Saturday, October 7, 2017
The Spirit Within: Patrick Dempsey Challenge
The Spirit Within: Patrick Dempsey Challenge: Today I had the privilege to attend the Patrick Dempsey Challenge. It was my first one ever and I was very impressed with the whole event. I...
Patrick Dempsey Challenge
Today I had the privilege to attend the Patrick Dempsey Challenge. It was my first one ever and I was very impressed with the whole event. I had friends in the 5 and 10 K part of it, Donna Arsenault, who is an avid runner, Toddy Kilbreth, Peter's 84 year aunt who was a first time participant, Kristopher one of my nanny children's son who had participated for his second year in memory of his grandmother. So obviously this event had special meaning for me.
After months of planning this event and all the stress that goes with such events, it went off with out a hitch. The Maine weather was perfect, sunny and bright blue skies, and Maine dressed in her prettiest of autumn colors. As the runners and walkers began their trek you could feel their enthusiasm as they passed the stage area with Dempsey cheering them on.
As I walked my beagle, Shanti around in her doggie stroller (she does not play nice with other dogs so her stroller is a blessing) I saw hundreds of people from all walks of life working together for one cause, that cause being to find a cure for cancer, all cancers, not just one, and for continuous support for families who have been challenged with cancer. Then there were those of us who had donated to the cause watching the teams and cheering them on.
The venue area was great also, snappy music playing so early in the morning even found this ole lady tapping her toes as the runners came across the finish line, all in the fight for cancer. Free breakfast was offered to the runners and walkers by a local super market which I thought was extremely kind, hopefully they had enough eggs for all those omelets they made for the hundreds who went in to eat after an icy cold drink of water offered my a local water company.
Soon it was time for Peter and I to head out for some breakfast, as we walked back to our truck I couldn't help but think how hundreds of people had come together, some from as far away as Texas to participate in the wonderful event. Through their endless fund raisers all year I am sure, they raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Patrick Dempsey Cancer Center in Lewiston, Maine. This center offers counseling for adults and children, nutrition and cooking, message and Tai Chi, help with wills, art classes, free make up classes, grief support groups, classes on knitting, crocheting, quilting, everything and anything that a family needs when cancer has struck their families.
It was a wonderful day for everyone at the Dempsey Challenge today. It showed that there is still good in all of us.
After months of planning this event and all the stress that goes with such events, it went off with out a hitch. The Maine weather was perfect, sunny and bright blue skies, and Maine dressed in her prettiest of autumn colors. As the runners and walkers began their trek you could feel their enthusiasm as they passed the stage area with Dempsey cheering them on.
As I walked my beagle, Shanti around in her doggie stroller (she does not play nice with other dogs so her stroller is a blessing) I saw hundreds of people from all walks of life working together for one cause, that cause being to find a cure for cancer, all cancers, not just one, and for continuous support for families who have been challenged with cancer. Then there were those of us who had donated to the cause watching the teams and cheering them on.
The venue area was great also, snappy music playing so early in the morning even found this ole lady tapping her toes as the runners came across the finish line, all in the fight for cancer. Free breakfast was offered to the runners and walkers by a local super market which I thought was extremely kind, hopefully they had enough eggs for all those omelets they made for the hundreds who went in to eat after an icy cold drink of water offered my a local water company.
Soon it was time for Peter and I to head out for some breakfast, as we walked back to our truck I couldn't help but think how hundreds of people had come together, some from as far away as Texas to participate in the wonderful event. Through their endless fund raisers all year I am sure, they raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Patrick Dempsey Cancer Center in Lewiston, Maine. This center offers counseling for adults and children, nutrition and cooking, message and Tai Chi, help with wills, art classes, free make up classes, grief support groups, classes on knitting, crocheting, quilting, everything and anything that a family needs when cancer has struck their families.
It was a wonderful day for everyone at the Dempsey Challenge today. It showed that there is still good in all of us.
Sunday, March 12, 2017
When the spirit moves!!!
