December 28, 2025
Happy Anniversary Molly and Paul Whiton.
54 years, amazing. It was meant to be in this lifetime.  It has been a rare constant.


My day didn't start at brunch, but my pictures did. My day started 4 hours earlier wrapped up in warmth and peaceably making it downstairs to the tea kettle and a search through photos to make a 2026 calendar.   My day started with reflection, with rememberance, with a contemplative quiet and warm drink.     


And then it went on to a long conversation with a long time friend and more reflections.   It went on to more stories, both of ours and some together,  We shared our week gone by.  It's been an odd week.  It's both started my new life and also given me a break.  I have not known what day of the week it was all week.  


Then I went and met David for brunch and a lovely brunch it was.  Less catching up and more thoughts on what is to come.  Lots of hoping 2026 is a good year.  I decided not to say 2025 was a bad year, but a more challenging year with some interesting events sprinkled throughout. 




After brunch I went for a drive, a different drive, one that took me down different memories.  To begin with it took me past the farms that Clara and I got to know in the beginning of our friendship.  Red Fire Farm is snow covered and I drove past the waterfall and completely missed it.  How can one drive past a large waterfall and not see it?  No idea how I did it.



The old falling down tobacco barns are gorgeous.  If it hadn't been a little too cold I might have parked the car and taken more photos of them.  The light was perfect today.  There are also wonderful rock formation alongside the Connecticut River on the way to Montague.  The ride  made me think hard about what kind of camera equipment I want.  I once promised my mother I would not fall down the buying of camera stuff rabbit hole that both my older brothers went down.  But I think I always thought I would be able to do better than I've done. 

I saw an eagle flying, but no other birds, really.  I did go down to Unity Park, but by then my engine was doing something funky and I decided I should just go home.  I'm not sure if it's dangerous to drive it at the moment.  I'm going to have to check in with my mechanic. 

I want to go to Marlboro tomorrow and visit Tom, but it's supposed to ice storm tonight.  The weather really is indicative of this crazy world.  Nothing makes sense and its all kind of a little wrong.   The world is a little wrong at the moment, or maybe, a lot wrong.   


Montague Center has many memories for me.  I don't do enough there anymore to feel at home like I used to.  I was hoping I could see Cynthia and Robert's grave site from this backside view, but it's not quite parallel with it, I need to be just a little higher.   I drove the route that Cynthia and I use to walk.  There was a woman all wrapped up in hat, gloves and scarf taking her walk at a good pace.  Got me remembering those days when walking 3 miles was a possibility.

The Stowe's house has an extension on it. I tealized I haven't driven up on the 

hill since EJ and Grey hung out together, or when EJ would go help Cathy with the goats.  There are a few new homes and old homes have changed.  


And of course Dr. Who's booth will always bring Jason to my heart.

Picture taking, reminiscing , staring at beautiful scenery, filled my day.  I have another week of visiting and just "being" in front of me.  With any luck my car isn't truly messed up all of a sudden.  Tomorrow I will go file for emergency fuel and if I am able get to the pool, at least. Here's to this storm being a dud and to my car not needing anything big..  Here's to everyone enjoying a winter's nap and maybe a mug full of cocoa.   I'm going to heat up my soup that T. brought me and maybe find something to watch.   I'm going to go slowly into the night and allow song lyrics to entertain me.  


I have had a lot of dreams about Davey J. this week.  Why is that so?  As I try to make sense out of next steps I just conjure him up and dream of him. LOL, ahh I love the brain and its miraculous workings.  






 

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