Happy 2013 - already?

Another year finished and a new one rapidly approaching!
Gee - I was just getting use to writing 2012. 

Happy New Year Everyone! 



May this one go by a little slower, please!!!

Family Traditions passed down

Tonight we sat around the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, the children in their new Christmas p.j' s and the fire crackling in the fireplace.  The children were antsy with excitement, it is Christmas Eve after all.  We had a full day of playing games and baking cookies, including the peanut butter balls recipe my husband's mother passed to us.  Our tummys we're stuffed, the dishes we're done and lovingly we gathered together in their family room while my son read the Christmas story from the New Testament, just as his father did when my son was a child, and just as his grandfather's did when hubby and I were children.  My heart was full, my eyes brimmed with tears threatening to spill as I watched my child lead his young family in some of the same activities that we did with him and his siblings.  He is a man now with little ones of his own.  All of our children are grown and tonight they all sit with their families carrying on many of the same traditions.  We are not with them physically, but we are with them in spirit and love.  I am proud and I am blessed!

Merry Christmas!

Blindsided

Just when I think I have everything under control (a joke indeed), I suddenly get blindsided. The other day while driving to work, I was channel surfing the radio. One channel was giving their headline topics that were planned for the next hour. My ears perked up when I heard the word "Parkinson's". You know - I can't even tell you the topic. Strangely, something in my mind triggered and all I could think was "Damn it! I have Parkinson's Disease - I really have it!!" Then the tears started flowing...to my chagrin. 

"What is wrong with you - seriously???" I thought. "You've known you have it for awhile now- get a grip!!!" "Yeah, but I really really DO have it and it's not going away!!", I answered myself while wiping the trickling tears from my cheeks. "Crap - where is this all coming from and why now? Good grief girl - get a grip, you're almost at work." I managed to pull myself together and arrived at work with red eyes and an "allergies are acting up"excuse.

I don't get it! What's up with this blindsided feeling? It's not like I don't think about Parkinson's all of the time as it is these days. So how is it that it can just hit me hard out of the blue like that? :(

And really - in comparison to all the horrible and truly sad things going on in the world today - my having Parkinson's is nothing.  So...Self - are you listening?  You are hereby given notice, if you need to have a cry, at least do it for something more than hearing the word Parkinson's on the radio.  Have I made myself clear?

Where can I Turn for Peace?

While snuggling with my 2 year old grandson during a much needed nap (for both of us), I looked at his sweet little face and wondered what I would do if this precious little guy's life was violently taken. I can not even comprehend the pain of the many families in Connecticut during this very tragic and heart breaking time.

I dedicate this song to all those in Connecticut and throughout the world who are suffering - for whatever reasons.

JOHN 14:27 -  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

In Paradise - Bucket List #1

I have died and gone to paradise!!!

Actually, I am very much alive in paradise.   Hubby and I decided to start checking items off our bucket list (the things we want to do or see before we kick the bucket).   We don't plan on kicking the bucket soon, but since we have a long list, we decided to get busy crossing some of them off while we are still young enough to enjoy them to the fullest extent. 

So... here I sit...on a balcony...gazing at the ocean...in paradise...and enjoying every moment!
Now I can cross off #1 on our list.  (Except, I think we have already decided to add it back on as a "do it again" item).  This list may never get shorter.  lol

Can you guess where I am?
You want some hints?
OK...
1. There are beaches everywhere. In fact we can go in any direction and find a beach within an hour.
2. It's a very popular place and probably on many people's bucket lists.
3. There is a historical site here from WWII (that hubby turned into a full long day tour).
4. The fresh pineapple here is amazing.

Yup - you guessed it - I am in HAWAII. And it's just as wonderful and as beautiful as I thought it would be.

 

Aloha!!

 

(Sunset beach)

Midlife Crisis - not 20 anymore - and neither are they!

Hubby is having a mid life crisis. In the past 3 months, we have attended several concerts of our old favorite rock groups. (Did I say OLD?  I meant groups from our formative years, not too long ago!)

I told my husband - this is not working very well. If you don't want to feel old, you shouldn't go to concerts to see your favorite teen rock groups - 35+ years later! They have aged - some better than others. And so has their audiences! (All except me of course.)

Here are the groups we have seen so far - although not the actual concerts. As you can see - THEY definitely are not 20 anymore, or 30, or 40, or ... (I am stopping there)!!

However - I AM still 29!!!

(Oh - and if one of the band members looks young - it's a safe assumption that they are not original members of the band.)

Doobie Brothers



Chicago



Eddie Money



Three Dog Night



Jefferson Starship



Paul Revere and the Raders

Have a shakin Halloween!

We survived Sandy just in time for the monsters!!





Happy Halloween everyone and enjoy the candy! Yum Yum