pstraubie48

my greatest joy comes from spending time with my grandsons...ages 17 and 23 months. each time with them makes my life brand new. My 17 year old grandboyman celebrated yet another milestone this year.

. I have written about him in numerous hubs. The doctor's prognosis for his life was grim and so we feel so blessed that he walks the planet. And then my daughter was diagnosed with cancer which has spread throughout her body. She is surviving her eighth year and has many complications from side effects from all of the drugs that have been given to try to fix her. She has been told by several doctors that she 'isn't supposed to be here'. But she just smiles and says, but 'I am.' And they say the only way it can be explained is that it is miraculous.

I concur. WE have prayed her here all of these years...her and her boy...so for those in doubt, there IS God. ...not a god...the God.

I am so blessed. So much has happened to make me be thankful every day. I find joy where others might not...in simple pleasures of life, I find peace and contentment.

i grew up in Deltaville,Virginia and spent many hours immersed in all things nautical. swimming, fishing, boating, crabbing, sunbathing...all of these were part of my everyday existence. i have always been called down to the sea to calm my soul.

writing has been a passion of mine since i was a very young girl just learning to put pen to paper. one of my favorite poets was ee cummings. i loved it that he should show such disregard for punctuation and longed for the time when i could do as he did...and now, after forty years in the classroom where i HAD to use correct grammar and punctuation, now i am unfettered my those constraints and can use them or not...

it is important to note that being a teacher was an honor and a privilege and it was never a job to me...it was a calling, my life's work. i got up EVERY mornng ready to rush to school and begin the day.

and, now i am giving a voice to my thoughts...and doing so in a place where i can enjoy and think about and even respond to the writings of others is  an unparalleled opportunity.

being in a community of such talented writers who voice their ideas and 'take' on things has made me grow so much already. learning to 'listen' to others and consider what is said thoughtfully adds to whom i am ....john donne said it best...'no man is an island .....'