THE DUST WILL WAIT

 This morning I was awake early.  Too early.   I walked into the office where I pushed the wake up button on the computer and waited.  Then, when it came to life I clicked on my family tree program.   I pulled up my brother's name and wrote in the date of death as November 25, 2021.   He is gone.   My brother was a warrior through his six plus year fight with terminal cancer.  Stage four when diagnosed.  Given a much shorter life expectancy than he achieved.  There were times when we thought the time was near. Then he would rally and a new chemo treatment would be available to inflate our hopes for a different outcome. In all there were seven different protocols that he engaged.  There were several that reduced the lesions and granted him some near normal activity.  He went on a tour to Ireland early in his treatment plan.  Then to Russia.  Although the later one came with more difficulty.  Still, he enjoyed and claimed the victory. Some of the chemotherapy plans worked for a time,

 It was 1970 when dad and mom came to visit me in Corrales, NM.  I lived in a very old  style square adobe house at the edge of the small town.(At the time it was said '1000 people, 2000 dogs, 3000 registered horses.')  It was primitive with a breath-taking view of the Sandia Mountains.  I saw dad on his knees in the dusty yard. So, I ran out fearing he was having a stroke or heart attack. Instead, I heard him chanting " doodle up, doodle up, doodle up bug," Oh! We shared a rare moment and giggle that day.  He had discovered the vortex of an ant- lion... AKA doodle bug. The nostalgia washed over me this morning.    I have not experienced a doodle bug here.  But on occasion I do giggle over the usually hidden pill bugs.  My grandchildren call them roly- poly. No one was here to share the moment.  So, lucky you. P.S.  I was truly chasing a hummingbird ..so I'm not totally losing focus.

The Saturday before Memorial Day I woke up early with right eye discomfort and I knew there was a stye forming. In the seven decades that I've been alive, I've experienced three styes.   So, I knew what it was.  I was so damn mad because cataract surgery was scheduled for Tuesday on THAT eye. Long story short.  Surgery went forward, but it was switched to the left eye.  And.....the second eye surgery date was indefinitely postponed. The clarity and brightness in my left eye is amazing.  Sometimes I sit while opening and closing my eyes alternately just for the show.  Bright colors, dingy colors, bright colors, dingy colors.  Obviously the last year plus  of shut downs has claimed a toll on my entertainment requirements.   There is  more.  I can also pretend that I am on a cruise ship suffering from a little sea sickness.  Of course there are no ocean views, buffets, nightclubs, or accommodating staff.  But there is definitely the  woozy swaying from side to side when I walk dow

  Northern Rough-Winged and Violet Green Cliff Barn

  Last week we visited McNary Wildlife Refuge on the Columbia River.  We got to steal a moment, in photo, from a cyclist headed across the causeway that splits the marshy waters of the refuge.   The Snow Geese flew up in a flurry around him.   I haven't seen an estimate of the numbers of snow geese resting on their way north.  I do know that there are thousands there and at The Pot Holes Reservoir further north.   I'm ready to spend more time 'birding.'  

  When I came around the corner at dusk to see this stranger on the fence, the sight stole my breath.   So, I grabbed my cell phone and stole their moment.  Tit for tat. Yes, another February with lots of cold and snow.  

On New Years Eve I heard the local fireworks that cracked and thumped in our neighborhood, and continued into the early hours of 2021. It's not that I denied anyone their celebration;  I just prefer to sleep when I can and wake up in a New Year feeling fine.  No Auld Lang Syne and no crack, snapple, pop..  I always sigh jealousy at the husband's breathing while his C-pap machine whirs quietly.  In addition to being able to fall asleep almost immediately, he has the blessing of maintaining a refreshing slumber.  Undisturbed. So, that's kind of where we were once more just two weeks into the New Year.  I told him to sleep and I would maintain my watch, waiting for updates from our son in law on the life of our middle daughter. Rest had been unattainable for the last 30 hours and I insisted that my husband go to bed because one of us needed to have some semblance of sanity and control.  It certainly wasn't going to be me. Our son-in-law had been frantic and sleepless and w