Judy Price is Writing

Friday the thirteenth conjures images of various scenarios to be avoided at all costs!

Cracks in sidewalks, ladders, and black cats are among the more popular ones named in rhymes. 

Who wants to tempt fate by stepping on a crack which could cause one’s mother’s back to break,  or have an accident occur by walking under a ladder.  And who looks for a black cat’s path to cross, especially on this particular day.

Now I can definitely see a problem that could occur should one cross paths with a black panther on the trail!

However, people who were born on the thirteenth, especially those who entered this world on a Friday, have nothing to fear, and in fact might consider this to be a very fortunate day.  Lucky you!  And Happy Birthday!

Most people learned a few superstitions as children that they might still carry with them into adulthood. 

Friday the thirteenth might be the purr…fect day to test their validity, if you dare!

Here it is August first and I haven’t had a good manicure since I was in England during the month of  May!

In fact, I have been caring for my own nails since my return.

I have to say that I had the very best nail shaping and cuticle care I have ever experienced at a nail salon in Eastbourne England.

My Canadian manicure only survived one week into my trip!

After mostly daily hiking using trekking poles, at the beginning of my third week in England I was ready to be pampered, and asked the waitress at my hotel who she recommended for good nail service and value.

Armed with her advice, I quickly set out to find this nail salon.

Now for some inexplicable reason I was looking for a sign that would read, The Nail Ferry! 

Guess I thought my nails would be transformed through being carried away and ferried back in a renewed state. 

This reaoning must have been the resulting  influence of residing in a seaside town on the English Channel, coupled with my prior visit to Dover, where I watched all manner of ferries crossing between England and France.

However, the sign read, The Nail Fairy. 

Even better, I thought, as my favourite character in Peter Pan is Tinkerbell, and she is magical perfection in my estimation.

I walked into a bright, modern, airy space and sat down to wait my turn, meanwhile watching as various women were receiving hand and foot care by men.  Only men.

I may be less worldly than many others, and that is a fact, but in all of my travels at home and abroad I have never had a manicure by a man, only women.

As I sat down to my manicure, I was a little skeptical, closely watching the man who held the future of my nails in his hands. 

He did things differently, and the result was simply magical.

I truly wish the The Nail Fairy would frequent my city, and set up the very best nail salon ever!

Summer has ‘officially’ arrived in this hemisphere, meaning this is the longest day of the year.

Of course, that leads me to the thought that every day after this for the next six months will get shorter.

Is the cup half full or half empty?

Positive, hopeful individuals will keep looking for good surprises to be coming right around the next corner, no matter how dismal things might look now.

As I remind myself that this is ’who’ I not only want but need to be in order to maintain inner peace and joy, I will relish this day and night as long as possible!

Perspective is everything as I continue on my life’s journey, keeping summer dreams alive all year long

Cool and raining here today, unlike England when I was there!

Sunday I had my first long distance, rocky, narrow, steep downhill hike since my return. 

Ontario terrain certainly differs from that in East Sussex. 

It felt great to be in the woods with all of the trees fully green, unlike before my UK departure. 

Along the Niagara Bruce Trail I noticed a tiny, perfect little ‘snail’, whose shell was similar in colour and markings to the much larger Dover snail shell I acquired while at the chalk cliffs.

I picked it up from the pathway where it lay at my feet, realized it was still  at ‘home’, and put it in the wooded trees where it will hopefully thrive, or at least live to see a few more days.

When I saw it, an instantaneous smile came to my face, as I thought of my Dad and his ‘new’ sign to me, as well as his sense of humour.

Now when the ‘ladybug’ cannot ’fly’ to find me at my fairly quick pace of 4.5 km/hour, the ‘snail on the trail’ will.