27 March 2014: Thursday ... spreading ice pattern on a freezing morning car windshield ... Carla and her 3 sisters chattering, Body Pump fill-in for Jennifer ... Body Vive motion poetry with Pamela ... selfie with Sandy Tilford ... yoga video sent to Gwen, hopefully onto Christine ... tax papers to Tom Szewczyk good to go ...

An early celebration of Jane Goodall's 80th birthday, which will be on April 3rd, was a story on the npr.org web site.

Once again, rather than taking the time and persisting and showing grit, I abandoned this page last night for bed and other activities that do not benefit my being or what I believe is my essence, so, I am left to recall, a little more hazily, the events that marked the 27th day of March in the year 2014.

A frozen windshield and a spray of washer fluid led to an amazing spread of ice crystals in an intricate pattern, billions of years old, in front of me and lasted for the entire trip to the Y until the front visage of the Honda began to warm and the glass cleared. It was a majesty of joining and merging that truly expressed beauty of nature. 

Carla is a kick in the pants instructor whose constant chatter and energizing attitude is infectious. She is constantly up and spoke about her need to talk, incessantly. We were four sisters, she said, so maybe she couldn't get a word in edge wise. Well, she is an inveterate participant in Body Pump and really pushes herself and thus, her begrudging patrons. It was a good workout.

Pamela led a class of poetic movement to matching rhythmic music in Body Vive. She is a wonderful instructor and does all the movements while reciting them just prior to execution. Just amazing. I followed my friend Heidi, the one with the "feet" sneakers who I find delightful in her enthusiasm for these classes. And she is so good, does all the moves flawlessly and seamlessly. It was also a good workout and myself, and the two other middle aged (they were a bit older and probably retired, really) men in the class (for a whopping total of 3) got to watch the synchrony of the women, who truly demonstrate why they need to run the world and not men. They'd be far more effective.

Drove past a sweeping Eleanor Hyde on her sidewalk and was stopped by a van blocking my way on Pickwick in front of the park. Thought I'd be late to my appointment with Tom Szewczyk, so I moved on but then had to back up and took the time to speak to this lovely woman, who is managing and who tells me that her husband, Ernie, is doing better than her. She made a point to tell me that she'd sent a contribution into the web site that had dad's obit and testimonials, et al., and I said that I'd check to see that it went through. Don't know where to go on the web but will see. Feel sure that it succeeded. Turned up McCawber to Cratchett and then to Milltown and made the appointment right on time at 1:30. Greeted by Chris, who showed me into the waiting room and Tom appeared momentarily. They are wonderful people. Chris' mom is in an expensive nursing home in Florida, cheaper than up here, and she and her sisters are working with the financing. It is challenging for a family. 

I really like Thomas "Tom" A. Szewczyk, CPA , who I had an appointment with today, just a day short from when dad last appeared in his office a year ago and told him that he would not be back the following year due to his diagnosis. He told me that in his own words. Well, he's just an amazing guy and so personable. Loved sports growing and played baseball and does golf now. Fortunately, he's had no joint issues and thus no surgeries like knee or hip replacements. He can still walk the golf course. He showed me a Spring Training Phillies cap that his brother, retired CPA in Florida, sent him. Tom use to work for the IRS, where they treated him professionally, but took over his brother's business and bought out the other CPA. Well, we got to the business at hand and thanks to mom, he got all the information he needs for the taxes and they are set to be completed in the coming weeks. They will busy for him. He did relate a wonderful story of taking his mother, late in her life, to Orlando and how she loved the flight and demanded a window seat. She had the time of her life, he said. I concurred that moments like that are true treasures to keep and to hold, much like the writings our parents have penned. Tom has the 8th grade graduation certificate from his grandfather (?) on the wall dated 1929. 

14 February 2014: Friday (Valentine's Day) ... Skeesha made it today as the temp warm and the snow melted (shoveled the walk again and by midday it was clear) ... Y workout ... meet young, friendly girl Madison who hugged me ...

An appropriate Facebook post for this Heart Day ... I googled "I Love You in many languages and came up with this website":
From "Ti amo" (Italian) to "nenu ninnu premisthunnanu" (Telugu, of course -- a Dravidian language predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, where it's the official language), this is a neat web page with the written words anglicized for 35 tongues. 

http://www.wikihow.com/Write-%22I-Love-You%22-in-Different-Languages

A Facebook post regarding shoveling snow from yesterday's huge storm:

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND:

I watched, yesterday afternoon, with some concern but with some inward laughs, too, as a pickup with a plow marauded around our neighborhood pummeling curbs and recently shoveled sidewalks with a cascade of wettish snow. My neighbor a few houses up, who I do not know, had a few choice words for the plower, which I will not share with my FB friends, complaining that the extra snow deposited on his pristine sidewalk had clogged his snow blower.

I was smug and untouched by the indiscriminate plow, until, I returned to shoveling my walk and did not see the return of the marauder. My driveway, moments earlier cleared of slushy snow, was covered again. *&^*%# ...

Sometimes a simple "Hi" can make your day. As I prepared my coffee after my workout -- styrofoam cup, creamer and sugar -- a young girl (about 8 years of age) came up to get a cup and said, without compunction, "Hi", to me, and I responded in kind. Later, when I took a plum from a bin at the front desk (absolutely delicious by the way), she wished me a "Happy Valentine's Day".

