Take a walk with me - we really need it!

Took a quick little walk down through the neighborhood. I walk through Maggie's yard to get to the streets below us- the lowlands.  A walk I prefer for it's home-spun-ness. Of course when the sea rises they will all be under water but today it is dry and gorgeous.. Blossoms coming along nicely.

 This morning I was notified of my friend's death on Monday, she went outwith Pope Francis, I hope that he held her hand as they passed into the great up yonder. My friend's death is especially jarring- early onset Alzheimer's disease, to her sisters and me it seemed   surreal, it was too quick and did not give us time to drive over the mountains to neighboring state to say whatever we needed to say- love you , cherish, you  and "remember the time we...." She would not have remembered but she may have been amused. 

 She, her sisters and I go way back- back to Wyoming days, playing bridge and poker, riding horses and drinking Colt 45. We go back also to San Diego , the desert, horse training ranches. Then traveling up the coast stopping off to work here and there, eating mushrooms in the redwood forest- adopting dogs along the way. 

We invented a shop in Port Townsend and were the first to serve Starbucks Coffee, back then ,in the beginning, it was cold pressed syrup that they hand delivered.  We used one of their  presses and they  delivered the beans and a grinder-was very good coffee back then. Anyway, like I said, her death is jarring. Memories flood- I do not know how to process....

So more of my walk, to make us all feel better. 

 

 

The camellias are pretty much spent - they were certainly glorious for  five minutes- before they rusted and  fell to the ground. Most of these  delights are in the alley- Volunteers. The rain and cooler temperatures have been welcomed- blossoms are more robust this spring than previous spring times.  

Granny day today and that was the most perfect timing ever- right after I got the phone call .... Feeling teary and lumpy ,  sorrow lifted the moment Flora opened the door and asked "Did you bring me something?"---life in perspective- the joy of those children is immeasurable. Of course I brought her something- a twirly dress and a wooden box shaped like a rabbit hand made by a friend. 

We had to drive to Seattle (on the sofa) but Flora needed a radio so that she could listen to music - she built one- This is her radio-

 

Little family saved me from a morning of boo hoo - feeling like life is some sort of mean trick- it is not- I mean really- just look at this child! How can anyone moan having  this girl in their world? Everyone gets a roll of the dice,  guaranteed at birth-sometimes seven / eleven, sometimes snake eyes- but every one does get a chance... what folks do with it is about choices and genetics and making radios for the sofa drive to Seattle.  My friend's mom died of Alzheimer's  as well but she was old-  Cathy was not old or ailing- genetics play a huge roll in how the dice land.

Anyway, that was a day . The babies bailed me out! They are  the best children , happy little souls, affectionate and thoughtful and full of chocolate digestives.