Featured Creature

Back in my growing up days, there was a tv show called 'Creature Feature'.
It was on every Saturday night.
10:30 p.m. 

Dracula, Werewolf, the Mummy, Frankenstein.
Yeah,
Those guys.
In good ol black and white.

EEK.

If my brothers, sisters and I were well behaved, we were allowed to stay up and watch that 'late night' show
& if we were really, really well behaved, we would get a glass of pop and Okedoke Cheese Popcorn.

Oooooo, how I loved Okedoke Cheese Popcorn.
I still do.
I love those cheesy, popped just right kernels so much I don't want them anywhere around me.
I must keep them away.
Far, far away.
Because I will eat them.
All of them.

oy.

So.
There we were.
Brothers, sisters and I.
Hunkered down and ready to watch 'Creature Feature'.
Cheese popcorn.
Glass of pop.
Blankets and pillows.

! ! Fun ! !

And then ...
The show would start.

I'm pretty sure I never made it past the first ten minutes.
Ever.
Those creatures scared the ba-gee-gees out of me !
& don't tell my siblings but, I would pretend I was asleep just so I wouldn't have to watch.
It was THAT traumatizing.
I know I missed a lot of cheese popcorn time but, I didn't care.

YIKES

The Wolf Man was the worst.
If I knew he was going to be the creature featured, I'd be especially tired.
That transformation from man to beast is still stuck in my head.
It was a nightmare waiting to happen, so I faked sleep instead.

zzzzzzz.

Every Sunday morning I would be told what an awesome movie I missed
& my younger brother would often comment that I could never stay awake.
Yep.
I know. I know. I would reply.
I was just sooooo darn tired.
Rats.

I think he knew of my deep, dark, cowardly secret.
But, silence = more Okedoke in his belly.
Lots more.

yum

Nowadays, if I happen to catch one of those old black and whites on the tv, I just laugh.
hahahahahahaha.
What in the world was I so frightened about ?!?
Creature Features ?!?
C'mon.
Really ??
It wasn't scary at all.

uh

never mind.

Yes, it was.
Yes, it is.

Especially that wolf man.

Maaaaaaaaaaa
 ! ! ! ! ! ! !

:)

I Am My Feelings

Never Ever Never

"There is nothing wrong with loving the crap out of everything. Negative people find their walls. So never apologize for your enthusiasm. Never. Ever. Never."
-- Ryan Adams

Thank YOU, Ryan Adams ! ! !
Those are really, REALLY great words.

I know I sometimes apologize for my enthusiasm.
I often put a cork in it, contain it.
I second guess myself because ... because ...
Because ??!??

Hey now !  That's just gotta stop !

I AM enthused.
I am extremely enthused !
I am enthused about clouds and trees and nature and sunrises and music and planets and children and and and ...
Everything.
Every. Thing.
And yes.
I do want to share it, show it.
Why not ?!?

Life is sooooo short.

Be happy !
Be thrilled !
Be ecstatic !

& absolutely no apologies are necessary.
Never. Ever. Never.

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

weeeeeeeeeeee.


:)

I Am My Feelings

WoW

I'm kinda, sorta overwhelmed with feelings this bright and lovely Thursday morn.
Family and I welcomed a 7 lb 2 oz 19 3/4 in bundle of boy two evenings ago
& yesterday, he settled in to the place he'll call home

& WoW.
Just WoW.

& it's not like I haven't felt this before.
I'm a mom.
An aunt.
A great aunt
& a gramma.
So yeah.
I've been here, done this.
I have greeted many a new person into this world.

But the older I get, the more in tune with the flippin awesomeness of life I become
& WoW.
Just WoW.

Brand, spankin new.
Empty page.
Clean slate.

Wonderful, wide open and beautiful sits in the palm of that little guy's hand
& all he is at this very moment is pure, genuine and amazingly unique.

Helloooooo, Perspective.
Thanks for the incredible reminder.

WoW.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Life's A

I've been thinking about my mama lately.
A lot.
I can feel her.
She's here, near
& she's hovering around me, popping funny thoughts into my head, cracking herself up.

Maybe it's because family happenings are happening.
Maybe it because her Chicago Cubs are having themselves an awesome season.
Maybe it's because the holidays are around the corner, looming
or
Maybe Mom just feels like visiting.
The reason doesn't much matter.
She's close
&
She's making me chuckle.

