Angels in Winter
29/12/14 17:50
Not sure that I believe in guardian angels but I think I may have a couple hanging around wanting to make life easier for me. They must be looking to earn their wings because their timing is not always impeccable and their so-called miracles lack a certain extravagance that a more mature angel might otherwise bestow in a time of need. Why is it that they come through in a pinch when I'm looking for a parking spot or when I'm looking for something that I've lost but are nowhere to be found when I need them to do some heavy lifting? I'm embarrassed to admit that I call upon them from time to time for a helping hand but seldom ask for their assistance when I have more serious issues to deal with. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or whiny but I could really use their help now and I'm just not feeling the love. I'm not even sure that when I say "they" that there is more than one involved. Stand up and be counted, damn you! This is where you earn your wings! You want the full force of my appreciation and love it is up to you to engage me and those I love as you never have before. Do you think I enjoy sitting in a Starbuck's on a rainy Sunday morning writing about angels and graveyards? I don't. These are places I'm not wanting to go so don't take me there. Do what you do and do as angels do and that is all I ask of you. Leave the heavy lifting to me.
Top of the morning to you, world! The day after Rollie's party is always a time of reflection. It is something that is best done with others who were in attendance and others who saw things as I did. Opposing views are welcome, of course. There is no question that Rollie and his family did their best to roll out the welcome mat for the family and their loved ones. The food was plentiful; the beverages ran the gamut from coffee to ice water and everything in between; and the gifts were smartly wrapped. There were, as always, one or two extra grab gifts for folks who showed up unexpectedly. In the event there were no unexpected attendees, those gifts became the property of the youngest child in attendance or whomever happened to unwrap them when all was said and done. The family pets were front and center this time around as they always are when we pay a visit during the holidays. That is to say, Prince spent most of this time looking for wrapping paper to chew on after getting all the attention he could from his adoring fams of which there were many.
To a person, everyone looked reasonably good all things considered. Ray Lyn, the youngest child there, spent most of her time sprawled out on the floor in front of the fireplace contorting her spindly little body this way and that way. Talk about a bundle of energy. She placed a respectable 2nd or 3rd in a recent gymnastic competition and Rollie was rooting from the sidelines while urging her to get herself a Russian trainer as soon as possible in order to advance her form. After a few more flips and very impressive handstands she finally settled down and tore into a box of chocolates to pass the time. Did I mention that Evan stayed behind at the hotel room? He just wasn't feeling up to the task of attending and we didn't have the heart to force the issue. Not that it would have done us any good. He must have been exceedingly borderline since I know he enjoys going to Rollie's house and wouldn't otherwise miss it. He did feel well enough once we returned later that evening to get out for a ride and a quick bite to eat before going up to the village for a quick walk up and down the deserted streets of Lake George. I'd forgotten just how desolate that town becomes once the tourists leave for the season. I think that walk did us all good and it was a nice way to end the day.
Denise and Rollie had lots to say about their trips to Hawaii and Europe respectably. Rollie's story line had less to do with sights and sounds and more to do with his responsibilities as a father of a teenage daughter wanting to broaden her world view while protecting her from the vermin who would ravage her without a second thought were he to turn his attention away for a mere moment. That wasn't going to happen on his watch. It was almost with regret that he recounted his personal feelings about the experience and at times he sounded more like a chaperone than a loving dad taking in the sights with his family. He also confided in us that he wanted to see the area as our father saw the area some fifty years ago during world war 11 when the Americans were one of many liberating forces marching through Europe. It was perhaps too long ago and very much a different time so making that connection was more difficult. That in no way diminished Rollie's desire to make that connection and to some extent I have to believe he was successful. Denise remarked that the island of Kona, or at least the area she visited, was built largely on lava and that came as a bit of a surprise to her. It was also a very long trip which made it tiring according the Denise so I think it's safe to assume that she would not be returning any time soon.
Top of the morning to you, world! The day after Rollie's party is always a time of reflection. It is something that is best done with others who were in attendance and others who saw things as I did. Opposing views are welcome, of course. There is no question that Rollie and his family did their best to roll out the welcome mat for the family and their loved ones. The food was plentiful; the beverages ran the gamut from coffee to ice water and everything in between; and the gifts were smartly wrapped. There were, as always, one or two extra grab gifts for folks who showed up unexpectedly. In the event there were no unexpected attendees, those gifts became the property of the youngest child in attendance or whomever happened to unwrap them when all was said and done. The family pets were front and center this time around as they always are when we pay a visit during the holidays. That is to say, Prince spent most of this time looking for wrapping paper to chew on after getting all the attention he could from his adoring fams of which there were many.
To a person, everyone looked reasonably good all things considered. Ray Lyn, the youngest child there, spent most of her time sprawled out on the floor in front of the fireplace contorting her spindly little body this way and that way. Talk about a bundle of energy. She placed a respectable 2nd or 3rd in a recent gymnastic competition and Rollie was rooting from the sidelines while urging her to get herself a Russian trainer as soon as possible in order to advance her form. After a few more flips and very impressive handstands she finally settled down and tore into a box of chocolates to pass the time. Did I mention that Evan stayed behind at the hotel room? He just wasn't feeling up to the task of attending and we didn't have the heart to force the issue. Not that it would have done us any good. He must have been exceedingly borderline since I know he enjoys going to Rollie's house and wouldn't otherwise miss it. He did feel well enough once we returned later that evening to get out for a ride and a quick bite to eat before going up to the village for a quick walk up and down the deserted streets of Lake George. I'd forgotten just how desolate that town becomes once the tourists leave for the season. I think that walk did us all good and it was a nice way to end the day.
Denise and Rollie had lots to say about their trips to Hawaii and Europe respectably. Rollie's story line had less to do with sights and sounds and more to do with his responsibilities as a father of a teenage daughter wanting to broaden her world view while protecting her from the vermin who would ravage her without a second thought were he to turn his attention away for a mere moment. That wasn't going to happen on his watch. It was almost with regret that he recounted his personal feelings about the experience and at times he sounded more like a chaperone than a loving dad taking in the sights with his family. He also confided in us that he wanted to see the area as our father saw the area some fifty years ago during world war 11 when the Americans were one of many liberating forces marching through Europe. It was perhaps too long ago and very much a different time so making that connection was more difficult. That in no way diminished Rollie's desire to make that connection and to some extent I have to believe he was successful. Denise remarked that the island of Kona, or at least the area she visited, was built largely on lava and that came as a bit of a surprise to her. It was also a very long trip which made it tiring according the Denise so I think it's safe to assume that she would not be returning any time soon.