All you parents out there, are you the kind that are homebodies or on-the-goers? I myself love to be on-the-go. Doesn't matter to me whether I have 1 or 3 of my kids with me, if I want to go somewhere, I go. Then again I'm a pretty spontaneous gal anyway, so it's nothing for me to think of a cool thing to do and decide to go right then. I mean, to often we plan things out so much that we never end up doing it because we talk ourselves out of that very same plan that minuets ago seemed like the greatest idea in the world...am I right? I've done it, I'm sure we all have. I love to come up with what I think are great ideas, I call mine a Life List. I don't actually write it down although I should but instead I mentally have all these things that I would love to do. Sometimes I think of these things and if they are within reason, I just do it. It seems that those spontaneous adventures are the best kind. Who says you can't pack up the kids and go down to the West Side Market just to get a hot dog from Hot Dog Johnny's or let the kids run around outside at 2am on New Years Eve just because it seems like a fun thing to do. How about getting a bunch of friends (12 to be exact) and getting on The Martha Stewert Show or getting up super early just to be in the audience of The Today Show. Some of those things don't seem like a big deal but at the time when you think about it, you could easily say, "Oh, that's a waste of gas to go to the West Side Market just for a hot dog or the kids might get sick running around outside in the middle of winter at 2am." Which I suppose are all true statements but look at the memories you just created, not too shabby eh.
I guess growing up, my parents were the same way, they took us on all sorts of adventures. If my dad had a hankering for Tony Paco's Chili, off we went to Toledo on a Sunday afternoon and I have to tell ya, it was some darn good chili. Remember going for "rides" in the car? Our family did that a lot. Usually on Sunday afternoons. No real destination in mind but we picked a direction to go and we went. Sometimes we'd come upon a Maple Festival and stop to sample the fresh made maple ice cream or hike the cliffs at Wolf's Ledges or see an awesome tree to climb and stop to take a picture after I finally was able to make it to the top. On vacations often times we would decide our next hotel on the road from a list of hotels/motels in our Trip Tik from AAA. My dad would see a sign for horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada and sign us up for a day trip. Eating canned meat in the back of our Suburban in the middle of the Badlands with no one in sight for miles was not at all unusual to me. We stayed in motels with wild horses on one side and buffalo on the other and being in a rodeo in Cody, Wyoming was just about the neatest thing a 10 yr old got to do even if the prize for roping a calf was a 12 pack of sarsaparilla. Made no difference to me, I just went with the flow. Sometimes mom would wake us up in the morning on a school day and say, "Ya know what, you aren't going to school today, instead we are going shopping and out to lunch, just you and me!" We thought that was the best surprise ever and I have happy memories of those times. Ice skating across Lake Hamlin from our cottage to my dad's ice fishing shanty to bring him hot coffee and lunch was just another adventure on the Lake in Michigan. Running down the sand dunes just to fall over ourselves because the hill was so steep was, in my mind a great challenge. Cross Country Skiing in the Ludington, MI National Forest and coming home with red cheecks and sore legs and stories of what we came across in the forest made for some great show-and-tells at school.
You see, in this life I want my children to have those same great adventures, no matter if they are big or small. Sometimes it's the little things that have the biggest impact in little minds. So next time you see an ad on TV for Perry's Monument on Put-in-Bay and say I'd like to go there and check it out...or Amish Country for some great cheese or a neat hiking path in Hocking Hills....pack up the family and just do it. If your kids say they want ice cream from that place by the beach but it's 9 at night and they are in their jammies, so what, who's to say that's wrong? Jump in the car and get some ice cream from that place by the beach. While your at it, watch the sunset. I promise you won't be sorry because what's better than Making Memories. I can't think of a single thing?
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
A Thought about The Miracle in Cleveland
What a tragically, horrible yet remarkable story of 3 kidnapped teenage girls, held captive for over 10yrs., saved by an ordinary neighborhood guy, Charles Ramsey.
Ten years ago I just had my first baby. Ten years ago things were much different, life was not the same...ten years is a loooong time. These girls kept locked away from society, life and everything that is going on around them and without them. Only a few miles from each of there houses and families. A new baby girl born in captivity, I sound like I'm talking about animals, however, that is exactly how they were treated or I guess how I imagine it to have been. If I let my mind wander, I start to get really upset thinking of my own children in that situation. It's sickening really that another human being can do this, be so evil without any conscience. I guess it goes on more than we think in this world.
