The Moody Blues

Dex and I were given tickets by my boss, one of many, to go to Britt. He asked me who I would like to sit with, since he had another set to give and since my sis and Mark had plans I asked for Julian and Vera to go with us. Bella Union catered our dinner which was delicious and then we had reserved lawn seating awaiting us after we ate. Chairs were provided and we were sitting in a great spot. I knew Julian would love to see this group, being a Brit and growing up with this music first hand. They did not dissapoint us. Those voices still clear, brought back a rush of fond memories for me. They took me back for a moment to a place in time that I was willing to travel to. The night was warm and the company was great and music fantastic. Thanks for the memories, Moody Blues!

Your going to miss this

Maybe I am just being over sentimental...I am a bit by nature anyway, but tonight I was watching the CMT awards and heard a song by Trace Adkins, Called "Your Gonna Miss This" and it really touched my heart, because the words were so true. I remember as a young girl, daydreaming about where life would take me, 1, 2 or 3 years from now. I remember trying to imprint in my mind, my children's 1st tooth, step and words and that 1st day of school. How we all want things to get better and how hard it is to live in the moment and appreciate what he have at the time. I think we are suppose to live in the moment, and appreciate what we have no matter how hard things might seem at the time, because you may miss it. Maybe it is because God helps us forget how hard it may have been and let's us reflect on the joy in hindsight, I don't know for sure. I know I miss it though.

Michael Jackson and what he means to me

It is with great sadness that I have learned of his death. He brought such great joy to my family and did so much for Motown Records and revived the label. He wrote many of his lyrics, and of course when he teamed up with Quincy Jones he made his greatest album of all time. Needless to say, it was played a lot in our home since we had two girls who loved him so much. My daughter Mishka graduated from Middle School with a wonderful Blue and White dress and her signature white glove on her hand making a tribute in her way to one of her music idols. We were all very proud that day and understood why she wore that glove!
He gave his youth to us and he was robbed of his. His attraction to children to me was his desire to live his childhood. Children need that and I am concerned today, that our children are robbed of that and expected to make grown up decisions when they still need to be living as children.
I hope people will judge what good he did in the world and let GOD judge the rest as he knows it all and we do not. I know GOD welcomed you to his family Michael and I will pray for the rest of your family on Earth that they will not lose site of who you were and what you brought the world. I pray your children will be where GOD wants them to be also. Rest in Peace with GOD Michael!

A Time For Reflection

Saturday, my sister and I attended the graveside service for our friend Vicki's husband Tom, who went on his journey on Feb 29th. Vicki said he passed on Leap Year as a parting gift to them. So they can have a memorial only every four years. Typical of Tommy's Irish humor. I did not know him well as Vicki's life and mine went in different directions, but we saw each other on special occasions. I most recently saw Vicki and Tom at our friend Steve's daughter Sam's wedding, he was unwell at that time. He became progressively ill in the following months and he knew his time was at hand. He was a wonderful husband, father and steward of the Lord. His oldest son Tommy preceded him in death and they are now finally together again in a very holy place...rest in peace Tom.

Math Paranoia

My dear friend Lin has went back to College at the grand old age of 56 years of age. Now there is a great advantage to returning to school at this age. You take all your life experiences with you and you just want to learn, learn, learn. She went to the same lousy south L.A. school I did. Many of the teachers were no longer interested in teaching anymore, just retiring. We were both poor math students. That's okay, girls do not have the aptitude for math anyway, we were told. She was really worrying about this math test as she was afraid she had forgotten what she had learned from last term and she had barely made it through. I assured her "It will all come back to you" and not let our Math Paranoia set in. She called me last Sunday with the good news, she passed her math test with flying colors! I knew you could do it! Way to go Lin!!!

