Those Who Have Gone Before Us

Today's passing of Laurent Fignon sparked a thought (or two) in my brain, and maybe a possible explanation of my "obsession" with cemeteries and the Day of the Dead celebration.  Side Note:  I've always visited cemeteries, even before my photo obsession with headstones.

For those who may be reading and not know Laurent Fignon - he is a two time Tour de France winner and a one time winner of the Tour of Italy and simply a very classy man - who has lost his fight with cancer and is now at peace.  He made his mark on the world of cycling and will forever be remembered - but what if he had not been a world class cyclist?

As a young child, I loved my Grandmother Eva (my mother's mother) - but not being the older of the children in our family, that is the extent of what she was to me a loving grandmother.  My older sisters knew her better as a person and my eldest sister had the wonderful opportunity of being able to "be with" Grandmother Eva.  Grandmother took her to the cemeteries of our ancestors and instilled wonderful knowledge and appreciation of these ancestors.  It wasn't until I was an "older" woman that I became absolutely interested in researching our family lines, because it occurred to me it was not in my brain - nor written down for all I knew.

Four Generations - my Mother's Maternal Side

L-R: Arlene Morris (Aunt), Alton Morris (Grandfather),

Mildred Morris (Mother),

Eva Morris (Grandmother) holding my eldest sister - Annette

and Lidie Wimberley (Great-Grandmother)

Below:  Pleasant Wimberley (GG Grandfather)

When I started "poking" around, I discovered an absolute wealth of information from -- yes Grandmother Eva (and also on my Dad's side, from one of his nephews).  Through these handwritten notes (and many experiences since) I learned of my Grandmother Eva, as a woman - not just a loving grandmother - along with this knowledge, came much knowledge of my ancestors and the "knowing" of them as people.

Now to my love of cemeteries and the Day of the Dead celebrations - Day of the Dead is a holiday that allows families to dedicate time each year to honor those who have passed (Nov 1-2). In this celebration remembering the deceased is more than an act of fondness, it is an obligation of respect. This celebration ensures that a beloved's soul will never be forgotten and therefore shall truly never die.

Father's Maternal Side

Justin Bishop (GGGrandfather)

Many participants in this celebration believe there are three deaths that a person can experience: the first death is the expiration of the body; the second death occurs when the body is laid to rest; and the third and final death takes place only if and when the departed is forgotten.

It is this third and final death I feel as the most poignant, especially when you think of how many old, broken and long forgotten headstones - or lack of - exist and long before I became acquainted with the Day of the Dead celebration, I would roam cemeteries and particularly the old headstones and remember and ponder of the person buried there - I even have graves here in Midland County that I watch over and remember for they are long ago buried and probably have no one to remember them.

Father's Paternal Side

Elias G. Morris (GGGrandfather) and Georgie Knight (GGGrandmother)

So the point of this random, rambling blog from my brain sparked by the death of a great cyclist is:  even though most of "us" remember those recently departed and probably even a generation back or in the case of someone "famous" who will be remembered generations to come .... let us all strive to know and remember as many ancestors as we can - even if it is in the collective - for they are the ones that fought to improve their lives and the lives of their children and their children's children.  They are the ones that shaped "today's family" and their blood flows through your veins - so least they experience the third and most dreaded death of all -- let us remember them always!

Genealogy - write it down and pass it along, even if in our "PC" times of today an ancestor may not be looked upon in the best light - they were only doing the best they could at the time and what they thought was right for them and their families - at that point of time in history! 

Have a fabulous day buddies and in "remembering" Spock "Live Long and Prosper" :-)

My Harvester Ants

As some of you may know, others may not, we allow Harvester Ants to live in our yard ... it helps that there are no small children playing in our yard - and some days "we" have to be really diligent as to where we stand!  This started in the house we lived in before we purchased the one we are now living in ... we had one bed of Harvesters and we also had many Horned Lizards ("horny toad") a-coming to dinner.  We had all sizes and ages and they appreciated that we didn't "nuke" the ants (horny toads eat at least 60% ant, more if they can get them).  Desert USA - Horned Lizard

So, when we moved - I was pleased one day to notice at the southern boundary of our yard ... there was a small colony.  I excitedly pointed it out to my honey and we also awaited in anticipation - would we see horned lizards AND the answer was YES!  So, the "southern tribe" were allowed to live and prospect.  (I will state here, our home sits on two city lots - so our backyard is .. ummmm, rather large!)

