Thinking About Pleasant Things In The Middle Of Confusion

Yesterday was very stressful and yet I had a nice time through it all.  To explain, on my way to work, my car decided to throw a coil spring that blew out my tire.  Of course nobody likes to call work and tell them that a car breakdown occurred, especially me I always feel terribly uncomfortable explaining what happened.  I didn't even know how long it would take to fix the problem.  To my surprise, they asked me if I was ok? 

  I was lucky because I was starting to back out of my driveway when it happened.  Also to my advantage, I had worked over the day before and was only scheduled to work for four hours yesterday.

    My dad and mom were the only ones available to help me out , it turned out to be less frustrating because we were all together.   Dad went with me to talk to the mechanics and I felt so proud that he was my dad.  He talked to them while they looked at the wheel and the damage the spring had caused.  For a moment the years had melted away from us both.  I also watched my father as he sat down waiting for me to settle the bill and how it dawned on me how very tired he was.  This man had poured out better than sixty years, fifty some supporting his family by being a mechanic.   Yesterday he walked me through all of it, as I towed and talked to the garages getting the best estimate.

    Like I said, during all this, we had a few chuckles, I had told them about how at my job they played Christmas music and how they played "Snow" from "White Christmas" as one of the selections.

   I always start to laugh to myself whenever this song comes on because I think of my sister and how she hates driving in the stuff, well dealing with it in general.  She grumbles about it and tells me how she'd love to go to Hawaii and look at those well tanned and toned beach dudes. 

  I told mom and dad that I should dedicate that song to her because she loves snow sooooo much.

Its nice to have few pleasant moments during and unpleasant thing.  I admit that having a coil spring replaced as a Christmas gift wasn't top of my list.   My Christmas wish is still whimsy,  a warm fire as the snow falling having a handsome loving man holding me, my kids there.   My daughter is getting better and I am very happy and pleased with that.

I hope everyone gets to have their Christmas wishes full-filled!

This is for my sister,

Merry Christmas From Heaven

Holidays are always toughest the first year after a loss of a loved one.  This year will be difficult for a couple of people who are dear to me.  One lost her husband and the other his parents.  My thoughts and prayers will be with them both and their families as they go through the season.
                 When my husband passed in December 2006, a poem and ornament was given to me to remember him during Christmas.  I want to share the poem with both of them, their families and anyone going through this festive season with grief.

                                            MERRY  CHRISTMAS  FROM  HEAVEN


                                                           I still hear the songs
                                                           I still see the lights
                                                          I still feel your love
                                                         on cold wintery nights

                                                        I still share your hopes
                                                         and all of your cares
                                                          I'll even remind you
                                                     to please say your prayers

                                                       I just want to tell you
                                                       you still make me proud
                                                  You stand hand and shoulders 
                                                         above all the crowd

                                                       Keep trying each moment
                                                         to stay in His grace
                                                       I came here before you
                                                        to help set your place

                                                       You don't have to be
                                                        perfect all of the time
                                                       He forgives you the slip
                                                      If you continue the climb

                                                      To my family and friends
                                                       please be thankful today
                                                      I'm still close beside you
                                                         In a new special way

                                                      I love you all dearly
                                                      now don't shed a tear
                                                      Cause I am spending my
                                                    Christmas with Jesus this year.

                                                                           c/o 1990 John Wim M. Jr.

                              I always want you to know that you never leave my thoughts and that I love you very much.    Merry Christmas!

Catching Fire On The Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend

   Sunday I got to go to church with my kids after working mornings for about a month now.  I had my evaluation for those thirty days, the same day because I had to go in at one pm, not to my surprise I had to work on some of my skills.   I also leaked out that I did work in floral for some years.   I know that will come back on me , but in a nice way.
   Anyway, during my shift, my sister and my daughter went to The Strand Theater in Delaware, one of the oldest movie theaters and the only one in Delaware, Ohio now.  Many times my dad as regaled stories of his younger days at the Strand, watching cowboy pictures mainly, and how his Grandpa Price took him.
    But on December 1st 2013, it was his daughter and his granddaughter that occupied the old place to see the sequel to "The Hunger Games" "The Hunger Games Catching Fire."
 

    My daughter has read all three books and owns the first movie.  When I first saw the first movie, I was bothered by the fact that it was young kids battling it out to the death.  I am not a big fan of the movie like my daughter but it is a well written movie and its ok.   I was told that "Catching Fire" seemed to my sister and daughter a even better film than the first.  So if anyone is curious about this movie, don't worry, its just as good and even better than the first movie.

