I was doing a search today for long-lost cousins on Facebook. I'm thinking about starting a cousins group. There are so many of them out there that I have no clue about - if they're dead or alive...if they're well or happy.
This of course led to a thread of thought about not being able to say hello - or even goodbye to the people who come and go in your life. The people you have connected with, whether it be by blood or acquaintance.
As often happens, I don't know where I'm going with this thread of thought but it somehow makes me sad that I haven't been better about keeping in touch with people in my life. Saying hello - or saying goodbye.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Zebra Stripes
I am SO over zebra stripes. I have a zebra jacket, shirt, purse, pillows and my favorite blankie...
I've had a zebra picture as my phone wallpaper.
For the last 3 or so years its been my pattern of choice. I would naturally gravitate to the zebra stripes. Something in me was soothed by them, I guess. I'm not sure why. All I know now is I'm done with it. If I never see another zebra stripe again in my life, I'm ok with that.
I just thought I'd throw that in...
I've had a zebra picture as my phone wallpaper.
For the last 3 or so years its been my pattern of choice. I would naturally gravitate to the zebra stripes. Something in me was soothed by them, I guess. I'm not sure why. All I know now is I'm done with it. If I never see another zebra stripe again in my life, I'm ok with that.
I just thought I'd throw that in...
Dad and One Hundred
This is a favorite picture of mine. It's of my dad at the back of my grandparents house. I'm sure I was told at some point how old he was here, but I don't recall. He appears to be a young teenager. Its fun looking at this picture because I can see all of my brothers in him as well as myself.
This month of June is my dad's 100th birthday month. We are having a Stewart family reunion in August to commemorate the anniversary. I am looking forward to seeing all my family and am very hopeful that all of my children and grandchildren will attend, as well as my nieces and nephews and their families.
My dad was not the type of man to show his emotions to people, but I know without a doubt he will be there with us in spirit, looking at his progeny and have a tear of pride in his eyes. It's an honor to be his daughter.
Dad and Mom as I remember them.
This month of June is my dad's 100th birthday month. We are having a Stewart family reunion in August to commemorate the anniversary. I am looking forward to seeing all my family and am very hopeful that all of my children and grandchildren will attend, as well as my nieces and nephews and their families.
My dad was not the type of man to show his emotions to people, but I know without a doubt he will be there with us in spirit, looking at his progeny and have a tear of pride in his eyes. It's an honor to be his daughter.
Dad and Mom as I remember them.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Focus Focus Focus
I've been having a really hard time focusing lately. OK - always- but more so lately. I think I have adult ADD (attention deficit disorder).
I start a project or even a simple task such as taking the dishes out of the dishwasher and any little thing can divert my attention. (Can you say 'shiny object?") So the dishes remain half put away, the closet is half clean, the painting is half done and I'm always looking to start something else.
My goal this week is to finish something...even if its only the week itself.
I'll add a few of my (nearly) finished paintings if the blog will allow me to...
Monday, June 8, 2009
birthdays happen
Friday was my birthday. It kind of ticks me off that I'm getting older. I don't feel older, but I guess I must look older. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing (always) that I'm 3 minutes younger than my twin brother David.
My husband was on a 2-week business trip, so my 3 local kids, my daughter-in-law, 3 granddaughters and a little friend of Ryann's went to the beach for the weekend. Ryann has decided that crab legs are the best thing ever and the casino has a sea food buffet on Friday night, so we went there for dinner. I'm not sure how the little friend's parents are going to feel about me taking her to a gambling establishment to eat, but it was good food anyway. We were all stuffed so we put off the birthday cake until Saturday. Stephanie, my daughter-in-law made it and assured us all it would be even better the next day, and it was! It was chocolate cake with a layer of cheesecake in the middle, and then a layer of sour cream filling with crushed Oreo cookies in it. The whole amazing cake was then iced with a chocolate pudding/sour cream icing. My mouth is watering just writing about it. It was served with a dollop of cherry pie filling. It was heaven-on-a-plate.
On Saturday afternoon we went to see a new Pixar film, Up. It's a cute film and the storyline was amazingly mature, with the exception of the talking dogs. We spent the rest of the afternoon resting and wondering why it was raining.