It has been seven months since Peter and I decided to become full time RV'ers! Several of my friends have asked "how did you dare do this full time?" Easy, I had had enough with struggling to survive in Harmony, Maine, summers consisted of buying wood and stacking it near enough to the cabin so I did not have to shovel a path to keep my cabin warm. I had had enough of putting insulation on windows and covering them with wool blankets to keep warm. I was tired of being alone and having to hear, "you live too far away for us to come visit." Enough is enough.
Pete and I did a lot of looking at various types of campers, Class A was way more than we wanted and of course you needed a small vehicle to tow behind so you could go places and not have to uproot the Noah's arc! We looked at 5th wheels both new and used, some needed so much work and others smelled of cigarette smoke, and there was no warrantee on them which scared these rookie camper couple to death. As we walked around the lot of Whited Ford in Auburn Maine there she sat, a left over, never used, great price, and big enough for us and our dog Shanti! We bought it!! And we love it, it is just big enough for us.
NOW we needed a vehicle to haul it, I had an Chevy HHR, certainly that would not work, Pete had an old beat up truck that would need a new motor. So we were told that a Chevy Suburban would do the trick, (remember we are rookies) so we headed on over to Donavan's Used cars where I have purchased several of my cars and bought the Suburban. Life was going to be awesome. I couldn't help think about the song Roger Miller sang, "Trailer for sale for rent." and sing it often to be honest, even though I love this life style of travel.
Our first destination was Flintlock Family Campground in Boone, NC located in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, made famous by Daniel Boone. Flintlock sits in a natural "holler" with a babbling brook running through the campground. It is quaint and peaceful and rustic..just the way we wanted our life to be.
Our journey to Boone went without a hitch, but we had a spirit with us to keep us safe. We quickly learned the Suburban was not the vehicle to haul a 35 foot travel trailer that we were told it would do. Oh it made the trip but crossing the Shenandoah Valley with it's many hills and valleys proved to us that we had made a mistake, and when I heard a trucker say over the CB "those guys from Maine ain't gonna make it with that Suburban" I knew we had an angel riding in the back seat, because we made our destination without incident.
On the way we knew we needed a bigger vehicle, so we made a phone call to my son-in-law Jeff and said, "be lookin' for a truck!" He was on it!!! Shortly after our arrival we found a 2012, 250, super duty, diesel, originally owned by someone very wealthy for it had all the bells and whistles one could ask for and it only had 23,000 miles!! Score!!!
Life is good on the road! Do I recommend it for everyone? No! Only if you are retired and sick and tired of being a slave to snow in Maine!!
Stay tuned for of our journey.
Pete and I did a lot of looking at various types of campers, Class A was way more than we wanted and of course you needed a small vehicle to tow behind so you could go places and not have to uproot the Noah's arc! We looked at 5th wheels both new and used, some needed so much work and others smelled of cigarette smoke, and there was no warrantee on them which scared these rookie camper couple to death. As we walked around the lot of Whited Ford in Auburn Maine there she sat, a left over, never used, great price, and big enough for us and our dog Shanti! We bought it!! And we love it, it is just big enough for us.
NOW we needed a vehicle to haul it, I had an Chevy HHR, certainly that would not work, Pete had an old beat up truck that would need a new motor. So we were told that a Chevy Suburban would do the trick, (remember we are rookies) so we headed on over to Donavan's Used cars where I have purchased several of my cars and bought the Suburban. Life was going to be awesome. I couldn't help think about the song Roger Miller sang, "Trailer for sale for rent." and sing it often to be honest, even though I love this life style of travel.
Our first destination was Flintlock Family Campground in Boone, NC located in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, made famous by Daniel Boone. Flintlock sits in a natural "holler" with a babbling brook running through the campground. It is quaint and peaceful and rustic..just the way we wanted our life to be.
Our journey to Boone went without a hitch, but we had a spirit with us to keep us safe. We quickly learned the Suburban was not the vehicle to haul a 35 foot travel trailer that we were told it would do. Oh it made the trip but crossing the Shenandoah Valley with it's many hills and valleys proved to us that we had made a mistake, and when I heard a trucker say over the CB "those guys from Maine ain't gonna make it with that Suburban" I knew we had an angel riding in the back seat, because we made our destination without incident.
