Emerging!

"Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place."

~Zora Neale Hurston

In the past 4 months, I have found that my soul has really crawled out from its hiding place and I am happier than I can remember! Spending quality time with someone who is open to being loved and loving someone in return has been very fulfilling; providing me with peace, joy and lots of new adventures! We always seem to manage to have lots of fun! Experiencing laughter on a daily basis is the icing on the cake of love!

This past week I spent time with Mr. GS as he tended to his 89 year old Mother's needs in the hospital, after she fell and broke her hip; requiring surgery. They say you can tell a lot about a man by how he treats his Mom! I was impressed and very touched by his caring, thoughtful nature as he gently fed her and carried on meaningful conversations with her even when she didn't seem to be comprehending much. But, there were plenty of funny times where they'd banter back and forth and she was razor sharp! He really enjoyed those moments as did I!

There were extremely frustrating times where she'd rip her IV out, over and over again, and times when she was verbally and physically abusive to her son and staff! He hung in there and continued to be loving and supportive of her and her caretakers, wanting only the best for his feisty Mama.

At night, we'd drop by a fast food place where he'd buy her "favorite" chocolate milkshake and then tease her that he "had to sneak it in to the hospital" as she lapped it up! He recently began going in to the hospital every few hours in the middle of the night, to move her extremities since she's been totally uncooperative with the physical therapists.

In between hospital visits we would trek out into the wilderness in his trusty Jeep, enjoying the beautiful scenery in the California Gold Rush area where he grew up! One day we crossed streams and creeks off the beaten path of the Sonora Pass and headed up to 10,000 feet to a pristine lake that was surrounded by cool mountains that still had some patches of snow! It was breath-taking and so remote that I had to pee on a tree! You heard me! I......peed on a tree! And by the time the jeep ride was over, I was the dirtiest I've EVER been in my life and I liked it! Imagine that! Oh, and when we headed back down the highway that night, a bear ran out in the road in front of us and we came this >< close to hitting it...on MY side! Scary...especially with the doors off on the Jeep!!!

Anyway, I took tons of photos of wildflowers and awesome scenery that only those familiar with the area and in possession of a 4WD vehicle would get to see!

Here's a couple for you to drool over! They will enlarge if you double click them!








(As Mr. GS remains up North until Monday, I have enjoyed some computer time that I don't normally get much of anymore! I know I still have to write about our cruise to Alaska! I've edited most of those photos and will get to that story soon! In the meantime, know that I am happily busy and enjoying life, love and my retirement!