Musician’s Widow

Running behind this week… having too much fun, and then I had this need for sleep.  haha A variety of things to present this week! And a goal to actually comment on everyone else’s Weekly Winners posts. Unlike the lame sick me of last weekend. To see all those other posts, go visit hostess Lotus.

Rainy Clover

Reflective Stop

Welcome home roses from my husband

Red, red rose

Terry tunes his steel guitar in the dressing room prior to taking the stage at the Opry

I don't get to go past this sign.

Waiting her turn

Back lights

My husband performing on the Opry.

♥ ♥ ♥

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

I thought about calling this, “How to be sick,” because on Friday I was lamenting that I don’t know HOW to be sick. Here it is Tuesday, and I still don’t know how to be sick. There is no how. There is only… am.

Every year for the last several years, I’ve battled my share of sinus infections. The random stomach virus would attack. Occasional migraine headaches. This last weekend, I think, seriously took the cake. I think perhaps the last time I can remember feeling that bad would have to have been Sophomore year of high school when I got the flu and ran 100+ fever.

This time, though, there was no fever. Only aches and pain. Best I can tell, it was a stomach flu, followed by a migraine, followed by a sinus infection. I was still as of yesterday, Monday, not at full speed. In fact I only just finally got an antibiotic, and I feel I am truly on the mend.

Being sick stinks!! I’ve missed out on so much! I don’t like being confined to a bed or couch out of pure lack of energy and/or strength. I don’t like having a hot shower zap all of my day’s energy. I don’t like not being able to eat.

I do like, though, that I lost 4 pounds and my jeans fit way better. That’s kind of nice.

But now I am at that weird point. I’m still weak, and yet resting makes me feel worse. I am at that point of having to push past it. When I want to lay down, don’t. When I want a dose of Advil, don’t. When I want to hide from the world, don’t. If I don’t ever just keep pushing, I’ll never regain my strength and be back to me again.

I miss me.

I don’t DO sick.

I don’t want to know how to be sick. I only want to be well. And that’s my goal. To be well. To be happy and healthy.

I can do it.

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Apologies extended to all my fellow Weekly Winner’s participants. I never am one to post my link and disappear. However, I did good to even post my link. I owe you all double comments on your posts for weeks to come.

Mostly close-ups this week. Stressful week. Then, I got started to get sick Thursday. Pushed it too far Friday, and I’m only just now feeling remotely human again. Creativity levels are lowwwwww this week.

For far more creative people than I am, visit the WW hostess, Lotus.

There's just something I love about an American Flag against a clear blue sky.

Taken shooting down the empty tube from the previous image.

Prized possessions

Salad good. Very good.

I had an irritation on my ring finger one day this week, so I ended up wearing my wedding ring on a chain. I just liked how it looked.

♥ ♥ ♥

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

I absolutely couldn’t resist sharing this:

I’m VERY happily married to a musician, and I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. But I have to admit, this comic strip made me laugh out loud.

I’m cheating by using it as my post for the day. Hopefully everyone else will find the same humor in it as well.

Hey, guess what! MORE SNOW! Only this time in Central Texas, where its not snowed this much since 1982. To top it off, on each end of this week featured days with highs in the upper-60s/lower-70s. CRAZY!!!

For more Weekly Winner hi-jinx, check out the lovely Lotus (aka Sarcastic Mom).

This tree grows across the street from my parent's house. On Sunday, its large branches against the beautiful sunset struck me as something I had to document.

Cold and hungry.

Will you swing with me?

Even though it snowed all day long, it stayed just above freezing for most of the day. Snow collected on the rooftops, even as it dripped down the edges like rain.

My parents dog stared out at the snow much of the day in an almost state of confusion. What is this stuff coming from the sky? And why?

Let them eat cake! The snow outside compelled me to make a cake. So I baked this chocolate cake, and served it up with powdered sugar, whipped cream and sprinkles. Why do it half-way?? Go all out!

Reaching 50 degrees the next day, the snow quickly melted in the sunshine.

I was driving late at night from a friend's house when I saw this huge Texas flag being whipped in the wind. I HAD to pull over to get a photo.

I began with a sunset; I end with a sunset. Upper 60s and sunshine for Saturday. The sunset was stunning, and it seemed the perfect ending for the week.

♥ ♥ ♥

All of my photos available on my Flickr stream.

I wonder sometimes if the word “Love” is used too much. I wonder sometimes if I could be accused of doing that myself. Then again, is it possible its not used enough?

I remember before my husband and I used the word “love” towards one another, I wasn’t as free with the word. It’s not that I didn’t feel love; its that I took the word very seriously and refused to use it lightly. I’d tell my family I loved them, and perhaps my absolute closest friends. But past that? Not so much. Over time, though, I was shown by people around me that it is okay to use the word “love” — because I do.

I saw a TV show recently in which someone described a near-death experience. And they said something along the lines of acknowledging that when we die, all we carry with us is the love we gave and received in life. It really got me thinking. Instead of material possessions, shouldn’t we instead be cultivating love in our hearts? After all, it makes sense that it would be the only thing we take with us when we go.

Of course on the other side of things, I suppose that it could be said that an unhappy person takes with them the distress and hate they cultivate. I would think that that alone would be a version of hell. An eternity of hate versus an eternity of love? Give me love. In both life and in death.

Perhaps I do use the word love a little too loosely sometimes. I’ll say I love a certain food or a certain drink, and I suppose in reality “like” would be a more appropriate word in that situation. But somehow, “like” feels like it is holding something back. Like I’m lukewarm about something. Love is just so much stronger and more powerful. Love just brings such wonderful and filling emotions! Why hold back?

I’ve heard it said many times, “Its better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” Say that to someone with a broken heart and they’ll want to punch you, of course. Love hurts! Love leaves you vulnerable to being let down! Love takes your heart and your very soul to this peak above the clouds where it could fall and be shattered into a million pieces!

Yeah. Been there. Done that. Decided it was a load of bull.

One of my favorite quotes is by George MacDonald, “To be trusted is a greater complement than to be loved.” See, I can be accused of not being trusting. Because I’m not. I don’t trust a majority of people as far as I could throw them. But it doesn’t mean I’m not loving.  Perhaps I’ll explore trust versus love — how they go together just as much as they can be opposing feelings — in a future blog entry.

For now, though, love what you do for a living. Love the people around you. And as hard as it is… love your enemies. At least they keep life interesting. (Ha ha!) Love your health. Love the day you’ve been given. Love a song on the radio.  Cultivate a life filled with love, and it’ll grow from within and transform you.

Love is more than a four letter word. It’s both a noun and a verb. Love truly is the greatest thing of all. Even the Bible tells us so. I think its what we are put here to do, to have, to share. So let that four letter word fly without shame!

You just might grow to LOVE it!