I had an interesting discussion with my hairdresser today....

We were talking about labels that we get throughout life that may or may not define us.  It really got me thinking about how those labels change through the years as well as change how we are perceived by others..... and how that made me feel.

Early on I was someone's "daughter" which also identified me as one of the "girls" since there were four of us in my family...with no boys.  I was also someone's younger/older sister.  This "younger sister" label mostly occurred as I was going through school since I was three years behind my oldest sister.  It wasn't until she graduated and I entered high school that I was really able to have more of my own identity.

In college I immediately pledged a sorority....thus becoming known as a "D Phi E sister".. Also at college I began to date my now ex, and I became known as his "girlfriend"...which eventually changed to his "wife".

I taught school and became the "teacher".

I met new people in my life and became a "friend"....and later on a "Girlie".

My children were born and I was now known as a "mother".

My art work gave me the title "artist"....and then "potter".

When my sons married, I was known as the "mother-in-law" to their wives.

I think that one of the most difficult titles that I was given was when I got divorced.  After being a "wife" for so many years of my life, I now became an "ex-wife". That was probably the first title that I received that I didn't want  to define who I was...and, that was not an easy task.

Of course, when Dave came into my life, I again became a "girlfriend".

While I still have almost all of the above titles, at this point in my life I am definitely, happily labeled a "grandmother". I absolutely love this latest title and  hearing it makes me smile inside.

Along with being a grandmother, I am also now labeled a "senior citizen"....and, I can't say that I have enthusiastically embraced that one quite yet!


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 But, all of these titles;  "daughter, sister, one of the girls, D Phi E sister, teacher, friend, mother, artist, potter, mother-in-law, girlfriend, Girlie, wife, ex-wife, girlfriend, grandmother, senior citizen" etc. etc...... make me wonder if there is ever a time that I will not be labeled and, instead, just be plain old "me" ???

 *sigh*  : )

I knew as soon as I stepped outside that this was going to be a beautiful day....

....as the air had a crispness in it that reminded me that Fall was here!

With highs in the lower 70's and lows in the 50's, I couldn't have ordered better walking weather.  It was heavenly....and, I even went an extra mile this morning since it felt so nice out.  Yessssss....I'm loving this.
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I have been Skyping with Celia lately and she has been so adorable.  She sits on her Daddy's lap and just stares into the computer....seemingly amazed that her Grammie shows up on this little screen!

Last time we did it, she kept leaning into the computer and kissing the screen. It was so sweet.

Be still my heart.
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OK. As much as I love watching the many varieties of beautiful birds in my backyard, something or someone (?) has been making a mess of things back there....and, I may have to give this up until I figure it all out.

First of all, after filling my squirrel-proof feeder to the top, I find the seeds scattered all under it the very next morning.  The feeder is still intact.....but the food is on the ground!  This has occurred more times than I care to tell you.

The only thing that I can figure is that an animal is going around and around on the flipping mechanism on the feeder, thus spilling out all of the seed?  It really has me baffled.

Secondly, whatever is out there at night has also begun to empty my hummingbird feeder.  At first I found it on the ground, empty of its sugar water. This happened a couple of times and let me tell you, it isn't an easy feeder to get off of the hanging hook.  Then the other morning, I found it still hanging, but completely empty....and this was after I had refilled it to a pretty full level.

Now, I am picturing a very smart raccoon bringing a straw along and having himself some sweet liquid refreshment.

I'm close to stopping my bird feeding....and, this makes me quite sad....but, what's a girl to do?
*sigh*
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I'm beginning to get really excited about our upcoming trip to San Francisco!  The temps are quite cool there right now, so I am beginning to go through some of my heavier clothing to pack. I am also searching for some really comfy walking shoes, because I have been told that we will be doing a lot of that while there.

I have read Frommer's guide to San Fran....and a friend loaned me Fodor's guide yesterday, so I have begun to read it's contents.  I have been putting sticky notes on the pages that interest me so that I can share the info with Dave....and it is already filled with tons of the notes!

I'm just plain dizzy with information!!!
Well, truthfully, I'm just plain dizzy! Just ask Dave.
: O

A rainy Sunday....a busy Monday

Nothing beats waking up to the sound of pouring rain on a Sunday morning.  If nothing else, it was a great excuse to be lazy all day.  However, Dave shocked surprised me by suggesting that we get out some umbrellas and take our walk outside in the rain! It was actually great getting out there...and, the rain actually stopped midway through.