Mom recently reminded me that back in the day, she LOVED a good party
& how back in the day, we so enjoyed a festivity or two
or three
or many.

After one especially fun night at one of those bubbly events, I remember flopping down on the couch where Mom sat.
Sitting thisclose to my mother, I began feeling very reminiscent and extremely melancholy.

aka
babble. babble.

Somewhere in our deep conversation my profound brain just needed to ask ...
"What's the point of life, Mom ....? What the heck is the point ?!?"

I know.
GO TO BED, Drunk.

Without pause, Mom replied "Life's a pisser."

Life's
A
Pisser

Truer words were never spoken
& today, I'm cherishing my mama and her four syllables and laughing as much now as I did that night.

She was one of a kind.
Such a Happy
& I miss her.
How I miss her.

That little lady can still bring me to tears but, nine plus years after she left this life they are always, ALWAYS smiling tears.
She fills me with silly, priceless, long lost memories and reminds me daily that she is fine.
Soooooo very fine.

Thanks, Mom.
I needed that.
& yep, you are correct
Life is a pisser ... !

But, I will be hopefully, giddily giggling allllll the way through.

:)

I Am My Feelings

My Turtle Story

We all know how much I adore signs.
Right ?
It's true
& it seems I tend to write about them.
A Lot.

Sign.
Sign.
Everywhere a sign.

So prepare yourself because today, I am going to throw a rerun out into your world.
It is a story about a turtle
& it is my ALL TIME favorite, knock me upside the head, sign story.

ooooooooweeeeeeee
It is a goodie !

But before I do, I just have to show you a picture of this guy.

Isn't he the cutest ???!?
I saw him on my walk just the other day.
Out of nowhere.
There he was, minding his manners, doing his turtle biz
& I cannot TELL you how much joy this little fella brings to my heart.

You see, I've been wanting to notice a turtle on my walking trail since way back when I saw My Turtle Story turtle but, you just don't see many turtles around these parts anymore.
Although, I did see a three legged old timer as I was walking with Daughter once.
Neither of us had our phone.
gaaaaaaa.
But.
Since that moment, I have been searching and hoping to one day see another turtle so I could rerun My Turtle Story, my favorite, favorite sign story EVER 

& suddenly, quite unexpectedly, just like that, boom.
A TURTLE.

I guess the universe has decided it's time.

Enjoy.

--------------------

One day, about a year or so ago, I was in a terrible funk.
Everything that could go wrong, did.
I was down on me and VERY down on my writing.

So ...
I went for a walk.

My Wicker Walk is usually my everything answer.
I enter the park confused.
I exit happy and released.
But this day, I was hunkered down in doom and gloom
& I planned on staying there for the long haul.

I remember thinking 'why am I doing this ..it's such a waste of time ...my writing will never ...blah blah blah...'
A dark cloud hovered over my head.
For sure.
But, somewhere amidst all my grumpiness, I prayed and hoped for a sign.

& so began my Wicker Walk.

On the second lap of this not so jolly trek, I saw a turtle.
A turtle doing it's turtle thing
& I walked by thinking ...'huh...a turtle...I can't remember the last time I saw a turtle...'

But ... I kept walking.
Walking, walking.
Negative walking
& .....
..... then .....

Wham.

SAY WHAT ?????
A TURTLE !!!!!??!!!!!!
I just saw a very slow but, very steady turtle.

SLOW and STEADY.

Yahoooooooooo !!!
I got my sign.

I practically ran the remainder of the lap to get back to that turtle.
I wanted to take a picture of this wonderfully determined critter to remind me of the moment.
But, when I made it back to his spot, he was gone.
boo.
No worries though.
That turtle has embedded his little self into my brain from now until forever.

Slow and steady, baby.
That steadfast creature brought my dreams back to life
& I've been happily writing ever since that awesome day.

Signs.

Big.
Small.
Obvious.
Not so obvious.

They. Are. EVERYWHERE.

--------------------

YaY.

I saw a turtle.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Sitting in a Cell Lot

Random thoughts and wonders whilst waiting for our weary traveler  ....

hmmmm

How many planes you figure come in and out of here every day ?

Think the people who live in that house ever get used to the noise ?

Have you seen the movie 'Sully' yet ?
You should !

The domino effect of a storm on allllll those airport workers is pretty staggering when you stop and think about it.

