I will celebrate another birthday soon and am really looking forward to it, as I always have. I enjoy receiving cards and gifts and well wishes, as most people do. But, as I get older, I have also become more introspective. I look at my life and admit it is a good one. I have a loving husband. I have a beautiful, intelligent daughter and the most precious granddaughter in the entire world. I am not homeless. I am not standing on a corner, in all elements, with a sign begging for food or work. I have food in my refrigerator and I am employed. My family is in good health, my health is good. I have wonderful friends. Some of my bills are paid. What more do I really need??
Taking all of the aforementioned into consideration, I have decided that from now on on my birthday, I will make a conscious decision to give to others instead of only looking to receive. On my birthday, from now on, I am going to give to someone else by volunteering my time at a food kitchen or visiting someone on the sick and shut in list from my church or visiting an elderly family member who only wants someone to just sit and spend some time visiting. Last year on my birthday, I started my new tradition by spending time volunteering by reading over the radio to the blind. This worked out perfectly last year because my regular day for reading over the radio happened to fall on my birthday.
My Pastor has a favorite poem that he often recites which talks about leading a life of example versus trying to tell others how to live. By now, we ought to realize that people watch what we do even when they don't or won't listen to what we have to say. If we try to live by example, our actions will speak far louder than anything we may attempt to say.
I've also come to realize that when we focus on others, we tend to forget about our own aches and pains, losses and sorrows, and problems, even if only momentarily. But, if we can forget ourselves even momentarily, after a while the moments add up and when we take the time to look back at ourselves, we may find that time has taken care of some of our problems. And, even if our own problems are still with us when we sit back down to our pity parties, at least we did something good for someone else in the interim.
Consider my birthday project and take up a cause of your own. Birthdays are nice, but giving of oneself to someone else is even nicer. After all, when our time on earth is over, people attending our funerals are not going to talk so much about how many birthdays we had as they will about how much of service we were to others.
Peace
Michele
Monday, June 25, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
AN OPEN LOVE LETTER
I don't have a gift, so here is an open love letter for Father's Day to my husband of 35 years.
I love my husband. I love him because he loves me, even though I know I'm crazy. I also love him because as the years go by, I realize that he also knows I'm crazy and he still loves me.
I love him because I believe him to be a good person. He is a great father and I am sure our granddaughter would say he is an even greater grandfather.
I love him because he makes me laugh. I had a northern, urban up-bringing. He had a rural, southern childhood. He says some really backwoodsman and countrified things such as, "You're my horse, even if you never win a race", or "That beats a sharp stick in the eye", or "You can't beat that with a stick". Who says stuff like that???? Am I married to a Hatfield or a McCoy? Fortunately, he has not rubbed off on me and I have been able to maintain my urbane demeanor.
He supports me in my endeavors, although he has indicated that he has not read my blog. He probably thinks I've said something about him on my blog which would make him believe that he would have to leave me in order to save face.
He's morphed into my Dad over the years because he can fix ANYTHING! He's a collector - he has all kinds of things and everything is in a stash somewhere where he can go to find some obsolete widget or gadget which will allow him to fix or patch anything.
I think of my husband as my friend. I enjoy his company and I enjoy doing things with him. I value his opinion and want to know what he thinks and how he feels about things. (I hope he doesn't read my blog this time because now he may think he can tell me what to do. Then we really will have a problem!) I used to think that I was w-a-a-a-y-y smarter than he, but I have come to realize over the years that he really does have a lot on the ball. (He doesn't really need to know that either.) In my mind's eye, he looks the same to me as he did when we met at 19 - buff and fine. No gray, no pouch, no bad knees. Ben Gay has now taken the place of Aqua Velva, but that's all good. I'm looking forward to at least another 40 years of growing together and hanging out and sitting on the front porch, rocking and making plans.
I always tell him that if I left him he would just crumble up and die. But, I know in my heart that if he was not in my life, I would not be the person I've become.
Now don't get the idea he's perfect! For our first wedding anniversary, he gave me a set of kitchen knives. That did not go over well. At the time, I thought about using one of those knives to stab him. But, now I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed and I didn't.
I love you, hubby, even if you never read my blog. Happy Father's Day!
Love,
Michele
I love my husband. I love him because he loves me, even though I know I'm crazy. I also love him because as the years go by, I realize that he also knows I'm crazy and he still loves me.
I love him because I believe him to be a good person. He is a great father and I am sure our granddaughter would say he is an even greater grandfather.
I love him because he makes me laugh. I had a northern, urban up-bringing. He had a rural, southern childhood. He says some really backwoodsman and countrified things such as, "You're my horse, even if you never win a race", or "That beats a sharp stick in the eye", or "You can't beat that with a stick". Who says stuff like that???? Am I married to a Hatfield or a McCoy? Fortunately, he has not rubbed off on me and I have been able to maintain my urbane demeanor.
He supports me in my endeavors, although he has indicated that he has not read my blog. He probably thinks I've said something about him on my blog which would make him believe that he would have to leave me in order to save face.
He's morphed into my Dad over the years because he can fix ANYTHING! He's a collector - he has all kinds of things and everything is in a stash somewhere where he can go to find some obsolete widget or gadget which will allow him to fix or patch anything.
