The sweet scent of summer

 Over they years its been a typical August long weekend or Family Day.  In Canada every month theres a Long weekend.  Victoria Day, Thanksgiving, and in August…well you get the picture.  Tradition says its spend on a motorcycle. 

 For 19 years it was a trip to South Dakota with the annual migration of bikers to Sturgis.  Every bike imaginable, great folks to share stories, drink a beer or 6, and look at what was ridden in.  The smell of 50wt oil, suntan lotion, sweat, leather and an underlying “eau de dead grasshopper”…all underscored by the roar of motorcycles.  It was another time.  

But now, in our senior years, its more like enjoying a sleep in, a trip out for breakfast, a morning visit to the farmers market and then home…feet up.  Our entertainment for the morning is a parade of yachts and small craft heading in and out, the sight of a hummingbird hovering at the nasturtium’s, and the lapping of waves on shore.  It is a different world.

Yes we have our bikes. Its calm and warm, but today..I’m plum lazy.  I am avoiding getting all the gear on, and going for a spin.  Macs bike is under the weather, his starter “shitting the bed” so to speak so it is going to the shop next week.  And today I don’t fancy riding alone.

I just read an article in Psychology Today that claimed “doing nothing is good for a persons mental health.”  I can support that theory.  Batteries need to be recharged occasionally and thats what I’m choosing to do! OK the coffee and chocolate while I sit here in the shade with feet up is like my “tender” making sure I hit Fully Charged.  My upcoming nap only makes me feel happier. 😎

  

1955 was a good year. Really.

 Yup, today I turn 67.  Good god.  And its the first time I’ve let age bring me down!  Ok its been cumulative, read on and lets see if I cheer up.

We are on the island, which is beautiful.  If you ignore the fact thats it has rained and fogged pretty much every damn day since we arrived.  Yup.  But no snow, which is a plus.  But seriously I could use some sunshine!

John is working too now.  A challenging job, but hey thats HR for you.  My job is coming along, hard to explain EcDev to folks who have no idea why you can’t  just make things happen, 9 to 5 Just Like That?  My fav is being asked at meetings “what shovel ready projects  have I got on the go?”  Um, yeah thats not how it works.  But I digress.

Since we got here we’ve had company almost every month, which is cool.  And we took a small vacation, to See/meet some of Johns cousins.  Which was nice.  But it was NOT the 10 day motorcycle trip we had planned.  Yes, we got 2 used Harleys, which are great.  But hubby didnt get enuff time off and two days before we were scheduled to leave, his starter “shit the bed” so now its How to get the bike to Victoria…6 hours hrs down island.  So we need to get our dealer to come get it! 

And so to celebrate being 2 yrs older than retirement, I bought my own birthday cake, invited a few friends for drinks and nibbles, and pouting that we couldn't be in Alberta with our buddies today, and getting ready to have a good day anyways.  Life is too short, or too long as it were, to be feeling sorry for myself.

When in Port Townsend last week, their 4th of July fireworks were amazing.  All around the bay gorgeous fireworks going off for hours.  John said how lucky we are not to be living where there are rockets and artillery going off, that it was a celebration not a bombardment.  

He’s right.  I am sitting here with my cat, in bed, listening to the fog horns, robins, etc, warm and safe.  I have food in the fridge ready to set out, cold beer and paper plates.  Lol what more can a girl ask for?  Ok maybe a few hot sunny days so I can ride before going back to work?  

Happy birthday to me. 😎🍰🍺