Love is in the Air.

I am having an unusual evening….
As I sit and answer some emails and write this post I can smell something…
It’s not just something…it’s my past.
I can smell the perfume that I wore sixteen years ago. Literally.
It’s the oddest, most wonderful thing.
I wore a perfume several years ago called Unforgettable.
They no longer make it, and haven’t for many years. I loved it so much that I saved the little that was left in the bottle to wear on my wedding day. It was not expensive, but it brings back such warm lovely feelings. I am enjoying every breath I take.
I can not figure out were it is coming from. It seems like it’s coming from me. I am wearing something right now, and although it is nice and I enjoy it, it’s not what I am smelling.
I was in Dillard’s today and picked up some cologne for my husband….maybe I brought a little phantom perfume home with me…..
All I know is that I am filled with memories and feelings that belong to a young lady in love. I think I’ll sit here a little longer….

Cowboy hats, and wooden rafts, like Huckleberry Fin

We just got home from a family vacation. Not your typical family vacation which might include beaches, theme parks and large variety of animals. Ours included boats, food, water balloons, and animals of the homosapian variety; namely cousins…lots and lots of cousins. We centered our vacation time this year on the children and the making of memories and relationships with their cousins.

I think one of the best things about cousins is that they are family, AND you can chose them. You know what I mean. Your sisters and brother are a required relationship. Your cousins have that similar connection; that familiarity and camaraderie, but you can foster a relationship with some more than others, and that’s perfectly normal.

I remember spending large amounts of time as a child with my cousins. We filled our long summer days with adventure and imagination. Watermelon seed fights, bike races, slip n slides, tree climbing, books, songs, football, water hoes, and late night tag games which we always invited the lightning bugs to.
My cousins were like brothers and sisters to me.
I still hold on to those relationships; maybe harder than they do.
I was the only one of them that did not have a sibling close to my age.
They are such a part of me that I can not imaging letting those relationship go completely. I will admit that there are times when it seems to take more energy than I have to wrangle everyone together, and I feel like throwing up my hands and letting them drift out to sea.
But I know. I know that they will regret it, as will I.
They may not even notice that they are now less connected, but one day they will. One day the sun will be warming them up and they will get a craving for a good old water melon, and maybe a seed or two, and they will miss me… us. But it will be hard to turn the boat around. It will be heavier than before; for now it is loaded down with other people, families. They will be headed in a different direction altogether, you can’t turn around now. If we are lucky our paths may cross long enough to shout a word or two, or maybe wave….but no more tag. No more adventures.
The best that I can do now is to encourage my children to reach out to their cousins as I reach out to my own. And maybe you should reach out to yours.

This is an A B conversation....

Me: “Dear Jesus, Please help me be patient and PLLLEEEAAAASSSSEEE help these children mind their Mother!!!”

Child: “Mom, I think he’s too busy with other things.”

Life's short.

I’m not morbid, but I do think about mine, and . . . . ahhhumm. . . your mortality.
Not in a gross way, but in an ‘ I may not see you again Grandma ‘ kind of way.
I’ve been that way most of my life if I recall correctly. So when my grandmother had her stroke, there was nothing left unsaid.
I even took a video camera with me to Michigan when we visited my Hubby’s grandmother. I got her to record a 50th Anniversary message for my in-laws that will not be played for about another 15 years.
No, it’s not weird! It’s called foresight people!
And no, I don’t think she was freaked out by it all. In fact, she sort of got into it.

Maybe it’s been on my mind more than normal lately. After the situation with my son and then my grandmother and a few people dieing way too young within my circle, it gets a girl thinking.
That’s all I’m sayin’….
Plus before we flew to MI we made a will, you know, so if something went wrong the state wouldn’t get the kids and stuff. Just being responsible.
And now…..now I have an appointment with a breast specialist to evaluate a few lumps.
I’m not overly concerned, I even think it’s good to have things thrown into prospective. It gives life flavor and a certain sweetness, that must be good for you.

My children have never been more beautiful.
My faith never so simple.
And my heart never so full.

Come back to me....

It’s times like these when I miss my old late night lover.

It’s been so long…so very long since we last spent any quality time together.
We use to meet regularly; long late night dates that would last into the wee hours of the morning.
After a good night with him you could find me singing in the morning. Everything was going to be alright.
A night with him was like magic. We could go anywhere and see anything.
Such sweet memories….

But now….now I’m too busy for my old lover.
There are just not enough hours in the day. There are children to put in bed, dishes to wash, children to put in bed, clothes to fold, children to put in bed….

If I see my lover at all, it’s stolen moments here and there. It’s nothing consistent; nothing regular; nothing substantial.

Oh, how I miss my lover…..my sweet sweet …..Sand Man.

I think it's time to wash the dog.

I guess my nose has been permanently damaged from all the dirty diapers it has had to endure over the last
few years, because some things I just don’t smell.

I have learned to check the produce in my house once I see a fruit fly and have gotten in the habit of taking
out the trash a couple of times a day, but I have yet to get a routine down for bathing the dog and it’s starting
to show….or smell.

I bathe her when it occurs to me, but I must admit it is not on the top of my “to do” list.

Until today. . .

My oldest daughter is extremely creative and resourceful.

After our dog came in from outside smelling like a hot dog my daughter sprung into action to save her
good friend, Pinto’s, nose.



What you are looking at is a chenille winter cap and a child’s elastic headband.

I can’t decide if she’s going to be an engineer or a fashion designer.

Maybe I have too much time on my hands...

Oh, if I were only a clock.

A clock ; a good one anyway; has three hands.

It never finds itself out of time; in fact it is always right on time; a good one anyway.

It is always “in the moment” and does not get hung up in the past or overly concerned with the future.

It’s serving the exact and perfect purpose that it was designed to do.

It delivers its message precisely and accurately every time.

Others seem to not only listen to it, but plan their day around it.

I’ve never seen a clock with cheerios stuck to it, or people walking all over it.

I have never known one to feel inadequate or confused.

It never stutters or stammers when asked the time.

It never second guesses its purpose, or its effectiveness.

It just goes on ticking for all the world to see, and even when no one is watching.

Oh, to be a clock. . . .