Flour and Thread

Today was a beautiful day. The weather in the Pacific northwest was mild, the sun was shining, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. What better day to take a drive out to the Oregon coast.

Today I drove to the coast for a visit with a friend.

I attended a memorial service today. Bill Rust is Karen’s husband and Karen is a very dear friend of mine. Bill served our country in the Army during the Vietnam war and beyond. Today I learned more about how he continued to be very active in his community. Active with the local VFW, which was well represented at the service. Active with CAP (Civil Air Patrol) which was also well represented, SARS, his church and more.

I also learned of his lighter side, such as the time when he threw down a challenge to the pastor at his church. Suffice it to say, this dare involved Dave (the pastor), Bill and a bit of hot pink nail polish! Oh, and the clear glow-in-the-dark top coat neither one of them actually knew about… Imagine the surprise when one of them woke up in the night and saw all these glowing “eyes” staring back at them!

I also learned of his gift for cooking a turkey at Thanksgiving – and the single time over the years that the bird didn’t cooperate… Operator error?? No way!! Dratted roasting pot!

Bill’s service was the first I’ve ever attended where military honors were given. Sure, I’ve seen depictions of the various things that are done. The flag, the 21 gun salute, Taps. But I’ve never actually seen them in person. Never heard it for the one being honored right there in the room where I was.

It blew me away.

When it was time, the Honor Guard member came into the sanctuary with a folded flag. (There was no casket due to cremation.) He placed the flag up front, saluted and held the salute. The doors at the back of the sanctuary were opened wide. Then, upon command, the first of three rounds split the air. The 21 gun salute had begun. Round two came. Then round three.

Then the haunting sound of a flawless Taps came through the open doors. I stood with the rest of the congregation, tears falling. I truly cannot remember another time when I have been so moved.

The honor, the gift of thanks to Bill for his service, the gift of thanks to his family were so beautiful.

The Honor Guard members then unfolded the flag and, with a snap, spread it out wide at shoulder height. They then painstakingly re-folded it into the triangle we’re all used to seeing. Once done, the flag was presented to Karen with these words, “On behalf of the President of the United States and the people of a grateful nation, may I present this flag as a token of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service your loved one rendered this nation.”

I, too, am grateful for the service Bill rendered to our nation. And for the service countless other military members have given. I am grateful for the years he and Karen had with each other. I am grateful to have known him, even though only briefly. And I am grateful to have been there today to enjoy the beautiful day, to have a quiet drive over to the coast, to cry with honest emotions during the service and to hold Karen in the tightest hug I could give and be at least little bit of the rock that she needs and is leaning upon during these days of hurting and, eventually, healing.

Rest in peace, Bill. I thank you.

Carry on.

In March 2011 I made a decision that changed (or more likely revealed to me) the course of the next chapter of my life. I was faced with some challenges and frustrated by things beyond my control. At first I panicked. Big time. But I took a few days to regroup. I listened – really listened – to some heartfelt and honest advice from some dear friends. I took a deep breath. More than once!

It took months. During which my mother had a medical crisis that took many weeks to overcome. Hard work, frustrations, at times wanting to give up. But I didn’t. This was my dream. One of the few things I truly wanted. And so I did it. Without knowing if there was a net to catch me.

I leapt.

I bit my nails to the quick (figuratively) prior to that first visit. I sweated the small stuff, as we all do. But the visit netted me a, “Yes!” and a great new friendship was born.

I say, “friendship” for a reason. Prior to this visit, I only knew Jason via Twitter. We’d never met in real life. But one day we were “chatting” back and forth about his friend who had a booth at a local home and garden improvement show. He suggested to his Twitter followers that we go see his friend’s booth. I mentioned that I’d love to but I didn’t have anything to make improvements to. He said, simply, ”I can help you with that.”

Well, the conversation continued along other lines that evening, light and humorous and without further remarks along that particular vein. But his simple, honest comment stuck.

A few days later I visited his blog, http://www.homeloanninjas.com/. I liked that he was real. Not a dude in a fancy suit in a polished office just waiting to cash in on the commission. A suit who did not give a moment’s notice to ME. To what I wanted/needed/had fears about. Who only wanted to snare the next client for the proverbial notch in the bedpost.

And he said yes to my request. So. Now that I had that endorsement, what about finding, “the one?” I can Google with the best of them. So what. This was not going to find me what I was truly looking for. (Re)Enter the Ninja. He knew of a guy in my area of town who could possibly be the type of person I’d like working with. He suggested (and by no means endorsed) Mike. And he was right. (I looked at his blog that evening, too. http://mikecandoit.com/ :)

Mike, as it turned out, felt exactly as I did about the whole thing. He wasn’t someone who “found” a few options for his client and said, “Here you go. I’ve done what I do. Now pick one, dammit!!” If he had been, our business relationship would have lasted about 3 hours at best. (I’m a comparison shopper, after all. )

As it turned out, the interaction between Mike and I lasted over 9 months for this endeavor. Dozens of possibilities were considered. More than a few were worthy of a, “Hello!!”, a serious head scratch, or worse, a shocked gasp (which I came to realize meant a post or photo on Mike’s Twitter stream or blog). A couple were simply not even worth going through the door.

And then…

It happened. This one said hello. Yes, I compromised on some stuff. Don’t we all? But the yeses were way more than the nos. And it’s just right for my first foray.

A great big thank you goes out to so many people. My friends, Lisa and Christy, for their ears, their supportive words, their love for me, their belief that I could and would do this. My mom who believed in my dream without question. My now and always friend, Jason. And my now and always friend, Mike.

Thank you.

Last week I bought my first house. And I am able to dream again.

That is all.

Carry on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=R5j7G_sl_i0

http://www.homeloanninjas.com/2011/11/30/relationships-the-lifeblood-of-everything/