It’s Friday.
Friday. Friday. Friday!
2 weeks till my Mom & sister get here 
.
The weather’s warmed up and the forecast actually looks promising.
There’s lots to do at the office and plenty to be done at home.
But never mind that.
Conference calls would be a lot livelier if these were in my office! (google images)
It’s Friday.
I just want to bang on the drum all day!
You?
(be sure to crank up the volume for the song below)
Filed under Attitude, Family, Friendship, Fun, Joy, Life, Opinion, Uncategorized, Work
One of my favorite pictures of Mom & me… having a Killian’s in Branson, MO
A mom reads you like a book, and wherever she goes, people read you like a glowing book review. ~Robert Brault
We all need someone who believes in us – someone who sees our potential and who encourages us to keep on going when times get hard. Someone who reminds us of what is working in our life and that tomorrow will be better. Someone who points out all we have to be grateful for right now.
We need someone who cheers the loudest when we succeed and stays the closest when we’re hurting.
No matter how robust our self-confidence is, knowing that we are treasured is the magic elixir that gives us the ability to be our best.
In everything I’ve ever accomplished and all that I’ve ever experienced, I’ve had one tiny but mighty powerhouse behind me: my mother.
Thank you to my Mom who taught me the importance of a meal lovingly prepared, of make-believe play on stormy days, the joy of reading and the ability to laugh at myself.
Thank you to my Mom for driving me to piano lessons even though I could “hear” the music and didn’t bother learning to read notes; for sewing my skating costumes, helping me finish 4-H projects and listening to me practice my speeches.
Thank you to my Mom who put up with my petulance at 14, what I was sure was true love at 16, and impatience at 18.
Thank you to my Mom who taught me that a real man cries, loves children and animals and his wife, and shows up.
Thank you to my Mom who inspires me to challenge what I know for sure, to stretch my limits and to never underestimate what can be done.
Thank you to my Mom, who let me have sleepovers, talent shows, weenie roasts and birthday parties.
Thank you to my Mom for teaching me how to have a warm & inviting home; to cook, clean and entertain in a way that makes my family want to be home more than not.
Thank you to my Mom who taught me to not save my best manners for strangers and to, no matter what, stay up for kids coming in at night so there’s always an audience for their stories.
Thank you for my Mom who let me go; who, in spite of the miles that separate us, and the time between our face-to-face conversations, has never failed to rally behind me and say “You can do it, kid.”
Thank you, Mom, thank you.
The greatest gift I’ve ever received … is a Mother who is happy to be one.
*originally posted 5/6/2011
Want to read more about the 4’11″ dynamo?
Five years ago, Hubbs and I and youngest boy spent the night in Detroit so I could take my citizenship test early the next morning.
Five years ago, I passed that test with flying colors.
Five years ago, I raised my right hand and took the oath of allegiance to the United States of America and proudly stepped forward as a new citizen.
Five years ago, I got my second passport.
Five years.
Five years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that five years later I’d be heading to Washington, D.C. this morning to represent my employer and my state.
Five years.
Only in America!
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
“…she cried because prejudice outlives passion and because she was sentimentally patriotic.” ― Irène Némirovsky
related posts:
So there I was yesterday, driving to points north for a meeting with another team. Recent changes in our company have created opportunities for many, including me. But with those opportunities come changes and with those changes come new responsibilities and with those new responsibilities come questions and concerns. I think most just want to get it right, but we’re moving so fast right now that many are afraid to ask for help.
That’s where this meeting came in. Talking with another Manager, she referenced the changes to her team and how a responsibility our departments share has raised a lot of questions.
“Is there any way you’d be available to walk us through this sometime?”
“Sure, how about Thursday.”
This is a role that I enjoy most: mastering a task and helping others master it, too. It’s not new, I’ve done it my entire career, but sometimes the ability to share like this gets replaced by other tasks at hand.
Windows down, sunshine in my face, I drove past a “Big Boy” restaurant and I felt it. A pinch. I thought of him: Grandpa to the boys, Step-Dad to the hubbs. Father-in-law to me. Elderly. Widowed. Alone.
I called and, of course, got his answering machine. No surprise for he’s never answered numbers he doesn’t recognize. Listening to his stern message scolding solicitors and anyone daring prey on this ex Military policeman, I chuckled. I identified myself, told him where I was off to, and that I’d be back in about 2 hours .. just in time for lunch at Big Boy, if he was free, that is.
About 40 minutes later, my phone rang. The tutorial was already underway but I excused myself to take the call, something told me I knew who it was.
“Hi, this is John. I’m up for lunch – what time?”
Military man – man of few words — direct and to the point. I like that. We worked out the details with me promising to call when I was on my way back. Arriving at the restaurant first, I couldn’t help but notice all of the other elderly gentlemen dining …. alone.
The Big Boy Slim Jim – yum!
In he came, grinning, and big hugs were exchanged. We laughed a lot, ordered our lunch, and chatted some more. He told me how they liked to stop here after her Wednesday hair appointments. He ordered the “Slim Jim” with the comment “it was her favorite.” We talked about the passing of George Jones and how she’d be tapping her toe in Heaven, now that George and Tammy were reunited again.