Faces locked in Time

A few days ago, my daughters informed me of the death of their cousin. He was a bit older than my daughter Mishka and I think in his early 40's - with much more life ahead of him. Although I did not keep in contact with him or his brothers, I do occasionally email their older sister Ronnie. These kids are related through my children's father, children from his older brother who is also gone from this earth now. I cannot get over the fact that he is still a 10 year old boy in my mind, as that is around the last time I saw him. Isn't it funny how time plays tricks on us. I recently saw some dear friends at a wedding that I haven't seen in a long time. I could tell by the look on their faces at how much older I looked and they also to me, but then of course, in a few moments of conversation and catching up on the children and grandchildren, it was like nothing had ever changed. I guess I will just keep this young, sweaty, smiling boy, in my mind, just as he was the last time I saw him. I know when I see him again in the future, it will be just as if nothing has ever changed again.

Red is coming for a visit - woohoo!

Donna or "Red" as we call her, because of her beatiful red hair, is coming for a visit. She will be here on Thursday evening and spend Friday night as well. She is responsible for introducing me to my Dexter. They were longtime friends from Orange County and continued the friendship through their migration to Oregon. She and I have shared a strange part of my life. I am thankful for our friendship as she helped bring me through a dark period of my life. We will go out for dinner, have a few margaritas and stay up late, catching up. Her current job requires her to travel all over the country, which has been marvelous for her. I will give her the postcard book I have put together of her travels...I do miss not getting to see her more often though!

A Mother gone to Heaven

It was with great sadness that I learned my best friend and ex-sister-in-law's mother passed away a few days ago. I wasn't home all weekend - went to visit my mother and stepdad and took in a movie on Sunday. When I got home, there was a tearful message on my machine. Our two lives have paralleled in so many instances. We are exactly 6 months to the day apart. Mishka and Sean her cousin were born within weeks of each other and Chicken and Lynn's next child, Charity grew up hooked at the hip. Our fathers died at young ages and she and I are psychic with each other too. We feel when something is wrong or a shadow passes over either of our families. Her mother intimidated me when I was a young girl and I was mad at her in my teens when she sent Lynn away and called my mother and told her I was a bad influence on Lynn (it was her way of justifying sending her away), but true friends can never really be separated and Lynn forgave her mother and I did too. I grew to love Lois and her sisters and Mother. They were second family to me. Lois not only gave me the gift of Lynn in my life, but she also led me to the Lord and that is the greatest gift she could have given me. She joins her wonderful mother "Mama Ritchie" who died three weeks ago. She joins a husband, mother, sisters, grandchildren born and unborn - Jesus says "You shall be known in Heaven as you are on Earth" and I know she is rejoicing with HIM and family right now. I will miss you Lois Mom!

Falling Through The Cracks

Today was a very sad day. A dear friend of our family who is homeless (he chooses to live his lifestyle) went over the edge. I first learned of the incident on the morning news, but did not make the connection that it was M. He pulled his van up to a local TV station and lit some flares, when the employee's called the police (swat and state, local authorities) he threatened to ignite the inside of the van with himself in it. They played it on the news as a "Bomb Threat" and of course evacuated the area. He spoke with swat and he must have told them he had been treated at the VA hospital and that is how they found my sister, who used to be his girlfriend. M has had issues of anger over society, politics and law. He chose to opt out. My sister did not want that lifestyle and so they parted company, but he was and is our friend. We love him and want the best for him. We went to the hospital hoping to be able to provide some background info on him as he has no family here and we are his surrogate family. We are praying that he will not fall through the cracks of the justice system and get the help he so desperately needs. He is such a good man that has had a tragic past and has made some bad mistakes. Thank GOD he was not hurt and he didn't hurt anyone else....I am hoping for a happy ending to this story, please join me in thinking the good thoughts for him.

I'M Skeered!!!!!

This weekend has been a real scare-a-thon on TV. There has been a plethora of pics to choose from. Anything from Scary Movie 3 to one of my favorites "King Kong" which of course stars the beautiful Fay Ray. It also has special memories for someone else in my family, Mishka was just a little girl, but she was glued to the TV set watching this movie with me. As Fay was strapped to the tiki's about to become Kong's bride, and she sees him for the first time, I had to strike while the iron was hot. Boo at the appropriate time scared the bejesus out of her and she flew up in the air and then she got really, really mad at her mommy. Great scare! Happy Halloween darling!