Soak Up The Sun

For some reason I thought everyone knew, but I was talking with Kimberly last week and she said she had no clue that Tarah had been in the music video, "Soak up the Sun" by Cheryl Crow. Here is the link, and the still shot. Just for fun and kicks and giggles and genealogy sakes....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIYiGA_rIls

This picture shows up at 1:20 into the video just FYI....

Funny Stuff, Do not count me out until you know all of the facts

This is for all of us closing in on the "Golden Years". This is something

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that happened at an assisted living center.

The people who lived there have small apartments but they all eat at a

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central cafeteria. One morning one of the residents didn't show up for

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breakfast, so my wife went upstairs and knocked on his door to see if
everything was OK. She could hear him through the door and he said that he

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was running late and would be down shortly so she went back to the dining
area.

An hour later he still hadn't arrived so she went back up towards his room

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and she found him on the stairs. He was coming down the stairs but was

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having a hell of time. He had a death grip on the hand rail and seemed to

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have trouble getting his legs to work right. She told him she was going to

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call an ambulance but he told her no, he wasn't in any pain and just wanted
to have his breakfast. So she helped him the rest of the way down the stairs

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and he had his breakfast.

When he tried to return to his room he was completely unable to get up even

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the first step so they called an ambulance for him. A couple hours later she
called the hospital to see how he was doing. The receptionist there said he

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was fine, he just had both of his legs in one leg of his boxer shorts.

I am sending this to my children so that they don't sell the house before

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they know all the facts.

Bittersweet

Each time I visit with family I have the thrill of going back to my bed (yes, I am aware I have a bed here), my recliner, my current items/space, and the gut wrenching feeling of leaving. I HATE leaving so badly. I feel this way no matter what family members I am visiting, although my kids and grand kids are the worst, and mom, I do not know how many more visits with her I get, so that is hard too.

I so appreciate being able to visit. Not only the ability, but being allowed in to my girls lives. I am so proud of all of you. Each of you have accomplished so much for yourselves. Thank you for being who you are!

I cannot believe how fast time is going. Like Kimberly said, each generation says that, certain things concerning the youth and slowing down and enjoying some of it. However, it is so true!

Love you all so very much. Mom

The More I Learn, The Less I Know

As I get older some things start to click. It is amazing to me that I have heard something a thousand times, read it, learned it etc. and it never stuck, until one day it just literally smacks you upside the head and says, hey idiot, you have known this forever, now DO IT!!

I send out a blanket I'm Sorry to everyone that I have ever crossed paths with, and exchanged words or actions with, because if I did more than smile and move on, I did something wrong. Maybe I did not smile, but moved on. Maybe I did not notice your pain because of my pain (not an excuse btw, just a fact, unfortunately), maybe I said something without thinking, or in a hurry, or asked a question and did not take the time to listen, or spoke over you to get my thought/point across. Whatever it was, if we have had an interaction I could have done it wrong. I also could have done it right and you took it wrong, I could have done it right but you saw thru it to my lack of understanding and forgave me then and there, not sure, just know I have done and said a LOT wrong.

I will tell you, I have never intentionally hurt anyone in my life. I have been angry at some, hurt by many, but even in the darkest pain, rarely did I want to cause harm. (I say rarely, because there were a few times I wished Donovan struck down while hurting me). Other than that, I never wished or intentionally set out to hurt or seek revenge on anyone.

I have been blessed with so many amazing people in my life. I believe that we meet people for a reason. I do not think those that are in my life, are there by random chance. If I am paying attention, I learn a lot from those around me. I have not paid a lot of attention overall. I wish I could say that was different. I wish I could say that I have listened when needed, hugged when needed, wept with those that needed it, shut up when needed, and been exactly what others needed me to be, but I cannot. I do need to take care of myself, but never at the expense of someone I love. That said, I do believe that I do no good to someone if I am hiding and ignoring my stuff to make you feel better, that is not what I mean. However, I would never intentionally sacrifice someone I loved for me to be happy or content.

I am learning now. I am understanding more now. I am going to continue to do so.

One lesson I have learned quite clearly (and this is another, oh my gosh how did you not apply that to your life yet? situations. When someone is forced to act, be, do, say something that they themselves do not believe in, they will not only not appreciate it or find the joy and fulfillment you may want them to find, but they will more than likely resent the heck out of you and the item you are asking them to act, be, do, or say for a long long time if not forever.

There are no instruction manuals on how to be a parent/person, yes there are a million books. But everyone of us has and will continue to make mistakes. Learning from those mistakes is what makes us who we are. Learning, growing, and changing for the better. I am old, I am a very very slow learner. I appreciate all of you that understand and forgive, are patient, and know that I love you regardless of my ignorance. I am trying now. I am out of the fog enough to focus, to understand. Please keep teaching me. Please keep being my examples. Please keep loving me despite me. I am so lucky to have you in my life. I am trying to understand and learn and grow along with you all.