10 minutes ago my mother’s plane took off. She’s heading to the UK for 3 weeks of adventures all by her merry self. She’s traveled alone before and her confidence and comfort in doing so always amazes me. I feel out of place just going out to eat by myself, never mind crossing the ocean and canvasing countries. If you are wondering why she is such a loner, my mother is a widow. Her old traveling companion was my Great Aunt who is also deceased. Her remaining friends and family have obligations that don’t allow for the near month vacations she’s come to enjoy. Instead of letting one of her life’s pleasures die with others, she has found the courage to trust in her ability to go it alone. I’m proud of her. It’s not something I could do. At least, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t have blamed her one bit if she had chosen to stay at home and experience the world through television and magazines. Many in her shoes would do just that. So, I’m giving her a shout out to wish her safe travels and lots of fun filled memories.
Archive for the ‘Family & Friends’ Category
Leaving On A Jetplane…
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
Cherish
Sunday, September 14th, 2008Last night, while reading a book with my daughter on the couch, I fully realized the meaning of cherishing someone. It hit me right in the gut and almost made me cry. I love those types of discoveries kids can provoke. After I tucked her away for the evening I thought a bit more about my discovery and what it meant for my life and family. Sounds like it’s gonna get deep, right? Yep.
On July 22, 2004 I took a vow to love, honor and cherish my husband. I said the words. I remember distinctly. I’m pretty sure I haven’t really lived up to that vow though. That’s not to say I don’t love my husband. I do. But is often feels like “I love you and that’s why I’m not going to kill you for leaving your clothes all over the floor again” type of thing. It’s no where near the same tug cherish gives you. I’m a bit thrown by this revelation. Is there some cherish switch that helps you turn that type of emotion on for your spouse? I can see how it would be great for a marriage.
Wearing The Panties
Sunday, September 7th, 2008My 2 1/2 year old daughter is potty trained. With the exception of naps and nighttime, she is a panty wearing girl. It’s amazing how old she looks to me now. Seeing her in panties has aged her over night. Makes me wonder if my panties are making me look older too. The bummer part is she can put a diaper on and look like a baby again. If I put a diaper on, I add even more years. Maybe I should go commando.
Lollipop Magic
Thursday, August 7th, 2008Ah, I am enjoying the blissful discovery 2 year olds are tamed by lollipops. Call it bribery, perhaps it is. No matter, there is no denying the gratitude I have towards those little sugar lumps for quieting public tantrums. Now, if only they worked on older people behaving like 2 year olds.
Separation Anxiety
Wednesday, August 6th, 2008A couple very close to me is separating. I know the path to divorce is a common one. Still, I’m shocked and devastated. Sometimes I find myself questioning why anyone even bothers with marriage. If ‘until death do we part’ isn’t realistic for the masses, what is the point? There doesn’t seem to be a magic line where, once crossed, the couple is safe from imploding. The compassionate part of me supports the idea of people who are unhappy finding their way out of a toxic relationship. The selfish part of me dreads the thought of my world changing from the death of the relationship and wants them to stick to their vows no matter the personal cost. My marriage is young enough I am still able to cling to the hope that the relationship is as good or bad as I make it out to be. Sans abuse (physical, mental, substance), I can’t imagine not being able to reinvent my marriage should it falter at times. I guess part of my issue with processing the collapse of other peoples’ marriages is the inner fear I might not have as much control over happily ever after as I thought.
Lost and Found
Tuesday, July 8th, 2008I’ve lost lots of things in my lifetime: innocence, watches, pens, my way, my sanity. It’s hard, especially when you are young, to hold on to things you might need or find dear to you down the road. Carelessness is one reason. Another is the failure to recognize the value in protecting what you have.
Most of what is lost along the way is gone for good. Occasionally a rare gift presents itself and you find yourself once again in possession of something you thought you’d never have again. My gift came just about a year ago. I had this friend, you see. We were pretty close in college and did all sorts of things together. After college we hit a few bumps. Nothing major. Mostly silly stuff actually. There were a few minor misunderstandings and somehow we disappeared from each other’s life. There was no catastrophic fallout. We both simply shrugged our shoulders and stopped putting time and effort into our friendship. It took time to pass before we started to realize we had lost something of value. By then we hadn’t a clue where the other was and it seemed our friendship would be one of those lost items that never makes its way to a found box.
