FRIENDS FOR LIFE ~Traveling Thursdays

Today is my Thursday Coffee Hour in Naselle 😊

I was up very early (6 AM); and extra hour added because of all the road work going on, to make sure I would arrive at 10 AM. I was up, hair washed, face on, flavored coffee in travel mug … and there was even time to spare to fill up the gas tank (just in case I decided to take the long way home later 😉). I was driving down Ocean Beach Highway 15 full minutes before 9 AM. I was stoked; I knew I’d arrive at my destination point early 😊

 

Walking out the door ...

The day started off with good vibes.

The raging leftists are seriously out of control.

I was making good time, so I made a quick pit stop at the marina in Cathlamet. The totem pole outside the restrooms was brightly painted – the animals are pretty basically the same among the regional PNW totems; and I will often stop and look at them. Some Christians do not. But being around one does not bother me.

Totems are interesting artwork, but their spirits don't frighten me –my God is the Supreme Living God, not a figment of the imagination portrayed in wood.

I got through Cathlamet, Skamokawa, over KM Mountain, and through Graysriver … and was brought up short by road work ☹

From Hill Top Road, to Rosburg Store.

There went my extra time.

I wasn’t terribly late, but I was late. Again. Because of road work; again.

I look forward to Thursdays in Naselle; I like chatting with everyone, and the discussions are always lively. It’s fun to get a different perspective on topics. And it’s fun to share old memories – and make new memories, too.

R is a new face … and new energy: she is a little dynamo with quick wit and sarcastic charm. I knew B from my teen years; and BZ became a quick, solid friend as the circle expanded and the years anchored our spirits in unity. I am grateful Elohim brought us all together.

R's fingernails - the glitter caught my eye.

Front to Back; B – her husband is a logger; R – widowed, like me, and new to the area; BZ – her husband is a farmer, & Me – foot-loose and fancy free, just hanging with my friends.

While we were chit-chatting, drinking our coffee’s, and discussing the topics of the day … David called and asked what I was doing – I said I was hanging with the girls. He said he was headed to his beach property, and would I like to join him: I said, “okay – if you get here before the hour is up, just drop by, and I’ll follow you in my car”. He’s been talking about his place at the beach for a while, and I’ve had a standing open invitation to drop by, check it out, and visit. Today, I went 😊 David and I have known each other for at least 56 years, and he’s been a good friend to me. He knew Bob even longer than he’s known me.

I followed David to his beach property, and drove a cross-over road I’ve never been on before (not even with Bob, and Bob grew up at the beach); there was no reason to drive that road before this afternoon’s jaunt.

I'm glad I topped the gas tank off before leaving Longview. Today's diversion was Longbeach.

David has a nice piece of beach property. I had expected a sandy beach, and was pleasantly surprised to find a grassy field.

I stayed for about 2 hours; enjoying the company, enjoying the sun (I got burnt some more), enjoying the tranquility of the secluded place, and enjoying the conversations about places we both new and had visited (at different times during our lives); I enjoyed remembering/discussing people we’d both grown up with-palled around with-miss when the Grim Reaper showed up with his calling card. We talked about the cougar roaming Longview, and he showed me the picture he took of a black bear on the property next to his (!). We talked about our families, the pets we’d shared our lives with, politics, ect. It was a good 2 hours of sharing, caring, laughter, and friendship.

Then it was time to hit the road for home. I have a standing appointment on Spruce Creek – Thursday evening Jam Session 😉

The day’s driving was very carefree today: traffic was sparce, and what traffic there was flowed smoothly.

Chinook County Park; low tide.

Driving through Chinook - wave break boulders, & Astoria-Meglar Bridge in the background.

When I got to Skamokawa, I stopped at the Duck Inn to grab a sandwich for Supper, and R was there. So was B; I was snatched as soon as I placed my order, and rushed into one of the back deck cabanas – where I was introduced to a few more people (7 more; they had all drove up from Graysriver for their ‘Thursday Night Get-Together’ for Supper and schmoozing). I ate my sandwich with them, joined in the schmoozing, and was invited to join them every Thursday – I said I’d think about it. It was fun; and it will be fun again because they are all fun people to be around: I may join them every other Thursday, depending on the yo-yoing gas prices.

R invited me to visit with her and B every Friday afternoon, at her house too. That would be enjoyable; but again, every other Friday would be best, I think. If I lived in Graysriver, every Friday would work – but with gas prices being what they are, I can only do what I can do with what I have to work with.

