with tales of her life in Cambodia. The Hamilton family is in the next row. MacKenzie is not feeling well and they have put her in the middle where she can look out at the horizon in front to offset any car sickness. Mike is up front with the driver. In Cambodia you don’t jut rent a van. You rent a van and a driver, which ensures the van gets returned to its home and you get to your destination in one piece, I guess.

I’m feeling a bit “out of it” today. In spite of my aromatherapy massage yesterday, I don’t feel well groomed or like I’ve been taking care of myself. I’m all out of clean clothes. I can stand it but don’t know how it will affect those around me during the long flight home. I’m not used to seeing myself in as many pictures as I’ve been in lately, and frankly it’s alarming me to see how I look. I’m older than I thought I was. I need to go home and lose some weight.

Did I say the kids are affectionate... yes. — Did I say the kids are affectionate… yes.

The children I’ve been with are affectionate kids – lots of hugging, hand holding, arms around my shoulders or waist – but they are also very curious. They always find the mole on my upper arm and can amuse themselves touching it for minutes at a time. They also run their hands over the bulges around my waist, or what used to be my waist, and find that very interesting (???). It’s not that all Cambodians are skinny because I have seen some that aren’t, but most of the Asia Hope people are slim. Add to this the fact that my feet and legs swell in this heat and you have me feeling very puffy and large when I’m around them. Even though I’ve come here four times now, I never seem to have the clothing thing right either. I need some more quick dry things that I can keep clean. I need to bring a little laundry soap with me.

Emotionally, I feel a little isolated. There is no one on the trip who identifies with me in age or has need of me in any way. It would be a lot worse if I didn’t have Julie with me here because we have done a lot of things together, but she has also made a lot of friends closer to her age. Does everyone have these attacks of pity where they feel absolutely no one is interested in them? Probably. I’m used to them and am just working on giving it to God and asking him to change me.

There is love that is bigger than feelings or circumstances.

I Just Have to Say…

and I'm sayin' it here.

How to Get Dog Tired

The Birthday Problem

Pact with my Children

Another Seattle Adventure

A Lighthouse

The Hidden Forest

Good Times and Bad Times in the Air

Making Sense of Life

Traveling Home: The Cambodia Saga

Leaving Kep: The Cambodia Saga

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: