Back to the future .... ?

In a recent post I had little inkling of what my future held - and quite honestly I was incapable of seeing past the present day.  Now my mind is starting to unfold and look at possibilities. Slowly - very slowly, perhaps even formulate a list of priorities and possibilities - halve the page into two lists.

I read a cute quote some time ago (I cannot remember where or by whom it was written) but it's recently come to mind and it said: "Happiness can be right back where you started from". Is this me? 'Back home' - where I was born and raised in a regional city in tropical North Queensland? Is this where my happiness lies in wait?  Have I gone 'Back to the future'?  Lots of questions ~ lots to ponder.

Fragrant 'pani's' in Spice-girl's tropical street.     Anyone know this bird??? they are everywhere.

Daughter's street is nestled at the base of a large hilly mass in the outer suburbs and the bushfire came right down to the end of the street.  The awful 'fire smell' was still thick in the air when I arrived.

A kid's Christmas in the tropical North Queensland. Grandson Jack, a real water baby.

Christmas was WONDERFUL. Being "home" for Christmas with my family was...... very special. Seeing the excitement of Christmas through a child's eyes is magic.
I was a very busy girl catching up with people, and my dear friends' wedding on 12/12/12/12 was beautiful.
It was a wonderful day. A real tropical affair.

Something else quite exciting happened too, but you'll have to stay tuned in if you want to know what ...... next post I'll tell all and there'll be a few pics too!!

~

So after 21 days up in the tropics I am now back in the Hunter Valley to carry on with some medical procedures that were in the works for some time. It is nothing serious, but it will keep me here for a few weeks, after which time I'll be heading back to the tropics - back home - back to the future, to get on with the exciting thing that happened.
Needless to say the Team are so excited to see me, but they are still coming to terms with Mother Jana's passing. But the Team, and humans will be OK - eventually, time is a wonderful soother.

I doubt I will make midnight tonight - I will try though!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE IN OZ

and an early NEW YEAR'S GREETING TO EVERYONE ACROSS THE BIG OCEAN.

A tribute to Mother Jana

As I write from the tropics this is not the post I expected to be doing.
I have already finished a post and have it in 'drafts' but, if I do not do this post now, right now I will never do it and if I never do it I will be sorry, and it's certainly not in full but only in summary.
Yesterday 'other half' rang me and I learnt that Jana, Mother of The Team and AKA Princess, Pretty Girl, Sweetheart, Darlin', my Cheeky Chicken unexpectedly but instantly died of a massive heart attack. She was following the boss and the boys to the river for a swim. She did not make it. There was no warning. She just fell over and was dead.  We are all in shock, Alpha male Fred rarely leaves her grave. The boss is inconsolable and I am in denial, not good positions for any of us.  This little lady is worthy of a post titled "This is Your Life".  The courage and bravery she has constantly shown throughout her life is not even a tiny bit short of astounding. Another time perhaps, but not today. I am totally unable today.

I was about to choose a selection of my favourite photos of Jana, and there are many beautiful and more photogenic ones than the single photo I've chosen to honour her. There are lovely photos, poignant photos of her on the blog in "A Dog's Post Script" but his photo for me shows the window to her beautiful soul.

R.I.P

Jana 

"little big heart"

12 Jan 2000 - 16 Dec 2012

Back from my break with life's changing journey

Quote: 

Life is its own journey; presupposes its own change and movement, and if one tries to arrest either, it is at one's eternal peril.                                   Laurens van de Post
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I pondered writing this I'm-back-from-my-break post, a sense of pensive sorrow fell upon me, and I truly wondered where words would take me. My 'break' has been tiring rather than restful - emotive afore tranquil.

Farewell walk 2 days ago, a stunning morning in the Upper Hunter - is this symbolic of my 'road ahead'?

So as not to bore you with tedious detail and extraneous prattle, suffice to say in simple terms that I have parted ways with 'other half' and am in the unenviable and utterly unappealing position of middle-aged 'single female'; no fixed address, no dogs, and no hint or notion of what I wish to do with the rest of my life.  Although I am completely acquiescent of my situation, I am none-the-less for now, .... aimless, purposeless and I hurt.   Heavens ......a drifter? I always  imagined that being a drifter allowed one the freedom to be a romantic; an idealist, a utopian, a dreamer! No, I'm afraid the pragmatist is too strong within me. But, still.....

The most important things in life will accompany me as I set forth:  my suitcase filled with everything I have learned ~ a box full of integrity and good intentions ~ a trunk-load of middle-aged common sense ~ my pockets overflowing with the love of friends and family who matter ~ a cute pair of shoes ~ my pink laptop and CAMera ~ visitation rights to The Team ~  and God willing good health.  Mandatory-requirements-under-circumstances: quality chocolate with a bowl of humour and a spoonful of optimism.

I shall be spending Christmas up in tropical north Queensland with my daughters. (You may remember my many posts written from there when I was on my extended holiday back in May/June) 

I will be on my way in 3 days.  Amid heartache and sadness, 'joy' too lurks in nooks and crannies. It has been more years than I care to remember since I have been 'back home' and shared a Christmas there with my daughters, and this will be my first with my grandson. This is wonderful, this is joyful, this is so overdue.

Another joyful event is the marriage of one of my oldest and dearest friends two weeks before Christmas - the ceremony will be at 12 noon 12/12/12. 

It is humbling to be part of your sometimes hilarious world, sad world, happy world, exciting world, brave world, personal world, photo world and everything else in between. 

You, are truly remarkable. Thank you for sharing your precious and amazing world for it in turn has enriched mine; and, for your friendship.

I have all good intentions to do a post before Christmas, from the tropics but if I am unable to, I wish you and your loved ones a truly blessed and happy Christmas.

                                                                                                                                 

All changes, even those that may be longed for, have their melancholy;

for what we leave behind us, is a part of ourselves.

Anatole France

A Dog's Post Script