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It never occurred to me that friendship is the rubber chicken in the crystal cathedral of life.

Until now, that is.

Now I think:

Sometimes you’re the dumb cluck; sometimes you’re the rock.

That’s what my friends Nancy and Liz showed me this week when they came to visit.

First, I was the dumb cluck.

Nancy came from Massachusetts. She taught me that when you need a good friend to lean on, snuggle!

Gayle, Liz & Nancy
I wanna snuggle!

Liz came from New York City. She taught me that sand in your pants is worth a few good bubbles!

Life is short: Blow bubbles!

Together they taught me that they are here for me, offering shelter during my storm.

We’re Here!

And then I was the rock.

I taught my friends that reaching out to me at one of the most intimate times in my life is sacred.

And I love them for it–forever!

Friends giving each other a hand!

How about you?

Who are your friends that you will love forever? Who is sharing the most intimate times of your life?

If you haven’t seen them in a while, don’t wait: THIS is the most intimate time in your life!

Besides, you never know when your friend may need a dumb cluck; or when your friend may need a rock! 

Art Plaques created by friend and artist Jayne Cluggish

 Friends Are The Sweet Life!

Now, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the last few days. It hasn’t even hurt too much! (Too bad my husband is out of town so he can’t see this rare event) 🙂

I’ve come up with a few tips on how to live one’s life more fully. (Which is basically the theme of my blog for you brand new, yet-to-be-initiated readers.) But to be able to share such sage advice, I decided I needed an alter ego, so Swami  Over-the-topananda will take over for the day!

Swami Over-the-Topananda

Here is what Swami says:

#1 If you can’t see your shoes due to your belly–you’re a Budda!

#2 When you get home from that all-important meeting and find out your shirt has been on inside out–you’re a fashionista!

#3 When you’ve said something that even you can’t understand–you’ve finally broken the code!

#4 If your memory isn’t as sharp as it once was–you’re a member of the club! (Which club, who remembers!)

#5 If you’re a little stiff when you get up in the morning–have breakfast in bed!

#6 When you can’t find your glasses–give your eyes a rest!

#7 When somebody hurts your feelings–sulk!

#8 When you can’t see the forest for the trees–go to the ocean!

#9 When you’re taking life too seriously–look in the mirror!

#10 When you’re making a fool of yourself–laugh the loudest! (Ha Ha Ha!)

There now, don’t you feel like you’re already living life more fully!

If so, throw a token on the altar and rejoice in the day, another moment of living, another moment of The Sweet Life: La Dolce Vita….

P. S. from Gayle:  Your token could be one of your life lessons in the comment section. Swami Over-the-Topananda reads, appreciates and does not grade all contributions!

Okay, I did it. I painted my head on Easter like an Easter egg. It happened to be for an April-Fool’s-Eve party, but the timing was right. Actually, Karen painted it for me with face paints, we just skipped the face. Here we are, her in her Easter bonnet, made with fresh azaleas, rose buds and baby’s breath. And me in my egg-head!

Hotties!

The timing was just right for a birthday celebration, too. My forever young husband Michael turned 77-years-old on Easter. He appears to be twenty years younger both in body and spirit, however, so he still revels in his wife’s silliness. Isn’t that silly!

We have another silly friend. Her name is Debbie Diestler. Have you ever heard of her? She’s quite the artist and quite the singer, and she sang to Michael on his birthday. She wasn’t being silly, though. She sang him the song Forever Young, which she had also sung to him seven years before at his 70th birthday party. In giving Michael her gift of music, she gave ME the greatest gift!

Debbie: Forever Young!

I sat listening to her and looking at Mike sitting there watching her, then back to Debbie, then back to Mike, when suddenly I burst out crying. It occurred to me for the first time that I would not be around to watch Michael get old. Sure, some of you are saying, “Are you crazy? He already IS old!” But he’s not. He can still ride his bicycle 100 miles and backpack up the Swiss Alps. Not bad–huh?

Anyway, I realized by listening to Debbie’s beautiful singing and song, that I would not live long enough to see Mike’s hair turn white, see him through any health crisis that might arise, watch him soften with age like a ripe pear, or share his new-found wisdom. I realized for the first time that growing old is not a curse, rather it’s a sacred time in life to be shared intimately with those you love and who love you. I cried at my loss.

This would be a sad story, except that later, the next morning as I lay in bed watching Mike still sleeping (older people sleep longer-ha ha), I was overtaken with such gratefulness to receive this new love feeling and this new grief feeling. It was a moment of grace! After all, aren’t we put on this earth to experience all that it has to offer, including human emotions. Every new one is another egg in our basket.

My Love!

Speaking of which, I better stop typing now. I have some leftover robin-blue covered chocolate eggs that need gathering!

P. S. to subscribers: If you are wanting to share on fb and don’t see the icon below, you need to go back up to the top of this post and click on the blue title. I think that will do it. Thank you!

I decided to cancel my hair appointment. I have had practically a standing appointment every 8 weeks for years now. Donna Rose at The Chop Shop is a gifted stylist and she loved cutting my hair. She said it was so thick that with the right cut I didn’t have to fuss or muss with it. It fell into place by sheer gravity. Since I’m not the fuss or muss kind of gal, I appreciated her talents. And since I’m not the fuss or muss kind of gal, I also appreciate my husband Mike’s hair cutting skills. Or, should I say shaving skills?