The next tribe to come along developed as the "eastern tribe" -- and even though they are a good distance from the southern tribe .. there were still sqaubbles (ants can have fierce wars) and they too began to prosper.  Then outside the fenceline another queen managed to get a home started ... the "western tribe"!  The three tribes have epic battles, make wonderful trails to and from food sources AND love it when we turn the water on ... crazy right?

So, the whole point of this crazy rambly blog ... we noticed a week ago - after much activity - that the eastern tribe no longer were in residence at their mound.  I supposed that since the first two colonies are just at 15 years old, that the queen had died and with no one to lay new workers, that the colony had died.  It was a bit sad, considering how hard they had worked over the years BUT ... yes BUT ... THEY ARE BACK.

Two nights ago, while out watching the antics of the others, I went over to look at the "abandoned" mound and there were a handful of workers digging out another hole -- it appears that they had a "mine disaster" (aka collapse of the main tunnel) and they have since dug themselves out and back into the open -- persistance and hard work pays off!

So all is well in our backyard again -- until the next ant disaster!  Here's a great little website, if you want to know the "rest of the story."  Desert USA - Harvester Ants

PS  You know I can see why people enjoy "ant farms" .. "BUT HEY" ... let 'em out of the case - be kind to a horned lizard!

Summer to Autumn

This time of year I’m trying to get in as much “outside” walking/jogging as possible, but since I walk/jog before I go to work, it is a bit difficult - because it is dark-thirty. So it means part time on the treadmill and finishing up outside - when it gets light enough. (I’m not presumptuous enough to think there are not “nay-doers” hiding in the bushes waiting for someone to innocently troddle along.)

Anyway, in mornings past there’s been that ever-so-slight “hint” of coolness in the air - however, as the sun rises - so does the temperature, quickly. This morning, however, stepping off of the treadmill and out of the house into the morning air I was a pleasantly surprised - in lieu of our first “cold front” of the season moving through last evening. (It had also offered up some much needed moisture - not alot - but we’ll take any we can get.) The sweet smell of cool crisp air and a beautiful sunrise - lended itself to remind me, that even though Ma Nature is only toying with us, that Autumn is around the corner.

Hal Borland:
“Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?”

So in paralleling lives and seasons, change is always around the corner and I believe we, as human beings, crave the anticipation of something new and forthcoming, even in light of the certainty of the unknown.

So, in retrospect, the change of seasons is coming upon us and we must allow change not to deter us from our path but allow it to renew our spirit and hope and to drive the heaviness of the long hot and burdensome “summer” out of our beings!

*********
This photo is from an email I received today “Why Boys Need Parents” -- smile my Buddies and release the burdens of life, as a new season approaches.

Midland County Fair - Part 1: The Losers

Okay, as you may or may not know :-) I entered some photos in the Midland County Fair's County Snap Shooter Contest (1) I figured they might need some entries, being the 1st Fair in Midland County since 1966 (Comeback V2 - some will get that, some will not!), and (2) I'm almost almost always game to lose ... which I most certainly always do -- lots to be said for my perserverance!  So anyway, we ran out to the Fair last night to quickly view things ... and actually, since they were still setting most stuff up ... that's exactly what we did "quickly view things"!  But we are going back in the AM (Saturday), so maybe they'll be more things TO TAKE PHOTOS OF with the prospect of entering them in another contest - somewhere -- AND yes, losing again :-)  

My best loser was in the Simply Midland category -- actually got a 5th place ribbon - WOOT - the 4th place loser!  (I suspect since they gave Champion, Reserve Champion, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in each category ... that there were only 7 entries in this category!)

The Sky's the Limit

(Midland's Motto by-the-way)

Actually, the one I thought would ribbon (entered in the Landscape category) was a photo everyone seems to love - except judges, this photo's second rejection!

  Rain in the Tetons

Loser No. 3 was a quaint little Black and White -- maybe the thought behind it was too quaint or subtle, maybe I should have painted a longhorn on the angel?

