It's early afternoon. It's raining again. My kind of weather if only the lightning and thunder wouldn't come with it.

I've lost power so many times this summer I've lost count. The power losses have just been flickers, but long enough for the concentrators to scream, my clocks needing resetting, and my computer turned back on. None of this is terribly inconvenient. What is terrible is the hard clench in my heart when the power flickers. I immediately go into emergency mode. No matter where I am in my home, I'm within reach of a flashlight and phone. They are with me at all times. Except for the screened porch when I'm painting, a tank of backup oxygen is also an arm's length from me.

This is how I live now. It's my norm. This summer has been particularly cruel with all the power flickers - and the only reason we don't lose power completely is because Sequachee Valley Electric has a backup generator.

Ordinarily I like rainy days. They're cleansing. The greens of my little forest become greener than green. Rainy days are cozy for me and beautiful and refreshing. I favor full days of twilight. I like them a lot as long as the power doesn't flicker.



*****



My Aunt Jean Carol and Cousin Genevieve and Bonus Cousin Dawn visited last week. En route they stopped by Mountain Goat Market and picked up lunch. Yum!






Time flew by. We yakked and yakked and yakked and laughed ourselves silly.






Jean Carol

I'm so annoyed that the photo is blurry. GRRRR. She's so beautiful.



While we were lunching, I asked my guests to pull a slip of paper from the charming vase/urn Libby Fritsche (David's future mother-in-law) gave me. Libby filled it with inspiring quotes. I pluck one out every so often to boost a day that needs boosting, but in this situation, I just wanted to share the beauty and bounty of the gift.







The slip of paper I plucked:

The most beautiful people we have ever known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

I barely choked out these words as I read them aloud.

*sigh*




New Art:





Mid-century Brutalist Sculpture



*****


Every night as I say my prayers and slip asleep, I ask if it is the night when the miracle will happen... that I'll awaken in the morning and be healed.

And every morning when I awaken, I embrace the miracle that I've been given... another day.



*****

I think I'll head for my screened porch.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Love.