A QUIET RELAXING TIME AT HOME ON A COLD WINTER'S DAY

KELLY AS A LITTLE GIRL

Let me start this post off by thanking everyone for their outpouring of feelings regarding Kelly's passing this past Tuesday.  All the sincere words of support and encouragement, all the wonderful things said about Kelly and the Bayfield Bunch as a whole are sincerely moving.  All the best wishes, the prayers, the heartfelt emotions, the offers of assistance, the uplifting words, and the continuous support.  It has been so encouraging and nice to hear from so many folks near and far.

 KELLY IN THE MIDDLE WITH BROTHER PETER AND SISTER REBECCA (BECKY)

Next, I want to assure readers that I am doing okay.  I cherish this quiet time by myself and it is my way of healing.  Being around or with people now would only make me uncomfortable.  I have been here before and lost loved ones close to me in similar situations (separations) and I know the healing process that will work best for me.  Everyone has their own way of dealing with things.  There are no right or wrong ways, only individual ways that work best for each one of us. I know what I have to do to come out the other side of this sadness into the sunshine.  I have my tears and I have my smiles but above all I have my memories which I hold close.  I am comforted in the belief that Kelly has not only moved on but she has gone home to where we will all one day return.  She is at last free of all the pain and suffering she has so stoically endured these last years.  Her presence remains around me and she has already shown me that she is here with Pheebs and I even as I write this.  

I have decided to include another feature in my blog called 'Kelly's Corner' where I will continue to show a random collection of the many photos I have of her life and times.  The photos will continuously show what a lovely person in all aspects of life she truly was.

 YUP, THAT'S KELLY IN THE BACK ROW STANDING BESIDE HER MOTHER...SISTER KATHY BOTTOM RIGHT

I am into my third week of still dealing with a nasty and persistent head and chest cold so I am avoiding being around people.  I slipped into Bayfield Thursday morning for a haircut on a brutally cold wind-driven morning.  I forgot to wear a hat (but yes I did wear a mask) and when I left the barbershop with my closely cropped military haircut I nearly froze my head off.  I think that just may have driven this cold of mine deeper.  I'm not too smart sometimes you know.

 AT HURON HOSPICE TUESDAY AFTERNOON

With our morning temperature under overcast skies sitting at 17F it was a struggle to convince myself to slip outside, warm up the car, and take Pheebs for a spin through our bleak-looking Siberian landscape this morning.  I had zero interest or ambition in trying to find any stimulating photos and besides, there were snowflakes in the air.  Therefore, Subie never moved, and nor did Pheebs and I.

I have a huge task here ahead of me at the house and I am not, yet I am, looking forward to reorganizing most everything.  When on my own I have been known to run a tight ship and I do not like clutter.  So, I have my work cut out for me and in the coming weeks and months, I shall be keeping myself busy plugging away at this daunting and almost overwhelming task.  

I like these words a friend sent me....{Quote} Remember... When life breaks you, it means you're being prepared to be put back together in a new way. Every piece of you that feels broken will find a new place, a new purpose, and a new meaning. Trust that the cracks are where the light gets in. And sometimes, in our brokenness, we find our greatest wholeness. We find the courage to rebuild, to rethink, and to redefine what it means to be strong in a whole new way. You are not broken; you are paving the way.

Al's Music Box;)) The Shadow Of Your Smile also known as "Love Theme from The Sandpiper", sung by Andy Williams. The music was written by Johnny Mandel with the lyrics written by Paul Francis Webster. The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, with a trumpet solo by Jack Sheldon and later became a minor hit for Tony Bennett (Johnny Mandel arranged and conducted this version as well). It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song.  In 2004, the song finished at number 77 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs poll of the top tunes in American cinema.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Late one night at the insane asylum, one inmate shouted, "I am Napoleon!"  Another patient asked, "How do you know?"  The first inmate said, "Because God told me!"  Just then, a voice from another room shouted, "I did NOT!"

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"Are you an actress, auntie?"
"No darling, why do you ask?"
"Because Daddy says whenever you come over, we always have a big scene."

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A father is explaining ethics to his son, who is about to go into business..."Suppose a woman comes in and orders a hundred dollars worth of material. You wrap it up, and you give it to her. She pays you with a $100 bill. But as she goes out the door you realize she's given you two $100 bills. Now, here's where the ethics come in: should you or should you not tell your partner?

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Police Quotes....“The handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile.”

- “If you run, you'll only go to jail tired.”

- “So, you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?”

- “Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket.”

- “The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or dog?”

- “Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven.”

- “Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid.”

- “No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want.”

- “Just how big were those two beers?

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Kelly's Corner

OH HOW WE LOVED BOONDOCKING IN THE DESERT

 A MORNING DESERT WALK NEAR OUR HOUSE IN CONGRESS ARIZONA

 WITH HER BROTHER-IN-LAW NORM

 AT HER MOM'S HOUSE IN SPENCERPORT NEW YORK

Al's Art Gallery