I think of my husband as my friend. I enjoy his company and I enjoy doing things with him. I value his opinion and want to know what he thinks and how he feels about things. (I hope he doesn't read my blog this time because now he may think he can tell me what to do. Then we really will have a problem!) I used to think that I was w-a-a-a-y-y smarter than he, but I have come to realize over the years that he really does have a lot on the ball. (He doesn't really need to know that either.) In my mind's eye, he looks the same to me as he did when we met at 19 - buff and fine. No gray, no pouch, no bad knees. Ben Gay has now taken the place of Aqua Velva, but that's all good. I'm looking forward to at least another 40 years of growing together and hanging out and sitting on the front porch, rocking and making plans.
I always tell him that if I left him he would just crumble up and die. But, I know in my heart that if he was not in my life, I would not be the person I've become.
Now don't get the idea he's perfect! For our first wedding anniversary, he gave me a set of kitchen knives. That did not go over well. At the time, I thought about using one of those knives to stab him. But, now I'm glad that cooler heads prevailed and I didn't.
I love you, hubby, even if you never read my blog. Happy Father's Day!
Love,
Michele
Monday, June 11, 2012
30 THINGS EVERY WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...
AND SHOULD KNOW BY THE TIME SHE IS 30
By 30, you should have:
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far
you've come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you
an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set
aside to help fund it.
8. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has
access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because
you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few
other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other
facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know:
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining
the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t
like to happen next.
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. How to take control of your own birthday.
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of
your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30.
(While this piece is attributed to Maya Angelou, it was actually written by Pamela Edmond Satran)
Peace
Michele
By 30, you should have:
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far
you've come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you
an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set
aside to help fund it.
8. An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has
access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because
you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few
other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other
facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know:
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining
the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t
like to happen next.
6. The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. How to take control of your own birthday.
9. That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of
your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30.
(While this piece is attributed to Maya Angelou, it was actually written by Pamela Edmond Satran)
Peace
Michele
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
THANK GOD FOR GRANDCHIILDREN
I have one daughter, whom I love very much. My daughter is married and thus my husband and I have one granddaughter. As I initially stated, I love my daughter very much...but, I absolutely l-o-o-o-v-v-v-e my granddaughter! I am enamored of her. I'm at her beck and call. One of my friends was recently telling me about her grandson and how she worships the ground on which he walks. When I gasped at her unabashed statement, she stopped and said to me - "Don't tell me you don't feel the same way about your granddaughter". I had to stop and admit, I do. I do worship the ground on which my granddaughter walks. My husband and I stand and watch over her while she sleeps. We are her captive audience and hang on every syllable of her babble as if we truly understand what she is saying. We call her long distance just to hear her breathe into the phone when she's not interested in talking. I sit cuddling her in my arms, in a steamy hot bathroom with the door shut until I almost pass out, just to relieve her congestion when she has a cold. We let her sleep in the bed with us. I don't care if when she goes back home my daughter has a hard time getting her used to sleeping in her own crib again. Heck, what happens when she goes back home is not my problem! We know how to get her to go to sleep when she visits us.
I don't worry about bills getting paid when my granddaughter comes to visit. I don't really do any housekeeping when she visits. I skip evening meetings. Heck, my granddaughter's here.
I sit and hold and rock her as long as I like. There's no one to tell me to put her down because I am spoiling her. That's what grandparents are for.
And, did I mention how cute she is? She could have been a Gerber Baby. Remember their cherubic faces? Before she could walk, my husband would parade her in her stroller around our neighborhood just like Rhett Butler did with Bonnie. And, invariably, my husband would come home after every stroll and tell me how someone he met along his walk would stop him and proclaim how beautiful she is.
I know that I'm on the brink of going broke because I keep buying us matching outfits for church. And, I keep buying new outfits, not because she's growing so fast, but because we can't be caught in the same outfit twice!
I don't really have an explanation of the intense love grandparents have for their grandchildren. I think it may be because we view grandchildren as a second chance provided by GOD. We don't have the responsibility of raising our grandchildren so society can't dictate how we are to respond to our grandchildren nor tell us what we are to provide for them. We can just simply love them unconditionally and give them whatever their parents won't.
I love my granddaughter.
I love her, I love her, I love her,
Thank you GOD for grandchildren.
Peace
Michele
I don't worry about bills getting paid when my granddaughter comes to visit. I don't really do any housekeeping when she visits. I skip evening meetings. Heck, my granddaughter's here.
I sit and hold and rock her as long as I like. There's no one to tell me to put her down because I am spoiling her. That's what grandparents are for.
And, did I mention how cute she is? She could have been a Gerber Baby. Remember their cherubic faces? Before she could walk, my husband would parade her in her stroller around our neighborhood just like Rhett Butler did with Bonnie. And, invariably, my husband would come home after every stroll and tell me how someone he met along his walk would stop him and proclaim how beautiful she is.
I know that I'm on the brink of going broke because I keep buying us matching outfits for church. And, I keep buying new outfits, not because she's growing so fast, but because we can't be caught in the same outfit twice!
I don't really have an explanation of the intense love grandparents have for their grandchildren. I think it may be because we view grandchildren as a second chance provided by GOD. We don't have the responsibility of raising our grandchildren so society can't dictate how we are to respond to our grandchildren nor tell us what we are to provide for them. We can just simply love them unconditionally and give them whatever their parents won't.
I love my granddaughter.
I love her, I love her, I love her,
Thank you GOD for grandchildren.
Peace
Michele
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