One More Try...

Hope you all had a fabulous and blessed holiday.  Ours was filled with all of the things that make it special.  I have been blessed with so many gifts including a loving family, wonderful friends, and spiritual peace.

The food and drink was the usual overindulgence-and I loved every tasty bite and sip.  the mild weather was a bonus.  At the dinner table, we held hands and with teary eyes, prayed for the ones who were celebrating in heaven. Church was packed and I swear that you could actually feel the spirit of the Christ child as we heard the ancient scripture and songs.  Our gifts included hugs and laughter and remembering past Christmas holidays.  My brother's dog got along with Mickey and Hazel only knocked two bulbs off the tree.  And no one stole our Star Shower! 

What more could I ask for?  With a deep breath, I pray for continued health and contentment.  Merry Christmas to you all.  xoxo

Rest in Peace George Micheal.  I'm forever your fan. xo

Matter of Time...

Time.  Where does the time go?  How did it get to be the end of December?  Seems like just yesterday it was Memorial Day and we were parked around the bonfire anticipating a long, wonderful summer.  Time is on our side?  I don't think so.

Although I usually wear Dane's Swiss Army watch, I usually check my phone for the time.  However, I am reminded by the watch that Dane has been gone for 2 1/2 years.  How is this even possible?

At a family Christmas celebration last weekend I looked around and realized that my little cousins now had children of their own when it seems like only yesterday they we babies themselves.  I'm now that weird old auntie that says, "I can't believe how you have grown-now get over here and hug me!"

Our days seem to fly by in segments marked by hours and minutes that pass so very quickly.  All events are on a timer that we must watch incessantly so we don't dare be late or worse, even miss things.  It's pressure and stress for me.

I hear a saying that rings so very true, "For the young the days go fast and the years go slow;  for the old the days go slow and the years go fast." 

Guess all we can do is muddle along as best we can without checking our watches too much.  After the first of the year I vow to pass the time my very favorite way.  I will lay on the couch and read.  Then doze off awhile.  Then pick up my book again until I drift off again.  And I will enjoy this without guilt.  It's only time, right?  And it's passing too fast to not do the things we love.

I hope this week before Christmas finds you all doing what you love.  There's no time like the present.  xo

Christmas Wrapping...

At a recent holiday soiree me and my  galpal got in our cups and cracked ourselves up by commenting on the lack of relevancy in the Christmas music playing on the hifi.   Thought I'd share a bit of our  sarcasm and some snippets of our conversation as we wittily pointed out the obvious. 

It's The Most Wonderful time of the Year?
Well, ready or not, the madness is here!

All I Want for Christmas?  That song is so cloying and
dogs barking Jingle Bells is just plain annoying.

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...okay,
but third degree burns would not be good today.

Dashing all the way, in a one horse open sleigh?
To my pre-heated Jeep is really more the way!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland?  Brrr..rrrrrr!
I much rather have my toes in warm sand!

Jingle Bells and a one horse open sleigh?  Two
more things that seem to have gone by the way.

Baby, it's cold outside-known at 'the date rape' song?
Let her go home already!  She's been there too long!

Let it Snow?  It closes down our city, but I'll just stay in
and write you all this silly little ditty!

Guess I'll have to just give up and sing along,
even if it's an outdated and irrelevant holiday song.

And lucky for you, you can't hear my warbles and trills,
along with my  poetry, I simply have no skills!

Million Reasons...

lati

 Hi all, and please forgive my lack of tekkie knowledge to be able to set these two pics in a side by side fashion.  The top one is a throwback from approximately 20 years ago when I was given the privilege of giving my nephew, Dylan his very first haircut.  Wasn't he a little doll?
     Fast forward 20 years or so... On Friday, I got a surprise call and visit from non other than, Dylan himself.  On his way from Midland to Detroit to visit friends, my nephew took the time to go out of his way and visit his old auntie.  And I was thrilled.  Totally thrilled.  See, I spent lots of time with Dylan when he was a baby and our bond was forged easily and lovingly.  Then life separated us physically for some years with only very short holiday visits in between.   But love is love and time cannot kill that bond, and sometimes even makes it stronger.  After anxiously awaiting Dylan's arrival, I saw his face and felt his hug and was assured that nothing had really changed our relationship.  He filled me in on his life events and I told him how proud I am of everything he had become and would eventually do.  Time went by too fast as we caught up on each other's worlds.  Dylan had a commitment he had to run off to, but I was thrilled all the same with his visit.  We vowed to stay in touch and maybe do an extended visit with more time to 'just be.'

Thank you, dear nephew, for making your Auntie remember fonder, gentler days when popcorn at 10:00 a.m. and twilight runs along the beach were our 'normal.'  I'll never forget those days and I'll never forget you, Dylan-as a baby or a man-I love you very much. xoxo 

Starboy...

