Going around in circles

I think about circles a lot. I really seem to connect with squares, and I love diamond engagement/wedding rings that are princess cut, but I believe circles are what hold everything together.

This may sound really strange, but I'm not drunk or stoned, and I haven't gone over the edge. I want to get these thoughts out though, so I'm just going to put it out there.
The earth is a sphere. It is round, and there is no beginning or end to it. Same with the other planets out there. I'm not an astronomer, so this is a very simple observation, I know. I have never seen an oval planet or a rectangular planet.

Our sense of time is circular. The seasons come around again, and I see this as more of a spiral, like a spring. Time began when time began, and we are now at some point on that spiral.

If we live to old age, our beginning and our end circles back around to meet in some way. Elderly people, and even those who are terminally ill, have some characteristics of infants, or children at least. And I don't mean that in a negative way. Along the way we are introduced to experiences and situations and people, and later in our lives we revisit these. Sometimes we revisit them multiple times and build upon them.

I'm not a biblical scholar, so I don't remember the exact book and verse, but there is a verse that says the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

I used to think it meant that finally all of those arrogant, rich, selfish people would have to get to the back of the line. All of those bullies who pushed the less fortunate out of the way and trampled on people to get to the top would pay.

I don't think that anymore. I know this would not be a popular viewpoint with a lot of people, and most likely not very popular with a lot of my friends and even some of my family. We tend to want people to be punished. But I've changed my mind on this one.  I think that verse means there won't be a line. I believe at the end of this life we join others in a circle, where no one knows who is first and who is last because we're all equal.

Those who were first (those with everything) will not have everything, and they won't have nothing. They'll have love. And those who were last (homeless, starving, poor beyond belief) will not have nothing, and they won't have everything. They'll have love. No one will have more love than the other, and no place in the circle will be more prestigious or important than the next.

And maybe I'm wrong. But I hope I'm not.

Summer bargains

I am all about the bargain, and this summer I spent quite a few weekends on the hunt. I visited a lot of yard sales and came home with several great finds. I tried to carefully choose, because the last thing we need is more "stuff."
We had been talking about a new backyard grill. The one we have is really for camping, and when we try to cook for a large group it doesn't quite do the job.
So we started looking and what we found just wasn't to our liking. They seemed flimsy and cheap, but the price tag told a different story.
I was at a yard sale and spotted this one.

I barely noticed it, and then remembered we were looking for one. The price was kinda high. I called Chuck and he wasn't so sure. That evening we took a trip to Costco for some stuff and happened to walk through the area where they had some really nice grills. They were all over $1,000!

Suddenly the price tag on this one didn't seem so high. I went back the next day to see if it had sold yet and it was still there. They threw in the heavy duty utensils, some oven mits and trays and we have a Vermont Castings grill! For $250! It has a rotisserie and a separate area for smoking chips. We used it a lot this summer, and we're getting ready to use it one more time before the season closes down.

I love yard sales!

A boy king

Last month we took advantage of our membership to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle and got deeply discounted tickets for the King Tut exhibit.
It was so very cool, and there were so many interesting things to see. I took way too many pictures. No flash, of course, but my cell phone took surprisingly good photos.
I think we were the last stop on the king's tour of North America. The kids were disappointed that the mummy wasn't the real one, but we made up for it later. We took them the Ye Ole Curiosity Shoppe on the waterfront and they got to see TWO mummies. Sylvester, who has been there since who knows when. I remember seeing him as a kid when we came to visit my grandparents, and now there is a female mummy there. I want to say her name is Sylvia, but I might be wrong. I can't remember.
So, at the King Tut exhibit the kids weren't quite as into it as Chuck and I were, but then I guess when you're 10 and 11 it wouldn't be as engaging to look at statues and old stuff.
Here are a few of the highlights.

An Egyptian bed found in the tomb.

Thousands of years ago they had games. These were in
his tomb.

Statues of the tomb builders.

The boy king.

Ramesses II

Sarcophagus for his cat.

The fake mummy. They were interested, but disappointed by the fake.

After the exhibit we went to eat at the Crab Shack.

Two Harts

We had the best time at David and Grace's wedding!
It was so beautiful.
Our trip was really great, and I was surprised at how nice the humidity and warm temperatures felt. But more about that and the rest of the trip later. Here are some pics of the wedding!

