A Good Life

Today, i learned of the death of one of my choir members (i direct a choir..).  Gloria was given three months to live about four years ago.  Watching her endure hardships of cancer and the radiation burns, losing her hair and all that goes with it, was difficult - espeically since she is only a few years older than my own mother.  However, she refused to feel sorry for herself, nor give in to the cancer.  She fought a long hard road and left this world, headed for the loving arms of God...

If i could say one last thing to her it would be:  Your cheerful and willing spirit to sing even when you weren't feeling well was well noticed.  You have taught me how to face terrible things with grace and hope.  i have watched your life closely, especially these past four years and am glad to have known you - you taught me much.  i will miss you, dear friend.  You lived a good life, you fought a terrible disease well...thank you for all the kind things you said to me - all the encouragement.  How you publicly thanked me for being the choir director when i was feeling like i was in over my head (smile).  You pushed me to use my talents - "bugging" me for months to apply for the posistion and then sang with enthusiasm..saying how the music lifted your soul - and spirits when you were down.  Thank you, Gloria, for being a wonderful, beautiful woman....your children will rise up and call you blessed....and i softly say 'amen'...Goodbye dear Gloria.

A Good Thing

So...here's a good thing - other than a breathtakingly gorgeous day - i am going to spend a few days with a friend during this week. She and i have all sorts of antics cooked up and i cannot wait.  i typically get restless during this time of year anyway - feel the need to move, travel, that sort of thing, so this quick trip is just the thing to get me through...until the next urging of wanderlust and then i'll be setting my sights on Ireland...

 

Disjointed thoughts not particulary well written

Another grey day here in Pennsylvania.  i don't think i remember October being like this  - i remember warm days and cold nights and the leaves changing.  But this year, wow, feels like March.  Odd, very odd.

i always wanted to get married in October!  LOL i don't know why.  It is my favorite time of the year for sure.

i think i'm going to make homemade soup and croissants today.  i need to eat. 

i also think i'm going to the gym today.

"i'm i the depths of dispair," bemoaned Anne...and Marilla replied, "to despair is to turn one's back on God..."  (loosely paraphrased)

i was reminded this week that even when life isn't going as i wish, there are ALWAYS those who have a worse life or worse circumstances.  i don't have a major illness, i'm not in Iraq, i have a home, i am blessed.   That was a good reminder, because even though i have three major areas of my life in turmoil at the same time, it could be worse.  (i'm glad it's not though.)  Thank you, M, for the reminder.

i've said it before, but i want to say it again, i have some of the best people as my friends and loved ones....thank you all.

Ode to Emma - written by Trip

There once was a sweet Irish lass,

Her figure a fine hourglass.

Mens' hearts are aflame,

As they loudly exclaim,

"Man, get a look at that ass!"    

 

LOL Trip - thank you g/f!!!  and WOOO HOOOOOO.....

Thank you

i have some amazing, wonderful, caring friends both online and offline.  But there are some of 'you' online friends who blow me away with your kindness and concern and i want to thank you.

Sometimes you never know the impact of kind words.

Thank you.

Choices

Life is all about choices, isn't it?  We choose what we wear, eat, do each and every day.  We choose how to treat people, we choose how to drive -- everything in life comes down to a choice.  Some are very easy to make.  Some are the hardest thing ever.

i am in the second category today.   i have to make a choice - a decision - about something that i never thought i'd have to. i am struggling and unsure.  i am hurt and scared.

Please God, let me make a wise choice.

C'mon Girl, work it!

The other night i had the pleasure of attending a high school band competition.  At the intermission, all of the local highschool's senior band members were honored and pictures taken with their parents.  One girl's set of parents really stuck out in my mind. 

This girl had a mom, dad and step mom.  All three adults seemed to get along rather well as they chatted in line waiting for their daughter's name to be announced.  As they walked out onto the field to greet their daughter, i noticed what they were wearing.  Mom was wearing a cute black skirt and cream top, the best knee high boots and an adorable red coat.  Her hair and makeup were fabulous.  She wasn't a size 3 but she looked amazing.  Dad wore a pair of nice dress pants, shirt, tie and a jacket - he was well put together.  Step -mom...welll...she wore a pair of too baggy dress pants, flat shoes and a ill fitting jacket.  i turned to another woman and said, "Mom WAY outdressed Step-Mom, didn't she?" and we giggled a bit about  that but it made me think.  Made me wonder what the story was between the three.  They appeared like a Princess Diana, Prince Charles and Camilla type situation.  Made you wonder what Dad saw in the woman he was currently married to.  Not because she was an awful woman - it was apparent that the daughter loved all three and interacted with all three - but she didn't dress to impress. 

So common girls, work it!  Dress to impress, not only your SO but also to let others know - for there are ALWAYS others watching you - that you embrace good style, you embrace your soft feminine side, you embrace the amazing creature that is called woman.  No matter your shape or size, a well put together outfit, crease free fabrics, makeup and hair that are cared for say alot more than you can imagine. 

i'm sure Step-Mom is a wonderful lady.  i'm sure she's been a great second mother that that girl and that her husband loves her, but i wonder if she would've 'kicked it up a notch' what people in the stands would've said.  Probably something like "oohhh that man knows how to pick women!"  or wondered why Dad ever married Mom in the first place! 

So c'mon girls...be the fabulously dressed 'Mom' ....wear those skirts (watch how you sit in them - no creases in the back, please), don those high heeled boots, and spend a few minutes more on your face and hair and turn those heads.  Both Men and women will take notice...and i'll be applauding you all the way.

Work it!

More Shoes....

i am wearing a pair of shoes today that are killing my feet...and i adore these shoes!  HA!  Why on earth do we women do that?  ohh yeah, cause they look goooood!

Demoralized

1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten:
2. To put into disorder; confuse.