A Very Montague ThanksChristmas

ThanksChristmas 2011 was held at our house this year...I prepared for it for a month...I love to do this kind of thing.  I wanted to make it one everyone would remember.  After my turkey mishap...I was wondering if everything would be ok, but it worked out perfectly.  I had enough food to feed another 40 people.  I came from such a small family, so when I married Richard, I became a Montague and part of something bigger than all of us.
    Every family has their trials and tribulations and the Montague's aren't immune to it, but the commraderie of the siblings is what got them through it.  Rich brought out his Dad's purple heart and metals that we framed for him one year...I guess he wanted Dad to be here too. 
   Our Steal a Gift Exchange was a big success...some gifts were better than others...but the can of Fart Exstinguisher got a big laugh and besides....who couldn't use a can every once in awhile...Jelly got it and was a good sport.  But the funniest was Regan's hooker shoes...Donna got them first, but Justin stole them for Lisa...Lisa couldn't be here with us, so I would love to see her face when she opens the box.
   I had sit down for 40 people, so everyone had a place to eat the delicious food that we had.  I always think I have to make twice as much food, but you don't really when there is so much to choose from.  I will be eating turkey noodle soup for quite awhile.
   Santa made a visit and the children loved it.  Joe played Santa this year and came up the back porch.  All the kids gathered around him.  Karaline says, "hey I know you" and was quickly shooshed.  The best part was when Nickolas sat on Santa/Daddy's lap.  I probably have five pictures of him and not one is looking forward.  He could NOT take his eyes off him...he just stared at him, trying to figure it out.  Santa passed out their gift bags, so everyone was happy.  I have my house all put back together and I don't think I will have to cook for a week.  The  Montague ThanksChristmas was a HUGE sucess!  I hope evryone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

A boxed life....

Rich and I were cleaning out a closet this past weekend.  It had boxes and boxes of old pictures and keepsakes.  None of which were sorted out very good, but everything was there.  As we looked through the old pictures of ourselves and our lives, we laughed a little and I teared up a little.  It was all there, captured in a photograph, all the moments of our lives...This is why I am so passionate about photography.  It is the only way to stop a moment in time, to preserve it for as long as someone wants to keep it around.  I found pictures of myself in a bikini, when I actually looked good in a bikini and Rich, when he had the body of a body builder.  It all came from hard work.  He never went to a health club or owned any weights.  All those muscle came from working so hard for his family.  I did work out and at one point, didn't look half bad.  As we looked at all our pictures and all our trips and all the pictures of the kids, I wondered, if when I was gone...would anyone really care.  I knew as I sorted through these pictures and boxed them up, the next time someone would be looking at these, would probably be after I was gone.  Our life, in a box....
Time has away of just marching on....and it will just keep marching on even after I am gone.  I used to think about that, I couldn't imagine life going on with out me in it, but I realize now, that I am only on this earth for a very short time and when I am gone, I am not even a blip in the overall scheme of things.  My loved ones will mourn me, at least I hope, but I want them to just go on and live their lives.  I just hope I leave enough behind that I won't be completely forgotten.  I want them to know what I thought about when I was young and want them to know that I was young once.  I wasn't always old.  Old is how you will be remembered unless you leave this earth too soon.  I blog for my grandchildren, I want them to always remember their Mimi.  I want them to remember the person I used to be, not just the person that I have become.  Growing old is almost like a deadly disease...it is slow in coming on, but it is relentless.  It robs you of your essence and leaves you trapped in a body that you scaresley recognize.  When I die, I want my life to be a celebration of who I was.  I know I have left enough funny stories behind that my eulogy will bring a few laughs.  I hope I have at least another 25 years here on this earth...I would love to hold my great grandchild someday.  So I will continue to box up my life.  I will try to leave little messages for my kids, so they will know about all the pictures and keepsakes and why I kept them.  Every person is different and my kids certainly are that.  I am very sentimental and nostalgic.  I find it very very hard to part with things.  Rich even found the key to our very first cabin on our very first cruise...it meant so much to us....I just could not get rid of it.  I know they will keep some of my things, but I know that can't keep everything.  To get rid of this stuff, would be like erasing my life.  I am not ready to do that yet.  I'm posting a few pictures, some are not real flattering, where others are.  I have always laughed at myself and I realize that every stage of my life brought me to where I am today.  I am just thankful that I still have hair after all those perms and highlights.  Rich unfortunately, didn't hold on to his hair, but he still looks sexy.  Looking back at our life...I barely remember my life before Rich, we were 17 yrs. old when we started dating.  He has been my life and I am so proud to box up my life with his.

