Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Return home tomorrow

Buz on our cold but dry walk
I smiled ruefully when I got ready to go out and walk this morning, finding that here in Texas it's colder than at home in Bellingham. Every day since I got to Arlington I've walked around this track at Stovall Park with my sister Norma Jean, but she went back to sunny and warm Florida yesterday, so I persuaded my brother Buz to go with me today. We walked four miles in windy 30-degree weather, which made it feel like 23 degrees F.

It's been a good visit with family, even though it wasn't what I expected when I made reservations in December to travel to Florida in February. PJ's death brought us all together this week with a determination to create the best tribute we could to our sister. I wrote about the Celebration of Life here, and tomorrow it's time to return to my own life. We are all stronger and more bonded from this week's events, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a family.

While walking this morning, I saw this batch of mistletoe in one of the bare trees in the park.
Mistletoe with berries
In reading that link above (about mistletoe), I learned that even though it is a parasite, it is a beneficial one to many different species of trees and bushes, since the berries attract birds. From that link:
Mistletoe was often considered a pest that kills trees and devalues natural habitats, but was recently recognized as an ecological keystone species, an organism that has a disproportionately pervasive influence over its community. A broad array of animals depend on mistletoe for food, consuming the leaves and young shoots, transferring pollen between plants, and dispersing the sticky seeds. 
I also learned that in pre-Christian Europe, mistletoe was seen as a representation of divine male essence, and thus romance, fertility and vitality. That means I can wish all you ladies romance for Valentine's Day in the spirit of mistletoe!
:-)

20 comments:

  1. you're a braver, hardier soul than i. when the wind is as sharp as it is, i don't walk. :)

    the mockingbirds love those mistletoe berries so i never mind seeing them in my trees.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You forgot to mention that mistletoe invites a kiss, too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hugs for you as you travel home tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ha. careful standing under that mistletoe too long....smiles....travel safe heading home.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've don't think I've ever seen a mistletoe plant out in nature. I'd probably not even recognize it.

    I'm sorry your fun trip turned out so sad. Still PJ must be happy that you have all been able to spend this time together and strengthened your family bonds even more.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's been darned cold here....as with the Dallas area, the temps are about the same here. Early in the morning tho, and the wind chill factor coming off the Gulf makes it feel very frigid. But, as with you, walking is exhilarating...even in the cold.

    There is mistletoe here all over. Sometimes it kills the beautiful oak trees tho...growing so dense it literally sucks the life out of some trees.

    Have a safe trip home dear DJ...

    ReplyDelete
  7. We had cold last week. Then we had snow. Now we have on and off rain. It was a pleasant 45 degrees and dry as we went for a walk this morning.
    It will be a while before I can do four miles, but that will happen.
    I used to see mistletoe high up in huge old oaks in the Willamette Valley of Oregon where I grew up. I knew nothing of the reason we use it for kissing under.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh DJan. I missed this in my blog break. Hugs. And love.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It is good that you got your brother to walk with you! He looks cold! Travel safely:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's a real bummer when you get such nasty weather so far south. I don't think you get so much wind around Bellingham.
    Have a a safe trip home.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You are a hardy soul to go out walking in those conditions. I don't mind the cold but now when it is combined with wind. We have been in the twenties for over a week with about a foot of snow but now the rain has moved in along with temps in the 40s.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lots of brisk walks you've been having D-Jan. Perhaps a good way to clear your thoughts after the stress of your sister's passing. Being out in the fresh air is very therapeutic. Have a safe trip home :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yah, I've been having many of those brisk walks and am hoping by the middle of the month that might change, however; we have been known to have a blaster or two well up into March. Safe return DJan and you have a lovely Valentine to return home to. Take care my friend. lol

    ReplyDelete
  14. I never knew mistletoe had such a rich history

    safe travels home, hugs from me and the girls

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love that in the midst of it all you take care of yourself and your health. You're my inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love that in the midst of it all you take care of yourself and your health. You're my inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wishing you traveling mercies for your trip home. May you find comfort in returning to your own things with a lot of memories of the time spent with family.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Four miles in the cold. Not bad. The cold holds me back some but not as much as the ice. I'm reminded as two day ago a good friends fell loading wood in to the outside furnace and broke her hip. We've been treading carefully since filling the bird feeds. Lots of animals and birds at them now with all the cold and snow....

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm sure it was a sad but enriching trip. You'll be glad to be home.

    ReplyDelete

I really appreciate your comments! If you see a word verification box here, just ignore it. I don't use the darn thing and Blogger is trying to get us to use it, I guess. Ignore it and your comment will still appear.