Labor Day

Labor Day =
Holiday
The end of summer
The beginning of school year
A workday off = A three-days weekend
Two-thirds of the year is gone

Wikipedia, my encyclopedia of choice, says

 "Labor Day in the United States is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September.  It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers.  It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country."

Recently I sent an email to my siblings and I mentioned, "No real plans for Labor Day weekend.  Just another weekend down here."  One of my siblings replied back and in jest said, "Of course, you get every Monday off now!"  I had not really thought of it that way before, but certainly thankful.

What I meant was that Labor Day is all of the above down here,  but NOT the end of summer!  We will have another two months of summer.  You don't feel or see the same urgency to celebrate and camp and/or grill out ONE more time, as you do Up North.  People in parts of the north are already putting their cabins, travel trailers and gardens to "bed" for the winter.  They are taking their last boat ride this weekend.  Labor Day is a mixture of fun and saying good-bye to the summer and the lifestyle it stimulates.  

I rather miss that lifestyle, that change of seasons.  The holidays are celebrated as the ends and beginnings of season to another.  Easter signifies the beginning of Spring, Memorial Day the beginning of Summer, Labor Day the beginning of Fall, and Thanksgiving the beginning of Winter.  The holidays meant more than a day off work. That is, if you're lucky to have the day off work.   I'm not sure I'm willing to move back to COLD country to just have those changes of seasons.  :)

It has been a transition for me going from being a laborer to being retired.  It's been ten months now and I still dream about work.  But it's less often and now the dreams seem to be my ex bosses wanting me to come back to work, and I am kicking and screaming...."I don't want to do that again!  I have done that for over thirty years, I want to do something different."  They say our dreams speak to us and can be guide.  I guess that means no more medical business work for me.  

I am getting restless to do something else.  I realize that I probably don't have enough hobbies to keep me occupied as a retiree.  Sure, I have enjoyed planning our trips and going on those trips.  But, I can't travel all the time....or can I?  

I better quit writing as now I am rambling...just like my title indicates.  Wherever you are and whatever you are  doing, here's hoping you have a great Labor Day!

Beach Time

Upon moving to south Texas eight years ago, we promised ourselves we would go to the beach at South Padre Island at least once a month.  For the first few years here, we were quite compliant with that promise.  Now it seems we get there now and then.  

Here's hubby surveying the waves.

 
We plopped our folding chairs right at the edge of the water and zoned out for a couple of hours.  Can't help but zone out when this is your view.

We had some tickets we bought several years ago for the Dolphin Eco Tour on a boat, so we did that for two hours this afternoon.  What a gorgeous day it was, here's an island view from the Laguna Madre side.

The Eco tour part of the trip dredged up this creature.

We did see some dolphins in the distance

And to top it off we found a Nude Beach.....

Beer, that is!  Ha-Ha, made you look didn't I?

Soul Mates

A soulmate (or soul mate) is a person with whom one has a feeling of deep or natural affinity.^[1] This may involve similarity, love,romance, friendship, intimacy, sexuality, sexual activity, spirituality, or compatibility and trust.^[2]

We often hear these words when people are in search of a partner in life.  "I want to find my soul mate."  I don't remember if that is what I said years ago.  I wanted a "husband!"   

Anyway, 29 years ago I did find my soul mate, Paul Delaney.  Of course we didn't know it at that time, but I guess we were destined to be together.  Recently, we were apart for a month while I did some traveling and helping my mom.  He sent me a card and I want to share part of a poem on the card written by Suzanne Heins.

You and I are connected in a way that goes beyond romance, beyond friendship, beyond what we've ever had before. 

It has defied time, distance, and changes in  ourselves and in our lives.

And it has defied every explanation except one - purely and simply, we're soul mates.

Of course, I cried when I got the card.  Yes, he's my soul mate, my best friend, my lover, my strongest supporter (of my photography), and my caddy.... he's the one that holds my camera bag. 

This is one of few photos of the two of us that he does not have my camera bag on his shoulder and this photo is one of my favorites from our trip.  

Paul has been my caddy in more ways than one.  He has carried me emotionally and spiritually when I have needed it.  He has always been there for me.  God bless you, Paul Lawrence Delaney and thanks for twenty-six years of marriage.  I love you, hubby!

 

 

Sometimes, A Smile Covers Sadness

I was saddened to read about the suicide death of Robin Williams. According to news reports, he had been battling depression.  

We have probably all known people that make jokes and can make others smile and laugh.  But they are sad or depressed and can't make themselves smile.  Or their smile is put-on to cover-up their depression.  To the outside world, they seem to be the most happy and happy-go-lucky people we have ever met.  Looks, and actions, can be deceiving.  It's so sad.  

This is not to say that every jokester or comedian is depressed or sad inside.  But we never really know, do we?  I would not have suspected Robin Williams was suffering from depression.  