On the way we knew we needed a bigger vehicle, so we made a phone call to my son-in-law Jeff and said, "be lookin' for a truck!" He was on it!!! Shortly after our arrival we found a 2012, 250, super duty, diesel, originally owned by someone very wealthy for it had all the bells and whistles one could ask for and it only had 23,000 miles!! Score!!!
Life is good on the road! Do I recommend it for everyone? No! Only if you are retired and sick and tired of being a slave to snow in Maine!!
Stay tuned for of our journey.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
And so "life goes on"
I love this quote.."life goes on" It states the obvious, until it ends "life goes on."
This blog has been quite lately, not that I haven't thought about it, I just did not know what to write about I guess, but today after talking with my daughter Rebecca, I realized that "life goes on" after a sudden death of a loved one, loss of a job and security, loss of a home and all it's comforts, loss of a friendship, any loss is most difficult to deal with, but "life goes on!"
2016 held lots of grief milestones that I had to work through, the biggest was selling my home where my life with my late husband held so many, many wonderful memories. I knew memories were stored within my soul and that I could take them out whenever I needed too. Living alone in the Maine woods in a sweet cabin that I so loved and cherished in every way, every piece of wood upon it's walls, every brick on the hearth for the wood stove, the crooked stone chimney on the side of cabin had been hand built by my husband it was still time to let it go and go on in my life.
I could no longer infringe on my Harmony friends to make sure I was ok, to plow the driveway when it needed it, to come fix my lawn mower when I got my sweat shirt tangled up in the blades, to get a phone call every single morning from a friend who has promised my children back in 2013 that she would keep any eye on me and let them know if something was not quite right. I was no longer up to hauling wood through snow and blowing winds to keep the house warm, and I just could no longer handle the loneliness.
I cleaned out the house giving most things away, things I could not use in my life style of being a full time RV'er. My sister, Vicki, took some of my belongings and made her place more comfortable and that in itself offers me comfort. Some things were left behind in a bad relationship with a man who was a narcissist and needed a woman in his life for no reason at all, except to clean house, do laundry, take care of his dog, and do yard work. It was just easier than bringing it to Pete's place for a yard sale or Salvation Army. As Bill often said after my divorce of my first marriage, "it is just stuff!"
The house went on sale just prior to Pete and I leaving for Boone NC, our first road trip as full time RV'ers, along the route my agent called and said, the house is sold!! WHAT? In Harmony in 7 days? My body shook, it was happening, anxiety set in, my mind raced, it was happening, I was in the final stages of letting go of my life with William Witt.
Life goes on, yes it does, you don't forget yesterday, it keeps you focused on how short life truly is, and that the living deserve to live. And so my life goes on without Bill and our "things" and I have a new life, one of traveling with a man who's only purpose in life is to make me happy! And believe me, I don't take that lightly! He is a good man who cares for my children and grandchildren and that is so very important. My life goes on...and I am ready!!
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Final Chapter
It has been awhile since I have written on my blog, so much has taken place since the last post, I almost hesitated to continue with "The Spirit Within", but I have learned everything happens for a reason. When I was mentally ready I started the dating scene, I met a few guys, had a nice evening with them as we shared a meal and talk, but I soon learned some were looking for a place to live for almost free except maybe haul in the wood during the harsh winter months of living in Harmony, some wanted to prove they were still "stud muffins" and it had probably been awhile since I had had any male contact. They didn't get too far with that thought for to me a "stud muffin" doesn't need to take a blue pill! Enough said on that.
I even left my home and moved in with a guy for a few weeks. Worse mistake of my life, all he wanted was someone to clean house and make it a home, take care of his dog, do laundry, some one to buy groceries, cook his meals, go out to eat occasionally, pay the light bill and in return he would get me an occasional rose. I instantly knew life was all about him and what he wanted to do when I asked if we could go to the ocean and have some Maine lobster and said: "now your pushing it missy!" Right then and there I knew I had a made a mistake. I didn't need abuse of any sort and in this day and age it is no longer accepted by society as it was years ago.
