Anniversary

Tonight, my husband and I are heading to the olive garden to celebrate our anniversary (39). And then off to a movie. The sun is shining just as it was those many years ago. Some of the relatives and friends that celebrated our happy day are gone now...my grandparents, my husband's grandma and his parents, several aunts and uncles. I remember as I was walking down the aisle my uncle whispered, "Beautiful!" His whispered comment will always be treasured. My husband and I drew up a blueprint for a house. We bought some property and then every capable and willing hand was drafted into helping us build our house. The three bedroom house became the home where my husband and I lived with our five children. They are grown now and we are left with dogs, cats, a rabbit and fish (from a homeschooling project with my nephew). The marriage road has not always been easy, trying to blend two opinionated, different personalities takes a lot of effort. Many times we have had to communicate, talk out our differences, forgive, compromise (explains why our chimney is 5 different brick colors) and personally sacrifice. Have I exasperated my husband? Of course. Has he irritated me? Yes, indeed. Was it worth it? Yes, our life together is special.

Riding lesson

Yesterday afternoon, my husband and I drove out to the stable for my first riding lesson. We found the house number and pulled up the driveway. After searching around, we realized that we had driven past the drive leading to the stable. We met a young girl who helped around the stable and also took lessons. My instructor was finishing a lesson, so I went off with the aide to get the horse. I met Tamara, a beautiful 17 year old Eyptian Arabian. She balked at coming out of the corral, so the teen enticed her with some grass. She found a lead, I attached it and walked her to the inside arena. Tamara is voice trained and gentle, but does not like to go around other horses. So to pass them, I opened the gate into the arena and walked her past the other horses. My instructor showed me where she stored the equipment. I gathered a pad, girth, saddle riser and English saddle. Later I got the bitless bridle. My instructor showed me the proper way to put on the saddle and bridle. I then clucked softly and led Tamara into the arena to the mounting block. Once on Tamara, my instructor adjusted the stirrups and told me to hold the reins as if I were holding an ice cream cone. Hold the reins about an inch above the saddle. As Tamara walked, I felt one with her and spent the next few minutes trying to stay near the rail. I also learned that if Tamara had her ears pointing forward, as she did when she heard a flock of birds chirping outside, that I needed to talk to her and if necessary change direction. Not so critical in the arena, but quite important on a trail where the horse could become a runaway. The time flew by and once I dismounted, I led her, dropping too much rein to my dismay, and into the hallway, where I learned how to stow the saddle and stirrups. I groomed Tamara and then helped my instructor put on her blanket. My husband and I gave her some peppermint candies for her hard work and then I led her outside and the instructor put her into the pen with Jay, her horse friend. I am so very lucky and I have four more lessons!

My Bucket List

I just signed up for 5 horseback riding lessons. The only time I sat astride a horse was a hundred years ago when I took the Scouts to the state park and we rode the trail on a beautiful autumn day. Leaves floated gently to the ground, the sun shone and squirrels played. So, I've decided in the last few days to become friendly with horses. Not too far a stretch for me as I have 3 dogs, 4 cats, a rabbit and 7 fish at home. My husband would like to take an Alaskan or Disney Cruise and travel west to Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. We would also like to take a look at Maine and Arcadia National Park. If my riding lessons go well, I might like to spend some time at a horse ranch and visit Montana. I have been gripped by the story of the Maylasian plane and every morning check the news for developments. My worry for the people aboard the missing plane take some of the sparkle from spring days bright with sunshine and melting snow.

Respect for the environment

The flower shop shares a dumpster with a coffee shop. On Wednesday, I noticed that the dumpster was full and that bags of trash were on the ground. Trash is picked up on Thursday morning, so I expected that once the dumpster was empty, someone from the coffee shop would pick up the mess on the ground. When I drove in this morning, I saw garbage bags on the ground. I switched my knit gloves for latex, locked the flower shop door and armed with a snow shovel, picked up the trash and tossed it in the dumpster. I am annoyed that the employees at the coffee shop care so little for the earth that they would dump the trash on the ground. The coffee shop needs another dumpster and more containers for recycled items. My dad taught me respect for the environment and many times, I have hauled items to be recycled to my home to dispose of in the proper containers.

