In the First Place.....
    It's about time that I started this.  I understand my reluctance.  But so that you do, perhaps you should read on.  This is not a serious, deep, cute, or even very thoughtful blog and I doubt that many will follow.  That's fine.  For myself and those I love, it will make a few things clear. 
    I am a mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt and friend.   I am a nurse, reader, movie lover, ocean addict, mountain and moon lover, and student.  I will not make a long introduction, as many of you know yourselves and the place you play in my life.  But I will give you of an inkling of my life right now.  I like the word "inkling", and I love that it has been used before by famous authors.  And as I am a bit of a rambler, inkling seems about right.

    Nine days in Colorado to see my kids, grand kids, and grandchild to be, currently called Petal.  Also three days with two of my sisters in Evergreen.  I have lived for nine years in California away from the family, and have had a great run there with my husband; seeing the wonderful area around San Francisco, and working at Stanford as a nurse.  What an education that has been!! More on that later, trust me, probably more than anyone but another nurse would like to hear.  But that's the therapy of this blog, to give an inkling of my life.  Phase two of this trip is with my oldest daughter and her family in northern Colorado yesterday and today. Boys that play and play with balls and bikes and wrestling, and a girl who loves dragons and has an imagination to match them. A few quiet days, and a trip to the Museum of Natural History and Science.  Dad helping Grandma with her technology, and a nice fondue dinner with my oldest daughter on her special day.  Can it be true?  Didn't I just carry her on my back to go explore?  You will eventually see pictures for sure. 
    Phase I was in Colorado Springs with my youngest daughter and her husband for three peaceful days visiting and attending her first prenatal ultrasound.  Words can really never express how those scans effect you when it is the first time you have met the little thing; the little string of pearls of the spine, and the movement of the tiny arms and legs, the father looking closely to see if there is another one hiding behind.  Unforgettable.  It's a new existence for all three.  A new heart that beats already between parents who have striven to make a life worth living, and loving.  Constant amazement by these parents who are trying to wrap their heads around their new little person.  We saw a movie where a person was named Petal as a nick name, and we thought it was so cute, so it has seemed to stick.  Phase three, in the mountains, and with two of my sisters for tea, evening fires and movies with vegan food.  There is never enough time in this last phase, so three days seem great. 
    Absence surely makes not only the heart grow fonder, but just the presence of your own people, your children, after so many shifts taking care of someone else's kids is like balm to the soul for a lonely mom. A caretaker at heart, and being given the gift of working in a place that shows me so many things, so many children, and yet not being near the ones I really want to take care of, is a challenge to say the least, therefore, the visit.  Balm.  It is what I needed, and just this inkling will help you know a part of me-the most important part, and I promise I will continue this to help you, and frankly, help me along on my journey and my small life.  Talk to you soon.  S