Judy Price is Writing

Love is what makes the ‘world go ’round’, right?

Guess that is the reason it feels like the ‘end of the world’ when love is lost or unrequited.

How does one ’heal a broken heart’?

Guess it depends on how strong the love that broke the heart.

Someone once told me that within 24 hours of his father dying, his mother followed, although she had no illness as did her spouse.

As much as it hurt her adult children and grandchildren to lose her, it would appear that she could not live on earth without the ‘love of her life’, and nothing could heal her broken heart.

“Love hurts’ as well when that love is not returned.

‘Time heals all wounds’ would hopefully apply in this case.

I believe that in spite of the pain that the search for love can cause, it is the ‘pleasure principle’ that keeps us engaged in our longing for that ‘once in a lifetime’ kind of  reciprocal, romantic, passionate love with one’s soul mate.

When these two have found each other, the poet would advise to ‘never let it go’ as ‘love conquers all’ in this life and the next . . .

People watching is one of my favourite pastimes, especially when I travel alone.

In Alaska, while admiring the allure of this vast and challenging environment which leaves a lasting impression on the viewer, and where the wilderness of  Denali showcases the draw to this country, The Last Frontier, I noticed an uncanny comparison to its men.

I recall a past television show, ‘Men in Trees’, filmed in Alaska, which implied that there are as many men in the state as there are trees.

However, I would agree that I saw more men of all ages than I did women, but not nearly as many men as the multitude of trees in my view, during my two week stay.

I noticed that most of the men I saw congregated in groups and were really enjoying the company of other men.

They were routinely drinking, watching football, listening to live music, and socializing with one another.

Even on a Saturday night this was the norm. 

I have to believe that some of them were married or had girlfriends, yet no women were with the majority of men I saw.  

I don’t believe that all or even most of them were homosexual. 

These men just seemed to truly prefer the company of men to women.

The phrase, ‘man’s man’ comes to mind.

I would venture a guess that these  Alaskan men are as challenging for women to relate to as the rugged and dangerous landscape is for these men to negotiate

How can two people who share ‘chemistry’ lack passion together?

I used to think that the ‘spark’ which creates the fire comes from the attraction/chemistry factor.

Wrong!

In order for two people to want to explore the ’possibility of passion’ occurring between them, the attraction or chemistry they feel is one of the components that draws them to one another.

From there, it is anyone’s guess!

A ‘passionate’ as opposed to a comfortable or careful (veneer-oriented,lol) kiss ignites the flame, like a ‘lit’ match sparks the fire. 

It takes two passionate kisses simultaneously, one from each partner, to create the spark!  Otherwise, there will not be any ‘fireworks’!

I recall a line in the movie, ‘Pretty Woman’, when Julia Roberts, who plays a prostitute to Richard Gere’s character, tells him, ‘No kissing’.

Her rationale is that ‘kissing’ is more intimate than sex.

Provided the kiss is ‘passionate’, I agree.

There are lyrics from a pop song of long ago that went something like, it’s ‘in the kiss’!!!

Most likely in the ‘first’ kiss . . .

If I were a ‘bird of prey’ or  ‘raptor’, which one would I be?

Preferably a falcon, a Peregrine falcon!

I have always wanted to fly, and as a human, would have seriously considered becoming a pilot had my aptitude test results involving inverted spatial orientation been more positive!

Dentistry was out of the question as well, yet never an interest of mine.

Speed, grace, elegance, beauty, as well as extreme visual acuity; all enter into the picture. 

These falcons are nature’s fastest fliers; Peregrines have been clocked flying, or swooping, at speeds of up to 220 miles, and recorded as endurance fliers at distances of up to 1000 miles, according to what I have read!

Enjoying speed and distance on the ‘trails’, I would definitely appreciate the flight as a Peregrine falcon   

They feed primarily on birds they take in the air: their prey includes ducks, pheasants, and pigeons.