The thrill of competing

A few uncertainties yesterday afternoon as I gathered my clothes and sparring gear for the tournament. Would I be reffing? Did I need my ref uniform--black pants, white shirt, red tie? What should I eat? I generally follow a predictable diet on tournament days, eggbeaters, oatnut bread, sandwich, orange and macaroni and cheese. What time should I leave so as to allow enough time to center myself? I decided to leave 70 minutes before the tourney to allow time to stop and pick up some AAA batteries for my digital camera. And so I loaded myself and the equipment in the car and headed off. I was amused to see a sign in front of a local church "Drive thru ashes." I chuckled but was glad for the reminder that Ash Wednesday is tomorrow. I stopped for the batteries at a local CVS, happy to find them right away across from the checkout. I was disturbed by an altercation between two customers--one quite upset because he felt the other had cut in front of him. The whole thing was totally unnecessary because the one said she stepped out of line to get some bottled water. Why not stay in line and tell the cashier that she was purchasing water and picking it up after? Would have been too easy! Once at the dojang, I checked in and at 6 pm the event started. The first was the obstacle course. Little artists between the ages of 3 and 10 hopped over a couple pads, ran in and out of cones, kicked across banana pads and dove under a limbo pole before making a hammer fist to break a board and then running back. The fastest won the 1st place and so on down the line for each heat. Then the participants did poomse forms, two at a time. Three judges raised their arms toward the direction of the winner. My name was called along with a 17 year old 2nd degree in karate. I did my personal best, but lost to his very complicated, long form. After open hand forms, the sparring competition began. I kicked and punched as best as I could, but not well enough to win first. And so it went. As I drove to the tournament, I told myself that if I performed well, did not forget my form or make mistakes, I would be happy, that it really didn't matter if I took home a 1st place trophy. And I was successful. I did perform the techniques well and I showed good sportsmanship. As I look at the trophies I took home last night, I think back to my pre competition days. I yearned to compete and then as now, I thought, "I will do my personal at best. That would be the cake. And if I win a medal or trophy, that is the frosting on the cake." And little did I expect that I would enjoy the thrill of competing.

Tournament Day!

Hoping to have a minute to think through my form in my mind at work. However, we had many orders to fill and two were for fruit and gourmet and chocolate baskets which meant a trip to the store. I was busy, busy, busy, until I clocked out. I ran through the form several times once I got home. I performed for five ladies last evening, with Maggie the dog running about and in my socks which made turning slippery and a challenge. And the terrible thing is, the entire form is a blur. I truly do not know if I did all the techniques last night. My sister said it looked good except to make the arm movements bigger. So 1.) I am going to get into my zone, 2.) I will count the techniques and pace myself, and 3.) I will make the arm movements bigger. I hope to spar also but I have not been to sparring class because of work schedule conflicts. It is a friendly competition with fellow students from the dojang.

Paying attention to intuition

Twice in the last two days, my intuition has strongly urged me to rethink. Yesterday, when I put in an order for roses, something told me to recalculate the amount. Either because I was tired or hungry, I looked at it for a minute and then left it. This afternoon when the customer came in to pick up the roses, he mentioned that I had told him a price $10 lower than what I had charged him. Now, I have no idea where the amount I entered came from. It was totally wrong, but if I had paid attention to my intuition, the price would not have been wrong in the first place. Today, a customer ordered a low long centerpiece for a dinner party this evening. He wanted it in an hour from the time he called. The centerpieces are always made at the main store, but since that store is seven miles away, I knew it could not be made and brought to the branch store in time. What to do? I needed floral foam and a low tray which I did not have. I tried to substitute but was displeased with the result. You can imagine my happiness when the customer called and asked for the arrangement to be delivered. There was plenty of time for a designer to make it (in jewel tones rather than the pastels I had used) and for our delivery manager to get it to house by early evening. A sigh of relief here and a reminder to listen to my intuition.