Driving over Beaver Creek Road on my way to Spruce Creek, it looked like it was an ‘open range’ area; a black steer was on the edge of the road/Herford cows laying in the field … and the fence-line was gone for at least a mile: no barb wire to be seen anywhere along that stretch of road. So, I drove very carefully. Open range animals have right of way – and if you hit one, you buy it. When I reached my destination on Spruce Creek, I asked if the Beaver Creek area was now open range, and got startled looks; so, I explained what I had seen and LR jumped on the phone to get his grandson out looking at the fence-line, saying it’s possible an elk herd had taken the wire out. To which I replied: “It would have had to have been a very large herd because the wire was gone for quite a distance – from the corner house just past your house, to Charlene and Allen’s house. Suddenly coming up on cattle in the middle of the road could be dangerous for night drivers.”

The jam session picked up speed, and watching everyone I thought what a blessing they were to me and how fortunate I am to have them in my life.

I am truly blessed with a rich abundance of friends.

Carole King – ‘You Got A Friend’ song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAR_Ff5A8Rk

Today has been an excellent day of excellent friendships 😉

I’VE GOT A SECRET

I was meeting with country friends this morning, for another jam/chit-chat session. I like these gatherings; and they always run overtime – I like that, too 😉

Yesterday's polish removed, and my fat little fingers updated; LOL. Even my toesnails got a shine.

Pearl for eyebrow highlight & Mauve for eyelid; Glittery Purple for eye 'liner'.

Glittery Pink Lipgloss; pink tube; Auburn Brow Gel, Rose-toned Cheek Heat liquid Blush, & Black Mascara - no foundation color used on face.

Ready to hit the road.

I held out to the very last possible moment before leaving town: I wanted to drop off a bag of books at the community library, and that didn’t open until 10 AM. I was cutting things slim, but it couldn’t be helped; the books I’ve read over the winter months are piling up … and they gotta go. Someone else will enjoy them.

Bag of books dropped off at Park Library on my way out of town; 1 of 3 stacked bags ...

When I pulled up to my favorite coffee shack, I was informed, “We’re out of oak milk …”

I do NOT want marijuana juice in my coffee!

Hemp seems to be the latest craze: I AM NOT INTERESTED. I had a friend (no longer a friend due to the blm nonsense), who liked to try to sprinkle the lunch fare she was sharing with me, with hemp seed – she was always gushing about how “healthy!” hemp is. I had to finally physically stay her hand, and say, “Stop, please. I’ve told you before I don’t want it. I do not use drugs of any sort.” She was offended by the rebuff, even though I had repeatedly told her I didn’t agree with her infatuation with hemp food products … and at that point, I was beyond offended by her pushiness.

The coffee shack employees may be thrilled to have hemp milk on their menu – but I am not interested. This aging flower child does not want it. I am not interested in the selling hype about {it’s benefits}: that is all BS to me. The selling hype around hemp {food} products is that “there is little to no” psychoactive THC in the product. Uhhhh … little is too much, as far as I am concerned.

And some people – I could very well be one of them – are dangerously allergic to hemp food products. I do not want to risk an itchy distraction rash, hives, or an onset of anaphylaxis while driving. I have a sensitive constitution; I have to be careful with my food sources.

I do not want marijuana seeds on my salads, and I do not want marijuana juice in my coffee.

I was happy to get to the jam session: the friends I’ve made are funtastic people, and the music is good – it’s a mish-mash of musical tastes, musical talents, oldies tunes/new styles, and ‘on the spot’ inspiration (this is the exciting anticipatory part – seeing the conception & birth of a cooperative, created, song). I LOVE IT!

I like this group of people – I will forever be grateful I was introduced to them. I feel like I actually belong; for once I do not feel I am standing entirely apart from everyone else watching life go by. And I am startled now and then to know that I am sharing some of the same space others share: up until recently, I have pretty much avoided people because most people get very annoying very quickly. But, since being cast adrift following Bob’s physical death, Elohim has been faithful to put people across my life’s path that have been very good for me in many ways. I am grateful for their low-key, inclusive, same frequency friendships … and I am thankful to be so loved and highly favored by my God.

I was surprised to see D walk in the door with a guitar case - I didn't know he could pick ;-)

While we were all sitting around jawing, and jamming (I'm the side-line cheer leader), J asked, “Val, do you sing?”

How to answer that?

Yes: and no. Yes, I sing when I am alone. No, I do not sing in group settings because my lung power eventually craps out and I end up either faking it, or mentally singing while those around me assume I don’t know the songs or I am a party-pooper.

I love music – music gives expression to what I cannot put into words.

