Some days just don’t begin like I’d like them to… but the fact that they begin at all is a blessing- So I’ll just build from there. #learningtolivewithgratitude
This trial has proven to be harder than I thought. My fever got as high as 104 and my BP went up to 162/108. There were a few moments I was pretty convinced it was over for me.
I slept ALOT- as in, this is the longest I’ve been awake since Monday. But when I finally did wake up It was to a bunch of missed calls and texts asking how I was so I feel truly blessed for that.. and kobi; as long as I’m in bed, he is, too.
I haven’t eaten since noon on Monday so I better have lost a pound or five.
My lymph nodes are so swollen they’re protruding from my skin. They tell me it’s “normal”. Apparently, breaking you down so they can see if this version of the vaccine will build you back up again is part of the process. I probably should have asked more questions before I agreed to it.
I have zero energy. Every fiber in me hurts. I am either sweating profusely or I’m freezing. Id kill for a fresh set of sheets. I’d change them myself if I had the energy to do so. This is about the time not living near my mom starts to hurt. No one can make a bed like she can.
I had the craziest dreams. A lot involved water. I was either running or swimming. Im not very good at either one of those. I’m assuming I can attribute that to one of the books I’m currently reading. In a nutshell, its about the Egyptian belief that whether you walk or swim, you always end up where you’re supposed to. Whatever path you take will always lead you the one meant for you. Some of us just take longer to get there.
The next time I agree to something like this – someone slap the sh$t out of me, ok. Thanks.
I tried this last year and sucked at it just as badly as I did in 2018. I can blame the pandemic, because, let’s be honest, it’s affected EVERYTHING but, in reality, I just haven’t put much effort into the “little things”. However, on the eve of my 49th birthday I’m thinking it’s time… definitely not getting any younger so I should probably get to it.
This cakes journey was about as complicated as my own and is, actually, the best representation of my own life I could have ever imagined. Slightly crooked on the outside, a little messy, but pure joy on the inside.
So here goes – my To Do List of 2021. And yes, most of these are a rollover of last years..
Finish up that gun class I took and actually learn how to use one. My darn license is about to expire and I still haven’t done anything with it. When that is done, I want to PURCHASE a gun of my own. Who knows where this life of mine will take me and I really need to learn to take care of myself.
Learn how to meditate – like for real, the right way – the kind where my soul actually leaves my body and does my body and my mind some good. For some reason, maybe age, I feel like I need this more than ever now. There is something in me that just doesn’t feel “settled”.
Take a photography class. I absolutely love my camera and I love some of the things I can do with it but there is still so much more to learn. So starting today; it will go with me EVERYWHERE I go. And I will learn to use it PROPERLY
Visit one new place (city, town, museum, are gallery – ANYTHING) at least once a month. This one is a must. It will be good for me, my art, my photography, and most importantly, give me something to write about. Which leads me to my next “to do”.
Keep up with this blog. It’s here – why not?
Pay off my Target card. Lasy year I said that odds were slim. Since they closed it on me; my chances are starting to look up.
Visit the Selena Memorial Museum… don’t laugh, it’s real!
Yes, this is a pseudo miniature bucket list and all of these are on my actual Bucket List (which you can go to just by clicking the words “Bucket List) but I’m all about breaking down the little things into smaller, attainable goals..
The end of another great season.. I can’t thank you enough for all of the sacrifices you made throughout this first year. I know it was hard on you physically, emotionally, spiritually… but you did it. You got up at 4am and worked every single day with very little complaints. I mean, you’re only human, who wouldn’t complain about THAT!
You came into a new school, not knowing any of the kids and you’ve already made an impact on so many of them.. Just like I knew you would.
Already driving kids home, learning about their lives, secretly paying for lunches when you knew they couldn’t, teaching them on and off the field, and just being you… the amazing coach, teacher, and PERSON I know you are.
Let’s put aside for a minute that the guy is HOT he is also now, in my opinion, the most insightful man I have ever wanted to meet – desperately.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book written (and narrated) by THE Mathew McConaughey but I was in for quite the surprise. The man is a GENIUS! Just when you think it wasn’t possible to love him anymore – you do..
