This Night Owl Blog has given so much!
It is a fun place, we don't bash and we have fun being "tedious"!
We offer advice, give love, lots of free food and an open forum which can be about anything that is important, thought provoking or just plain silly.
And sometimes we just March (some to different drummers, but all together). :)
It is not about a single person, it is about all the people on any given day blended together.....Goldie!
Alan Jackson wrote “Sissy’s Song” about a family friend and co-worker that died an early death. He sang it at her funeral with no intention of this ever being on an album. It is a very soothing and heartwarming song and I wanted to share it with everyone. Because a year ago today, one of my best friends in the whole wide world was taken from this earth. Her life was cut short by a person that chose to drink and drive.
Every time I hear this song – I think of Chris – I can, literally, hear her saying “don’t worry ‘bout me”………. Well, I miss her more than ever and more than anyone will ever know.
So, today, let’s all remember loved ones that we have loved and lost. I hope everyone has an excellent day!!
Every Tuesday night when the Biggest Loser comes on, I get a little emotional with its theme song – “What Have You Done Today, To Make YOU Feel Proud?”
I have been writing versions of this blog since last September (or maybe before) – but each time – I decide that I do NOT want to publish it. I have been so proud of so many things that I have been able to do, overcome or just feel, etc. – But not real sure that I have wanted to share them with “everyone”.
I have been proud of the fact that I have NOT spoken publicly about SO many things that have been eating at me for so long.
I have been proud that I was there for a family member that needed me during their six/eight weeks of recovery.
I was extremely honored and proud when Carol dedicated a blog to me – since she and I “get it”.
I have been proud to be a new aunt and just love those little nephews with all my being.
I am proud of myself for having the courage to stay with Barney as he took his last breath. That was the hardest thing I have EVER had to do.
I am proud that we gave a little shelter puppy a new home filled with tons of love (even though there are tons of sleepless nights and energy like I have never seen before).
I could go on and on – but I won’t. As you can see – with each week that I have been writing and re-writing this blog – more and more things come to mind.
But – my proudest moment lately – I did NOT purchase the Russell Stover Valentine box of candy that was screaming my name in Walgreens today!! (LOL) So, I can watch The Biggest Loser tonight and know that I made myself proud TODAY!!
I guess it’s the little things in life that are important in the grand scheme of things.
I have watched “The Bucket List” over and over again for the better part of the month on HBO. I did not see it in the theater. I thought it would be too depressing. I must tell you – it is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Each time I see it, I see something that I missed before – and I have cried for different reasons each time. For those that have not seen it – I will not spoil it for you. I highly recommend it. The relationship that the main characters form – is a life lesson to be learned.
I think my favorite line is “I wish I had met you before we were dead.”
I just have some questions for each of you:
Do you have a Bucket List? Would you care to share your Top Five things? Would you want to know “how much time you have left”? Have you found JOY in your life? Has your life brought JOY to others?
I know that you all have brought joy to mine! Thank you.
As the Nest gets ready for the Holiday Celebration – there are several things that have been attended to:
Christmas cards – CHECK – thank you, Iteach
Christmas Music – CHECK – thank you, Bono
Christmas Party – CHECK - thank you, Shirley, Whabby, and Goldie
Christmas tree – CHECK – thank you Cpgem….
Now – we need to get down to the BAKING…….
Last week, I made fudge for Mr. MEK to take to work and baked chocolate chip cookies – (that is a story for another day). But – I found myself reflecting on the memories of all the goodies that we had growing up during the Holidays. My mom would bake chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, drop sugar cookies, fudge and the homemade donuts. She did it all by herself – she did not ask for help, nor did she want it when it was offered. There was a special medal tin for each kind of cookie, and every year the same cookie was always in the same tin. She still owns each and every one of those tins. The fudge never had nuts in it, because my father did not like it that way. We always had a huge plate of homemade donuts and donut holes on Christmas morning (and a plate was frozen for New Year’s Day). There were plain ones and the ones with powdered sugar; dad (again) liked the plain ones. It was just a given that donuts would be served. Oh and Santa would get a donut to go along with his cookies and milk on Christmas Eve.