As I enjoy the first two tasty fowl in my human state, the ‘leap’ or in this case ‘dive’, to their consumption as a falcon would be relatively easy.  Pigeons on the other hand, I cannot fathom eating!

Knowing I can dream and never realize this feathered dimension, the next best thing for me is hang-gliding.

Now, that is a journey of flight that is feasible for me to anticipate and to navigate!

At the risk of sounding ‘arrogant’, a characteristic which I prefer to believe belongs more to the males who have been in my life, I always thought I was, as the title in the Nat King Cole song reads, “Unforgettable”, or at least memorable, and hopefully in a ‘good’ way!

However, if some of these men have short-term memory lapses, that might account for their deficiency in this regard.  At least it would soften the blow to my ‘ego’.

And, yes, women have egos as well as men!  Go figure.

My sharp sense of humour, perhaps ‘quirky’ personality, my playful and fun attitude, my teasing ( learned having both an older and a younger brother to banter with), my intelligence and psychological savvy, as well as my spirited and spiritual, deep emotional and pleasing physical attributes, would all endear me to any man with sensibilities, or at least  would leave my indelible ‘mark’ on his psyche!! 

However, even if he suffered from dementia, and had no sense/sensitivity/sensibility whatsoever, I feel confident that, if not conscious, at least the subconscious impact of my imprint would surface in his next encounter/relationship with a woman, and then my ‘presen(ts)ce’ would be felt and at long last, appreciated!!

Just kidding

Since this is in the ‘humour’ category, let’s keep it clean!

I was told by my mother, many years ago, that she had an ‘apricot’ craving when I was in utero. 

Strange thing is that I am not fond of the apricot.  I find it tart, and the skin not so smooth nor tender.  The jam I can tolerate however!

Since my birth, I have had and continue to have cravings of many types and various descriptions.

When I was pregnant myself, twice in fact, I cannot recall cravings as such.

However, when working as a visiting nurse during my first pregnancy, I routinely stopped at the dairy bar on the way home, for a delicious ‘milkshake’.  The flavour did not matter.  Just the sweet, thick, cold, smooth, creamy texture enticed my taste buds!

I also craved one cold ’beer’ per day during the hot summer months, until my doctor found me out (I was gaining four pounds per month) and put a ‘stop’ to this indulgence.  No worries as I quickly lost the weight once I gave birth! 

I still believe it was the milkshakes that put on the extra pounds; however, now knowing the effects of alcohol on the fetus that we did ‘not’ realize during that particular decade, what can I say!!!

I guess one could determine that  today I am an ‘emotional’ eater.

When I am depressed, I have ‘no’ appetite.

However, when I am lonely, I ‘crave’ all of the carbs and things that are ‘unhealthy’! 

Dark chocolate is one of these cravings, and notice that I still attempt to counter the ‘unhealthy’ aspect of a sweet, caffeinated carb with the ‘healthy’ component of ‘dark’ chocolate or increased ‘cocoa’ antioxidants.

I could say the same about ‘red’ as opposed to white wine!

At least I think I can, unless that has changed in the nutritional world as well!

I do find a glass of red wine, preferably of the malbec or syrah grape varieties, relaxes me as well as satisfying my craving, thereby creating a delicious elixir of clear thought processes enabling my problem-solving and creative skills to excel!

If I did not experience the dehydrating effects of the alcohol content the next day, (which several glasses of water does not counteract) I would advocate this process. 

Although I would not want to engender the wrath of those who struggle with alcohol dependency, which I acknowledge is a ‘real’ medical disease.

I also crave carbs or ‘comfort’ food and drink in the long, cold winter months. 

A rich, savoury beef stew comes to mind!  Or a spicy chili, either vegetarian or not.  Hot chocolate, the richer the better, with melted marshmallows is a wonderful accompaniment to ‘smores’ sizzling on an open wood fire!

I must admit I have cravings other than food or drink. 

I ‘crave’ love and the companionship of both male and female friends.

