Mojave Light Musing

Today's post is about friendship and joy - from a dog's point of view... (iPhone image. Copyright Diana Shay Diehl. Mission Creek Preserve Trail) My favorite hiking pals and I decided to take our dogs for a romp along a creek in the Mission Creek Preserve today. It was a bit blustery but overall perfect for a winter's afternoon hike to the mouth of the lower desert canyon. This preserve allows dogs on leashes until you get past a certain point and then they are allowed off leash. The off leash part, of course to the dogs, was what they couldn't wait for. I tried my best to capture the pure, unadulterated joy on their faces (all I got were blurs...) - especially my Toby as this was his first creek run with new doggie pals. These dogs had never met before yet quickly figured out no one was a threat and that a quick snarl or yip would make clear the boundaries so everyone could get on with the business of investigating and splashing through the creek. There was no such ...

Copyright Diana Shay Diehl.  One of many gifts today from my children. My son made gourmet, homemade pizza for dinner. My other son and I will do a hike with friends and dogs this weekend. My daughter lives across the country so a phone call and/or Skyping will have to suffice. Funny how we need such clamoring and noise to celebrate when we are younger. Now, quiet appreciation in familiar surroundings make for a fine celebration of another year for living... You see, today is my birthday. My 53rd birthday to be exact. That is a lot of time to accumulate experiences and memories. 53 years - sounds like such a long time. I've lived better than 1/2 of my life. What a sobering consideration........ What could I possibly highlight about my life? I've rewritten this post 4 times already. TMI? Too shallow? Too sentimental? Really - who would it matter to except me..... Copyright Diana Shay Diehl On my 50th birthday, I stepped out of the shower very early that morning to find thi...