With the hot and humid dog cat days of summer upon us Simba is hard pressed to do much of anything.
He’s not exactly oozing energy.
Until, of course, I either 1) get my laptop out or 2) we put an open empty box on the floor AND the dog walks by.
Energy….FOUND!
“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.”
― James Herriot, James Herriot’s Cat Stories
A trip to the Perot Museum in downtown Dallas took us to the Gems and Minerals Hall. An exhibit which filled me with awe as I wandered around and looked at an amazing array of treasures from this wondrous earth.
In particular, the large, and very pretty, amethyst geode was remarkable to look at. So gorgeous with all the shiny and sparkly purple gems glistening under the bright lights -it was enough bling to send a girl into a trance!
My granddaughter, Thérèse, loved it, too!
Spending time inside an air-conditioned museum on a hot Texas day was fun.
Spending it with family was even better.
Six years ago my dad completed his journey here on earth.
In the early hours of that morning my mom sat with him when he breathed his last. It was a peaceful – and blessed – death which seems strange to write but, really isn’t. He was at home, in no pain and had the opportunity to say goodbye to his family.
Later, waiting for the funeral home to arrive, I sat on my back patio. Facing east, 
and the house my parents lived in, the sun began to rise and a soft breeze wafted across the yard. I watched, and listened, as the leaves gently swayed in the big pine tree and, I knew angels were moving through as they escorted my dad to Heaven.
It was a beautiful moment in the midst of a loss.
It was a quiet moment – before the glaring busyness of phone calls, texts and visitors began – to reflect on all that was and all that could have been.
Just a couple of hours later a song about grief and death – Welcome Home – by Michael W. Smith began playing….
What a lovely sound
Angels all around
Saying this is where you belong
Welcome home
Welcome home
Welcome home
Coincidence? Not in my world.
It has been six years since the angels welcomed my dad and, still, when the breeze moves the tree ever so softly I think of the angels escorting him and I know that he is home and….
It is well with his soul.
An urban amble on the Katy Trail in Dallas, Texas was an outing I immensely enjoyed. A 3.5 mile trek stretching from SMU at the north end to the American Airlines Center on the south end the trail offered an abundance of opportunities to enjoy nature and city at the same time.
We saw planes, trains and automobiles amidst very tall skyscrapers and yet, plenty of trees offered lots of shade. Several private apartment/townhome patios – that backed up to the trail -had water features or fountains and the gentle sound of trickling water helped us forget we were in the middle of Big D. Runners, rollerbladers, dogs, birds, squirrels and (bike)riders were too numerous to count. A patio restaurant known as the Katy Trail Ice House offered a scenic caboose and a refreshing variety of 50+ beers on tap.
It made for a good day.
My Crazy Graced Life 