Chemo isn’t always kind to one’s hair follicles. It’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out. Literally! And that’s what I was doing until I just couldn’t do it anymore.  That’s when I called on my husband for yet one more task.

“Would you shave my head?” I asked.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh yeah, I’m sure. It’s time.”

So with a little lather,

a swish, swish, here,

a swish, swish, there,

here a swish,

there a swish,

everywhere a swish, swish,

his handiwork was done.

What do you think? I think bald is beautiful! So does my husband. So does my sister.

Besides, have you ever felt a cat’s nose sniffing your head? Sweet!

Have you ever shampooed a bald head? Soapy!

Have you ever run your hand over your own bald head? Warm and friendly!

And I can’t wait until I wear my new Easter Bonnet on Sunday. I think I’ll paint my head like an Easter Egg.

Life is Sweet: La Dolce Vita!

My sister Joan phoned yesterday.

“Thought I’d call to see what you’re up to today,” she began.

“Oh, nothing really, just filing the cat’s nails.” Snort, snort, laugh, laugh.

“Pet-i-cure”

“What?” She didn’t think she had heard me correctly.

“Filing Taber’s nails,” I reiterated.  Snort. Snort.

She laughed. “That’s what I thought you said.”

At 17-years-old the cat doesn’t sharpen his claws anymore and they stick like Velcro when he walks across the carpet.

Joan and I both will do anything for our animals.  One night in the dead of winter she brought me a heavy coat and flashlight when my beloved shaggy dog went missing while I was walking her along the flooded Sacramento River. I had already searched for nearly an hour by the time my sister arrived, and I couldn’t go much longer in the cold and dark. She stayed. We searched. We called. We pleaded. We begged my dog to be all right.  At last I was ready to give up and go home. Joan wouldn’t leave. Therefore, neither would I.

Joan found Missy twenty minutes later. She was tangled in blackberry vines submerged in an overflow pond of frigid river water. The dog’s eyes reflected like golden mirrors in the beam of Joan’s flashlight, but she wasn’t whimpering a sound. Joan called to me and waded into the ice water to free my precious companion. She would have died of hypothermia had Joan not come to her rescue. A part of me would have died too.

My pal Missy

On my drive home, with Missy secure in the back seat, I began to berate myself for having lost her in the first place. Suddenly, it was as if an unseen messenger spoke to me, “Condemning yourself is useless; it is a crippling emotion.” Somehow I heard and stopped. Instead, I gave a silent prayer of thanks for Joan, her incredible strength and the fact that she had saved Missy.

So you can see why Joan wasn’t really surprised to hear that I was filing my cat’s claws; she was simply amused. She would do no less for her animals.

In fact, if I’m ever in need, she would do no less for me.

That’s what love is all about.

I think you can tell a lot about people by the way they walk their dog–don’t you? Not that I’m subject to judgement without knowing all the facts. (As I’m sure you’re not either.)

So, keeping the former in mind, let me show you what I mean by the latter: (Ha, ha, figure that one out!)

Who’s he kidding!

This guy likes to share the load….

I’ll have cow pie, please!

This lady likes to treat her Princess to snacks.

Let’s go! My dog years are ticking away!

This is one laid back guy….

What a drag!

This young man is free-wheeling and carefree….

If I can convince them my joints hurt they’ll leave me in here!

This couple likes to teach their old dog new tricks….

(I’ve tried this–it doesn’t work!)

And to end this post, the dog whose owner I really want to meet, right away. I know you will, too. If you’ve seen His whereabouts, let me know. For, this man’s dog:

WALKS ON WATER!

How about you? How do you walk your dog? Do you stop for the smells or pass them by?

Is your nose wet and your tail wagging? If not, a dog will show you how. It’s fun….

FYI: For those of you interested in knowing my medical progress, I have added a new page to this blog that will give periodic updates as new things happen. Simply go to the top of this page to the tab that says: Health Updates.  These updates will not alert subscribers, so check occasionally if you are curious between postings.

Life happens, doesn’t it! If you’re ever curious about life’s mysteries, I suggest you read road signs. For example, how often have you thought life was going exactly the way you wanted it to and an obstacle popped up? If so, then this sign might apply:

Life Happens!

I don’t know about you, but I’m usually up for a little adventure, so when I run into a barrier, I try not to let that stop me. I look for a different sign:

Recalculating…

This sign makes me wonder if some people are afraid to let others in. Do they think they have something to lose?  (Jackhammers and heavy equipment excluded!)  By including others, I think they have something to gain–love!

Forgive us our trespasses….

I wouldn’t be human if life’s events didn’t get me down once in while, though. (Except when Miriam sends me appropriately sick-humor cards, then I can only laugh!) When I do feel blue, this sign reminds me to not get stuck there:

Move it, move it, move it!

The sign below reminds me that all of us are doing the best we can to keep right and do right–right? Of course we are. So, tell me, what are some of your favorite examples of “keeping/doing right?” I’m a sucker for a schmaltzy story.

In case, however, I get too full of myself thinking I have figured it all out along the latest road trip, I keep a copy of the following sign posted on my bathroom mirror:

What!!!

I love this sign. It keeps me hopping! And that’s what life is for, isn’t it? To keep hopping, or dancing, or singing, and loving.

And also to find a good road sign once in a while that explains life’s mysteries….

How about you? Have you seen any good ones lately?