I honestly do NOT know how I ever got Rich to wear white pants...We couldn't remember where we were even going.  We just laughed our butts off over this one.   Every one has their time...I have had mine, but my future still holds many more memories that I will continue to box up....

My painting marathon....

I always have these ideas...I always have.  Now that I am older, its harder to keep up with them.  I have been wanting to paint my guest room for quite awhile now, so when I saw this picture of a bedroom painted this beautiful green color, I couldn't get it out of my head.  I decided, that was the color I wanted.  I started looking for a new bed quilt and ended up finding the perfect thing on Amazon and everything just fell into place.  I went to Mennards to get my paint.  I brought in my accent pillow to match the green and found the perfect green...it's called "Green Giggle".  Loved the name and loved the color...I bought Dutch Boy paint because it was on sale.  I couldn't wait to get started.  I got all the taping done and decided I would get the trimming done so I could paint it on Saturday.  Well, that proved to be alot more involved than what I ever thought possible.  When I started painting it, it almost looked like I was painting with watered down paint, but I was optimistic that when it dried, it would look ok.  Wrong, clearly one coat was not going to do it.  I was doing all the trimming accept for the ceiling.  After the second coat, I thought surely that would be good...wrong...it still was streaky.  At this point, I thought it was just the brand of paint, so knowing one coat was not gonna do it and one gallon wasn't going to do it, I went back for more paint.  This time I bought the most expensive paint they had.  I started trimming up by the ceiling, which are 9 ft. ceilings.  I quickly realized it WAS NOT THE BRAND OF PAINT, it was the COLOR.  My "Green Giggle" will forever be known to me as "Sh#% Green" to me.  I bet I climbed up and down that ladder a million times.  It was clearly going to take 3 coats.  Trimming is always the most dreaded part of painting a room.  Doing it once is bad enough, but doing it three times is RIDICULOUS!!!!   I finally got it done and was ready to roll on the paint...which I got to do TWO times.  When it was done, I was completely exhausted, but so proud of what I accomplished.

   Now it was time to decorate...I knew I wanted to use all black and white pictures on the walls.  I had quite a few already, but still needed to print a few more.  I love the details of a room.  Little things that make a big difference.  I found a lampshade at Lowes that was absolutely perfect for the room.  I have discovered Pinterest and love the ideas I get from it.  I saw a picture treatment that I fell in love with.  I knew I had to do it.  I combined two ways to achieve it.  Instead of using scrapbook paper and wood or styrofoam and fabric, I combined it and used wood with fabric.  I had some old shelving boards that I wasn't using, so I took them to Lowes to have them cut into 11 inch squares.  Next, I went to Hobby Lobby to find the fabric.  I was lucky, they had little bundles of fabric squares in the black and white that I was looking for.  It was $9.99 for 5 squares.  I figured it was cheaper than buying it separately.  I decided a spray adhesive would be just the thing to adhere the fabric to the wood.  It worked beautifully.  I was going to staple it to the back of the square like you do when you cover a chair cusion, but found that the spray adhesive worked well on the back too.  It gave a more finished look.  I attached a hanger to the back when I was done and was ready to hang my creation.  I hung them over the bed, four in a row, for a really nice statement look.  It really became the vocal point of the room, since everything else was black and white pictures.  I decorated everything else in the room with things that I already had.  I just love how everything just came together.  We are hosting the Montague ThanksChristmas this year and expecting overnight guests.  I'm thinking I may have to have a lottery to see who gets to sleep in the "Sh#% Green" room.

Turn back the clock...

Wouldn't it be nice, if when we turned back the clock, we could go back to another time period?  I would love to go back to my 30's.  It was a good time in my life...my kids were still little, we were living in Plymouth and I had such a passion for life.  There was a very dark, sad period though, I lost both my parents when I was 34.  It made me stronger and all of a sudden, I was the one that had to have all the answers.  Rich and I took a huge risk and moved to Indianapolis.   We left everything that we knew and loved and took a chance at a better life.  I had all the faith in the world in Rich.  Hard work paid off and Rich achieved in his career.  We found a new life here and my kids thrived.  I am so thankful that we took a chance.  Indianapolis is home, but our heart will always be where we were born.
   I have learned alot in my 59 yrs. of life...I know I don't have all the answers...my kids look to me sometimes for them and sometimes, they would rather I keep it to myself.  The one thing that I always try to keep in mind is that there are always two sides to every story and somewhere in the middle lies the truth.  I have found that to always be the way it is.
   I am so thankful that I have found a new passion.  Even at my age, it is what keeps us young.  My friend Ron Moschel, has given me a story and a mystery.  He wants me to write Mary's story.  I feel a little intimidated, because I have never wrote a story like this before, but at the same time, I am excited to create her story.  We may never have all the answers, but it will be interesting to see where it leads us.  I have a vivid imagination, so it could be quite a story.
   So tonight, I will turn back my clock and think about all the times in my life.  There has been good times and bad times.  No ones life is a straight road.  Most people find themselves on a roller coaster.  You strap yourself in and raise your arms.  Even the lows are ok because you see that hill in front of you and when you get to the top, everything that got you there....is worth it.