Greenlights is a collection of stories from his very own journals. As a journal keeper myself, I have always wondered what to do with the massive collection I have grown. This book gave me the answer; Nothing. Hold on to them and in a few years go back and read a few; see what, if anything, I have learned. Matty (that’s what I call him) seemed to have learn alot from his.. maybe one day I will too.
Bottom line: if you haven’t already read it – do it now – or better yet, get the audiobook – it’s just like having him read you a bed time story. And there’s nothing better than that…
In sticking with my goal of doing SOMETHING new (as often as I can) once a month I decided to use Father’s Day as one of those opportunities. WIth only two of my three kids here I figured it couldn’t hurt. We’ve all been doing the same thing every day for a while now…maybe it was time to shake things up a bit.
It started out easily enough. Went online and made the reservation at www.naturalbridgecaverns.com . Picked the day, picked the “adventure”, time slot, and boom: Father’s Day plans MADE.
I bought a Go Pro two years ago and had never actually used so I thought this would be a great time to start. I charged that sucker right up, after YouTubing it to figure out how, and we were all set.
I decided to go with the zipline only because I really didnt want to push this very out of shape body and it was cheaper. Turns out to get to the ziplines you need to use those bridges anyway so I was really glad I had gone that route. First time admitting I was out of shape paid off; financially, anyway.
Once there, we were directed to a landing place outside where we were put in straps and hook-y things and were sent on our merry way. Boy, things have changed since the last time I took my kids in about 2001! It’s beautiful! The grounds are STUNNING.
I will admit; it looked A LOT higher up close and personal. A LOT HIGHER and I definetly wasn’t thrilled that CHILDREN were making sure I wasn’t about to plummet to my death but I am here to write about it so I guess you can tell that it all ended well..
I apologize in advance for the REALLY crappy video. Did I mention it was my first time using it????
So we make it up the almost playscape like stairs and get ourselves hooked into the railing. Then you walk onto a platform and just keep walking – even after the platform ends.
Needless to say; it started out sorta rocky but by the end we were old pros. Aside from my Go Pro falling off my chest strap and plummeting to the ground (it survived, btw) everything else went pretty well… and now I want to go to Costa Rica! I mean, it’s practically the same thing, right. 🙂
Well, baby, here we are. College graduation. I’m sure it comes as no big surprise that I’ve got a few things to say. And because you know how I’m wired on the inside, you also know i’m a bundle of emotions, so bear with me.
Now I know you’re happiest when you’re not the focus of, well, anything. I totally understand why you feel that way. You and I are different. While I am totally fine with showcasing my craziness, you are not.. I get it, I really do. And that’s why I’ve always tried to respect your request to stay under the radar. Until today. Today a momma’s gotta do what a momma’s gotta do. I have very few occasions left to share all this unused wisdom rolling around in my head so I have to take them when they come…
Now there are dozens of things I could talk about here and it’s been a challenge to think of just the right way to explain what I’m feeling as a mom, watching you teeter between the start of your true adult life but still being my baby- because, like it or not- you always will be.
I could talk about all the pride I feel about everything you’ve accomplished academically you’re entire life. Like registering yourself for college courses every summer since the 8th grade. (Who does that?) But I won’t. That would be too predictable and a little too braggy and you’d kill me in my sleep if I did that publicly. (like how I did that)
I could share how beautiful it’s been to watch you strike out on your semi-own and live and thrive and manage your time and money and your life and relationships with ease.. But I’m not.
I could tell you how proud I am of all the ways you’ve inspired me with your no nonsense attitude and the crazy amount of self discipline you have, But I’m not gonna go there either.
There’ll be no long, drawn-out soliloquy about how I just don’t know where all the time has gone. Or how it seems like just yesterday you took your first steps or how I cried and you didn’t when I dropped you off at every first day of school until you could drive yourself.. then I just cried at home. ..Nope! I’m not going anywhere near any of that.
And I’m also not interested in talking about the grades on your transcript or your plans after this because that’s your story to tell.
