We were out and about in the spectacular sunshine for Mother's Day in Madison.
This little collection of photos while I was out and about in Madison yesterday. It's energizing getting out and about in town on a beautiful day. Whether it's for a walk on the beach, a stroll through town or a bike ride by the water. a cup of coffee in one of our coffee shops or a quiet moment at the library, we bump into friends, see familiar faces and meet the nicest people.
Hokey? Yes but it's true. Maybe it's something I learned from my mom.
Whenever friends or family had a bad day or felt challenged by life's little twists and turns, her remedy was to get up and out and see what's out there...life...people to get a different perspective.
When I was younger, i didn't get it. Still, I did it. i got on my bike. I walked into our village. I did it. She was right. My perspective changed.
Somehow, without giving it much thought, that's what I've always done. It became a subconscious cure for anything and everything. Whether as a twenty something beginning to live my career dreams living in New York City or moving to a new place. I did it. She was right. My perspective changed.
Life happens. Things change. Change happens when we least expect it. We know this. Change is certain. We can roll with it or fight it, it happens anyway. So, I choose to roll...sometimes I need a push before I roll. Since kicking and screaming isn't very becoming, I roll.
Years ago, married with our new baby, a new business opportunity for my husband required a move. We did it.. We rolled.
A new baby. A new job. A new town. A new home. The excitement of new possibilities was thrilling for us both. Moving away from family with our new baby girl was exciting...and overwhelming.
No friends. No family. Lonely. Remedy? I got up and out with my baby. We walked. We bought a jog stroller. We walked more. Rain or shine, snow and wind, we got out. We saw friendly faces and met new people.
Up. Out. We walked. New baby. Busy, working husband. There were naps and quiet time. Beach days. City days.
Friends? I had no friends. No real friends. I told my mom. I missed my family and friends, people who loved us...and our new baby. I walk, I told her, but I want friends. The mailman was nice but not someone to sit with for a cup of coffee or a day at the beach.
Mom told me I'd meet my friends through our children once they got to school. that seemed like forever but it happened. Their was Baby Swim class and Gymboree and Music and play group and pre-school and......we made friends.
We made friends. very nice friends. Life was good. We walked with our baby in her jog stroller, side by side with new friends and their babies.
Change happens. Often. We rolled with it. We moved to Madison, Ct. We did it again, We walked with our jog stroller. We met people and had many friendly
hello's. But friends? I wanted real friends.
Guess what? We got up and out. Our kids began pre-school. We made friends. Our kids went to grammar school. We made friends. Beach. Friends. Playground. Friends. Sports. Friends.
Yesterday, Mother's Day, we bumped into lots of friends and familiar faces we've come to recognize over the years. In town. At the beach. In the neighborhood.
Our first child will soon be graduating from the high school. Lately, I've been thinking about our 15 years in Madison. I've been reminiscing with graduation only a month away.
We've made many friends and see many friendly familiar faces in Madison....we've watched our kids, their classmates, their teammates and lifelong friends grow up through all of these years. we've stood alongside parents at school open house nights, on sports fields, at parades, at the bus stop, in pediatricians' offices and at The Surf Club...all since our kids started school. It's true. We meet our friends through our kids. What a gift to live here, surrounded by good friends and so many friendly faces. Oh, and, um... thanks, mom.