Timing is everything....

A friend of mine, contacted me recently with something he found in an old french book.  It was so beautiful and so moving that I had to share it with all of you.  The feelings of this woman are so vivid and so haunting, it makes you wonder what became of her and her love.  The passage in the book is dated, September 30, 1924, by Mary Ruth Cole to Robert Kirby Whyte.

      I'am with you dear...wandering thru memory lane, living the years of laughter and tears over and over again.  I'am dreaming yet of the night we met and life was a lovely refrain.  You were so shy, saying goodbye in the dawn, with only a glance and full of romance...then you were gone.  Tho my hopes are in vain, still my love will remain...dreaming of you...wandering thru memory lane...Love,  Sweet Mary

I can see them standing in a doorway, tears in her eyes.  I am sure they made love that night, but she knows that her feelings for him are not the same feelings he feels for her.  Maybe he is protecting her because he is going to war or maybe there is another woman that he loves, but can't break away from Mary.  Whatever the story is, it begs to be told.  My friend has been researching the archives, searching for answers.  Robert went to Culver Military Academy.  He found this written about him...Robert was the most popular boy in school.  He was head cheerleader and was Pres. of the Hop Club.  As captain of the Fighting E, he was at his best and was an all around good fellow.  He is very good looking man, more dashing with dark eyes...the kind that make a woman yearn for more.  I can picture him in my mind and I know why Mary was smitten with him.  I am sure he was a lady's man and had the interest of many women on campus.  My friend found another passage written to Robert in the book..
.
      You didn't want me when I wanted you.  I'am somebody else's now.  I gave thee chances, but you thru them all away.  I might have known you'd be sorry some day.  I still love you and yet we must forget.  I can't be untrue to my love.  You didn't want me when I wanted you...I'am somebody else's now....Mary

Oh how I wish I could fill in the blanks...timing is everything in love...their time was not right.  I have to wonder if after she wrote this, the pangs of love were too much to overlook.  I wonder if they did eventually get together.  If they acted on their feelings, instead of what was right.  He obviously contacted her later and told her how much he loved her and that he was sorry he left that night at dawn.  She moved on and found another love, but her first love for him is still in her heart.  Why did she write these things in this french book?  She must have given it to him and then later got it back and wrote in it again.  This book holds the mystery that we may never know the answers too.  My friend is trying his hardest to find some information on Mary.  He is hoping to find her children.  He would like to give this book to them.  Mary was from Grand Haven, Michigan and went to a school for girls called Akeley Hall in 1922.  It is unclear to me how she met Robert.  Life is a mystery....and timing is everything....

Thank you Ron Moschel....

Karaline's story....

There are a few events in your life that get seared in your brain and every detail stands out.  Such is the journey of little Karaline into our lives.  I wanted to get it wrote down, so Karaline will be able to read it someday.

