Dear Reader:

While finishing up Alice Monroe’s latest novel….I read a passage where one of the main characters, Marietta, called her three granddaughters to her side “Lickety-split.” 

It made me pause as memories flooded back from my childhood from both mother and grandmother telling us children and grandchildren to “Hurry up! Lickety-split.” It’s been a long time since I have heard that expression and it sure took me back in time to read it again.

The expression dates back to the mid-1800’s and the origin concerns  an item popular at that time known as a “licket rag.” Before the creation of Bounty and other paper towel products that advertise to be able to clean up a mess with one wipe….”licket rags” would clean up a spill with one “lick” in a “split” second…“lickety-split.”

I don’t know as a mother, myself, if I used the term “lickety-split” (wouldn’t rule it out) but like all parents I feel, now,  like so much time  spent raising the children dealt with hurrying them up for the bus, school, practices, games, ceremonies, church….you name it…we were always in a hurry.

Now that the children are grown and they all have their own individual schedules to “lickety-split” off to….I am free to do a lot more “moseying” than “lickety-splitting.” Dead-lines are at a precious minimum, meetings far and few between….which leaves me in the loveliest period of my life to date…my “Being Period.”

I can wake up most mornings and just “be.” My “doings” are medical appointments (which are amazingly dwindling)….leaving me with “doing” all the things I love…. like being with the children and grandchildren, being in my garden, and being with friends….always ready for new adventures!

So until tomorrow….May we all find that special time in our lives when “dead-ends” turn into “life-ends” ….meetings  take place with nature and last only as long as we want them to… We are able to select the best way to use our time and “do.“Take heart…that world does exist….I know…I am living it!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*I must confess…yesterday I did “lickety-split” over to Gin-g’s house, at her invitation, to catch up with Debbie and Sue Anne and see Gin-g’s beautiful, peaceful, and serene backyard and gardens…her “Happy Space.” We had luscious desserts and lots of laughter….we were all just “being” ourselves and taking a moment to share it with others.

*Brooke….when I went to take the girls’ photos I told them about your far away *photo trick look when your picture was taken…(in order to get the best profile shot)…..so we took two pictures…one straight on and one “Brookie” photo….looking off in the distance.

Come with me now to Gin-g’s green, luscious special place where she can just “be.” (Until  sticks need picking up and weeds pulling up….then comes the “doing.“)

Thank you Gin-g for your warm hospitality and that hot lasagna last night….it  was out of sight!!!!

Anne saw this saying and added it to Facebook today….just perfectly fit the theme of the blog so am adding it early this morning..