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March 29 Where I'm FromI am from cleaning the house on Saturday morning…no matter what. Even though you might be hung-over from the night before, because if you don’t, you will never hear the end of it I am from being the middle daughter and thinking that meant I was less than I should be…which was never how it was meant to be. I am from Minnesoda…and pronouncing it just like that. Married at 40…and still going strong. Marriage is an on-going struggle. But always worth it. Christmases at grandma's…both of them…maternal grandmother on Christmas Eve and paternal grandmother’s on Christmas Day I am from keep it down to a roar, putting on the dog, because I said so, and I’ll bet you $40 to a frozen dog turd. Don’t ask. From nicknames like giraffe, jolly green giant, daddy-longlegs and little Archie. I am from answering ‘sure’ instead of ‘yes’ or ‘okay’, pop, then soda, back to pop, then soda…and on it goes. I am from happiness sandwiched between sadness…working on happiness again. I believe you have to choose happiness to be happy. I choose happiness. I am from my family thinking that I think I am always right…and I usually am. A father whose grandparents came to this country as German immigrants. My great-grandmother angry over coming to the United States, so she never spoke English. I am from washing clothes at the Laundromat every Monday night…no matter what. I am from always wanting more and never happy with what I have, living in the future and therefore, not enjoying the present as much as I should. Raised a good Catholic girl and proud of it! I am from not liking watermelon, raw tomatoes, cucumbers and yes Joe,…Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea. I am from a family who rarely says ‘I love you’ but expresses it in many other ways. I am from loving and worrying about my puppies more than is humanly possible. I never thought I could love anyone or anything so much. They are my inspiration every single day. Nobody loves you like your dog does. Marrying a man 11-years my junior. Which is all right, because he is an old soul, sometimes even older than I am. I am from parents who are extremely proud of their children, no matter what…who always introduce me as there pride and joy without ever having to say the words pride or joy. Amazing. A father who never thought he would get married let alone have four wonderful children. His words. I love him so very, very much. I am from hating to get up in the morning (if God had wanted us to appreciate the morning He would have put it later in the day) to hating to go to bed at night. I am from the man was meant to be the pursuer and the woman was meant to say ‘no’. I know, not fair, but sage advice from a very wise man. How did I get to be 50 years old in the blink of an eye. Even though my mind thinks I am 30, and my body feels like 70. I am from ‘that’s what you get for jumping on the bed’. Which turned into the response you receive from a family member when you complain about anything. I am from I miss my father every day since he passed away. He is the first one I think to call when I have good news or bad news…yes, even still. I am from my parents…who have given me the immeasurable gift of self-esteem and unconditional love. But mostly I am from…tomorrow will be a better day than yesterday and better than the day before that and the day before that. Damselfly Lady March 27 ThursdayWell, my husband left yesterday for the great northwest...Seattle. He is going to a wedding (cousin) and a funeral (his grandmother). My husand's family lives in the Seattle area. His grandmother had Alzheimer's and Arthritus. She was in her mid 80's. It's always hard when a loved one dies, but this was a blessing as anyone dealing with Alzheimer's can atest. I would love to have gone with my husband but finances and our two puppies prevented that. I am trying to plan a trip to see my family in Wisconsin over the Memorial Day holiday.
On another sad note my cousin died this week. She was only 57 years old. Very sad. She lost her second battle with breast cancer. She left behind two grown children, two brothers and one sister. Her family has always had a rough time of it. Her father died when he was 50 years old of a heart attack. My cousin was a junior in college, her brother a junior in high school, her other brother was 7-8 years old and the youngest, her sister was 4 years old. Their mother is my father's sister. She died a couple of years ago. At least she didn't have to see her daughter die before she did. So very, very sad. It has really hit me hard. My cousin is the first to die of my generation, except for a boy cousin of mine who had an accident when he was 30, that killed him...a wall fell on him, he was a construction worker.
Not a very happy post I know. On to another topic. My female dog, Charlotte has been throwing up again. She seems to have a bad case of acid reflux. I took her to the Vet recently to find out if anything else could be causing her vomiting...$246 later, the blood test came back normal. Crazy, so I have adjusted her food a little. She has been vomit-free for over 24 hours and has kept 3 meals down...Yeahhhh! Here is a photo of her...
She is my little Char Char.
Damselfly Lady
P.S. My husband called this morning from Seattle and told me it was snowing there when he landed. I told him it was in the 70's here today. :) March 20 Welcome spring...
Historically spring starts on the day of the vernal equinox, which usually occurs on the night of 20/21 March. Vernal comes originally from the Latin word for bloom and refers to the fact that, in the northern hemisphere, this equinox marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. An equinox is a time when the nights are as long as the days and the vernal equinox is recognised the world over as the start of the new astrological cycle.
March 17 Idita*rodThe first town I can remember living in is Heron Lake, Minnesota. Very, very small. My parents owned a cafe in Heron Lake called 'The Corner Cafe'. I have blogged about it before. One of the only businesses in town that had central air conditioning. Gosh, I loved that place...but I digress.
I was surfing the web today and decided to see if Heron Lake had their own website. Sure enough they do...www.heronlakecity.org. I lived in Heron lake from 1958 through 1967. A long, long time ago.
Anyway, as I was clicking around on their website I found a link to the local newspaper and there was a story about a married couple that were going to compete in the Alaskan Idita*rod. Wow, amazing. I recognized the last name, but that was it, they probably weren't even born when I lived there. I found it all very fascinating. The wife of the team is a DVM. The husband has competed before in the Idita*rod. I found their website...http://www.racingsiberians.com/. If you get a chance take a look and read up on what it takes to get ready for such a demanding race. There is a sad tail to their Idita*rod experience this year...but I will let you read about it.
Since I am such a dog lover, learning about their dogs and how much they go through was an eye opener for me. Also interesting...they had to fly two weeks in advance of the race all their supplies (i.e. dog food, blankets, booties for the dogs, their own food and supplies) to Alaska and then the supplies were taken to the 20+ stops along the Idita*rod trail.
I sent them an email congratulating them on finishing the race. What an accomplishment. They have inspired me to do something worthwhile with my recreational time...I will have to put my thinking cap on and come up with something...I feel like such a slouch just listening to the stories of their training.
Here is a photo of the couple...
March 07 FridayHOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Try everything twice. On Madams tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice...loved it both times! 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches) 3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's! 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER. 6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is. 10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. I love you, my special friend. 11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time. |
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