We arrived a little early. This is where they stood
for the ceremony. The glass jars held candles. 

The reception area was beautiful in daylight, but as night
began to fall it was absolutely gorgeous.

It was a carnival themed wedding and there were games
to play while we waited for the couple to appear at
the reception. Grace did such a beautiful
job with all of the details.

Isn't this cutout adorable? Grace is so creative. 

Guests were invited to create a page of art
in the guest book. A calendar of
photos taken by David and Grace had
instructions for each guest to find their birthday and
sign their name beside it. A great idea for keeping
track of birthdays!

The groomsmen and bridesmaids sauntered down
the aisle all smiles, animation and silliness. 

Each bridesmaid dress was red, but they all chose a different
style. The Man of Honor was dressed like the groomsmen.

A more serious moment.

Waiting.

The bride.

The vows.

The kiss.

Family reunion

Our summer has been a whirlwind of events, and the West Family Reunion was one of the best.

We invited everyone, and some of my family members came for a little while as well.

Our bouncy obstacle course was a big hit with all the kids. 

There was plenty of food, fun, conversation, and lots of sunshine that day. What a blessing of a day for us!

Charlie brings out the guitar. Aunt Gerry and Colleen to his left.

We brought out the shade tent. It was a hot one that day.

A new addition to the family. Reece had a fantastic time on the inflatable.

It was an all-boy affair that day.

A little one prepares to exit the
inflatable obstacle course.

The new drum set arrived via Charlie. Sean's first set is
getting pretty beat up. 

Charlie was here for the summer. He landed some gigs in Seattle and needed a drum set. It made sense for him to buy one here instead of paying to have his shipped from Nevada. So Chuck offered for us to pay for the set and when Charlie was finished with it we could take it. 

Steve, Colleen and Cassie watch as Charlie helps Sean
set up the drums in the gazebo.

My Aunt Bennie and my Grandma with
Aunt Gerry.

The pool was a perfect respite.

Lilly made an appearance for a few minutes.

As the day heated up, the squirt guns came out.
Poor Charlie was the target.

West clan.

Memories on Monday: Driving with Mom

While driving through town last week I was suddenly transported to a space in time. It was more than a memory, really. The air was just right, I was traveling on a street in the city and St. Joe's hospital was visible to the left. I felt a strong connection to my mom. It was a street we had driven countless times.

I have a lot of photos of places and things I've done with family and friends, but some of those every-day activities I did with my mom have become the sweetest memories for me. I never knew that the mundane things we did together would bring such comfort to me after she was gone.

We drove a lot when I lived with her while she was sick. I took her to the Dr. a lot, and to her treatments. Whenever I had to take Sean somewhere she would ride along. If I needed to go to the store, she would come too. That was so much help. Sean would sometimes fall asleep in the car back then. He was a toddler, and was still taking naps in the car. She would sit with him in the car while I darted in to do the shopping.

Driving, eating at restaurants and shopping at Ross are things we did a lot.

So on that day the air had a feeling of autumn, the sun was shining on the hospital building, I was driving the same direction we had gone so many times, and I almost turned into the parking lot we used to park in for her appointments.

She's been gone almost five years, but I know I will always miss her. Sometimes I wish so badly that she was sitting in the passenger seat while I drive.

Sunshine for a while longer, please

Already the air has that feeling of autumn. I'm not ready. I want more summer. I want more days of swimming in the pool, gathering veggies from the garden, clipping flowers and foliage for pretty bouquets. And I want lots more barbecues with friends and family.

I love being outside, but I can tell we are in the midst of the last hurrah of summer. Soon it will take forever for the linens to dry on the line, the thought of donning a bathing suit will make me shiver, we'll be reaching for a jacket in the mornings, and the light of day will fade way too soon.

Autumn used to be my favorite time of year, but since moving to the Northwest I've decided summer is my favorite season. We don't get a lot of summer here. In fact this has been one of the best years for summer since I moved here. Autumn here is not that colorful, and it doesn't last very long either. We have a season I call grey, and it lasts for about 10 months.

But while I can, I am going to enjoy every minute of summer. So I'm going outside now to soak up some of the sunshine.