Circle of Life (You Think?!)

Greetings! As with many things in life, I have been away, much too long. But that's how it is when one is "reinventing" oneself. You come, you go, you learn, you win, you lose. Yet, I begin writing this very, very early in the morning, the same as I did when I first began this journey of blogging.

Life has changed in many ways. My hubby sustained another bout of cancer, this time with his bladder. It was removed 5 months ago. It's a learning process for all of us. We have good days and bad days, but every day is a "bag" day.

We sold our country home and moved into a condo. It's not quite home yet, we think about moving into a small ranch house. Condo living requires too much "down" time, we are doers and need more fulfillment.

Made new friends and lost old ones. The circle of life. My heart is happy, sad, and bittersweet with memories. Still, I know that I am blessed and my feet will touch this earthly ground until it's the right time for me to go to a different plane.

Soon, it will be Christmas and then 2015. I send you wishes of joy, love, health and much happiness. I have learned that without good health it really is hard to have any of the other things. Be strong, and stay healthy!!

Will Wonders Never Cease and/or Believe in Magic

Sometimes things happen to make you believe in your own abilities even as much as you are always questioning whether you should go on or not.

A magical thing, I think, happened to me last week...let me start from the beginning.

I am a painter/artist, and since retirement I have managed to sell a few of my art works. A patron had purchased a few of my bird paintings and had asked if I could paint a dog for a friend of hers whose pet had passed away. I was very hesitant as I had never done them before, but I said I'd give it a try nonetheless. After some research and questioning I dug in. 


My husband was impressed and the patron was very happy when she picked up the piece I had painted. 

Here is where the magic begins...over time my husband had been talking to our neighbor about my artwork and our neighbor told my husband that his cleaning lady had recently been given a painting of her beloved pet that had passed away. He went on to say that his cleaning lady had been depressed and distraught about the loss of her dog. His cleaning lady wanted our neighbor to see this painting that she had received. She brought it to his home and he looked to see the artist's name...it was my name inscribed there! His cleaning lady said that once she saw the artwork, her spirits had begun to lift and she began to feel the desire of life move in her again. 

I was so touched when I heard this story. I got goose bumps and a tear in my eye. Just when  you begin to stop believing in magic and wonders, this happens and it gives you a reason to continue on with what you felt was nonsensical or not worth much effort. And, yet, if we truly believe in the gifts with which we have been graced, we really don't need to hear it from others, though it is awfully nice. We need to learn to believe in ourselves, because in the end, we only have ourselves to rely on and believe in. Anyway, I still believe in wonders and this was just one of many more that I expect to experience. I hope you experience many in your lifetime too.

Fathers and Dads

It was in the wee hours of the morning that I realized soon Father's Day would be here. Some call him father, some call him dad. Some children are graced with good ones and some not so much. 

I could hear my hubby snoring next to me and I was thankful and grateful  that our two, now-grown children, had, had this good man as their father. He was the kind of dad that was stern when he needed to be and gentle when it was called for, too.

My children were lucky to have had such a loving dad. I was not. My dad's memory does not bring joy or pleasure, just a lot of old pain. I know people make choices yet even as a kid I could see that he had made many wrong ones. He was a strict disciplinarian, and that was OK, but when the drink became too much it turned from discipline to abuse. I try and forget.

That brings me to now when I see my husband who is not only a dad to our children, but is also a grandfather. I see him guide, console and share, or give his strength, to both myself and our children, and their children, too. I count my blessings for him and he is right there in the top of all those blessings where he justly belongs.

No matter what kind of father you were given,

take the time to tell him he holds a place in your life. Sometimes words don't mean anything to the recipient, but they'll mean a lot to you when that man you call your dad, or father, is gone from this plane. He might not have been the best dad to you, but he holds, or held, a place in your life that shaped who you are today.

Catch Up and/or WOW! It's Been a While!

Where does the time go! The new year began with a bang! and I thought I'd have time to write. But as life always happens, it zigged and I zagged. 

First, I finally did retire. Quit any and all jobs, but created a new one for myself. I have recently found the art community in my hometown and it has kept me really busy! I even had a showing last Friday and sold two of my works, among others. That was sweet! I admit I have purchased more art supplies than I have made in sales, but it's the joy of it all, more than the intake of money that puts a smile on my face and a purpose in my life.

Sadly, in March, we lost our beloved brother in law, Gordy T. He was a good man. We miss him and his sense of humor!

Well, time is of the essence, and am not going to let the grass grow under my feet! Time to get on with it, even as we continue to wait for Spring to actually come to our area! Yes, we are still getting the snow, the sleet, the cold winds and thunder boomers too. But! We are hearty souls and we face each new day with a goal in mind...get through it! 

Enjoy your day!

Remembering the Past

I went to the library last night and picked up books in different genres. I was thinking how lucky we are that we can go and peruse the whole library and just check out whatever reaches out to us. No fees, unless, of course, we fail to return them on time.