I also ’crave’ sexual intimacy with the opposite sex; however, I have found that I can only ‘relish’ this particular craving in a committed, exclusive relationship, and again, what can I say???

Not being in one of those at the present time, that is ‘one’ craving I cannot satisfy, at least not in the most  ’satisfactory’ way!!!

Friday the thirteenth conjures images of various scenarios to be avoided at all costs!

Cracks in sidewalks, ladders, and black cats are among the more popular ones named in rhymes. 

Who wants to tempt fate by stepping on a crack which could cause one’s mother’s back to break,  or have an accident occur by walking under a ladder.  And who looks for a black cat’s path to cross, especially on this particular day.

Now I can definitely see a problem that could occur should one cross paths with a black panther on the trail!

However, people who were born on the thirteenth, especially those who entered this world on a Friday, have nothing to fear, and in fact might consider this to be a very fortunate day.  Lucky you!  And Happy Birthday!

Most people learned a few superstitions as children that they might still carry with them into adulthood. 

Friday the thirteenth might be the purr…fect day to test their validity, if you dare!

Here it is August first and I haven’t had a good manicure since I was in England during the month of  May!

In fact, I have been caring for my own nails since my return.

I have to say that I had the very best nail shaping and cuticle care I have ever experienced at a nail salon in Eastbourne England.

My Canadian manicure only survived one week into my trip!

After mostly daily hiking using trekking poles, at the beginning of my third week in England I was ready to be pampered, and asked the waitress at my hotel who she recommended for good nail service and value.

Armed with her advice, I quickly set out to find this nail salon.

Now for some inexplicable reason I was looking for a sign that would read, The Nail Ferry! 

Guess I thought my nails would be transformed through being carried away and ferried back in a renewed state. 

This reaoning must have been the resulting  influence of residing in a seaside town on the English Channel, coupled with my prior visit to Dover, where I watched all manner of ferries crossing between England and France.

However, the sign read, The Nail Fairy. 

Even better, I thought, as my favourite character in Peter Pan is Tinkerbell, and she is magical perfection in my estimation.

I walked into a bright, modern, airy space and sat down to wait my turn, meanwhile watching as various women were receiving hand and foot care by men.  Only men.

I may be less worldly than many others, and that is a fact, but in all of my travels at home and abroad I have never had a manicure by a man, only women.

As I sat down to my manicure, I was a little skeptical, closely watching the man who held the future of my nails in his hands. 

He did things differently, and the result was simply magical.

I truly wish the The Nail Fairy would frequent my city, and set up the very best nail salon ever!

Summer has ‘officially’ arrived in this hemisphere, meaning this is the longest day of the year.

Of course, that leads me to the thought that every day after this for the next six months will get shorter.

Is the cup half full or half empty?

Positive, hopeful individuals will keep looking for good surprises to be coming right around the next corner, no matter how dismal things might look now.

As I remind myself that this is ’who’ I not only want but need to be in order to maintain inner peace and joy, I will relish this day and night as long as possible!

Perspective is everything as I continue on my life’s journey, keeping summer dreams alive all year long

Cool and raining here today, unlike England when I was there!

Sunday I had my first long distance, rocky, narrow, steep downhill hike since my return. 

Ontario terrain certainly differs from that in East Sussex. 

It felt great to be in the woods with all of the trees fully green, unlike before my UK departure. 

Along the Niagara Bruce Trail I noticed a tiny, perfect little ‘snail’, whose shell was similar in colour and markings to the much larger Dover snail shell I acquired while at the chalk cliffs.

I picked it up from the pathway where it lay at my feet, realized it was still  at ‘home’, and put it in the wooded trees where it will hopefully thrive, or at least live to see a few more days.

When I saw it, an instantaneous smile came to my face, as I thought of my Dad and his ‘new’ sign to me, as well as his sense of humour.

Now when the ‘ladybug’ cannot ’fly’ to find me at my fairly quick pace of 4.5 km/hour, the ‘snail on the trail’ will.