Wednesday, August 1, 2012

And so the blog must end…for this summer anyway. Who knows, I may blog again next summer or about a different topic. As the summer comes to an end, I am reminded of all of the visitors that have been to my house.  In some cases their stay has far exceeded what I had originally expected, and some have only dropped by to pick up a visitor that stayed for several days. Whatever the case, talking about my summer and the visitors that have graced my presence on a regular basis has been fun.

I hope that you, as the reader, have enjoyed reading about the events of my life and the stories that I have shared. As the summer comes to a close, I am reminded of the precious time that we have here on earth. The stories we share with those around us through personal experiences to create laughter, to inform, and to express our feelings; all make us who we are today. These stories can also be carried on for generations.

I will tell one last story before saying goodbye…on our last day of camping this summer, Mary, the campground host, came over to share a cup of coffee with David, Grace, and myself. Her small hunched frame and grey hair are good indicators that she is well into her late 70’s. She told us a story about her grandson who had stayed with her in the campsite several years ago. While camping, her grandson made friends with other boys in the campground. Just as any typical pre-teen age boy, her grandson had not been spared from getting into trouble. And this story is proof of that. While an older woman was taking a shower in the bath house, the boys gathered clumps of dirt and grass and began throwing it into the ladies shower stall. The woman was obviously enraged, slipped on her T-shirt, and immediately walked to tell the camp host about the mischievous boys. Mary was the host at the time. She said that she will never forget that chesty, heavy set woman running down the road with mud and grass covering nearly every inch of her body. She got so tickled just telling the story. I laughed too imagining her delight at seeing the woman. Needless to say… her grandson was grounded the following day. Mary soon left not wanting to keep us from packing up. As she walked off, I could see the heavy bronze make-up and blush staining the edges of her grey hair that circled her face. She made me smile, and that’s what life’s about.

My experiences have taught me that it is always important to live in the present, not judge the people in our presence, and embrace every experience that we have. Good or bad…we can learn from all of our experiences.

My summer visitors have been made up of family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.

The final tally; and I don’t think my Mom’s prediction will come true, but she was very close.

Melissa, Austin, and Cole visited today. Suzanne and Madi arrived around 3:00 and left after 6:00. 

Arnold arrived and left with David for a short time. Please continue to remember him and Roy, David’s brothers, in your thoughts and prayers as they both continue their battles with cancer.

6 visitors today,479 in all

In 71 days, that's an average of 7 visitors a day...and still I ask myself...is that a lot?