Thursday, or Thereabouts - September 4, 2014

"Hurricane" Norbert

What began as a tropical depression in the Pacific Ocean, grew into a tropical storm and is now Hurricane Norbert.

NOAA - National Hurricane Center

What's so special about this? Well not very much - an entirely normal event in the eastern Pacific Ocean at this time of year has followed an entirely normal pattern of development - EXCEPT this tropical cyclone share's my Love's name. It had my attention the moment NOAA posted the first advisory and I have followed Norbert all week.

The name is not a popular appellation, not a Tom, Dick or Harry kind of name at all and I was thrilled to imagine this naming as an entirely unique event - the very first time Norbert had been a hurricane. Alas, a few keystrokes and the fount of all knowledge, Google, dumped a deluge on my bravado. No less than three other Norberts have churned up wind and rain in the Pacific (September 1984, September 1990, and October 2008); two of these, 1984 & 2008, were major hurricanes (Category 4).

At this writing Hurricane Norbert is about 255km south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja, California and is not expected to intensify too much more. I couldn't help but smile as I read through the rest of NOAA bulletin - there were definite similarities to the Norbert I know so well.

sustained winds of 150km/h; moving NW at 11km/h: "Yeah," says my love reading over my shoulder, "that's me - lots of spin but lacking significant forward motion." 

a little more organised this morning: good to know and indeed yes he was, in the morning. 

Category 1; absolutely, no question, he is my #1.

September 6, 1975

My "Hurricane" Norbert and I celebrate 39 years of storming through life together on Saturday (Sept. 6).
We are a loosely organised system that tracks all over the globe with no sign of dissipating in the foreseeable future. We have two spin-offs that are well on their way to becoming well developed systems with their own pattern of travel and landfall. We are blessed.

May 6, 2014 - The Great Wall of China, Badaling Hills

©2014 April Hoeller

"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction." 

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Thursday, or Thereabouts - Sept. 5, 2013

Time flies!

1970

Thirty-eight years ago today I was enjoying the last day of my life as a single woman, or as read in the banns of marriage, "a spinster of this parish."  All of 22 years old and already a spinster. Imagine that! The old language would seem to have credited me with far more experience than I actually had. I was still living at home in 1975 and like my older sister before me and my younger after me, I went directly from my parents' home to married life without ever truly experiencing the world as a single woman.

I have never lived alone and had to fend for myself. Now this never bothered me back in the day. I was thrilled to be marrying my high school sweetheart, the love of my life. The wonderful world lay before us and we wanted to live it together. We still do, even though the world isn't quite as wholly wonderful as we thought way back then.

If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now of course,

September 6, 1975

I'd have taken some time on my own, just a couple of years to learn something about it all. On gloomy days, with both my love and I being now in our sixties, it worries me that the day may well come when I will have to go it alone, and I don't know the first thing about it.

It's best not to get too caught up in such solemn truths, yet it's also folly to deny them, so I'll just render these grim realities a brief nod of acknowledgement, then carry on through our days together.

Thirty-eight years ago my boyfriend and I went out on our last date as singles. The midnight curfew was still in effect but I scared the bejeezus out my folks by returning home at ten. The colour slowly drained from Mom's face and Dad walked toward me, arms outstretched,"Everything all right, dear?"

"Yup, everything is perfect."
And it still is.

Grow old along with me! 
The best is yet to be, 
The last of life, for which the first was made: 
Our times are in His hand 
Who saith "A whole I planned, 
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!''
Robert Browning

2011

2013

Labour Day Labours

It's a grey and cool day this Labour Day 2011.  I've been struggling with a piece of writing for this blog for quite some time and it's still not quite coming together as I would like.  It has to be perfect you know!!  So we will all have to wait a bit for that one to appear here, but that's what labour is about isn't it?  Waiting -- waiting for something or someone to emerge?

While I'm waiting, there is stuff I have to do.  Our side yard has to be cleared of the hammock, the bird feeder, the pile of yet to be stacked firewood along with any other detritus that might in the way of the back hoe which must come in and repair the septic tile bed.  Oh the joys of living in the country!  Well it functioned perfectly for thirty-three years, but developed an unfortunate limp, (you don't really need the details I'm sure but I will reassure you that the mobility impediment never limped into the house), in the last two months.  The experts have inspected and given their counsel.  Of course after thirty-three  years, the construction codes have changed a wee bit and there is still the matter of a health permit to be secured.  It seems the health department began their long weekend early because nobody returned our call of Friday morning.  Still after, thirty-three years, I suppose there  is no cause for complaint.  It's been a good marriage of form and function.  The grass is always greener over the septic tile bed (thanks Erma Bombeck)!

Speaking of marriages...mine is thirty-six years old tomorrow!  Gosh, a lot of water under the bridge since 1975! By my tally out of the people who were guests at our wedding, we've witnessed twelve passings over these years (1 set of grandparents, 1 great aunt, both sets of parents, two uncles, 1 aunt and 2 cousins) and there have been ten births. We can claim two of those births and boast of our two great kids born and raised, along with a brand new daughter-in-law this year.  Also not to be forgotten as they are cherished family members, we lay claim to two dogs dearly loved, both german shepherds, and Sophie our third beloved dog (shepherd, husky mix) lying at my feet as I write.  We're healthy and comfortable.
This is as good as it gets.  The labour has been worth it.
Cheers!