I like to read several books simultaneously, otherwise I'd never get anything read! I am enjoying a book by Charlene Baumbich entitled DON'T MISS YOUR LIFE! She writes about "MPs" that is, "memory portfolio." She encourages us to think about childhood memories and how they brought us, for the most part, hopefully, joy. I hope to begin my journey into recalling some past events.

John had a "light up the world" smile too!

I was a tomboy and I began to think of a particular little friend of mine. He was a black kid and his name was John Frazier. However! John being quite the character didn't simply go by John Frazier. He was a happy go lucky kid and found joy in all things. He embellished his name by telling us that his real name was, (and I have left some of the names out because I simply cannot recall them!); anyway, he liked to tell us that his name was really: "John Frazier, Jr. George, Jackson, Sam Featherweight Calhoun Brown the 3rd."  I still laugh when I remember him and I amaze myself that I can even recall that much about what he said his name was, but he would always proudly proclaim that this was indeed his whole and given name. (wink)

So, wherever you are out there in this big world of ours "John," I hope you are still enjoying life and all of its wonders. I think though, that if you were not given the best in life, that you still made the best of it because that's just how you were! Thanks for the fun memory!

A Year in Type

It is hard to believe that I have had my blog for one year already. 

It's hard to believe that many things have happened in a year, some even life changing, but there it is.  Who is this blog for? Is it for me? I started it so that I could write about my life and how it changes in, sometimes, small, imperceptible ways that I may not even notice. And yet, I have to admit that there are times when I find it hard write about anything.

I, like many others, see only the mundane when, really, there are so many marvelous things and can be written about. Maybe it's the news and the sensationalism of the bad that make us feel that unless something is "happening" we aren't really living.

I happened to watch a TV program called Catfish which is all about people who create fake personal identifications. Some people, not content in being who they are, create a fake personal image and then using this fake persona create relationships with other people. What irks me is that the people who do this don't seem to really care that they have pulled others into their little web of deceit. Some have many fake identifications and manage to carry on with hundreds of innocent and unsuspecting people. One would think that there would be some sort of penalty, money-wise or jail time for these big fakers, but I don't think there is. Apparently, all one need do is apologize. Some of these relationships, much like that of Manti Teo (currently in the news) have gone on for years and years!

It takes us all to put it together.

Yes, it can be tough to be real in this world that is so full of advertisers throwing so much at us that it make us feel less than what we are. Our teeth aren't white enough, our hair isn't manageable enough, our figures not perfect enough, the list goes on. In this view, there are so many things that we seem to lack that we begin to judge our true selves and that which makes us unique. I think that, that is why when someone ordinary, like you or me, does something extraordinary it is looked upon as something extra special. In reality, we are all capable of doing great things in our own lives even if it means just volunteering or helping others. I have to look around and learn this too. It can be puzzling trying to find our true self, but it's got to be worth the effort!

Bottom line, I am learning to be happy to be me and I am glad that you are you. If we are friends then there is something that has drawn us to each other, there is something that we have found unique about the other one for us to call the other "friend." Thank you for being my friend!! I value your human-ness and your reality. 

Shine on with that extraordinary light of yours! 

So! On to year number two. By December 2013 many more things will have changed in our lives. I hope that there are not too many bad, sad or scary things, life can be tough at times, and that's the hard truth.

Feels Like a New Beginning 2013

Christmas 2012 has now passed and although it was not as wild and crazy as some  have been in the past I have determined that I have too much of everything (for which I am grateful) and perhaps saying this might preclude me from any more gift getting. However, I look around at what I do have and am beginning to repeat my buying. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing, no matter what it is!

Happy New Year 2013!

The new year has started out with good things. (Insert a smiley face here please.)

In early January my husband visited his surgeon. He thought it would be best if I stayed home as there would be more waiting than anything. So I honored his wishes. And my husband returned home with good  news. His PSA levels are almost non-existent and he was given open range to do what he wants to now with his lifting and carrying. That made him (and me) feel great! 

So, in this short window since he has visited his surgeon he has done many things around the house from updating all the bathrooms to the kitchen cabinets. It's amazing what one can do when they get their "life" back to almost full tilt. It's like a new beginning. It's good to hear him puttering around in the basement and hearing his power tools humming and buzzing.

Then, my two granddaughters had some good news too! The eldest was inducted into the Junior National Honor Society. We are all keenly proud of her! Our youngest grandgirl was awarded Student of the Month at her Junior High School, that's great when you  stand out among so many other of your peers! Congratulations to them both! I hope they continue to shine and do well.

And, lastly, the month is half over, but it has been a mild January. We have had a lot sunshine.  December 2012 was when we had our last bad snowstorm. We were out of power for 12 LONG hours. We have a well, and not having any power meant no shower, plus we had no stove, no TV and no internet! The storm came on the day the world was predicted to end; not having access to the world at large felt a little like the world had ended. YIKES! We have come to depend on our world connections in a big way.

Nonetheless, I wish you a happy new year and send you smiles and love. Make it your best. Things happen, lives change. Enjoy.