All You Need Is Love.....

Being the gracious ex-wife, several weeks ago I gave a firm commitment to 'doggie' sit....which translates into please take care of my dogs and love them just as much as I do....

O.K. so I accepted the challenge of watching 6 (yes I said 6) dogs....4 Golden Retrievers: Sassy, Tanner, Smitty and Murphy...with 2 Newfoundlands: Isaac and Doc....these are not puppies, people!  These a full grown dogs that run in a pack!  Every time the wind blew in a strange direction one would start barking and then the others joined in full chorus.....

On the night before I was to begin this challenge I visited these dogs to get to know their personalities, schedule, eating habits....and, of course, their daily meds.....we seemed to get along just fine.  But, you have to remember that mommy and daddy were around so they were on their best behavior.

The next day I arrived in the afternoon to take my shift.  When I got there all chaos erupted!  You would have thought these animals hadn't been outside, had food or people companionship in decades....they were ready to eat the door as I was trying to unlock it and let myself in.  When I restored order they sat in the kitchen looking at me, blinking,  as if to say, let the games begin!  Wow....it was dinner time and I had to get them fed.  Since they are all shapes and sizes and different ages, I had to make each bowl separately.  Let's see, Doc is still a puppy and he gets two heaping scoops of the food from the right bin, Tanner has a weight issue so he only gets one level scoop, Isaac is 170 lbs. and has to have a dollop of canned food on top just to make sure he eats as he is slow in starting.  As I made each bowl I had to say a name so a tail would wag and I would know who to feed....

The next morning I was awakened at 4:38 am....yes and as you all know I am NOT a morning person.  So down the steps we all trod and I let them all out....I go back upstairs to bed and peace reigned for about 30 minutes...then as if on cue the barking started.  They were hungry and wanted to come in for breakfast.  I had to get the list of who gets what and how much so I could begin the assembly line....and to read the list I had to put in my contacts.....ever try putting contacts in puffy eyes at 5:00 am?

All in all it was an enjoyable experience to tell you the truth.....some minor problems: I guess during the day they got bored and ate half a rug, one had an altercation with a throw pillow from the couch and I had to dislodge a dog tag which was embedded (in the pillow, not the dog), Sassy had some trouble going down stairs (crisis call to the parents).  And one carried in a flat, dead mouse and left it on the living room floor.....oh well....

What is really amazing is that I did learn the individual personality of each one....they are as unique as humans and I have learned to love them just as if they were my own....

I'm going to miss caring for them, but not at 5:00 in the morning!

The Man of My Dreams!

All little girls have a first love and that love is their Father....I was no different.  I thought that man hung the moon and the stars....he was the bright sun in the center of my personal Universe....I loved him more than words could ever say!  Don't get me wrong, life wasn't always rosy growing up with an Italian man for a father.  He was far more strict than I would have liked, but that strictness grew from his love and protection for me.

Today marks the 6th Anniversary of his passing....and my hurt is still as fresh and painful as it was on that Sunday morning 6 years ago at 7:25 a.m.  I was with him when he left us and I wouldn't have missed being there for the world.....he hung on far longer than he should have and it was with our encouragement that he went....

All the so-called experts say that once the spirit goes to heaven it forgets all earthly bonds.  I disagree....I feel my father with me at odd times: I hear his laugh, feel his hand on my hair, standing beside me with his famous smile, remembering the secrets we shared.  Yes, I still talk to him about my problems and troubles.  And, boy have we have had numerous conversations recently!

There is a Father/Daughter bond and I can say with certainty that it transcends space, time and dimensions.

Love you bunches and miss you even more.....

"Sis"

The Bull Moose Party

While having drinks with BFF last nite at a 'hole-in-the-wall' bar, she mentioned that I hadn't posted any new blogs for a while....so this morning with a pounding head (too many adult beverages!) I'll honor her request.

Did you ever sit back, quiet yourself  and count your blessings?  You know, blessings are more than things....blessings are people in your life, like BFF who is warm, giving, funny and a dear person.  Blessings are the person you owe money to who will work with you thru a rough, stormy period.....blessings are the LG&E bill that you thought would be astronomical but turns out to be not so bad....

Yes, I thought of these things last nite as we laughed, joked, talked and enjoyed life.....without these blessings we would not make it thru our journey here on earth....

So BFF, here's your blog.....and remember that 'Life is not the destination, it's the ride'.....and I so enjoy my ride with you along!

Those Were The Days, My Friend....

Friends are the rare gems we acquire throughout our lifetime....and when you make an honest, true friend you become a very lucky creature indeed.

I recently spent some time with a friend from my old days.  It was so much more than the wonderful visit I had imagined:  it was a trip down memory lane!  And although we are older (and wiser) when we talked about the past it came alive for us again.   We were, once again, the twenty somethings who had pool parties, Halloween parties, drank Strawberry Daiquiris and generally enjoyed our lives.  Sure we had ups and downs, bills, mortgages, young kids who never stopped saying "Mama?  Mama?  Mama!"....but we had FUN to the nth degree. 

And, isn't that what life is supposed to be about?  Enjoyment, going with the flow, laughing thru adversity is why we're here all with the help of good friends.

Life is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived.  Here's to the next generation, may they also learn about life!

We've Only Just Begun...

Since I've been hooking up with some long lost high school classmates via Facebook, I decided to pull out the ole yearbooks and was immediately transported back in time.  Once again it was the early '70's and I was the wide eyed, innocent (and hopeful) girl with her entire future ahead of her.