What I’m most focused on at this very moment is who you’ve become since you started this journey, what you’re walking away with on the inside. That’s what’s filling up my heart today and what I really really want you to know. It’s what’s giving me the greatest sense of pride.
To me, it’s all about your willing and ableness to discover your best self. How you’ve learned how to engage with all the people around you and still find your own unique place in this crazy world. It’s about the leaps of faith and risks you took by experimenting with things like majors and friendships and politics and social justice; and the pivots you made when you knew a direction didn’t feel right. It’s how you found that great big voice I knew was in there, how you learned to speak up for injustice and political awareness; even though our views weren’t always the same. Those are the big takeaways as far as I’m concerned and the reasons why I know you’re ready for what comes next. The journey you have been on these past 18 years hasn’t always been easy. On the contrary, it’s been stranger than any of us could have ever even imagined. You started it right before a hurricane was to make landfall and ended it in the middle of a pandemic. To call you, all of you,resilient would be an understatement of gigantic proportions. And yet somehow, in a world that often overwhelmed even the strongest of people, you dug down deep and found a fortitude that kept you moving forward.
So, as you get ready to walk the walk all I really want to do here is say thank you. Just thank you. Thanks for taking all these chances on yourself and believing that the sky is definitely the limit. Thank you for being willing to fall and fail and screw it all up before you got it right. Thank you for doing exactly what any parent hopes their kid does with this experience and letting me watch, even if it was from a distance. Now go do all the same stuff for the rest of your life.I love you to the moon and back.
We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve celebrated our successes and mourned our defeats. We’ve sat back and watched in amazement at the strength we often didn’t know we had- and we’ve picked each other up when we just didn’t think we could go on any longer. Our kids have fought and made up, spent countless weekends together and then gone months without talking at all….but when one (or all) of them is needed- they’re there without hesitation. I’d like to think that’s something they learned by our example. Cheers to our little tribe. May it continue to blossom and multiply (but not for another 5 years, at least) and may we one day be able to get just ONE decent picture in.
My To Do List of 2021 included doing one new thing a month. Since I started the list late it makes sense that this action item would start late, as well..
Going home for a few days with my daughter led to the discussion about what we should do and she suggested this place. I am not the best at ANYTHING physical but it was definitely new so I made the reservation.
We got there and everyone was totally gracious. They explained the process, the rules, etc.. then they tell us we can bring our own alcohol. Axes AND alcohol??? What could possibly go wrong? Lucky for us; NOTHING!
Before we even officially started I threw one out “for fun” and actually made it right on the bullseye. It was clearly a lucky shot because I never did it agin. AND I WAS THE ONLY ONE!
Doesn’t matter though, because we still had a ton of fun.
Now it’s probably not something I would be in a hurry to do again anytime soon but I am glad I did it at least once. And this is sorta the point of all of this, right…
An impromptu trip to Branson led to an even more impromptu stop at the Silos.
Now this place has been on my yearly Things to Do List for several years now and in November of 2020; I finally got to go. Best part; it was completely unexpected!
The stop started out routinely enough… the silos were exactly as I expected. Rustic, but really…. pretty.
The store was open so, of course, I HAD TO SHOP. Things were decently priced; which in all honesty, was a very pleasant surprise. I picked up a lounger set, I mean, I’m not wearing much else in these days of quarantine, and the customary Christmas ornament.
The bakery, however, had to be the highlight of the trip. Not only did the line wrapped around the building go by quickly (they must be trained by the same people from CFA) but they let me take my Kobi in and the cupcakes were UH-MAZING!.
We went and sat out in the amazing courtyard and talked about all things JoAnne. Only SHE can make shiplap – a word I am not only know well but am really in Love with – look amazingly fabulous. I mean, the woman is a damn SAINT. And one of the few people I actually aspire to BE -but will settle for a 2 second meeting!
Bottom line; I will be back, often, and if you ever get the chance to visit.. TAKE IT!
(like how I did that)
moon 
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Cheers 
postcardsandpinkumbrellas.com 