Sunday, February 6, 2011
littlemarymixup!
Can you believe it? My good friend found this Littlemarymixup Book for my Christmas present! It's funny that I have only come to realize where my mother got this nickname for me in the last year....maybe the last 6 months. Mom just died a couple of years ago....imagine that in all of the years that she would toss out her "littlemarymixup" line after one of my own little stories, it never occurred to me to ask her where she got the name! Now that she's not able to answer, it's been coming to me slowly....through others.
We just met a lovely older woman and her husband while we were in Vermont skiing at New Years. The gentleman was 80 years old, the lady was 78 when we began chatting over lunch in the Stratton lodge. Since their age came up in conversation, I thought to ask if they knew of the littlemarymixup cartoon. THEY DID!
Of course they did...they were of a certain age and proud of it, like my mom. They were most interesting and so upbeat! Well, to say they were upbeat was an understatement.....the gentleman had just come in from skiing!!!! 80 years old and skiing! Their generation seems to be the good, strong Americans that keep on going no matter what. It seems to me that those of that generation have been the get it done generation.
They have all lived through so much change and have survived the difficult days without big complaints or whining about troubles.....most I know seem to keep pushing onward and upward! How could we not look to them as role models. They're not all around anymore but the ones who have left us have given us their strength and good example to emulate.
We are truly blessed to learn from the generations ahead of us. We learn from history and those that go before us.
How many wonderful older people are in our lives? How can we all give them the respect that they deserve? Do we ever thank a veteran for protecting our free country? Do we really give them the respect that should come with age and life experience? Do we take time to look an older person in the eye and smile as we pass through the doors of the local coffee shop or pharmacy?
We may not have everyone we love with us anymore. I know I wish I could ask mom more questions. More than just the littlemarymixup questions. I had lots of time with mom and we spent plenty fo time chatting and discussing the world, the family, the fashions of today, our feelings, our ups, our downs, our joys and blessings.....and still, there's so much more I wish I could know from her. Everyday, something comes up and I wish I could call her to ask. Sometimes little things. Sometimes family history.
I am grateful for so much time with mom. I am grateful for our laughter and even some of our little frustrations with each other along the way...they made our relationship stronger and deeper. I was blessed to really know my mother and much of her family. But, I'll always have questions. Mostly about the simplest things.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Smarty Pants
Our team had a great day! We had a great day! I had to hold my Biff back from blurting out the answers to the general knowledge questions! He was bursting with random information and correct answers.....BUT it was a HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ SHOW!
WGBH BOSTON
HIGH SCHOOL QUIZ SHOW! Here we are at WGBH Boston to see our friend Camden participate in this public high school quiz competition. We're with a full audience and waiting for the show to begin. We're watching Billy Costa, the host of the show, chat with the audience and the competitors. Awesome to be here today!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Beautiful
That's her name. We're up visiting our friends near Boston. Late arrival. Very tired. While getting comfy cozy on the couch, I find that I'm not alone even though Biff, Grace and T.J. and our friend, Graham have just tiptoed up to bed.
As I read the day's emails, Beautiful gets snuggled on my chest.....like every kitty I've ever known, on the prettiest color accessory available to call attention to her fancy feline fur!
We have known Beautiful from her Kitty days when she found our friends. She just appeared one day and made herself at home. She lives a nice life and gets lots of love. It's such a gift to have animals in our lives...they allow us to see things from a different perspective...with no agenda or itinerary...just being where we are.
Daisy and I Out For a Ride in the Car...
What fun we have when we're out on our own.....we have no leashes like we do when Fitz is with us. I don't have to straddle the groceries while driving and swat at her to keep her in the back....hopefully keeping her from eating our dinner for that night.
Daisy and I have our quality time and Fitz gets some quiet time at home. Daisy is so gentle, sweet, well behaved and nurturing. Fitz is a gentle soul with a need for speedy runaway time on the lookout for food at the neighbors' kitchens, garbage cans ....or in their cars if the doors are opened.
Without missing a beat, she has leapt into our neighbor's car, globbed up all of the loose Cheerios on the floor of the high end s.u.v. and dashed out the door to make an attempt at the little girl's Easter Basket....but my hero, Biff, intercepted and tackled the adorable beast to the ground. As for the little girl's mom who is terrified of dogs....she now drives her car directly into her dog free garage and doesn't get out of her car until the coast is clear!
Quality time with Daisy is just some time in the car with a good friend. You know that friend....the one you can talk to about anything...day or night....the friend who's always up for any adventure....the friend who listens to you through ups and Downs....the friend who will jump in the car for any road trip...the friend who makes you happy just because you know that she's there...a truly good friend...a loyal friend forever!
Connecticut sunshine,snow and steeple!
What a day! Cold isn't cold to me anymore. We've had so much freezing cold that today seems like a mild spring day. Then again, not.