The rest of the day was pretty much spent doing absolutely nothing at all....just a lot of tv....football games.... and a lot of eating! 

Nice.... : )

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Monday arrived with a full slate.

First and foremost was the fact that a close girlfriend of mine was in Atlanta while her grown daughter was having a very serious operation.  We all had the family in our prayers as the morning went by....and then felt a huge sense of relief and joy when the news finally came.  The 4 hour surgery had gone well and the doctor was very pleased with the outcome. What incredibly wonderful news to hear...all of our prayers had been answered. 

The next several hours were spent at another Girlie's house where a group of us stamped, stuffed, and sealed about 1000 invitations.  These were beautiful pink invites to a very special birthday celebration this October.  My dear friend, Carole, who is a breast cancer survivor, has decided to celebrate her special day by turning the family store "pink" and having a  party.  That night, she will be honoring her wonderful team of doctors tas well as raising money for breast cancer research.

I can't think of a better or more important way to celebrate one's birthday...
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After all  of the envelopes were stamped, stuffed, and sealed, our Monday Mah Jongg group had their game.

It was a nice ending to a great, and busy, day.

Celia thinks and thinks and thinks and thinks...and then she finally dances!!!!

Welcome to the world, Stella Reese!

Some time after midnight this morning, precious Stella was born! She is the daughter of my son's wife's brother and his beautiful wife.

She weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 oz. and is 20" long.

Word has it that Mom and baby are doing well.....and that Dad's feet haven't touched the ground yet!!

Congratulations and love to all!

Good lungs, Stella. : )

I can't say that I blame you for crying....it's a crazy world out there....but, you will be safe and loved for sure.
xoxo

94 degrees=Fall ??...and, other stuff.

Fall begins at 10:09 tonight.

HA!

It might be on the calendar....but, Mother Nature hasn't gotten the memo yet!
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I had two appointments today; the cardiologist and an x-ray of my hip area.

...won't know the results of the x-ray for a few days.

The cardiologist was very thorough and explained my heart palpitations, etc.  It all turns out to be nothing terrible, but, something to keep an eye on through the years.  He was very pleasant as he described what was going on inside of my chest and showed me the Holter monitor results.  Some of the medical jargon went right over my head...but, I tuned in to the key words like: "this looks normal", "commonly occurs in women your age" (what?!?!?).

It really caught my attention when we talked about drinking wine.  I asked if it could exacerbate my palpitations.  The answer was "yes". He said that the key word here was moderation, moderation, moderation.  All things in moderation...yada yada yada. 

...not great timing to be told this as I get ready to head to wine country on my California trip in a few weeks.
: O
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I had to laugh as I went to park in the hospital parking deck this morning.  I watched as a woman made her way to her car.  It was a great spot, so I pulled over to the right (she was parked on the left), turned on my left turn signal. and waited for her to back up.

She was taking her time doing this, so cars began to line up behind me.  I waved them on to come around me until she began to back up ....and, they did.

However, one gentleman (well, not really a gentleman) went by me and angrily screamed at the top of his lungs: "GET OUT OF THE STREET!"

I ignored him...parked my car...and walked over to the elevator to take me into the building.

He ended up in the elevator with me!

It was the quietest elevator ride that I have ever taken....
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I think that I may have nighttime "critters" in my backyard again.

Not only have they (or it) emptied my bird feeder continually, but they have also begun to knock my hummingbird feeder off of the hook where it is hanging....thus leaving spilled, red sugar water all over the place.

I am thinking that it might be a raccoon, again.  It might be time to borrow my neighbors trap again. (It only captures them into the cage....no harm is done to them.)

The whole thing gives me the "willies".

Stay tuned.
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I am awaiting some news from my daughter-in-law's brother.  His wife went into labor today as they are expecting their first child, a little girl!

I still remember my first pregnancy and birth like it was yesterday....even though it was 36 years ago.

Somethings just remain etched in our memories forever...
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Happy Autumn fellow bloggers....don't get out those jackets quite yet though.... : )

"Pop! Pop!"

You know those ads on tv where the person is walking around while holding their hand to their back and groaning?

...Well that was me last night!

As the day wore on....so did my back pain....and by bedtime I was pretty miserable....