They are free due to Amanda Berry's bravery and a guy being in the right place at the right time, who did a selfless act in a short amount of time. Yes, I heard that their was another guy who helped but for whatever reason he didn't make the news like Mr. Ramsey. Here's what bothers me about this, or one of the things that bother me about this. Charles Ramsey is an interesting fellow, not perfect, could use a brush-up on social etiquette, uses colorful words to describe the rescue, probably made some poor choices in the past but nonetheless a pretty alright guy. Why is it that we take Mr. Ramsey's accounts of this dramatic rescue and turn his words into a song or viral video on You Tube? Sorry, but I don't find it funny. Nothing about this situation is a joke, nothing. He did a heroic thing, we reward and praise him for it but we don't sit and laugh at his accounts of this situation or pass it along to friends via facebook or other social media and attach the caption, "It was only a matter of time before this came out." Really? That makes me sick. I wouldn't feel good about myself if I was to belly laugh at something like this. Some might say that we have to find something to lighten up such a dark story....No You Do Not. We don't have that right to make a mockery of such a sadistic event. Sadly it is what it is. We thank God that these women and little girl are free and pray that they can heal after 10 years of captive abuse. We offer what we can to help make that healing process as smooth as it can be. We give them space and privacy that they are pleading to have but we don't make jokes about any of it.
Mr. Ramsey's life is also forever changed because of this, I can only imagine how he must feel. I can only imagine how the police feel after witnessing the horry that was within "that" house. I can only imagine how the neighborhood feels having lived so close to such a demonic creature. Each of those people will forever have to be reminded of the horrible things that went on just next door, down the street, across the street, at the next block over and so on. Those girls went home to families just a couple miles from "that" house, how could you go on with your life having to see "that" house all the time. I don't know but I think I would have to move. I would want to start over far, far away from the sadness that once was my life.
Anyway, I won't know how that viral video went or what the comments said about it on facebook, don't ask me if I saw how funny it was or tell me that I have to see it because I refuse to watch it. Personally speaking, something tells me that it's wrong and if it feels wrong, it probably is.
Ten years ago I just had my first baby. Ten years ago things were much different, life was not the same...ten years is a loooong time. These girls kept locked away from society, life and everything that is going on around them and without them. Only a few miles from each of there houses and families. A new baby girl born in captivity, I sound like I'm talking about animals, however, that is exactly how they were treated or I guess how I imagine it to have been. If I let my mind wander, I start to get really upset thinking of my own children in that situation. It's sickening really that another human being can do this, be so evil without any conscience. I guess it goes on more than we think in this world.
They are free due to Amanda Berry's bravery and a guy being in the right place at the right time, who did a selfless act in a short amount of time. Yes, I heard that their was another guy who helped but for whatever reason he didn't make the news like Mr. Ramsey. Here's what bothers me about this, or one of the things that bother me about this. Charles Ramsey is an interesting fellow, not perfect, could use a brush-up on social etiquette, uses colorful words to describe the rescue, probably made some poor choices in the past but nonetheless a pretty alright guy. Why is it that we take Mr. Ramsey's accounts of this dramatic rescue and turn his words into a song or viral video on You Tube? Sorry, but I don't find it funny. Nothing about this situation is a joke, nothing. He did a heroic thing, we reward and praise him for it but we don't sit and laugh at his accounts of this situation or pass it along to friends via facebook or other social media and attach the caption, "It was only a matter of time before this came out." Really? That makes me sick. I wouldn't feel good about myself if I was to belly laugh at something like this. Some might say that we have to find something to lighten up such a dark story....No You Do Not. We don't have that right to make a mockery of such a sadistic event. Sadly it is what it is. We thank God that these women and little girl are free and pray that they can heal after 10 years of captive abuse. We offer what we can to help make that healing process as smooth as it can be. We give them space and privacy that they are pleading to have but we don't make jokes about any of it.
Mr. Ramsey's life is also forever changed because of this, I can only imagine how he must feel. I can only imagine how the police feel after witnessing the horry that was within "that" house. I can only imagine how the neighborhood feels having lived so close to such a demonic creature. Each of those people will forever have to be reminded of the horrible things that went on just next door, down the street, across the street, at the next block over and so on. Those girls went home to families just a couple miles from "that" house, how could you go on with your life having to see "that" house all the time. I don't know but I think I would have to move. I would want to start over far, far away from the sadness that once was my life.
Anyway, I won't know how that viral video went or what the comments said about it on facebook, don't ask me if I saw how funny it was or tell me that I have to see it because I refuse to watch it. Personally speaking, something tells me that it's wrong and if it feels wrong, it probably is.
A Memory to Last a Lifetime
Not really sure why I started thinking this way but I recently decided that I am going to use the special things that I get as gifts from people. One might think that it's no revelation to think that way but to me it really is a new thing. Let me explain...
