Thursday, April 28, 2011

Friday Confessional

Here we go again.  (I'm going to do this post early because tomorrow is entirely too busy for me.  And also, I figure people will be really absorbed in the nuptials tomorrow.)  I'm linking up with Mamarazzi again for Friday Confessional.

www.ourdandelionwishes.com.jpg


I'm pretty sure that my following confession is going to have blogger world aghast but:

  • I confess that I have not been and am not really very interested in the royal wedding.
  • I know that it serves as escapism from an otherwise lengthy list of world problems.
  • But, I just can't get that interested.
  • And, I won't be getting up at 4 a.m. and/or taping the ceremony.
  • Because .... I figure the media will wear out the topic completely thus letting me see all I need to see.
  • Add to that, that as much as I love history ... the Brits continue to tease us with who will be the next monarch and when and, frankly, its getting on my nerves.  Do the thing already.  
  • I also confess that I will check out the web for pictures of 'The Dress' and any other gorgeous wedding pics (which is my nod to the event) because I do like some eye candy.
  • And, on that note, I am kind of a magazine addict but, now that I've discovered some wonderful blogs and websites full of gorgeous pictures, I don't need my magazines as much.
So, that's it .... my big old anti-social confession.  But, now that I think about it ... maybe I'm just on wedding overload due to having had a daughter marry in January and a son that will marry in July.  Funny, all of these kids were born with a year or two and are marrying in the same year ... huh ... weird.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Mom




I said I was going to get around to blogging about some important events that have happened in my life in the past few months and so I decided to start.  If I were doing this chronologically, I would start with my daughter's wedding but, I'm sorry to say that I don't have her wedding pictures yet ... and I really, really want to post a couple.  So instead, I'm starting with a little bit about my mom and the trip we made this winter.

Literally days after my daughter's January wedding, my mom received a call that her older sister was failing rapidly.  Now, my mom (Betty) and her older sis (Mona) were close.  I mean .... best friends.  And, what's more, my Aunt Mona actually was somewhat of a mother figure to my mother as their own mother suffered some issues after the death of a baby brother when Mom was two.  So, when Mom got that call, I knew that she really wanted to try to get there and see her sister but, she simply can't do these things on her own anymore.  She's 82 years young but, still .....

So, we hurriedly packed our bags and got tickets (very expensive tickets I might add) and flew to the opposite coast.  These sisters have lived about as far apart as it is possible to get and still be in the country, which is sad in and of itself.  We got to Virginia and my aunt had been moved to a nursing home.  We knew this was not going to take long but Aunt Mona was surprisingly lucid so the two women were able to talk, reminisce and eventually say their goodbyes.  Now, my Aunt Mona was a career woman and brilliant.  She was well read and humorous and she had us laughing even as she lay on her death bed.  The real hurdle was getting Mom to let her go.  She really didn't want to be without her.  Finally, on the last day she was able to tell her that it was alright to go.  My Aunt passed in the night and Mom was relieved.  She had accepted that she did not want to see her sister suffer any more.  I had the privilege to be able to sit and listen to these women, who had shared their entire lives, come to the end of their time together by recalling their past and laughing about their experiences ... and finally saying their goodbyes.  

My mom kept thanking me for making it possible for this to happen.  No ... thank you Mom .... for everything you've ever done for me, which is a huge.  Thank you for letting me witness something so personal to you because I know you are a private person and this was rough for you.  Thank you for being the best sister, mom, grandmother and friend.  You show us by example every day what it means to be selfless.  I love you and I loved your sister, my aunt .... I hope I can be just like you.  I also hope that your granddaughters will realize what a strong woman they descend from.

Here I am with my favorite women ... my mom and my daughter.  I wish I had a picture on my computer of my Aunt Mona but, alas, I don't.  Let it suffice to say that the sisters were like clones so just picture the other one with straight white hair and shorter ... yes shorter.  