   Rich and I had been on a cruise and just got back.  Regan showed up at my house unexpectedly.  I remember she walked into the kitchen.  She said, "Mom, I'm pregnant.......but I lost the baby".  All in a matter of seconds, the happiest moment of my life, turned into the deepest sadness I had ever felt.  I couldn't comprehend it.  She said she wanted to wait until I got back from vacation, but she had severe cramping and bleeding last night and she lost the baby.  She had called the Dr. and the Dr. said it was early in the pregnancy and that there was nothing they could do.  She was still having cramping, so she needed to go get checked.  After lots of crying and hugging, I took her to the hospital.  When we got there, she told the nurse and Dr. what had happened.  They were going to do a DNC on her, but the Dr. said, just to be sure, let's do an ultrasound first.  Regan was taken away and I was left by myself.  I hadn't even called Rich yet and told him.  That was a phone call I didn't want to make.  I called him and told him like I was told, " Rich, Regan is pregnant, but she lost the baby".  Shock and silence is how I know he felt, for I was feeling it too.  Greatest joy and then the greatest sorrow all in a matter of seconds.  I told him she was fine, but I knew better...Regan wanted this baby so much.  While I sat alone in that room, I don't think I ever felt sadder or more alone.  All of a sudden, I hear this laughter.  It sounds like Regan laughing.  I think to myself, what the heck is she laughing about.  They wheel her into the room and she hands me a strip of ultrasound pictures...she says, "Mom, we're having a baby, I'm still pregnant".  I couldn't believe it...my emotions have been on a roller coaster.  I screamed and cried for joy, like I have never cried before.  To come from the darkest place I have ever been to the happiest, was beyond belief.  I then called Rich back and said, "You're gonna be a Grandpa, she didn't lose the baby after all".  The Dr. said she had a tear in her sac around the baby in her uterus.  We still weren't out of danger yet.  The next few weeks would be critical.  Either the tear would heal itself, or she would lose the baby.  I guess, I didn't really hear those words at first, because in my mind, that baby was gonna make it and be just fine.  The next month was a really scary time, but every week that went by, the better her chances were.  So, Karaline was born Oct 5, 2005.  Rich and I were there to witness her birth.  I took the still pictures and Rich took the movie film.  The movie film is so awesome for so many reasons, but for me, it was hearing Rich laugh, this nervous excited laugh the whole time.  She came out of her so fast that the Dr. almost didn't have time to catch her.  Our little diva was born.  She was perfect in every way.  That first grandchild, will always be special, not because they are loved anymore, but because you never knew you could love anything that much.  I have told people having grandchildren takes love to another level.  You love your own children so much and everything that they do makes you so proud and love them more.  Well, when they give you that grandchild, that is the ultimate thing that they can do.  It is better than anything else they have ever done and that love you have for your child is then past on to the grandchild a 100 times more.  Well, that is the story of Karaline's journey into our life.  Today marks 6 yrs. that we have had that little girl in our life.  I have watched Karaline full time since she was 8 weeks old.  We have always been inseparable.  She is alot like me in her likes.  Regan was never a girly girl like I was, so when Karaline fell in love with Barbie's, I finally got my girly girl.  Regan has learned to appreciate Barbie's and dolls now that she is Karaline's Mom.  She had no use for them when she was a little girl.  So Karaline, if you are reading this someday, I hope you know how much you are loved.  I am so looking forward to watching you grow up and become a beautiful young lady.

The Journey of the Traveling Jean....

Rich and I got married in 1972.  We were 19 years old, in love and ready to start our lives.  What we didn't have in material things, we made up for in love.  Rich was very smart and a very hard worker, so I never doubted that our dreams would come true.  The smartest thing we ever did, was wait to have children.  Over the next five years, we grew up and saved our money.  Rich's plan was to build our home himself.  We found a lot we loved in Plymouth and just as we were breaking ground, we also broke other unchartered territory.  I unexpectantly became pregnant.  We were so happy, but the timing was a little off.  I kept working at the bank and every night after work and on weekends, Rich would be at the lot building our home.  I helped as much as I could, but obviously, that wasn't much.  All our extra money was going into the house, so baby things were not bought in abundance.  I was quite a seamstress back then and I made almost all Regan's clothes.  I was so proud of her name.  I would embroider her name on the little jumpsuits I would make her.  Everyone loved her name.  I did splurge on one thing when she was a baby...a real pair of blue jeans.  I bought them right there in Bourbon at a little store there in town.  It wasn't in business very long, but I saw those little jeans and I had to have them.  I never dreamed when I put them on my little girl, that I would also put them on my grandchildren.  When Seth came along three years later, I put them on him and he wore them alot too.  After he outgrew them, I put them away.  I gave away alot of their clothes, but I also saved alot of their favorite outfit.  I wish I would have saved more of my clothes and Rich's clothes back then.  I would love to have my bell bottoms that I wore and I would love to have those plaid polyester bell bottoms that Rich had.  They were a brown plaid and I remember he had chunky heel platform shoes.  Oh yes, as hideous as that sounds, he looked hot in them....lol  I probably had my brown granny dress on too. 

   As much as times change, its good to know that somethings don't change.  A little pair of Maverick blue jeans, bought 34 years ago...stood the test of time and still have alot more traveling to do.l

Its that time of year...go buy yourself a pretty pair of panties.

