Lucky?

I haven't found too much magic in my days lately. There's just too much "adultness" going on. Work, work, work. My hands ache, my shoulders ache, my hips ache from sitting for 12 hours at at time . . . but enought whining. This too will pass (maybe??).

I did see something today that really made me laugh. A flatbed tow truck passed me with a wrecked car on the back. The vanity license plate read - LUCKY. Lucky? The car certainly wasn't. Hopefully the driver and passengers were.

Sweater Connections

I usually go through my day rushing to get things done and not making making many connections with people. The idea of this blog and looking for "every day magic" was to force me to notice things more - things that make you smile or stop to think. A side effect, it turns out, is making more connections. Yesterday AM on my way to work I stopped a Target for a few things. As I was checking out, I noticed the lady behind me was buying a really pretty lime green sweater with white dots. I really liked it and kept thinking I needed to come back later to get one. A while later, I was at Jo Ann. While waiting in the checkout line at Jo Ann, I noticed a lady in front of me with the same sweater! Turns out it was the same lady! We started talking and I asked her if she just bought the sweater at Target. She thought I asked because she left the tag on! I assured her that she didn't -- I just had noticed the sweater as she was buying it and really liked it. We had a nice conversation and then we both moved on -- but instead of rushing through my day, a connection was made!

Phoenix Rose

There is a huge rosebush outside the front door that must have at least 40 roses or soon-t0-bloom roses! It's really beautiful and even more so to me because the rose bush was a mother's day present to me a few years ago. The thing is . . . it shouldn't be here blooming like it is. Last fall the bush looked really dead. It was very small and mainly brown - brown, hard stem, brown leaves. I decided that I needed to dig up what remained and throw it away. But, somehow, I never got around to it. Winter came and then spring. In April I noticed some growth earlier so decided to spare its life. Mainly again I was just too busy to do anything with it. I got busy and didn't really look at it until a few days ago. Now, you can't miss it as you come up the front walk! It's at least 4 ft tall and weighted down by all the blooms and buds! I have never seen a rose bush with so many blossoms! Like a Phoenix it rose from the ashes and a close call with the trash can! When I look at it, it's more than a beautiful rose bush, it's evidence of the magic that come spring, we can bloom and grow again no matter how down we've been.

Facebook Friends

The big thing with teenagers right now is Facebook, a social networking site. Teenagers consider it their social domain and are appalled that parents and even grandparents are infiltrating their territory. I know my daughter is very put off by us adults being on Facebook. But, like it or not, we are invading. I signed up awhile ago, asked my kids to be my friends and was politely(?) declined! I have to admit that I really haven't gone onto it very much and really didn't see much use for it -- until today. Well, really yesterday. Yesterday's magic was that a friend of mine from high school, Heather, found me on Facebook and got back in touch! It was so great to hear from her! I love being in touch with old friends. I think about my high school friends a lot lately. Maybe it's because having a daughter in high school takes me back. If I only knew then what I know now . . . Some of this wisdom I share with my daughter, some of it I don't because some things you have to learn for yourself! Anyhow, thanks Facebook for providing another way to experience everyday magic -reconnections with old friends.

Giving Back To Your "Roots"

This example of "everyday magic" didn't happen to me directly - but relates to my "roots." My brother, Kenny, is the head boys lacrosse coach at Medina Senior High. One of his players actually lives in the house on Red Oak Circle where Kenny and I grew up in Medina. My parents lived there for about 25 years but moved to a new house about 10 years ago. The boy's father has leukemia and has been in the hospital for most of the spring. The boy's mother has been unable to keep up with yardwork, etc. so Kenny and the rest of the team went over to his house - our old house - last Saturday to plant flowers, cut grass, and spread mulch. Kenny said it was weird to be doing all those things for another family at the house he lived in for most of his growing up years! I wonder what memories were going through his head as he was making "new" an "old" part of his life?!

Da Da Da Dum

I just noticed that the bird chirping outside the door is chirping the opening bars to Beethoven's 5th! --- Da Da Da Dum! Da Da Da Dum!

Cloud Burst

Yesterday Alex had a soccer game in Hilliard. It was a beautiful day - blue skies and big white clouds. As we left and got on 270 we drove from beautiful blue sky right under one dark cloud. All of sudden the cloud burst and it starting pouring-big fat rain drops.Ther was still saw blue sky all around us but we were directly under the rain cloud. I even looked for a rainbow - there had to be one - but there wasn't. As we drove back to Westerville the cloud seemed to chase us. I'd get out from under it and the rain would stop. The pavement was dry and cars we passed didn't have a spot of wet. Then, a minute or two later - it started back up again. Start, stop, start, stop, we played cat and mouse with the cloud all the way back to Westerville. Finally, the cloud had enough of this game and decided to let me have it. It gathered more dark cloud friends and they let loose with about 10 minutes of torrential rain -- just when I reached the restaurant for the team lunch!