The Little Tomato Plants That Could.....

Back on April 30, 2010 I wrote about growing tomatoes with LLF (Long Lost Friend) the past couple of years in my blog entitled "How Does My Garden Grow".  In that entry I explained about how I didn't think I had the strength (or the desire for that matter) to plant this year, that maybe I would just wait until I had a better grasp on my emotions before I decided to do any more gardening.

Apparently God/Universe had other plans about what should happen in my small patch of dirt .....

Yesterday afternoon I noticed some weeds growing around my patio that needed to be pulled.  After all we had a huge rain storm the night before and once weeds get some water....well, look out!  They grow like they are on steroids.....

Anyway since I had some time I thought I'd get rid of those weeds before they got too out of control.  When I started to pull, I noticed something strange and familiar...right in the middle of my weeds were two small tomato plants!  I can only surmise what happened:  seeds from last years plants must have dropped into the soil and slept thru the winter.  While my life was in turmoil, these little seeds did what they do best and germinated......then the rains helped them to grow past the soil and into the sunlight....it is what LLF used to say, that plants ensure their survival by dropping their seeds....and, by golly,  these little guys did.....

So now, once again, this season I will have fresh cherry tomatoes to enjoy....and my heart only wishes that LLF could be here to enjoy them too......

The Wish Book.....

Last night I was channel surfing when I came upon a story about the beginnings of Sears, Roebuck & Company.  Since I am a history buff and love biographies, I stopped surfing and became lost in the story.  It seems that founder Richard Sears not only was a risk taker, but had the foresight to introduce to the masses a lifestyle that they could only dream about.  Whatever you could want or think you could want was found within the 1200+ pages of his mail order catalog.  It was even rumored that Henry Ford visited and toured his fulfillment house and implemented Sears' organization of order processing into his auto assembly line.....

So what does this have to do with me and my blog?  Well.....when I was a little girl the arrival of the Sears, Roebuck & Company Christmas catalog was the beginning of the holiday season.  The catalog arrived at the end of October and by the time December 1st arrived, it was well worn, dog-eared and had pages turned down to mark what I longed for......

My dad was the one who explained to me that this was really The Wish Book......due to the fact the every page had something I wished for.....and I wished for a lot!  

I'm still wishing for things, but not the material kind.....I wish for peace and love for all my family and friends (both past, present and future); I wish for no more war; I wish for the hand of God to reach into the Gulf of Mexico and stop the destruction of the animal life of the sea.....I wish for gainful employment for all of us who are on the outside looking in.....maybe in my own way, I've taken The Wish Book to the next level....

And you know, this is a good thing!

Happy Anniversary!

When I was a kid I used to love listening to the stories my dad would tell about the 'olden days'.  What was even more fun was when all the aunts and uncles would get together and one would start a story, which led to more stores and then to even more stories....

I especially liked the ones which involved my mom and dad....how they met, what they did.....years later my mom finally confessed about their first date....it was not accidental; it was planned!  My dad did say that he thought it was strange that mom looked so good when he picked her up on such a short notice.  She had her hair done up and was wearing her good pearls.  It was one of those stores I never got tired of hearing and it always ended with my dad telling my Uncle Joe that it was all his fault 'cause he was the one who suggested the double date to begin with.....

Where does the time go?  Wasn't it just yesterday we were kids riding our bikes, running the streets and always home when 'the street lights came on'.....?  Not too long ago I was talking with my Cousin Bobby about how much fun we use to have and he also asked where did the time go?  My only answer was I guess we sneezed and it was over.....

If my father was still alive, today would have been their 58th Wedding Anniversary and as much as I would like to remember,  their married life was not all love, kisses, fun and games....there were times when finances made it difficult to spend an extra penny on anything....but still they stayed together thru thick and thin....my mother oversaw my father's care for the last 2 years of his life and when he passed a part of her died with him. 

Oh Daddy....what I wouldn't give to hear you tell your stories just one more time....

Happy Anniversary to both of you!

No News is Good News?