May the Force Be With You

Now, for Losers No. 4 and 5 ... I wasn't real pleased with how No. 4 turned out from Walgreens (okay, I mean I had to put these together in like 2 days .. so Walgreen's glossy it was), they overcooked No. 4 ... anyway, I held not great prospects for No. 4 -- it proved to be true!  (Also, I think it needs to be larger than an 8x10 -- the small boy, which is actually supposed to be the focus of the photo .. is too small in an 8x10 ... IMHO)

Getting the Shot

"Oh" No. 4 was in "People" category

Leading to the the last loser, which I totally didn't expect to win anything, but injected it for a bit of humor (too bad they didn't have a humor category) .. it was in the color category:

Flowers and Fred

So, for those that asked, thank you ... for your love and support ... thank you!  I already know what I'm entering next year and its going to have ALOT to do with cows and West Texas landscapes!

PS.  Or I'm entering the artsy craftsy divisions next year .. they had so few entries this year, I believe everyone who entered anything got a 1st place ribbon :-) .... just a passing observation!

Day Trip: Geocaching and Dinosaur Footprints - McCamey, Texas

On Highway 385 between McCamey, Texas and Fort Stockton, Texas (about 30 miles south of McCamey at a Rest Area), you can go a'caching and a'dino hunting at the same time (see where the smiley face is on the map - screenshot from Geocaching).  There are several caches at this rest area - along with the footprints of three-toed dinosaurs.

The footprints are about 1 foot across and 1-1/2 feet long (at least).

In the past there were some folks, who didn't think anything of extracting the footprints and taking them home (via jackhammers from what I've been told) - the footprints are now in a cage, for their protection.

Our most recent trip to the footprints was just after it had rained (alot) and we saw all sorts of pretty flowers (are these evening primrose -- I love taking flower photos, I need to learn their proper names) and lots of other very interesting critters (millipedes, bees, ants).

It seemed the critters liked having the rains too (see the bee taking a drink, along side the millipede)!

There was also evidence of critters we didn't see, anyone into identifying scat?

So much vegetation happily co-exists.

These little guys - about quarter size - had I not been paying attention, I could have squashed.

There are picnic tables at this rest area, which makes this little day trip a nice excursion - pack a lunch, see some dino tracks, various vegetation and lots-o-critters ... explore the Ghost Town of Girvin, Horsehead Crossing and/or even Fort Stockton -- but those are "another story."

These tiny footprints in the mud were "around the corner" at the Ghost Town of Girvin (not the "watering hole" for people) but at the actual "town" of Girvin ... we all know who they belong too - yes?!

Thanks for coming along on this little trip - I hope you go and enjoy!

Random Samplings

Okay, it is perfectly unacceptable that I have not blogged since 8/7 -- it is not that my brain hasn't had any random thoughts, I actually believe it has had too many and no single random thought actually stuck out in my brain and said "Oh that so needs to be shared!"  So here's a sampling of the past week's randomness (and some future thoughts):

Totally awesomeness happened this past week, in that I called the house to tell my honey something and he didn't answer the phone -- what is extraordinary about that -- you might ask?  I didn't even have the thought of rushing home from the office to check and make sure he wasn't lying in the middle of the floor needing to be hauled off to the emergency room -- TOTALLY AWESOME, I think!

We own five cats -- all rescued, so don't pass out, I mean let's face it - if you make the plunge to own two - what's five .. anyway, it was time for four of them to go to the vet on Saturday .. yeps, don't know how we managed to get them going at the same time .. but it actually is a blessing because we only go to the vet twice a year (well, unless there's the unusual accident).  I will say all my cats are good "vet goers" very docile, very accommodating to being probed and poked ... but I will also say the "loudnesss" in the car ride to the vet, could make you go deaf!

Pending randomness -- Midland County is having a county fair -- after more years that I can remember (and I've lived here for quite a long time)!  It should be exciting (or at least minimal entertainment for the weekend) and I hope it does well, because it would simply be nice to have a county fair "again" ... we have a couple of other "big" celebrations throughout the year, but they've gotten "such the same 'ole artsy crafty stuff (that is beyond what I want to pay for any more 'stuff')" that mostly, I don't bother going (I know, I know -- bad girl).  So maybe some critter contests, pie baking, canning and other different activities will be just the ticket!  We'll see, I'm sure it will be blogged about!

