As Time Goes By

Sunday night we watched the third episode of BBC's adaptation of Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. Cranford is a charming miniseries about a fictional village and its inhabitants primarily the single and widowed middle class females. It's a lovely story and film; I highly recommend it to anyone and especially to costume drama lovers. If you haven't seen it be forewarned that there will be spoilers in this blog post!!! I'm not going to completely ruin the whole story but I am going to tell a little,...... so consider yourself warned!

One of my favorite characters, Miss. Matty, is a single, sweet, sixty something gentile lady. She is an old maid. In her youth she had a "prospect", she loved a man, a farmer named Mr. Holbrook, and he loved her. He asked for her hand in marriage and she refused him. She didn't wish to upset her family who had been through much trouble and "wounded Mr. Holbrook instead of them."

Now, some thirty years later they get a second chance, time has removed the obstacles that stood in their way. With great gentleness he begins to court her. Cautiously and prudently they begin to hope and let themselves feel again the first love that was cut short in its bloom. He asks for her hand in marriage a second time but doesn't pressure her for an answer, as he puts it: "Haste has never been our hallmark Miss Matilda. We would be unshaped if we began to move at speed." She will give him her answer when he returns from Paris. She is so in love, like a young girl she blushes and glows from the slightest attention from him. She dreams of hope, love and a future tucking his letters under her pillow. On his return journey Mr. Holbrook catches pneumonia and dies. All the hopes and dreams of this sweet old maid are once again lost and the second disappointment is so much worse than the first. She grieves and mourns for him and dresses as a widow from that day on. "For I had loved thee more than ever wife was loved."

So sweet, SO SAD! The first time I saw it I cried long and hard. It's a hard episode for me to watch. Now I know you're wondering why I'm telling this depressing story.... but just hold on I've got a happy story to tell you!

So Monday morning, at work, a middle aged couple and an elderly couple in their seventies came into the restaurant. They asked to be seated at a large table and if they might bring in their own cake to eat, a wedding cake. I noticed that the elderly couple was wearing white corsages. I asked "Oh, is it your anniversary?" "It's a wedding" they said and I said "wedding anniversary?" and He said "No, we were married today. It's our wedding." He affectionately puts his arm around his bride and she glows. I was completely taken back! Here were two people who were no longer young or even middle aged but have lived long and full lives, and they were beginning a new life together. Having both been married and widowed they met and fell in love. Their first "date"(which was 2 and 1/2 hours long) was in this very restaurant where they were celebrating their wedding. They were so happy, so proud, so excited for the future, as in love as any young couple I've ever known, but there was so much more in their love.... So much wisdom, they knew what they had and they knew what to do with it. They were taking this precious gift with thankfulness and joy! It was unlike anything I've ever seen, truly beautiful!


I couldn't help but think of Miss Matty and Mr. Holbrook and there lost love... I was so encouraged by this lovely couple who were given a chance to love and be loved, to look forward to a future together even when time seemed to be against them.

Linda said they were "Crazy!"

I said "Crazy in love!"

On the Road Again

The weather is finally warming up and signs of spring are beginning to pop up everywhere. I brought my scooter out of winter storage last week. It didn't start up right away.... had to call in some professional help twice (actually thrice.....) before I could drive her anywhere. A good long drive was what she really needed to get everything running like normal again, so I drove around town after work. It was so warm and sunny! Even at a whooping 45 mph the ride was comfortable :) Driving a moped is way more of an adventure then just driving your car around. Not only do you see much more but you can feel the breeze and smell more then just your car air freshener. Sometimes the smell isn't what you'd call sweet and the breeze can sting or even numb your face and fingers, it's not always a leaf or a flower petal that brushes your face and it's important to keep your mouth shut. But all that aside the whole driving experience is enhanced and you can appreciate your surroundings on a different level. My little trip around town was a nice experience. The air was fresh and sweet, the sun warm and the little patches of green here and there were exciting to descover! Spring is here and I'm ready for it! Ready for short sleeves and strawberries, green grass and gardening, longer days and longer walks, and many more scooter escapades!

