Tuesday, January 06, 2009

"On The 12th Day Of Christmas.."**

I heard today that an elegant elderly beautiful friend of mine has decided that in 2009, she'll "embrace all new opportunity". That's wonderful.
But "think on", as my Granny would say: BEFORE one can embrace new opportunity, one needs to be able to recognise it ( ie. see it peeping and beckoning and ushering one to go around the corner )......
Ay, and there's the rub: the trick IS in the recognising. But my friend is savvy and wise and she'll recognise a new opportunity on sight ; she lives life to the full and she knows her priorities.

I've just spent 3 weeks living with flu. I felt horrendous, looked horrendous. Even my cats hid behind the sofa at sight/sound of me. I think they thought I was a barking rasping old Alsatian, scaring them in Human Form, wearing a long zipped up blue dressinggown , 2 prs of Fat Face socks and pastel blue crocks ( to the horror of eldest son)
But my energy's creeping back and it must be said: Being stuck behind 4 walls with merely enough energy to fall asleep ( yet again) , makes one decipher One's Proper Priorities.....

** BUT Best News: On 3rd Day of Christmas, my 2nd son and his wife had a gorgeous son, my 3rd lovely grandchild. Can't have THEM thinking their grandmother's a barking alsatian!

17 Comments:

Blogger Jinksy said...

Discovered this blog a moment ago, and can't believe how it ties in with a bit of what I posted today.
I said, amongst other things:-

"That which is sought is often elusive.
That which comes unbidden is reality before it is recognised."

Think on, indeed!

7:41 pm  
Blogger Sarah Laurence said...

Jan, happy new year! I’m so sorry to hear you haven’t been well. Three weeks is a long time to feel poorly. I’m glad to hear you are feeling better and look forward to more of your posts in the new year.

1:01 am  
Blogger Catherine said...

Hope you're feeling better, and congratulations on the new grandchild. Is it cold there? Down here it is meltingly hot, so I haven't been doing very much either.

5:06 am  
Blogger Anne S said...

It's never too late to start a new life course - bravo to your friend!

Happy New Year and I hope you are feeling better.

I had a cold/fluish thing just before Xmas and felt dreadful for a few days. I did enjoy having a few days of work on sick leave, which seemed to do the trick. I recovered in a week and only have a residual cough.

10:02 am  
Blogger Gilly said...

Just discovered your blog - do hope you are feeling better, there's been such a lot of that nasty cold around!

Your granny was quite right, there are some who would never see an opportunity even if it jumped up and bit them!

Hope to read more of your blog soon!

1:26 pm  
Blogger Kat W said...

Congratulations! Very happy for you! Hope there will be photos soon.

Sorry you've been poorly and hope that you'll be back to full strength soon!

Kat :-)

4:04 pm  
Blogger abcd said...

Commiserations on having the dreaded flu, especially over Christmas. Hope you are fully fit again soon.
I would love new opportunities in 2009, so hope I can spot the right ones coming my way, as you say, sometimes easier said than done!
Many Congratulations on your new grandson.

9:24 am  
Blogger Elizabeth Musgrave said...

Congratulations on your new grandson - what a great way to start the year. and I admire your friend's resolution. I am not really doing resolutions this year (too many years of resolving the same things which suggests I am rubbish at doint them) but if I were I would adopt this one.

3:33 pm  
Blogger Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Congratulations on the new member of the family and a very happy new year to you.

Hope you're feeling much better now.

5:57 pm  
Blogger Jon M said...

Congrats Jan but I can't promise your grandchildren won't think you're barking. My kids think that of me already!

8:56 pm  
Blogger Bee said...

Mixed bay of good and bad news here, what with your longterm tenant of a cold and your new grandchild!

I do think that "recognising" new opportunities is the rub. I hope that I will be able to see them, too!

6:17 pm  
Blogger cheshire wife said...

Happy New Year and congratulations on the new grandson. Hope that you will soon be feeling better.

9:39 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, now you have all your ill heath over for 2009 and can go on to enjoy the wise elderly and the little babe--happy new year!

4:46 pm  
Blogger Kay Cooke said...

CONGRATS indeed - we are both grandmother to three! A wonderful state - unlike the state of being unwell. Hope the joy germs take over and conquer the misery bugs! Cheers Jan, and a Happy new Year.

8:32 am  
Blogger Debra said...

Hi Jan - long time no blog or speak! A combination of worsening dementia (my mother's not mine), hoards of visitors to our Istanbul steam bathes and inability to focus on writing have meant I have been out of the loop, but again I am trying to get back into it! I am doing a bit of travel writing type of stuff for an International Women's magazine here so that makes me concentrate!
Hope your flu is better and congrats on the grandchild - ahhh!

7:34 pm  
Blogger Jan said...

Jinksky:
Perhaps this time of year breeds universal thoughts!
Good to hear you.

Sarah:
Thanks Sarah.
Have you been swept up in the Inauguration etc?
I wonder what you felt about Elizabeth Alexanders' poem?
I was only mildly interested/impressed when hearing it for the 1st time while watching the ceremony on TV.
However we've since read/looked at it in my classes; each time, I see more to enjoy, appreciate...

Catherine:
It's not as cold as it was, although my cats would tell you otherwise...

AnneS: You're right. Life is ( hopefully!) full of chances ( 2nd ones and otherwise) but I suppose the trick IS the recognising, the sifting out, the catching the scent...

Gilly:
Good to hear you!

KatW:
Thanks Kat and all OK again, thank goodness..

Fern:
Hope to be in your neck of the woods again soon. Looking forward to it!

ElizabethM:
Yes, a very wise and special view of the world..

Debs:
Thanks for your message DEbs. Good to hear from you!

JonM:
Funny really, coz kids DO think you ( or rather "one"!) is "barking" for a few years, then gradually, they decide you're not, that you're actually quite sane...!
Hmm.

Bee:
Wonder what you thought about Tuesday in Washington?
I must visit your blog ASAP..!

Cheshire Wife:
Thanks Cheshire Wife! Lots better.

Marly:
Lovely to see your Marly words again, always special!

Kay:
Trust you're enjoying wonderful weather in NZ!
Lucky Kay!

Deb:
Thanks for Christmas card and all that juicy news.
Wish you'd walk in my class and produce some of your great writing!
We've got a fabulous group, 20 men/women, all ages, some working, some not, lots of vigour and talent and laughter.
Don't forget if you're EVER back visiting, you are more than welcome..

8:29 pm  
Blogger Jan said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:30 pm  

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