Yesterday I posted the quote from the Dalai Lama. I saw it several places yesterday and everyone agreed that it really struck a chord.
What did it mean to you? I thought of my mom who is nearing 90 and is so afraid of dying (always has been) that she has never really lived. And now, she is angry about being old. I want more for her - joy - contentment of a good life - love - peace - laughter. But, I see only fear.
What came to your mind when you read the quote? I would love to know, please.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Good thoughts . . .
This was shared on FB this morning.
As we prepare to leave Arizona, it struck me with how true this is.
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man.... Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."
As we prepare to leave Arizona, it struck me with how true this is.
The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man.... Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Cute story . . .
We had a special lunch with another set of friends today. They had a gathering of their neighbors and invited us to join in so we did. It was a good visit and opened our eyes to another possibility - buying a smaller, older home here to enjoy a few months each winter. We are sure enjoying the weather this week - mid 70's.
And then when I got back to the motorhome - I got this really cute email from Rainy. She is watching the house while we are gone and she takes Weston and Walker out with her when she checks on it. She said Weston has not wanted to go until "Grandma and Grandpa are really there". But today, she went out and they had some lunch from the goodies we left in the freezer for just that purpose - chicken nuggets, fries and sugar cookies. They were also enjoying some TV so Weston was feeling right at home. When she was ready to go, Weston did not want to leave. She told him that she and Walker were tired and he told her, "Mom, why don't you two just go lay down on my bed, while I watch Tom and Jerry!"
So - buying a nice little house in Arizona for the winter months is going to have to wait a few years for this Grandma. I don't want to miss these special times with any of them.
And then when I got back to the motorhome - I got this really cute email from Rainy. She is watching the house while we are gone and she takes Weston and Walker out with her when she checks on it. She said Weston has not wanted to go until "Grandma and Grandpa are really there". But today, she went out and they had some lunch from the goodies we left in the freezer for just that purpose - chicken nuggets, fries and sugar cookies. They were also enjoying some TV so Weston was feeling right at home. When she was ready to go, Weston did not want to leave. She told him that she and Walker were tired and he told her, "Mom, why don't you two just go lay down on my bed, while I watch Tom and Jerry!"
So - buying a nice little house in Arizona for the winter months is going to have to wait a few years for this Grandma. I don't want to miss these special times with any of them.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday . . .
Pictures, pictures, pictures - must remember to take some. I keep forgetting! So - just to make this blog look better, I am starting with a cute picture of Walker I took before we left home. And - I am really missing those little guys!We were out fairly early this morning to meet up with two other couples from home for a breakfast that lasted until nearly lunch. We had such a great visit with them. The guys are all fraternity brothers (Sigma Chi) from Montana State University and they always enjoy getting together.
Afterwards we came back to our "home away from home" and had a nice visit with another guy in the park here who has a motorhome like ours. It is always fun to compare notes and share stories. We always learn a lot.
We then spent a couple hours looking for vacuum bags for our little vacuum. We left without bringing any extra. I have to order them at home but thought maybe I would find some in one of the stores here. No such luck, but we did see some wonderful new areas and a great new mall where there is a huge Sears. Sears online has them so I was thinking they might carry them in the store. Bob enjoyed the huge tool area in this Sears and I enjoyed finding a couple shops in the beautiful, huge, new, two story mall that I only find in the "big cities". They had a wonderful Nordstroms and a Body Shoppe plus everything else under the sun. There are times I really love the amenities of such a mall. Tomorrow we are going to have to do a little creative emptying of the existing vacuum bag. It is time to vacuum!!!!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Great day . . .
It was a beautiful day here in Chandler, AZ! WE walked this morning, headed out for a little shopping (I bought 2 pairs of shoes - not on the list), ate at Paradise Bakery for lunch, had a little great soup, bread and wine for supper and a good visit with my sister who joined us.
I gave her her birthday present early - her birthday is this weekend and we are having a family gathering, but I wanted to give her a special DVD early. I got her the DVD, "It Might Get Loud".
It is a documentary with Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack White about the electric guitar. I hope she likes it!
It was a perfect day.
I gave her her birthday present early - her birthday is this weekend and we are having a family gathering, but I wanted to give her a special DVD early. I got her the DVD, "It Might Get Loud".
It is a documentary with Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack White about the electric guitar. I hope she likes it!
It was a perfect day.
Monday, March 21, 2011
cool and wet . . .
We moved yesterday from the west edge of metro Phoenix to the far southeast edge - over 50 miles and never left the city look. We are in a little older park and in what is officially called Chandler. Of course every franchise and major shopping entity known to man is not far as is the case in every suburban area here - and everywhere it seems.
They are predicting high 60's today and tomorrow for the warmest part of the day and then it will be in the 70's for the rest of the week. That sounds good to me - but, in reality, I love all kinds of weather. I am one of the weird ones who even enjoys a good snow fall and I don't ski.