As days passed I kept searching for answers, and then one night, in a deep sleep, my "angel" came to me, in that dream he was pulling me out of the bed, working as hard as he could to move me, saying to me, "honeybunny come, get out of here before you get hurt" He pulled and pulled and when I was up and wide awake and knew exactly what I had to do, I had to move on!
I knew I did not want to go back to Harmony, even though that was my home I just knew I could not handle another winter of intense loneliness, of trudging through the snow for wood, of shoveling the steps and other places that the plow could get too, I could NOT go back! But what?
I contacted a friend of mine who had waited in the wings for me, we talked, I cried, we shared, he knew where I stood on a relationship, we could love each other as friends, a partner in life, someone to share good times with and bad ones too. Someone to share life with if you will. By the way he had gone to the cemetery, found Bill's grave and said "we need to get Holly out of there". I did not know this until after I left the bad arrangement.
I put my home in Harmony up for sale through Allied Reality, agent Mark Schoenthaler, quite a name huh? No idea how to pronounce it, but that does not matter, Mark is good he said. It was sold within a weeks time! Bittersweet for sure, as I have many wonderful memories up there in Harmony and have met some really grand people all of whom I shall miss.
Today I am the proud owner of a 35 foot camper and a 250 Ford truck that has all the bells and whistles anyone could ever need. Did I say owner, not quite true, good credit works wonders is all I can say. We had purchased a Suburban in Maine to haul the camper but after crossing the Appalachians with high winds we knew that if we made it to our destination safely a new truck was in store for us. With the help of my daughter's fiancé who was in Boone NC at the time, we had found the truck we wanted.
Life goes on, it is different in many way, I am closer to my children and grandchildren now which is something I so missed in my life. Once Peter and I get things completed in Maine and we are ready to head out on our own without the professional help of Black Ox Transport and Logistics, a business started my daughter and her fiancé we plan to visit many parts of the Great United States. Stay tuned!
I even left my home and moved in with a guy for a few weeks. Worse mistake of my life, all he wanted was someone to clean house and make it a home, take care of his dog, do laundry, some one to buy groceries, cook his meals, go out to eat occasionally, pay the light bill and in return he would get me an occasional rose. I instantly knew life was all about him and what he wanted to do when I asked if we could go to the ocean and have some Maine lobster and said: "now your pushing it missy!" Right then and there I knew I had a made a mistake. I didn't need abuse of any sort and in this day and age it is no longer accepted by society as it was years ago.
As days passed I kept searching for answers, and then one night, in a deep sleep, my "angel" came to me, in that dream he was pulling me out of the bed, working as hard as he could to move me, saying to me, "honeybunny come, get out of here before you get hurt" He pulled and pulled and when I was up and wide awake and knew exactly what I had to do, I had to move on!
I knew I did not want to go back to Harmony, even though that was my home I just knew I could not handle another winter of intense loneliness, of trudging through the snow for wood, of shoveling the steps and other places that the plow could get too, I could NOT go back! But what?
I contacted a friend of mine who had waited in the wings for me, we talked, I cried, we shared, he knew where I stood on a relationship, we could love each other as friends, a partner in life, someone to share good times with and bad ones too. Someone to share life with if you will. By the way he had gone to the cemetery, found Bill's grave and said "we need to get Holly out of there". I did not know this until after I left the bad arrangement.
I put my home in Harmony up for sale through Allied Reality, agent Mark Schoenthaler, quite a name huh? No idea how to pronounce it, but that does not matter, Mark is good he said. It was sold within a weeks time! Bittersweet for sure, as I have many wonderful memories up there in Harmony and have met some really grand people all of whom I shall miss.
Today I am the proud owner of a 35 foot camper and a 250 Ford truck that has all the bells and whistles anyone could ever need. Did I say owner, not quite true, good credit works wonders is all I can say. We had purchased a Suburban in Maine to haul the camper but after crossing the Appalachians with high winds we knew that if we made it to our destination safely a new truck was in store for us. With the help of my daughter's fiancé who was in Boone NC at the time, we had found the truck we wanted.