Saturday, April 23, 2011

My Happy List

Well, I was so giddy about my success in posting my Friday Confessional that I decided to roll with it and make a happy list.   So, without further ado, here is mine:


  • I am really, really happy that we finally have spring weather.  Some of you may have noticed that I was a little over the gloom.
  • I am happy that my adult children are all well and doing pretty darned good considering the economy right now.
  • I'm happy that I am going to spend a day this next week with a gal pal that I haven't seen in a few months.  And yes, it makes me happy that this will include shopping.
  • I'm very happy that I'm going to finally get to start planting ... as soon as the Easter rush on my local nurseries is over and I can go there and find a parking place.
  • Its a small thing but, I'm sort of happy that I get to break out my flip flops.  I'm not a 'wear them year round' kind of gal.  My feet get too cold.
  • I'm happy that I've gotten inspired to give my front porch a makeover.  (More on that later.)
So, that's my list for today.  Go ahead, go on over and link up with Mamarazzi and get a little joy off your chest!


www.ourdandelionwishes.com.jpg

Friday, April 22, 2011

Reflections

Something occurred to me today.  I've been blogging now since 2009.  Initially, I began blogging to record my thoughts as I went through life's changes.  Lately, I've been more engrossed in other peoples' blogs ... mainly those having to do with decorating.  I just love that stuff and enjoy those blogs so much.  But .... here's what I also noticed (after going back and reading my early posts).  I haven't written a post that really dealt with my journey in any meaningful way.  Not that the things I have blogged about aren't pertinent to my life.

Some things have happened in the past few months that were HUGE and I sort of failed to mention them.  For instance, my very favorite daughter got married in January.  The wedding was spectacular and I didn't blog about it.  I'm not going to do that now but, I will ... I promise.  My favorite aunt passed away at the age of 86 and that entailed taking a trip with my mother so that she could say goodbye to her sister.  I didn't blog about that trip ... nor have I ever blogged about my amazing mom.  I will.  And, another big day is coming up in a few months.  My son is getting married in July.  I will post about that too.  Because, you see, as I went back and read my early blogs, I realized that the things I put down here are for my kids.  I want them to have something of how I am, how I think and feel and how much I love them when I am no longer around to tell them.  NOT that I am going anywhere soon but, you just have to put these things down when you are experiencing and feeling them.

So, although I love all of the neat, new bloggy stuff out there in blog world, I also need to stay true to my original intent.  I want to record my journey through life after being a mom.  I hope that other women who may read this will realize that its okay to feel adrift, to wonder how to proceed in the next phase and that they are not alone in any feelings they may have regarding those changes.

Friday Confessional


www.ourdandelionwishes.com.jpg 

Holy smokes .... I did it people ... I actually grabbed a button .... YEE HAW!  ( I just had to get that out of my system before moving on to the task at hand.)  I love Friday Confessional with Glamazon and Mamarazzi but ....  I confess:

  • I've struggled with linking up and grabbing buttons.
  • But now, I'm feeling like I might be able to get this.
  • And, since I'm really not an inept person in most areas of my life, it feels darned good.
I also confess that:

  • I can't get very excited about Easter this year.
  • My kids are grown up and married and there are no little ones around looking all cute and stuff.
  • The weather has generally made life not conducive to all the springy doings.
  • And, if I get Easter candy ... I just eat it.
I confess that:

  • I have completely fallen off the organizational wagon this past week.
  • I did not clean one closet or drawer.
  • I did not do one project that improved my home.
  • I only did the routine housework and wasted a lot of time.
  • So, sue me ... I'm retired, right?
And, once again, I did grab that button.  Don't mock me ... it may be my single biggest accomplishment of the week.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

It'll Only Hurt for a Sec.

