Two FaceTime Calls in One Day

We don’t get a lot of FaceTime calls - in fact not many at all. There are three husband/wife friends/couples that we do hear from every so many weeks or so. Two of them live in the Midwest and one lives in France. Last Thursday we were at our neighbor’s house and we got a FaceTime call from one of our friends in the Midwest - but because we couldn’t talk we agreed to try again later. Earlier in the week we made arrangements to have a FaceTime call with our other Midwest friends - and we did last evening at six PM. Because we hadn’t “seen them” for over a year the very enjoyable conversation lasted two and a half hours. Then right at the end of our chat our other friends called. So we ended one conversation and started another and that one was for another hour and a half! Both my husband and I were very thirsty after all of the talking. In both instances we had such great conversations and stories to tell and hear. We have known both couples for over forty years. We really don’t have friends like that here since we moved to the DC area eighteen years ago. As much as we like “seeing everyone” I wish it was spaced out over a couple of days so we could enjoy it even more. We always traveled back to the Midwest every year but since Covid all of those trips stopped. Maybe this year we may finally make the trek. There is something about seeing people in person. But until that happens it’s just so nice talking to and seeing and reconnecting with the old friends we know! 

A Wonderful Week

It all started last Sunday when I got a birthday greeting from my Library of Congress friend and colleague. On Monday we finally got to American Plant to get some Christmas branches so we could finally put  something up in the house. The greens served as my inspiration for the 52Frames photo challenge this week. I also received another birthday greeting. Then Monday afternoon we went to a program at the Library of Congress and saw another colleague and met the speaker who graduated from my husband’s university, spoke the same language, had the same first name, and his father was from the same city as my husband. We left just as dusk was falling and the Capitol building looked so dreamy. Then on Tuesday we went grocery shopping, had a follow up eye appointment since having cataract surgery in August/September, made a haircut appointment, got a lot of well wishes, got a request for a pet portrait, the sun was out and it was a great day! On Wednesday I got more birthday greetings, saw a bunch of deer in the park on our morning walk and finally put up the Christmas branches in the dining room. On Thursday we met my brother/SIL for lunch - my brother and I are the same age for ten days. Got more birthday greetings and some delicious cookies. We went to the car wash after putting it off too long. The car looked brand new. The antique fire truck was back and Santa was waving as they passed by our balcony.  The birthday greetings were still arriving on Friday and my hair was finally cut after ten weeks. Yesterday we went to the Persian bakery to get some baklava and assorted goodies to bring to our friends for a planned get together. We hadn’t seen them for four years and it was such a wonderful way to end the week. It felt like we were just there. I guess that’s what being friends is all about. It feels good to get somewhat back to “normal” after these last four years. We haven’t had a week like this for such a long time. It was lovely! 

Redbubble LITDigitalArt Sticker Sales

I’ve been painting custom pet portraits for about ten years. After the portraits are completed, they are posted to several of my websites. The beauty of digital art is that I use my iPad as the canvas and my studio travels with me. The end product is a jpeg image that can be uploaded and processed on so many different products aside from the usual canvas or framed prints. It’s always such a treat to get a notice when one of my images has been discovered out of the millions out there. And that was the case yesterday when Redbubble notified me of a sale of a sticker. The image is of a golden retriever with a best friend. This order came from Texas. The funny thing is that the same sticker was ordered from someone in Washington state a couple of week’s ago. The pay back on these products is peanuts but I still get a great deal of satisfaction when someone notices, but also purchases something that I painted. I always wonder who it is and what it’s for. Thanks for noticing! 

Happy Anniversary

We forgot all about it. Early this morning at 1 AM we made a quick trip to the grocery store so we could avoid large groups. After all we are in the high risk group. The store was empty for the most part, but so were the shelves. It’s been that way for a while. Forget about paper products and any sort of soap. We decided shower gel in a pump would do for general hand cleaning, but ingredients for hand sanitizer have disappeared as much as the hand sanitizer or anything with alcohol. This morning we woke up to a happy anniversary text from my high school friend. I couldn’t even remember the date, and I’m not sure how anyone else would. Then another anniversary greeting came from our long time friends and next door neighbors from Wisconsin. It was such a pleasant reminder that things need to carry on as much as possible during this weird time. It has a lot to do with one’s personality. It’s not helpful for people like me that have a tendency to worry about everything. My husband is very good about pulling me off the ceiling and has a more happy go lucky approach to life. As I’m writing a few hints of sunshine appear. That always puts me in a better frame of mind. Thanks so much for remembering our anniversary. It’s nice to know so many wonderful people. We’ve actually been together for 43 years, but married just for 25. That’s quite a milestone! 

