My Thing

Everyone has something.

Something they say.
Something they do.
Some THING that tells your people, your posse, your peeps ...
uh oh.
Party's over.
Time to pack it up and call it a night.

Even if you're not a drinker, I'm pretty sure you'll know what I am saying.
You've seen them.
They and their over the limit, telltale sign.
Their 'one too many' alert.
Their 'NOW is the time to go home' moment.

Before I confess to my THING, I must admit that I don't drink all that much anymore.
Not at all, really.
I mean, there's an occasional Chicago Bears tailgate.
An every so often Girls' Night.
A few and far between wedding reception.
But ...
That's pretty much it.
Truth be told, I'm a dud.
 
With that being said though, when I do partake in one of the above festivities, I very much enjoy a glass or many of wine
& yep.
I have a 'thing' I do that signals the night's end is fast approaching.

I hop.

Uh huh.
Hop.

Not just hop in place hop, although I do that too ...
I'm talking Polka dance.
I'm talking pull out those bouncy tunes baby, because I am hop hop hopping right into tomorrow !

weeeeeeeee

For safety and I'd rather not be hungover sake, I make certain to hand out a pre-party head's up.

PLEASE BE ADVISED:
If you see me hopping in any way, shape or form, kindly bounce me right out that door because it's time.
It's time.
Oh yes, it is time.

I guess it could be worse.
I could be a Fighter
or a Whiner
or a Repeater
or an Annoy-er ....
or all of the above.

Nope.
I'm a Hopper.

Hop. Hop.

& with THAT being said ...
Here's to a safe but, extremely Hoppy New Year's Eve, my friends.

Enjoy.

:)

I Am My Feelings

Two Thousand Sixteen

A daughter dies.
A mother follows.

WoW.

The beauty within those sacred, precious moments of parting and reuniting is absolutely indescribable.
Soulmates, deciding they'd rather travel to their next, together
& if that's not stars and heavens and cosmically awesome ...? ...

WoW.

Oh, 2016.
Some would say you have been a most horrific year.
You've 'taken' so many entertainers, artists, loved ones.
You've allowed hate to run amuck.
You've stolen our hope
& while I have to agree, you have been an unusually tough one, I am trying my best to look at you in a much brighter light.

Lessons, 2016.
You have taught many hard, gut wrenching lessons but, lessons all the same
&
as with everything in life, we must seek to find.
We must trust
& I do.
I will.

So for every negative you gave us, 2016, I have embraced the positives.
They are there.
They are many.

Every heartache brought a joy.
Every awful, a wonderful.
Every weakness offered strength.
Every lie, a truth.

Every single everything delivers a message in this crazy ride called Life
& if I choose to see the worst of it ?
I most definitely will.

But, if I choose to see the good, the LOVE that is always, ALWAYS there.
Like when a daughter dies and a mother follows ?
Oh. Yes.

Message received, 2016.
Lesson learned.

:)

I Am My Feelings

   

Dear You

Thanks.
For being here, for reading this, for encouraging and supporting.

I hope these words I offer are helpful
& they brighten up your days, just a bit.
My todays are always wonderful knowing you are continually here

& I know I have said this a million times before but, I absolutely must say it a million times again.
I appreciate YOU.
I do. I do. I SO DOOOOOOOOO.

 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

You keep me going and trying.
You hold me steady
& I am forever hopeful because of your ever present ' Oh, Yes You Can' whispers and cheers.

So pat yourself on the back there, You
because YOU are pretty darn awesome

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

BIG HUGS.
Much Love.
Endless Gratitude.

Sincerely,

Me

:)

I Am My Feelings

Heartbeats

Dad and I were talking once about life and death and Heaven and such
& what he told me that day has remained in my head.
I think it is beautiful
& today, I'd like to share.

Dad believes when we are born, we are each given a number.
A heartbeat number.

Some people get a high count.
Many get the average.
Some get only a few.

We don't know our number.
We can't control it.
But it's a gift, so please, be thankful.  

Barry Manilow
yes. yes.
Barry again.
has a song called, 'We Live on Borrowed Time' and it too is a lovely way of looking at life

" no one can be sure when the loan will finally come due "

oh Barry.
I'm singing your song again because it is so darn perfect
& so very true.

We don't know our heartbeat number.
We don't know when our loan will finally come due.

We ! Don't ! Know !

& isn't that just so incredibly wonderful ??

We don't know.

It's such a positive way of seeing, of living.

We. Don't. Know.

Hey.
Maybe it's time to realize.
Maybe it's time to treasure.
Maybe it's time to enjoy every single one of those precious, priceless beat ... beat ... beats.

:)


I Am My Feelings

Because I'm

I've spent the better part of a week following and doing and playing and cooing with my 2 1/2 year and 2 month old grandsons
& I seriously cannot think of a better way to spend time.

It's Happy.

Pure.
Simple.
Happy.

There's really no other way to describe it.

It's delight in being.
Just.
Being.

