Dear Ladies,

It is no accident that my favorite Sesame Street character (and role model) has always been my man Oscar.
THERE is a man in touch with his feelings!

For all of us in the anger neighborhood, may I propose a vacation spot we can visit anytime.

This idea was first suggested by my cousin about 15 years ago. She had recently completed
a second round of chemotherapy, and several of my female family members were sitting with her on a blanket
watching the "raising" of my brother's post and beam house. She began talking about a fantasy she'd had---
the House of Twelve Keys....a house where anyone who felt the need to ESCAPE could go and just be or pursue whatever interests
fed their soul. All of the women in our family were to receive a key to the "retreat".
(In our extended clan, the men love to have the adventures and the women deal with nitty gritty of everyday life.)

I have a place in "mind"---a big old farmhouse with wide plank floors and plenty of sunlight. A mountain
snuggles up to the back of the property, and a little stream curls through the grass. There's even
a dog shower for those of you who want to wash the creek mud off without wrestling your best friend.
It could be furnished any way we'd like, and I'm sure it'll be well stocked with chocolate---the fifth
food group.

Who wants to go?
Jan

Jan, that sounds wonderful! I'm in!

I'm in too...where is this place???

I'm packing my bags....

And if you don't mind me hijacking your visual, I have a "psyche vacation" of my own that can piggy back yours nicely.....

There's a back porch looking out over your mountains that's covered with potted plants and lots of rockers with lap blankets and piles of good books to enjoy while being serenaded by songbirds. The screen door opens into a rambly old kitchen with sunlight streaming through ceiling to floor windows where flowering plants thrive. A fresh pot of coffee and tea sit brewing on the counter next to still-warm crumpets, buttermilk biscuits, popovers and muffins that ooze with fat, juicy blueberries, all awaiting a dabble of Devonshire cream, orange marmalade, raspberry jam, REAL butter, clover honey......hmmmmmm

And the best part?

The sound of your friends and loved ones laughter filling the air.....

Absolutely! That sounds perfect!
Please do add whatever you'd like---it's the best part of a fantasy vacation!
I find that more and more, I live in my mind, when I haven't misplaced it!

Let's not forget our fluffy furbabies are there too! Nothing better than a sunfilled porch, warm laughter, wonderful friends and a small bundle of love dozing in your lap as you leasurely read or snooze the afternoon away while a warm gentle wind that feels like the hand of God is stroking your face caresses you off to sleep! What I want to know is WHY we can't really do THIS???!!! This is why I have comendeered the third bedroom of our second home (that hubby and I fought about and I won) and will be turning it into my ZEN room so to speak. Nobody is allowed in there except me and my dogs and will be furnished JUSTTTTTT right for relaxation down to the colors, lighting, comfort and music choice. Best of all? NOBODY and I mean NOBODY is allowed to bother me once that door is closed even if the house is burning to the ground because guess what? I'll figure it out sooner or later that house is on fire and will deal with it then!!! The best? My huge overstuffed sofa and chair to relax in and it has a large window the sun just streams down in!!! I DO have room for two if you want to stop by to tea!!!

Cool, count me in! I'll make the coffee and MOF can make those crumpets. Wait, I'll bring the wine for Happy Hour on the porch. JZZ Ohhhhhhhhh, and we'll have massages, manicures and pedicures too..............

After the morning I had with my teenage daughter...this sounds like heaven. I am just plain tired of all the responsibilities... and not feeling well.

Plumeria

Awwww, Plumeria......

You get the first mani/pedi and massage. Do you want a glass of red or white wine with that? JZZ

Oh yes indeed, after a gentle morning of coffee and conversation, it rolls over to Happy Hour.....

And in honor of my Dear Ol' Dad, I'll have me a couple of Whiskey Sours, shakened not stirred....

Oh this "party in my mind" is going to be fun, fun, fun.........

Thanks JZZ, I think that manicure and pedicure is just the thing to lift my spirits.

I do wish all of you wonderful ladies a very happy and restful Mom's Day.

Plumeria

I would love to go! Today!!!