Came out on DVD March 7,2014

Happy Thanksgiving To Everyone

To all my friends and loved ones I want to say "Thank You" for being in my life!  I have so much to be thankful for and it seems only right to say it on this day.  Winter snow has arrived a little early for everyone and it is the coldest Thanksgiving I have seen for a long while but still I wouldn't trade this day.  It is my prayer that everyone gets to see their loved ones today, wish them joy and happiness with a hug as well.
       Squirrels are gathering food in the woods behind my home, they too celebrate the day, so it appears anyway, I like to think so.   God's creatures in all shapes and sizes are happy today.
       All creation rejoices, I like that too.
       Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone,

              My love to you all! 

To Our Brave Men And Women Of Our Military

Veterans day is a day of remembrance for all who have served and are serving our country. So many families have had and have loved ones serving over seas.  I come from a strong military back ground  with veterans from World War II and Korea.  My late husband served in Desert Storm.  It is a honor, plain and simple.  It is important for all of our veterans to know that they are never forgotten, that we are grateful for their sacrifice and that we love and support them.

Thank You So Much!

Daily Learning

There is an Indian saying so true "Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes."   Seems like I learn this lesson on a daily basis, which as it should be.  My co-worker and I chat while we are working together and God Bless Her, through all her life, she has had one trial after another, some I am not sure I could bare if it happened to me.  What an awesome person she is and still she knows how to smile and as she put it "Got To Go On!"  I hope God always gives her strength to keep going too!

We both share the same treatment with depression/ anxiety, although she had been on it longer.  I started my treatment with Paxil after my husband died.  A wise doctor told me as I sat in his examination room that "Many people have gone through a lot worse"  of course at the time I thought "What a horrible thing to say to a widow with two small children" but you know what?, he was absolutely right.  I don't know if I ever told him that and I hope he reads this because I have learned his teaching over the years since.  We all carry burdens, some maybe heavier than others.  Thankfully we all have each other to lighten the load.  We can understand each other's needs.  I know too that the same doctor is going through some trials of his own, what he has been through in his past and now present with he and his family is not an easy one, even as believers, it can be a hard to comprehend "Why?"  My love and prayers goes out to them as well.

Maybe that is why the Good Lord gives us shoulders and gentle hands as a reassurance of security to help carry the load for every one of us who just needs a little help now and then.

My Son's Turn To Drive

I have been battling white hair for a few years now and I know now that my son is about ready to learn to drive, I am going to go completely white!   I picked up a book at the D.M.V. about driving rules and regulations, the same one we all have to read to get a licence.  I am proud of my son but feel anxious about letting him behind the wheel.  I know he'll be fine because he has better sense than me and he wants my dad to teach him.

My dad gave test as part of his job when he worked as a Ohio Highway Patrol Auxie.  He was also a Sgt.  in the U.S Army.  My sisters , my brother and I all got taken out for spin around the block with dad to correct our mistakes, everyone of us came back in the house with tears streaming down our face because we messed up.  We all understood that he was training us right and the seriousness of being safe when sharing the road with others.
For me, my oops was turning too wide and in a 1977 Ford LTD, turning wide was REAL WIDE.  My sisters foe-pas were going through a red light on Sandusky Street and not stopping at the railroad tracks on Shanahan Road.  I am not real sure what my brother's boo-boo was, I can't remember but we all experienced repercussions  from our actions.

My son has become real close too his grandpa, almost like pals, so it wasn't a surprise when my son wanted him to teach him the ins and outs of driving.  When I told my sister that, she patted my son on the back and said simply "Good luck, you are going to need it."

My dad is 79 now and I am not sure if his tolerance level is good as it was when I learned how to drive, but when I did my father suggested a local driver's school.  It was there I was introduced to the Driver's Ed Film that the instructor was so proud of obtaining for the class.  My dad spoke to him about his days in The Ohio Highway Patrol and how The Highway Safety Foundation filmed the patrol at the accident scenes. I remember seeing the film for the first time and being "Scared Out Of My Wits" and not wanting to drive that night.

I make sure I emphasis to my son how important staying alert when driving, attention is very important, Safety is number one.  I know he understands and that the wisdom of my dad will sink in.

Singing The Car Blues..Again

Owning a car can be the most exciting thing or the most frustrating thing.  I had my first car when I was nineteen and delighted in car ownership and over the years many automobiles have dotted my past.  Like everything else when something goes wrong with them, they go in stretches.  My latest car has given me some troubles. Before I got it, it had a pretty tough life.  It has had a new transmission put in it and the mileage is low.  Its latest trouble is the heater hose, a system on the firewall of the car.

To nurse it until my brother and father can look at it, I have had to fill up the reserve tank.  How fun is this?  Before work, I check and fill, after work I check or fill.  I know I haven't been the only one to do this dance and more than likely it won't be the last dance with it.