This is the first day of fall...the beginning of a change of seasons.  Our beloved Facebook is changing and being the humans that we are, we aren't accepting it very easily.  Like the changing of the seasons, after awhile, we realize we can't do anything about it, so we put on a sweater and shoes and socks.  My blog is about growing old gracefully...or at least I tell myself that.  My latest ailment is my feet.  Good lord, of all the things on my body that I thought I would NOT have to worry about, my feet were the last thing.  I always took pride in my feet.  My toes were always so pretty and they took me any place I wanted, without complaining.  In the last year, they have begun to let me know that they too are aging.  I now have a bunion.  What a pain in the foot that is.  Recently we went to NYC and walked a million miles.  I had tennis shoes on, but believe me, it did NOT make a difference.  Not sure how I am gonna get around this.  I recently went to a shoe repair place and bought a shoe stretcher.  Oh lordy, how did it come to this?  I'd rather be buying a pair of heels.
   All of us have children and grandchildren.  Through them, we are seeing ourselves age.  As they grow up, we have to accept that we are growing old too.  I remember when I was younger and saw my older family members...it just never registered, that I would one day take their place. I remember being young and feeling young and sexy.  They say you are as young as you feel...well somedays...I feel pretty old.  The problem with that is that if you let that feeling take over, you won't stay active and staying active is the only way to stay young.  Vicious circle and a constant battle to overcome.
   So with the changing of the seasons...I went to Victoria Secrets yesterday and picked up my free panty from them.  I chose the brightest color I could find.  Its not much, but it makes me feel young and pretty again...not wearing the bikinis anymore, but the hi-leg is still kinda sexy.  If you are a lady, go buy yourself a pretty pair of panties and if you are a guy...well, go commando!  What the heck!

You can go home.....but its not the same.

Rich and I went back home this past weekend for our 40th class reunion.  Renewing old friendships with common pasts.  Our class has been having reunions every 5 years.  Not too many new faces.  I have concluded that, if you didn't have a great experience in high school, you won't come back to the reunions.  I have heard it said lots of times, "if they didn't talk to me when I was in high school, why would I want to see them now".  I was always somewhere in the middle...not in the popular club....but I socialized there.  I was most comfortable, somewhere in the middle.  Those of us that do come, always have a great time.  Aging is a funny thing, it creeps up on us, stealing our identity.  We are all finally on the same playing field, sharing our reality.
    On Sunday, Rich and I went back to Bourbon.  Its been over 30 yrs. since we walked the streets of our hometown.  The town that I loved has changed so much, it was barely recognizable.  I remember how vibrant it used to be.  Small towns were so vital to everybody back then.  It was where you shopped for everything.  Bourbon had a wonderful grocery store called Dillingham's and above it a clothing store.  We also had a dime store and a furniture store, a hardware, jewelry, Cumberland pharmacy and Sharpe shoe store.  We had a news stand that always bustled with the most colorful of our townies.  At the heart of Bourbon was our bank, First State Bank, where I worked for 6 years.  I started working there right out of high school.  I started at minimum wage which was $1.35 an hour.  First State was a family owned one of a kind bank.  We were self contained and posted every check right there at the bank.  The things I learned and did, I can't believe I did for $1.35 an hour.  After a year, I was promoted to  bank teller, where again, the wage was the same.  I was responsible for so much money and I was only 20 years old.  After 6 years, I finally broke $3.00 an hour, but by then, I was pregnant with Regan and that ended my working career.  I loved every minute of it and the comradery of the women I worked with and the Mason's, will always be a cherished memory.  As we visited places in Bourbon, I went back to my bank.  It was as if time had stood still.  I looked in the window and everything was exactly the way it had always been.  The little town of Bourbon had changed, but the bank stood the test of time.  We went back to where our A&W Root Beer stand once stood.  For me, the ground is hallowed and holds the best times of my life.  I went to work there the summer I turned 16.  You had to be 16 before Harold would hire you.  I started out in the kitchen frying french fries, but soon became a car hop.  My first year there, the bypass had not been built yet, so all traffic on 30 came through Bourbon.  It was standing room only.  Lots of times every space would be parked 3-4 deep.  Again, I was only 16 yrs. old with a huge responsibility, working for 50 cents an hour plus tips.  An average tip back then was 25 cents, but then a spanish hot dog cost 25 cents and a mug of root beer was 10 cents, so in comparison, a 25 cent tip was good.  Once in awhile I would get a $1.00 tip, which was some guy wanting to get lucky with me.  Rich worked there too, he was inside manning the drinks and expediting the food.  My best friend India worked there too, so life was good...very good.
   Rich and I ate at the Bourbon Street Pizza place, which is in the old Dillingham building.  It was filled with old pictures of Bourbon.  I'm sure this must be popular with the kids, but it isn't even close to our Jim & Jeans.  That was truly Happy Days, with juke box and cherry cokes.  After every game, it was standing room only and the place to be.  After we ate our pizza, we drove around town visiting the places we used to live.  There was our very first little apartment on Thompson Street.  It was brand new when we moved in, then we moved to the red house on Center St. right next to the laundromat.  We lived in the upstairs apartment.  We only lived in apartments for our first year of marriage.  We then bought our first house at 304 Harris St. for $15,000.  It was the beginning for us...it fed our ability to build our first home in Plymouth and fulfil our dreams.

