Beverly, Are You Sure?

I attended the Type-A-Mom Conference held at the Asheville Renaissance Hotel, in North Carolina, last weekend.   I use the word "attended" loosely.  I chose to visit one-on-one with some fantastic bloggers and enjoy downtown Asheville, instead of sitting in stuffy workshops.  Who knew that hidden in the lush mountains of North Carolina exists an eclectic artsy culture? 

I tend to learn more from personal conversation and  observation rather than listening to someone exult about their personal success.   Success is a relative term.  For example, I heard a woman boast about how many times her site shut down the server due to the myriad of  hits she received.  She was bold and brassy!   On the other hand, an unpretentious lady shared about how protective she is of her family time and how she strives for balance in her home.   Both women felt successful with their blogging efforts; their perspectives are equally interesting and I learned something from both.  Sweet!

Our room before the influx of women.....Reading Rosie, Megan from Sweet Sadie Marie, Kym from String Bean 17, and Jen from Great Little Stories shared the room.

Thomas Wolfe, considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th Century American Literature immortalized his childhood home in his epic autobiographical novel, Look Homeward, Angel. Wolfe's colorful portrayal of his family, his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, and the Old Kentucky Home boarding house earned the historic Victorian home a place as one of American Literature's most famous landmarks and set right across the street from the hotel. 

I had to take a photo....

Mellow Mushroom, one of downtown Asheville's many quirky restaurants was within easy walking distance and open for a late-night pizza run.  Yum!

 

Antiquing in Asheville is premium (if you have the dough).

Reading Rosie, Mary Poppins...or Beverly?  Only a few know "for sure."

Thanks for reading, Rosie.

Autumn Reflections

My attitude is a littler lighter since my last post.   While writing You Can't Always Get What You Need, I was in the middle of two very busy weeks.   My sweet sister-in-love underwent back surgery and spent seven days in the hospital, Isaac returned to traditional school after five years of homeschooling (an adjustment curve was needed), my work schedule was full and on top of that, early one morning I discovered a deceased man in my front yard from a motorcycle accident.  It wasn't pretty and without saying more, slightly disconcerting.  Isn't life bizarre sometimes?  Anyway, after the two hour crying jag I threw in my closet floor, I am feeling much better and want to dispel some concerns my friends have voiced.  I am fine.  You can barely see the scars! 

Currently, I am sitting in my favorite spot.  My front porch swing in the cool morning breeze has always been my favorite place to reflect, meditate, clarify and sort my jumbled thoughts.  My neighbors own horses and I love watching the frisky colts in the morning.  They are so sweet and full of energy....aah, I remember those days. 

Life feels a little less stressful and I think cooler weather, blue skies and the season change plays an enormous role.  Autumn is my favorite season.  I enjoy watching the Master Painter create His magnum opus.   Autumn reminds me I control nothing; a nice prod for a control freak.   This realization takes the pressure off me and suggests that life is a continual cycle of change.  I can either flow with the change or fight the change, but ultimately things change. 

If all goes as planned, I will be spending the weekend in downtown Ashville, North Carolina, with some inspiring women bloggers.  A nice respite away from the testosterone filled man-cave I lovingly call home is needed from time to time.  I am agog with excitement!  Hopefully, I will have some great photos to share.

Thanks for reading, Rosie.

You Know It's A Bad Day When...

An odd, intimate relationship is ending. My gynecologist is retiring, a fact about which I am not at all happy! The man I have seen once a year for the last twenty-plus years regarding my gynecological health is abandoning me just as I am entering perimenopause. The nerve of this man! I trusted him with my vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. He has seen me through infertility, pregnancy, birth, depression, surgery, and holds confidential sexual details about me in a thick folder. He was my bosom-buddy. In minuscule yearly visits, he kept abreast of my life. His response to my dismay? “Dana, I’m 67 years old, I am old enough and deserve to retire.” My response: “Yes, but I am not old enough for you to retire.” I don’t want a young new GYN; I want my old used one. How do you find a new GYN? The interview process could get….awkward.

You Can't Always Get What You Need

The church wants my time and money.

My mother wants my time and undying devotion.

My brother wants my time and help.

My husband wants my time and my body.

My children want my twenty-four hour maid services.

My dog wants me to rub his tummy all the time.

The school wants my daily schedule to match theirs.

Work wants me available any time.            

Friends want to know what time I can get together.

Acquaintances want to know if I can spare the time to type a "little" something.

I need to worship in peace.

I need my mother to give me some space.

I need my brother to understand.

I need my husband to romance me.

I need my children to take responsibility.

I need my dog to stop barking.

I need the school to get over it already.

I need my friends to be patient with me.

I need to tell acquaintances "NO."

I need to feel free.

What do you need?   I NEED to know!

Climb Every Mountain

     After a summer hiatus, I am returning to my blog.   Summer has been oppressive in both nature and soul. 

     I am continually reminded that I do not fit in any particular box regarding my perspective on society in general.  The more my peers expect me to conform, the more my rebellious spirit strains from the expectations.   When my spirit strains,  I find no peace. 

     Who I was last year bears no resemblance to the person I am today.   Circumstances change and so do people.  Life does not remain steady despite ones greatest effort.   I am learning to live peacefully with the information and myself.   "Things Change" is a platitude to which I never paid significant attention but one that now flashes like a neon sign on the mason brick walls of my life.

     It is becoming more difficult for me to express my thoughts freely in a public forum; yet, I am willing to live under the scrutiny of my village and remain true to myself.   Freedom for me lies in expression of words and music.

     I was recently reminded of a scene in "The Sound of Music."   In this scene, Marie is counseling with Mother Abbess regarding a problem in her life.   Mother Abbess responds, "Maria, these walls were not meant to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live."    Then, with traditional Rogers and Hammerstein splendor, Mother Abbess breaks out in song "Climb Every Mountain." I have a few damn mountains of my own I need to climb!  

     And did you know, the wool from a black sheep is just as warm?