When I was young, long before the internet, e-mail, cell phones, twitter et al, we received the majority of our information thru the United States Postal Service.  Sure, we had news on television (delivered by Walter Cronkite) but getting the daily mail was a treat.....you never knew what you would get.  I'm not talking about bills; I'm talking about cards and letters from friends and family members.  Long before Federal Express and UPS there was a thing called 'Parcel Post'....packages delivered along with your daily mail.

The Holidays were exciting times back then.....each day the mailman would bring stacks and stacks of Christmas cards from far-a-way friends, war buddies of my dad, and even next door neighbors and signed with love and messages meant to help keep you warm thru the long and cold West Virginia winters.  We would use the cards as part of our holiday decor...setting them on tables, hanging them on walls and keeping them year after year.  

I know you're thinking 'well, we can send an e-card'...yes, we can, but it's just not the same.....

Growing up there was a candy called 'Mallo-Mars'.  It was similar to Reese Cups, but was filled with marshmallow instead of peanut butter.  Inside were cards with point values and if you saved enough you could send off and get a full box (12) of more!  Gosh, my brother and I would eat them by the dozens just to get the point cards.  We anxiously waited for the 'Parcel Post' to bring our freebies....sometimes the heat of the sun melted them so Mom had to put them in the 'fridge to harden before we could eat them...

I sure miss those Mallo-Mars......getting the mail is just not the same.....

Hats!

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away it was extremely fashionable for ladies to wear hats.  Hats were worn when a lady went shopping or when a lady went to church.  A lady's ensemble was never complete without her matching hat (as well as gloves, purse, shoes).  Her hat was akin to her crown and she wore it regally.

As a little girl I remember going with my mother to hat shop.  There was no 'self-service' here; a salesgirl greeted you as you entered the shop, sat you down in front of a skirted table with a 3 sided mirror and began to bring hats to try.  The 3 sided mirror was there solely for the purpose of viewing how you looked in a particular hat from all angles.....

I genuinely miss those days and I've had them, as well as my mother, on my mind quite a bit here recently.  I have never made it a secret that my mother and I never got along well.  From the time I could remember we argued about anything and everything; she could be very condescending towards me.  My dad, God bless him, seemed to run interference for me.....I never could understand some of her reasoning. 

I'm still working thru some of the demons of my past, but have relied on help from above to get thru some very trying times.  I now understand my mothers actions towards me.

Mom, I love you and I forgive you....and I really miss hat shopping with you.

What If There Isn't Any More?

I sent the following this morning to all my Facebook friends and those listed on my e-mail address book.  It was sent to me by a really good friend (and decent guy, Mike) and for those of you who didn't get this message earlier, I wanted to share it with you.

"One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say 'I love you'.

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage.....And old cars... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. 

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away (Connie!) or a sister-in-law after divorce (Debi!). There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what. 


Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close! 

I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send this to all those people who are "keepers" in your life, including the person who sent it, if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them? 


I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.. 


Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do. And just in case I'm gone tomorrow:

I LOVE YA!!! 

Live today because tomorrow is not promised. "

Wanted: Cabana Boy!

Last year I had a wonderful summer.....I laid out in the sun (in front of a fan sans clothes!), drank gin flavored Crystal Lite (or maybe Cuervo Cuervo Tequila depending upon my mood) and when I got too hot I had  my cabana boy spritz me down.  Cabana boy also grilled whatever I was craving at the time.....

Now cabana boy is gone....so I'm looking to hire for this summer.  Qualifications/duties include, but are not limited to:

• Must be able to multi-task (spritz and talk at the same time)
• Be up on current politics
• Have some semblance of intelligence
• Expert/advanced level of grilling

This is not an entry level position; experience preferred.  Please submit current resume and cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position and why you feel I should hire you.

Friendship ala Sex and the City.....

Last nite me, BFF and BFF's granddaughter took time out to go see the girls of Sex and the City 2.  While watching Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, I couldn't help but wonder how these 4 very different women became the best of friends.  I know you must be thinking it's only a movie.....but these 4 characters have the strengths and weaknesses to make each individual person an integral part of each other.  Of course they don't play nice with each other all the time, but they never hold grudges, which I find fascinating....

Women never bury hurt, pain, frustration, fear deep inside....they rely on each other as counselors, psychologists, etc.  They talk out their problems and find solutions.