   So, yes you can go home and no it was not exactly the way I remembered it.  People change and our way of life has changed.  Not all change is for the better, but it made us the people we are today. 

Adventure in New York City...

ad-ven-ture  n.  1. a risky undertaking   2.  an unusual and exciting experience

   What an adventure we had....flying into a hurricane was probably not what most people would have done, in fact, I wanted to stay home, but I am glad we went.  Life is all about the stories you make.  Here is a recap of our adventure.
   We left home at 4:00 am Friday morning, but the upside to that was that we arrived in NYC by 8:30am.  We got to our hotel by 9:30am.  It was right in the heart of Manhatten on Wall Street.  We dropped our luggage off and quickly got out to enjoy the city.  Our first stop was Ground Zero, which was very close to our Hotel.  We went to the Ground Zero Museum.  Well worth our time.  We saw a piece of one of the planes that hit the tower.  It was the window of the plane.  It just gave me chills to look at it, because I imagined the terror of the person sitting by it looking out.  Someday, I want to go back and see it completely done.  It will be a National Treasure.  After that, we headed for Times Square.  We walked alot, but did take the subway too.  When we got there, the first thing we saw was the Naked Cowgirl...didn't know there was a Naked Cowgirl...Rich enjoyed that...she was adorable.  A little ways down was the Cowboy.  I stood beside him for the picture.  He put his arm around me.  He was pretty tall, so my arm went a little lower.  All of a sudden, I realized I was cupping his butt with my hand...I told him I was so sorry and he graciously said, "well, that's alright mam".  From there we saw Rockefeller Center and where NBC studios are.  The ice skating rink is all filled with little restaurants in the summer time, so its not near as pretty as it is in the winter time.  Central Park was our next stop.  Rich thought it would be a good idea to rent bikes.  I wasn't feeling too good, kinda queazy, but I said ok.  You could rent by the hour.  I told him to just rent it for a hour, but I got overruled by him and the guy selling the bikes.  We now have our bike for 2 hrs.  Well, off we go.  Central park is such a beautiful place, but it has alot more HILLS than you think.  Maybe it was the heat and humidity that day or maybe it was because I was so sick, but I was just about ready to call 911.  My butt was kicked....big time!  Trust me an hour was plenty long enough, but we have them for two...believe me...the words, "I told you so" were mentioned more than once.  Well, somehow, I made it through and got back to the entrance to the park.  We were both so hot and tired.  We found us an AC bar.  I ordered a Michelob Ultra and I swear, I drank it all in one gulp.  We had not really been checking our phones all afternoon, so Rich got his phone out.  He saw where Denny, our best friend, had been trying to call him.  He called him back.  Denny asked where we were and Rich said Central Park.  Denny said, "Get back now...the kids are getting married NOW".  We hopped on the nearest subway and got back as soon as we could.  There were other people they were waiting on too, so we weren't the last ones to get there.  We showered and put on our good clothes and went down to the lobby of the Hotel.  The Hotel had a room that the kids used to get married.  It wasn't even close to what Lauren had planned and dreamed of, but every place they had rented was being shut down and closed by noon on Saturday.  In fact, we had to evacuate the Hotel first thing in the morning.  The wedding was beautiful, because all the people that mattered were there.  My friend Janet, the Mother of the Bride, sang a song to her daughter that night and it was beautiful.  The end result was that they were married and that is all that mattered.
   The next morning we got up and evacuated to uptown NYC by Times Square.  The Marriott had rooms for us, so we were lucky.  Now we just had to wait and see what hurricane Irene had in store for us.  Once the public transportation shuts down...NYC becomes a ghost town.  The only thing that was on the roads were the yellow cabs.  They shut down almost all the stores and restaurants.  They had to send their workers home before the subways closed or they couldn't get home.  We found a small bar/restaurant called the Pig and Whistle...they were selling Hurricanes for $6 and I think they packed more of a wallop than Irene did.  One of them and I was laughing a whole lot more.  We all went to bed that night wondering what the night and morning would hold for us.  Rich and I were up bright and early at 6:30.  We both went to the window as if it were Christmas morning, wondering what we would see.  When you are downtown New York and in a high rise, its hard to get a good perspective of the storm, but from where we were sitting....back in Indiana, we saw alot worse.  We never heard any thunder or saw any lightning.  There was no hail either...yes it rained hard at times and the wind seemed to be blowing hard at times, but nothing seemed that bad.  It had passed over NY by 9:00am and Rich and I and the Weber's decided to survey the damage.  Well, we walked to the Hudson river and all over the city, but the only thing I saw was a small branch, a broken umbrella and I stepped in a big puddle of water.  So, we survived Hurricane Irene...it was an adventure to say the least.  I can now say I have been evacuated and saw a hurricane up close and personal.  Life is all about making the most of the situation that you are in.  All of us were in the same boat.  We just put on our life vests and kept on paddling.  We got our couple married and toasted their marriage.  We ate their wedding cupcakes and shared a memorable experience with them.  They are a great couple and I know it wasn't what they had planned, but they were brave and gracious and made the most of their special moment.

