Sometimes when things are humming along smoothly things will all of a sudden, change. Friends, family, jobs, situations, and sometimes locations. Even if the individuals stay the same, they change as we all do.
But sometimes people pass. And that can have a huge change on those remaining. We lost a close friend which will be 10 years ago this coming February. That took us a while to recover from and get to the point where we could laugh well again. Oh, we still got together but when you take a spoke out of a wheel it just doesn’t turn as well as it did before.
This is a shot our departed friend Dan took on his way down to his boat one day the summer before he passed.
Lucky I guess
We moved to Woodstock in the mid-80s and just up the road from our home is The Snowball Stand. This is one of my simple pleasures in life. So good, so convenient and so consistent. I think it’s on its 4th owner but it’s always remained in business. And the great flavors they started with and added to over the years with many other options now that stretch into the fall and winter seasons.
Yep, they sell Xmas trees now also. We got one last year from there. Really nice family working that home and business now. But they all have been wonderful owners. Employing local kids and putting smiles on many faces over the decades.
I sat there yesterday with the top down eating my cherry snowball looking over the fields that are part of the Howard County Conservancy and watching the traffic go by on Route 99 and Woodstock Road. The weather seemed to bring out a lot of motorcycles yesterday and of course a few locals with their Hot Rods. I like sitting there if it isn’t crowded. If it is I’m so close I just go down the road and finish it on my porch.
I feel so relaxed when I take the time out to just go there and wind down for a few minutes. Sometimes my better half will surprise me with one on her way home from shopping. A snowball is a trigger to put life on pause for about 10-15 minutes. Sort of like a smoke break but with ice and sugar. I tend to tune just about everything out and relax and enjoy. And it’s a joy I’ve had for decades.
Random Thoughts of the Day
- I love grilling up bacon on a weekend morning.
- There are few things more cute than children sleeping. OK, when they are awake it tops that.
- The creativity in a child’s mind is really special. They just flow when they are young.
- Every time I go to the doctor I learn something. On the last trip to the dermatologist, I learned I should be getting checked more often. I guess a decade or two was stretching things.
- I would really like to be done with this sinus infection.
