Over the years our double-paned sliding-glass doors filled with condensation and became so “foggy” that we could not see out of them. It took us a long time to get around to having them replaced, but we finally did so near the end of April. Zoë was delighted to be able to clearly see the birds and we celebrated by buying two chairs and a little table (at an estate sale) for the balcony.
Never mind that right on the heels of these sips of joy we had a flood in our basement, a sewer backup. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Funny all the twists and turns life brings. Thank goodness our home insurance is covering the cost of clean up and repair. Yuck, yuck, yuck. I’ll be glad when they finish, but we had to interrupt the process to drive to North Carolina as planned.
Everyone’s experience indicates that everything we are, and everything we do, is simply the movement of existence itself. It’s here that we come to the highest realization indicated in all the great spiritual traditions: we do not exist as anything apart from the flow of nature and that flow is an unformed, inexplicable dance accomplishing itself.
~ Darryl Bailey
(Essence Revisited: Slipping Past the Shadows of Illusion)
For a few days forgetting about the ‘inexplicable unformed flow of nature’ in our basement, we started our journey south and delivered Aunt Flora’s rocking chair. We had a wonderful time visiting family. Nate & Shea drove up from Georgia, and I got to see an old friend from high school who happens to live about 2 miles from Dima & Larisa.
And then… Tim got sick with diverticulitis (not again!) which delayed out trip home by a day so the antibiotics he was prescribed could have a chance to start working. Needless to say, we didn’t arrive home feeling particularly refreshed physically, although emotionally we were revitalized for having spent so much time with our children.
Last weekend we made it to a local farmers market. This morning we took a walk on the beach – the tide was very low, revealing the largest piece of driftwood I’ve ever seen. Tim estimates it to be 20-25 feet long! What could it possibly have been? This afternoon we ate our farm-to-table lunch out on our new little table on our sunny balcony. Life is good!
Zoë is the “poster child” for LIFE IS GOOD! Just look at her contemplating life as it presents itself through clear glass.
I’m glad that Tim is on the bend again. I hope the “yuck, yuck, yuck” is over soon!
Cats do seem to be gifted in the art of living in the moment. Zoë is so easy to please and content with the simple pleasures in her life. The cleaning and sanitizing of the yuck was done promptly – not sure when the repair work will begin…
Yes, yes, yes! “we do not exist as anything apart from the flow of nature and that flow is an unformed, inexplicable dance accomplishing itself.”
Zoe has the right attitude, waiting upon the sun. Sounds like you had a lovely visit in spite of Tim’s set back. Glad he is feeling better, and that you guys now have time to enjoy yourselves!
Blessing,
Jeff
Thank you, Jeff, and I am happy those words resonated with you, too! So much in the universe is inexplicable, and yet we keep trying to make sense of it all. And that is the flow of nature, too. Even Zoë thinks she has the sun all figured out, and seems genuinely confused when it fails to make an appearance on a cloudy day… You are much in my thoughts, my friend…
Looks as though Zoë has a wonderful spot for contemplating and waiting for the sun to appear. I’m so glad Life is Good for you right now. 🙂
Oh Robin, you probably have no idea how much reading your blog encourages me to keep steady as I go, tackling one project at a time, rather than getting frantic and shutting down because I can’t get everything done at once. Thank you, always! 🙂
You are most welcome, Barbara, always. I can’t tell you how many times some of the words and images on your blog have helped move me along when I’m feeling paralyzed by it all. I think it’s wonderful that we can do that for each other.
I think it’s wonderful, too! 🙂
Ups and downs. That driftwood is a nicely spliced item … Perhaps part of a building. Hope your clean- up is quick. Jane
Tim thinks the driftwood might be part of a dock or pier, perhaps one of the many destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
When I think of people who have lost their homes, smashed to smithereens by a tornado or buried in a mudslide, our little flood doesn’t seem so bad.
You live in a beautiful place. Despite what nature, or life, could bring, the setting is inspiring enough. I admire your calm acceptance of the ‘twists’ and ‘turns’ in life. A beautiful post.
Thank you, Arti. I am not so calm and accepting when in the thick of it. 🙂 Sometimes writing about it is the way I give myself a little pep talk and an adjustment to my sails….
We got our deck sliding glass window/door replaced last November, too. I enjoyed looking out your door and glimpsing what you see every day.
Isn’t it wonderful to be able to see outside of one’s house again? We got so excited watching a thunderstorm the other night, complete with dramatic bolts of lightning.
Zoe looks very contented, Barbara! Hope Tim is feeling better and your basement has been cleaned up. XO
Zoë has a good life, here, Diane, and loves being the center of our attentions. She loves to go out on the balcony and watch the birds. 🙂 Basement is clean, but they have not come to repair the floors and walls yet.