A Good Day

Waiting for the others to get to the beach (“the shore” for my Northern brethren), I had some one on one time ( entire day) with our oldest daughter, Kelliann.

Don’t let the cup fool you as it contains a sizable, “Aqua Man Daiquiri”

Since she works as a night shift, NICU nurse, our schedules are not conducive to easy visits. I sleep, she works. She sleeps, I work.

In between reading, napping and going to the beach, we talked about her goals and future plans. The  day concluded at The Frosty Frog” here at HHI.  Kelliann even offered to treat the old man when the check came, but not with this dad.  She did pay for our desert stop at Rita’s though.

There are few things better for a dad than spending time with his daughters.

 

See, I Told You So

I’m referring to my comment yesterday,  that today’s sunrise, (minus yesterday’s overcast skies) was going to be prettier.

Nailed it at 0719hrs.

 

It’s also a happy day as it  is Alicia and my 36th wedding anniversary.  Hard to believe she has put up with me this long. I have mentioned several times in these pages that a perfect marriage isn’t about how wonderful life is, but is two, imperfect people never giving up on each other.  It’s not always easy and it’s not always fun, but we smile and play the cards we were dealt instead of folding.  Good times, challenges and all in between . . . I wouldn’t have it any other way .

With all three grandchildren earlier this year

After all these years, Alicia still thinks I’m sexy. Often, as I walk by her, I hear her say “ what an ass”.

Who am I to argue?

All joking aside, happy anniversary to the woman I love. 💕

What Are You Reading?

Vacations for me mean getting caught up on my reading. I’ve brought three books with me and #1 to get behind me is Michael D. O’Brien’s “The Sabbatical” A novel. 

The opening paragraph:

If you were to drive through the navigable portions of Oxford at an hour in the late afternoon, you would doubtless notice a variety of human types on foot or cycle, rushing in and out of any number of college gates or along the cobbled lanes. You would, of course, be distracted by your own affairs or by the romance of the ancient university city, and perhaps not very disposed to close personal observation. We’re your eyes to pass over an elderly man walking up High Street, wearing a gray trench coat, rumpled tan slacks, a tartan scarf, and scuffed brown shoes, and wielding a folded umbrella, you would invest little time in wondering who he might be. You would probably dismiss him as a generic academic or as an alumnus-errant in search of old memories. If you were to indulge in a transient musing, you might think, a pedant, smile at the stereotype, and then let him drift out of your mind, never to return. His name was Owen Whitefield.

O’Brien has been my favorite author going on 30 years and I believe I own every book he has authored or co-authored, numbering over 20.  He weaves colorful storylines, tying in moral and theological battles. Not  your typical “beach book”

What are you reading?

Today & Tomorrow

Enjoying a few well-deserved (very well deserved) days away from the office and at our vacation spot on Hilton Head.   As it is my routine to do so, I was up bright and early to take my chair and coffee up to the beach to watch the sunrise at 0717.

I was reminded that sunrises on overcast mornings are not nearly as inspiring as when you can actually see the sun.  Regardless, the fresh, cool air, and some quiet time on the sand  were just what the doctor ordered.

Whenever I get to a beach, I find myself getting very introspective; it’s part of  my nature and routine.  After returning to the condo, I found  a post by Colleen Brown, one of my favorite bloggers. She summed up where I’m at today, but there’s always tomorrow and the promise of sunshine

I will continue to grow, day by day and step by step. If you aren’t growing, you are simply getting older and closer to to the day you will die.

See you tomorrow at sunrise at 0719 😊

Happy Birthday, Vlad

Today, we mark the 119th birthday of Vladimir Horowitz, the Russian-born pianist who was born on October 1, 1903 (Kiev) and who died on November 5, 1989, (NYC).

Where does one start to pick “The” piece that defines his stellar career?

Well, I selected Chopin’s Polonaise in A Flat Major op 53.

Enjoy.

 

#TBT, Real Musicianship

Getting ready for Ian’s next landfall near Charleston. Everyone stay safe.

Like Greg Kihn said, They don’t write ’em like that anymore. . . .

The late, great Harry Chapin performing “Mr. Tanner”.

Change Focus

Scientists should stop analyzing animal intelligence and start studying human stupidity. . .

-unknown

A Temporary State

Theodore, not feeling all that good, resting on mama’s shoulder.

 

Every situation in our existence is temporary.

So, when life is good, make sure you enjoy and receive it fully.

And when life is not so good, remember that that it will not last forever and better days are on the way.

Everything in this world is temporary, but it goes both ways.

Happiness and sadness come and go. Relationships come and go. Opportunities come and go.  I’m sure you can make this a very long list, but you get my point.

A day or two later, he was back at “work” loving life

It is how we handle the ebb and flow of life that matters. Stay positive and work through the challenges and sooner or later, thing will change.

They always do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today

Today I will not stress over things I cannot control.

Easier said than done, but I will try.

Five days until a week of vacation, (Ian, stay away from Hilton Head Island, please) but who’s counting?

Photo by RJV, IOP, SC

Sunday Pipes #78

Having managed to not see any of the many aspects of the funeral for HM The Queen, I feel a little guilty for missing it all. Pressing personal and work  circumstances have put a little stress on my time. On the brighter side, my wife, always a follower of anything Royal, watched more than her share.

In her honor, I give you “God Save The King”, the British National Anthem, performed by Paul Fey.