Looking at the pictures of all of us I realized that although we thought we were adults in actuality we were not; we were just kids  plain and simple.  It was a time when innocence was the norm, fun was laughing over silly things (not people who were different) and our only goal was looking forward to Friday nights to either attend the weekly football or basketball games (depending on the season).  As I read what my fellow classmates wrote to me our Senior year my eyes began to mist over....we were going to conquer the world, but remain our same sweet selves; we vowed to remain positive and had little to no fear of the unknown future.....

How many of us achieved our goals I wonder?  Did we conquer the world?  Most assuredly!  Maybe we didn't find a cure for a terminal disease, maybe some of us were more successful than we could have ever imagined and maybe, just maybe we have made the world a better place for those around us.....

I do know one thing for certain I really wished I knew then what I know now 'cause I would definitely do it all over again!

Happy Birthday Bubba!

Sixty-six years ago today one of the sweetest, kindest, most gentle souls arrived on this planet.....for those of us who had the pleasure to know him, we loved him immensely.....

And although he had trials, tribulations, sorrow and grief that he had to work through, he also had a warm smile, charm, great wit and intelligence as well as a huge heart......

By his choice, he left us way too soon....we miss him  but we hope he has finally found the love and peace on the other side that he so desperately wanted during his short time here.

I send my love with the thought that maybe one day we will see each other again.

Happy Birthday, David!

Always and forever,

Pammy

Pete 'n' Peggy

Growing up it's difficult to imagine our parents as young people....I mean, they were our parents, right? And since they had established the ground rules for us, they could not possibly have been the type of people who wanted to have fun, laugh, dance, party.....or could they???

Every so often I'd get a glimpse of my parents doing something 'un-parent like'.....singing, dancing in the living room (how Dad would complain about Mom trying to 'lead'), having disagreements about the name of a specific song and maybe going out every great once in a while on a Saturday night.

Going from a Catholic grade school 3 blocks from my home to the Catholic high school on the out skirts of downtown Clarksburg (West Virginia) was a big jump in my circle of friends.  During my freshman year  at Notre Dame High School (Class of '71) I got to know kids from the other Catholic grade schools in the area.....one guy in particular was really down to earth and friendly.....I liked him as soon as I met him.......

So one night I'm telling my parents about some of the kids in my classes and I mention this guy's name.  The minute I did, my Dad started to laugh....I mean really laugh like he had a great secret.....I pressed him to tell me what was so funny and Mom said: "you might as well tell her" and she laughed.....

It seems that my Dad knew the mother of this new friend...very well.....like really well.....like HE dated HER!!!!  I was floored....then Dad started telling me stories about getting together with friends and partying at Peggy's parents house....he said her parents were great people and they always had a good time when they were there......

So the next day I go to school and can't wait to tell my secret.....so he goes home, comes back the next day and verifies all that my Dad had said....after that every time we passed each other in the halls at NDHS, I would ask how's Peggy and he would say fine; then he would ask how's Pete and I would say fine and we would go on to our respective classes....I would come home and tell my Dad and he would give me that cute little snicker with a smile.....This went on for the entire time we were in school....

After graduation we all went our separate ways.....he married and stayed in town; I married and moved to Kentucky...but the best part about the entire story is that we recently hooked back up via Facebook.  It's great getting caught up with our lives and how much we've grown.

And whenever I hear from this school friend, I also hear my Dad give me that cute little snicker....yep, Peggy's fine and so is Pete......

The Long, Hot Summer

I don't know about you, but when I was growing up we did not have air-conditioning.....no one had air-conditioning....we suffered out the unbearable days and humid nights....and to cool off we would go to the community pool or maybe take in a movie.....

Why now is it so difficult to adjust to no a/c????  I am still on my austerity program and until I am gainfully employed it will stay off (except on those rare occasions when I do have to get ready to go out and don't want to look wilted before I even leave my house)....are we so spoiled that we cannot get back to basics, or is it just the fact that our houses, apartments, whatever are now constructed without the hint of a cross breeze when one opens up the windows? Box fans and ceiling fans just don't seem to cut it....

I have to admit that this has been an exercise in patience on my part....I will 'go with the flow' of nature and pray for cool breezes to periodically come my way.....I now understand the meaning of the phrase "so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk"......

And, yes, this winter I'll probably be writing about how cold it is....but couldn't we at least have some kind of happy medium?  C'mon weatherman, cut us a break!

That's What Friends Are For.....

Yesterday I received a voice mail message from a girlfriend asking me to call her as she had a 'proposition' for me.  Intrigued, I dialed her up.....and the proposition, it turned out, was asking for my help in cleaning her former next door neighbor's house.  The neighbors were renters and were re-locating out of the city; they didn't have time to clean up so they asked her if she would do it for a few dollars.....I thought no problem and besides she did offer to give me compensation for my time.

So I showed up after she had been at it for a couple of hours.....Holy Cow!  I had NEVER seen a place so 'lived in' in my entire life (and believe me, I've seen a few in my day).....well, actually it was dirty, no filthy dirty was a much better description.....

As we were working on this house (basement, upstairs, main floor) I couldn't help but think back to growing up.  When I was little, before we moved into our permanent house, my parents rented a small house: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen and living room.  It was like a little square box.  One of the things I do remember was that my mother kept that little house spotless.....she treated that rental just like it was her own.  She was very proud of how everything was in its' place.  And as I remembered that little house I was telling my girlfriend how people just don't seem to respect property, theirs or others any more.....

Well we cleaned it the best we could (spaghetti sauce stains on the cabinets and floor, broken egg shells from behind the range and all!).....and when we were finishing up she offered to pay me......

You know, some things you just do without expecting anything in return and this was one of them....I refused her offer 'cause as the song goes "That's What Friends Are For"......