Light Me Up...

Happy Monday, Dolls!  What a gorgeous weekend it was! I witnessed people all around me enjoying their hobbies.  Four wheelers and jet skis raced by and some even gave me a quick wave.  Sailors and yachters doing their thing under a clear, blue sky.  Runners, bikers and walkers tearin' it up along M25.  Randy, indulging his hobby, went fishing all day and scored some walleye.  Even those ambitious gardeners had perfect temps for that activity.  And what did I do, you wonder?

I read.  Yep, I read.  Why does reading seem like a less than ambitious hobby?  Sitting on my couch or lazing in my hammock with a book or my ipad, engrossed in a good story gets looked at as 'lazy.'  Really?  I call it the best, most available way to escape.  And sometimes I even learn things.  But as a hobby, reading still doesn't seem viable to most people.

In checking the New York Times bestsellers list, I see that I have read 6 of the top 15 books and that's just in the non-fiction category.  I love it and have a whole big box on deck for more of my 'lazy' days.  How about you?  Anyone read any good books lately.

And lastly, how great was it that I got to see my cousin, Evan play in a tournament baseball game that was actually held in my area?  I loved seeing him blast a home run and then be named VIP of the game. You are a star as well as this weeks 'Blogstar!' Congrats and GO EVAN!!

Have a great week doing whatever hobby cranks ya up.  Even if it's 'just reading!'  XO

Times Like These...

So...Last fall, on a typical friends outing, four couples came to the stunning realization four of us would be celebrating major milestones birthdays-all in July-all as Cancerians!  After a few cocktails we vowed that we would have a birthday banger fit for a 30, 40, 50 and 60 year old.

On Saturday we all gathered at gal pal Kristen (and Bob's) house for the big celebration.  Because we are all cancerians, it was perfectly fitting that we feast on king crab legs and filets.  Bobby, celebrating his 50th., provided steaks and crab legs and Kristin set the gorgeous table pictured above. We convened to the garage bar for apps and drinks and celebrated our cleverness at realizing the kismet of our birthdays coupled with the perfect century numbers that our ages were turning.   I was 60, Bobby was 50, Shannon was 40 and Nicole was 30 (dirty!)  Four generations having a great time and marveling at the friendship that spanned time.  In addition to the wonderful dinner, Kristin provided a luscious cake that had enough candles to alert those hotties at Harrison Twp. Fire Dept.!! It was a very special night for me.

I have to admit, turning 60 is a bit of a quandary.  I can't believe how fast time has flown by and I now am very careful to slow down and enjoy life more-before it entirely passes by.  I enjoy and savor every single moment.

My sister and my Mom, along with my brother surprised me at the beachhouse last Friday for a full weekend of celebrating.  We shopped, ate, drank and walked the beach together.  It was nothing short of a perfect party for me.

My family and friends give me life, in every way.  The benefit of growing older is realizing and savoring these precious moments and storing the memories away for the darker days.

Thank you all, my Dolls. You are the best and mean the world to me.  I love you all so much.
XOXO

Unstoppable...

Did you ever just straight up be proud of someone? As I sat at the 4th. of July BBQ, I was busting my buttons over this charming, smart friend.   Although I didn't have any buttons, well....it's obvious that I was busting outta something....

Meet Cory Messing.  I met Cory about 18 years ago at our beach house up north.  We are dear friends of his parents and Cory got dragged down to our bonfires.  Over the years he had put up with me visiting the family farm and asking a million (stupid!) questions.  Do the cows have names and do you know them all?  Which ones are boys and which ones are girls?  Who's a heifer? Can I pet them?  I have oohed and aahed over the baby cows-they are called calves, Jodi, as well as piglets and kittens.  I love farms and animals and Cory was a very patient tour guide and barely smirked over my 'Cityot' demeanor.

As the years flew by and Cory was in high school, we understandably saw less of him.  But we always looked forward to when he would drop in, and again, indulge us as we asked him how school was going and remarked on his growth spurt.  Always polite and respectful, it was a joy watching him grow up-a fact we marveled about at his graduation party.

Cory is now almost 27, a Registered Nurse and an engaged man.  He drove up for the day to attend the BBQ and thoughtfully answered all of our health questions.  As an R.N. in the E.R.,he has seen so much.  I couldn't be prouder of this soft spoken, giant of a man.  Did I mention he is 6'6" tall?  The proverbial gentle giant!

Next year when Cory marries it will again be a very proud moment.  He is everything you could ever want in a son and a friend.  I feel happy and lucky to know him.  

And proud, very proud.  Hugs my friend-even if I have to get on my tip toes! XO

Let the River Run...

On the eve of my sixtieth(!) birthday please allow me a moment to share some hard learned life lessons as well as some very ugly truths.  Words of wisdom coming from someone who has her head in the clouds and routinely loses her cell, keys, etc., so take it with a grain of salt.  The pink Himalayan kind!

*Regrets and worry are a waste of time and energy.  Change things if you can and accept if you can't.

*Don't give a rat's ass what others think of you.  Friends and family know your truths.

*Accept that you will never have your 30 year old body. Or your 40 or 50 year old one either.

*Travel is great but books provide just as equal of an escape.

*Coffee after 2:00 p.m. is never a good idea.  Neither is that 4th. glass of wine.

*High quality sheets are a necessary luxury.

*Just because you can still do a cartwheel, doesn't mean you should...

*Black and white is for Oreos.  Gray is an easier shade of life to live within.

*Expect grief and face the fact that your heart will be permanently scarred.

*Know that I  will never stand a chance against good chocolate or a good nap. Resistance is futile.

*Everything happens for a reason-even if we don't always get to know why.
*Come to terms with the fact that I will never skate in a roller derby or do a perfect chin-up.
*Family and friends are really all that matters.

That's all I've got.  That's it.  For the mess that life can be, it's ours to live and love.  I quote my girl Carly Simon in saying, "These are the good old days."
 60 years of them to be exact.   XOXO

Sweetener...

How 'bout this blazin' hot weather?  Holy sweathog it's hot!  Luckily I was in the thumb for the weekend where the temps were slightly cooler and we got a nice breeze off of the lake.

Upon arriving at my happy place, I took a long stroll down the beach searching for the treasures that make me happy.  My hunt yielded me three pieces of beach glass, one heart shaped stone, a perfect clam shell, and four feathers.  What's better than an hour or so of mindless strolling and picking up natures jewels?  I would rather 'shop the shore' than a retail store any day!

Later, at the bonfire, (it cooled off enough to warrant one!) we noticed that the moon was full and bright orange.  And the next day, while enjoying the deck, a monarch butterfly worked hard to pollenate a nearby milkweed plant. It was gorgeous and I've not seen one in years.  I laid in my hammock and read for hours-lost in a great book.

Needless to say, it was a great weekend, just doin' what comes naturally.

Now if only that damn Lake Huron would warm up past 63 degrees, I could add swimming to my list of favorites.  Gone are the days when my sister and brother and I would swim 'till our lips turned blue.  I've gotten wimpy in my old age-that's for sure!

Enjoy the Fourth y'all.  Roast a hot dog, eat a s'more, marvel at nature and maybe, just maybe, take a dip in some freezing cold water-even if it's your shower, I guarantee you'll feel alive.

Happy 4th. of July!   XO