Welcome back to SOLO at SIXTY!
“The sky is the daily bread of our eyes.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
I finished up my wonderful week at the beach by being ON the beach, soaking up the warm sunshine and marveling at the perfect Carolina blue sky. And even though Chapel Hill is truly Blue Heaven, I realized that the beach is also Blue Heaven to me. As I was enjoying the gentle ocean breeze, and the soothing sound of the waves crashing over one another, a loud sonic BOOM startled me (and woke me up!). Holy Cow what was that?!?! Well… it was the BLUE ANGELS practicing for their weekend show. And it was amazing! There were 6 planes, flying in different formations of 2, 4, and then all 6 together.
“When we feel stuck, look at the sky. The clouds remind us that everything changes.”
It has been 14 years since the Blue Angels performed in Myrtle Beach. The promoters were expecting over 80,000 spectators for last weekend, but 120,000 showed up. Did you know that the Blue Angels were founded in 1946 and are made up of aviators from the Navy and the Marines? Their aircraft is always considered to be combat ready. If you have never seen the Blue Angels, you are missing out. I remember seeing them as a child, but truly, watching as an adult, I felt like a child as did most of the people on the beach. We all turned our chairs and ooohed and aaahed over their amazing maneuvers. They fly in a diamond pattern so close to each other you think if one of the pilots sneezed, there would be a crash. Their paths crisscross; they fly straight up, loop over, and fly straight down. And they fly so low that it looked as if they might crash into one of the hotels! Great entertainment on both Thursday and Friday afternoons.
“Angels exist, but sometimes they don’t have wings and are called friends.”
Watching the Blue Angels on such perfectly beautiful days started me thinking about the Angels in my life. There have been many. Some in predictable situations, some totally unexpected. Two years ago, I called my sister on a Friday morning while waiting on the movers to come to move “us” into a new home, and told her my marriage had just imploded. She immediately came up from NC to be by my side and helped me unpack and settle in to my new house. By the time she left Sunday morning, everything was unpacked, every picture and mirror hung and my new house was mine. The following Monday, I told my boss who immediately connected me with an attorney. The next day I emailed my former next door neighbor who had moved to Kentucky three years prior. She immediately came and stayed with me and helped me tell some of my girlfriends. Emailed my former neighbors and other friends who came to see me, brought dinner and wine. (Emailed because I could not verbalize any of it then.) Angels everywhere. My kids, my sisters, my brother-in-law, my friends, my co-workers, my son-in-law’s family, my church, all y’all who brighten my day with comments and “likes” for my blog! Angels…
“A true friend is like an Angel who lifts us up when we cannot fly.”
When you are SOLO, everything and every decision becomes your responsibility. Before I traded my car, the air pressure light came on several times this winter. What to do… I was not comfortable putting air in my tires and heck, where do you find air anymore? Remember the old gas stations with full service? Long gone. BUT, I have a wonderful auto shop I have gone to for 21 years because of their service. They called our cars the Madigan Fleet when we had 6 cars at our house (5 drivers plus a business car). I digress… I was worried about my tire pressure and was trying to get to them before they closed on a Friday afternoon so they could check it out, but traffic was horrendous. Called them and they waited until I got there – put air in my tires, no charge. Not once, and I went every time my light came on. Oh and did I mention my son-in-law’s brother works there? Not to belabor my wonderful son-in-law’s family, but luckily for me, they have taken me in. Remember the story about his Grandpa getting my Christmas tree? Angels…
“Sometimes angels are just ordinary people that help us believe in miracles again.”
So, a funny story from last week at the beach. It was time for a new grill. Angels were looking out for me! Went to Home Depot where the people could not have been nicer or more helpful. Found a great grill that had one price outside and a different higher one inside. Turns out the grill HAD been on sale, but that ended two days earlier. They sold it to me at the sale price. The guy who helped me said there was a scratch on it – took more off. But, it would not fit in the back of my Volvo and the delivery fee was $79. Geez… that was almost half the cost of the now discounted grill! And I was SOLO. How to get it home. “Well, ma’am… see that flatbed truck over there? You can rent that for $20 for 75 minutes.” “Do you think I can drive that?” “Of course! I’ll tie the grill down for you.” Done. I drove 25 mph with the emergency blinkers on the whole way home. Called my brother-in-law and asked him to meet me at my house to help me unload it. Got the truck back in 30 minutes and I did NOT drive 25 mph with blinkers on the way back – I was having fun then! OH did I mention that it was right before closing time? Angels…
My beach neighbors have been wonderful as well in so many ways. They have helped me get rid of a snake, get my trees trimmed, oiled up my locks, helped me with repairs, kept an eye on my house, shared friendship. Angels…
“A real friend is like an angel who warms you by her presence and remembers you in her prayers.”
Do you have Angels in your life? I bet you do. Just look around you at the people who love you, care about you, help you, put a smile on your face. And know that you are an Angel to many people as well. I only hope I have been someone’s Angel at some point in my life. Appreciate the Angels in your life and strive to be an Angel in someone else’s life, because as we all know, none of us is promised tomorrow.
Angelically,
Leslie
SOLO at SIXTY 
You are an angel! Thanks for the challenge! The world would be a better place if we all would strive to be an angel in someone’s life! Love You!
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Love you back Beverly!
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Great Blog! We all need angels and need to be an angel at some time of our lives
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Loved your blog! Angels are so important to all of us. Thank you for your continued strength and optimism. I look forward to your next one!
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