8/17/13

I got a whole lot of organizing/unpacking done yesterday. Lydia and I took Ayla on two walks! And when Ed came home we took a swim. For dinner we went to a local burger place called Burgerville. I ordered onion rings, they come in 3 or 5, I asked for 5. When the plate arrived it was overflowing with them! The girl said they gave me extra because they were small!

Today we are off to a little festival in Multnomah village, Ayla gets to come.

The festival was nice, Multnomah feels like a seaport without the sea, and everyone is so forward thinking. We watched a little parade and then looked around at the booths. Ayla was on the receiving end this time, with lot's of people offering her biscuits. She had a few and we paid for it in the car afterward.

When we left we decided to drive by our friend John's and go to the park on the river in Sellwood. There they had yet another festival waiting for us! Gypsy's! We passed through and took Ayla to the river where there was a whole lot of doggie frolicking going on. Once she warmed up, or cooled down, she started running up to everyone and every dog there, with the biggest smile on her face, I haven't seen her that happy in a long time.

After that we went back by John's (he is out of town) and Lydia had a mini playdate with the little girl who lives next door. They met when we were here in June. Left there, on to Goodwill and now home, where they went off to the pool and I am catching my breath while cooking dinner. PHEW!

I had a strange moment today at the parade. There was a group of women in their sixties and seventies twirling batons and having the best time. I looked up to see one of them smiling so large, having such a great time, who for some reason reminded me of Dad's mother and i quietly started to cry. I never cried when she died, I never really felt it, because she had already been gone while she was still here, and I was physically separated, I was used to being away and not seeing her regularly. So I guess today, the spark was lit. I stood back in quietude, rubbing her ring on my finger, and reminding myself that my memory of her, is a strong, no b.s., fun lady. That's why I wear her ring, it connects me, and reminds me when I start to get scared, to be strong, to expect more for/from myself, and to show my "legs".

I had heard Mama use the term once to describe my friend Randi, who had driven her R.V. by herself from Asheville to CT. She was surprised that little Randi did that, she said, "that girl has legs!".(I agree.)