I sing when I am alone … and I would sing with Bob when were together in-house, or in the vehicles and we were jamming to songs we both enjoyed; but I don’t sing in public (or in Fellowship) because my lung capacity just isn’t there – sooner or later, I end up lip-syncing when the song being sung requires a deeper air capacity than my lungs have. But, I haven’t had to use my inhaler since Mother’s Day (7 weeks ago), and I am breathing deeper than I’ve ever been able to in my entire life, so we’ll see if I eventually get up and sing 😉

But for right now, in this moment … I am content to listen to J, GG, and B belt the songs out while D & H do the instrumental backup 😉 GG sings perfect acapella (singing without instrumental backup), and sets the scale/pitch tone: Bob enjoyed acapella singers, if he were with me, he would really enjoy GG’s singing as much as I do. And maybe he is enjoying it 😊

Josh Groban Acapella – ‘You Raise Me up’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcLl0A-lXIc)

I believe that the Saints (which Bob now is part of: Hebrews 12) surround us – that being the case, I believe that Yeshua, and Bob, are aware of my daily life happenings. And that knowing, strengthens and comforts me.

J also asked me how old I am; I said, “65” – his eyebrows went up, and he said, “You’re pulling my leg.” I shook my head and said, “Truth. I’ll be 66 in December.” He said, “You do not look 65. You must be doing something the rest of us know nothing about.” I said, “I have a secret: clean living, good loving, and God first and foremost; covenant relationship. Age is just a number, the secret to aging well is not to stress about aging – it happens; so does life. Enjoy life while you have it, and don’t worry about it ending.” 😉

I exercise my body and mind - keeping both limber and active; I eliminate as much stress in my personal life as I possibly can, and I use make-up sparingly (cleaning my face as soon as possible when I get back home) – those basic eliminations keep my face pretty wrinkle-free.

'I’ve Got The Key, I’ve Got The Secret’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUCEGYz5bFc)

The Lindsey Family – ‘That Secret Place’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWx9m9NWdp8)

Personally, I think I look my age (what, exactly, does 65 look like?) – and I’m okay with embracing my age. Some people of my generation haven’t made it as far as Elohim has blessed me to be: in many ways I feel privileged to be 65. While my hair had retained much of its natural hue … there is quite a bit of gray in it (it blends very stylishly – thank You, Yeshua 😊); and I’m glad Bob got to see it showing up, before his spirit stepped off this Earth.

Aging does not have to be a heavy burden. MPO

And age really is irrelevant when you are in Elohim’s Secret Place 😊

Smith, White & Fairchild – ‘Secret Place’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzdWNYkpl68)

The jam session wrapped up around 4 PM. When I got home, I did an hour-long walk-thru in my garden area (watering, pinching back some plants, sprinkling slug bait in all the beds, noticing/noting which plants need to be reseeded, ect.); ate Supper, and started on another Angel Baby Blanket.

Mobility and relaxation is also another {secret} way to stave off the effects of aging 😉

MOD Angel Baby Banket started ... a repeat pattern.

ATTITUDE, NOT AGE

When I became a widow in the winter of 2018, and started documenting my New Life Journey on my Blog – I realized that women of all ages were contacting me, and following my FB Page because what I had to say was inspiring to them. I began to see how things I had survived, and things I was struggling with (before, during, and after Bob) was helpful to strangers who were going through similar things in their own lives.

While there are bad situations you experience throughout the course of your life – and your life, currently, may not be working out the way you want it to; you can make a change. Even if it’s scary. There is no need to accept an unhappy life. You can mentally … and actively … make a Plan to live a happier Life.

18 months into my new life, I determinedly downsized personal belonging (Bob’s, mine, and ours), waved bye-bye to a life that no longer existed (except for memories); and started a New Life hustle in my now hometown of Longview, Washington – in my mid-60’s.

And you can too 😊

It’s all about attitude, not age.

You do not have to fade into the woodwork once you turn 65, retire, or become a widow. You can still cultivate and enjoy a vital, vibrant, fulfilling life.

You only get one lifetime to experience life on this planet Earth: make it worth leaving your mark in living your Life Journey. Own your life. Stay focused. Keep resolute. Be your own judge (be kind to yourself, but also be realistic). Constantly reassess your outlook, your goals, motives, and behavior.

In the beginning of my new life’s journey, I didn’t do much of anything. I was in shell-shock-limbo. When I did finally start re-engaging in life – solo lobo – it took me two full years to learn how to enjoy it. It had been decades since I could indulge in being fully myself: it was strange to be in a place in my life where there was only me to consider (I’d been married to the love of my life since I was seventeen; motherhood and grandparenthood followed in those 44 years).

I began to enjoy hitting the road whenever, and wherever I felt like heading the car’s nose. I cook/eat foods my taste buds had been craving; and while out and about, I ate at restaurants along the road route that looked interesting (I also gained weight – there are pros and cons to that). I started wearing clothes again that appealed to me (I prefer shopping Thrift Stores, flea markets, estate sales, and yard sales for boho style bits and pieces that make up a whole; Bob never understood why I wanted to spend “good money on all that junk”). I fell back on a shorter hair style that I like (Bob liked my hair long, and I do too, but I really prefer the Shag style 😉). I started playing around with makeup again – not crazily, but just for the fun of experimenting with it again. I walk every day – sometimes a short 2-mile loop walk, sometimes a lengthier 4-mile loop hike.