But, when I awoke this morning it had improved somewhat....so, I do feel like I am on an upward path!

Being pretty active (in my old age! ha), having this kind of pain really threw me for a loop. It wasn't anything that I had experienced before now and I didn't quite know what to make of it.

Friends gave me advice (heat for 10 minutes-ice for 20 minutes/exercises, etc.) that I continue to take today.  I have also been taking Advil regularly to keep the inflammation down to a dull roar.

I am hopeful that, in another day or two, I will be back to my usual energetic self....otherwise, there will be one miserably, cranky Grammie here in Bham.

Time for the ice pack....more tomorrow!

Ouch.

One of these days I am going to accept some of the limitations of getting older.

But, unfortunately, not today.

As Dave helped me close up the pool (not an easy task!) and put the cover on it, I found myself struggling to open the pump basket.  Bending over and trying with all of my might to get it to start opening, I felt something *snap* in my lower back.

...not a good sign.

As the day wore on I found it getting more and more difficult to move...it was especially painful to bend over.

OUCH.

We will see what tomorrow brings....but, in the meantime, back to the heat and then ice, for me.

(sympathy needed here)    : }

A day of quiet reflection...

Saturday is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) where Jewish people all over will be asking God for forgiveness for any wrongs that they may have done in the past year.

It is a holy day as the Jewish New Year begins.

....much to think about.

Bring on the M and M's!!

So, my 24 hour Holter monitor event is over.

The little unit with all of the information on my heart has been turned in...and, I will hear the results next Wednesday when I see the cardiologist.

Ironically, yesterday turned out to be one of those days that I had hardly any chest flutters. You know the story....you go to the doctor about a pain and when you get there, the pain is gone!

So, as I mentioned yesterday....I ate a bunch of M & M's and even asked Dave to try and "aggravate" me last night...just to see if I could get a palpitation going from stress or caffeine...

But, I couldn't.

Oh, I might have had a minor whisper of a flutter...but, nothing of any importance.

 Now I am wondering if they will be able to get a good "reading" from my day. I hope so because I'd rather not have to go "bionic" again.

 Of course, the very, very good news is.... the caffeine in the chocolate M & M's didn't cause any palpitations.

 Yessssss! : ) 
Bring on the chocolate!

I'm wired!

After a morning visit to the cardiologist's office to get hooked up to a Holter monitor, I am feeling a bit like the bionic woman....but, without the super powers!

For as long as I can remember, I have had a "fluttering" feeling in my chest...and have had it diagnosed as mitral valve prolapse (which I supposedly do not have anymore!) stress, too  much caffeine, and palpitations.

In the last year these have gotten more frequent and progressively worse...so, my dr. and I thought that it was time to check it out further.  Thus, the reason for the monitor.

I will wear it for the next 24 hours and note whenever I feel a palpitation by pushing a button on the monitor and writing the info down on the sheet of paper that they provided. Then, next Wednesday, I will actually see the cardiologist who will have decifered all of my heart beats and let me know what is going on.

Wouldn't you know it.....so far, I haven't felt a thing....but,  I just ate some M and M's to see if that will bring on a flutter or two.
I am crossing my fingers that they don't....in that there is no way that I could ever give up chocolate.

*sigh*

Fly....

"Come to the edge
No, we will fall.


Come to the edge,
No, we will fall.


They came to the edge
He pushed them and they flew."

~Guillaume Apollinaire

I received the little poem above in an email this morning from the President of an artist organization that I am a part of.

The words really resonated with me....and, I thought that I'd share them with you.

Food for thought on this beautiful, Wednesday morning...

Happy Birthday, Marsha!!

Seen here as "Auntie Marshmallow" as she is known to my grandkids, my sister, Marsha, is the youngest 65 yr. old I know!

Happy, happy birthday, Marsha....

xoxo

"Family faces are magic mirrors looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future." Gail Buckley

...Missing these beautiful faces of my grandchildren...

What I wish for on my birthday today...

Today is my 62nd (gulp) birthday.

How did that happen? Just the other day I was just an innocent, fresh-faced young girl with my whole life ahead of me. The childhood photos are yellowed with age as I stare at the face of the child I was.

I looked into the mirror this morning to see if there were any traces of that little girl.....as she is getting harder to see with each passing year. But, that is okay, because I know that her young spirit will always be inside of me.

