This show fuels my travel bug! I love seeing the world as the teams travel around the world. What an awesome adventure. We all have our own paths for adventure. Travelling anywhere, meeting people from different cultures, different backrounds and lifestyles. We share so many similarities. It's "amazing!"
Kind of. As Biff and I roller bladed alongside each other, we talked about our early dating days when he taught me how to roller blade. Those dates roller blading were a continuation of our skating dates....we really had fun seeing each other in new places and trying out new things....like roller blading.
Today felt just like the old days. One thing HAS changed drastically. Not the laughter, not the respect, not the love or sense of humor....that's all gotten even better. What's different? The hair peeking out. from the back of Biff's helmet, is gray. Really. I never noticed!
Grace and I went shopping this afternoon. It took some time to get ready. I spent some time cleaning out the car....while the dogs were in it.
Car mats out. Candy wrappers tossed. Water bottles removed. Coffee cups out. I swept out the crumbs, fur and sand. My Dylan's Canidy Bar mug...I put on top of the car since it was full of coffee and didn't want Fitz to drink it. Any other spot...she'd get it. Only experience can teach some things.
After clearing the car, Grace pleaded with me to be the driver. I'm a good sport...so I was happy to give her the keys and the experience.
We drove for miles. We drove through town. We drove on the interstate. People smiled as they drove by. They waved. Friendly follks in Connecticut.
So many friendly faces. So many. That's when it hit me. Not literally. My mug! My Dylan's Candy Bar mug. On top of the car!
People waving. People smiling. People pointing. I calmy alerted my driver,Grace. Without panicking, she zipped off the next exit ramp. We both laughed for miles. And we laughed some more.
Ralph Lauren's daughter, Dylan. Preppy candy!! Candy heaven! Upper East Side, New York City. Rooms for private parties. We had a "Dylan's To Go" party in Connecticut. Oodles of candy and oodles of fun!
Today we drove off with a Dylan's Coffee Mug on the car! My 16 year old girl and I are still laughing....together! Really. Sometimes life is great!
http://www.dylanscandybar.com/
It's great to be back on the sidelines again. Seeing the kids playing a sport they love is a joy! My challenge is cheering without ruining T.J.'s life In my own enthusiastic way, I scream for the team in Tourette like outbursts. The other parents empathize as I blurt out names and numbers and the color, team name and school...all in a desperate attempt not to embarrass my son or worse.....ruin his life. After all it IS a possibility. One burst too many from mom might just make a. difference in his high school social status. That IS rather incredible pressure...after all I'm just one mom...standing amongst other moms with the same cheering instructions from their children, "Pleeeeeeeeeease DON'T!" Really? Oh wait...they're teenagers. We cheer anyway.
Daisy, Fitz and I squeaked in some moments for a beachcombing/beach- sniffing adventure. Just the quiet time I needed...in between my mom adventures today. Gentle lapping waves have a way of calming the soul.
Oh what a beautiful day! Daisy's checking it out ....making plans....checking her agenda. Sun.... check. Squirrels...check. Grass...check. Neighborhood dogs.....check. Full schedule.
Boo jumps up and settles in with me to find a bit of cozy and warmth on this damp, raw day. Our black kitty is sleeping on my Black Dog sweatshirt. Cat-dog. The irony makes me smile. Then I realize this is nothing new. Boo sleeps with Daisy and Fitz all of the time. Even irony isn't irony in our house! That makes meeting laugh. Life is funny.
There are lessons out there for us everyday...somedays they are more spelled out than others. Today I saw this at Whole Foods. Adults can learn from this too! I do think everyday we can do our best to play nicely with others. Some people or situations may challenge us more than others! If we look to learn something from everyone we meet, rather than judge, we may play with others a little better everyday! It's tricky when we ARE the adults...with only our own conscience for supervision. If we're honest with ourselves, we know when we're playing nicely and when we're not.
Grace walked into the kitchen yesterday, shuffling along as she read her cell phone texts, stopped short, looked up, smiled, shook her head and spoke,"Mimi apologized. Hmm. She texted, Grace I'm sorry. Huh! " Sometimes people surprise us. Hearing the words "I'm sorry" can make us feel better...knowing that we matter enough for an apology. We can be relieved or freed of a huge burden by apologizing. if we grow up...and forgive....our hearts will be lighter and the bonus is that we can play and HAVE FUN like the rules say.
Don't be fooled. I have treats. This is the face of a thief. This cute face looks innocent. Watch out. It's all a ploy. This is the same sweet face that chewed through the pocket of my North Face jacket...because I left treats in the pocket. It was awhile ago but I still remember!
Cold feet? Never! They love it! Daisyp and Fitzy love the water...no matter what the weather. Bifff and I had a walk on the beach and let the dogs run..and run....and swim...and roll in the wet sand and shells. Biff and I only do that when it's warmer!
Remember them? Some days I think it would be nice to whine or just complain. Complain about anything. Or better yet...everything. Sometimes living with teenagers, I hear so many random complaints, it seems ironic that Biff and I do our best to make the best of each day...the good, the bad and the ugly.
I'm tired. I'm sick of doing everything for everybody. I don't like rudeness. I'm bothered by people who are grossly closed minded, judgemental and have a deep seated need to feel superior. I'm annoyed by insincerity and phoney baloney folks...posers. I get tired of being the first one to reach out. Some people bother me when they pretend that their life (kids, husband, dogs, cats, childhood, job...) is perfect.
I would love to be a "Debbie Downer" or "Wendy Whiner" or "Patty Poser" or "Katie Complainer" for awhile. Wouldn't it be fun? Probably for an hour. After that, I think it would get old. And tiring. Maybe an hour would be too long. Writing about all of this negativity is draining.
I'm exhausted from finding fault with everyone and everything around me. Funny...did you ever notice the complainers and downers never think it has anything to do with them? I think life works better for me if I don't look to blame others. It feels better when I'm accountable. Whining is exhausting. I'm already sick of it!
It's Friday afternoon. Apparently we are in the hottest spot in town. As I wait for Grace to select something fun from this trendy little shop, I see mother/daughter duos galore. Grace is here to spend while considering buying a gift card for another sweet 16 birthday party. Cha ching. Cha Ching. Cha Ching.
So many gift cards, so much fun to spend them! Teen girls of every team, clique and friendly group come and go in minutes. Like a drive through window, currency is exchanged and the customer is off and running with a smile. Like the convenience and safety of the known entity on a fast food menu, a gift card from this small town, teen trendy store is a safe bet. Grace was there to cash her birthday cards in and stroll out with the shopping bags.
We walked out the door and followed the gift trail to the silver store....where we found some of the same mother daughter combos. Here is the alternative, more traditional personalized gift. That's my heaven. Sterling silver, engraved sterling silver charms or signet rings....heaven.
Another gold mine....silver in this case. This is my drive through shopping preference. The owner greets us with a big hello! She's been there for us for every occasion. She's lived through our birthdays, graduations, special occasions, Mother's Day gift from our kids, Godchildren, communions....and more. She knows our names and the names of our kids. She knows our stories. That's why we shop there. I'm so happy my girl likes to go the traditional gift route! It's more fun for me. Trendy, lesser quality doesn't do it for me quite so much. And the store owner who takes my business for granted...not so much. Just sayin'.