Several years ago, I asked my mom if she would teach me how to make the donuts. I didn’t want that tradition to be lost in years to come. Her health makes it impossible for her to do all the things she used to do and that really bothers her. The making of the donuts is a J O B and I never realized how much work went into it. She still wanted to “do it all herself” – but I insisted on doing most of the work. They were just as I remembered them!! AMAZING!! We made most of them WITH the powdered sugar (dad wouldn’t mind)– we made quite a mess, but it was fun for me to spend the day in the kitchen with her.
Is there something special that you make every year? A special memory to go along with it?
Today is the anniversary of my father’s death. It’s not like it happened yesterday, but many, many years ago (17 to be exact) – but this day still sticks in my mind like it was. In many ways it was a blessing. He suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and was totally bedridden, but his mind was still as sharp as ever.
I wish that I had taken advantage of this time to ask him about his childhood, his parents, their parents, how it was growing up on that farm, his early years in the military, but I did not. Instead, I showed up occasionally (not as often as I should have) with a McDonald’s ice cream sundae that I had to feed to him. He would ask me three questions and they were the same every time. How is work? How is your car running? And how is your love life? Then the conversation ended. The sundae had been consumed. And we would sit there and look at each other.
Mitch Albom wrote a bestseller “For One More Day” – when I read this book – I immediately went out and got copies for my mother and my siblings. It became part of everyone’s Christmas gift that year. I have thought many times about what I would do with my dad if we just had ONE MORE DAY!!
He would be whole and healthy. We would play a round of golf (oh, he LOVED his golf), then we’d go to the 19th hole and have an adult beverage or two or three. We would hug each other. He would tell me he loved me (he never did – we were just supposed to know) and I would tell him that I loved him too. And that would be the end of the perfect day.
If you could have One More Day with anyone – who would it be and what would you do?
I first heard this song briefly during the movie "Catch and Release" along time ago and thought it was very moving - well, the other night, I was watching the movie again, and the scene with this song came on. I wanted to hear the whole song since movie scenes only give you a small bit. I remembered that, my good friend, Zona googles everything, so I googled the soundtrack and found it. I was amazed to realize that this young man, Joshua Radin, was the one that just sang to Ellen and Portia during their wedding. His voice just grabs me, so I thought I would share him with you all today.
I don't know what it is about this song that "gets" me, but I just find it beautiful......... I hope you enjoy.
As some of you know by now, I NEVER read books just to read a book. About four weeks ago, I knew the movie “Nights in Rodanthe” was coming to a theater near me!! I was SO excited, cuz I just LOVE Richard Gere!!! He and Diane Lane had been in several movies together before, and I just knew this was going to be another wonderful, romantic movie that I would want to watch over and over again….
I was at my mother’s house and noticed that she had the book – I pulled it off the shelf and noticed the other books around it - Message in a Bottle, The Notebook, A Walk to Remember and several others – I got excited, cuz I had seen all those movies and had NO idea they were all written by the same person – let alone, the gorgeous man on the back cover……. So, I decided to read the book.
As I started reading, I envisioned Richard Gere and melted away in this romantic setting and fell in love with both of the characters. It was after midnight, I knew I had to be up before 6a.m., but I was NOT going to put that book down until I was finished – I only had thirty pages to go…….. When I finished the book – I was literally bawling my eyes out – it was SO sad. The first thing I said to my mother was, I sure hope reading the book doesn’t ruin the movie for me. My heart ached for days after finishing the book.
Fast forward to Thursday afternoon – I took my mother to see “Nights in Rodanthe”. Not five minutes into the movie – it was ruined. They messed up my love story – my fantasy – don’t get me wrong – the movie was good. I will probably watch it again when it comes out on cable. Yes, Richard Gere still looks AMAZING in blue jeans. But it was such a disappointment for me. If you haven’t watched it yet, I won’t ruin it for you. I had thought about reading the other books on my mother’s shelves, but will I be disappointed in ALL of the love stories that I have grown to know?
