I recently took a ride with my 2 sons (age: 23 and 25). BEFORE we left the house, the following conversation took place:
"SHOTGUN!"
"You can't call 'shotgun' until the car is in view!"
"What are you talking about - you can call 'shotgun' with a text message if you want to!"
...and I thought to myself... this is going to be a long ride!...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Newest Family Member
My youngest son has chosen to add a member to our family. I guess he thought that Louie needed a playmate - as if Blind Cat and Emma (other son's dog) were not enough! We now welcome "Sammy"
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Father's Day Gift
This is the fountain that the men in the house bought and installed for me for Father's Day!
Yes, those are lights in there.
Yes, it does look strangely like a bunch of bowls to feed stray cats!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Father's Day
This Sunday is Father's Day. With the loss of both our Fathers, Mr. Wonderful is the star attraction. Being the humble man he is, he said, "Let's not make a big deal out of Father's Day this year." Yeah, ok, like THAT's going to happen!
I am hosting a BBQ with extended family. Mr. Wonderful will make sure the yard is presentable and follow me around the kitchen the previous day to help clean up after me while I cook. He will do all the cooking on the BBQ and make sure everyone is comfortable. He will put very little on his plate - making sure that everyone else has enough food (and there is always tons of leftovers!) He will quietly open his cards and shyly open his gifts. He is not a "Father's Day" kind of person.
Last Sunday, I made dinner for the kids. There were just 8 of us (it was ridiculously hot so I cooked indoors). We laughed and ate and talked. The kids teased each other relentlessly. All the boys cleaned the kitchen after dinner so I could relax with Michelle. We gathered around the table once again for dessert and we just enjoyed each other's company once more. THIS was Father's Day for Mr. Wonderful. No gifts, no fanfare - just sitting with his kids and laughing.
He is a special man. I am glad he is all mine.
I am hosting a BBQ with extended family. Mr. Wonderful will make sure the yard is presentable and follow me around the kitchen the previous day to help clean up after me while I cook. He will do all the cooking on the BBQ and make sure everyone is comfortable. He will put very little on his plate - making sure that everyone else has enough food (and there is always tons of leftovers!) He will quietly open his cards and shyly open his gifts. He is not a "Father's Day" kind of person.
Last Sunday, I made dinner for the kids. There were just 8 of us (it was ridiculously hot so I cooked indoors). We laughed and ate and talked. The kids teased each other relentlessly. All the boys cleaned the kitchen after dinner so I could relax with Michelle. We gathered around the table once again for dessert and we just enjoyed each other's company once more. THIS was Father's Day for Mr. Wonderful. No gifts, no fanfare - just sitting with his kids and laughing.
He is a special man. I am glad he is all mine.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Aging, happily
sent to me in an email... edited to pertain to me
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the expanding middle, the baggy eyes, and the sagging chest. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my grandmother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my Mr. Wonderful, crazy kids, amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly plastic gnome that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde in my front garden. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .
They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like growing old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the expanding middle, the baggy eyes, and the sagging chest. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my grandmother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my Mr. Wonderful, crazy kids, amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly plastic gnome that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde in my front garden. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .
They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like growing old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Priorities
We are in the process of making preparations for my Dad's Memorial Service. He was laid to rest in Florida, but he lived MOST of his life in New York. We have notified family and friends of the date and are awaiting responses.
I believe that attending a person's wake/funeral is the greatest favor you can do for that person because it is the only favor that can never be re-paid. I always go out of my way to attend the wakes and funerals of loved ones and their families. I am a busy person, there is always something that I have to do - BUT, some things can wait, some things cannot.
You only have one chance to pay your last respects - most other things can wait...
I believe that attending a person's wake/funeral is the greatest favor you can do for that person because it is the only favor that can never be re-paid. I always go out of my way to attend the wakes and funerals of loved ones and their families. I am a busy person, there is always something that I have to do - BUT, some things can wait, some things cannot.
You only have one chance to pay your last respects - most other things can wait...
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Romancing the Stone
This past weekend was a blur as I was host to a kidney stone taking a trip through my urinary tract. I am hoping it had a one-way ticket!!! I swear I could track its movement all weekend - right up to the last leg. I am not sure if it is gone, or it has merely taken up residence in a comfortable retreat only to start a new trek at another time.... such drama...
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