When I was a kid, I grew up living on a trout stream in New Jersey called Spruce Run. It was shallow and ambled throughout Central Western Hunterdon County. My siblings and I spent many hours building dams. Hot vacation days involved stacking rocks to raise the water higher than our knees so that we could swim in the summer and ice skate in the winter.

A painting of our 200 year old farm house in NJ. An anniversary gift for my parents made by a family friend.
When my mother died, I took her ashes to New Jersey to sprinkle in the stream behind where our house used to be. She loved it there. I hadn’t been home in years since the house was destroyed by fire.

Rest in peace Mom.
Lisa and I currently live on the shore of beautiful Laguna Bacalar in Southern Mexico. Some days I have to pinch myself that we’re living the life we created. To walk into the Laguna to launch the kayak or swim means a painful stumble over a rocky bottom.
This week Luna (our dog) and I were playing in the water and I mindlessly began moving rocks to try and create a pebble beach that would be easier on the feet and paws. I was immediately flooded with childhood memories. Sitting in the water moving rocks. Life doesn’t get any sweeter.

My dad’s favorite picture of my mom. She was twenty-something.
Happy Mother’s Day all. DOS TORTAS
Very nice post, Alex! Nice pic of your mom, she was a beauty.
Keep up the good work, I look forward to every post.
Cheers!
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Thanks Bruce. I had more pictures but the Internet was cranky this morning. Do you have that in PV?
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What a wonderful place to grow up.Glad you took your mother’s ashes back to the place she loved. Unfortunately, my father refused to be cremated and my mother refused to be under ground. They are in a double crypt. I don’t enjoy visiting them there.
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I was very blessed. We built forts and rafts and tree houses. It was a good life.
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Alex your writing is absolutely beautiful …thank you for sharing these bits of yourself…I so enjoy you!!!
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Aw you make me blush. Blogging is fun and some weeks it just comes to me! Thanks Ellen
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An amazing place to grow up and an amazing place to end up!
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And that’s the truth.
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I love this post – the memories, your lovely mom – and now, knowing you better. Hopefully we will be neighbors before TOO long:) Hope your mother’s day was lovely
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It will b fun to watch your dream unfold.
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Wasn’t she beautiful! And happy mother’s day to you too!
Love u
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Nice one, Alex!
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Glad you’re along Karen.
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I love the story of your childhood home and stream and memories of your Mom. That home and stream hold favorite childhood memories for me also. I never knew it was 200 years old…so sad that it burned. I also didn’t know that’s where your mother’s ashes went. We think of her often when reminiscing with the parents and their early years… Hope you are fully healed from earlier injuries. How’s that new grandbaby? Hugs to you and Lisa~
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Thanks Sweetie, Mom’s ashes are scattered all over. Lisa and I took her to Greece with us. It was a trip we always planned to take. That house was magical and such a great place for us all to play. Glad you have fond memories as well.
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