We talked of my Mom and sister’s upcoming visit and plans for barbeques he’s invited to and, before long, it was time to go. More hugs, more smiles, and I think I heard a whistle as he walked to his truck.
* “Near You” was played at her funeral
“A lonely day is God’s way of saying that he wants to spend some quality time with you.” – Criss Jami
To the outside world, we all grow old.
But not to brothers and sisters.
We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts.
We share private family jokes.
We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.
We live outside the touch of time.
-Clara Ortega
all of us:: an emjayandthem (C) photo
*30 days till I see my sissy again, the tall one on the right (we’re now the same height). And that’s me giggling in the red jammies.
Filed under Attitude, Faith, Friendship, Fun, Love, Personal, Uncategorized
Have any of you bloggers noticed a trend of late?
As in …. more spam?
More hostile comments so nonsensical and poorly written that they’re laughable?
More links to – ahem – enhancement products and dating sites?
More subscribers with links to blogs that … don’t exist?
I have.
When I was a kid, Mom bought Spam sometimes.
this kind — salty with a touch of slime
She’d slice it into thick slices and fry it on high heat, heat so hot the edges would burn and curl just a little. Served up with scrambled eggs or cheesy potatoes we kids, fresh off our ponies, the lake or the field, would gobble it down.
It wasn’t great, but it was a salty-hammy-concoction that was tolerable. Especially with enough ketchup.
Nowadays, Spam means something else.
Spam now is unwanted e-attention from ill-intentioned people and systems.
Systems and individuals looking to scam, steal, trick, coerce and lie their way into our good graces.
Do what I do … send ‘em to the Spam folder. Never respond. Don’t click on their faceless links.
And hope that WordPress turns the heat up so high they smoke.
The Akismet Widget in action
Are you seeing more spam these days? Have you turned up the heat?
Dare we say it? Dare we?
Snow Thursday, 64 Saturday.
But out and about this morning, something in the mulch caught my attention.
Something small and pink and determined:
The Peonies have spoken: Spring is here!
“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young
Filed under Attitude, Beauty, Determination, Faith, Family, Home, Seasons, Uncategorized
It’s Friday.
That long awaited, much anticipated day.
There’s still lots of the week left in today, but we’re close enough to the finish line to begin thinking of other things.
I see you, weekend!
Weekend warriors or time to just be?
Maybe a little of both?
Whatever you choose, take it from me and do what feeds your soul.
“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.”― Rumi
*image from Pinterest
I wrote about Boston yesterday. Today I found out about an odd coincidence:
Sheryl, the gal who taught my blogging class so long ago? She’s a runner and ran the Boston, her first time. She and her family are OK and you can visit her blog at: e2dietician.com.
I don’t know why but, somehow, finding this out made me feel better.
Not about what happened. Not about what people are going through.
About the connections we make that seem so happenstance at the time.
About feeling a little less alone in all this turmoil.
About knowing that there’s a larger plan in place than what I know it to be.
Everyday is a winding road …
“Coincidences are just God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
Have you ever experienced a coincidence that gave you comfort?
related
Filed under Attitude, Faith, fear, Friendship, Gratitude, Life, News, Relationships
I don’t know about you but most of my days are pretty scheduled. During the work week, I am up early and out the door on time; I usually work through lunch and conference calls don’t often end until well after the quitting hour. The funny thing is, I love a schedule. I enjoy the nuances of my work and the fact that some weeks have me traveling one day and in the office the next. The company I work for is changing, morphing, growing; keeping a schedule and helping my team know what to expect is critical to our success.
But, when Saturday rolls around, I still arm myself with a big list of things to accomplish. You know what I mean: clean the closet, organize that stack of medical reports, wash the floor, etc.
I know from where it comes: my parents and Grandparents. Hard work was expected but good work was praised. Growing up, they didn’t have time to pursue extra interests so what attributes were commented on? Work ethic. “Oh … he’s a good man, that one, a really hard worker.” Or “Oh that guy, kind of a slacker, be glad you didn’t marry someone like that.”
So there’s a certain genetic marker in me that is programmed to work. To be useful. Effective. Organized.
But also living inside me is the dreamer, the creative one, the one who wants to play.
Some Saturdays you’ll find me going after the house like the White Tornado.
Remember Ajax’s “White Tornado?” google images
And other Saturdays finding me doing just the opposite.
Today, I did something I don’t often do: I slept ’till I woke. It was 8:08 when my eyes opened … not late, really, but choosing to snooze till my body said “wake” felt like a gift.
I could have slept longer, but I didn’t.
I could have immediately started laundry and put away the dishes and and and.
But I didn’t.
Instead, Frankie and I stood in the doorway to the yard and watched the snow fall. He sniffed and I sipped and we both smiled at the robins flitting about.
Yes there are things to get done but, more than anything, we’re pushing the off button.
“Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it. – Amir” – Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
Are you able to lower the volume on your life? Do you have that same genetic marker that tells you work-work-work?
Filed under Attitude, Faith, Family, Home, Life, Opinion, Relationships, Self Discovery, Thoughts, Uncategorized
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