   We left for home on Monday as planned...no problems at the airport.  Home seemed a little bit sweeter this time and getting back to normal sounds awfully good.

Premature...

pre-ma-ture  adj. Occurring, born, done, or existing prior to the customary, correct or assigned time, early.
   This week a premature death occurred.  A young woman of body and spirit, left this earth "prematurely".  When you are young, or as I think of people now, in their 60's, it is just too soon to be thinking about death, but this week, that reality hit home for me.  She was my age and didn't look a day over 50.  She was health conscious and loved life.  She loved God and spoke of him often.  I know she is in a good place now, but I feel sad for all of us that knew her.  We are still here, with many unanswered questions...all her questions are answered.  I am glad I had I got to know her for the short time that I did.  I hope someday, when it is my turn to get my questions answered, someone will look back on my life and say that I made a difference, that I made someone laugh or think.  That I made a difference in my family's life and that I left something behind that will be remembered always.
   I was born at a time when smoking was acceptable, even on an airplane.  Seat belts were thought of as a bother and car seats for children were our Mom's laps or the arm rest in the car.  Telephones were the only high tech thing we had and it was attached to the wall and had words as the first part of the number.  My old number was: Hyatt 8-6468.  Isn't that funny that I still remember that?  We also were on a party line with our neighbors down the road.  Parking had a whole new meaning when I was growing up.  It wasn't in a lot, but down our favorite dirt road.  Going to a gas station was a pleasant experience.  Someone came out to our car, washed our windows, filled our gas tanks, all for about $5....wow, I can't even believe that.   We had our Happy Day hangout with a jukebox and you knew everyone that came in.  In the summertime we had the Root Beer stand where I worked.  It was the social hangout for everyone and cruising around with the windows down was what everyone did.  Yes, it is true my life is over half over, but that first half was really something special and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  The second half is so much different than the first.  I have made a family and now my family is at the center of all my memories.  My mission now, is to leave behind me my footprints that they can follow and always remember.
   

A different perspective...

I remember when I was in high school, I used to think my teachers were all old.  How funny that I call those same teachers my friends now here on Facebook and they don't seem old now at all.  Age gives you a whole new perspective on things.  For a very long time, I really didn't understand this "growing old thing".  I just never thought it would happen to me, I guess I thought somehow, I would stay the same.  My reality hit at about 55.  Menopause had ravaged my body and my mind and since then I have been trying to get aquainted with the new me.  You have to learn to not fight it, but not succumb to it either.  Embracing my time here on earth and enjoying my family is my main focus now.  I have to admit my 40th class reunion this year has made the vain side of me take notice.  Believe me, I will be doing all that I can to look the best that I can, but it is what it is and that's ok. 
    There is a lady on Ellen right now who says she is 60 yrs. old and that she runs 8 miles everyday.  I don't even like to drive my car 8 miles....just way to far.  I get a kick out of people that couldn't run to the mailbox.  They always say, " well good for you".  Yeah that is like saying, "are you insane, better you than me".   I know I should exercise more, but my energy level and my aches and pains bring me to reality real quick.  I joined LA Fitness this summer, but after a few weeks of going, I realized, that it was no fun.  I usually felt worse after I did it than before.  How is that possible?  I do like to walk, but the 90 degree heat and 80% humidity put an end to that too.  All those pounds I had hoped to lose this summer just never happened.  I temporarily lost them after the colonoscopy I had, but that was short lived.  I guess I filled my colon right back up. 

