Today was the last day of summer vacation for Cibola County kids. My grandson is a bit unusual; he is thrilled to be starting third grade tomorrow. Of course, he enjoys vacations, but he truly loves school too.
Colin was in my care today. After breakfast and a little cartoon time on the tube, we set out to get him a last minute haircut. His mother looked at him last night, called me and said if you can't get him an appointment I'm going to shave his hair off. I made a quick phone call first thing this morning to the right person and saved his hair!
Next stop was his school to check his class assignment and locate his new room. He was happy to see that he knows several students who will be in his room and plays soccer with a couple of them. Everything looks good so far. His mom will be taking him to school in the morning to help him carry the large number of school supplies requested this year. She said she nearly fainted when the Wal-Mart bill came to $100. Teachers are not being given much money for supplies so it falls on the parents to provide them.
Moving on, for lunch we stopped at Subway and took our haul including, double chocolate chip cookies for Colin and a macadamia cookie for me, to the Riverwalk. We sat at a table by the water with the geese and ducks swimming back and forth. Colin couldn't resist sharing bits of bread with them. He discovered ducks don't like pickles!
So this was Colin's last day before he changes into a big third grade student. Recently he told me he wants to be a cop so he can shoot a gun. I said, "Oh I thought you would be the president." He replied, "I can do that too." As I have said before, nothing stops this kid.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Now What?
"it may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." ~C.S. Lewis
Many of my fellow bloggers have touched on the subject of letting go of the past, forgiving and acknowledging who we really are. Most of my life I have hidden behind other people afraid to move out into the world alone.
I have been a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother. As such I have survived many negative experiences during my life. Some were caused by others and some I caused myself. I am still alive and well.
On this day in my life it is time to drop all the labels, excuses, temporary job titles and start over as if this is the first day of my life on this planet called earth.
Now what? I have no idea what comes next, but I am sick of reliving what was and I am ready for something spectacular. Bring it on I am tired of ordinary!
"If we don't change we don't grow. If we don't grow, we really aren't living". ~Gail Sheely
Friday, August 6, 2010
Millie and Me
Lessons often come unexpected. I was walking alone at "Futures" this morning when one of the regulars I hadn't seen for awhile came in. Millie is around my age and has some physical problems, including a hip replacement and a recent auto accident. They cause her to walk much slower than I normally do. Millie and I started talking and began walking.
I slowed my normal pace and my companion stepped hers up just a bit. We had a very pleasant conversation about nothing in particular as we walked around the gym. After awhile another regular came in and Millie took a break to catch up on news. I went back to walking by myself.
After a few laps Millie stopped me,looked at her pedometer and happily announced, "I can't believe we walked a half mile and I was able to keep up with you." I said, "I was trying not to walk too fast." Millie replied, "I know."
What a nice walk and lesson I experienced this morning and it didn't cost a penny!
I slowed my normal pace and my companion stepped hers up just a bit. We had a very pleasant conversation about nothing in particular as we walked around the gym. After awhile another regular came in and Millie took a break to catch up on news. I went back to walking by myself.
After a few laps Millie stopped me,looked at her pedometer and happily announced, "I can't believe we walked a half mile and I was able to keep up with you." I said, "I was trying not to walk too fast." Millie replied, "I know."
What a nice walk and lesson I experienced this morning and it didn't cost a penny!
Gene's Story (Spirits of Cibola County)
Really knowing a person requires viewing from the inside. A casual observer might say Gene is a severely disabled individual and feel sorry for him. People who have taken the time to disregard his physical appearance, due to a serious birth defect caused by thalidomide, know someone forgot to tell him he is different. He jokes he has no mirrors in his house.
Born in Ohio Gene has 10 brothers and sisters. He attended first grade in a special school until his parents told him he didn’t have to go there if he didn’t want to. He went to regular schools for the remainder of his formal education, ending with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Being a history and geography buff and developing a love for books early in life created a lifetime sense of adventure and a love of people. A high school aptitude test indicated he would be an accountant and lo and behold, five years later he was. Accounting has always come in handy when he needed a job.
