The Unseen Hand

Sometimes we don't seem to be getting anywhere in life.

You move ahead, you think, but, then when you look around it seems you are in the same place you always were.
 Trying to find a mate, the right job, the right school, your niche in life, can seem frustrating and many times we think maybe we should just forget about it.
 We so often think we are wise in our own pursuits and just when we get to a certain point, an unseen hand steps in and blocks the way! I
 believe that when you trust in God to do something, he does it if it is right for you.
If it isn't the simple answer might be "no".
 Answers are not always the way you want things done or think it should be done, but, in his way and in his time and often in a way you never expected.
 So when the roadblocks show up, maybe its time to think that the unseen hand has placed them there for your own good.
 One day, down the road, you will look back and see what it was all about.

Rainy Summer Nights...

There is a boardwalk nearby that is really just a neighborhood sidewalk.

There are no amusements, just homes.
Summer homes and year round homes come right to its edge.

the boardwalk

The bay opens wide before it and laps the white sandy beach.
You can see the little Victorian town on the other side, and the lights of the Barnegat Bay Bridge in the distance leaving trails of light in the waves on the open bay.
They call the bridge the "String of Pearls" .


It was mentioned in the song My Eyes Adored You by the Four Seasons.:

"Carried your books from school
Playing make-believe you're married to me
You were fifth grade, I was sixth
When we came to be

Walking home every day over
Barnegat Bridge and Bay
Till we grew into the me and you
Who went our separate ways"

 People love to walk those boards all year long. Both natives and people from surrounding places

because of the peace and the calm there.
 You can see into some of the homes as you go by, and its not unusual for the owners to wave a friendly "Hi" as you go by.

 It was raining tonight but, it was a good night for a nice walk along the boards. Its another world to see the lights on the water and hear the gentle tapping of the rain on it too.


I passed by homes warmly lit. People sitting around tables talking, others entertaining in the evening....its the thing to do ..to share your home and its view with others.
 One home in particular struck me as I passed by. Gentle jazz streaming on the night air from the house, men sitting and drinking cocktails, while the ladies sat at a card table playing bridge and enjoying cake  with  hot coffee.

 The ambiance was wonderful you could sense it so strongly.
 Light laughter mixed with the smooth jazz filtered out along the boardwalk and although not many were walking, just the odd one here or there.. their faces reflected what I was feeling.







 The people here are different. They live in a nice place really and they truly appreciate it for what it is.
 I have never walked that boardwalk that I haven't seen someone entertaining quietly in their home sharing the ambiance, food, and that never ending gorgeous view.
 I can't invite you over....but I can share this with you.



 Good night.

Porch Days

It's  lovely to sit on the porch and watch and think.
Each day brings its own new vision and revelation as you sit there quietly.
 In the depth of summer you can feel the hot air caress your face.It warms you right to the core and heats up your thoughts like a furnace but makes you too lazy to do anything about them.
In the late summer the breeze begins to cool and there is that faint refreshing that autumn always  bring with it. For me at least.

You bring out a cup of tea in the morning, a glass of  iced tea  in the afternoon and gaze out on your world and consider all it  holds .

Mr. M. marches into the front yard to pick out some weeds that mar his perfect flower bed and sees you there.. His enthusiastic wave of his and warm smile are contagious.
And you remember when kids were selling candy and he bought the entire carton ( despite being a diabetic) just to help  out. He takes care of an invalid wife and can rarely get out.
Life must be hard for them now, but, the garden blooms nicely.

Down the street Mrs. A pulls out of the driveway to go to work. She supports her family ever since her husband injured his back so badly and cannot work right now.
She waves and calls out the car window, "Have a great day!"
Yeah, its looking good so far.

Another neighbor steps out to check his mail. 

 The yard is neat, tidy and blooming like crazy

 Next door the neighbor gets into his van to head out for work and his wife comes running outside.

"You left this on the table again today"she says, exasperated . "I am trying to get the kids ready for school. I don't have time for this". He reaches out the van window and takes the box from her and says, "I love ya honey".
She giggles and smiling, goes back inside while he drives off.

 Across the road Ollie drives into her driveway. She was out early today.
At 91 she still drives and lives by herself. She was out shopping early this morning and hauls the grocery bags out of the car herself.
 "Need help Ollie?" you call to her. "No, I have just this bread in a bag, I am OK dear, thanks" and heads inside.
A moment later she comes out to check the car and locks herself out of the house.
A moment after that I am stacking crates under her back kitchen window and hauling myself onto her kitchen counter to go open the door for her. Thank goodness for open windows.

 Ollie is grateful and I am experienced now, (my daughter and I having done it at least 15 times before) and she hands me a homemade cookie (well worth the gymnastics) and I am off to the porch once again.

 It will be a good day I think.

Spring

In the spring of the year, in the spring of the year, 

I walked the road beside my dear. 

The trees were black where the bark was wet. 

I see them yet, in the spring of the year. 

He broke me a bough of the blossoming peach 

That was out of the way and hard to reach. 

In the fall of the year, in the fall of the year, 

I walked the road beside my dear. 

The rooks went up with a raucous trill. 

I hear them still, in the fall of the year. 

He laughed at all I dared to praise, 

And broke my heart, in little ways. 

Year be springing or year be falling, 

The bark will drip and the birds be calling. 

There's much that's fine to see and hear 

In the spring of a year, in the fall of a year. 

'Tis not love's going hurt my days. 

But that it went in little ways. 

Edna St Vincent Millay

End of Summer

the gazebo in my neighborhood

Summer is passing and autumn is on its way, but the lazy days of summer linger here at the shore on into October most years.
The only thing that tells you that autumn is on its way is a chill in the morning air and a faint bite in the fresh breezes that blow. 
Oh, and the fact that tourists are leaving now and the place is emptying out.
Early in the morning I like to take my tea and sit in the shade of the trees by the bay. Y
ou can hear the little waves slapping the shore and hear the rustling leaves as the breeze blows across the water from the barrier island. It fills you up with all kinds of calm. 
The salt air clears your head . You feel good to be alive.
Swans skid to a floating stop on the water ahead of me and sail majestically along the shoreline bobbing their heads down under the emerald water for a little snack every now and again. 
Seagulls play in an updraft and a couple of Mallards to the right of me, argue about where to spend the winter months.
The ladies start to arrive with the kiddies about then disturbing the silence as they head like porters in a Safari to the beach with the toddlers in tow. I call them porters since they shlep along some world class paraphanalia ....beach blankets, umbrella, beach bags packed with sun screens, baby hats, sun glasses, powder to wipe sand off, towels and the cooler packed with sippy drinks, fruits, cookies and sandwiches.
The beach is nice here. Small, quiet, protected all summer, shallow and roped off. 
There is even a nice twin shower to wash off the salt water afterwards.
Once school begins the visits will have to be after school to play on the swings.
Over on the pier the old men are crabbing both in the water and out ..
Mostly Italian, the old gentlemen sit on the pier dangling their crab traps and talking about gardens, politics and what it was like back 'then'....... 
Some play chess , silently contemplating each move.
Older women sit in the gazebos staring out to sea and talking in between laps around the island course to keep in shape. Their bright white walking shoes make their tanned skin pop.
As I pick myself up from the sand to make my own lap once around, I can see their work worn hands resting on the table under the gazebo and I think of years of loving service to friend and family.
They are talking of plans for family dinners...yet more love, yet more service.