Little Treasures

 

One of the joys of being retired is having TIME.  Last week my two grandchildren came out for two days to prepare some baking and artwork to enter in our local Fall Fair.  The day was full of fun; painting, drawing, picking flowers for an arrangement and baking (with all the requisite cracking of eggs, flinging of flour and oh-so-accurate measuring). 

Of course, as four year olds and eight year olds go, we had to have a lot of "breaks".  So we played tag, went for a walk, danced in the kitchen, read some books, made a lot of music/noise and sat on the deck enjoying the breeze and the sunshine. 

 In this picture Kai and Lizzie are sampling the goods (which they did more than once).  Kai is quite a story teller and it's lucky for him that Lizzie is such a good listener:)

 

The time went too quickly and soon it was time for the wee ones to head home.  The beautiful part of kids though is that their joy and playfullness linger for days after they are gone.  As I tidied the house I just couldn't put some things away because it made me smile just looking at them.  So, the books ae still on the loveseat, the perfect skipping rocks are still on the counter, the hairclip (who knows why) is still attached to the kitchen drawer handle,  the artwork still hangs on the fridge and the supplies are still waiting on the steps for someone to take them upstairs.

 

                                                   

I've said this before and I'll say it again.  I feel blessed to be close enough to our grandchildren to have days like these where we can hang out, create and just play together.  I am always exhausted when they leave but when I flop onto the couch for a nap once it's quiet again, it is always with a smile on my face.

Thanks Lizzie and Kai for being such terrific kids!

 



Passion

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.
Oprah Winfrey

 

While I am not necessarily a big Oprah fan, I do agree with her definition of passion.  I opened the Vancouver Sun last week, as I do every morning over a cup of hot lemon water, and started flipping through the pages to see what was going on in the world.  I know many friends who have turned to technology for the latest world news but there is something relaxing about sitting at the table with my hot drink and turning the pages, actual pages.

 

Vancouver Sun - Pete McMartin - August 31st

 

I "flip" through the paper each morning stopping every now and then to really read articles that catch my eye.  On this Friday morning the article about Liron Gertsman caught my eye.  Liron is a 12 year old birder.  He is passionate about birds as anyone can see when they read Pete McMartin's article.  It is well worth the read.  However, there seemed to be a blog bubbling up in my brain.  Saturday morning Daphne Bramham's article on the last glorious days of summer and what they mean to her reminded me of all of the things I love about summer and will miss as the leaves start turning.(http://www.vancouversun.com/lament+summer+languid+days/7178843/story.html).  Still later in the day I caught the story of 93 year old Olga Kotelko who started competing in track and field at the age of 77.  She speaks articulately about her passion for competition, fitness and the life she lives.  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnLEZR8qTIk).

 

While I was browsing at the Harrison Craft Market last Saturday morning I ran into a passionate young woman I know.  She spoke at length about how challenging and exciting her life is.  She is young and living her dream.  She designs her own jewellry (www.carlaswope.com) and teaches yoga (www.innervisionyoga.ca) .  One of Carla's most memorable teachers is the one who let her out of class 15 minutes early before lunch so she could go sell jewellry, the one she felt supported her dreams, perhaps without even knowing the impact she was having.  I believe Carla is one of the few people I know who has been able to live her dream.  I wonder if she knows how fortunate she is to have discovered that at such an early age.

 

I read a blog written by my friend Rebecca last week (http://lambschram.blogspot.ca/).  While Rebecca is not writing about passion per se it is clear to all who read her writing that she has a passion for both life and for writing.  It seems both of these passions have been a part of her life since childhood.  I always feel more energized after reading Rebecca's blog.

 

I picked up the Agassiz Harrison Observer yesterday and the front page was a story of our local maintenance man turned musician, Todd Richard.  While those of us who know Todd have followed his journey from the beginning the bigger world is learning all about how to chase your dream.  Todd (and his wife, Sylvia) have made many sacrifices and perhaps this is where some of us fall off of our "dream wagon".  It is inspiring to read Todd's story and see his dream coming true. (http://toddrichard.ca/bio2.php). 

 

Thoughts tumble around in my brain day and night and these stories, along with many others in the last few days, have me questioning where passion comes from. Liron Gertsman doesn't know nor do his parents. Olga Kotelko clearly didn't know for 77 years.  I am always inspired by peoples' passions. I find myself becoming more energetic as I read/watch/hear their stories. From a 12 year old boy whose passion began at 5 years old to a 93 year old track star who found her passion at 77 to our local "dreamcatchers", these are the real stories of life. No writer of fiction could come up with stories this great.  There is so much bad news in the world these days, particularly on television and in the papers.  It's been a very refreshing few days reading and hearing about the positive side of life.

 

I will sign off for today with a picture of the two people who regularly renew my enthusiasm for life and fuel my passion for fun: