Approach life gently. Treat life kindly. Live life fully and with enthusiasm.
Respect life--always.


Monday, July 23, 2012

A Day in the Sun

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, so I will not waste too many words and instead go directly to some awesome pictures of grandson Charlie at the beach in Lincoln City, Oregon.

Enjoy!

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It was a very windy day, as you can see by Ken’s jacket. Doesn’t he look cute carrying my puggie purse and sweatshirt?

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Oh, no! The surf has reached my pathetic pedicure!

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When the water reached my ankles, I decided that I had had enough.

Thank you all for following us on our adventures.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Chunky Dunking

IMG_0136This whole “being a grandmother to a teenager” is more fun than I had ever imagined, but then again, I loved it when my own kids were at Charlie’s age, too.

Charlie has always been reluctant to call me Grandma. I’m not sure why. He has said that I am too young to be a grandma. (Talk about knowing how to earn brownie points.) I was only 31 when he was born, and technically I am a “step,” but that doesn’t matter when love abounds.

But now, for whatever reason, he’s changed and he has started calling me Grandma Jen about half the time. Maybe it has something to do with all the other grandma types here at the RV park calling me his grandma. My inclination is to believe it is Grandpa’s doing, wanting Charlie to call me Granny.

IMG_0124I don’t know, but I do know that I love it. It is a special privilege to be his grandma, and as I said, I loved those early teen years with my own kids.

Besides, I have just enough insanity coursing through my veins to make me a big kid at heart, anyway.

At thirteen, Charlie’s appropriateness filter hasn’t fully developed, yet his curiosity is fully engaged, and so he will ask some of the oddest questions—and some of the most personal. I answer at my own discretion, and often with tongue in cheek.

IMG_0138Yesterday afternoon when we took the dogs for a walk, Charlie and I found a secluded—and deep—hole in Neskowin Creek, which runs through the park property.

I dared him to wade in, and then he dared me to do the same. I told him that if I were to get in, I would have to take my pants off, at least. His face turned red, and he threw up his hands, “You are not going to remove your pants, Grandma Jen!”

IMG_0144We both laughed, and of course I waded in fully clothed, stopping only when the water reached the bottom of my bra. I did not want to win any wet T-shirt contests on my way back to camp (not that this fluffy girl couldn’t pull it off still ☺).

We talked yesterday after our swim about my skinny-dipping past. Yes, I have a past. Then he asked if Grandpa was with me when I skinny dipped. No, it was long before I met Grandpa. “Oh, well, then were there boys there?”

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“Okay, kiddo, you are getting a little personal.”

Then he burst into laughter, turned red, and rolled on the floor. Yes, the tiny, limited floor of the Raven. Poor dogs had to run for cover.

IMG_0146My only regret is that the only “proof” of my dip is a picture of my soggy feet, and me in desperate need of a pedicure.

So if anyone knows where I can get a pedicure out here on the North Oregon Coast, then hook a girl up. I would like to be a sexy young grandma, not just a grandma. There’s still a lot of fire, secrets, and smoldering desire under all this fluff. But maybe that is TMI. My filter isn’t fully developed, either. ☺☺☺

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Early Morning Walk

DSC01245I went for a walk yesterday morning, searching for a bit of peace, a place where my pain might not be able to find me. At least for a time. I’ve had a bad exacerbation lately and I am not doing well at all. I’ve had a migraine for three days’ running, again, plus the unrelenting body pain.

I left the Raven about 5:30 that morning, with the fog still boxing us in and the air still a bit crisp and damp. I walked with my big camera hanging around my neck and my cane in my left hand, just in case, up into the woodsy area behind the RV park. I kept climbing and climbing, hoping to reach the top, hoping to feel the rays of the morning sun on my face. Hoping for clarity in all the issues bogging me down right now.

I never did reach the top. I never did find solace from my pain. Or answers to my issues.

Will I ever be free of this pain? I pray and pray. But I cannot outrun it and no one can suffer it for me.

DSC01236What I did find on my walk were some beautiful plants and birds. These are the things that keep me going from one moment to the next, God’s beauty. A special thank you goes out to a very good friend who reminded me tonight of all the beauty that surrounds me even when I am in pain. Thank you. You can always make me smile.

So until God takes away my pain, it will be one day at a time. Just one more day at a time.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Haiku Happiness

DSCN1828I did not sleep well last night, if at all, and so, of course, I was up early, puttering around in the “kitchen.” This was after taking the dogs on a nice, long early morning walk. I had taken my camera, hoping to spot a deer, but no such luck. Maybe there are too many people here this time of year for the deer to feel comfortable enough to venture into the RV park.

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Since it was still quite early, and since Ken appeared to not wish to get up (snore, snore, snore), Charlie, who is also an early riser, and I sat down at the dinette and wrote some Haikus about our trip so far.

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This first one is Charlie’s:

RAINY DAY

A cold and damp place

But no feel of castaway

For love is by me.

 

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These are mine:

DRIVE

Top down full throttle

Pedal punching through the floor

No Sunday in sight.

 

STAY TRUE

If you can’t beat them

Why join the insanity?

Smile and nod, stay true.

 

RAIN

Camping at the coast

Mist, drizzle, yikes! Run for cover

Glad we have the coach.

 

POOL

What is that I hear?

The pool is calling my name

Swim, soak, play, enjoy.

 

Seriously, though, it is time to go swim. Ah, living the great life!

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Lost his goggles already, somewhere between here and the pool Sad smile

Monday, July 16, 2012

I Love You, My Charlie Brown

DSCN1835We have been having the most splendiferous time these past few weeks with our grandson, and yet, (drum roll, please) it has all at once become exponentially better.

We have finally made it to the coast (Neskowin) with our Charlie Brown (that’s what Grandpa calls our grandson).

Even though the weather isn’t that great, I have already sunk deep into relaxation mode and have been lifted out of depression, the depression that was the result of our eldest dog passing away.

DSCN1837After our swim today, we went into the clubhouse for a rousing game of Aggravation (just for you, Angie!).

As we were finishing our packing up to leave yesterday, I debated whether I should take any of my drawing supplies. Ugh, another thing to pack. Another thing to trip over in the Raven. And then, Charlie came up to me and said, “Grandpa says you might be able to hook me up with a sketch pad.” I gave him the biggest hug and said a heartfelt “I love you.” This is a child after my own artistic heart.

We have also brought my guitar, with plans of videoing Charlie playing (because he is much better than I) while I try to sing along. Again, he steals my heart.

Oh, and the knitting. He’s asked if I have extra needles along for him. At this point I could cry happy tears.

I adore an uninhibited creative spirit, and Charlie definitely has one.

For his thirteenth birthday, which was not too long ago, Grandpa and I got Charlie a book on how to never grow up. It has all the silly pranks and experiments that he just loves to do. That book, though he has only had it a few weeks, is already dog-eared and smudged, obviously well loved.

I do love my Charlie Brown and all his imagination and creativity. And I thank his parents for bringing him into my life. I don’t know how else to say it. Charlie could not be any more special or any more dearer in my heart, even if he tried.

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Charlie obviously takes after his grandpa.

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☻Taco salad face ☻

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