I have to think about the words we use in conjunction with depression.... battling and suffering.  I have been depressed and I know that depression is not something I wanted.  I have battled and suffered, until I reached out for help.  But, it's embarrassing...even with all the "open-mindedness" our society claims we have about the illness.  Every day there are numerous TV ads for depression medications.  They show a person looking sad and "depressed."  You don't see the depressed person making jokes and making others laugh in these ads.  That would be an oxymoron situation.  However, it happens.  There are people in our world that are depressed and act completely opposite to our perceptions of a depressed person.  

I am thankful for all the times Robin Williams has made me laugh and smile.  He was a true artist, he seemed so genuine.  It's unfortunate that his gimmicks and mannerisms that made us laugh may have been a cover-up for his true feelings of depression.  I guess that's why they call his profession....acting.  Rest in Peace, Robin.

One Week of Rest

A week ago tonight we got home from our trip.  To answer some of your questions....

Yes, it was great being back in my own bed.

Yes, it was great having our flexible, hand-held shower head with decent water-pressure.

Yes, I took a lot of photos, almost 6000.

Yes, it took me all week to review them all.

Yes, Hubby and I are still talking to one another after spending five weeks together, day and night.

Yes, I am glad NOT to be living out of a suitcase.

Yes, I was exhausted!

On Monday, I did the laundry and finished unpacking the car load of stuff that was bought, picked up at museums, needed for two months away from home.  Tuesday morning, I woke up at 10:15 am and couldn't believe how tired I felt after twelve hours sleep.  I  felt like a Mac truck had run me over.  I wondered if I was getting hubby's cold, but I didn't.  The rest of the week, I had no energy whatsoever.  I was glad to be retired and not have to struggle through work the way I felt.

I have been on vacation for two months, why should I be so tired? Upon thinking about it, I didn't have a single day (in those 70 days I was gone) to do nothing or have nowhere to travel.  I was busy or traveling every day!  There was no weekend to rest up.  Truthfully, I am rather surprised that I felt this drained, but I am willing to just let it be and rest.  I am already feeling better and ready for the week ahead.  It helped that last night I saw several of our neighbors and it felt so good to see them and feel welcomed back.  Today, the same thing in church.  

Yes, this is home and I'm glad to be here having lots of memories of all the experiences I had this summer.  Life is good!

13, 24, 70, 11,823

11, 823 miles in 70 days and 24 states equal 13 items done and seen from my Bucket List.....
PLUS thousands of photos and memories.  

What a trip!  Back home now, safe and sound!  I can't even begin to remember all the "most favorite" right now.  I'm looking forward to reviewing my photos and my own blog to remember all that I/we did.  Thanks for sharing the ride with me...it's been fun!  

I hope to continue some writing on this blog, so check in now and then and see what's happening in my life.  You never know where Rambling Rayna will take you on her next adventures!  

Texas!

I must be getting eager to get home as last night I had Border Salad and tonight I had Rio Grande Nachos.  Yummy!

Tonight, the restaurant we ate at had 2 cake balls (locally made by XXX) served with a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream.  The two cake balls are my favorite.... Tres Leche and Carrot cake.  So we ordered the cakes to go....since I was so full....and got the ice cream for hubby to enjoy.  

I expected "cake balls" to be smaller than a cupcake, but larger than this!  Hmmm!  I am thinking of two bites (max) for each cake.  lol

Today we traveled to Lake Conroe, Texas (north of Houston).   Based on TripAdvisor suggestions, we went to Wolf Sanctuary.  What an interesting, educational experience.  They have several "wolfdogs" there and once a vet or someone else has designated them "wolfdog," it's very difficult to get them adopted out.  One of our guide's major responsibilities is to get Federal, state,and county ordinances to recognize the dogs for what they are....as several are 100% dogs, but mis-labeled as wolfdogs.  Fascinating to hear the differences between dogs and wolfdogs and wolves.  

Here's a photo of a dog...

Here's a photo of wolfdog (mid content wolfdog).

"She enjoys posing for pictures and basking in attention."

Also, just in case you want more info, here's a page out of the book we bought.

Tomorrow, it's time to get home!  Hubby says he misses our hand-held shower head.  I miss having a free day with no travels or things to do or see.  Back to being lazy me!  

Hot Springs

We got a rude awakening this morning when barely out of bed, a text message that asked us if we just charged $57 at a gas station in Virginia.  Nooo!  Quickly we got that resolved and will have new account by Monday.  Sure am glad these credit card companies are on the ball!  Also, glad this is happening at the end of our trip as that credit card has lots of charges on it that convert to Southwest Airline points and I need a free trip to .....

Heading home, but taking it easy.  Drove through Arkansas today & staying at Texarkana, Arkansas.  Stopped at Hot Springs, AR, the boyhood home of Bill Clinton.  The Hot Springs National Park is very unique, in that a row of bathhouses have been designated a National Park for years (18th park designated as such).   Hot springs have been used for years and it became a very popular spot for people to come for healing.  The visitor center had a tour of an old bathhouse. 

All the bathhouses were very sophisticated and ornate.

Here's some photos of the inside of a bathhouse.

They even had Tiffany glass works in windows and skylight.

After our tours, we went to an observation tower on the hill overlooking Hot Springs.  

It was very overcast, but got a shot or two of the Arkansas hills.

Tomorrow, it's back to TEXAS!