So, my question to you all, have you ever read a book and then been disappointed in the outcome of the movie – or vice versa, the movie was WAY better than the book?
My wedding shower in 1996, which Chris planned for me
Live Like You Were Dying
by Mek
God has a very odd sense of humor. Friday night, as I was feeling as though my purpose in living was not needed anymore, He was taking the life of one of the most wonderful people I have ever met in my life.
Friday night, Chris, her husband and her 17 year old son, were moving some furniture from her mother’s house to their house, when the mattress fell out of the back of the pick up truck her husband was driving. Her son was following his dad with mom in the car. They both pulled over to the side of the road – had their flashers and blinkers on. Mac told Chris to “stay in the car so that you won’t get hurt, we’ll get the mattress”. So, while Mac and Daniel were dealing with the mattress, a drunk driver plowed into the back of Chris’s car, slamming it into the back of Mac’s pickup truck and crushing her and killing her instantly. While her husband and son watched and they were not injured. The horror of it all, I can not imagine a young boy watching his mother being killed. The irony is that she wanted to help with the mattress, but they wanted her to be safe and out of harms way and now, she is dead. Just like that!!!!!
I met Chris when I interviewed her for a position in the orthopedic practice that I managed in Colorado Springs. As we sat down to start the interview, she said, I can’t believe that I am meeting you, I had the biggest crush on your brother in high school and I am very nervous talking to you.” I assured her that she had nothing to worry about (hell, it was just ME and I did find it kind of cute). We reminisced about high school – I hired her on the spot.
Chris and I became good friends. She had a heart of gold. She was the kind of person that NEVER (and I mean NEVER) had a negative thing to say about anyone or anything. You could give her the worst task ever and she would take it, complete it and NEVER complain. She and I joined Weight Watchers together and helped each other keep on track. (We both fell off the wagon when I moved; we didn’t have each other to lean on to keep that weight off).
"Utterly" Good Times, Chris and Me, on Halloween
She and I both became our mother’s care taker, her mother passed away last year – I felt terrible that I wasn’t there for her, but kept in contact thru email. She just became a grandmother; she loved that little girl SO much. We had gotten together every time I have gone back to Colorado and were planning our next meeting for July.
She wrote me the nicest letter after I moved to Arizona. Letting me know that she had taken me for granted while I was there, and that you never know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Telling me that not only was I a good friend, but the best boss EVER. She made me cry……it’s these kinds of things that made me miss Colorado SO much. Now, I will have a HUGE void.
Today, I have realized that I have taken a lot of things for granted. Life is pretty damn good and I am not living it to its fullest. I am the only one that can change things – I have always known that, but haven’t always practiced it.
Chris, smiling, as she always did
So, for my dear friend, Chris, today is a new day. I will wake up and make the most of it. I will miss you my friend. God Bless you and please watch over me.
today, memorial day is a day of remembrance, it is a day we remember all who have fought for the freedoms of our country from WW1 and beyond, today we thank them!
mek has written our memorial day blog, she shares a story with us, that is dear to her heart
GOD BLESS THE USA
by mek in az
I don’t know about you guys, but this song always makes me tear up. As I have shared before, my father dedicated his life (and sacrificed his family) for his country and now rests peacefully in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.
I wanted to share a story that I have a hard time relaying to people, because I can never finish it without crying… (So please forgive me – I get passionate about this kind of stuff)..
In October of 2003, I was sitting in the Tucson International Airport waiting to catch a flight to Virginia to attend my uncle’s funeral. All of a sudden, the terminal was full of young men and women in uniform. I knew instantly that these young people were being deployed, which made me say a little prayer that they all be safe and return unharmed. (Yes, I started crying – heck, I was an emotional wreck anyway)… I just happened to overhear a conversation between several of the young men and I want to share that with you.