How about this proud Auntie huggin' up to supernephew, Spencer. Thanksgiving day was enjoyed with this loving, handsome and respectful guy.  Thank you for being so indulgent and polite to your old Autie.  I love you very much. xo  And shout out to my sister, Lisa and bro-in-law, Steve for once again outdoing yourself with dinner.  It was soooo delish!

So, now it begins.  My Season of My Inadequacy....Martha Stewart, I am not.  Most definitely not and every year at this time I am reminded of the fact.

It's November 28 and I barely have my Thanksgiving oysters and duck digested... But here it is smacking me in the face like a pumpkin pie with 3 inches of dream whip.  Only not nearly so sweet.

Have you guessed where my failure lies?  (And don't say that my 'roots' need doing-I wore a hat to cover that issue!)  Okay, here it is-I am not yet full on into the holiday spirit.  Yep, there I said it.  I must be a big old green Grinch.

I never have the patience for Black Friday-skipped altogether.  I have not yet decked the halls (who even does their halls, anyways?) or even dragged up my Christmas tree from the basement where I left it assembled from last year.   I still have up my Halloween wreath and there are 4 pots of dead mums on the front porch.  One of my lilies even bloomed last week!  My outside lights are still in the snarl that I left 'em, minus the snow; however, my neighbor has his annual Clark Griswold display already lit.  One neighbor even hires a boom thing to reach his 40 foot tree.  By the time the rest of my street is done, Detroit Edison can fault us for the occasional wattage overload.  In Rocky, I am still riding to the classic rock station, not at all ready for WNIC with the 24 hour Christmas carols. (shudder!) I'm hoping my Mom bakes her yummy cookies cuz mine are usually a fail.  By the time I leave out flour, butter and sugar...well, you can only imagine.  I am capable of doing Chex Mix...My shopping is not done, and I haven't even made a list.  (This might be due to the fact that I only donate instead of gift.) 

But somehow I'll getter all done...If not, I'll slap some antlers on Mickey and have a glass of wine by my fireplace-with or without the stockings! 

Tuolumne...

Happy Monday, everybody.  After a mentally and physically exhausting weekend, I needed a 'happy' day.  All day Saturday and Sunday found me behind my table at the Women2Women Expo in Birch Run.  I represented F.A.N. as well as my own book.  My tag said, "Jodi Dale-author" and I proudly wore it.  I handed out drug understanding and prevention material, answered questions and sold books.  The hardest thing was hearing the very moving stories of families suffering with their loved ones.  There were tears and lots of hugs as total strangers related with me.  It was very rewarding, but I was soooo glad to get home on Sunday night!

I was shocked at the temperature this morning when Mickey and I went out to get the paper.  Brrrrrrr, what a turnaround since Friday!  Here comes winter-ready or not.  Later, I had my very first go at
'cross training.'  What in God's name was I thinking?  It was very challenging, but somehow this old chick made it through.  As I sit here tonight, my muscles are already beginning to lock up.  Plan to do it occasionally, but it's a bit much for me to do regularly!

I then skipped off to get my whites pearly.  My darling hygienist told me that I was doing a good job and my teeth looked good.  Cool-see you in six months.  Spent some time on the phone catching up with my old pal Tim-it was so good to hear his warm, bass voice. xo

Got some groceries, showered and took a long nap.  Ahhhhh, now that's a full day of self love and I feel back on track.  Buuttt....on Wednesday, we are back on the road, heading up north for our annual Thanksgiving-On-the farm.  Crazy but fun.

I hope you all have a happy and warm Thanksgiving with people you love.  I am so thankful for family, food, and friends.  And I thank you all for your kind support of my endeavors.  It means the world to me.  xo

24K Magic.....

How about a little throwback pic of me and my dollfriend, Stacey at her wedding.  Not sure of the exact year, but I guess it to be around 2000.  It was a very happy celebration.  But bittersweet.  Stacey and her hubby were moving to Texas and I feared I would never see her again.  I cried all the way home that night.

Recently, I had a chance to hook back up with this darling girl.  From the moment we met at the salon, our connection was magic.  I may have been the big sister she never had and she may have been another little sister for me.  We shared a common interest in literature and irony.  We loved to 'get it' and look at each other and crack up laughing in total understanding.  We have helped each other through the darkest moments of our lives and wouldn't have had it any other way. 

But life can sometimes get in the way and even with fond thoughts, it's hard to stay in touch.  A couple of weeks ago, Stacey and our mutual friend, Kim, and I got together for breakfast.  It was the most wonderful reunion ever!  We all hit the ground running as the friends we always were.  We all drank coffee and talked all at the same time as we caught up on each others lives.  What, I ask you, is better than that?  We have vowed to stay in closer touch and make our meet ups more regular.

I drove home with a smile on my face knowing that this was a true and real thing.  I've always known that true friendships are special and genuine-no matter how long the separation. 

So guard your friendships.  Nurture them, respect them and make time for them.  They are the people you choose to guard your secrets and love you unconditionally.  I can't say how happy that makes me.xoxo