Peaks and Valleys

An acquaintance of mine posted this to their FaceBook today:

“…needs to mellow out and remember life is a journey… peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys, and more peaks and valleys!” Enjoy it.”

That’s a great thing to post, and I’m grabbing hold of that for today. In these current, difficult times – as the economy comes out of a flat spin – we all face more than our customary share of difficulties.  That’s true in The Typhoon, too. Lots of valleys. The business of running a family is generally harder right now. Things aren’t always easy to achieve now, where they used to be almost effortless.

And lots of peaks, if one looks in the right places. Time to take stock of the recent high points standing proud above the Johnson Typhoon.

• C doesn’t have any new cancer. Quite the opposite; her body is working overtime to return to normal full biological function. She’s going in for a routine outpatient surgery-like procedure next week; then that’ll all be over with.
• School started today. The kids ride the bus now… both from the SE house and, later, from the SW house. This will save us adults hours each week, and much gasoline. As for the kids, they’ve already figured out that the bus is good homework time… letting them play worry-free at home.
• R has been making good progress with his archery skills. This last weekend, at the beach, R was hitting a 18” circular target from 30 yards (90 feet!) with regularity. Even when he missed, he’d still have scored on a full-sized competition target. He just might finish archery merit badge later this month.
• R also has found the thinking patterns and initial sense of organization that he so desperately needs to get through his school day.
• Today is M’s first day as a Level 1 student at SOBT. She auditions for The Nutcracker in about two weeks.
• M’s second top front tooth – the one we’ve been awaiting for almost a year – is finally breaking through her gums. She’s been dealing with just that one top-front, all by its lonesome, for long enough. I’m glad she’s finally getting the mate.
• The SE house is so darned close to completely packed that it’s amazing. C has done a phenomenal job on this. We still have three weeks before we get keys; something like six weeks before we actually move.
• The house didn’t show over the holiday weekend, but it’s showing today. Yet another showing. There’s no shortage of lookers. Now, let’s get this thing SOLD!!
• I’ve got the SE house posted at a government building downtown, where a number of newly appointed officials from out of town will be arriving shortly…wish me luck. Buy, lease or rent --- any will work.
• The whole family (cats included) is getting accustomed to Aki’s absence. Family members have been discussing the idea of getting another dog. This weekend was the first time we’ve gone to the beach without Aki. My folks’ dog, Tilly, has changed, too…suddenly taking to sleeping on the kids’ beds, and waiting for their return. This has been a pretty noticeable change in Tilly’s behavior and started just about the same time Aki passed on. Even at a distance, Tilly seemed to know that she’s become the dog for the time being.
• Work is good for N. No need to say any more.
• The local professional network has become much, much more active of late. After a good 18 months of unusual quiet (understandable, given the times), suddenly the network is full of people calling out, and checking-in. It’s like hearing the birds of spring again, after an exceptionally long winter. It’s a good sign.

I think I’ll spend some admiring those peaks, as they stick above the swirl of the Typhoon, and forget for a moment the valleys below. My acquaintance is right; it is indeed a journey.