We enjoyed a wonderful supper out last night with my sis and her friend at a fun place in Chandler - San Tan Brewing Company. I think this area used to be "old downtown Chandler" but is now redone as a fun little area with shops and restaurants. We ate outside and walked the shops and did lots of window shopping under the moonlight. Fun night out!
They are predicting high 60's today and tomorrow for the warmest part of the day and then it will be in the 70's for the rest of the week. That sounds good to me - but, in reality, I love all kinds of weather. I am one of the weird ones who even enjoys a good snow fall and I don't ski.
We enjoyed a wonderful supper out last night with my sis and her friend at a fun place in Chandler - San Tan Brewing Company. I think this area used to be "old downtown Chandler" but is now redone as a fun little area with shops and restaurants. We ate outside and walked the shops and did lots of window shopping under the moonlight. Fun night out!
Friday, March 18, 2011
learning for the day . . .
I am so glad I am not too old to keep learning. This post is about a couple things that I figured out today - so glad I finally "got it". This might be too long to read, but I will certainly feel better once my bitching is off my chest. You may want to stop reading right here.
We have been on the road 3 weeks this coming Sunday. We have worked hard to keep our flexibility and our "nowhere to go and all day to get there" attitude. There are two couples who are good friends who we have enjoyed some RVing with in the past. We were going to try to connect with both couples while we were in AZ at their suggestions if it worked out - and I emphasize "IF IT WORKED OUT".
Well here is where my learning hit me along side the head. To me that means you could make plans that work for everybody and then try to stay with them. But, I am learning, in this case, it means that the other two couples (separate situations - they don't even know each other) will make suggestions, agree on plans and then change them as they want, when they want and they may or may not make the connection.
Now, I am not talking about emergencies that arise. That is always understandable. I am talking about just plain deciding to do something else. So, we make our travel plans to line up with the commonly agreed upon plans with both couples and we end up looking at each other and wondering "what in the world were we thinking"? This is not like driving across town - we are talking driving a motorhome towing a car across a state - or in one case several states. Neither worked out - or in other words - we got where we were supposed to be when we were supposed to be there, but both of the other couples made last minute changes in their plans. I think I need to change my soap - or my politics.
So what did I learn? We will do what we can and want and if we run into friends we will enjoy and while on the way, we will enjoy the new friends we meet. I will not do any more contortions to try to make things work.
And now for the second learning today . . . it is much better to up the minutes on your cell phone and MiFi plan rather than monitor every time you talk or use the internet for fear of "going over". Life just got a whole lot easier today for lots of reasons.
We took a drive through one of the regional parks and enjoyed the scenery and even hit a really big sale at a J.C. Penney's that we didn't know about. We decided to just stop as Bob needed a couple more pair of socks. We are enjoying a little basketball and some sewing - I am sewing.
And, we have decided to move over to the east side of metro-Phoenix on Sunday and get the lay of the land over there.
Another great day in the sunshine. I have been wondering, however, with all that is happening in the world, how many houses does one old couple really need?
We have been on the road 3 weeks this coming Sunday. We have worked hard to keep our flexibility and our "nowhere to go and all day to get there" attitude. There are two couples who are good friends who we have enjoyed some RVing with in the past. We were going to try to connect with both couples while we were in AZ at their suggestions if it worked out - and I emphasize "IF IT WORKED OUT".
Well here is where my learning hit me along side the head. To me that means you could make plans that work for everybody and then try to stay with them. But, I am learning, in this case, it means that the other two couples (separate situations - they don't even know each other) will make suggestions, agree on plans and then change them as they want, when they want and they may or may not make the connection.
Now, I am not talking about emergencies that arise. That is always understandable. I am talking about just plain deciding to do something else. So, we make our travel plans to line up with the commonly agreed upon plans with both couples and we end up looking at each other and wondering "what in the world were we thinking"? This is not like driving across town - we are talking driving a motorhome towing a car across a state - or in one case several states. Neither worked out - or in other words - we got where we were supposed to be when we were supposed to be there, but both of the other couples made last minute changes in their plans. I think I need to change my soap - or my politics.
So what did I learn? We will do what we can and want and if we run into friends we will enjoy and while on the way, we will enjoy the new friends we meet. I will not do any more contortions to try to make things work.
And now for the second learning today . . . it is much better to up the minutes on your cell phone and MiFi plan rather than monitor every time you talk or use the internet for fear of "going over". Life just got a whole lot easier today for lots of reasons.
We took a drive through one of the regional parks and enjoyed the scenery and even hit a really big sale at a J.C. Penney's that we didn't know about. We decided to just stop as Bob needed a couple more pair of socks. We are enjoying a little basketball and some sewing - I am sewing.
And, we have decided to move over to the east side of metro-Phoenix on Sunday and get the lay of the land over there.
Another great day in the sunshine. I have been wondering, however, with all that is happening in the world, how many houses does one old couple really need?
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