So, on this special day in my life, I have thought long and hard about what I would truly like for my birthday:

I want to find true peace in my heart. I want to continue to have the strength to handle whatever is in store for me in the coming years.

I want to always, always remember to be grateful for all that I have....my ever-growing family, my friends, my health, a roof over my head, my artistic abilities, my joy, my" rose-colored glasses" outlook on life, my ability to love and be loved in return...and to continue to be able to find more good than bad in people.

I want those that I love to also find peace in their hearts.

I would love to see more kindness, tolerance, patience, understanding, goodwill, unselfishness, compassion, tenderness, empathy, humanity, harmony, grace, warmth, unity, generosity, consideration, acceptance, and goodness.... in the world around me.

 I pray that I will live to see the end of bitterness, hatred, indifference, cold-heartedness, disdain, anger, isolation, loneliness, persecution, bigotry, war, violence, prejudice, cruelty, and harshness.

Here's hoping that my birthday wishes come true...
xoxo

Looking back on the weekend: The Pirate and Princess Party

The weekend started with the Princess and Pirate Party to celebrate Owen's, Celia's, my sister's and my September birthdays. I had a great time decorating everything in pink or black....wands and swords....bright and sparkly or dark and ominous....bejeweled with crowns or with tatooed with patches over one eye...!

Costumes were "encouraged"....and, knowing my family...I knew that everyone would rise to the occasion.

And, I wasn't wrong as is evidenced in the photos here and below!

AAargh!!!!!!

Some days call for courage, and ask those who would otherwise lead ordinary lives to become heroes.

Remembering and honoring the heroes amongst us.

9/11

Remnants.....

 

The toys have been put away, the crib and pack n' play folded up, the blow-up beds have been unplugged and the borrowed items are ready to be returned.

Leftover foods have been eaten or discarded....mostly eaten....especially the cupcakes.... *groan*

Linens and towels have been washed and dried...and, beds have been remade.

Floors have been mopped and rugs vacuumed as the last remnants of having the whole family here are slowly being erased.


The house is quiet....maybe, too quiet....as I am left with memories....wonderful, joyous, noisy, adorable, loving, chaotic memories of the kids, grandkids, sisters, and Mom all celebrating life together Labor Day, 2010.

Happy Birthday dear Celia!

Even though we celebrated together when the family was all gathered....today is your official birthday!

You are a charmer with your "room-brightening" smile and your absolute delight at everything that is going on around you, Celia.  What a gift you are!

So, on your special day, I am sending you tons of long-distance hugs and kisses!!!!!

I love you so very much,
Grammie

 

You make me smile!!! xoxo

The hardest part is always the good-bye...

....after four wonderfully joyous and chaotic days....I did my airport runs this morning and hugged and kissed my family good-bye....not without some tears....but, mostly with incredible memories.

Time to begin making my way through the laundry that is piled up downstairs...the dishes in the sink....etc. etc. etc.

.....more to come in the days ahead after I catch up on some much-needed sleep! : )

The "Group" : )

This little munchkin will be here tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a character she is! I love how she gets right up at the end after making that shocking, but adorable, face.
Tomorrow cannot get here soon enough!

Awaiting Chaos

Starting tomorrow.....my whole family will be arriving.

 I thought that it would never get here as I have been imagining, dreaming, and smiling about it for weeks now.

The house is semi-ready....blow-up beds are blown up, hide-a-beds are no longer hidden, the crib and pack n' play have been opened and mattresses have been carefully placed on them, after several (!!) trips, the groceries were bought and the refrigerator and pantry are as full as they can get (you know that kind of full where you take out one item and ten more come with it!), the pool has been chemicalized and cleaned, presents and happy gifts have been purchased, the balloons have been blown, the Pirate and Princess party things are ready to go......etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

I have had more lists than ever...and, one by one, items are being crossed off.  Sticky note reminders are slowly being removed and I am almost at the point that if I don't have it done.....well, I guess that it won't get done.

I just want to have everyone here already..... so the hugging, laughter, and love can begin!

*sigh*  : )

Oh! Oh! Owen.....

How can it be????

Just four years ago today you were a tiny baby in your mommy and daddy's arms....

...and, today, you are such a  "grown up" little boy.

Happy, happy birthday my sweet Owen.

 I can't wait to see you in a few days!!!!

I love you!
Grammie

(Now, stop growing up so quickly....you are making your Grammie feel old!)

: )