Well, its been yearly checkup time for me.  We all have to do these things to guard our health so that we can be around for our loved ones.  We certainly don't have to like doing them, do we?  I wonder if there is a woman alive who likes her yearly gynecological check and/or mammogram?  Doubtful.  I mean seriously, if a man had to have his delicates smashed flat to take an x-ray, there would have been a better way by now.  I was told that there is a new machine currently awaiting FDA approval that would do away with that necessity.  Based on the FDA's past performance, I'm pretty sure I'll be dust by the time it is approved.

Then, there was the phlebotomist who made a little 'oopsy' and left a huge bruise on my arm.  Its a good thing its been chilly enough for long sleeves (little blessings) because my arm looks like I shoot up regularly.  'Oops' ... really?  Don't even get me started on freezing cold exam rooms.

So, check and check ... a couple of those yearly duties are out of the way.  But, I still have to do eyes and teeth.  Less uncomfortable but definitely more sticker shock.  I did not know that what they meant by 'golden years' was how much gold one would part with to stay healthy.  Its a whole other meaning to 'high maintenance' ... but, at least I hope I'm setting a good example for my own daughter by taking care of myself.  And, so far ... no news is good news.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

FINALLY

YES!!!    Springlike weather at last.  In case this is the first blog entry of mine you've ever read, you may not be aware of my persistent whine about our miserable, cold, wet spring.  Well, all is forgiven.  The last couple of days have reminded me of why I live in Oregon.  It has been soooooo beautiful.  There are so many little things that make me happy when spring arrives in all of her glory and, they are:

  • The sun coming through my windows in the morning.
  • The birds singing as if they invented spring.
  • The smell of the spring blossoms wafting on the breeze (alright, sometimes that breeze is a tad chilly.
  • Driving by the park and seeing an explosion of .... children (you thought I was going to say flowers, right?)
  • Catching the aroma of a neighbor's first barbecue.
  • Flinging open doors and windows to air out the house.
  • Opening the sunroof on the car (and cranking up the oldies).
  • Feeling the warmth of the sun on my face.
  • Breaking out the flip flops
Needless to say, my mood has swung the other way.  Summer is just around the corner people.  Can I get a hip hip hooray?  

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday Confessions

Okay, here I go again. I'm going to try and link up to Mammarazzi's Friday Confessions. I have even tried to 'grab a button' (which I don't know what that means or really how to do it), but ...

I confess:
  • It irritates me to feel so stupid/old when it comes to this stuff.
  • My kids seem to have been born knowing how to 'compute'.
  • It really doesn't keep me up nights.
I confess:

  • I wake up some days without a plan (GASP).
  • I know, we mothers always have a plan.
  • But, my kids are grown and I don't always have one.
  • Sometimes I goof off all day long and I like it.
I confess:

  • I am really not a patient person.
  • I want things done yesterday.
  • I don't like waiting.
  • And, I really don't like incompetence (thus the irritation with self on computers).
  • Finally, if you hate your job so much that you can't be polite with the public, I can pretty much guarantee that someone else would like to have that job.
So, there it is and I hope this works out. I want to give a big old shout out to Mammarazzi who really does try to help this feeble woman. Thank you!


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Oregon Spring

I just had two fun days in beautiful Portland, Oregon. Although I was born and raised in Oregon, there is much I have not seen. So, spending a glorious spring day playing sight seer around Portland seemed like a wonderful plan. My friend suggested that we take in the Chinese Garden in Portland's Chinatown. It was a perfect idea. Here are a few of the pictures of spring in the garden:



Pretty gorgeous, huh?




How about this one? Doesn't this gate make the most gorgeous frame?




And finally, here is a photo of the spectacular rooflines in juxtaposition with the spring blooms.