Sunshine
To have sunshine.....it may as well be Spring! There's more snow on the way but somehow it's no big deal. We've lived through so many storms, one more seems insignificant. This will be the big one...I haven't bought more milk or bread this time!
Ice Skates
What great weather for ice skating! It's easier said than done....even in Connecticut. Yes, this is New England. Skating on ponds is wonderful but someone has to shovel off the snow in order to skate. Indoor rinks are another possibility...BUT ice hockey is big business in New England and ice time is precious and pricey! Hours for public skating is limited. Not all rinks are open to the public. I'll keep my skates in the car....maybe Biff's too. We need to skate....skate and date.p
Thursday, February 3, 2011
10 Reasons Why My Blog Makes Me Crazy
1. I love to write my blog.
2. My technological abilities are not in sync with my creativity.
3. I never think it's as good as I would like it to be.
4. I would like to spend all day on my blog....not happening!
5. I feel frustrated that I don't spend enough time on my blog.
6. Always want more followers...which sends me to #7
7. It's kind of depressing that I don't get followers.
8. That shouldn't matter to me if I love to write
9. I always want to make it prettier but don't have time
10. It's one more place that I can't be perfect!!!!!!!
10 Reasons Why I love to Blog
1.
It's my own place to write. Which includes venting, observing, reminiscing, laughing at myself and the life I live
2.
It allows me to be creative and learn new ways to be creative through writing, photography and computer
3.
I love telling stories and this is a place to do it when no one else will listen!
4.
I like making my kids crazy! They say that I'm too OLD to blog! That makes it more fun.
5.
It makes me think about things that might otherwise go unnoticed!
6.
Blogging is a connection to the outside world....even if no one is reading my stuff....it's out there in thte universe as they say!
7.
It makes for some very interesting conversation....or it can end a conversation in an instant!
8.
Blogging has opened me up to all kinds of people who are passionate about their interests.
9.
Sometimes, I see life differently because of my blog.....I take a photo because I think if I don't post this on my blog, it would seem that I made this up!
10.
It's pretty cool that I have managed to do something for almost a year and a half.....rather religiously....unless technology has gotten in my way....or I have gotten in my own way!
Thursday
Today is Thursday. It is 2 p.m. on Thursday. This is the end of the week to most. This is one week after our Grace's birthday. It has been a whirlwind. Actually, life is a whirlwind. It seems that one minute I was getting married to the love of my life, throwing that beautiful bouquet and 20 minutes later, our baby is blowing out the candles on her 16th birthday cake.
Really. REALLY. When our babies were born, I remember hearing friends and family say things like,"Oh, they grow so fast!"......"Treasure this time in your life"......"Enjoy the baby time because later.....".....on and on and on. I remember thinking. I do treasure this time. They grow so fast....it seemed that folks who had that bittersweet message to share had raised their children and were looking back to their baby days.
Well...here I am. A mom who has spent almost everyday with these babies since they were born. Wow....it really does go so fast. A minute ago, Biff and I were pulling Grace and T.J. in an L.L.Bean Sled and now they're talking about what kind of car they want! We went from Cozy Coupe to "Do you think I could get a Jeep?"
It is bittersweet. These days have been more than I could have dreamed of.....mostly the good....the love, the sweetness and the fun along the way. Even as I write, I do look back at those Kodak memories....you know...with the music, the shiny happy faces, the beautiful scenery, the adorable faces of families and puppies. That's the way we look back.
AND THEN, we have the other memories. The days where we didn't have a moment to get to the bathroom....and if we did, we had company...those innocent faces who just needed us nearby. The ringing doorbells that ended naptimes. The runny noses that turned into ear infections in the middle of the night. The tantrums. The broken bones. The tantrums. The homework. The cranky days.
Somehow, those days seem few. Somehow, memories allow us to see the joy of it all....and the difficult times mellow in our minds. Unless, of course, we look back. exaggerate and laugh at the whole adventure. And, it has been an adventure!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Another Snow Day
Snow day called today due to icy conditions this morning and more snow and ice this afternoon....soooooooooo, I met a friend for early morning coffee in town. That was a treat to get out early on one of many snow days.
I spent a few quiet moments in the library......to catch my breath after hearing the total of our overdue fees....$123.93! Phew! There were some movies that had been returned and some books on tape.......remember "Simplify Your Life" Ahhhhh...the ironies of life.
Beach Day
Everyday is beautiful at the beach! After coffee, errands and the library, I went home to get the dogs and took them to the beach.....hoping that it would be quiet and I could let the dogs run hard for some real exercise. With snow up to their ears, it's hard for them to plow through the deep, fluffy, white blanket we used to call lawn.
Snow and Sand
Snow at the beach. When he#@ freezes over......give you ice in the winter.....life in New England!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