What's Up with Daisy

What I've been up to:

1. Keeping warm. This is a bigger job then one may think... with -25 degree weather and a windchill to freeze any exposed skin within 30 sec.

2. Working at CK. Waitressing has turned out pretty well. Not a whole lot to say there except I'm learning everyday how to serve and communicate with all sorts of people.

3. As always I LOVE hanging out with "My Kids" They are always tons of fun and bring me lot's of joy!

4. I've be working on a commissioned painting. Something a little different than what I've done in the past so it's stretching me, I have to think a little more :) I'm learning a lot and enjoying the process. I may post photos of it when I'm done.

5. I have another commissioned project scheduled for this spring. I'm trying to do the groundwork and searching for inspiration.

6. About a month ago I purchased Martin Hash's Animation Master (caution: some images on this website are not appropriate, please proceed with caution). Animation Master is a 3D computer animation program. I've been trying to fit in time to watch the video tutorials, experiment and learn my way around A:M. So far it's been very fun and rather overwhelming :D

7. Lately I've been thinking a lot about "Decisions". The sorts of decisions we make every day. Little choices here and there.... However small they may seem they propel us in one direction or another. I just want to be aware of those decisions I make, to recognize them as what they are and be able to see the effect a "simple" choice may hold for me....

This song keeps coming around in my head to remind me.

Psalms 24:3-5 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.


So I guess that's about all..... :) I'll try to keep you posted if anything new and exciting happens.

(don't hold your breath ;) )

Wednesday Regulars

I have been hostessing at a restaurant since September. One of my jobs is greeting people at the door and helping them to a booth or table, whichever they may prefer. "The costumer is always right" so sometimes finding the right seat for a person can be challenging or interesting. Some costumers don't care, and will sit almost anywhere you please. While others have a specific booth or table they MUST have or prefer. Often these people are "regulars" as we call them. They come in often, weekly or even daily. I recognize them and usually remember if they prefer a booth to a table and which section they like to sit in. I know many of their names and some of them call me by mine, we visit a little and joke around sometimes.

One of these "regulars" is a couple who come every Wednesday. They ask to sit in "Jane's" section. They, especially the lady, are good friends with "Jane" and they talk and talk while "Jane" waits on their table and in-between her other tables. The couple's names are "Cole" and "Anne". So for eight months now I have been greeting and seating this specific couple. I always thought it was a little strange that every week "Anne" explained to me that they must sit in "Jane's" section. As if I couldn't remember from the week before.

So this Wednesday after seating them in "Jane's" section I was cleaning a nearby booth when "Anne" says to me. "You're name is Susie?" "Yes." "I have a niece named Suzie" she says. So we begin to talk a little. She complements me on my eye color and asks me if I live in town, she explains to me again how they are friends of "Jane's" and come to see her every week. She asks how often I work. Then comes the question. “How long have you been working here?" and I say "Since September." And then she and I realize that I have been greeting and seating her every week for the past eight months and she never noticed me! She laughs and apologizes saying "This just goes to show how much I pay attention!" I laugh and tell her its fine. But as I'm folding silverware later I wonder how you could see someone every week for months and not even notice them. Obviously this nice friendly lady overlooked me for months. I could have been offended and maybe I was a little at first, but then I wonder if perhaps I have done the same thing. I am sure that somewhere at sometime I failed to notice someone, or give them even that little attention that they as a human beings deserve. I am a child of God, who has Jesus Christ in her. It's my job to be a light to every person I meet or come across. I know that that light is shown in my daily walk, but it is also shown in a more specific and personal level. In the way I treat people and what I say to them. Now that I've had the experience of being so easily overlooked, even in this simple and amusing way, I know how unintentionally it can be done. So I'm beginning to think and be on the lookout so that I don't overlook someone. Because you never can know…..