Friday, March 13, 2015

The Rollercoaster called "This Week"







Yeah...it was exactly like THIS!

You know how people joke around saying "TGIF"?  Well I am NOT joking and after the chaos that was this week (both happy and unhappy)...I am completely exhausted and looking forward to a silent retreat for most of the weekend.

To be honest...most of the week...though hectic, was great. But Monday's news set the tone.

On Monday a friend of mine was driving a route she had literally taken hundreds and hundreds of times. On this morning,however, she would slide on black ice , her SUV flip upside down, and into a freezing retention pond. It was early and her route was rural. It would be more than an hour before the accident was discovered...and another 2 before divers recovered her body. 





She left behind her daughters...and Tony.  They were probably one of the happiest couples I have ever known. She was truly a wonderful person.


One of the bright spots is that they had just returned from a late winter "getaway" to sand and surf before she was killed. They spent their final days together relaxed, happy, playing together on a beach. 
We should all have such final memories.

She was 45.

RIP Robbin.

Once more reminding me of how very very short life is...and how we need to live each day as though it was our very last. Because one day...it will be.

Met with an old friend/past love early in the week, as well. We used to meet  yearly to catch up...but now meet seasonally.

He left me last Fall with

"I shall see you in Winter"

Okay, so it is technically still winter. 

We moved it to seasonally because we have both lost a few people recently and it does tend to underscore just how fragile and temporary our time here really is.  I baked cherry cobbler and made coffee. He brought lunch. We spent the day together, plundered the library, caught up with life.  Chris drifted over to get his ass handed to him in a game of chess. Not by me, although I admit I found being a spectator to the event quite satisfying.
Hugs and kisses and then

"Until Spring"

Which we both agreed is just around the corner.
It will be nice to welcome Spring together again.

Enjoyed a trek to Honey Creek Mall in Terre Haute this week, as well. Mall-Ratting with The Usual Suspects and a couple of newcomers. Loretta, Sharon, Gail, Tim, David, Diane, Gina, Tina,  Audrey and I converging to start the day together with Cinnabons and good coffee...then breaking into smaller factions to explore the mall.

WARNING:  Bath and Body has gone completely Hawaiian with it's new Summer Scents. Not bad until you have a group of 8 women trying the various testers. When we left we smelled a great deal like a fruit-salad...mixed with surf and coconut oil scent. If we could have found a Heavenly Ham shop nearby...it would have been exactly like attending a luauu.




 And I added a new cross-body black Nicole bag on winter-sale for 80% off! So that was a great find!  And a "soft as kittens" deep-taupe infinity scarf at 50% off that will probably be boxed soon for next winter...but enjoying a few more times first.

Later we all met back at TGIF for a late lunch. I love our group lunches. We all order various dishes or appetizers, then ask for small appetizer plates...put everything in the center of the table and do a family style "try everything" approach. Including desserts! A little of everything.

Loretta has introduced me to her "will-come-to-your-home" masseuse, Becky...who will, for the same price I had been paying Crystal at the Mona Lisa Day Spa...make house calls.
OMG!
I am so there!

And last, but certainly not least- Karen (...my housekeeper...) who got the carpets steam cleaned for me. They look as good as the day I moved in.  She is amazing.  
Can't say enough good things about the decision to hire her. 



A Driver. A Housekeeper. And a to-your-door Masseuse, occasionally.  


Yes...Life is definitely Improving!


                                           Have a Wonderful Weekend!