And I embrace getting older; most women feel anxious about aging … too many even attempt to hide their age as they feel the years creeping up on them. What’s the point? Their bodies will continue to age – whether they consent to it, or not.

I admit I could stand to kick some excess poundage to the curb – and I’m working on that by curbing what I eat/when I eat it/how I prepare my meals; walking every day; muscle-toning exercises; and body strengthening weight workouts. I’ll continue all of this as long as I physically am able to do so. I’m not unhappy with my body, but I need it to be in tip-top shape to carry me through the ensuing forward years 😉

Walking past the floor length mirror this morning, I nodded to the reflection staring boldly back at me; and thought that at 65, that reflection wasn’t anything to be ashamed of. My body has been good to me – it enjoyed pleasure, and gave pleasure to a loving man; it carried a baby to full term, and it cuddled and comforted a daughter and four grandchildren. It continues to support my walking habit, and it’s relatively healthy (aside from the asthma, and heart arrythmia). It’s hour-glass curviness is a bit more ample than it used to be … but it still appeals. My skin (face, arms, legs, hands, feet, and breast area that shows) is freckled, and I’m okay with that; I enjoy being outside on nature trails, or dinking around in my garden areas: my skin really is holding up well for its 65 years. I decided a loooong time ago (1974; I was 17 at the time of this decision) to gray naturally – and so far, the gray is coming in complementarily.

I can honestly say that aging is being good to me. People (mostly men) are surprised that I do not dye my hair – aging has been kind in allowing me to retain my natural hair color throughout most of my hair at this late stage of life. It looks great. Again, I hear mostly from men, “How old are you? You look great for your age!” I am not offended. I know I look good for my age. And I am not trying to hide my age. I feel privileged to have reached this age, and I’m actually excited by the unfolding blessing of being able to be living this new era of my life.

I’m having fun 😊

And I’m not spending too much time worrying about my plain face, or my abundant curves. It is what it is, and I do the best with what I have. God designed this body specifically for ME, and I am okay with it.

I like wearing the clothes I have found on my 2-states hop, out and about: some are just everyday wear … some are really too fancy for Longview, so I wear those when I go further afield on my Daytrip ventures, or to Fellowship in bigger metropolises.

Makeup, for me, makes a huge difference. And I’ve taken to wearing it most every day this past year. My face is pretty plain. I’m fair-skinned with sparse eyebrows, and very short skimpy eyelashes. My face also has a short sharp chin, and a thin-lipped mouth – only Bob every saw me as beautiful; with or without makeup, he loved me. Bless him.

That said … makeup transforms my appearance; and I enjoy playing with it. Sometimes, my eyes are very colorful with makeup application – other times, like today, the makeup is low-key.

I was meeting friends this afternoon; so, I just wore jeans, and a sweatshirt. I did wear fancy footwear, and I fooled around with the curling irons – but I didn’t spend a whole lot of time on my face.

I don’t wear foundation: I apply my makeup to a bare face because I have sensitive skin – I always have had to be careful when applying anything to my skin: I was even allergic to my husband’s skin next to mine, until my skin acclimated to his; we laughed about that, but it was a serious issue, and I had to see a dermatologist for a while.

While my face will tolerate makeup on it for a brief period of time, I keep makeup as minimal as possible to keep irritations as low as possible.

My 'now' morning routine; 55 minutes from A to Z – includes fingernail polish.

My sensitive eyes were red-rimmed this morning (due to last night’s makeup remover), so I chose a pink based eyeshadow combo.

I used Soft Brown sculpting brow gel; it wouldn't clash with the eyeshadow.

A light hand with black mascara ...

And a rose-tinted Cheek Heat liquid cream blush - I have high cheek bones, so I apply blush in a 'wedge' shape.

The gray is coming in ... but I've not lost all of my original hair color yet. The 2 shades blend very nicely.

I have a long face with a short chin, so I wear a Shag haircut, and use curling irons to add height & softness around the face. I have crooked teeth due to a very small mouth; a 65-yo body, & I wear glasses. I'm okay with ALL of ME.

A light coat of glittery fingernail polish & ‘Hard As Nails’ topcoat - and I'm out the door.

Stepping out in my cheetah boots.

I always remove my makeup as soon as I get back home. Over-using makeup – and leaving it on your face for extended periods of time, will prematurely age your face. I’m 65 … I don’t need premature help in the aging process 😉

Remove makeup as soon as possible - do not wear it all day long.

Then I repaired my brow and lash brush …

Repair work on brow brush-lash comb tool; good as new ... for a few more weeks.

And I did some workout time, to tone and shape my curvy curves. I enjoy workouts, I always have.

It’s all about attitude, not aging 😊