Nine years after high school, Gene became an explorer and California was his first adventure. He spent two years traveling and making new friends. Wanting to travel while he was still physically able to do so, he moved on to Alaska. He wanted to hunt, fish and work for an oil company. He worked as an accountant instead.
One of his goals when he was young was to work in the Indian Missions. A friend, who became a Franciscan Priest, was being assigned to the Laguna Indian Reservation near Grants. Gene came with him and stayed.
At one time he tried to return to Ohio, where his mother still lives. It did not work out. He loves this area and the people who live here. He came for adventure and stayed because the people accepted him and made him feel at home.
From 1978 to 1985, Gene worked for the Laguna tribe, learning and teaching home repair skills. A home improvement program was funded by the government to teach residents skills needed to find jobs on their own. The job was fun and he loved using his hands to fix things. He rebuilt old homes until the program funds ran out and the job ended.
For the next five years, the casual observer might say, Gene was a bum. Looking closer, it might have been the portion of his life that allowed the greatest things to be learned and taught. He did not have a job, but worked every day.
If somebody had a problem he felt it was his job to fix it. In return for his expertise, people often fed him. Gene had a routine of friends he visited. Many gratefully trusted him with their most treasured possessions. He was the person people called if they needed a house sitter, a repairman, an accountant or a friend.
A few years ago Gene retired from the New Mexico State Highway Department as a traffic tech. He did work he had wanted to do all his life, traveling the highways and byways, talking to people. He fulfilled his life dream.
Today Gene and his wife of over 20 years, Rose, live in a house on the Laguna Reservation that they have refurbished. A little older and a lot less agile, he still helps others with their problems whenever possible. Gene wanted to be a mountain man and feels fortunate to live at the base of beautiful Mt. Taylor. His advice to others is to follow your dreams.
Born in Ohio Gene has 10 brothers and sisters. He attended first grade in a special school until his parents told him he didn’t have to go there if he didn’t want to. He went to regular schools for the remainder of his formal education, ending with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Being a history and geography buff and developing a love for books early in life created a lifetime sense of adventure and a love of people. A high school aptitude test indicated he would be an accountant and lo and behold, five years later he was. Accounting has always come in handy when he needed a job.
Nine years after high school, Gene became an explorer and California was his first adventure. He spent two years traveling and making new friends. Wanting to travel while he was still physically able to do so, he moved on to Alaska. He wanted to hunt, fish and work for an oil company. He worked as an accountant instead.
One of his goals when he was young was to work in the Indian Missions. A friend, who became a Franciscan Priest, was being assigned to the Laguna Indian Reservation near Grants. Gene came with him and stayed.
At one time he tried to return to Ohio, where his mother still lives. It did not work out. He loves this area and the people who live here. He came for adventure and stayed because the people accepted him and made him feel at home.
From 1978 to 1985, Gene worked for the Laguna tribe, learning and teaching home repair skills. A home improvement program was funded by the government to teach residents skills needed to find jobs on their own. The job was fun and he loved using his hands to fix things. He rebuilt old homes until the program funds ran out and the job ended.
For the next five years, the casual observer might say, Gene was a bum. Looking closer, it might have been the portion of his life that allowed the greatest things to be learned and taught. He did not have a job, but worked every day.
If somebody had a problem he felt it was his job to fix it. In return for his expertise, people often fed him. Gene had a routine of friends he visited. Many gratefully trusted him with their most treasured possessions. He was the person people called if they needed a house sitter, a repairman, an accountant or a friend.
A few years ago Gene retired from the New Mexico State Highway Department as a traffic tech. He did work he had wanted to do all his life, traveling the highways and byways, talking to people. He fulfilled his life dream.
Today Gene and his wife of over 20 years, Rose, live in a house on the Laguna Reservation that they have refurbished. A little older and a lot less agile, he still helps others with their problems whenever possible. Gene wanted to be a mountain man and feels fortunate to live at the base of beautiful Mt. Taylor. His advice to others is to follow your dreams.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Do I Exist?
