Searching for the Words

There's something about his little hands. And the concentration. And the way his head is slightly bowing down. He was sitting on his dad's shoulders and holding up this sign for all of us to see ... way back in April, just a few weeks after the Marathon bombing. There was just something about his purity, innocence and sweetness that stood out in stark contrast to the polluted, hateful evil that had just attacked our city. Something about that sentiment...because when terror strikes we all feel small, weak and vulnerable.

My husband and I were fortunate enough to attend half a dozen Red Sox games this season. Each time we were at Fenway, several first responders or victims or doctors or nurses or military service men and women were honored. They climbed onto the top of the home team dug out and received a long, loud ovation from the home team crowd. The players visited hospitals. Raised money. Helped us to heal and to remember.

And they got busy, grew some beards, and won a few games. With every hit, run, pitch and out they marched closer to the pennant. THE pennant. It was hard won. The post season baseball was incredible - some of the best, most tense {and intense} games I've ever seen! But, better than the baseball, was the spirit of joy and family the team was bringing to the city. The closer we got to that final out, the more we all remembered. And when the guys won the world series, in the home town ball bark....for the first time in almost 100 years...well, they somehow managed to make it feel more about all of us than it was about them.

It wasn't just a public relations thing.

For us, they were Boston Strong.

{photos courtesy of ESPN}

On Saturday, when the Boston skies were crystal clear and the trees were fully decked out in their all finery... there was a parade. A HUGE freaking parade! Several million people poured into downtown and cheered together. The crowds were packed into Copley square, all around the site of the marathon finish line. The duck boats stopped. There was a moment of silence. Then thousands joined in the singing of God Bless America. It was beautiful.

But it was the sight of the crowds safely gathered down town that struck me the most. It reminded me of the first time I saw a plane fly across the clear blue sky near the Hancock tower without incident after 9/11. There they were. The crowds in the same place. Cheering and singing and praying and remembering and celebrating. And all was well.

It was our moment. It was my full circle moment. We can't ever bring back those who were lost. And I can't imagine the healing that still needs to take place for those who were forever changed by those bombs that day. And I know there are other people. Other places...so many, too many others who need healing as well.

But for a few hours, on a perfect fall day, our city FELT the strong. Boston Strong.

And for that, I'll be forever grateful to this wonderful team of bearded baseball players.

Greetings from my home town!

Linking up today with

Just Write, Communal Global & Texture Twist

Tawny Leaves & Withered Hedges

"Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn ~ that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness ~ that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling."

Jane Austin, Persauasion

Oh, this truly is my favorite time of year.

I just can't get enough of the tapestries painted across 

our New England Landscape.

Linking up today with
Tuesday Around the World
and
Tuesday Muse

Bird's Eye View?

Hmmm....I see some bird seed down there on the bridge.

Is it safe to fly my way down there?

Let's give it a try.

The paparazzi's here....better keep my eye on her.

Hope she wanders off soon and lets me eat in peace!

OK! Got a bite.

It was nice of someone to leave this seed here for us...

it's getting harder to find good food.

She's still watching me.

Food looks good on this side of the bridge too.

Oh no, not this guy.

Wish he'd leave the bird seed to the birds!

At least the paparazzi gal is taking off.

I bet she just keeps taking pictures of the leaves.

"Delicious autumn! My very soul 
is wedded to it, and if I were a bird
I would fly about the earth 
seeking successive autumns."
George Eliot



Linking up with:
Tuesday Muse, Tuesday Around the World
The Happiness Project and Texture Tuesday


Please join me with your black and white photos tomorrow!!

Capturing My Imagination!

I don't really know what it is.
I think it's the wings.
And, maybe the eyes??!!
And the variety.

For whatever reason,
they truly do capture my imagination!


Linking up with
Tuesday Muse
Textures thanks to Nine Acres Designs

A Pair of Old Ducks

The last time my husband and I went 'home' to Oregon, just the two of us, I was pregnant with my daughter.

That was Christmas, 1986.

There have been close to thirty trips since then....all of them as a family of three or four. Almost all of them in the summer. There were many years we traveled all the way from Europe...those were the days of TWA, hours in the St. Louis airport (I think I could still draw a floor plan of that place) and crazy car rides back over the mountain with Grandma and Grandpa. Our trips to Oregon have always been a dream come true for our kids and a great oasis of rest, love and care for me!

On Saturday night I cried a bit at the end of a movie. Not unusual for me....but it had been a while. I gathered myself with a trip to the ladies...and said good-bye to my daughter and her husband who had been hanging out with us for the evening. And then...oh my! When they left the flood gates just opened and the tears started to flow. Not shaking sobbing tears, just silent steady tears. When my husband asked what was wrong I said....I don't really know. I guess I just haven't cried in a while.

{You can imagine how much sense that made to him!!?!}

So I sat with my feelings and let the tears come....my heart was just aching a bit, I guess. Not aching over what is, but over what will never be the same again. And that's a very odd kind of ache. Because what is - well we're good. My husband and I are a happy pair of ol' ducks. And our kids are busy with their lives...as twenty-somethings should be! We will travel this week, see family...rest and enjoy beautiful Oregon. And the now, the what is, will be just as wonderful as it always is when we're there. But, I've got to be honest.... in spite of all this good, there will some pieces missing. 

And the tacky post cards I send my kids will say, "Wish you were here."

Linking up with

Project 52

Just Write

and

Tuesday Muse

Special thanks to Tracey @ Haiku Do You for her Antique Postcard texture

Friendship

It's been a wonderful, long weekend with dear friends.

My very emotional self loved the high high of the hellos and time spent...

and is dreading the low low of the soon to come good bye.

Sitting, walking, driving, talking...

sharing time.

Wherever we are, whatever we're doing...if they're there...it's just better.

Also...I choose a give-away winner!

{no raffle copter...just folded up names in a paper bag}

and

it is

Kim from Little by Little

{I'll be in touch via email!}

Linking up with

Project 52

and

Tuesday Muse