Our friendship beat the odds and was found again, however. A MySpace account I created on a whim and a MySpace people search she did for the heck of it brought us back together. Over the past year we have had the good fortune of sharing life’s experiences, good and bad, again. We missed a lot before. I feel so blessed not to have to miss anymore. This time around we have the advantage of maturity and lessons learned. When something special that was lost has been found, only a foolish person would risk misplacing it again. This time around I am going to keep a watchful eye. This time around I’m going to keep it safe and well cared for. I have to. She reads this blog and can call me out if I don’t.
Teamwork
Monday, June 23rd, 2008My sister’s family once again visited my home this past weekend. I’m really enjoying being so close to family. My 4 year old niece is proving to be a regular source of entertainment.
For those of you who aren’t around small children very often, you may not be aware of a show called The Wonder Pets. They are animated pets who travel the globe saving animals in trouble. They teach how important it is to share and work together. My niece loves to sing the theme song to the program. It is a catchy tune. While belting the song out in my living room, my 7 month old son decided to make a play for her favorite blanket. This is what I overheard:
“What’s gonna work…team work!”
“David, give me my blanket!
“What’s gonna work…team work!”
“No, David that is MINE!”
Ah, classic. She has such enthusiasm for the song. The concept is another story. I definitely enjoyed a giggle or two over that one. Kids are no different from adults though. Our actions often contradict our words.
A few weeks ago my niece’s dad had a laugh at his expense over something similar. We were decorating for a birthday party. My niece was getting carried away and started grabbing streamers and scissors from me without asking nicely if she could use them. Her father quickly intervened and told her how that wasn’t nice and that she needed to wait her turn and say please if she wanted to use something. She accepted his words and offered an apology. Not two breaths later her father was getting up on a chair to attach a streamer to the ceiling. While doing so he ordered “give me the tape” and swiped it from his daughter’s hands. I enjoyed pointing out how he hadn’t waited his turn or asked nicely to use the tape. Watching dad apologize to daughter was sweet.
No matter what our age, we are all human. When we take the time to pay attention we find reminders of that truth everywhere.
Because God Said So
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008The Select Quote Life Insurance Company gets a giant eye roll from me today. I happened to catch one of their commercials where a pastor, who does not have life insurance for his family, learns about the death of another pastor who had no benefits to help the family he left behind. It was a “sign” that it was time for him to look into life insurance. Other people from his church recommended Select Quote. He called and was happy to learn he qualified for a $350,000 policy for under $25 a month. It’s amazing how God inserts himself into our daily lives and sends us messages on what we need to do (my words, not theirs). Groan.
Very clever ad campaign. I’m sure some will respond and call Select Quote. It’s God’s will, afterall. It is a bit ironic to see a pastor (or was an actor who plays one on T.V.) promoting life insurance over faith. Not that there isn’t a place for both in life. It did strike me as funny.
Who Knew
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008Good grief. In trying to show my 2 year old her world I am learning how much I don’t know about it myself. Now I see why it is said the best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else. Can you believe I was actually stumped this morning over whether or not a penguin hatches from an egg? Thanks to Google, I now know for sure it does. Sounds stupid, I know. Doubting something that seems obvious occurs more often with me these days. As I attempt to explain everything to Olivia though, I am finding myself doubting every little thing I’ve taken for granted or assumed to be true. It seems so important to get it all right. I’m actually enjoying paying attention to these kinds of details about life again.
4 Year Old Honesty
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008My sister’s family stayed with mine over the holiday weekend. The weather was great so we spent a good deal of time outside playing in the yard. During one of our play sessions, my neighbors decided to get into a verbal spat in front of their house. It was pretty intense at times. My 4 year old niece piped up, “what are they doing?…adults aren’t supposed to fight.” I explained sometimes adults get mad too and don’t always handle it well. I told her it really wasn’t any of our business and we shouldn’t watch. She responded in a relatively loud voice, “I’m trying not to watch but I can’t seem to look away.” It was priceless and so true. My neighbors wrapped up their argument shortly after her comment. I hope they heard her and had the good sense to be embarrassed.