My pastor says the sweetest part of music is the space between the notes. In photography, it’s negative space.
Happy Birthday Mom
May 2, 2009 at 9:47 pm (Family, Musings, Signatures)
Happy birthday Mom. You remind me of flowers, lots and lots of flowers. And you always will.
I love you, Puna
It’s A Beautiful Life
May 2, 2009 at 9:18 pm (Musings)
I’m watching The Breakup. And I was just over at The Inspired Room. She’s giving away $100 gift certificate. But even better, she has a list of 20 things that make her happy. If you watch the news, for even a half hour, you’ll realize the world can be oh so discouraging. Focusing on the good things in life – now that’s a thought.
The boy hasn’t spoken to me all afternoon because I told him that he couldn’t go to his friend’s house because he’s been sick. He missed school yesterday and missed his babysitting gig because of it. It’s a sinus infection, not the swine flu.
The girl just got back from her friend’s house and now she’s ensconced in her room doing something. I hadn’t seen her since yesterday morning when she went to school. My kids used to cuddle with me. There are so many sites out there that tell you how to mother small children. There’s not many that tell you how to mother teenagers.
1) God is good.
2) A warm fire in my kitchen.
3) Rainy cool days when my air conditioner is broken
4) Provision from above
5) Good food
6) A husband who enjoys my cooking
7) A big sink
Comfortable shoes
9) An unshakable faith
10) A sweet kitty at my feet
11) Warm tea made by my husband
12) The internet
13) The gift of free will
14) A handsome sweet boy
15) An beautiful independent girl
16) God’s eternal promise
17) Grateful for things I understand
18) Peace in turning over the things I don’t (And I really don’t understand so much. And it’s okay.)
19) A washer and dryer that works
20) Tylenol
Okay, your turn. Have a great Saturday night.
Have A Pretty Friday
April 17, 2009 at 5:24 am (Musings, Photography)
Tags: Photography
I’ve been watching this tree in my backyard for a couple of months. It has the most gorgeous blooms but this year, the blossoms are shy. They are blooming very slowly. I guess because it’s been a cold spring.
I am going to watch this tree this weekend and watch each bloom. It’s a lesson in patience.
Lately I have quite a few requests from people who wanted me to photograph them or an event. I’m flattered and wish to accommodate everyone. I found myself coming back and photographing flowers in my backyard and in my kitchen. There’s something so calming about it.
Have a great weekend. I have a packed one. Then I’ll come home and watch my tree.
And just to show that I’m into pop culture as well…I’m linking to Susan Boyle. I heard all the hubbabaloo and I was somewhat amused – until I heard her sing. There’s undiscovered beauty everywhere.
My Easter Outfit
April 10, 2009 at 5:00 am (Musings)
Thanks to the Sartorialist, I’ve found my Easter outfit.
This girl even looks like me.
Update: You all know I’m kidding right?
Cherry Blossoms And Reconciliation
April 8, 2009 at 5:00 am (Musings, travel)
The Cherry Blossom Festival occurred last weekend in Washington DC.
The festival was represented by a myriad of cultures and ethnic celebration.
I love going to downtown DC because it’s such a beautiful city.
The cherry blossoms bloom every year and every year a horde of tourists descend on DC. Many of the four-legged persuasion.
What I really find interesting about this event is what the cherry trees represent.
They were a gift from Japan as a token of reconciliation and friendship. It’s of particular interest to me because I lived in Japan for three years and both my children were born there. I have a special place in my heart for Japan.
And I have a special place in my heart for Washington DC. It is an absolutely magnificent city, representing an absolutely magnificent country.
How can these two great countries be staunch allies and friends after the World War II, after Horoshima, after Pearl Harbor.
Yet we are. I think that is lost in all the rhetoric of today’s current world affairs.
It was nice to spend the day and be reflective. The cherry blossoms were beautiful. Tomorrow…I’ll tell you how much teenagers love cherry blossoms.
Remembering Cools
April 7, 2009 at 5:00 am (Friends, Musings)
The husband and the boy were telling me all about their trip to Texas last night. They had gone to a gathering of the husband’s old squadron mates to pay respects to Dave Cooley, also known as Cools, who died two weeks ago in an F-22 crash.
