hey there everyone! it's quite amazing what a difference a handful of days and some miles can make. i left for nebraska last thursday and this is what the weather looked like {below} when i started my journey....
yes. that is/was snow. seems old man winter decided to make an early visit to my neighborhood. well...i didn't let him stop me. i was lucky enough to out-drive the weather & made the roadtrip w/ the usual ease.
found myself treasure hunting along the way...{so much for thou shalt not junk!}...with me making a couple stops in my always favorite state of south dakota. lurked around a display for quite sometime admiring the truck fragment {below}
was fascinated with a box full of dealer "tags" of past that seemed to have more strength in numbers....
i was content w/ the goodies i scored @ my stops & continued on to the cornhusker state {my former home state}. became excited to see the welcome sign {below} as a mark of how close i was to seeing my nebraska family. the sunshine and blue skies didn't hurt either!
found quite a bit of entertainment in running around w/ my sisters and nieces...part of the gang {below}
spent even more time in the company of loved ones when i co-hearsed them into junking with me. discovered MORE treasures in the town i grew up...{COLUMBUS}.
can't call me mother hubbard....my cupboards are FULL. but i am quite determined to find a spot for the little white ironstone pitcher {seen below} in the company of a MINNESOTA advertising fabric remnant and a spigot monogrammed with S's. love finding pieces w/ connection when out & about.
was delighted by the amazing morning sun rises @ my dad & stepmom's home {one of them below}
enjoyed my time spent @ my home away from home. in the company of those "birds of a feather". my dad and vi have always been fond of feathered friends and, thus, shared the moments of my MJ's growth since her arrival on day {1}. see dad w/ one of his friends {below}. an injured canadian that has found refuge in their little lake.
here's the point of the trail that may get long and dusty for some of you. but i'm launching into it as an update + form of healing. of course when i made arrangements to head south...a big concern of mine was leaving MJ. but hubby's caring, yet stearn words of "you can't live your life around MJ" plus the fact i knew she would be in good care with her "dad" ... made the decision a little easier.
i spent the day prior to leaving @ her pond for a little while. my heart knew that the seasons were not the only thing that were changing. her once lush surroundings were now covered in leaves. the duck weed she loved slurping up was nearly gone. and MJ herself had feathered into her full adult plumage. i watched her hop off my lap & head back down to the water. she paused & looked back @ me {below}... almost to tell me she was going to be alright.
the day i left i had this "feeling". when i walked into the garage to say good-bye i knew it could be a final farewell. i scratched her belly and left. as i have touched on above...the trail i took was filled with happy. but i did get a call on sunday that made me uneasy. hubby phoned to say that MJ left that morning...fast in flight in a different direction.
even in the good company i was distracted. which might be mistaken for crabby. i was holding my breath all day. if history repeated itself, and she was coming home, 7pm would be the latest time we would expect. hubby, being the good dad he is, cleaned out her pool. set out the corn. and opened the garage door early as we have done every day for the last month and 1/2..
the day went on. then the sisters left. with their kids. and then dad's house was quiet. i'd be lying if i said i wasn't emotional. i was. still am. i sat in the sunroom watching their lake almost as if i were waiting for MJ there. 6:30 came. then 7. then 7:15. my phone sat by me silent. i knew bill wasn't calling. so i called him. he didn't have to say anything. the sound of his "hi" was enough. she wasn't home. it was too dark and i knew she wouldn't be flying now.
so. that was sunday. i was still a tiny bit hopeful that monday eve she'd be back to her routine. one more check-in-call that night confirmed what i knew would be the answer. no MJ. i tried to fill my mind with the happy thoughts of her. and did finally fall asleep knowing this little duck has touched more hearts than i probably could imagine.
driving home today has been mixed with emotions. happy to be seeing my minnesota family. sad to be leaving my nebraska family. and sorting the feelings of sadness + hopefulness in regards to MJ. as i drove i saw more than one "v formation". {in the sake of safety i borrowed this image from goggle rather than click my own, below}
would you believe me if i told you that i type this sitting in a parking lot of a grocery store {1} hour from home?? still going for that crazy duck lady status i suppose by divulging that one! i hope you don't think for a second i'm not anxious to get home. hubby and lucy will be there. but i needed just a little time to click away today knowing it would make me feel better. letting out my feelings always helps. i may forget that i stick it out there for the world to see {if they like}...but figure that if you are still reading this you enjoy my ramblings as much as i enjoy showing & telling.
ok. on this last leg of my journey is a thrift store up the road. i suppose that could be considered another excellent form of therapy...distraction...what have you. even if i walk away with nothing more than a memory. or handful of skittles. those are waiting too!
i will be back intouch soon. i have lots of fun things to share & look forward to doing so. in my heart i have peace about MJ. she is onto the next chapter. one i hope is filled with "doing duck things" to quote my friend carly. and you never know. maybe next spring maybe she will find her way back home. that being said i think i best get heading there myself.
always a big thanks to {YOU} for being there in {1} way, shape or form. personally...professionally and every way in-between.
