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    The Last Summer – Entertaining as we say Farewell

    July 26, 2015
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    As we wind down our time in our beautiful waterfront home we continue to take every opportunity to enjoy it and share it with people we know. We decided last spring, as part of our final summer at our beach house, to host a series of events through out the summer as a farewell gesture to Lund’s Beach. It was a great idea.

     

    Rather than holding one big party, our smaller beach dinner parties have given us an opportunity to bring together a variety of friends and family, many who don’t know each other, but they all have one thing in common. Us.

     

    As a hostess I prefer to entertain a group that is not so large as to make it difficult to mingle and talk to everyone. We have held several very large parties in the time we have lived here (our 25th wedding anniversary had 150 and a live band but I barely remember it because it was big and a lot of work)  all been fun, but not intimate.

     

    Our summer functions this year are anywhere from 8-24 people and I find that just the right size.

     

    My preference when entertaining is to have a sit down dinner, when possible. It’s not always possible, but it is always more intimate and a lovely way to linger and enjoy. When I do a sit down dinner I always do place cards. This way I can sit people next to each other who don’t know each other. Otherwise, everyone would huddle with those they know and are comfortable with and it would defeat my goal – gathering and enjoying and expanding friendships.

     

    So far this summer we have held four events with another one happening tomorrow. I expect to hold at least 2 and possible three more before the weather grows cool and the last summer is just a memory.

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    North America Travel

    Feeling Grateful for New and Powerful Friends – My Kayak Journey Weekend

    July 17, 2015
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    Location: Washington

    I’ve been trying to think of a way to put into words the lovely weekend I just had. So many adjectives keep floating through my mind as I ponder how to describe it. The weekend was promoted to those of us who signed up as a “woman’s transformational kayak journey”. And it was. But it was more.   More than transformational I found it to be light, uplifting, confirming. I saw for other participants it was inspirational, empowering, motivating. And for some it was a release, a launch, an awakening.

     

    There is one word that keeps coming to mind though. This one word I am confident each and every one of the nine other women I spent the weekend with would agree they felt – gratitude.

    Gratitude – a shared feeling of gratitude for power that comes from listening to each other, respecting your fellow woman, loving the human race; gratitude for our time here on earth.

     

    We all have had trials and tragedies. You can’t possibly know someone’s story by just looking at her. The assumptions we make about those around us are always wrong. Truths about our individual journeys are buried deep, and it takes an abundance of gratitude and love for each other to truly share and know and understand.  During our weekend it was paramount to truly be there for each other; to truly listen; to hear; to support.

     

    This was my experience during my transformational journey weekend. An amazing opportunity to meet someone for the very first time and truly listen to their story, help them find their path, and lovingly support them as they go on their way.

     

    Each of the nine women (ranging in age from 30’s to 60’s) I spent the weekend  with sought and found something different in the experience. But I have no doubt that each of the women left feeling they had accomplished something great – something different for each, but something powerful.

     

    I felt accomplished being able to paddle a kayak the distance I did in the heavy wind and chop Mother Nature presented to us. It was exhausting. But I did it and I felt powerful.

     

    I felt proud to have chosen to leave my phone behind and through out the fun and fulfilling weekend not once felt the need to check my phone. It was refreshing.

     

    I felt vigorous to be able to do yoga on the beach. Nothing more lovely than outdoor yoga and beach yoga is even better and I felt appreciation for my strong body and all it does for me.

     

    I felt adaptable when I got to our destination and realized one of my bags had been left behind with all my toiletry items. I survived without those things I think I need everyday and I felt spontaneous.

    I felt fit eating the delicious foods provided by our guides at every meal throughout the day. Mealtime was joyful and I felt healthy and inspired by our meals and laughing together.

     

    I felt strong as we hiked to the other side of the Blake Island and took in the beautiful nature of the island, the many deer and raccoons, boats of all shapes and sizes off shore and the wide array of flora. All my senses were engaged.

     

    I felt maternal as I listened to some of the ladies, dealing with career, marriage, and family challenges. I felt my inner-Mama-Bear stirring and wanting to make everything better. But I just listened.

     

    I felt useful as I set up my own tent, toted and hauled gear and helped in everyway I could in camp and through out the weekend. I pulled my weight and didn’t complain and I felt proud.

     

    I felt happy as we laughed and sang funny songs from our youth and learned new songs as we prepared our meals together.

     

    And most of all, I felt grateful. Grateful for my health, grateful for the beautiful Pacific Northwest, grateful for deciding to sign up to do this journey, and mostly grateful for the nine other woman who took the journey with me.

     

    I would absolutely consider doing it again. And you should consider it too.

    Go. Be. Fabulous!

     

    (Note: Until next year’s dates are determined you can learn more here.)

     

     

     

     

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    Inspire

    A Week on the Road with my 80 year old Dad

    May 27, 2013
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    My dad recently turned 80.  For his birthday we invited him on a road trip.  Our plan was to go from our home in Gig Harbor to Sacramento to visit my son.  At my Dad’s request we added a trip over to Nampa Idaho to visit his cousin.  Only about 15 hours out of the way.  No problem.

    So it was a fun and interesting week.  My Dad is very inquisitive.  He asks a lot of questions.  He knows a lot of things and he wants to know a bit about everything.  He can’t remember most anything you tell him, but he wants to know anyway.

    Actually his memory is quite good – if you are talking about something that happened in 1947.  But if it’s something that happened this morning or last week forget it.  So we spend a lot of time playing the 20 questions game trying to help him remember people’s names or names of other things or places.  This actually made the 15-hour side trip go by a little quicker.

    Once he dozed off.  It was quiet in the car for about 15 minutes.  Then he was back.

    The most useful tool on a road trip like this is the rearview mirror.  My husband sat quietly in the back seat most of the time, and we could make eye contact in either a “what the?” moment or an “I give up” moment or a “Help me can you drive now?” moment.

    My Dad loves to road trip.  He has a camper he still takes on trips, shorter now that he is 80.  In fact staying in a hotel with was an adjustment for him.  He’s used to getting out from behind the wheel and walking three feet to his bed.  In fact, on our road trip we had to go buy him a toothbrush. He never packs a toothbrush because he keeps one in the camper.  Opps.  No camper = no toothbrush.

    He also knows every road and highway across the United States.  His memory seems to be able to hold Hwy and Interstate numbers and he can describe where each one goes, through what valley and what year he drove it.  He can describe this over and over and over.  And over.

    I jest about my Dad, because actually for 80 he is still very sharp and healthy.  Some things he should no longer be doing – like taking a road trip by him self.  Or using his skill saw alone in his garage.  He never misses a moment to show a total stranger how he cut his thumb off just a couple of months ago.

    He was fascinated with my GPS and my I-phone, particularly the camera.  More questions. I have no idea how these things work.  They just do and thank God for it.  I don’t need to understand the technology.  But he sure does.  I’m no help here.My husband pretends to be asleep in the backseat.

    I don’t suppose I will have too many more opportunities to road trip with my Dad.  It was a good week.  I’m really glad we did it! I learned some things about the landscape; both the one outside the car and the one inside.  Happy Birthday Dad!

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