Still Hibernating?

Well, here I am - five days into Spring.  Instead of pleasurably anticipating all the desirable things I alluded to in my last post, I feel more like a bear that doesn't want to wake up from hibernation.  After sleeping up to ten hours at night, I still find myself taking one or two naps every day.  Even when I'm awake and out of bed, I feel like I'm moving - both physically and mentally - at a slower speed. 

Sometimes this feels very frustrating.  It doesn't seem like I'm getting much done, and sometimes I don't feel like I have a good handle on what I should be doing.

But . . . there is another side to this.  Moving at a slower speed forces me to be more present in the now.  I have to be more focused on the person or the chore or the information in front of me.  Multi-tasking is less of an option, but being conscious of what I am doing is more crucial.  I think I may be noticing things I may have missed when operating at a more energetic pace.

Mmmmm.  Sounds like I'm back to enjoying the journey again.

Harbingers of Spring

Many years ago, a neighbor complimented me on my dress, saying that I looked like "a harbinger of spring."  I was quite young at the time and not sure what a "harbinger" was; I hope I remembered to say "thank you."

I know now that a harbinger is someone or something that  signals the approach of what is to come.  The neighbor was complimenting me because, in wearing that dress, I reminded her of something desirable that was coming soon.

A harbinger of spring can be many things to many people:

• The blooming of a daffodil
• The appearance of the star Arcturus
• The first sighting of a robin
• The baseball equipment truck headed for spring training

And these are only a few examples!

Whether I get excited about blossoming trees or opening day for my favorite team or just warmer temperatures, there is a sense of anticipation.  I am looking forward to things I enjoy.

What is good to remember is that every moment is a part of the process; every day is a step in the journey from here to there.  Do I want to wait until the sun is shining and gardens are bright with flowers - or do I want to embrace life now?

God Bless America

Yes, indeed, 'God Bless America.'  But not so that America can stand and gloat about how superior we are and expect the rest of the world to pay homage.  No, God should bless America so that America can be a beacon of light to the rest of the world; to illuminate a path to peace and justice amid conflict and discord.  God bless America so that it can live up to the mission that is symbolized by the torch held aloft in New York Harbor, 'Liberty Enlightening the World.'
(paraphrased from a sermon by Fr. Eric Diskin, January 6, 2002, and found at www.cs.cmu.edu/~mjs/fav-quotes.html.)

Beautiful Beach

The weekend at Lincoln City was absolutely beautiful.  The sun was out, the sky was blue, the temperatures were warm without too much wind.  The scrapbooking room had windows which provided an ocean view as well as natural light to work by.

I was happy to see Terrie, Shirley, and Joan, three of my friends from the now-closed Scrapbook Fever in Salem.  It was also fun to meet Stacy in person and visit her "Scrap Shack" for the first time.

Working with my Arizona photos reminded me of how much I learned from and enjoyed my trip.  I decided to include some of my journaling and blog entries in my scrapbook for a more complete description of the experience.  I still have quite a ways to go to finish the scrapbook, but I am finding pleasure in the process.

Some parts of the weekend felt sad.  Since many of my trips to the Oregon coast in recent years have included my son, I was missing him a lot - in fact, I actually called him from my motel on Sunday morning.  Being with a large group of scrapbookers reminded me of how much I missed all the folks from Scrapbook Fever and the sense of community we shared.

Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together?  I guess that wouldn't work.  Someone would leave.  Someone always leaves.  Then we would have to say good-bye.  I hate good-byes.  I know what I need.  I need more hellos.  (Charles M. Schulz)

Going to the Beach

I am looking forward to traveling to Lincoln City this weekend.  I'll be at an all-day scrapbooking session on Saturday, then staying overnight at D Sands Motel (see http://www.dsandsmotel.com/), where my son and I have stayed several times in the past (most recently in September 2010).  Scrapbooking at the Oregon Coast - two of my favorite things - I am so excited!

This will be the first time I've been to a large group "crop" since Scrapbook Fever in Salem closed in December of 2009.  This will also be the first time I've been to a "crop" sponsored by Stacy's Scrap Shack in Lincoln City. (see http://www.scrapshackshop.com/)

I plan to work on my scrapbook of my October trip to Sedona, Arizona.  I had not printed out the photos until this week, and I anticipate arranging them with notes from my journal to remind me of that adventure and what it meant.

To go by myself to a new scrapbooking group/location is a big thing for me.  Since moving to Portland in May 2010, I have done very little scrapbooking compared to previous years.  I see this as an opportunity to re-commit to my favorite craft activity, make new friends, and spend time at one of my favorite destinations - the Oregon coast.

Stay tuned.