...hope...

I can look at this fig tree (bush) and say: dismal, it's not going to make it ... or I can say, yay!!! the roots are resting, the sun will soon shine and the leaves will start to show slowly as the ice thaws...Hoping for early spring.

Humility...

"Some of her comedy of the era was the self-deprecating sort allotted to women who weren't raving beauties, but she transcended the cruelty of the jokes with an inner beauty that one would have to be blind to miss. As a slapstick comedienne Burnett was unrivalled, even by the sainted Lucille Ball, and on occasion she was allowed to drop the comic mask and deliver a heart-rending ballad." 

There she was, with all of us inside a crowded train up to see the view of the valley below us...Palm Springs. I could not help but observed her humble demeanor and took the courage to asked her to pose with Marcee and Rett once we got to the viewing area. She was more delighted to sit down with them and gave us that great big smile.

Celebrities I've learned are just like us. When not on the "spotlight", they can be humble and giving. Just to think that she is only two years and ten months younger than my own mother. She was raised by her own grandmother, whom she gives much credit for her talent development. At this time, my own mother was helping me raise these two lovable ones. So there, they did have that "grandma influence."

Later that day though, they asked me who she was? ... and really? who IS Carol Burnett? I'm so glad I took this picture.

***********************

challenges...

Somehow there is no harder challenge than spiritual one. Some people go through a few and some go through a lot. Whether we learn from these challenges or not is up to us. Listening to that inner voice of wisdom and really hearing what it is saying is the key to living a more fruitful life regardless of the challenges. Remember behind those clouds the sun still shines, underneath the bitter snow is a seed that eventually becomes a rose comes springtime.

Friends...

There she is, one of my long time best friends. Our meeting was God sent. It goes back to when we were working for the United States Federal Government. That long rigorous training seminar was a blessing. After a hard day of learning and questioning, we would meet and relax. I especially remember vividly how we would laughed and laughed and laughed at just about everything until there were tears in our eyes. Barb has a knack for finding humor in anything, not that she is not a serious person , she is,  but that she is just a happily humored human being who chooses to see the positive in the negative, and to appreciate all the positives. She also connects and connects even if there is a broken line, she will try and connect until she gets through. Persistent. Your other wonderful traits I will selfishly keep to myself. Thank you for being a  treasured friend Barb. Hope you fell better soon.