You've got to read...

... this book!

Prisoner of Tehran, by Marina Nemet. I've tried several times to put it in a couple of simple sentences how much I admire this author and the way she tells her story. I can't. This is the story of a young girl whose grandmother instilled in her a strength and dignity that probably saved her life, at the very least her sanity. The life-changing events she had to experience are so horrific, it would have been understandable if there were rage showing through in the narration, but there isn't. This is a book you've got to read for yourself, no review can do it justice.

After you've read this book, I believe, you'll never read news accounts of events in Iran the same way again.

Sentries...

... of the beach.
It's cool and wet... The birds take back the beach!

Do you see the second eagle?

A day on my deck...

... restoreth my soul!

Today my first guests of the year arrived. Again, very nice people from Vancouver, building a house here, will be retiring here. They'll stay for 8 nights. Today is also the day when I took the garden furniture out of the storage and then plunked myself into my new Ariondack chair to read.

The sun is out, it's not too warm... Whenever I allow myself to just sit and look at the beach and all activities on it--the people, dogs, birds, kids and the tides slowly moving--and slow my thoughts down with a good book, I can feel the tension drain from my soul. Why don't I do this more often?

I need this! I've been so focused on surviving a toxic work environment, without sinking into a place where I would have to quit for my sanity's sake, that now there has been a resolution, the fight is gone and is leaving a but of a void. Today however... today is the start of the rest of my work life... my soul is on the mend and life is good!