What A Weekend!

Friday, Michael comes home looking a bit conspiratorial and says, "Rory & Fiona sent me on a mission for early Mother's Day because they thought you might need some time to get used to this in order to be ready for our trip next week." I look down at those two Wild Highlanders of mine as I open a box...and to my my surprise and complete delight, there is a new red camera! A camera of my very own!!

Now, I'm not the sort of person to point fingers and assign blame, but I have to say it's because of Beth that you'll probably see my bizarre attempts to add pictures. Which proves the generosity of her spirit, that such a fabulous photographer as she, would encourage a camera challenged picture taker like me! So, if you find yourself slapping your forehead in wonder of, "What the hell was she trying to take a picture of???!," from this point forward, you can blame her. And, then go immediately over to be yourself...everyone else is taken, to relieve your eye-strain by looking at her beautiful images.

This weekend held more gifts and surprises for me than just my impromptu visit from my friends Coke and Lou. Your Mother Knows was honored by three readers. And, I want to thank them for finding it worthy. The first one was given to me by the lovely and talented Soulbrush who does many great things...and like Toni is a visual journaler. So, thank you for this bit of bling!

And, then I began blushing when I went reading a bit further and found that both Sema and Sarah think so much of my work that they both gave me this one. Now, I have to admit that I've seen this one on a lot of the sites I adore visiting and, I've always imagined what it would look like on mine. I never thought I'd have it. Sema, you already honored me when my words inspired you to create the mandala that I so proudly display. Knowing that you and Sarah both really like my work makes me very happy. Tears-of-delight, happy.

Speaking of tears, my weekend with my friends was marvelous and I tried not to cry when they headed east yesterday morning. But, I didn't make it. Tears are good; they mean you care.

I had to wave goodbye but, I have this to mark the memory and share with you thanks to the gift from my puppies. Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. Look at that, would ya?! What other city in the U.S. has three rivers running through it? What other city in the U.S. has more bridges than Venice? Even on a cloudy day, I think this is one of the best sky lines ever.

My new red camera with Michael's help captured this picture of Coke, Lou, and me. And, Lou, who is from Germany, really enjoyed visiting and seeing another part of the U.S. Michael and I were glad to show her this new home city of ours. We had a drink sitting high atop the slopes of Mt. Washington and caught up on things. We laughed. We shared memories...and made new ones.

And, I realized that none of this would be mine if I didn't stay open to possibility. If I didn't invite people and experiences into my life. If I didn't take advice from qualified people when they offer it. If I didn't stay open to encouragement. If I didn't worry less about looking the fool as in that first picture, and try new things. If I didn't learn to love my life exactly where I find it on any given day. If I didn't, well...

...simply remain-

Namaste' Till Next Time,
Holly aka The Shooter