This picture was taken when we were “knee deep in June”, as Grandma called it. That perfect time of the year where it’s not too hot yet and the trees are all leafed out. Right now, there is just a hint of green here and there but today was the last of the really cold days, I think. The weather is supposed to really warm up in the coming days. I can’t wait to see the dogwood and redbud in bloom! Those are my favorites.

I was 25 when he came into my life. Rather…I came into his. This sweet, gentle man who loved me as his own. Bernie has always been my “dad”…much more so than my own father. He loved me unconditionally. He accepted me without reservation when I came to marry his son. Me, with a young child of my own who became his grandchild. He accepted her as his own, too. That made me love him all the more.

Hey…it’s your “Past Me” here. Just popping in to say hello and remind you of a few things. I know, you didn’t expect to hear from me. Funny how that works, huh? Honey, go get yourself a cup of coffee, sit down, and put your feet up…we need to talk.

Your “Past Me” wrote this when you were 63…going on 64. (Do we still do that? Count the years? I think we always will ‘cause we’ve always loved our age. Well, except for 26. And 46. Remember those? Oy! But, I digress. Sorry.) Sixty-three was a good age. You were pretty healthy except for that car accident. That kinda scared you a little, didn’t it? Well, it needed to! It made you back off that lead-foot a little bit. Made you a little more cautious. That’s ok. Your “new-to-you” truck has got a whole bunch more miles on it now, I’m sure. Thank you for taking such good care of it. And of yourself!

Expanding on yesterday’s eloquent sermon. I was raised with that tired old adage…“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Have you ever heard a more outrageous lie? Why on earth would we teach children that words can’t hurt them? To “toughen them up”? How tough can you get when your dad says you look like a hooker? How strong can you get when your coach calls you a sissy boy? How far can you go when your teacher calls you stupid or someone tells you that you won’t amount to anything. Words crush the spirit. CRUSH…as in totally.

It’s funny. When you are in a car accident, they tell you, “Go home and rest.” If any of you have been in a significant wreck, you know how difficult it is to actually do. There’s a million errands, doctor’s visits, insurance appointments, rental car, and then the shopping for a replacement vehicle. The last thing that gets done is rest and that’s when everything else is taken care of.

My friend Deneene is a hippie. I say that in the most positive way. She’s free. She wears harem pants and great shirts and forty bracelets. She is always sporting a new henna tattoo. She’s an accomplished horsewoman with nerves of steel. She’s a widow with a healing heart. And…she paints rocks.

She shared this talent with the Girl Campers last weekend at Blackwater Falls. I tried my hand at it and I’m not sure I have the patience it entails to do such small details. I have to admit, I did not fully understand what this whole rock painting thing was about until I saw the Western WV Rocks page on FB. People paint these rocks and stick a little label on the bottom instructing the finder to post a picture on the Rocks FB page and where they found it. Then they hide it someplace else for someone else to find. Some people write inspirational messages on the rocks instead of pictures. Some write scriptures. It’s great fun and a free way to connect with others and send joy out into the world!

A few months ago, I was approached by Kimberly Paul for an interview on her new podcast show…Death by Design. Have you ever come across someone that you just KNOW? Our interview was via Skype and as soon as I saw her live on the screen I’m like…“I know you!” In the time since the interview, we’ve become fast friends and she is planning to come see me when I travel to the Outer Banks next month.

I’ve had a smart phone since…well, since phones became smart. I love my phone…and my iPad, and my iWatch, and my Echo, and my laptop, and…you get the picture. I’m a techno-geek. My phone is quite literally my brain. I need to write down people’s phone numbers one of these days because I don’t even know my own children’s numbers off the top of my head. I haven’t had to memorize a phone number or address in too many years to count. It all started with the Palm Pilot and then a Blackberry. Android put some color in my life but Apple is where I live nowadays.

I live a pretty peaceful and quiet life out here on the farm. The biggest excitement comes in the evening when I chase the possums and raccoons out of the cat’s dish. It’s gotten cold again just to remind us it’s still winter, no matter how mild it has been. Thankfully, we didn’t get the snow that was forecasted. Just really cold weather and some flurries.

Now that I have that shiny, white truck out in my driveway, my thoughts are turning to camping. Peace and quiet when you’re camping is so much better than the peace and quiet of home…no matter how wonderful home is. I’m already planning my trips over the next year. I want to spend a good deal of time in Florida next winter and you have to make your reservations eleven months in advance. You can only stay two weeks at a time in state parks so that has you booking reservations every two weeks in March and April. You have to stay organized and know where you’re going and when.

I have a guy friend that has had his eye out for a good deal on a truck for me. Not that I can’t find my own good deal, but I took off for a much needed break this weekend and looking for a truck wasn’t high on my list of priorities for a couple of days. Still, time is marching on here and I need to get the rental car turned in.