One Beautiful Sight

Smiling Chloe with her beautiful puppies.

Amazing shot!

Chloe's owner is the daugher of another of my "real friends"

(see posting on "friends" below).

They live in Florida.

Am in love with these pups.

Afraid I would have to keep everyone of them.

What a wonderful experience this has been for the children.

iJune

Belonging~ One of the Basic Needs of Man

One day while walking, I met a lady who at the time, lived in our large community. She had placed her charming home up for sale as she told me she was moving to the Active Adult Community nearby. Why? Sadly she told her story...she had loved talking to the young neighbors when they were out with their children. She felt she was making friend, even though she was the only senior. When time came for the friends on her street to host a baby shower for one of the young moms, with hurt and sadness she related that she was not invited. "How I would have loved going to a baby shower," she said.

That was the day she decided to move. She needed to feel she belonged. I felt her pain.

Our community had lost a beautiful person because she felt alone living on her street. Our community had failed to meet her needs.

Was soon afterwards at a neighborhood picnic, I met a delightful retired couple who lives across the way and remarked that we need a way to get the retired people together. We needed a social group just to bring our age group together. They agreed that would be a great idea.

The following Newsletter for our community, I posted a notice for an "Over 50 Social Group" and was delighted with the response.

These notices continued to post in the Newsletter for more than a year, however, found a personal invitation to join was best.
A personal invitation to join a Over 50, can be a bit touchy. That in itself could lead to insulting someone..."Hello, I would like for you to join our Over 50 group..." What if they are age sensitive and think they look younger?

Finally, we learned how bet to manage this. If a new neighbor mentions they are retired, that opens the door.. I say, "by the way, when one of you reaches age 50, you are eligible to join our Social Group here in our neighborhood." That approach keeps me us out of trouble. Haven't been socked yet and have brought aboard some totally delightful people

Our group is into our third year, and have formed very close bonds with fun and fabulous "Seniors."
As a group, we enjoy a pot luck supper monthy and lively conversation. The warmness of the homes is preferred to restaurants.

We love living here with our friends who are peppered throughout this large community of 527 homes. I smile to know we have built in a wonderful sense of belonging. We belong to our community. The community belongs to us.

Belonging ~ one of the basic needs of man and follows the most basic need of man~ Survival.
Belonging to family, social groups, work groups, church, clubs, etc. beings a warm happiness into our inner being. Hope your sense of belonging is full to the brim.

June Daab

Lunar Eclipse Feb 20, 2008 From the East Coast USA

Grand-mothering 101

All Grandmothers have to earn our "Grandmother Credits" at some point.
The story you will read happened 10 years ago.

At the time, my intent was to create a memory for my grand children...that was my goal.

But then, we never know exactly what will trigger a lifelong memory, but now I know,

we pulled it off.

AND

I got a credit towards Grand mothering!!

Megan and Jacob are both in college now.

So here is the story~

Grand-mothering 101

Can you believe I, alone, took off to vacation with the 12 and 9 year old grandchildren?
Just the thought is enough to trigger red flags for everyone,

but we really got the 'go ahead' from everyone.

From the start, it looked like a disaster~ we packed the back of the old Ford Explorer totally full of stuff and then drove off with the lift-back door still up....
Looking in the rear view mirror, I knew the back window looked real big. Needing gas, lucky time to stop, as had not gotten on the Interstate yet. Coudn't believe my eyes...Checked to see what had fallen ...whew... the beach chairs, umbrella, crab nets, bikes, buggy board were still there.

Looking at the situation, I commented the obvious,
"Oh my, I think we need adult supervision."

The rest of the trip was an adventure.
At first sight, the kids loved the islands ~
Chincoteague Island and Asseteague Island are located on the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The Eastern Shore is a living travel poster of marsh lands at that point, home to beautiful array of ducks and a real working lighthouse...and the only structure on Asseteague Island.

The islands are also famous for the "Wild Horses of Chincoteague."
They were thrilled and so was I, the grandmother.

Each morning, off to the beach. Positioning beach chair and umbrella at the edge of incoming tide, close to the adventuresome kids, I sat slumped in beach chair ...ahhhhhhhh recovery time. The water seemed ordered just for us...

big incoming waves which crashed right on shore...to my delight... They were tall waves ...some 6 feet high and giving them a great ride...pushing them right up on the beach, many times right to my chair ~ They had a ball.

Late afternoons, we rode bikes all over the islands. We stopped to watch ducks, deer and the wild horses. We rode up to the lighthouse and explored all around.

I remember we had no dietary rules... cinnabuns and sundaes for breakfast each day.

Otherwise we undertook our share of local seafood otherwise. (plus a few pizzas). To end each day, after dinner, we played carpet golf.

No one ...absolutely no one, had a better time.

On the day to return home...We got up early to go crabbing ...We caught a few to prove ourselves and sadly left our beautiful, fun filled week behind.

I was so proud of us. We did it~ but did it trigger a memory for them too? Those kids are in college now...and still talk about our trip to the Eastern Shore.
I earned a grandmother credit that week.

iJune

Friends

This is ONE real friend~

(A Golden Girl for sure)

She entered one of the Sr. Mrs Pagents and walked off with the crown

...talk about living your dreams.

Friends

A simple friend identifies himself when he calls.

A real friend doesn't have to.

~

A simple friend opens a conversation with a full news bulletin on his life.

A real friend says, "What's new with you?"

~

A simple friend thinks the problems you whine about are recent.

A real friend says, "You've been whining about the same thing for 14years. Get off your duff and do something about it."

~

A simple friend has never seen you cry.

A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

~

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.

A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

~

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party

.A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

~

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.

A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

~

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.

A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

~

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.

A real friend could blackmail you with it.
~

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.

A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

~

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.

A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.

~

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.

A real friend expects to always be there for you!

Anonymous

Michael WINNER Cub Scout Pinewood Derby

Six year old Michael Berman ~
WINNER

Michael waked away with trophies after taking two wins with his 5 ounce Pinewood Race Car.
The Pinewood Derby

is a project competition for Cub Scouts Pack.

Michael is in the Tiger Cubs (youngest Cub Scouts).
Michael's small pinewood car raced against other entries at his level to take the win. Later that day, the 5 ounce car raced against the next level for boys up to 11 years to squeak a win by

only 1/100 second.

~ Proud Micheal shows trophies~
Pinewood car designed by Michael's father, Rob.