Some Beach...

Unfortunately, there has been a "run on" of several deaths of many people lately, some I've known personally, and some are acquaintances of mine or extended family members of those good folks. Of course, very sad for those who lost their loved ones. So while out on my long run this morning, I could not get out of my head about a remark made to me last night by a daughter of someone who passed away in my community. She said her mother never got "real" mad or angry at anyone. I asked her if her Mom ever yelled at her or her sister while growing up, and she emphatically said, "no". I believed her. It's no wonder that this woman spent her entire career as a first grade teacher and was truly loved by everyone in the community. Now that is truly something, and I commend her for her persistent patience all those years of teaching rambunctious seven year olds!

While still deliberating in my head the merits of showing any type of anger in my life, the Blake Shelton song, "Some Beach", jumped out of my head phone speakers. In the song, all kinds of things try to "ruffle this guys' feathers", but as the song goes, he thinks about..."some beach" when he "could" get mad or angry. I think I need to adopt that more often than not. Wouldn't the world be a better place if we could take a deep breath when something angers us, and maybe think about a beach? or another happy place in our mind?

Shortly after I got home, I received a phone call from one of my former "bee-mates", Flo, who informed me that our "fearless" bee hostess, Mary Lopes, died this morning, peacefully and in her sleep. Mary never learned to drive, so for the 10 years we met (2000-2010), she hosted bee at her home every other Wednesday that we did not have a guild meeting. We shared not only our love of quilting, but Mary, and the other ladies that I considered my mentors about life, shared their thoughts and feelings about child rearing, teenagers, aging parents, religion, books and many topics of the day. We were a close knit group, and I reflect fondly on those precious times, that are now, beautiful memories. Mary was a gentle and loving soul, and will be missed by many. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to visit with her several times this summer.

Terri