So for whatever reason I loved to keep all the things that people got me. I would receive olive oil from from my sister and brother-in-laws honeymoon in Italy, trinkets from Scotland when my sister & brother-in-law went there for a wedding, soap from my best friend's honeymoon in Paris, soaps from my 10 year anniversary trip to Jamaica, countless wines from everywhere, a crazy collection of hotel toiletries from all over the world, spices from Grenada, bracelets, earrings, sauces, pictures, trays, crystal and clothes. The list goes on and on. I would display some things so I could "look" at them for many years. I would put other things away for "safe keeping". I would say to myself, "Don't use that because then it will be all gone too fast." I would have excuse after excuse as to why I wouldn't use any of it. And so there is all sat, beautifully displayed on bathroom counters, wine cases, decorative shelfs, in a scrap book, in the pantry or my jewelry box. For years this went on until a couple months ago when it dawned on me that all those "special" things probably weren't that special if I never enjoyed them.
I thought to myself that all those people that took the time to pick these items out, carefully stuff them into suitcases so they could make it safely home, excitedly take time out of there day to present them to me with anticipation of me using them so I could share in the experience that they had...all so I could look at it or put it away.
No more, I say! I realized that people give gifts to be used and enjoyed. To provide feedback to them on how awesome that wine tasted and how and where I enjoyed it. How I used the trinkets and how I thought of them when I used the crystal or the trays. The compliments I received when I wore the bracelet, earrings or necklace. How the smell of the soap from our 10 year anniversary trip to Jamaica brought back the memories I had of a wonderful time. The emotion of a great product when I boast about it to everyone that if they are ever in Europe or the tropics, that they absolutely MUST check it out and grab some for themselves.
What was I saving these items for, only to be no good when I find them 10 years later. I found I was sad when I had to throw something away because it had gone way past an expiration date or didn't work anymore. When a friend asked how I liked something, I would say, "Oh, I didn't use that yet, I'm saving it, " only to see the disappointment in there faces.
I have now started using the soaps. I create a beautiful meal around a spectacular bottle of wine and drink it at it's peak. I wear the jewelry and tell of the special memories of where it came from and who gave it to me. I place my pot-luck on the trays and drink out of my crystal. I ask my guests if they can taste the particular spice I got from an island in the tropics. We don't know what tomorrow may bring so use the stuff, enjoy it, savor it, make a point to create a memory because memories last forever, things do not.
So for whatever reason I loved to keep all the things that people got me. I would receive olive oil from from my sister and brother-in-laws honeymoon in Italy, trinkets from Scotland when my sister & brother-in-law went there for a wedding, soap from my best friend's honeymoon in Paris, soaps from my 10 year anniversary trip to Jamaica, countless wines from everywhere, a crazy collection of hotel toiletries from all over the world, spices from Grenada, bracelets, earrings, sauces, pictures, trays, crystal and clothes. The list goes on and on. I would display some things so I could "look" at them for many years. I would put other things away for "safe keeping". I would say to myself, "Don't use that because then it will be all gone too fast." I would have excuse after excuse as to why I wouldn't use any of it. And so there is all sat, beautifully displayed on bathroom counters, wine cases, decorative shelfs, in a scrap book, in the pantry or my jewelry box. For years this went on until a couple months ago when it dawned on me that all those "special" things probably weren't that special if I never enjoyed them.
I thought to myself that all those people that took the time to pick these items out, carefully stuff them into suitcases so they could make it safely home, excitedly take time out of there day to present them to me with anticipation of me using them so I could share in the experience that they had...all so I could look at it or put it away.
No more, I say! I realized that people give gifts to be used and enjoyed. To provide feedback to them on how awesome that wine tasted and how and where I enjoyed it. How I used the trinkets and how I thought of them when I used the crystal or the trays. The compliments I received when I wore the bracelet, earrings or necklace. How the smell of the soap from our 10 year anniversary trip to Jamaica brought back the memories I had of a wonderful time. The emotion of a great product when I boast about it to everyone that if they are ever in Europe or the tropics, that they absolutely MUST check it out and grab some for themselves.
What was I saving these items for, only to be no good when I find them 10 years later. I found I was sad when I had to throw something away because it had gone way past an expiration date or didn't work anymore. When a friend asked how I liked something, I would say, "Oh, I didn't use that yet, I'm saving it, " only to see the disappointment in there faces.
I have now started using the soaps. I create a beautiful meal around a spectacular bottle of wine and drink it at it's peak. I wear the jewelry and tell of the special memories of where it came from and who gave it to me. I place my pot-luck on the trays and drink out of my crystal. I ask my guests if they can taste the particular spice I got from an island in the tropics. We don't know what tomorrow may bring so use the stuff, enjoy it, savor it, make a point to create a memory because memories last forever, things do not.
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