I am in one of those moods where I am somewhat content, but the level of potential "poutiness" is hovering somewhere between 70-85%. Some people might offer the phrase "the blues" to describe how I feel, but...nah, this mood I'm in doesn't quite fit that bill.
Maybe I'm just puzzled at the way life has built up around me, and how it has crumbled here and there. It's a little like watching the tide come in and swallow bits of sand from under your feet. After the water races back into the ocean, you know you're still standing in the same spot, but it feels so much more different than it did before.
I suppose it's an opportune time to go spend a few minutes with my dog. We might even go for a walk now. When you know someone or something depends on you--it sure helps to manifest strength for another day's journey in life. And besides, dogs have the ability to change any mood into a happy one.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Friday, August 8, 2008
Not wanting to rant...
Hello!
It's another exciting day of life! No really, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic with that opening line. It's true--whether we like it or not--everyday that we are aware of our senses, and have the ability to act upon our impulses (mandatory things too like household chores, errands, work...etc.), IT IS an exciting day! And there will only be one just like it...and in some cases that is a very welcomed thing.
Today I spent time with an incredible lady(Millie). She's 98 years young, and full of life to the hilt. As we prepared a casserole in her kitchen I had the honor of hearing some of her life's story. (Think of a feisty Idgie Threadgoode-type from "Fried Green Tomatoes" recalling the past.)
Millie was not about to let me put the casserole together on my own. In a warm and helpful way she guided me through each step of the recipe. At first I was a little "miffed" because ,afterall, I had made several dishes on my own. This time was different. After a minute or two it finally hit me what exactly was happening. Millie's hands were tired, but her spirit and willingness to prepare a meal were not. She may not have the "staying power" for stirring...but she most definitely had the desire to be a part of something. Even if it was a zucchini casserole. THIS was exciting to her!
You should have seen Millie smile throughout the whole prep time. She was so anxious to do the final "once over" before we stored it into the refrigerator. She gently waved the spatula over the dish and "shmooshed" things into place. Then she gave me a "look at what we did" smile. We smiled at each other and nodded our heads in agreement.
After our cooking fun, it was time to clean up...BUT guess what? Yep. You guessed it! Millie took the lead and we did the dishes together. Amidst our soapy chore she shared her various opinions with me. One made me chuckle, but also take a second look at myself. According to Millie:"This younger generation just wants too much. They want more & more...and they'll do anything to get it. They want this & they want that. THEN they bitch about what they have." (*Yes, she really said all of that.)
Millie also went on to tell me that when she was 13 yrs. old, she and her sister worked for a Doctor and his wife, taking care of their children and home. And they did it for 10 cents a day! This was the part that got me. 10 cents! Say it with me....10 cents! Earlier in the day I dropped some change under my desk, and as I looked down to survey what I'd "lost" at the moment, I saw 2 dimes and thought "oh well, I'll get those later." To me--and my "younger generation" two dropped dimes seemed so insignificant, but to a 13 yr. old Millie that meant 2 days of hard work. That represented many hours of success, and it was used to help with the daily survival of her family of 14!
Lol...I guess as long as you're younger than 98 you'll fall into that "younger generation" that Millie speaks of so often. She still has that spark to her. She still finds excitement in the little things. I know, because I saw it over and over again today. It WAS an exciting day today! My friend Millie taught me so much today. We visited intensely during the commercial breaks of "The Price Is Right", but....that's a whole other story. ;)
Your life is waiting..."come on down." Get excited.
It's another exciting day of life! No really, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic with that opening line. It's true--whether we like it or not--everyday that we are aware of our senses, and have the ability to act upon our impulses (mandatory things too like household chores, errands, work...etc.), IT IS an exciting day! And there will only be one just like it...and in some cases that is a very welcomed thing.
Today I spent time with an incredible lady(Millie). She's 98 years young, and full of life to the hilt. As we prepared a casserole in her kitchen I had the honor of hearing some of her life's story. (Think of a feisty Idgie Threadgoode-type from "Fried Green Tomatoes" recalling the past.)
Millie was not about to let me put the casserole together on my own. In a warm and helpful way she guided me through each step of the recipe. At first I was a little "miffed" because ,afterall, I had made several dishes on my own. This time was different. After a minute or two it finally hit me what exactly was happening. Millie's hands were tired, but her spirit and willingness to prepare a meal were not. She may not have the "staying power" for stirring...but she most definitely had the desire to be a part of something. Even if it was a zucchini casserole. THIS was exciting to her!
You should have seen Millie smile throughout the whole prep time. She was so anxious to do the final "once over" before we stored it into the refrigerator. She gently waved the spatula over the dish and "shmooshed" things into place. Then she gave me a "look at what we did" smile. We smiled at each other and nodded our heads in agreement.
