A Quick Word of Gratitude

Here I sit, mid-morning on a blustery work day. I'm still in my flannel pjs, but I've gotten a lot of work done, including a load of laundry.

People ask me if I miss working in an office. Some days I miss the give and take of co-workers, but I don't miss getting up and out on cold mornings. The "team" I really miss no longer exists. We've all moved on to other adventures.

I'm so thankful for the support of friends and family who've cheered me on and allowed me to do good work from the comfort of my den. With smooth jazz playing, the cat dozing and laundry in the dryer.

The Value of Winter

I'm not a big fan of winter. I'm not someone who feels particularly deprived when we don't get snow.

I don't like bundling up to go outside; scraping my car; feeling trapped inside. And then, there's the sun rising later and setting earlier.

But, here's the thing: In order to get to spring, we have to make it through winter.

Even though we're still in early February, I'm already noticing -- and embracing -- spring's distant signs. More sunlight in the morning and afternoon. Birds singing as the sun comes up. A few yellow blossoms on my hedge of winter-blooming jasmine. A friend posting on Facebook about Cadbury Creme Eggs.

We haven't had a bad winter here in Roanoke, Virginia, but it's been a cold one. And I'm ready for it to exit stage left. The groundhog portends an early spring, so be gone with you winter: don't let the screen door hit you on the way out.

My Poor Neglected Blog

I promise to visit you more often and write thoughtful things.

For now, I want to note what a gift this spring has been. A warm and well-deserved spring is one of the few perks of the type of cold, snowy winter we had. Dogwoods, redbuds and crab apple trees all are showing their colors. The lawn is green and lush.

It might be safe to put the snow shovel away this weekend!

On loss and leaving

Life goes on. That should be the lesson from this week.

After 11 years with the Roanoke Regional Partnership, my good friend and colleague has jumped ship for a job in the City of Roanoke's Department of Economic Development. I wish him well and rejoice that we'll still be able to work with him. But, starting Thursday, life here will not ever be the same. In time it may even be better, but the days of walking into his office and bouncing ideas around are gone. And so are our road trip adventures. Good hotels, bad hotels, great meals, bad flights, shared experiences with a co-worker I was lucky enough to call friend.

The "loss" in my headline could refer to the stunning loss by the entire Virginia Democratic party on Tuesday. And things had been going so well! I hadn't voted in a losing election since 2004. As the state tinges a little more purple, maybe this can be a wake up call.

But no, that wasn't the loss. I learned this week that another friend has lost a parent. We're at the age when that is going to happen more frequently. This week it was Betty Allin, mom of Nancy. At one time in my life, her presence was writ large. She was our girl scout leader in a small town where girl scouting was still fairly cool. She let us on camping trips and community projects and helped -- as a village must -- raise some really neat women. I some small measure we're all who we are in part because of her. RIP Mrs. Allin. And thanks!

The last victim of the summer of 2009

To the list that includes Ted Kennedy, Walter Cronkite, Patrick Swazye, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, add Mr. Kitty. He was a beautiful, huge, plush gray cat who weighed somewhere near 25 pounds. He tried to be mean and snarly, but ended up a purring lap cat (assuming you had a big lap!). He went over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday due to kidney failure. He will be missed by Oscar and Miss Kitten, as well as his human family: my brother John, Tanya, Keegan and Garrett.

Yesterday (Sept. 21, 2009) also marked the first day in my adult life without Guiding Light. Yes, I watched that 72-year-old soap. In some ways it was a constant in my life. From the summer of unemployment, living at home in 1981, to Danville, Columbus and back to Roanoke, I've followed Josh and Reva, the Spauldings, the Bauers and the Coopers. Beta, VHS and finally DVR kept me in touch with the people of Springfield. I rolled my eyes at the stupider story lines, but cried real tears when characters died. I think of the actors and actresses who have now lost jobs they've had for nearly 30 years.

RIP Guilding Light. And Mr. Kitty.

Eight years ago today

I was leaving a breakfast meeting at the Roanoker on a beautiful, warm September morning. I had the top down and was listening to the radio as I drove out of the parking lot to Colonial Ave. I remember thinking what a great day it was. But, like the soap opera character who voices a similar sentiment -- only to be stalked and killed by an evil twin within the month -- I was to be proven wrong by a newsbreak on Q-99. A plane had hit the World Trade Center. How awful! Must have been a small plane.

As the morning unfolded and got worse and worse, work was forgotten. Colleagues gathered in the conference room to watch TV. Our pre-cable set required the antenna to be taped to the set, then draped over a chair. All we could get was NBC.

I remember the day -- and many days afterward -- were disproportionately beautiful. It is hard to recall a longer stretch of beautiful weather. I tried not to watch the coverage, but that was all there was. For days. What a relief it was for reruns and soaps to come back on the following week.

The attack happened on a Tuesday. Wednesday morning I took my trash and recycling to the curb. Life went on. And still does, but we're forever changed.

09-09-09

I made it through September 8. It's been four years since my Dad died on that date. And in some ways it isn't any easier. I really try to focus on his birthday as a better way to honor him, but Sept. 8 is still pretty difficult. I have to just get through it and know that the calendar page will turn.

And it has. Today is 09/09/09 - supposedly a magical day. But if not, it's still a pretty cool date. It's akso the birthday of my pretty cool niece, Claire. Her birthday is always the bright spot on the horizon during the bad day. The reminder that life triumphs over death. Happy birthday, Claire!

Miss you, Dad!