Not A Day Goes By That I Don't Think Of You And About You -- June 10, 2025

I'm joined at the hip with my 10-year-old granddaughter, as I was when her two older sisters were her age. The oldest has just graduated from college and the middle one has just started college. The third of three granddaughters lives with her mom and dad in the same apartment complex in which we live.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

But that doesn't mean I don't think of you often -- every day, in fact. 

I have one last "thing" in life to accomplish. To see the ten-year-old granddaughter get her driver's license. Then my work on earth, as it were, or my purpose for living, is done.

That doesn't mean I love my two grandsons, twins, in Portland, OR, any less. It simply means they don't need me for anything. They have a mom that does not work outside the home and her two sons are her two priorities in life. 

Both of Sophia's parents have incredibly busy lives / jobs outside of their home and thus Sophia would often be stranded if her grandparents were not here to take her to all her activities and here all her stories. But by 8th grade, two or three years from now, that will be over. All she will need from us is a chauffeur. 

And when she gets her driver's license, she won't need a chauffeur.

It's Thursday, But It Feels Like A Friday -- May 22, 2025

My thoughts carry me back to Yorkshire, specifically Menwith Hill Station, Pateley Bridge, Friday night.

I would just like to share a bottle of wine with you tonight, listen to some YouTube music, and then maybe a movie, wrapped in each other's arms.  

Look into your eyes, again. 

Maybe talk literature. Share music. But mostly just share each other.

I Still Miss Someone -- May 22, 2025

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I Still Miss Someone

Link here.

 

Birthday -- June 1, 2025

Wow, I miss you. Birth dates are particularly painful.

Politics — May 12, 2025

It’s sad how so many folks are so upset about political environment. That was one of the nicest things about Pat. She completely avoided the news. 

Reminiscing -- May 1, 2025

Individually each of the posts on this blog are really, really awful, but as one scrolls through the blog, one can really see how good it is.

Every morning, walking back from the bus stop, having dropped off Sophia for another school day, and every evening dropping Sophia off at home -- I am reminded of the wonderful walks I had with Pat. Early morning and late in the evening, even in Texas, the weather is generally wonderful and dawn or dusk reminds me of those halcyon days in Yorkshire. 

I'm rereading Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain, An Autobiography of Faith. I came across this book during my time with Pat. It was probably during the middle of our time together. I do ot recall how I came across the book. Somehow, Pat must have mentioned it to me. 

I could never write to Pat, but I wish I had kept up with Colleen, at least on a very irregular basis. I would like to know how things worked out for her and her husband. Most importantly, maybe she would have stayed in touch with Pat and would be able to tell me something -- anything -- about Pat.

You have no idea how much I enjoy Thomas Merton's autobiography and I wish I had someone with whom to discuss it. But, it seems, "sharing books" has never been very rewarding for me. May wouldn't even begin to listen to me. Pat might at least enjoy a conversation. I don't know.

Our best times, if I recall correctly when Pat and I went on long walks at night or on the weekend and were completely quiet, lost in our own thoughts.

Generally speaking, England was a miserable place to stop, get a snack, rest. The weather outside was generally miserable. I don't recall why we didn't go inside. Perhaps we weren't interested in anything more than resting and the proprietors would not let us just sit without ordering something. Why didn't we go out for tea more often or even an ale in the evening?

But if Pat wants to know a bit more about me, my psyche, a good place to start, Thomas Merton.

Wow, I miss her. Pat.

Not A Day Goes By That I Don’t Think Of Pateley Bridge And The River Nidd At Midnight — April 30, 2025hn

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpofzN3cJc

Fifteen Years Ago, John Prince