If you came into our garage, you would see CD’s hanging from the ceiling.
The CD’s hang from the metal arm of the garage door openers.
No one hits their head on the CD’s.
They are up too high for that.

The CD’s are hanging from a piece of fish wire.
The CD’s twist and turn in the breeze.
They are definitely a conversation piece.
No one knows why they are there.

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They were married for 62 years.
They knew each other from the time they were 11 years old.
His 83 years and her 81 years were beginning to take their toll.
They each suffered from various health issues yet remained faithful and steadfast in their love.

He has spent the last three months in and out of hospitals.
Having diabetes, he has had four major surgeries because of poor circulation.
All the surgeries were an attempt to save his feet.
Within the past week, he had his middle toe amputated because of the disease.

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I remember the year she asked to go.
She wanted to go away for two weeks to a Christian camp with some of her church friends.
The camp was nearby but it would have been her first time away for an extended time.
She was young and was the first of our children to ask permission for such a thing.

I knew the camp and I knew the people with whom she would be going.
My husband was not agreeable to this whole idea.
She’s too young! he said, reminding me that she had just finished sixth grade.
Maybe another year.

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When my children were little, we vacationed at an Adirondack Ranch Resort.
The children enjoyed it so much, we vacationed there twice.
There were chalet cabins to stay in and even a lake house for large families.
The lake had pontoon boats rides, pedal boats, row boats, and kayaks.

There were activities for families all through the day.
There were horseback riding lessons and guided trail riding.
There was a fun rodeo, hayrides, wagon rides, and horse-drawn sleigh rides in the winter.
Experienced wranglers even taught the children roping skills.

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My husband takes a trip each year to volunteer to build houses.
He has traveled both nationally and internationally.
In each place the style of home is quite different.
In each place someone will have a home that they never had before.

My husband has built houses in India, El Salvador, Haiti, and soon the Philippines.
He goes to be a blessing but he is the one who has been blessed.
In each place he has left a bit of his heart with the people and the children he has met there.
He usually brings two bags with him when he travels.

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I was baking in the kitchen.
My youngest daughter called to ask if she could bring some friends for dinner.
Just about now, most college students are missing good old home cooking.
Of course, I said, how many friends do you want to bring?

Would ten of us be too many? She asked knowing what I would say.
Ten is fine; it will be fun, I said and meant it.
I love when my children want to come home.
I love when they want to bring their friends as well.

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I heard the noise as I was emptying the dishwasher.
I stopped clanging the dishes and listened.
Nothing.
As soon as I resumed the dishwasher emptying the noise started again.

I went into the living room and opened the door to the side porch.
Nothing.
I went back into the kitchen and opened the back door onto the deck.
Nothing.

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I am not a gardener.
I am not a seamstress.
I can maintain my plantings.
I can mend a few things.

I am always amazed at people who can plant seeds in the dirt and produce an abundance.
I am always intrigued with people who can see a bolt of fabric and know what it will become.
I am not that person.
I can take word and mix them around to tell stories but that is another matter.

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I was remembering math class.
I happened to walk down a stationary aisle in the store and saw some protractors.
It brought me back to when I learned about measuring angles.
The instrument that was to be used to measure angles I wanted to use to trace things.

I could trace the half circle and create all kinds of things.
I could make my own angles and create wonderful pictures.
I enjoyed the creative side of learning about angles.
I did not like the mathematical side of measuring them.

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