The husband re-connected with old friends and recalled the old days. The boy made new friends and learned a few things about his dad that he didn’t know before.
I saw this picture of Cools and I thought, wow, he’s so handsome. The best that America has to offer. He was a test pilot for Lockheed Martin who makes the F-22. He continued to follow his heart’s desire, to fly, even after leaving the Air Force. Those who fly can relate to this passion.
The boy played photographer last weekend. Here’s some more of the best that America has to offer. Most of them fly for one airline or another. They are a bunch of great looking guys aren’t they? Especially the one in the front row on the right.
Slightly different 23 years ago…
Three of these guys were there in spirit.
There was an empty chair where Cools would have been. They reserved it for him, as if he would partake in the dinner.
Life is hard, especially for Cool’s widow but he died doing what he loved. I want to die this way, knowing that I was doing what God had planned for my life and knowing Him in life means knowing Him in death.
Peace to you Cools. Rest in peace.
Update: To see Cools and others in a toga, click here.
Best to all,
Puna
A Lifetime To Remember
April 6, 2009 at 5:00 am (Friends, Musings, Signatures)
Almost two weeks ago, an F-22 fighter jet crashed in California, killing the pilot. The pilot’s name was Dave Cooley, someone’s husband, someone’s father, someone’s son and a friend of the husband’s.
Long ago, they were stationed together in England, flying the F-111.
After the news of the crash, the husband and I went through old pictures and found several of Dave from over 25 years ago.
I’m sure he would have loved to have lived long enough to see this one of himself in a toga. I wonder if the husband ever showed it to him.
I don’t know what the occasion was but it was pre-Puna so I’m not all that concerned. And I’m sure it hurt the next morning which would have served them right.
Unless you have lived it, the camaraderie in a fighter squadron is one that is inexplicable. Young men who rely on each other for friendship and for their lives.
They work hard…
And they play hard…I’m never jealous of it. As as matter of fact, I’m awed by it. They are bound together in a way that most of us will never understand.
This is one of the saddest pictures I’ve ever seen. Because the story is this: of the six rugged young men shown here, only three are alive. Two died in F-111 crashes and the third, Dave Cooley, died two weeks ago in an F-22 crash.
The husband and the boy are coming home today after spending the weekend in Texas with several old squadron mates of the husband’s gathered together to pay their respects to Dave.
I can’t wait until they get home.
Thanks to Gayle over at Planet M Files for letting me share my memories on her blog each Monday.
Update: To see pictures of the gathering to remember Cools in Texas, click here.
Best to all,
Puna
Weathered Hope
April 5, 2009 at 7:23 am (Family, Musings)
Almost 18 years ago, Mrs.Ernestine Glastetter married the husband and me. Now at 94, Ernestine still lives alone and tends to her menagerie of cats, dogs and blind pony, Amigo.
When we pulled up to her home last October, she came out to greet us and had to search her memory for a recollection of who the husband may be. Her mind is still analytical, it’s her memory that needed assistance. He said, “It’s me, TJ.” She broke out in a beautiful knowing smile and invited us in.
This photo shows her in her home, she and her environment become one, her walls displaying all her treasures and mementos of her past.
She is still independent and feisty though she tells us that she doesn’t drive at night anymore.
She opens her bible and takes us on a tour of her past. In it was an annotation of our wedding date.
She said, “I always loved your family. I pray for your sister and your brother all the time. And I pray for you because you were always the one who was far away.”
As we drove away, we see her giving Amigo some water. My heart was just bursting The husband takes my hand and says, “She’s quite a woman.”
Thank you Gayle of Planet M Files for letting me share my memories! Love those crocheted guinea pigs.
Cherry Blossoms And Safeway
April 4, 2009 at 10:33 pm (Musings)
This cherry blossom makes me so happy.
It was a long day today. It culminated with a trip to Safeway at 10:30 at night to get play make up. I’m such a sucker! This is a precautionary tale for you moms out there with small girls – don’t be like me.
When your daughters ask you to take them to Safeway late at night to buy make up so they can play with it, just say no. For some reason I seem to have a problem with that. Sigh. Dr. Freud, are you available to see patients?
