Last Friday

Sorry I neglected to post Friday night/Saturday morning. Funny story. I forgot to go by the bank and get cash for my coffee/lottery stop-and the gas station is before the bank so I would have to go to the bank and then double back to get my Friday fix so I decided against that and borrowed twenty bucks from the unsuspecting hubster. So I'm scratching away and not winning crap until my eighth ticket and then I won fifty bucks and keep scratching. Whoa-I see the word "Jumbo" and ten dollars. Shazam another fifty bucks. A total of one hundred dollars on one ticket. Didn't win anything on the ninth and tenth tickets, but I couldn't wait to go to the gas station and see if I had really won a hundred dollars. I did. And I paid hubster back, but he says he deserves half of the winnings. The verdict is still out on that one.

Setting the expectation

Five years ago, I was sent to Ft. Meyers as part of a hurricane recovery team to help cleanup. While I was down there, I heard an advertisement for "The Seashell Capital of the World". I've always been one to collect sea shells-it doesn't matter if it's fresh water mussel shells, I collect them. This was way before Pinterest came into my life and introduced me to a whole new world of arts and crafts using those shells. So I wanted to see the Seashell Capital of the world. After working over seventy hours in the space of five days, I was offered a chance to take an earlier flight out of Fort Meyers-combined with the overwhelming fact that I missed my kids something terrible-my dream of seeing the Seashell Capital became just that-a dream. When Dwight asked me if I still wanted to go there, I couldn't believe it. I never thought I'd get a chance to see Sanibel Island. One week from today, I will be strolling those beaches trying to keep my seashell obsession down to one legal bucket. I know the island lays east to west and most islands lay north to south. I've studied the tide chart and printed it out. I know there are 250 different kinds of shells to be found. I know the names of some of them and which ones are supposed to be the really hard ones to find-but to be honest, I just like the pretty ones. There are fifteen miles of beaches and one light house. I wonder what the air will smell like and how the sand will feel-but I've read it's safer to wear shoes in the water because of the rays close to the shore. In general, I'm hoping it's half as pretty as the advertisements and that Dwight can put up with me til we get there. Are we there yet?

Happy Mother's Day MOM

Happy Mother's Day Mom- I know you'll be at church today with your other kids-making their very first communion. I've always been very proud of you for the work that you do. You're not just important to your kids-but to so many other kids as well...you always have been. I wish I could tell you how much I love you-and one day to honor a mother is just a travesty. Please know that I love you more each year-and each year I think that I can't love you more than I already do-and then bam! You go and do something really crazy and unexpected that makes me love and respect you even more.

Mother's Day Eve

That's right it's Mother's Day Eve-your last chance to go shopping and buy her something shinny or your last twenty four hours to finish that project. Either way, I hope you make time to make her feel special. Too many people lose their moms way, way too soon. Since, tomorrow is the big day-I'd like to take today to honor the "other mothers" . You know the ones-those that do the motherly things to kids not even their own. They run the carpools-and go the extra distance to make home made/really cools snacks for the team/friends at the house. They give hugs and words of encouragement. They praise good behavior and go one step further-they walk the walk and set good examples of how adults behave.  They frequently show their love-it might be with a phone call, a text, or even facebook. They hold hands and wipe noses-some even change diapers and the kids don't call them "Mom". Sometimes, they're just there-being there when a kid needs someone-those are the people that have my deepest gratitude-the ones that have been there for my kids. The one that prounounced my son as her favorite "nephew".  The one that gave him encouragement to follow his dreams and continues to offer him invaluable career advice. The one that listened to my daughter as she cried her eyes out over some stupid boy. The one that attended "The" game. The one that said "I'm proud of you" to a young adult wanting some else's approval. Maybe a hug was the only thing said-and that was just what was needed. It seems that through the years, you've always been there. It hasn't gone unnoticed or unappreciated. A word of thanks doesn't convey the depth of my gratitude. They don't call you "Mom" but a Mother's love you have shown. Thank you and may God bless you for all you have done, have been, and continue to be...

In the news...

I've been reading about three women found after being held in captivity for ten long years. Three men lived in the house. The latest reports say that two were released because they had nothing to do with the abductions. Excuse me. Did they not notice three women chained up for ten years? There's just no way the women were completely silent for that long. Think about the extra groceries. That (ahem) certain time of the month. I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that they went undetected for ten years. They had to eat( though reports say they were malnourished), use the rest room, bathe, and none of this was noticed by the extra men living in the house? Not buying it.

Deleting the number

Two months ago today, Marty became an angel. My brain is having the hardest time processing this-I still think I can just drop by and see her or call. She'd answer the phone and her voice would crack when she said my name-just like it always did. I'd tell her about the kids and we'd talk about hummingbirds, what's blooming, and if strawberries were in season-I'd promise to bring her some. But I can't call anymore, heaven's just too far away.
I started to hit the delete button and memories just came flooding in...there was Marty and Mike making a champagne toast at the restaurant after Tracey's graduation, there were the two of them getting into the limo to be taken to their 50th anniversary party, there was Marty juggling grandkids in Mass and washing them in her kitchen sink. Marty at the hospital so excited to have another grandchild to hold and spoil. There was Marty teaching the granddaughters how to make her famous "Waldorf salad" and the green stuff. There was lunch at Bojangles. Holidays and Birthday parties.  Card games and Cross word puzzles. Book reviews and raunchy jokes shared over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee. You had to laugh when Marty laughed at her own jokes-she was just too funny. She was a lot of things to a lot of people. You know in spite of my misty eyes, I had to smile. There were just too many memories to make me smile. So I hit the delete button, but all those memories are stored.

Good luck Beefy

Wishing you luck on your interview today. Personally, I think they'd be stupid not to hire you.
Keeping my fingers crossed and sending the good luck vibes your way.