I'm hungry. I wish I would have grabbed a bag of pretzels.
rats

Look at that guy. Why's he taking up two spots ?
Crooked parking really annoys me.

I'm not very good at backing my car into a space if someone is watching me. I get nervous.

What's the weather supposed to be like tomorrow ?

I think I'll go for a walk when we get home.

You know, you never think about a long snapper's job in football until he goofs up the play.

I feel sorry for the kicker when he misses a field goal.

Who do you think has more pressure on his head the quarterback or kicker ?

How many people you figure use that port-a-potty during an average week ?

What time does his flight come in ?

Why'd we get here so early ?

The guy over there has been here as long as we have, he's probably waiting on the same plane.

That bug has been sitting on the windshield for awhile. Is he alive ?

I love this song.

If a plane can go into reverse on the ground, you think if it had to, could it do the same in the sky ?

Whoever invented FitBit is a genius.

How many steps you got today ?

I'm bored.

I need to cut my toenails.

Next time, remind me to bring a snack.

Oh.
He's at baggage claim.
YaY !

Let's go.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Everywhere

A few years ago, I was having one of those not so very good days.
The kids were at school, the husband at work.
No babies to babysit.
Just me.

It was Winter.
I remember the house being sealed up tight.
Favorite sweatshirt, wood stove burning, slippers on.
Sounds perfect but, I was missing my mama.
A lot.

It was one of those bring me to my knees, I can't do this kind of days.
Tears.
Tears.
More tears.

I finally just stopped.
There was no point to doing whatever I was doing.
Instead, I huddled up on the floor in the middle of my room and cried.

After awhile, I paused.
With a gentle nudge, I became aware.
Mom's favorite body mist filled the air
& that wonderful scent enveloped me, consumed me.
It was awesomely overpowering
& so very calming.
I couldn't get enough of that incredible aroma.

This moment lasted only a few precious seconds but, it seemed like time stood still
& when it was over, all was right with my world again.

I am sure it was Mom.
She gave me a lovely, body mist hug that day.
She told me things were going to be just fine
& she was right.

Forgive me if you've heard this a few too many times.
I need to say it again
and again
and again.

I really truly, with all my heart believe when someone we love leaves this world, we are given signs.
Signs to tell us that our person is perfectly ok.

Big signs.
Little signs.
Obvious.
Not so obvious.

Please pay attention, acknowledge.
Those lovely signs are there.

Perfectly timed songs.
Dreams remembered.
Treasures found.
Fun, unusual happenings happening.
Favorite scents.

That person you love continues.
Open up.
Notice.
Their beautiful signs are everywhere.
Showing, promising that they are absolutely fine
& yes, YOU will be fine again too.

:)

I Am My Feelings

The Good Morning Lady

I've seen this tiny bubble of a woman about four times now
& at first, I thought 'ooopsie, lovely thought ! wrong time of day'.
But then, I saw her again
and again
and again
& at each of our path crossings, she'd hand over a wonderfully jolly "GOOD MORNING !!"

Mid afternoon, late afternoon, evening.
It didn't matter the hour.
Good Morning !! is what that happy little lady offered.

'I wonder why she says good morning when it's clearly not morning' ??
the practical me has asked myself.
hmmmm
weird
But the more I see that gleeful messenger, the more I am beginning to love her
& here's why.

I ADORE mornings.
They are THE very best time of the day, according to me.

Anything is possible in the morning.
Everything is brand, spankin new.
The day awaits.
The possibilities are endless
Coffee
Sunrise
Fresh ideas
Busyness
Laziness
Whichever way the day decides to go is completely and totally up to me because it mine.
Mine.

So to take that awesome 'Good Morning' greeting and place it in another part of the day ??
weeeee
How fun is that ??
& what a beautiful token to offer another.

And so, I shall follow that sunny gentlewoman's cue.

 ! Good Morning !
 To you and you and you and you and you.

Good Morning ! now.
Good Morning ! later.
Good Morning ! in the afternoon.
Good Morning ! this evening.
Good Morning ! tonight.

Because today is a precious, priceless BEST GIFT EVER  kind of gift that should be genuinely treasured every single moment of every single day.

So, thanks, Good Morning Lady
& Good Morning to You too !
Here's to your amazingly awesome greeting lasting alllllll day long.

:)

I Am My Feelings