Sometimes things happen that cause me to wonder if I really exist or am I just an illusion. Recently I was featured on a website promoting women aging gracefully. I emailed a local friend to give her a heads up. Last week she emailed back saying she couldn’t find me. Wondering what the problem was I checked it out. My friend was right. I looked through the archives of the 15 women who had previously been featured and I was missing.
So for anyone interested in the requested information that appeared on the site when I was actually on it here goes:
What keeps me young?
Disregarding what my birth certificate says
Hanging out with souls of all ages
Regular exercise- walking is free
Eating healthy, I seldom eat red meat, fried or processed foods
A sense of humor and honesty
What motivates me?
Being grateful for the gift of life
Consciously taking opportunities that evolve my soul
Inspirational writing, my books and blog
A desire to align with Source/soul
Just when I had convinced myself that I do exist after all I opened my mailbox and found a box containing samples of Kraft mayonnaise. It was addressed to my ex husband who hasn’t lived in my house for 11 years!
So for anyone interested in the requested information that appeared on the site when I was actually on it here goes:
What keeps me young?
Disregarding what my birth certificate says
Hanging out with souls of all ages
Regular exercise- walking is free
Eating healthy, I seldom eat red meat, fried or processed foods
A sense of humor and honesty
What motivates me?
Being grateful for the gift of life
Consciously taking opportunities that evolve my soul
Inspirational writing, my books and blog
A desire to align with Source/soul
Just when I had convinced myself that I do exist after all I opened my mailbox and found a box containing samples of Kraft mayonnaise. It was addressed to my ex husband who hasn’t lived in my house for 11 years!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Friends is Friends
Remember the old KFC commercial offering the message "parts is parts"? A piece of chicken is chicken it doesn't matter where it comes from! The message came to mind after reading someone's facebook post this morning. It said, "Today my cup is overflowing with gratitude for all of my friends~ in the real world and on facebook."
We do seem to segregate our friends. There are school friends, work friends, family friends, best friends, boy friends, girl friends and the list goes on and on. They come into our lives for a variety of reasons and stick around for as long as they are meant to be there. Friendship is a gift from God; reminding us that we are not walking our path alone.
Another remember when from the "Laverne and Shirley" TV show:
"Friendship Friendship just a perfect blendship
When other friendships have been forgot
Ours will still be hot."
A friend is one who knows you and loves you anyway. ~Elbert Hubbard
A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. ~Arnold Glasow
A touching anonymous poem found on the website Best-Quotes-Poems.com
If I Could Catch a Rainbow
If I could catch a Rainbow
I would do it just for you
And share with you its beauty
On the days you are feeling blue
If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own
A place to find serenity
A place to be alone
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea
But all these things I am finding
Are impossible to me
I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair
But let me be what I know best
A friend that's always there.
Friends come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but the best friend you will ever have is the one found inside. ~me
We do seem to segregate our friends. There are school friends, work friends, family friends, best friends, boy friends, girl friends and the list goes on and on. They come into our lives for a variety of reasons and stick around for as long as they are meant to be there. Friendship is a gift from God; reminding us that we are not walking our path alone.
Another remember when from the "Laverne and Shirley" TV show:
"Friendship Friendship just a perfect blendship
When other friendships have been forgot
Ours will still be hot."
A friend is one who knows you and loves you anyway. ~Elbert Hubbard
A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. ~Arnold Glasow
A touching anonymous poem found on the website Best-Quotes-Poems.com
If I Could Catch a Rainbow
If I could catch a Rainbow
I would do it just for you
And share with you its beauty
On the days you are feeling blue
If I could build a mountain
You could call your very own
A place to find serenity
A place to be alone
If I could take your troubles
I would toss them in the sea
But all these things I am finding
Are impossible to me
I cannot build a mountain
Or catch a rainbow fair
But let me be what I know best
A friend that's always there.
Friends come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but the best friend you will ever have is the one found inside. ~me
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