Monthly Archives: November 2008

It’s a good thing I enjoy the view on long drives. The older I get the more I am at peace with the fact that if I am traveling to a new place – and sometimes when I am traveling to an old place – I will make u turns. I will see more scenery than the average person, because I will pass some of it twice.

When my sons were younger I would joke that it was a good thing that I bought cars that would turn around. As it turns out, my youngest son has a touch of my way of looking at world, but he hides it much better than I do. I am so bad that I can go into a room and turn the wrong way when I come out. If you ever see my husband waiting outside a women’s restroom at a big mall or airport, just figure he is there to make sure I find my way. (why do they put more than one entrance/exit to those things?!)

I need a big compass in the sky with an arrow pointing North or a flashing neon sign that says “turn left here”. I know, there is the sun, and it always sets – somewhere. That doesn’t work for me when I am driving down the road. Mapquest helps, along with my trip meter, but there is no fix for my lack of direction sense, only compensations.

So, I laugh at myself and enjoy the trip. Oh, and when possible, I leave the navigating to someone else!

The holidays fade into one another now days. We have seem to have Christmas decorations up before trick or treaters are out of their costumes…and there will be hearts and flowers in most store fronts while shoppers buy up the clearance Christmas paper. Each year it seems that more and more of the people have their Christmas gifts bought, wrapped and under the tree well before November is over.

Have you heard of old souls? Well, I am a slow soul. I like to wait and buy gifts when the holiday frenzy is in full swing – with lights on the street corners and music in all the stores. I like the smells of the candy counters that set up for a few weeks every December and the lines of children waiting to talk to Santa. I warm up slow, but enjoy every minute of the Christmas season. I soak it all in and breath deep while it lasts…it won’t be long until those Reese’s trees turn into Cadbury eggs.

Gibson passed away this week. Monday, November 10, 2008 to be more exact. He was my baby and my friend for 10 years. He was a bottle fed orphan puppy that grew up thinking I was his mom.

His place in our family was so solid and strong that it has been impossible to adjust to the huge empty space we have been left with. His buddy, our Lab, Zeke, is still looking for him. I catch myself saying his name – it just feels like he should still be here. He should still be here.

Gibson was an extremely handsome Harlequin Dane with gray and black spots. He weighed almost 180 pounds and could look in a car window while standing on all fours. His size was intimidating and yet he was never aggressive. A true gentle giant that was loyal and protective of his family; he left his mark on the world in a quiet and humble way.

Gibson had his quirks. He was afraid of going up and down stairs, box turtles upset him, he drooled puddles when he got nervous and when he got gas it was so bad that even Zeke’s eyes watered.  He was gentle and loving and would have done anything in his power to please me. When he was afraid at the vet he would try to crawl into my lap or put his head under my arm to hide.

I made the statement earlier this week that Gibson went his whole life and never tore anything up…nothing in 10 years. Then I had to correct myself.

One fall, probably 6 years ago, we put a scarecrow on bales of straw in front of our house. It was a serious matter to him and no amount of scolding would deter him from yanking it down and pulling the stuffing out. We finally decided that we had a choice to make and the decor was not worth his stress. Still, one thing in 10 years…I wish my record was that good.

Gibson is gone and my heart is in pieces.

I think my husband has set up his and her blogs for us without fully realizing what he has done to himself. 

I depend on him to show me how to operate things, like my cell phone, after he has read the manual/instructions. He likes the technical side of things. I just want them to do what I need them to do. So, with this blog format, though I will do my best to learn – I will probably never read the instructions because I know he already has. I operate on a need to know basis. There is a lot that I need to know, but why duplicate his efforts?

On the other hand, he doesn’t have free rein. He has learned the hard way, poor man. The last time I sent up a computer S.O.S. signal, he came to my rescue. But then he went a step further while at my desk and reorganized my Internet favorites list! My “filing” system may not make sense to him – or to anyone else – but it doesn’t need to. It’s mine!

At any rate…me having a blog is going to cause him some work. (but it was his idea) This should get interesting.