    So in perspective...life is good...no matter what stage you are in...if you are happy and have people that love you.  I realize now that health is everything....you can't buy it and all your things you have can't make you well.  So take care of yourself, find acceptance in yourself and the people around you.  Sometimes that's not easy, but it makes life so much more enjoyable.

More Menopausal Thank-You Notes.....

My cup runneth over with gratitude to Menopause.  Here are a few more of my thank-yous...

1.  Thank you menopause for taking away my insatiable appetite for sex...I have more time for knitting and jig-saw puzzles now....
2.  I can't thank you enough for my feet, those bones sticking out on the side of my foot now, make my sandles look rustic.
3.  Thank you fillings in my teeth...I am finally getting pearly white teeth, one crown at a time...
4.  Also, thank-you to my colon, because of you I have to get a colonoscopy and I will probably lose 5 pounds and alot of my dignity.
5.  Thank you to my friends who are also Menopausal.  Misery loves company and it is comforting to know that I am not the only one going through this.
6.  And thank-you to my husband who has put up with the mood swings, hot flashes and forgetfulness and still loves me.

More to come as they happen.....

Before there were hand held hair dryers.....

Facebook has made alot of us, reminisce about the old days....reconnect with old friends and make new ones.  I know when we were living through our youth, we never realized just how great it was.  I grew up on a farm near Tippecanoe IN.  My summers were filled with playing outdoors and taking care of my animals.  I had lots of baby calves to love and always a litter of baby kittens to cuddle.  Right down the road on the next farm, lived the Baileys and I enjoyed playing endlessly with them.  Who wanted to stay indoors, we had NO air conditioning and cartoons were only on Saturday mornings.  My teenage years were truly like Happy Days...didn't know that then, but looking back, they sure were.  The Root Beer Stand played a big part in my life.  It was my first job and where I hooked up with India, my best friend.  I loved going to the Roy house so much.  It was a place where I always felt welcome and had so much fun.  We might not have had cell phones, computers, fancy cars, hand held hair dryers or all the other things we have now, but what we did have, was simpler times and any kind of a future we wanted.  I kinda feel sorry for the younger generation now, they will never know what it was like to have their very own hangout, where everyone, knew everybody and a quarter bought the best french fries ever and you could listen to all your favorites on the juke box.  They also never got to experience real "parking" on a dirt road listening to the Doors and The Carpenters.  I know that is a weird combination, but I liked both of them.  Our little town of Bourbon was very pro-kids back then...we had dances in the street quite regularly and dances after football and basketball games weren't just at Homecoming.  The Firestation let us have the upstairs of the Firestation as a Youth Center, where our local bands could play every weekend.  If you were bored, it wasn't because of things to do.  I remember sitting on the console of my current boyfriend's car, thank goodness, he never had to stop real quick, because I would have been on the hood.  And how cool was it to wear your boyfriend's huge class ring all wrapped in angora....These were the best of times and even though I'm not too excited to be getting older...I wouldn't want to give up my past to be young again. 

Forever and a day....

39 years ago I married a boy who became an amazing man.  We started dating in the fall of 1970.  I knew after our first date, that I was going to marry him.  The chemestry between us was instant and I felt like I was home.  Rich was so handsome and so smart, I just knew we were going to make it.  We both wanted the same things out of life.  We were both 19 yers old, but we waited to start our family for five years.  I am so glad we did that.  We grew up together, so when I found out I was pregnant with Regan, we were ready.  Rich is such a great Dad.  He was always so active in their lives.  He was their coach on their teams and helped teach them everything that he knew.  They both took after Rich when it came to their athletic ability.  I had to wait until Regan had her little girl before I got someone more like me.  No marriage is perfect, we have had our ups and downs like everyone else, but the one constant that always trumped our problems, was our love for each other and our family.
   So on this 39th Anniversary of our marriage, I want to tell Rich that I love him more today than ever before.  It might be a different kind of love, the passion isn't as intense as it used to be, but the deep love is stronger than ever.  I know I was the luckiest girl in the world when you married me and I am still the luckiest woman in the world to have a partner that has always been there for me and I know always will.
   When we first started dating I got you a little figurine of two people kissing and I wrote on the bottom of it "Forever and a day".  I still feel the same way I did way back then....I will love you forever and a day....