Saturday night Amy and Stephanie were tired, so Kevin, Kerry and I decided to go to the casino for a little while. It was great fun, and we managed to make our small amount of money last a good while. On the way home I decided to take 'the back way"...that may have been a minor mistake. Just as we were pulling into our driveway we saw the telltale red and blue flashing lights of a policeman. I was pretty sure I hadn't done anything wrong, so I'm sure some of my indignation was evident in my voice when he walked up to my window and I said "WHAT in the world did I DO!!!" His reply was that I hadn't signaled a turn into my driveway. Since there was no one around on my dark street, it seemed unnecessary to me.
Anyway, I gave him my license and tried to be as polite as possible as he went back to his car to check me out. It seemed like a pretty lame reason to stop me. As he came back to my car he admitted that he was using ANY excuse to stop me because he thought perhaps we had been drinking since I was driving so carefully and the intersection we had come through had a bar on the corner. (I was driving carefully because the City has a lot of cops who sit in wait for people here.) Of course I hadn't been drinking and he apologized for taking our time. I guess I appreciate that he at least was honest about why he stopped me. Of course during the whole time this took place his lights were flashing so Amy and Stephanie were worried sick inside the house, and trying to get a peek at us.
Sunday was the first day it didn't rain, so we took the kids to the beach. I decided it was necessary to show the girls how to make a REAL sand castle. We had a great time (albeit a little cold) and they learned some sand construction basics.
All-in-all it was a good weekend.
My husband was on a 2-week business trip, so my 3 local kids, my daughter-in-law, 3 granddaughters and a little friend of Ryann's went to the beach for the weekend. Ryann has decided that crab legs are the best thing ever and the casino has a sea food buffet on Friday night, so we went there for dinner. I'm not sure how the little friend's parents are going to feel about me taking her to a gambling establishment to eat, but it was good food anyway. We were all stuffed so we put off the birthday cake until Saturday. Stephanie, my daughter-in-law made it and assured us all it would be even better the next day, and it was! It was chocolate cake with a layer of cheesecake in the middle, and then a layer of sour cream filling with crushed Oreo cookies in it. The whole amazing cake was then iced with a chocolate pudding/sour cream icing. My mouth is watering just writing about it. It was served with a dollop of cherry pie filling. It was heaven-on-a-plate.
On Saturday afternoon we went to see a new Pixar film, Up. It's a cute film and the storyline was amazingly mature, with the exception of the talking dogs. We spent the rest of the afternoon resting and wondering why it was raining.
Saturday night Amy and Stephanie were tired, so Kevin, Kerry and I decided to go to the casino for a little while. It was great fun, and we managed to make our small amount of money last a good while. On the way home I decided to take 'the back way"...that may have been a minor mistake. Just as we were pulling into our driveway we saw the telltale red and blue flashing lights of a policeman. I was pretty sure I hadn't done anything wrong, so I'm sure some of my indignation was evident in my voice when he walked up to my window and I said "WHAT in the world did I DO!!!" His reply was that I hadn't signaled a turn into my driveway. Since there was no one around on my dark street, it seemed unnecessary to me.
Anyway, I gave him my license and tried to be as polite as possible as he went back to his car to check me out. It seemed like a pretty lame reason to stop me. As he came back to my car he admitted that he was using ANY excuse to stop me because he thought perhaps we had been drinking since I was driving so carefully and the intersection we had come through had a bar on the corner. (I was driving carefully because the City has a lot of cops who sit in wait for people here.) Of course I hadn't been drinking and he apologized for taking our time. I guess I appreciate that he at least was honest about why he stopped me. Of course during the whole time this took place his lights were flashing so Amy and Stephanie were worried sick inside the house, and trying to get a peek at us.
Sunday was the first day it didn't rain, so we took the kids to the beach. I decided it was necessary to show the girls how to make a REAL sand castle. We had a great time (albeit a little cold) and they learned some sand construction basics.
All-in-all it was a good weekend.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
cowards
I haven't felt much like writing lately. I really don't feel like writing now, but I'm going to. I'll just keep on until they make me stop, I guess.
I had an unusual experience a few weeks ago. I was in my car leaving Walmart with my 2 youngest granddaughters in the back seat. I looked up the street and saw something that seemed so out of place I couldn't process it for a moment. It was a walker, tipped over in the street. I was puzzling about that when I noticed the woman. She apparently had fallen on the sidewalk while trying to catch her walker as it rolled down the hill. I discovered later that she was waiting for a bus when the walker got away from her.
She was sprawled face down on the sidewalk with her feet pointing uphill. She was a large woman and because of her physical problems as well as her awkward position was unable to sit up, let alone stand.
