Saying Goodbye to Fall

It may still be "fall" here in the valley but the high mountains are prepared for snow. Went exploring yesterday up some new trails (new to me). Even though all the aspens and Quakers had long since lost their leaves the beauty of the valleys with their pines and dry grasses along with the visable mountain ranges as far as the eye could see and all this laid against the exquisit blue of a fall sky was the best remedy for my currently accelerated hectic life. Life has been interesting, work has consumed many long hours, school work as usual and all that goes on in between. What makes it different? I don't know... I just know I reach work, take a deep breath and go until I shut down the computer and head back home.

I have really been pushing our department and myself to step it up a notch. That means making our office more visible andpushing our department to become "excellent"

Went up a few weekends ago to visit the oldest and his wife. To be around my "baby" gave me a complete feeling. I hate that he lives so "far" away. Makes me wonder how my parents dealt withmy absence. I left home at age 15 and except for a period of 8 -9 months I have never again have lived in the same state as them. For 4- 5 years I was only home twice a year. Then when married, finances and life kept me away sometimes for over a year.

I am very blessed to have my children close.

We are actually going out to breakfast with my youngest this morning. He is finally admitting to dating this gal. Wonder where this will lead. Wanting out children to make the best choices doesn't make it happen.

My dads friend has been corresponding via e-mail with all of us siblings. I have never met a person with such different ideologies. They are at times scary. He fought in one of the wars but now hates the US. Says that what she is getting she deserves. He agrees with the illegals from Mexico coming to take back the land that was once theirs. He has gone on a "spiritual" journey that is leading him somewhere I can not fathom. He is sorry to have shed blood in her defense.

Now that is scary. I am sure my father did not agree with any of that not my step mom and her great grandfather was a Mexican General.

I need to respond to his last e-mail but I am not sure what to say or how to respond. Just the same he has done a lot for my step mom and my sis since daddy died and I appreciate that he has been such a good support.

Today is a warm day. Need to wash my jeep, clean, go grocery shopping, do homework and read my library book - it is a mystery (novel) based on skeletal remains found on an Indian reservation in Oregon. I think reading my book should be the most important. LOL

My lab tests are not back yet but it will be interesting to see what the doc says and prescribes. He treats with medications that are not synthetic, nor animal based but with the actual hormones etc that your body is low on. I hope it works. Hormones are a pain in the $%#. I would have never had that surgery if I had know of all the side effects!

The class I am in is about aging. I am learning to be more positive (kinda) about the inevitable. Both the man and I get the giggles when our age shows. He is going blind. If we didn't have the medical technology we do today he would be blind within the year. His first surgery will be next month.I forget stuff all the time and I am only 45! Stick-it notes, leaving myself e-mails and voice mails are the reasons I remember what I do. I love comedy about old age because it is all true. There are many myths about aging and a prejudice aimed at the elderly. I have exhibited some too. Treating an old person like a child. Figuring because they are old they are of "slow" mind. It is all very interesting.

Well - time for breakfast and then off to the race called life.