Courage.
Really? Sometimes the actual instance is more accurately described as “What was I thinking?” “If I had known this, I wouldn’t have ____.” “What? No one told me that.” “If only I had _____ first.”
My son was telling his beloved partner about his mom’s adventures – listing how I had lived in Italy, walked on the Great Wall in China, gone to Chichen Itza, graduated from college at age 46, performed at scads of open mics, done a weekly radio show for years, and worked with incarcerated teens.
Adventures? I hadn’t thought of it that way, yet he was right.
When my remarkable daughter, super son-in-law, and I were celebrating my daughter’s successful surgery at a Mexican restaurant, I ordered the cactus salad as I had never heard of such a thing. I didn’t like it.
“Mom, you always do that – try new things and half the time you don’t like them.”
I started to dispute that, then realized she was right. I had not seen that about myself. I realized I like to try new things, yet then saw I don’t want to miss out on anything.
As you can see, I am getting to the synopsis of my life: nothing ventured, nothing gained.
I have a five month old puppy asleep at my feet, his name is Lyric. Hopefully, he will sleep for a while longer. I had NO idea the constant vigilance, consistency, and patience required with a puppy. At this point, you can imagine I have revisited the first paragraph questions several times in the last 3 weeks since Lyric came to live with me. He is a sweet, smart and patient soul. Thank goodness.
Ten months ago, I had enough of where I was living, so I did a ton of work, spent so much more money than I anticipated, sold my condo, and moved to where my heart called me: near the ocean. Yee gods and little fishes. Courage? Yup. Risk? Oh yeah.
I didn’t think about it in those terms until I found these rocks. My dear and wondrous harp teacher, Harper Tasche, had a bowl of engraved rocks at his wedding some years back, inviting all attendees to take one or two, which I did. I had long since put them away and found them as I was packing and sorting in the prep for my huge move.
The many challenges of this move have been intimidating. The unexpected issues have been overwhelming. The list of expenses has grown. The extent of needed repairs and unmaintained items seems endless. Yet, I followed my pursuant heart. As I have done so often in my life, even without having the words for it. (Did I mention sleeping on the floor of the Luxembourg airport one night in November while waiting for a flight, and the next night being locked outside and huddling up on the cold pavement until the airport reopened in the morning?)
All righty then, Lyric and I just got back from a walk on the beach, he ran zoomies in and out of the waves, I picked up a couple agates, and listened to the waves as they foamed up on the sand.
As Tom Rush would say, “No Regrets.”
Shirley Routliffe
January 25, 2021 at 6:15 pmLove this post! Please send me your new
snail mail address!!
Mary
January 25, 2021 at 6:22 pmShirl!! Will do. Thank you~~
Caroline
January 25, 2021 at 7:51 pmYou are the bravest person I know and I adore you for your compassion, courage and adventure.
Mary
January 25, 2021 at 8:48 pmBLessings upon you, Caroline. Thank you. You are ever moving forward yourself~
M.Philp[
January 25, 2021 at 9:49 pmCongratulations on Three Counts – leaving home, finding a new one and raising a dog/walking companion. Well done you! All the Best to you. M
Mary
January 25, 2021 at 9:51 pmHey Meg. Good to see you, thanks! All the best right back to you~
Judith Alexander, now in Munich
January 26, 2021 at 3:40 amWow! Who knew ??
I was celebrating your being able to eat together in a restaurant (all closed down here in Bavaria), admiring your adventures (which I hadn’t heard before) and didn’t realise there was more after the puppy.
I checked your Events, and found it marks the beginning of Covid lockdowns in WA.
When I got back to the post …. there was MORE!
And what a more! I, too, changed homes fairly recently, and what a change! But you’ve moved further and had more adventures along the way!
Where are you now, geographically, getting more settled?
Mary
January 26, 2021 at 10:20 amJudith, you are in Bavaria~ Of course!I remember when you moved to your condo in Edmonds(?) Such an experience, right? Thank you for much for your ongoing reading my work and support. Can you zoom into some of the storytelling events? peace and light to you?
Susan Murphy
January 26, 2021 at 6:50 amYou encourage others with your bravery, passion and adventurous spirit in ways that you will never know. Because of who you are, you’re going to be just fine. Lyric is a lucky dog!
Mary
January 26, 2021 at 10:28 amBon jour dear Susan. Thank you! Lyric is a gift from Dorothy – they are doing very well. Thank you for your encouragement~
Allison Cox
January 26, 2021 at 8:36 amLyric is lovely. And I did not know you lived in Italy – you must tell me about it! Been thinking of you lately. Thanks for the lovely post!
Mary
January 26, 2021 at 10:31 amAllison! Thank you, and thank you for finding ways to keep the storytelling events alive. Peace & light to you~
Mary Diefenbach Duke
January 26, 2021 at 3:14 pmWonderful read Mary.
Nothing will ever stop you as long as you continue to not let the door to fear crack open.
Your fearlessness motivates me.
Thank you.
Best wishes and I am hoping to get to the island in March.
🌈Mary
Mary
January 26, 2021 at 4:37 pmBon soir Mary. Thank you. Fear – False Evidence Appearing Real. Fear and ‘this is too much’ sure are challenges. I get to see you in March? Yay hoo!
Michele Ohge
January 26, 2021 at 9:23 pmMarvelous!
Give Mr. Lyric a few pets from me.
Mary
January 27, 2021 at 6:14 pmWill do, Chele~ Thank you. We love our fur roommates.
Aletha Riter
January 27, 2021 at 5:45 amOh Mary….no regrets on Lyric….I had my puppy at age 46….like a first when you graduated. I had no regrets either. Love the post as usual, your words help me escape. I should at the age you got Lyric,………I should start a blog… I also Love your beach picture as I know its not far from the house. Just remember, repairs are good for the soul…Love you
Mary
January 27, 2021 at 6:17 pmAletha~ Thank you for your ongoing support and encouraging words. We got down to the beach again today, he was splashing away. He is fast! Love to back to you<*>