I think that the older I get, the more patient I become. Actually, I believe it is really that the older I get, the more in denial about being patient I am. When I was in my twenties, I had no patience for anything. Then I became a mom and that taught me how to be slightly more tolerant of things. Now in my fifties, I think I am on my way to mastering the art, but then I try and do something like refinishing furniture and it all goes out the proverbial window.

I have not even finished stripping one of the patio chairs and already, the other three are looking okay the way they are. Like a fifth coat of paint over the already existing four wouldn't be so bad after all.

Besides, I don't see how all this stripping and sanding and polishing has made any difference in appearance. Plus, if I skip the aforementioned steps, I feel my beautiful partner will not hear of it and take over for me! A thing worth doing is worth doing well. Hmmm. I've heard that before. He's so like my father and that is a very good thing.

I know it will be well worth it as we sit out back for early morning coffee and late evening dinners, listening to the stream running and the birds cooing.

"Patience, patience," he calmly says to me. And I go back to the chairs with my gloves and goggles with a sigh.

The day started off by getting irritated with the computer, as usual. So I decided to de-stress and take our beautiful husky for a nice walk. Upon our return, I realized I had locked us out of the house. I don't know who was distressed more, myself or the dog. After many tries with the old cardboard to the crack in the door, we finally got in. Cool drinks for both of us, and to the doggie bed for Sitka and my bed for me. So much for jumpstarting my Monday!

I was so excited about getting started on refinishing the wrought iron patio set Bill found for us on craigslist. A great find at $90.00, it will be as good as new once I get the four layers of various colors off it and cover the chairs with a great new pattern I found in the discount fabric bin. But alas, I can't even get the top off of the paint stripper can. Oh, well. Now is as good as any time to blog.

I have been thinking a lot about the past. It was almost a year ago when my oldest daughter married. What a time that was. I was caught up in the ending of my first year of college and going to bridal showers when I saw I had a Facebook message. I first saw the heading in my email that read "Just Hello." My eyes moved to the left where the sender's name read "Bill Ball." I could feel my heart start to race and everything went quiet. But then I began to squeal. My youngest daughter came running. "What is wrong?" She could just tell the squeal was of happiness. "I just got a Facebook message from someone that I was involved with over thirty years ago. I never thought I would hear from him again because I broke his heart."

It didn't take but just a few conversations from him that made me realize that he WAS my destiny. I had given up a long time ago on searching for someone. If there was going to be someone for me, it would just have to happen some unconventional way. The Good Lord would have to drop him in my lap because I was done looking!

I guess Facebook counts :)

In my journal dated 6/24/2010, I wrote "I have no expectations with Bill other than to rekindle a sincere friendship. Personally, I would like nothing more than to move him right in for as long as we both shall live. But I'm giving it up to the heavens for it seems like such a special gift just for him to have found me."

We did move sort of slow. We talked many hours about me finishing school or not. He has young girls that need his time and attention. But in the end, I decided for myself, life is just too short. I can finish school anytime.

In addition to some health issues, I have to consider what is best for me. That was making a major life change. One month ago, I packed up and moved in with him and never looked back.

No regrets.

What a difference rekindling an old love makes!

It has been nineteen months since my last post. I stopped initially because school took up most of my precious time. It was well worth it, for I found many new and wonderful friends there and learned so much along the way.

But in early June of 2010, my entire world did an about face.

The heading in the Facebook message only said "Just Hello." When I looked at the sender's name, my heart skipped a beat. It was from an old love I let get away more than thirty years ago. To my surprise, he had found me -- and wanted to talk to me. I had hurt him terribly so long ago, I never dreamed he would want to look me up again. But he did. And the minute I saw that message, I somehow knew my life was going to change in a big way. It has now been a year. So much has happened. I have now moved into his log cabin, which he lovingly calls "our home." We are now in the process of discovering the life we never got a chance to make. I am getting to know his young daughters as he is spending time with mine.

All I can say is I have no regrets. For moving to Wilmington. For embarking on school. For taking a leap of faith for love. It has all been very much worth it.

I am spending my days working in the garden, refinishing furniture, trying new recipes all with a partner who shares exactly the same things I like. This is the stuff of my dreams. Things I thought had eluded me, has now come to pass.

Oh blissful life!!