I need to get my licence renewed this year and yearly tags.  Getting a new "Mug" shot is always a hit and miss ordeal.  The picture could be good or bad, no matter how you boil it down, get your picture done in the morning, ITS ZOMBIE TIME.  If I get it done after work, I know I will look like I stepped out of a battle zone.  The best I guess, is to get it done in between time and hope the people behind the counter are in a good mood.  However, I am stuck another four years with a picture I don't like.  Driver licence pictures should be classified with a "Caution" look at your own risk without laughing or screaming.  Maybe that's why the Highway Patrol is always very quiet when looking it over at a traffic stop

Driving is a sign of independence and great responsibility that's true, along with this is the joys of dealing with all the unpleasantness that comes with it.  Auto repairs and bad driver licence pictures.

A Special Bond

My dad had worked on vehicles for over fifty years of his life.  Most of the time, if you could name it, he had worked on it or knew someone who did.  My father is seventy nine now and don't do much mechanics only to give advice or pin-point problems to the exact science.   I had always marveled at my father on how well respected he was and is with his knowledge.  I think all of us who look up to our parents feel a sense of pride and "Bragging Rights" that are granted to us to make known to others and why not.  What is so terrible to boast about those we love when we are proud to the point of tears.  What we learn from our parents is so precious and rare, especially as they age. The gifts are retained in our memory and come out visually in  the things we do everyday, a lot of times not even knowing it.

Not long ago, maybe a week or so, my nephew's car was experiencing trouble with its fuel pump.  My brother agreed to look at the car.  He had learned so much from my father and dad came over to his home to help out even though he couldn't get underneath of it.  What a special bond between my brother and my dad.  I think its one that only fathers and sons understand between themselves as do mothers and daughters. Not one of these should be violated because it is for certain a spiritual connection of sorts. It is a guarantee that the job will be done right.  Between them and for others.  Satisfaction is there, when the project is completed.  My brother worked and my father guided him. My brother used his hands as my dad's hands.
I like it, how else could make it an unbeatable combination, after all it is born in us, trusting as we do when we take our first steps.  So here's to all the sons and their dads, never let go. that bond runs deep!

Congrats

It seems like this month has really went by quick, the end of October couldn't have ended more perfectly for The Red Sox.   Trick or Treat is tonight in many places.  My nephew and some of the little children I have seen at work are going out as monsters because of Disney's Monster's University.  Being a Great Aunt is really nice and he and his mom are big Red Sox fans, his mom especially since she is from Massachusetts, even so, you really don't need to come from there to like The Sox .    They are an awesome team and this without a doubt was a grand season.

No surprise that "The Green Monster" got a few treats of its own.  Congrats to "The Boston Red Sox" and all the fans out there!

Red Sox Fans

So many of my friends, family and myself are fans of The Boston Red Sox.   They are doing so well \this year, "Lets Go All The Way Sox!"

Pepsi commercial with dog and cat.

1972 9 Lives Morris the Cat Commercial

mandy by barry manilow lyrics

Mr. Ed Theme

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) Trailer

Lassie Come Home - Torna a casa Lassie! (1943) Trailer

MUSTANG SALLY - CHRIS NORMAN - (Siggi Schwarz production)

Four Legged Friends

All of us from one time or another have had  special four legged friends that stick out in our memories.  For me and I am sure others like me, there have been so many.  I have had some who have shared my life for many years and some that have only passed my way for a brief time or so.
I was fortunate to grow up on a farm with many critters around, although the days when my grandfather had dairy had come and gone when I was born, horses seemed the only large animal in the barn.
My dad loved horses since the time he helped his Grandpa Price farm a piece of ground on Troy Road in Delaware, Ohio.  It only came naturally that he would share his fondness of these magnificent creatures.
I had always been fascinated by their beauty and read book written about them when I was young.  I started to draw them and it seemed like "All The Time".   Even today, I find myself painting them in my works of art.

A few years or so before my Grandpa Havens death, one of his greatest pleasures was going out to feed my sister's horse "Patches".  Patches was an old "Barrel Racer" and hanging around my grandpa.   It was a few times my grandfather found any piece away from his second wife.

There had been many dogs and cats in my life, some have had that "One Of A Kind" personality. They had always provided love and comfort during those days that were tough, making us laugh and of course "Laughter" is good for you.  I think back on those days, my brother making a "70's" silver van with a colorful strip along the side out of his trusty wagon.  This wagon was special in so many ways as it was to haul a "Corgi-Beagle" mix around in it.  "Bootsie" was her name and she loved to ride, wheel barrel's were her second favorite next to the van.

In recent years, my mom and dad had been blessed with a black and white, long haired cat which my sister called "Clyde" My dad nick-named him "Junk Yard Cat" the only cat I know of that ran mice up the trees.

I hope that all who read this get a little chuckle out of it as you remember your favorite moments with the pets in your life.