After our cooking fun, it was time to clean up...BUT guess what? Yep. You guessed it! Millie took the lead and we did the dishes together. Amidst our soapy chore she shared her various opinions with me. One made me chuckle, but also take a second look at myself. According to Millie:"This younger generation just wants too much. They want more & more...and they'll do anything to get it. They want this & they want that. THEN they bitch about what they have." (*Yes, she really said all of that.)
Millie also went on to tell me that when she was 13 yrs. old, she and her sister worked for a Doctor and his wife, taking care of their children and home. And they did it for 10 cents a day! This was the part that got me. 10 cents! Say it with me....10 cents! Earlier in the day I dropped some change under my desk, and as I looked down to survey what I'd "lost" at the moment, I saw 2 dimes and thought "oh well, I'll get those later." To me--and my "younger generation" two dropped dimes seemed so insignificant, but to a 13 yr. old Millie that meant 2 days of hard work. That represented many hours of success, and it was used to help with the daily survival of her family of 14!
Lol...I guess as long as you're younger than 98 you'll fall into that "younger generation" that Millie speaks of so often. She still has that spark to her. She still finds excitement in the little things. I know, because I saw it over and over again today. It WAS an exciting day today! My friend Millie taught me so much today. We visited intensely during the commercial breaks of "The Price Is Right", but....that's a whole other story. ;)
Your life is waiting..."come on down." Get excited.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Who, What, Where, When & Why?
Today I've been thinking back to my middle school years. And BLUCKY comes to mind! Yes, that's the word that describes how I feel about that 3 year span of my life. It's Blucky. Not a lot of good times to be had during those days. Hated myself, hated where I was at, hated a lot of the people around me, hated the fact that I didn't have much to like.
My family barely squeaked by financially. We ate a lot of things that Mom could "stretch" to feed a family of 5. We were on the verge of losing our electricity and telephone a few times. We had--I swear--the ugliest car in town. Our house wasn't very attractive...and it lacked the "beauty" of material things inside. It was cluttered and had the funky style of the 1970's in every corner. BUT...it was full of something that now as an adult I can appreciate: LOVE. Our house was full of love and understanding. No, it wasn't perfect...but darn near.
And now as I drive through town and see the kids of today...I stop and think: "Where are your parents? Do they know where you are? Do they know who you are with? Do they know what you are doing? Do they know why? Do they know when you will be home? Do they even care?"
I quietly answer my own questions for each given moment based on my observations. At times this leads me to ponder what each child's home situation might be like right now. If I ponder too long it will just lead me down a road of frustration...so I detour and move on to something else. Regardless, my heart still goes out to them. And it's after moments like these that I can recall the amount of love that awaited me everyday at Mom & Dad's house. My parents knew who, what, where, when & why. If they didn't---there was a consequence for not informing them. The penalty wasn't severe--it was the fact that we had let them down that really got to us kids.
My family:Mom, Dad, sister, brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins were the silver lining during my dark teenage times. It wasn't what I had--or didn't have for that matter--that made me who I am today. It was how I felt. It was--and still is--the love that held me close which sustained me. I felt loved. Even when I didn't have any love for myself it was alive in our home and in our family. We were cloaked in love. Love never fails...people fail to love.
This is to all of the kids/teens out there that wander aimlessly through their lives with the desire to be loved. Do you know where you are? Do you know why you are there? Do you really know who you are with? Do you know what you are doing? Do you know when you will be home? Do you know that someone cares about you?
Ok, time to step down from this soap box...it's creaking from my weight anyhow. Just a request to whomever reads this post. Please don't be afraid to step up--if you feel compelled--and remind the young people of today that there is hope yet.
Remember...it's better to be lost with a map than to have none at all. At least this way you'll have something to read for reference later. (Allow yourself to be someone's map once in a while. :)
My family barely squeaked by financially. We ate a lot of things that Mom could "stretch" to feed a family of 5. We were on the verge of losing our electricity and telephone a few times. We had--I swear--the ugliest car in town. Our house wasn't very attractive...and it lacked the "beauty" of material things inside. It was cluttered and had the funky style of the 1970's in every corner. BUT...it was full of something that now as an adult I can appreciate: LOVE. Our house was full of love and understanding. No, it wasn't perfect...but darn near.
And now as I drive through town and see the kids of today...I stop and think: "Where are your parents? Do they know where you are? Do they know who you are with? Do they know what you are doing? Do they know why? Do they know when you will be home? Do they even care?"
I quietly answer my own questions for each given moment based on my observations. At times this leads me to ponder what each child's home situation might be like right now. If I ponder too long it will just lead me down a road of frustration...so I detour and move on to something else. Regardless, my heart still goes out to them. And it's after moments like these that I can recall the amount of love that awaited me everyday at Mom & Dad's house. My parents knew who, what, where, when & why. If they didn't---there was a consequence for not informing them. The penalty wasn't severe--it was the fact that we had let them down that really got to us kids.