Life goes on, it is different in many way, I am closer to my children and grandchildren now which is something I so missed in my life. Once Peter and I get things completed in Maine and we are ready to head out on our own without the professional help of Black Ox Transport and Logistics, a business started my daughter and her fiancé we plan to visit many parts of the Great United States. Stay tuned!
Saturday, July 2, 2016
The Spirit Within: The Anniversary Train is coming!
The Spirit Within: The Anniversary Train is coming!: The Anniversary train is coming, I hear the whistle and see the smoke stack filling the clear blue skies with black smoke, it gets closer an...
The Anniversary Train is coming!
The Anniversary train is coming, I hear the whistle and see the smoke stack filling the clear blue skies with black smoke, it gets closer and closer, the smell fills my senses with fear to get on that train, for it is the train of memories from July 14th to today.
This train will take me down a path I don't wish to go, yet the memories help me to heal yes still after three years, this train is filled with mental pictures of a 4th of July gathering with friends at our home, where we laughed and jumped when the neighbor's fire works went off. There are the memories of sitting in the hot tub on the 5th of July and enjoying the oldies but goodies and sharing a glass of wine together and talking about a day trip we were planning to make on our 8th Anniversary on August 6th.
We were excited to plan it out with details about picnics, and where we would stop to share that picnic of lobster rolls, drink and condiments. We decided not to take the GTO as we were off the woods of Maine and surely it would break down, that was just our luck you know. We would even stop at Small Falls and listen to the sounds created by Mother Nature.
Another glass of wine and a few more songs, then it was in the house to put on our night ware and watch a movie on Netflix and eventually crawl in bed where there was peace and tranquility and always cuddle until sleep finally settled in.
The memory of cutting and splitting wood in the intense heat and humidity of July 2013, Seeing the sweat coming through his shirt and he cut on tree length of wood with "perseverance" as he called it, never once complaining he was hot or tired. How he smiled when he was offered an ice cold lemonade, and I watched as he placed the glass on his sweaty brow, knowing how good it felt to him.
The train has a memory of us sitting on the swing, in the evening after dinner and watching the skies turn from hot pink, to purple to dark gray, another day is over "honeybunny" he would say, and all is well on home front.
On Wednesday July 10 we went for a ride in the GTO around the loop, no moose, no deer were seen, but that was ok, another time we thought. There was always tomorrow. On the way home we stopped to see a child hood friend of mine who lives in Skowhegan, he was a Masonic brother to Bill, both bikers so they had something in common besides me. It was fun sharing about my friend Peter Diller on the way home and how he use to run away, just down the road with Fluff and Nestle's Quik and a spoon! Bill laughed, he loved hear about such things.
On Sunday, July 14th after he had read his emails, done a few things on line and had a great breakfast of eggs, ham, home fries, toast and coffee he announced he was going fishing. He was like a little boy, off on an adventure. I watched as he loaded his little boat on the back of his truck with his new wench, made it easier on his old body he said. Poles packed, worms dug and he was off...a kiss and wave and I'll see you at dark thirty with suppah, yes suppah, despite the fact he was a "flat lander; he talked Mainah! He giggled and was on his way! God how I love him I thought.
The Anniversary train brings memories of 8PM when a green truck drives up my drive way, and I think perfect timing, as the salads are sitting on the counter and the skillet is waiting for the catch of the day, but wait it is not Bill, it is someone else!
The Game Warden!!!! I greet him and he introduces himself, and then asks, "Holly did Bill go fishing today?" I grinned and said yes, while my mind thought he maybe forgot his license, but I was soon to learn than was not the case! Holly we found Bill's boat but not Bill!" My ears heard that but my brain did not register, I sat on the steps, and my mind raced. Warden Rick Clowry who soon became a very good friend of mine and my children asked if I had family around, friends who could come by, he would not leave until someone was there with me.
The Anniversary train is moving faster now, it is almost in front of me, I don't want get on, I don't want to remember that day when my family and friends had gathered for word on Bill's where abouts, and then it came, Tuesday, July 16th he had been found in 8 feet of water!
