Simple thoughts

Well, it seems fall season is really here.       

The air in the morning is much colder than just a few days ago, the sun is still warm but not as bright as it used to be, the days are shorter, the clothes on people have darker colors, not so many sandals on our feet. And a sort of waiting feeling is in our souls, the waiting for the winter to come, for the rain, the fog, the snow. We stay in the open air as much as we can, well aware that the winter will be way too long, and we are grateful for these last days of sun. I like it so very much, this change in nature, with so many different colors on the trees and the grass, different kind of flowers, of smells in the air.

Yes, it's my birthday today, I'm officially 45! The number just scares me to death, but if I stop for a while and think about it, I know that I'm not that old. I mean, I still have so many things to do (if just I had more money and more time), so many more places to visit, sometimes it's like I just started to live. So maybe, there's a big mistake somewhere and I'm only 25!

Yesterday evening a couple of friends came to visit. Over a glass of white wine, a sliver of chocolate cake and a coffee, we talked till midnight. They are a new acquaintance, I met her every morning on the bus going to work, we waited for it at the same stop, so we knew we were neighbour, and one morning, through a common friend, we started to talk. It was about 3 years ago, and since then we met almost every day on the bus, getting to know each other. Once last year, they invited us to their home, and last summer we met them at their country place, so it seemed just out of courtesy to invite them yesterday. We, the girls, are very at ease with each other, and it seems that the guys too, are getting along very well. We are almost of the same age, thou they are married for a shorter time, and they are childless (they've tried for so long, and they're enlisted for international adoption, but right now they're losing their hopes and strenght, since last year one-month-stay in Kiev). Plus, she and I have the same problem of a relative with Alzheimer, me with daddy, she with her mom. All of my friends are in my life since a very long time, some from my childhood, some since my teenage years. My last friend is a co-worker, and I met her 14 years ago. It's kind of strange to get involved in a friendship at this stage in my life, I mean, I'm used to talk with people who know me so well, an I know so well, sometimes it took just one word to understand perfectly how we feel. In this case it's all different, you have to talk to get to know each other, you have to let loose a little in order to really let others know who you are. And since these are the first steps, we all are very careful about what we say and how we say it. But it's something I like, let someone new enter in my life, be open in meeting different people (me an hubby are very different from them, from life-styles to hobbies, from family back-grounds to cultural preferences) but differences are what make us interesting, right?

...... where I'm right now and if everything's ok, coz of lacking of updates. Usual stuff, at home and at work. It's just that now that summer is over, and next vacation (thou a very short one) will be for New Year's Eve, I'm in a very depressed mood. And the weather isn't helping either, it's two days of non-stop-raining! Maybe the fact that in two days I will be 45 has something to do with my depression, I guess.

The real matter is that nothing really interesting is happening in my life right now. Life is getting on as always. Mom is dealing with the sad fact that she isn't able to take care of dad anymore, she's getting in the mood to put him somewhere where they can help him, she's so very tired. I wait for her to be ready, it's not that I don't care, putting dad away is simply breaking my heart, but I have to be strong and think of her, she can't deal with the situation anymore. Marty is taking her driving license, she's in no hurry, she just passed the theorical exam, now she's taking driving lessons, she has time till the 30 of december. School has began (and I've spent the usual absurd amount of money for books!), it's the last year (at least I hope so), she's already worried about the final exams, and I'm thinking about what she would do after that. Football championship has began too, so on sundays I'm a soccer widower once more, and I'm thinking about a long winter of sundays alone, I have to look for something interesting to do.

With the bad weather I usually plan to do little home stuff, like new curtains for the kitchen (the old ones badly need to be replaced), or arrange some more space for my books and CD on the shelves. I have to help Marty with a puzzle she bought for hanging on our living room wall (for now, it's two months it's on the table, barely started!). Next month I will start again with my yoga lessons, I can't wait. And I'm seriously thinking of taking spanish lessons, with some of those at-home-books-and-videos-kit, I have to do some research on which is the best one. And I'd like very much to do some more knitted cushions for my bed, and a matching new bed cover too, I have to go through my knitting mags to find a lovely one. Maybe I should ask Kelly for help....And for the hundredths time, I will start a new diet, so I have a good excuse to buy more cooking mags to find new recipes for me and Marty. And I've promised to be more active on a books forum, I truly miss my daily routine of posting about my reading! And I have to put down a list for Xmas gifts, I know it's not december, but I usually buy things very early, when I see something suitable for a specific person, to avoid the stress of the last minute rush and the prices raising!

Well, this is it. Stay tuned, I will update with the progression of my things-to-do list (if I will be so good to follow it to the end.........)

 If he were still alive, today Freddie Mercury would be 60, and I guess he would still be jumping and singing on a stage. He was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar from persian parents. He moved to India and then to England to become one of the most beloved artist of all time. He was known and loved all around the world, but in his native country it's forbidden even to mention his name, coz homosexuality it's a crime! Never mind Freddie, you're still loved and remembered by millions of people, your music, the soundtrack of millions of lives, mine too.

The Show Must Go On

Empty spaces - what are we waiting for
Abandoned places - I guess we know the score
On and on
Does anybody know what we are looking for
Another hero another mindless crime
Behind the curtain in the pantomime
Hold the line
Does anybody want to take it anymore
The show must go on
The show must go on
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on
Whatever happens I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache another failed romance
On and on
Does anybody know what we are living for
I guess I'm learning
I must be warmer now
I'll soon be turning
(turning, turning)
round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free
The show must go on
The show must go on - yeah
Ooh inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on
Yeah oh oh oh
My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies
Fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die
I can fly - my friends
The show must go on - yeah
The show must go on
I'll face it with a grin
I'm never giving in
On with the show
I'll top the bill
I'll overkill
I have to find the will to carry on
On with the
On with the show
The show must go on

We, your fans, will always love you..................

Well, I'm back at work today, and I'm in a very bad mood.....Anyway I have so many treasurable memories of my last vacation in Provence to last for a whole year. Here are some glimpses of my trip....

Castellane

The Verdon Grand Canyon

Our Hotel Du Parc at Cavaillon

 Our room is the third from left, first floor

Arles

Camargue, with horses, flamingos, bulls and rice....

The ancient Roman site of Glanum, just outside St. Remy de Provence

Les Alpilles (little Alpes) near Les Baux

Le Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman water conduct

 and as soon as my scan is working again, a pic of me right there............

and the Cevennes, the local mountains at the south of Massif Centrale

Too bad this wasn't the right time of the year for the lavender, but it leaves the chance for another vacation, right?