A moment of realizing.

We were simply sitting on the deck at Joan and Ed's enjoying our New Year's Brunch. 

The conversation, the food and the gorgeous California canyon Sunday was just perfect and wonderful. As was the company of these three little families who've been growing a friendship with great intent for fifteen or so years. 

And suddenly in the calm of the whir of enjoyment, I was arrested by the absolute beauty of the child sitting across from me. The sight stopped my musings and gave me pause -- and a small gift.

It was a stunning realization. These kiddos we trap in our mind at different ages and moments are so far from the little ones we carried in Bjorns and carted everywhere on Group adventures.

They've moved into a launch space. On that bridge we have to walk them across, sometimes close behind, sometimes right next to and then, too, at a painful and encouraging distance. This one, this child, not my own, but of my heart and woven into the fabric of my life and the lives of my family, made me see. These beautiful, talented, interesting and interested people are moving quickly into their own.

And there really is not so much else to say.

Living your life.

First, a deep breath.
Then, a realization out of observation.
We really should be living our lives.

My friend Mary worked for years and years in her family's food supply business. She was the sales manager. The beautiful, interesting and highly competent daughter of the magnificent founder and owner.
As her neighbor, I spend a fair amount of time in and around her home. It's beautiful, too. The kitchen is cozy when we're chatting at the big old wooden kitchen table by the fire. You feel a sense of place and ever changing art-stuff throughout. Sitting areas are settings. Outdoors and in. It's peaceful. It's eclectically cluttered with big pieces of furniture and lights draped here and there, for the joy of effect.

Recently, the recession and credit crunch slowed the family business to a point where she and her siblings decided there was wisdom in closing. It was a horrendous time for all of them. They'd taken over and continued to grow this wonderful small business, honoring their dad and then the plug just seemed to be pulled.
Within a week or so, another friend of ours found himself in a bind. He owns a couple-story spec house at the beach and needed it completely furnished - beautifully. He hired Mary to do the work.

The final look, the touch, the setting in each room is magnificent.

She couldn't have done it if she were doing her old job.
She's supposed to be designing more.
And enjoying her home more.
Her garden more.
Somehow, this abrupt passage is allowing her to become more of who she is.
To live her life more fully.
And it makes me all the more interested, with my heart and ears open:

Am I living this life to the full?

All of this is the work of Mary Cecile Landis, for information about her Southern California based designs, contact me. She's busy on a project in Beverly Hills this week, though.

The Bluebird of Crabbiness

This little Parrotlet is becoming a little less crabby, a little more happy and a little more willing to spend time on my shoulder or that of her favorite human, my son.

She's learning the routine. Out of her home, into my hand, onto a shoulder, back into her home. Safe. It appears that I learn, again, that relationships take time and time together. She's not so good at Facebook. She seems just to like to be in community once in a while. And she also likes her time alone.

I see.

Satisfaction Saturday March ~ 20 ~ A melange of unrelated joys

I have experienced brilliance this week:

An early March rose in bloom right there in my own backyard. (It's above and from the looks of it, it's Russel's Cottage - a tall, old, floribunda).

A surprise lasagna dinner made my dear friend, Cyndie, complete with salad, dessert and the Abercrombie and Fitch bag with the 6 pack torso guy. (He made a nice centerpiece for the table.)  A tremedously thoughtful gift while I'm still without much use of my right arm.

A fabulous school production of set pieces from Broadway Shows. Both my teen man and chickadee participate. One is a technician and in it for the fun and friends. The other really should have just been born on stage instead of the hospital. He's more comfortable there than any where in the world. I just fill with joy when I watch 200 kids enjoying a professional theatre experience they're in and giving their all to an adoring audience.

And finally, a little realizing that, for someone so dedicated to noticing and searching for connection in things, I might move a lot faster through life than I thought I did, figuratively speaking of course. My prescribed down time has lead me to breathe a little more deeply, see things I hadn't noticed, wonder how certain things crept into my life and home. All a welcomed opportunity to recast the setting and vision.