Two fabulous occurrences this week. Barbie Dreamboat is in the water!!! And even better, Gloria is here!!!! Woohoo! Here she is driving Miss Barbie Dreamboat on a beautiful Maine evening.  More later, after I get her cleaned up (Barbie, not Gloria).

My little Lulu, the boat dog

And, I was reading Martha Beck this morning. She reminded me that we all have the same freedom to find and focus on the meaningful parts of our own misfortunes. That every one of us encounters random events but that we possess a universal ability to create meaning out of suffering. She says we can turn a curse into a blessing, tragedy into heroism, loss into gain. Lucky us.

So proud of this lovely girl and so happy to be a small part of her life. Smart and funny, she is a wonderful mother and a fabulous niece, loving and giving and a beautiful person inside and out. Happy Birthday, Annie!

The Day After

The humidity fled and it was a beautiful breezy day and here is my dock one day post Arthur. Pretty great little system where the aluminum frame stays put and the decking pops out.

 My neighbor wasn't so lucky. While my dock is just barely above the waterline, his is complely underwater.

This is one of five loads of towels blowing in the breeze after soaking up all the water that came in my house.

Look what Arthur brought me!

Well, this is a first. Hurricane Arthur arrived in Maine with a vengeance at about 3:00 this morning and crazy wild wind and rain became the order of the day. The creek is roaring by my house but it is not dislodging the speedboat that blew in. No idea who it belongs to.  Oh, and this is the day of my yard sale.  hahahahaha

The waves are breaking over my dock and popped up some of the decking so I'm going to have to go out there and pull it off. Guess I won't need a shower later. All of my windows are leaking and here's another first. My roof is now leaking. Should have stayed in bed.

The heat and humidity have been unrelenting and is is a pleasure to wake up this morning to 70 degrees and fog and the promise of rain although the temperature is supposed to soar again. Today will be easier than the last three because tomorrow is forcast to be back to Maine: The Way Life Should Be as far as the weather goes. Today is the fourth of July and my affirmation from Louise Hay says, "I am free of the past. I declare my independence to be me!" If only.

The town is crammed full of tourists and it is impossible to make a quick trip into the grocery store now. The locals are complaining but soon it will be taken in stride and we'll get used to the waiting on line and slow traffic, lack of parking spaces. Afterall, the town couldn't survive without them. Three months is a small window to make enough to live out the year here. The 4th is a drinking holiday so I'll be laying low, avoiding all the craziness of the partyers in town and drunks on the road.

Today's a day off but I'll be working at de-cluttering my house and my storage unit, having a little tag sale tomorrow so come on out if you're in the area, and buy some of my stuff. I let go of a little more each year and it is bittersweet. Sweet to release those things that are attached to memories of a past life. But sad for the same reason.

Off for a walk with the girls before the rain comes. Here's a little personal gratitude this morning:

1.     Ceiling fans!
2.     MPBN and Erwin Gratz. Bless.
3.     Bumbleberry smoothies from Swallowtail Farm,
and more than anything else in the whole world,
4.     My sweet girls

That's all I got. 

What's going on in your world?

Sending love and light to my BFF Stacy, and her family today.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

The beauteous Miss Sophie at sunset