It was a perfect outing, on a perfect day in a very beautiful city.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Things Are Looking Up

Well, its Friday ... start of the weekend and the sun actually shone today. It feels like a miracle. Now, if we can keep this rolling through Saturday and Sunday please. I would really, really like to get some yard work done. Its still a little cold for major planting and/or sitting outside to dine. And, I'm going to put a visit to the local vineyard for wining and dining on hold until later into the season but, it sure feels more hopeful out today than it has felt in awhile. I'm dying to start wearing sandals (I'm going to need a pedi first) and to not have to worry about a heavy coat whenever I leave home. I'm thinking that it is built into the very fiber of mankind to rejoice in springlike weather. Ancient man must have felt like the world was coming to an end when spring was late. Anyway, it feels so good to feel the warmth of the sun ... to wake up to the brightness of a spring morning and to hear the birdsong through the window. It makes getting out of bed seem worth it for a change (well, not that getting out of bed is not generally worth it but, you know what I mean). It feels like a new beginning ... like infinite possibilities ... like summer is coming people. It feels hopeful. HURRAY!

Thursday, April 7, 2011

BLAH

Its one of 'those' days. You know the ones. The weather is horrible ( I'm sooo tired of talking about the weather) and I can't do the things I'd like to do. I also don't really want to do the things I could be doing. So, when in doubt .... pout. That's right. I am pouting today. Not that I think it will accomplish anything but, some days a person just has to get it out of their system. And, I'm really trying hard not to take it out on anyone else. I wonder if its the lack of sunshine that is getting to me? It sure seems to be getting to most people I talk with. I suppose I should count my blessings but, frankly, I don't have it in me. I've exhausted so many of the activities that make miserable winter days manageable that I'm fresh out of ideas. I just want it to get nice. I want to get outdoors, play in the dirt, soak up some rays and feel cheer emanating from my fellow Oregonians. Is that too much to ask? I guess it is ... for the moment. So, I suppose I should just find some cheese and crackers to go with my 'whine'. So, if you'd like to join my 'whine fest' just feel free to leave a comment. I'm pretty sure I can't be the only person feeling like this.

Monday, April 4, 2011

White Tornado

Our one gorgeous, spring day came and went ... yesterday. So much for plans to work in the yard again. Well, that left one thing (well not really but ... ). I needed to clean house. Now, for all of you young wives and mothers who believe that once the kids leave home your houses will always be clean ... think again. This is especially true if you have pets and, presumably, a husband. I don't know how it happens (I do know that my eyesight lets me live in denial a little longer) but, this house will suddenly seem like the filthiest sty. I get that feeling and I have to go into overdrive with the cleaning. My family has always jokingly referred to this as mom becoming the 'White Tornado' ala those old Mr. Clean commercials. I guess it fits well enough. The thing is ... this house is just so big anymore and I get tired more easily. Not that I have a foot in the grave but, lets face it, I don't have the energy I had 25 years ago when we bought this place. Oh, I guess I could hire help but, I'm sort of anal about cleaning. I don't know who would get it exactly the way I like it. So, I guess I will just continue on with the periodic cleaning frenzies until the sun comes back and I can get outside. Of course, some day we will sell this behemoth before I truly do run out of steam. Any takers?

Friday, April 1, 2011

Friday Confessions

Well, its Friday again ... already ... and, since I just love Friday Confessions courtesy of Glamarazzi and Mamarazzi ... here I go again:

  • First, I confessed last week that I'm terrible with technology and so I got a wonderful boost and some very real help from Mamarazzi ... thank you so much.
  • Now, I confess that it will be touch and go as to whether or not I can still remember what she told me to do. This is the price one pays for growing older. I know you think it can't happen until your something like 80 but, trust me .... it starts a little after giving birth to your first child and its downhill from there.
  • I confess that I had a lot to do this week and I just didn't care .... I played hooky and went to visit my daughter, hang out and shop with her. It was worth it.
  • I confess that I am so happy with the adults my children have become but, every so often, I'd like to have my snuggly babies back. I guess this is why we get grandkids ... second chances to love.
  • Finally, I confess that I just didn't get in the spirit and pull an April Fool's prank. Life is enough of a joke on me most of the time.
Now, on to a full weekend.