Life, Love, Tragedy, Sadness

 I know I promised to finish my wandering Gypsy series, but I got a bit busy.  So, this Blog is going to be out of place. You know that writing things down is a kind a therapeutic thing for me, yesterday something terrible happened and I'm going to try to start to process it in the way that I know best.

While out doing my job. I witnessed, what I thought was an abduction of an adult woman. While I was grabbing my phone to take a picture of the man, woman, and car, as well as dialing 911 everything went even more wrong. The man grabbed a large knife and murdered the woman and then himself. No one and I mean No One, should ever have to see this. Not to mention it just shouldn't happen. It was terrifying as well as surreal. 

Strangely, although I was right there and didn't miss anything with my eyes. It was almost as if someone had lowered the volume on life to 2 bars. I really didn't hear much as if my ears were being covered. After a comment made by a friend of mine that she was glad she wasn't there because she wouldn't be able to get the screaming out of her head, I realize that this odd phenomenon was a blessing. Maybe my Angel covered my ears. I have very detailed visual recall. This is usually a good thing, but it is going to make getting the pictures out of my head very difficult. 

The poor girl's mom was there and witnessed the whole thing as well. My heart is breaking for her. I can't even imagine what I would have done if it had been me and one of mine. I don't want to imagine that. No parent should have to ever go through something like that. I'm waiting for this to become real in my head. I know that it will hit me hard from out of nowhere when I least expect it. I've been down that road before. 

It was such a wasted loss of life. So much ahead of both of them. My understanding is that they left a 2 yr. old behind. I hope he wasn't a witness to any of this. I didn't see him, but I wasn't looking for anyone. 

The violence among humans these days is horrendous. I don't know how to change it. The only thing I know that I have total control over is me. How I behave towards others. How I manage myself. No one is perfect. There are no directions in life. We don't come with a manual that has all the answers and all the right words. We don't know how we are going to react in any situation. We can only hope that we have our hearts in the right place and try to do no harm. Hindsight in life is 20-20. Sadly, the man and the woman involved in yesterday's horror have no such luxury, to look back and change their lives going forward. We never know when our time is up. Thankfully this man did not have a gun or more lives may have been lost, including mine. That thought is a large, scary, sour, pill to swallow. He clearly had a plan. I don't believe he intended for either of them to live when he set out yesterday. Sadly, he accomplished his goal. He clearly came prepared with a very deadly weapon and it was in easy grasp in his car. It was an illegal knife to tote around, and I believe there is only one reason for doing so and that is to cause great harm. 

The officer who happened to be nearby arrived on the scene too late to save anyone. He was young and riding solo. He followed the book on how to handle the situation. He was amazing when trying to help the young woman. He never lost focus. I hope that he is acknowledged for his fast response and proper actions as well as his compassion. 

Be kind to each other. Try and talk things out. Don't let stuff fester. Life is short and you never know how short. Love your family and friends and let them know it. work through your problems don't just turn your back on them and hope they go away or change. Share your worries and your happiness with those you love. We all need the support of others. Life is a gift from God. Treasure, it hold it carefully and don't let it shatter you only get one. 

The wandering Gypsy

     Do you ever wake up and wonder what life holds in store for you? Have no plans for the day. I know when you are very young this happens often. Then you hit that middle of the road part of your life where every moment of every day seems to be filled to the brim with things to do, so many there is barely enough time. Between juggling your job, kids, and social life is there even a minute for you? Then you get a bit older, and you only have you to make plans and time for. Yes, I still work 40 plus hours a week. I also have adult children and grandchildren as well as pets and some days and weeks are just as crazy as they were 20 yrs. ago. However, there is much more wiggle room in my life. This is why I sometimes plan for vacation time, (which I choose in around February) and then try to figure out what I'm going to do with it. Sometimes I do figure it out and sometimes God does. I like to think that we work together on this. Well, this was one of those years where I went with the flow, listened to the whispers in my ears and let nature take its course.

As summer is coming to a close, I find myself contemplating how what I thought would be a slow summer ended up being quite a busy one. I started this summer with no plans. and suddenly found myself with an abundance of them. 

