Water off Alki point -- image above

You know, I know it's not a perfect shot. It's soft. It lacks detail.
For me, it is packed with emotion and that's why I posted it. It just fits.
The story behind it is simple. We went to do a Sunset shoot a few years ago. It was a nice day and we had no real plans. Just took our gear, had a beverage and waited for the sunset. It wasn't a great one. It was slow in coming and with few clouds, there wasn't much to focus on.
As the evening came to a close, we turned west. This dreamy shot appeals to me as it would the romanticist looking for calm waters. Like I said, it just works. And what's great is it's MINE!

Healing

Sure, in the 90's we all focused on spiritual healing. We talked. We went to self help groups, often with a 12 step focus. We did the "support group" thang. Many went to the Course in Miracles, joined spiritual study groups, while others did pricey self help groups often considered cults. All of these things really taught the same thing! We told our story, we shared our experience, strength, and hope. We listened to yours! We learned to be, do and have, in that order. Be where you are, practice honesty, practice being true to yourself and others, and clean up your past. Make amends. Make good on past mistakes, pay past bills, settle old accounts. Finish unfinished business on all levels. Talk things out. Journal.....Healing was a lot of mental or emotional work. Was it ever WORK! It was exhausting but necessary.

I titled today's blog Healing and wondered at how much has changed. Today, healing is much more simplified. I fell, I injured my shoulder. I had the required surgery. I have a long healing process before I can use my right arm. Healing! Heck, stirring a large glass of tea too fast can cause pain. Pulling blankets over me after my beloved has rolled over and took them with him can be a total pain. I can't use my right arm to do this, so I must literally get out of bed to reach over with my left! NUTS! But it's easy compared to the "healing work" that the teachers challenged us with. It's easy compared to the gut wrenching moral inventories that shook me to the core. It's nothing compared to growing up! I get to sit and relax and learn new things, play with new tools, figure out creative ways to work with my left hand. The joy of being able to slice with a sharp knife was almost funny. Equally funny was splatting a large spoonful of dressing all over the counter. By the time I am really healed, I'll also be ambidextrous. That is really good in a kitchen designed for a lefty.

Healing can take on many facets. The physical is the easy one in many respects. I am grateful for all the work I've done on my Psyche, but still find patience is key to any real healing. Patience comes and goes.

Cats

Well, this neighborhood cat has adopted us. Oh joy! I'm allergic. He's a very sweet but also noisy critter. He meows constantly for attention. I'm not sure what to make of this guy.
I do hope my allergies can go away. Anyone out there want a black and white kitty?

There are Bears out here!

I almost forgot! BEARS really are out here! Hah! I went for a long walk in the woods the other day. It was peaceful, serene and much needed. I went the long way that takes me down hill for about a half hour and then up hill for another half. At that point, I'm 2/3 of the way and I hear noises smashing and crashing through the brush above me.
Oh MY GOD!~ Yeah, it was a bear cub about 10 - 15 feet above me and off to the left. Where was Mama and the other cub? No where I could see or hear, but OH CRAP! I was out there with no communication devices, no sticks, and my right arm in a big fat sling! I turned around and walked fast the other way, hoping that they never really saw me. I don't think they did, but I also knew that my exit to the housing development above was blocked. Unless I wanted to cross their path, I had no choice but to turn around.
I turned around and made noise~! I started yelling, then singing, then calling out for other humans as I beat feet back the other way. Oh my! I saw a couple joggers heading up that way. Warned them, and they continued on for a few feet. Hah! They turned around and went back the way they came too.
It was a lot of excitement for this recovering adventurist!

Good days, bad days...

Just as we blasted forward, life gave us a small set back. Just before we did the shoot at Solstice, I took a header smack into some pavement. I fell off the road, literally. After the blood dried and the cuts and scrapes healed, I still had to contend with a torn rotator cuff. It turns out the only way to regain and maintain full use of my shoulder is surgery. And if I don't do that, the results will be a life of physical limitation. Of course, as fate would have it, I injured my right arm and of course, I am a righty.

Surgery recovery sucks. For 12 days, I felt ok but needed pain meds at night and sometimes during the day. The meds prescribed make me testy!!!! Just ask Rick! I've felt rather negative the last few days. Anyway, last night I used none and today I hurt. Plus I didn't sleep. But I am feeling more positive and real today. Yay! I was also reminded to seek the source of my irritation and make amends . Ah, the root cause is identified and I am on better ground.

A once positive and spirited lady awaits the recovery point where I can be happy and pain free again. I'll be able to work with grace. I'll actually sit at my keyboard and type without pain. For now, I need some more ice. :(

Friends, it could be so much worse that I know I am truly blessed with an easy solution. Rest, Reflect, recover, rebuild. Delays are not denials. I need not fear that all is lost. Actually, everything is still in motion. Delays are not denials and there is no such thing as failure -- only feedback. Forward, at whatever rate, is still forward.

New business...

Way to go! The Lamb's won the hearts of our newest clients, the good folks at the Solstice Spa in Leavenworth. They say they loved working with us. We were tired, but sure enjoyed the work. I'm so glad it came together so smoothly. I'm sure our business outlook just gained momentum. We connected with 3 Realtors in our area, one of whom is the broker for the Cascade team.
I am so happy. I get to do the marketing and business management. Rick is the camera guy for most of these shoots. I'll back him up, but our team approach is to let him be the camera guy. It's falling together nicely. Now we move into an interesting period.
Following through on the marketing, our approach and our methodology will be processed into a flexible mold. Then we go on the road.
It's really nice and casual to chat with Realtors and just be me. If they are interested we know. For now, we are moving forward gracefully.

good and bad

So we are doing great. Surviving the last run to the ER and feeling grateful for life right now, we are also quite frustrated. In the meantime, our geeky house has invited in some new toys. I'm playing with this mac and totally unsure if I'll love it like I plan to. Maybe that is what love is about -- a decision!
Anyway, my keyboard died so I found a cool new one. Rick saw it and got the "me too!s" so we got him one. Then we got stupid and bought video cameras for our desktops. Blaahh...yuk! Its the way of the world so we may as well get ahead of the pack.

Fearful about my shoulder, I've proven over and over that I'll need to do the surgery. The more I know, the less excited I am. But it must be done.

Life is good.