These men were talking about saying goodbye to their families and seeing life thru the eyes of their children. The one that stuck with me the most and really got me thinking – was about the four year old twins that were SO upset that daddy would not be there for Halloween, the mom had made them special costumes and Daddy wasn’t going to get to see them and go collect candy – and the young man went on to say – what his children didn’t understand was that after Halloween would be their birthday, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas – but thru a child’s eyes, they just look to one event at a time – they don’t “see” the future.. (Oh, to be young again, right??!!)
By this time – I was a total basket case – and one of the soldiers looked at me and said, “ma’am are you okay” ( I hate that he called me ma’am – but we were brought up that way) –and I said – don’t worry about me – I just want to thank you for all you do and be safe. He replied, “Ma’am, I will be okay. I’m going over there to fight for your freedom and whether I come home like this (and waved his hands up and down his torso) or in a box – this is what I signed up to do? It’s all good” And with that – their flight was boarding.
I have no idea what happened to any of those young men and women. Whether they got to spend another Halloween, birthday or Christmas with their families again or if they came home in “a box” and are buried in a National Cemetery like my father is.
All over the country, a boy scout troop or two spent this week putting our Nations Flag on each and every headstone to honor our fallen heroes and TAPS will be played at sunset.(can’t listen to that either). So, while everyone is enjoying a day off of work, cooking out, playing volleyball or swimming in the backyard, I ask that you please take a moment to say a little thank you and a prayer for all those that have lost their lives so that we can have the freedoms we do today.
Thank you for indulging me today – and on a lighter note – what is everyone going to do today?
our dear MEK confesses her addictions on our daily blog
Confessions of an Addict
By MEK in AZ
NO, NO, not drugs!! It’s another kind of addiction. Obsession might be a better word. I feel the need to “collect” any kind of scrapbook, card making or stamping product out there. I have been attempting to reorganize my craft area and am not having much success. I purchased several storage cubes to make a user friendly area in our loft. I collected TONS of coupons over the weeks/months from family and neighbors, in order to get them all at a discount. It took awhile to convince Mr. MEK to FINALLY put them together for me (golf course was always calling his name, and I don’t blame him). We spent two days working together to assemble them and get them into the perfect configuration. SO, I started filling the drawers, labeling, etc. and I discovered, I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF!!!!!!!! Good grief!! I am ADDICTED!!! I AM OBSESSED!!!!
I must own EVERY tool known to a scrap booker (heck, some I own twice – LOL) Some I forgot that I owned!! …….. die cutting systems, adhesives, punches, stamp sets, ink pads, pens, pencils, chalk, ribbons, OH MY, (yes, even found another bag filled with holiday ribbon!!), brads and eyelets to last a life time, tons of embellishments, and PAPER coming out, well, you know, …… patterned paper, cardstock, card stacks, kits from QVC - you name it – I own it.
I have filled all of the cubes and drawers and still have TONS of stuff left in the other room. I spent so much time “collecting” things that I don’t actually “make” anything. To feed the addiction, I just bought several rubber stamps and a new circle punch on my way home today, just because. AND, to make matters worse, I have two Michael’s coupons that are burning a hole in my pocket – trouble is, I own the WHOLE store and it’s getting harder and harder to find anything to buy!! So, I need to get over the obsession of buying and collecting and actually MAKE something!! But, you see if I make something, then I might have to buy more stuff! Therefore, the addiction and the obsession!!!!! (Okay, I am also obsessed with using too many exclamation points!!!!)
So, I was just wondering – does anyone else have any addictions or obsessions? Do you buy stuff that you never use? Do you collect something you have no idea why you do?
OH – and to feed my addiction/obsession, QVC will have having scrap booking day Sunday night and Monday – Mr. MEK said he was going to have the channel blocked in our hotel room!! LOL what’s a girl to do?