I made a quick left turn uphill instead of the right turn I was planning and stopped my car. I put on my emergency flashers and told the girls that I would be right back, but I wouldn't be far away. I didn't want to upset them. I ran across the street and talked to the woman first to determine if she was ill or injured. I helped her turn over so that at least her face wasn't planted in the sidewalk. I was looking around frantically for help because I knew I wasn't going to be able to get her up alone. She out-weighed me by 80 or more pounds. I saw a car in the same spot I had been moments before when I spotted her. I made eye contact with the driver of the car and waved like crazy to let her know I needed help -I was yelling for help at that moment, as well. The driver looked at me, turned her head and drove away - pretending she didn't see me. She saw me and the position I was in I have no doubt, but chose to drive away rather than get involved.
Moments later another car pulled up behind mine. A young woman yelled out the window "do you need help?" All I could do was say was a grateful "yes!". She jumped out of the car and ran across the street. As she bent over to help me, I recognized her as a young woman I have known for much of her life. She helped me get the woman on her feet and we determined she wasn't hurt other than some scrapes and bruises. Then and only then the young woman looked at me and said "oh my gosh...I didn't even recognize that it was you!"
My point in telling this story is probably a little vague, but I'll try to make it more clear. The young woman who stopped and helped was a hero. She didn't worry about getting involved. She simply saw someone in need and acted on it. I doubt she even had to think about it - it came as natural to her as breathing. She wasn't worried about it messing up her schedule or taking up her valuable time.
The other woman was a coward. She may have been worried about an appointment, or the next stop on her list of errands. Or perhaps she wasn't physically able to help, but she certainly could have taken a moment to go back into the store and get some help.
There will always be cowards. People who don't want to take the time or effort to get involved. Those people will never know what they are missing in life. These types of situations come along in our lives rarely and if we are able to help another human being - even for a moment - it is our duty, honor and privilege to do so. I know that. Chrystal knows that. I wonder if the woman in the other car has any idea of the opportunity she missed to serve.
I had an unusual experience a few weeks ago. I was in my car leaving Walmart with my 2 youngest granddaughters in the back seat. I looked up the street and saw something that seemed so out of place I couldn't process it for a moment. It was a walker, tipped over in the street. I was puzzling about that when I noticed the woman. She apparently had fallen on the sidewalk while trying to catch her walker as it rolled down the hill. I discovered later that she was waiting for a bus when the walker got away from her.
She was sprawled face down on the sidewalk with her feet pointing uphill. She was a large woman and because of her physical problems as well as her awkward position was unable to sit up, let alone stand.
I made a quick left turn uphill instead of the right turn I was planning and stopped my car. I put on my emergency flashers and told the girls that I would be right back, but I wouldn't be far away. I didn't want to upset them. I ran across the street and talked to the woman first to determine if she was ill or injured. I helped her turn over so that at least her face wasn't planted in the sidewalk. I was looking around frantically for help because I knew I wasn't going to be able to get her up alone. She out-weighed me by 80 or more pounds. I saw a car in the same spot I had been moments before when I spotted her. I made eye contact with the driver of the car and waved like crazy to let her know I needed help -I was yelling for help at that moment, as well. The driver looked at me, turned her head and drove away - pretending she didn't see me. She saw me and the position I was in I have no doubt, but chose to drive away rather than get involved.
Moments later another car pulled up behind mine. A young woman yelled out the window "do you need help?" All I could do was say was a grateful "yes!". She jumped out of the car and ran across the street. As she bent over to help me, I recognized her as a young woman I have known for much of her life. She helped me get the woman on her feet and we determined she wasn't hurt other than some scrapes and bruises. Then and only then the young woman looked at me and said "oh my gosh...I didn't even recognize that it was you!"
My point in telling this story is probably a little vague, but I'll try to make it more clear. The young woman who stopped and helped was a hero. She didn't worry about getting involved. She simply saw someone in need and acted on it. I doubt she even had to think about it - it came as natural to her as breathing. She wasn't worried about it messing up her schedule or taking up her valuable time.
The other woman was a coward. She may have been worried about an appointment, or the next stop on her list of errands. Or perhaps she wasn't physically able to help, but she certainly could have taken a moment to go back into the store and get some help.
There will always be cowards. People who don't want to take the time or effort to get involved. Those people will never know what they are missing in life. These types of situations come along in our lives rarely and if we are able to help another human being - even for a moment - it is our duty, honor and privilege to do so. I know that. Chrystal knows that. I wonder if the woman in the other car has any idea of the opportunity she missed to serve.
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