Are You Lucky?

May the Best Luck of Your Past be the Worst Luck of Your Future ~ Walter Renwick Hughes

Walter “Ren” Renwick Hughes was my father-in-law.  Technically my ex-father-in-law.  I loved that man like he was my own father.  For those of you as old as I am (past 60), if you can picture Clark Gable, you will have an idea of what Ren looked like … pencil-thin mustache, jet black hair and a smile that would wiped away the blues for everybody around him.   Unfortunately he was killed in a car accident when my son, his first grandchild, was only two weeks old.  But I’m sure Ren “sees” Stephen and all of his other grandchildren all the time.  I don’t know that I can give Ren the entire credit for the quote above but it was a toast that he gave at every family gathering.  I can still see him holding up his champagne glass.

I took today’s photo of my lucky bamboo plant because I’m feeling particularly grateful, very lucky and most humble for wonderful people (family and friends) in my life.  Being part of the blogger community has opened me to so many new friends and their perspectives on life.  You guys are simply the best.  Yeah, I’ve thrown a couple of song plugs in here because I’m a parrot head (Jimmy Buffett fan) and a huge fan of Tina Turner.  A parrot head because I love the messages in Jimmy Buffett’s songs, not to mention his sometimes Caribbean, sometimes Cajun sounds.  When Jimmy plays and sings, you just can’t help but want to dance and sing along with him.  And Tina … well, her story is the epitome of rising from the ashes; the ashes of a destructive relationship with Ike, her former husband.  She’s proof that you can’t keep a good woman down.  Her music career spans 50 years.

And then there’s The Gang of Six; the wonderful people I met through a grief support group after my brother passed.  I saw them today and it’s always like no time has passed even though we only get together once a month.  Our discussion of forgiveness and dumping unwanted baggage was very profound; perfect timing for all of us.  Is there really any other timing but perfect?

I could go on and on, but I think I just did 🙂 I appreciate you ALL.  Namaste’