When I returned from the locker with my wallet, keys and iPhone, I asked an older man, sitting with her, whether he was her grandfather. He said, "Yes", and I commented how friendly his granddaughter was and how her gestures made my day. She proceeded to walk up to me and give me a hug. She gave me a hug. Extraordinary. Her name was Madison. What a delight to encounter such an open and loving girl in our litigious, predator-conscious world. 

It's a full moon tonight. The walk was lovely, a little over a mile but that black ice can be tricky and disastrous. A few times, inadvertently, I hit a spot and the Nike would slip in the opposing direction and I envisioned a plummet to the asphalt with leash in one hand and dog potty plastic in the other. Not pretty, but the night sky was. I forgot what star was partnering with the moon tonight but it was to last most the evening. Wish I knew more about the stars and our universe. (Pondered a question tonight as I walked ... do a lot of thinking when I walk, thank goodness no music or radio station to detract like the many at the "Y" ... Just how did they figure out the speed of light? ... and then the debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham, all thirteen letters of them, and how reality staring you in the face can be obstructed by suffocating dogma and myth). 

My JibJab videos went to their digital addresses today. One to Katia in Florida, another to Lindsay in Nashville, one here of mom & me doing a Brazilian dance, and the same Silent Film skit held the faces of Doug and Norma Virginia, which I sent to Johns Creek. He had not received it when I spoke to him by phone shortly after. Hopefully, he got it. There a lot of fun and so easy to do. The people who write the code for these websites are absolute wizards. They make it child's play. 

In remarkable serendipity on the radio station WHYY, which continues to fundraise due to all the catastrophic weather events in the Philly area, Terri Gross, 63; Dave Davies, 61; and Marty Moss-Coane, 65; all were born on Valentine's Day. They got together to, you guessed it, fundraise this evening during a rebroadcast of Fresh Air interview with Robert Redford. 

25 December 2013: Christmas Day ... clear and cold, ice in Dancer's water bowl ... the luminaria bags are collected; sand trashed, bags recycled, candles kept ...

Kind of a cool image, I wrote: Thought it was frozen solid but just a layer had formed 

on Dancer's water bowl this frosty Christmas morn.

It's difficult to come to this digital page and compose at the end of the day for you forget the memorable moments of a day, even a Christmas day, when it's just the two of you and phone calls from Lindsay and Liz and Gail and Nick and sharing with Susan about a book by Elizabeth Gilbert, who you friend on FB because she loves the social media (you heard her interview on WHYY with Marty Moss-Coane (had no idea how to spell it), who is the author of mega-best seller Eat, Pray, Love and who has written a book, I thought she would be interested in and which I sent her a New York Times review by Janet Maslin called The Signature of All Things, which I offered to get for her but have not heard
back. I friended her on FB and wrote a wry comment about a photo she posted of her in 1976 at age 7, yes, she was born in 1969 on a tree farm and her sister is a well-known author, too. Splendid, creative childhood with parents who nurtured their true artistic selves.

Yes, I an enamored. She is lovely and so talented and intellectual. 

Went to Snapfish and uploaded pics of the Finn Family to give back to them what they gave to us, two lovely printed photos. Still have to figure out how to get a assemblage of maybe 4 photos in one display to send to them. I will do it. 

On Christmas Eve, when I found a Nintendo Wii, thanks to Muhammad at Best Buy, the handsome close-cropped bearded young man, and I ate my usual veggie omelet at Mary's Kountry Kitchen and go to share dad's passing with Mary, at the cash register, and Shelley, serving but not me on this day, I did not find something for Stacy. I had wanted to. 

Well, this evening, it hit me. Get her something personal. A photograph. One that we have displayed for years in its frame ... dad and mom laughing and enjoying a moment at a meal at Cindy's wedding reception from some 30 years ago, now that's personal and meaningful. So, I wrapped it and combined it with a Christmas card that I'd written earlier, left a message on her home phone (she was at work tonight, doing the holiday as it was her turn) and placed the present and card in her mailbox. Afterward, when I'd finished my 2 miles plus walk with Dancer, I phoned her cell and she answered at the hospital. She did seem put out but anxious that I called. She thought something might be up with mom. I told her about mom being placed on Hospice and then about looking in her mailbox ... she closed by calling me "Ru". Nobody but my mother has ever called me by that shortened version of my name. Got a curious pang in me about Stacy. No, it will never be but I have a strong feeling of like/love for her and what she's done for my mother, specifically, and my father, too. She has been an extraordinary neighbor and she is an extraordinarily beautiful person. 

What am I truly thankful for on this Christmas Day 2013:

1. Being able to spend Christmas with my mother for perhaps the last time.
   
2. Having friends like Marli and Gerrit Stam who really enjoy spending time with us and are just terrific.
3. Family like Marissa Finn who can give gifts that touch the core of our being.
   
4. Being able to share a part of your life with another in the form of a treasured photo that you feel is a proper way to say "Thank You" for all you do Stacy Casaletto.
   
5. Understand that when mom calls to answer that call without anger and show only love because we only have one shot at this thing called life, as Gordon Roth, my bass compatriot in the UUSMC choir so eloquently put it last evening.
   
6. The genius of David Attenborough and his animal films. Just finished watching the World of Mammals on Netflix tonight. Just extraordinary commentary and stunning photography.