With every passing sad gray cloud, we search harder to see the joyful, white, fluffy cloud. It’s human nature to seek out happiness to get away from pain.
Into every life indeed some rain must fall, just as the sun shines on all of us in our time on earth. The catch is just as the old song says, “You gotta accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative,” as best we can.
I was very sad to hear of the sudden passing of Larry Hernandez. Larry was a solid guy, a man to have your back; he carried with him a good sense of humor and great love for his children. Larry had a great laugh, a warm heart and a twinkle in his eye. He will be missed.
It was a time for celebration when Grayson Abejula turned two this month. The son of Ricky and Jessica Abejula, Grayson happens to also be my great-grandson, a real charmer. A large construction-themed party was held to celebrate his big day and was attended by family, friends and many of Grayson’s pals.
Enjoying the proceedings were also grandparents, Bryan and Lara `RaRa’ Olson, Rick and Irma Abejuela, and John McPherson. Also attending was Grayson’s three-month-old brother Jackson. Seeing new life fills our spirit with joy and hope.
Some belated, but very sincere condolences to the families of three wonderful women from Los Banos. Lovely Mary Corderio passed away on Aug. 4. Mary and her husband, Eddie, were married for over fifty years.
I do not believe that the two ever knew a stranger, for they both embraced so many so warmly. They certainly did me and my husband, Ron. We sat at so many dinners together, and we enjoyed every minute of it. They both radiated sunshine and warmth. I can see them so clearly in my mind’s eye.
Much-loved and respected Diane Adele Neves died way back in February. I sometimes hear of people’s passing long after their death. I can truly say that I never heard one word about Diane that was not a compliment. Diane was always a pleasure to talk with, and her smile could make your day.
Hearing of the passing of beautiful Alberta Gorostiza saddened me deeply. Alberta passed just thirty minutes before her 90th birthday. Alberta was married to her husband, Victor, for 68 years, and was very proud of her Basque heritage.
I met Alberta for the first time when I entered my old home away from home, Los Banos Drug Store. I still mourn that landmark’s passing. Alberta worked there for fifty years and was, to most of us, a true part of that beloved institution. Alberta loved being busy, and she was seen almost everywhere, carrying her usual grace and charm.
It is strange how, unless we are notified, people continue to live brightly in our minds until we sadly learn of their passing. Then, when we finally calm our grief a bit, their memory joins the large community of those we have lost and becomes part of us.
Sometimes I swear I can hear a party inside of me as they all share favorite memories. That is one of the forms of immortality. We carry those whom we have loved and lost within us, and they remain ever with us.
Congratulations to my dear friend Marion Lisotto on becoming a great-grandmother for the second time. We both now have two great grandsons, but I also have a great granddaughter, Mady Gonzales, who just turned twelve and started junior high school.
It is always strange at first when school goes back into session, almost too quiet. How I miss the days when my three were young and the mad rush to go to school clothes shopping, which was fun with my girls, and like pulling teeth with my son.
For one day I enjoyed the peace, but then oh how I missed them. I loved volunteering to help in their classrooms and got to see them a bit during the day. I swear, if I could, I would have us all live in one compound so I could see them every day. My children and grandchildren are spread around in San Jose, Madera, Lemoore, Los Banos and Santa Cruz.
A big shout-out to my baby girl, Lara Olson, for driving over to my place twice every day to give me my infusions. That is going above and beyond, not to mention driving me to all my doctor’s appointments. Makes me think of that adage, “A son is a son till he takes a wife, a daughter is a daughter the rest of your life.”
Like all of you, I have my highs and lows. Looking out my patio doors this morning, I watched a short comedy sketch occurring on my bird feeder.
One of my resident squirrels was doing gymnastics, dangling between my concrete wall and the rim of the feeder, desperately gobbling up food, when all of a sudden the feeder began to spin. Then, on the other side were my two red-headed tiny birds nibbling and spinning, at times bending their little heads to see if they had succeeded in knocking off their larger competitor.
There is so much beauty and, yes, so much comedy to be found in watching nature. I keep a large bowl of water on my porch to quench the thirst of my neighborhood kitties. I love to peek out my side door window and see how politely they wait in line for their drink. My birds and squirrels could learn some manners from them.
I am on way too many drugs (prescription, mind you), lately, they seem to give me horrible nightmares. Then I jerk awake when my dog, Yogi, and cat, Lola, start to lick my face. Angels come in all sizes and are of different kinds. I embrace these warm and joyful moments, and they always lift my day.
When I spend too much time watching the news, which can be rather depressing, I turn the machine off and ask Google to play me some sixties music. Instant attitude changer.
I try to remind myself that life is often like my thermostat; sometimes my place gets really hot or too cold. Instead of fretting about that, I have options; I can take off or add a blanket. Or I can raise or lower my thermostat.
There are going to be times when we are not comfortable or not happy, so develop a system that works for you. We must learn to be the masters of our own thermostat, or life can seem harder than it is.
Speaking of hot weather, we have almost made it, folks. September is just around the bend, and then by October, it is cool sailing. I can smell pumpkin pies already.
