About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Friday, September 22, 2006

FOREVER YOUNG AND FOREVER FRIENDS



"We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over, so in a series of kindnesses there is a last one that makes the heart run over." Samuel Johnson






I've been thinking today about all the new friends I've made over the past year. Mostly, these newly-formed friendships have been as a result of a certain gentleman's own search for love and romance. I took a big risk by getting involved in his little adventure, but I am so glad I did. I wanted to break out of the box that I'd put myself in and was determined to become "ME" again.

From that humble beginning, I am so grateful for all of YOU. Some of us met over a year ago on the pier at Manhattan Beach and took it from there. Some of us have met on the blogs but have yet to meet in person. I can now say that I have real friends all the way from here in my own home town to all over the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, and even in Great Britain and Belize. Along with this, I can say that I've travelled to California, Alaska, England, Wales, and Italy - all as a result of a tiny little newspaper article that caught my eye in May of 2005.

I feel like myself again, even young(ish)! So, as we travel down the highway of life, may we all remain "forever young and forever friends."

FRIENDS

Words: Deborah D. Smith
Music: Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just flying on by to say "Happy Friday NIGHT!!

Great tunes. And how true, our young spirit is so much forever a part of us all. I am a much better person for having met all the great women, and men, that I have....

Our "young" will always shine through that is for sure!!

Exciting times!! This wonderful process called life.

As Seasons change, so do we...

Peg

heiresschild said...

there's a saying, "you're as young as you feel." that's so true; i think we're all feeling young, yet we have the wisdom, experience, and maturity to go along with our youth.

sylvia

beachgirl said...

Hi Leslie,
I agree with you. No pointing. Children learn that habit from their parents at a very young age. I caught a nephew of mine pointing at the age of 2. His Mom pointed. I was amazed. I just can"t tolerate that. A major control thing.
We should start a fun topic. Things men do that really irritate. The warning signs of when to run.
Have an awesome weekend. I am off to take Izzie to the groomers. She needs a bath and a haircut.

Jo said...

It's really true you are as young as you feel. Sometimes our lives need a little shaking up so we can get "ourselves" back. Our true selves are always "in" there, but we get covered up by routine.

You have so many exciting adventures ahead of you. You are going to have a wonderful time.

Josie

Leslie: said...

Hi Carol - received the photo and I can't believe how young Grams looks! There is definitely a twinkle in her eyes and I can just imagine the fun you have with her. She's certainly a great example of true youth! I love your idea of the "man post" and will get on that later today.

Peg, Sylvia, Josie I'm feeling young today but of course the sunny weather always makes me feel so much better. I think I'll go for a drive and stop in to check out some tops to take to Italy with me. Maybe I'll even open the sun roof! LOL I definitely will need my sunglasses. I love to drive and will listen to Rod Stewart, Michael Buble, Il Divo and sing along.

Anonymous said...

Hi Leslie.....love the fall colors...enjoy your drive...I started out my morning with a heavy rain jacket and ended it with my Columbia coat. Yes. Enough said. LOL.

........and oh ya......Tommy Bahama ROCKS!!!!!!!

Peg

heiresschild said...

congratulations leslie on your size 9 jeans. is there any way i can lose weight thru your losing weight? for every two pounds you lose, maybe i could lose a pound.

ztnwqfgd = zits now qualify for goodness

sylvia

heiresschild said...

i see you're playing my michael w. smith here. i just love him.

dlbyc = double yoke


sylvia

Anonymous said...

Leslie!! Congrats on the size 9!!! Very impressive...you are doing it!! Yah!!

I went to a Memory Walk today, my group "Pennys From Heaven" raised 76 dollars...so I was really happy with that, and the weather was just awesome!!

Take care
Later
Peg

Leslie: said...

Hi Phyl great to hear from you. I'm staying with friends in the Salisbury area for a few days to get over my jet lag and then heading to Italy for 4 weeks. I'll be seeing basically the west coast from Cinque Terre area to Sicily. I'm so excited about it as it was the next place on my list of travel dreams. I'll then spend another 2 weeks with my English friends. They're taking me to Cardiff, Wales for a few days. I may do a couple of day trips on my own around England, too. Never been to Cambridge (yet) and other lovely spots. Thx for the good wishes. One day, I'll get over to Ireland, too.
kholrj = khaki or long red jeans

Anonymous said...

So, how long does it take to plan for a trip to Italy. How much luggage can you take? How long will the flight be?? Oh my...what about the water, and the food...any idea?? Are there tours planned?? What about transportation?? Reservations?? What language do they speak in Italy? What about the currency?? Do you have the name of a good Doctor? Well, I would have no idea where to start on planning something like that...but the planning is soooooo much fun I think. Hope the plans are going well.......

Peg

mortan said...

This is just for what i have been looking.
It has given me the clear picture and i just love it.
This will definitely gonna solves my problem.