Starting in July when I was invited to Atlantic city with my youngest daughter and her family, for the weekend of my birthday. We had a fabulous hotel room at Oceans resort overlooking the boardwalk. A much sought after view by our youngest attendee, my 3 yr. old grandson. He spent as much time as possible standing in the window and watching the activity on the boardwalk. His favorite sight were the trams, that ran up and down the boardwalk. We rode the large Ferris wheel one evening. In the afternoon we went to the beach to play in the sand and the waves. We spent some quality adult time spinning wheels at the casino. We played at the arcade, had a wonderful birthday dinner out, for me and Michaels Uncle Frank. A fun time was had by all. Thank you, Michael and Colleen, for a birthday that won't soon be forgotten. 

    Backing up just a bit I had a bit of girl time on the way down to AC. I met up with my girlfriend Charlene from college along with two of her friends from grade school. We met at a winery where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch a flight of wine and great company. 

Then it was back to work for me. I had planned vacation time in Aug. with no idea of what I was doing with it. Several days before my scheduled time off I got a call from a girlfriend who told me that her brother had invited us up to their family home on what I call the wrong side of Lake George. I have been up there before it is a little hamlet over the mountain and on the lake, called Hewletts Landing.  A beautiful spot to relax and enjoy. So off we trotted for a few days in upstate NY. I also invited another friend of mine to join us. Becky hadn't been in that area for many years. Claire and I headed off on our adventure. While driving I realized that Saratoga was open for the season. You guessed it, side trip to the race track it was.

    From there we headed off to the landing and an evening with some of Claires siblings. A beautiful evening with a walk around the neighborhood. We even grabbed an ice cream from the local stand. The following morning, we headed into Lake George proper. You know the populated side of the lake. We met up with Becky in town and wandered our way up the main drag. We were proper tourists, bopping in and out of all the shops, picking up a few trinkets and wares. We were sure to visit the Adirondack winery. They have some wonderful and unique wines. We had a sunset cruise scheduled for later in the evening on the ship, " the Adirondack". We were trying to figure out what was for dinner, When Becky mentioned that she brought a sort of charcutier board with her in the car. We put our supplies together. (you know I never leave home without being prepared) and headed back to the edge of the lake where we had a fabulous and unique picnic. Followed by a sunset cruise up the lake, then back to the house for some more bonding time. A fabulous time was had by all with a must do this again to be planned. 

    Sadly, Becky had to head back home the following day as she had more plans of her own. However, Claire and I did a bit of exploring and found some fun sights of our own. The next day we hopped in the car and headed North to places yet unknown. We found ourselves taking a small ferry just beyond Fort Ticonderoga over to Vt. Where we drove North again just enjoying the scenery. Stopping now and again to snap a picture or two. One of our stops where we walked back to take a picture of the bridge we were going to cross to go back to NY. we spotted and Osprey. She flew overhead and landed in a nest that she had on top of an electric pole. I will say they are mighty big nests. I couldn't pass up this photo op. It wasn't until I got home and really looked at the pictures that I realized I had at least 2 different birds. One was a baby and the other a parent. What a cool stop. 

 

 

    Back over the bridge crossing over Lake Champlain and once more in NY. Claire and I, both history fans, stumbled upon, Crown Point, The site of two forts. The first was a French fort which is not much more than a mound now. The second is that of a British fort Built after the British took the ground from the French. Not much remains of that fort either but enough to see what it was like. Your imagination can run wild. You can almost hear the horses and wagons moving in the courtyard. The creaking of harnesses the clatter and rumble of wheels on the stone. The shouts from commanders to troops, the banging of metal cauldrons cooking meals and washing laundry. The mass of soldiers and fort hands going about their daily chores. Standing on the shore of Lake Champlain I could feel the power of the lake. I could almost see ships from long ago crossing this powerful lake. We only wished that the museum had been open.

Then back to the base for a good night's rest before heading off towards home the next day. 
     You may have noticed by now that I'm not your conventional traveler, that maps out a route and sticks to the plan, so it shouldn't surprise you that we headed home via VT.  A winding route of adventure. Taking a bit of a side road because it mentioned a covered bridge. (you know we couldn't resist that) we found this pretty and comical bridge. The sign over the Bridge, dated 1874 Reads " Rexleigh Bridge, 25 dollars fine for driving on this bridge faster than a walk" (and yes there is an S on dollars). 

After a few more casual stops we arrived at home. I'm sure we will venture out again. My trail is nowhere near its end, I hope. I'll save my next adventure for my next post. I hope you enjoyed your vicarious trip to upstate NY. and VT. with me. As well as a peek at Atlantic city.