Also counting the days to vaca ... we are on the short side of the list now and I'm into counting in halves ... 2 and 1/2 weeks :-)

Also just got reminded (thanks to the radio) that the Crossroads Marathon is coming October 2 .. um, no - they have a 5K run :-)  I had originally thought I may use this as a warm up to the Austin Livestrong Challenge ... but do I really want to pay $33.99 to drive 20 miles to Odessa, so I can run 5K ... when I can run 5K for free out my front door?  We'll see!

Okay, can ya stand it ... so much randomness, so little time!  Have a great day buddies AND REMEMBER:

Henry James, writer (1843-1916):  Three things in human life are important:  The first is to be kind.  The second is to be kind.  And the third is to be kind.

..... oops, see, I just had a random Big Bend thought :-) enjoy!

Woman's World Magazine - 7 Days of Inspiration

Taking time to sit for a few this glorious Saturday - not too hot yet, the morning was beautiful for walking outdoors, chores to the store done and time for a quick breakie before doing the next "to do."  The only "woman's" magazine that I will occasionally pick up while in the check out line is Woman's World - a little magazine I fondly refer to as a "rag mag" ... but thing is, I really enjoy it - so why not share this fact?!

1.  A refreshing thing about this little magazine is - it is not 99% advertisements, a quick count of its 63 pages, I see 10 full page ads -- not bad!

2.  Articles are are brightly colored, short and easy to read through yet full of information - it has the obligatory hair, makeup, clothing tips; the diet tips; always pages of recipes (this edition contains "Pasta Presto"; tips on where to go online for different things every week; a travel pick of the week (I see this week is "Fall in Love With California's North Coast" ... just two quick pages with fabulous photos and tips of "must sees" Bodega Bay; Russian River; Mendocino; Point Reyes National Seashore; Fort Bragg; Healdsburg and Fort Ross Historic Park); the obligatory horoscope and crossword puzzle; cute cartoons and photos of cute babies/animals.

3.  A very uplifting and fun magazine to cruise through and all for $1.79 - pretty cheap for the happiness the little "rag mag" offers (of course if you buy one every week .... but still a great purchase)!

4.  It always contains shorts stories of miracles and guardian angels, a dose of Chicken Soup for the Soul and always 7 Days of Inspiration which is the destination of this blog.

So, I just suggest that if you see one while hanging out in the checkout line -- check it out!  The following is this week's 7 Days of Inspiration - they just particularly suited my brain this day and my brain said "Hey, sit down and share this with your buddies!"

Take one a day ... and feel great all week!

Day 1:  One voice can make a difference.

Day 2:  You deserve all good things.

Day 3:  A dream is hope with wings.

Day 4:  There's someone you've been overlooking: You!

Day 5:  You can do it!

Day 6:  Wonderful things flow into out lives when we let them.

Day 7:  Tell yourself the truth:  You are amazing!

..... and No. 7, my buddies, is exactly what I think of all of you --- You are Amazing!!! 

Have a blessed weekend.

Call of the Wild

Okay, if you remember - or if you don’t, I’ll remind you - a few blogs back, I shared that I had discovered Lit-2-Go on iTunes U and Lit-2-Go's independent website, containing a wealth of FREE (woot! free in this “day and age”) audiobooks/podcasts of our beloved classic literature. I started with Jack London’s Call of the Wild.

I don’t really remember reading this classic in middle school, but I’m sure it was required reading - that said, the re-reading (or listening, in this case), of Buck’s coping with a life altering situation, conjures up many more feelings now - than reading the “story of a dog” as a child.

Jack London’s book is definitely more than just a child’s story about a dog - it could very well be the story of “our” own struggle to make our way through life and cope with the many events that thrust lifestyle changes upon us.

Buck was forced into his lifestyle change from the comforts of his “home and hearth” into the cruel law of “club and fang” but eventually, through never giving up, he finds peace. Buck learned and adapted quickly, he fought to become a leader, he protected himself, he protected those in need of protection and he saved those in need of being saved - along the path he awakened his primal collective memory of survival.

Sound familiar in any way? Do we, as humans, not have the same type of struggle to maintain our “home and hearth” ... actually stopping short of the law of “club and fang” - hopefully! We too learn and adapt, protect ourselves and our loved ones and do a little saving along the way. As far as our human collective memory goes - don’t we all have the desire to be truly free and don’t we wish we could answer the Call of the Wild?