Men, however, are different....men are too 'macho' to allow other men to see their weaknesses....don't talk about what's bugging you, just go have a beer, watch some sports and pack all the pain and fear deep down inside.  The end result is a big gooey tar build up around their hearts, solar plexus and throats.  And when the fear gets to be too much, they vanish like a thief in the night....some even re-locate from place to place and state to state hoping to run away from their fears.  This doesn't work guys....you carry your fears within you and where you go it goes.

I'm not saying that men should be more like women....not at all!  Both sexes need balance to keep order in the Universe....but what I would like to see are more men who confront their fears and release them....kinda like the girls of Sex and the City.....

Take My Breath Away.....

Mind over matter?  What in the hell does this mean, anyway....? Is it the belief that the mind is more powerful than the body?  Personally I have had too many 'coincidences' to believe in accidents....whether we like it or not we are all hooked into a Powerful Being.  And I, for one, am glad of it.

I have a small sign taped onto my computer to remind me of what I believe in:

1. There is only One Presence and One Power, God the Good, Omnipotence
2. If God is everywhere, God is also within everyone
3. Our thoughts create our reality
4. Pray affirmatively giving thanks for what you desire
5. Practice these four principles to the best of your ability each and every day

Have a wonderful day, week, month, year, life!











(Sunset by God; photo by Samantha Walters)

Memories.....

Do you remember the song by Paul Anka:  The Times of Your Life....?  I listened to it today and although I've heard is hundreds of time I really, really listened to the lyrics this time.  I guess I'm feeling very nostalgic...you see I belong to Facebook and today I received a request to join the group The Green Parrot.

Those of you not familiar with the Green Parrot most likely have no idea what I am talking about.  But, suffice it to say, the Green Parrot was truly the best hole-in-the-wall dive in this entire world....I spent many weekend nites there during my senior year at Notre Dame High School (Class of '71).  You didn't have to worry if you were the legal age or not (18 at the time), because no one ever carded you....you walked in, searched thru the crowd, found your friends and ordered a Stroh's (draft) beer.....the juke box was always playing the latest songs, people were either dancing or throwing up (and sometimes both at the same time, if memory serves me correctly).  And when someone played "Country Roads" by John Denver we hugged each other, sang with him and cried.....that was our National Anthem!

We had so much fun.....no one ever worried about what trials and tribulations Monday morning would bring.  Who cared??  

The Green Parrot is no longer at the foot of Bridgeport Hill on Rt. 50.....but in our hearts it is still reelin' and rockin'......

Putting Down Roots....Pulling Up Weeds

While looking at the very small patch of ground surrounding my equally small patio, I was amazed at the number of weeds that had appeared almost over night.  Not being the kind of person who really likes to dig in the dirt (that's my son, not me), I decided to bite the bullet, put on the 2 piece and catch some rays while I pulled weeds.

As I pulled my thoughts began to wander aimlessly to, once again, LLF and this time last year.....yes, it's going to take a while to get over this rejection.  (So, if you follow my blog with any regularity, you are going to be reading about him.....I will try not to bore you.)  While pulling I couldn't help but notice the roots of the bushes planted.  Some weeds were intertwined with the roots and I had to make sense as to what should be left and what needed to be pulled.  

I couldn't help but attempt to rationalize, again, what actually happened between us.  When did the relationship go from one where it was established (like the roots of a plant), easy, fun, exciting to rejection, sorrow, heartache, loneliness...and yes I did shed more than a few tears.

Well meaning friends say the old stand-bys:  Someone better is coming down the pike for you; he didn't deserve you; time to get on with your life....and for anyone who has suffered thru heartache, heartbreak, rejection they might as well be speaking in a foreign tongue.  What if he was the someone better and somehow I blew it or maybe he felt he was getting too comfortable and had to leave....I've always been one to have to have answers.  I cannot tolerate loose ends; unfinished business....I have to have closure.  Had he stayed maybe things would have worked out and then again maybe we would have become bored with each other and parted as friends....this way I'll never know the what might have beens could have been.

He's still around in my heart and my head.....who knows for how long.....but one thing I do know is that I'm extremely cautious about leaving myself open for another relationship any time soon.....my heart needs time to heal.....