Sound of Silence

Although I often long for silence and serenity, there are times when silence is not the desired end state and actually signifies a problem.

Such a situation occurred last evening. The peace associated with my weekly experience aboard my lawn tractor communing with my lawn was broken as the tractor sputtered and died.

Silence.

Frustration.



An evening lost in trying to unsuccessfully troubleshoot the problem which has the tractor laying in many parts throughout my garage.

I know what is not working--but I can't get into it. Sounds like a new engine is needed. Ugh!

And the grass keeps growing.

Well is it Springtime. Maybe I'll buy a hay baler.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Pool Joy in the Springtime

The pool has been open for almost two weeks already--and other than putting my feet into it, I have yet to enjoy except to look at it. I have spent time cleaning it and putting the chemicals into it to make the water perfect. Pools are really demanding when they are first opened--and mine is no exception.

But even tough I have not yet jumped into it, there is something peaceful about looking at a swimming pool waiting for the fun to begin.

Last evening I spent more time getting the pool ready, I used the blower to get the recently fallen leaves off the deck before the wind blew them into the water. I also confirmed that the chemicals are balanced--it wasn't as bad as I had been worried once I used a test strip that gave accurate results.

Aside from terrifying the cat, totally accidentally, while using the gas powered blower--it was a great afternoon. So far, by my unscientific count, I have spent about 9 hours working on the pool to get it ready and 0 hours in the pool swimming.

But I still enjoy just sitting outside, by the pool, thinking of 90 degrees and mid-summer refreshment.

Soon? I hope?

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cats and Dogs Get Jealous, Too

My cat, Riordin, and dog, Makayla, are extremely jealous of each other.

The more attention one of them gets, the more the other tries to get into the situation. It causes hilarious moments as the 35 pound dog attempts to become a lap dog and the cat tries to beg like a dog for things he doesn't even like.


It gets a bit over the top when the cat tries to sit on my keyboard while the dog is getting her head scratched. It gets even more humorous when Riordin is on my lap on the couch and Makayla jumps up and tries to get her head between my hand and Riordin. I know they like each other because there are no claws or screeching (as cats sometimes do) when this happens.



Well, at least life is mostly harmonious. The competition is friendly, or so it seems. They even play together at times--well Riordin takes a friendly swat at Makayla (with his claws retracted). Makayla has been known to give Riordin a friendly lick--although I think cats really hate that.


-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Cemeteries and Memories

Standing in the family cemetery yesterday morning with so many of my extended family brought back memories of having been there before. Too recently, I had stood in nearly the same spot thinking about the fragility of life and the end that I will someday face.

The minister's words of comfort and of the assurance of hope were almost overcome by the grief of the moment. I believe those words and I know they are true--I just wish I didn't have to experience these times in order to really deal with my hope in the future. I can't understand why we have to experience such soul wrenching sorrow in order to be convinced of the promise of eternity.

After the reason for which we had gathered, I was privileged to walk with my Mom around that cemetery to revisit the final resting places of many relatives. I remembered happy days and parties and celebrations. I thought about a trip to the old, now gone truck factory with an uncle. I remembered visits to great-grandma's house when I was a young boy. One visit was during the Cuban Missile Crisis and I remember being scared by the discussion about missiles and the "bomb" that the adults were having.

Cemeteries are peaceful, by design. And our walk was satisfying and unhurried. The monuments all have a story about a life that they represent. Walking next to my Mom, I reconnected with my family and my history. As we walked, I also learned about many of her teachers and friends who have already passed.I heard stories about how they were related and how they had interacted. So many people and so many memories still alive in her mind and now mine. I have never been afraid of cemeteries and have always been in awe of the histories of the many lives that can be uncovered.

While often called the final resting places, I know that our loved ones are not there, they have moved on across the bridge into eternity. As a result, I prefer to think of cemeteries as a place to pause and find the stories waiting to be rediscovered and memories to be rekindled.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - May 7, 2012

1. Extended family gatherings are a blessing and they happen too infrequently.

2. I went into a time warp driving north from Maryland. The trees are only just beginning to leaf.

3. Is it funny or scary when Makayla decides she needs to sit on my lap while I'm driving?

4. Don't look now, but the team from Baltimore has the best record in baseball and they just swept Boston in Fenway Park for the first time since 1994.

5. Why is it that the British royals still garner so much news in the U.S.?



-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Boys at Play

Saturday is a day for sports it seems. Soccer and lacrosse and baseball are the big sports in our area right now.


Yesterday morning, Jax had a soccer game and during the game Ethan and Lucas found entertainment on the local play ground. I did miss most of the game watching the boys play--but the day was warm and the sun bright so it wasn't all bad.




I am a bit sad that somehow we missed going to E's lacrosse game during the afternoon where he tallied two goals.

But we did get to spend the morning together and enjoy a nice lunch.

Then it was off t the house to work in the yards and around the pool. Why is it thought that there is always more work to do around the house on a nice day than there is time and energy to get it all done?

At least the morning was enjoyable.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD