There is something about a rocking chair.
Rocking chairs have contact with the floor at only two points.
This enables a person to shift his or her weight by pushing slightly with their feet.
That gentle motion gives the person the ability to rock.

The rocking chair will automatically rock back until the person’s center of gravity is met.
That keeps the person at an unstressed position and angle.
Many people who suffer from bad backs find relief in rocking chairs for this reason.
Rocking chairs are often associated with mothers and babies.
The rocking motion soothes the infant because it moves so gently.

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It seems to me that they just cleared enough trees to build the roads.
My dear friend from Colorado said that the last time she visited me.
I am used to driving around here and don’t really think about it.
She is right!

I always smile when I see a tree trimmed in such a way to accommodate the power lines.
I am in awe of the massive trunks of some of the trees.
They are so close to the road as if to say, We were here first.

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It was very foggy the other morning.
Fog as thick as pea soup, as the old saying goes.
The kind of fog that required Rudolph’s shiny nose to light the way.

I still walked early that morning.
It was mysterious and eerie, yet beautiful at the same time.
Light from the houses lit the fog in a captivating way.

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My dear friend is burying her father today.
It has been a long month in God’s waiting room.
Though the month was long and arduous, it was also a gift.
God has a way of doing that.

My friend’s father was an attorney with a keen mind even when his body was failing.
He had reached his 90th birthday and has spent his last years a widower.
He and his wife had four children; one died very young.
The other three formed a familial sandwich: two boys with a girl in between.

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The sign caught my eye as I drove down the road.
It was on the front lawn of a small rural church.
Write your plans in pencil. Give God the eraser.
Those words gave me a lot to think about as I drove.

I was on one of my excursions for the soul.
I had errands to do, but mostly I drove to take in the scenery, to be alone, to think, to pray.
Those words gave me food for thought.

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The Willis Tower, which is also known as the Sears Tower, is a 108-story skyscraper.
The Skydeck opened in 1974 and is one of the most famous tourist spots in Chicago.
Elevators take visitors to the observation deck in 60 seconds.
The rapid speed, along with the height, causes them to feel the pressure as they rise.
They can actually feel the building sway on a windy Chicago day.

In 2009, renovations were completed on the Skydeck.
This included three retractable glass balconies.
These glass boxes allow visitors to look through the floor to the street 1,353 feet below.
It must be like the visual cliff experiment, which is an apparent but not actual drop from one level to another.

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Our mall was renovated years ago, but my children fondly remember the way it used to be.
They remember the Talking Bear at Christmas.
It was a gigantic teddy bear that held a conversation with you and even knew your name.
Unbeknownst to the children, the bear had a savvy helper inside that listened very well!

There was also the playground.
It was THE place to go after our shopping was done.
It was circular playground with ramps that brought you down to the play area.
There was one rule. NO ONE leaves the playground, without me, under any circumstances.
No one was allowed on the ramps; we entered together; we left together.

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My friend buried her father today.
As I waited in line to greet the family, I thought of a funny memory.
It was a “me” and “her” memory.

When I hugged her, I told her my thoughts.

Remember when my mom died and my father wanted to go as far away as he could?
She knew exactly what I meant.

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My heart is heavy.
My dear friend from elementary school, my best friend as a girl, lost her father yesterday.
He was ninety-two years old.
Many would say, he had a full life.
He did, but he will still be missed.

Mr. and Mrs. F were so kind to me after my mother died.
I was at their dinner table often and was always welcome in their home.
Mr. F was definitely the patriarch; for me, he was harder to get to know than his wife.
He had served our country proudly. He was a good provider, husband, and father.

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Goodbyes were said…hugs were given.
My son was going back to college to begin his senior year.
The car was packed last night.
Guitars were placed in a prime location; snacks and food were easily accessible.

I tend to keep myself busy when one of my children leave.
I change sheets, dust their room, vacuum…anything to distract me a bit.
My youngest daughter came upstairs looking for her dad.
Our son was on the phone.

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