The Bromeliad Surprise

There was a message that there was a flower delivery for us in the lobby of our condo. We had no idea what it could be, or who it was from, except that my mom passed away recently. When I went to retrieve it I wasn’t surprised at all that it was from our friends Mike and Ben. I worked with Mike at the Library of  Congress for ten years. What was funny about it is that Mike was from Florida, like me, and he went to Florida State, like me. Towards the end of my work life, we had coffee every morning. He visited with us at our condo on Capitol Hill and we got to know him and his family. When we were driving to Florida last week, Mike was texting us every day asking how we were doing and generally following us on the journey with my mom. So yesterday we received a bromeliad plant from Mike and Ben. The story behind it was even better. They have a bromeliad plant that they call Ben’s mom’s plant because they got it in 2009 when she passed away. So every time it blooms it reminds them of her. So we found a special place for the plant and hope it will last for a very long time. It was such a thoughtful gesture. We are so lucky to know Mike and Ben. 

Flu, Friends, and Chicken Soup

I knew something was wrong the minute I got up yesterday morning. My husband looked and felt like he had something dreadful. Just because he was sitting in the chair rather than listening to his early morning programs in his usual spot was a clue. He was listless, had a fever, a rapid heart rate, a slight headache, and was nauseated. He is rarely, if ever, ill. So this was very unexpected. We both get flu shots every year, and I heard that there was an uptick in flu cases this month. So he slept the day away, and I checked on him every hour or so. The last time he was like this we landed in the emergency room, but he was congested and really sick then. Luckily he is much better today and his appetite has returned. I sent a note yesterday to our friends to let them know we would have to cancel our planned get together this evening. They responded in kind by delivering a container of home made chicken soup this afternoon, and he - and I - enjoyed every last bit of it. One can feel quite helpless at times like this, and it can be a reminder of what the future might bring. But it's also a time to reflect on friendship. Nothing can be more important. 

Friends In Milwaukee and DC

We haven't driven to Milwaukee since we moved to DC nine years ago. We have visited several times, but we flew. We are in the road trip mindset and hoping our eleven year old Subaru will keep going! We always stay with our wonderful neighbors who lived right next door to us.  Before we go we always try to set up at least three dates - two with four ladies and another friend we have both known for the last thirty years, and one with a friend and colleague I worked with who likes John Wayne. So we did and are hoping our plans work out. So we are on the road heading north and then straight west to Indiana because we are stopping off to see someone else before heading north to Wisconsin. That one is a surprise, but it gives us a completely different route that we've never taken. As we left I got an email from a friend and colleague here wishing us well and another from a friend last evening. It's so great to know such great people in both places. And that's one of the few things that makes DC and Milwaukee the same. 

Birthday Wishes, Trips, Dates, and Fudge

They come in many forms and it doesn't matter which one because all of them mean a lot to me. The first was a midnight kiss from my husband to start the day. This morning I received a really happy video from our friends in England and France. My best friend called this morning to drop something off - a card and munchies for the road. My Facebook  page is full of well wishes. There are email greetings as well. I don't think I've ever been literally on the road for my birthday - but that is the case this year. As we passed by the Air Force Memorial glimmering in the sunlight on our way out of Washington, had a quick breakfast at McD's, and passed through Richmond a few miles down the road, it's a great time to think about all the wonderful people I know. We're on our way to see my most favorite people and hoping to make their lives as easy as possible for parents in their 90's. Trying to catch up on some digital art portrait custom orders  is somewhat tricky, but at least I can bring my studio on the road. The sun is out and everything is right in the world. 

The Surprise Package

It's always fun to receive unexpected packages in the mail. For whatever reason I can usually figure out what might be inside by looking at the return address. This large envelope seemed a little bulkier so I was a bit unsure. But when we opened it we were pleasantly surprised. In the land of the Internet, Facebook, email, and everything else digital it was a treat to actually get hard copy photos. The best part about the pictures was they were sent from a variety of sources funneled through one person and were pictures of very familiar faces.  We visited Milwaukee over the Fourth of July weekend and had an opportunity to visit with friends, colleagues, and neighbors - several that we have not seen for many years. Both my husband and I have such fond memories of all of them. We stay in closer touch with some more than others, but it was so heartwarming to see all these kind and wonderful people. That is what we miss most about living here after being in Milwaukee thirty years. But then I think of the snow and ice and am convinced we made the right choice. Just thinking about these occasions warms my heart.