Now if Bill knew of this Anniversary train he would smile at me, shake his head and say, don't get on the train, I am not there Honeybunny! Carry my legacy on in your soul, be careful and be safe out there in this world, if you make mistakes you can fix them that is why "God" put erasers on pencils.
Don't get on the train my sweets, go and remember me for I am alive within you, feel me and love me as you did when I was but a mere human, Don't get on the train it goes no place.......
This train will take me down a path I don't wish to go, yet the memories help me to heal yes still after three years, this train is filled with mental pictures of a 4th of July gathering with friends at our home, where we laughed and jumped when the neighbor's fire works went off. There are the memories of sitting in the hot tub on the 5th of July and enjoying the oldies but goodies and sharing a glass of wine together and talking about a day trip we were planning to make on our 8th Anniversary on August 6th.
We were excited to plan it out with details about picnics, and where we would stop to share that picnic of lobster rolls, drink and condiments. We decided not to take the GTO as we were off the woods of Maine and surely it would break down, that was just our luck you know. We would even stop at Small Falls and listen to the sounds created by Mother Nature.
Another glass of wine and a few more songs, then it was in the house to put on our night ware and watch a movie on Netflix and eventually crawl in bed where there was peace and tranquility and always cuddle until sleep finally settled in.
The memory of cutting and splitting wood in the intense heat and humidity of July 2013, Seeing the sweat coming through his shirt and he cut on tree length of wood with "perseverance" as he called it, never once complaining he was hot or tired. How he smiled when he was offered an ice cold lemonade, and I watched as he placed the glass on his sweaty brow, knowing how good it felt to him.
The train has a memory of us sitting on the swing, in the evening after dinner and watching the skies turn from hot pink, to purple to dark gray, another day is over "honeybunny" he would say, and all is well on home front.
On Wednesday July 10 we went for a ride in the GTO around the loop, no moose, no deer were seen, but that was ok, another time we thought. There was always tomorrow. On the way home we stopped to see a child hood friend of mine who lives in Skowhegan, he was a Masonic brother to Bill, both bikers so they had something in common besides me. It was fun sharing about my friend Peter Diller on the way home and how he use to run away, just down the road with Fluff and Nestle's Quik and a spoon! Bill laughed, he loved hear about such things.
On Sunday, July 14th after he had read his emails, done a few things on line and had a great breakfast of eggs, ham, home fries, toast and coffee he announced he was going fishing. He was like a little boy, off on an adventure. I watched as he loaded his little boat on the back of his truck with his new wench, made it easier on his old body he said. Poles packed, worms dug and he was off...a kiss and wave and I'll see you at dark thirty with suppah, yes suppah, despite the fact he was a "flat lander; he talked Mainah! He giggled and was on his way! God how I love him I thought.
The Anniversary train brings memories of 8PM when a green truck drives up my drive way, and I think perfect timing, as the salads are sitting on the counter and the skillet is waiting for the catch of the day, but wait it is not Bill, it is someone else!
The Game Warden!!!! I greet him and he introduces himself, and then asks, "Holly did Bill go fishing today?" I grinned and said yes, while my mind thought he maybe forgot his license, but I was soon to learn than was not the case! Holly we found Bill's boat but not Bill!" My ears heard that but my brain did not register, I sat on the steps, and my mind raced. Warden Rick Clowry who soon became a very good friend of mine and my children asked if I had family around, friends who could come by, he would not leave until someone was there with me.
The Anniversary train is moving faster now, it is almost in front of me, I don't want get on, I don't want to remember that day when my family and friends had gathered for word on Bill's where abouts, and then it came, Tuesday, July 16th he had been found in 8 feet of water!
Now if Bill knew of this Anniversary train he would smile at me, shake his head and say, don't get on the train, I am not there Honeybunny! Carry my legacy on in your soul, be careful and be safe out there in this world, if you make mistakes you can fix them that is why "God" put erasers on pencils.
Don't get on the train my sweets, go and remember me for I am alive within you, feel me and love me as you did when I was but a mere human, Don't get on the train it goes no place.......
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