My family:Mom, Dad, sister, brother, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins were the silver lining during my dark teenage times. It wasn't what I had--or didn't have for that matter--that made me who I am today. It was how I felt. It was--and still is--the love that held me close which sustained me. I felt loved. Even when I didn't have any love for myself it was alive in our home and in our family. We were cloaked in love. Love never fails...people fail to love.
This is to all of the kids/teens out there that wander aimlessly through their lives with the desire to be loved. Do you know where you are? Do you know why you are there? Do you really know who you are with? Do you know what you are doing? Do you know when you will be home? Do you know that someone cares about you?
Ok, time to step down from this soap box...it's creaking from my weight anyhow. Just a request to whomever reads this post. Please don't be afraid to step up--if you feel compelled--and remind the young people of today that there is hope yet.
Remember...it's better to be lost with a map than to have none at all. At least this way you'll have something to read for reference later. (Allow yourself to be someone's map once in a while. :)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Twizzlers, Sheryl Crow, and CNN
Hello all! Hey, glad you could visit. More ramblings from yours truly.
As the title suggests...today's menu consists of Twizzlers (to be eaten later), Sheryl Crow on the computer (thanks, Youtube), and the tv (which is blaringly loud and full of loudmouth CNN correspondents). Ah, hearing that takes me back to the days of Grandma & Grandpa's living room. AND THAT--my dear friends is a memory worth sharing someday.
Random Advice: If and when you are in a situation in which you are surrounded by a few disagreeing people...and you'd like to "redirect" where the mood and conversation is going...might I suggest this: "So how 'bout those Mets!?" Yes, refer to a mediocre baseball team and use enthusiasm when doing so. You will surely change the course of any conversation because people will be so surprised by such a strange question. You will stun them into scratching their heads and ease them out of the grips of hostility by offering this little gem. Yes, those around you may think:"What is so and so smoking? Where the heck did that come from?" This is exactly what kind of result you want. It's of my opinion that sometimes a little confusion can lead to a little laughter.
If you think about it...the moments when "So how 'bout those Mets!?" could be so effective are endless. I'll let everyone create their own scenarios because I'm about to take a commercial break...not really, but I must be going soon.
*(Disclaimer...if you live near New York or are a well known Mets fan this advice will probably not have quite the ooomph that is desired. If this is the case just change the team to your liking...the more vauge the better.)
Best wishes to all of you in blog world. Hmmm, how many of you are thinking of the Mets right now?
As the title suggests...today's menu consists of Twizzlers (to be eaten later), Sheryl Crow on the computer (thanks, Youtube), and the tv (which is blaringly loud and full of loudmouth CNN correspondents). Ah, hearing that takes me back to the days of Grandma & Grandpa's living room. AND THAT--my dear friends is a memory worth sharing someday.
Random Advice: If and when you are in a situation in which you are surrounded by a few disagreeing people...and you'd like to "redirect" where the mood and conversation is going...might I suggest this: "So how 'bout those Mets!?" Yes, refer to a mediocre baseball team and use enthusiasm when doing so. You will surely change the course of any conversation because people will be so surprised by such a strange question. You will stun them into scratching their heads and ease them out of the grips of hostility by offering this little gem. Yes, those around you may think:"What is so and so smoking? Where the heck did that come from?" This is exactly what kind of result you want. It's of my opinion that sometimes a little confusion can lead to a little laughter.
If you think about it...the moments when "So how 'bout those Mets!?" could be so effective are endless. I'll let everyone create their own scenarios because I'm about to take a commercial break...not really, but I must be going soon.
*(Disclaimer...if you live near New York or are a well known Mets fan this advice will probably not have quite the ooomph that is desired. If this is the case just change the team to your liking...the more vauge the better.)
Best wishes to all of you in blog world. Hmmm, how many of you are thinking of the Mets right now?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A lot to say...no time to say it
Crud monkey! (That is a "swear word" that I coined a while back--to help me NOT say what I actually wanted to say.) Ever done that? You should give it a try...it's fun to see what the first words are that come out of your mouth while trying to censor yourself. Yeah, I know it's a free country and that we can say whatever words we want...but sometimes it's not a matter of what we say...rather how we say them that result in displaying what's really on our minds at the moment. So....that's how crud monkey came to be. (That --and the fact that I was around a whole class of 5th graders. Yes, sometimes "censoring" oneself can actually lead to a twisted form of creativity. *And an added bonus to this would be that only a handful of people would understand what in the hell your new word represented. Give it a try...I fricknfrackn' dare ya!
Happy day to you...remember that even a bad day is better than not having one at all.
Happy day to you...remember that even a bad day is better than not having one at all.
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