It's wonderful wonder.
It's incredible glee.

&
It's a beautiful, perfect reminder.

Life.
It's pretty darn amazing.

:)


I Am My Feelings

C'MON REF ! !

My older brother has always been a fan of wrestling.
He was watching Vince McMahon's WWF long before it was WWE.
Mean Gene Okerlund and Tony Schiavone were his Saturday night heroes.
World Championship Wrestling and all those guys ...?
Uh huh.
That too.
He was even there for the not so big names at our local Civic Center.
Yep.
If it had anything to do with wrestling, Big Brother LOVED it.
He still does.
But, be prepared.
If visiting Brother when pro-wrestling is on tv, bring earplugs.
He is and always has been very, VERY loud and opinionated about this crazy sport he adores.

Back in our growing up days, I despised wrestling.
I hated everything about it.
Everything.
It was horrible, terrible, ugly and awful all wrapped up in an obnoxious, ANNOYING package.
I remember thinking, shouting and repeating quite a few times "I will never, EVER in a million, zillion years  EVER like wrestling !"

NEVER.

& then, Husband came along
& he just so happened to love wrestling too.
He liked it more for the soup opera-ish story line and goofy drama of it all.
The characters, the commentary, the noise.
ugh
& still I said, "nope. Nope & NOPE ! ! !"
If Husband chose to watch that phony, baloney silliness, so be it.
I REFUSE.

Enter ...
A little boy.

Son was a little unsure of this thing called "professional" wrestling at first
& I can't say that I blame him.
Watching Uncle watch wrestling was quite an experience for an innocent youngster.
I remember this two year old of mine being a bit overwhelmed by this extremely exuberant man.
But, as if in a trance, he couldn't help but look
& once Son decided he wasn't afraid anymore, my world shifted.
It became wrestling.
All wrestling
& soon,
a Little Sister, who loved everything her brother loved, decided she loved wrestling too
& Baby Sister, who followed her sibling's every cue, jumped right on into their little land of joy

& just like that, the wacky world of wrestling took over my life

Thumb wrestlers.
Action figures.
Rings, belts, microphones.
Must go to events.
Pay Per Views.
Mattress matches in the living room.
Airplane spins, double teaming, submissions, choke holds, body slams ...
I've experienced them all.
But surprisingly, thankfully no one ever had to be rushed to Emergency because of a much too vigorous move.

I don't exactly remember when it happened but, somewhere down the line, it happened.
Three little people who loved that sport so very much opened my eyes.
Their glee was my glee
& I finally realized, wrestling really wasn't so bad after all.

Son, Daughter and Daughter are all off doing their own things now
& our tv never finds it's way to the MUST NOT MISS 'Monday Night Raw' anymore.
But we sure love to reminiscence about those good ol days of Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley ...
& their still VERY VOCAL Uncle, who started it all.

Every so often, when visiting Son and Family, I hear my long ago words echoed in an adorable new Mama's voice when she says "I will NEVER, EVER & I mean NEVER ..."
& I think...
That's exactly what I said.

But wait.
Oooooo, just wait.
If those little boys are anything at all like their Great Uncle, their Grandpa, their Daddy, their two Aunties ... & yep
their 'it took me awhile but I love it too' Gramma ...? ...

My oh my oh my.
Get ready ! cause here we go again.

:)


I Am My Feelings

A Happy Day

Not too long ago, Sisters and Daughter dragged me out of my 'But I Don't Want To' ! and into a Girl's Day Shopping Spree.

Yeah, I know.
Shopping ?
Me ?

But, it was fun
& I mean real FUN because it was more about us and togetherness and all that good kinda stuff.

So, YaY.

As we were out and about I took notice, as I often do, of people and actions and randomness 
& this morning, there are a few certain someones from that outing still lolling around in my head.

There was this girl, mid-teen-ish, standing there, lost somewhere inside of her bored adolescent thoughts
& at a glance, one could say she defined snarky.
Snark - Y.
Her eyes paused on us as we giggled on by her and her space
& she took the time to offer a professional once over.
When she spotted me and my casual, I wear what I love to wear jeans and tennies gear ?
oh pshaw
Thumbs down, big time
ugh
But, I smiled.
She smiled back

& a feeling of kind was shared.

Then there was this older guy.
um, well,
Truth be told ?
We were probably the same or very close to the same, exact age.
yikes
He looked aged and irritated and grumpy
Until.
He smiled.
A nice, bright, genuine, returning my smile, smile

& a feeling of happy was shared.

Finally, that bundled up toddler.
Rosy cheeks.
Hello Kitty mittens and hat.
Hanging onto her daddy, staring at Sisters, Daughter and I like we were visitors from another planet
& suddenly, ever so shyly
A smile.
A melted heart

& ahhhhhh
A feeling of beauty was shared.

Smiles.
My oh my my my how I adore smiles !
Simple, simple smiles.

Feel free to share yours.
Any time.
Any day.
Anywhere.

Even while shopping.

:)

I Am My Feelings