Oh Random Spark of Insanity..

Isn't it funny, how sometimes a random post can pop up in your newsfeed that will inspire your creativity, or spark a memory?  

"The Reason Why My Daughter May Punch Your Son" got my attention from the get-go for its screaming headline but more than that it got me thinking of some very similar advice that I'd grown up with. 

As the eldest daughter of a single Dad I was taught to stand up and be counted, to not be afraid to escalate an issue if I wasn't getting anywhere at the level I was at, and to always ALWAYS trust my gut.  I can still hear my Dad telling me that it would never steer me wrong,  though I can remember a great many times when I'd shushed it and gone another way and it always bit me on the butt.  Live and learn, I suppose.  

Not surprisingly, most of my friends growing up were male, though there were a few gal-pals in there.  I'd been known to give a solid punch when I'd get snuck up on to be tickled.. all part of the training.  

In my 20's I was down visiting my Dad and some of his buddies were over.  I think I was playing with the dog and I overheard one of Dad's friends ask him if he worried about me.  I was only half paying attention but at that moment one of Dad's friend's snuck up behind me and tried to tickle me/scare me (I was never sure which) but he'd caught me off guard and I'd spun around and smacked him across the back of the head.  I'd heard my dad laugh and tell his friend that no, he didn't worry about me. I could take care of myself.  

I sometimes wonder if we've done our kids a horrible disservice in advocating an observe and report attitude in an attempt to "do the right thing" or if perhaps a good punch would have ended it and burnt off some stress too.   So many stories coming home of having been labelled a snitch, or things getting ignored, and having the victim be turned into the problem.  So much frustration and eventually anger and nothing we could really do about it.  Our cries fell on deaf ears too.  

I am thankful, however, that our kids were born at a time when kids weren't all attached to their phones and tech 24/7.  There is little filter to what some will post, and what others deem as appropriate to share.  

I can only wonder what the future holds for our grandkids in this crazy instant world with little patience, and  so much anger.  Thankfully there is still a lot of love; we can only hope that it's enough to carry them through. 

Hang onto your hats! 

Happy Monday.. Uhm Tuesday!

It is Tuesday. It feels like a Monday. Way too much to do, and not nearly enough time to do it in. Everybody is overrun and exhausted by a very busy weekend but the show must go on, right?

My list is ever-growing, and I know I'm the one to blame since I'm the one holding the pen but I am certain I am preaching to the choir on that one.

I was pretty jazzed to have gotten some work done last night before bed, despite an elevated pair of legs and a swollen foot. I got a jump on a bit more this morning before the day woke up.

Somewhat of a tough start to the day. I'm not fond of those nights that turn into mornings where you feel like you haven't slept at all but you know you did. Day seemed to start off in its usual fashion but then I noticed the dog had left a puddle at the front door, despite a perfectly good (and clean) puddle pad in the bathroom. Baby woke up super squishy as we've come to call it and just as I got all his wet clothing off he took a turn for the hall and went to see what grandpa was doing.

The next thing I hear is Grandma, I pee! (Oh crap!) I ask where and he says "Right there" pointing to the puddle on the floor by his feet. We were off to a fine start. Got him washed down and dressed. He wasn't happy to have missed the ritual of waving bye bye to Grandpa as he goes off to work but I wasn't taking a naked baby outside to wave. I can only imagine where that would have gotten me.

I've begun to stress about the growing to-do list that I had to deal with today, the meeting I know I won't be able to make tonight and about a milliion other things piling up for the next week or two. I am bad for looking too far ahead sometimes. While sometimes it is a great thing, sometimes is just.. isn't.

Baby wants to watch tv so I settle him into that while I get him some breakfast and his sippee cup. He gets about 2 minutes into 3 different shows and decides they're not what he wants. He doesn't want any of his usual breakfasts either. He finally settles on toast and brings me the peanut butter. I ask if he wants peanut butter and he says yes please. I make it and he says no thanks. Somewhere he decided peanut butter made good finger paint and I have to admit that this made me laugh out loud. It's hard to be mad at a child that's got a wide old grin on his face as he wiggles his tickle fingers at you..

The morning's adventures were compounded by a rather nasty e-mail from someone who clearly should have known better hot to behave but chose not to. In turn, he got a morning dose of Tammy's bitch hat. It seemed reasonable considering.

I've always considered myself to be a people person, but as I get older I find that my tolerance for rude people and being treated badly aren't very high. There are far too many people out there screaming atop a soapbox that should certainly consider sitting down and shutting up. I hear my mother-in-law telling the kids "that's be quiet please" which makes me laugh..

I guess that's the good thing about rough mornings. Mornings turn into afternoons and if you look hard enough there is always ALWAYS something to smile at, something to be grateful for.

Hang on tight Tuesday! We're ready for you!

Remembering Steve

A memory is a fickle thing.  Sometimes happy and at other times not so much; they become part of the fabric of who we are and culminate into a massive quilt that encompasses all of the people, places and things we have known in our journey from cradle to grave.  

I often joke that a mother's brain forgets things because we've had to cram so much in there over the years that some "stuff" is bound to fall out.  Similarly, I've been known to marvel at the odd memories and bits of trivial information that seems to be stuck in there for all time.  It's been known to amuse. 

I've found myself checking in with the Facebook memories lately.  They pop up daily and remind you of a variety of things.  Special occasions that were marked on that particular day, status messages that were posted, photos and memes that were shared.  

Sometimes, I find a quote that had resonated with me, or an accounting of a particular event that I hadn't thought about in a very long time.  I love having the oppportunity to re-share some of the highlights.  Particularly the #TBT style photos of our now-grown children.  Our grandkids have gotten a very big kick out of seeing pictures of "baby" Mommy.  I teased our daughter just the other day that we'd come full circle.  The children cannot imagine a time when Mommy wasn't "old".  Our daughter was not so amused by the reference as I was.  

Today the message was a sad one, and I was reminded of August 19th, 2014 when an article by the Recorder and Times' Derek Gordanier was posted indicating that colleague Steve Pettibone has been reported missing.  It hardly seems like it has been 2 years already. 

 It would later be reported that his body had been found deep in the bush not far from his abandoned car.  He was only 39.  It is a stark reminder that things aren't always as they might appear.  The seeminly happiest of folks are carrying immense loads we may never know anything about.  

I never had the pleasure of meeting Steve, but I have heard many great things about him over the years among our friends and collagues.  His passing did not go unnoticed. 

We'd all like to think that once we're gone, we will have behind a legacy that will remain long after our passing.  You may not have met the man, but you knew his work.  You knew of him.  

If you feel so inclined to light a candle or raise a glass today in memory of Steve today, please do! 

Don't Blink! Celebrating 20 Years!

August 9th, 2016  -  It hardly seems as though 20 years have passed, but they have. 

As I sit here looking at my favourite photo of you, my mind scrolls through this journey we've taken together. 

It is almost expected when you reach a major milestone that you pick out some of the best highlights of the trip to share,  I have so many of those I cannot possibly be expected to pick just a few.  I find myself strolling through the darker moments this morning - so many times when it was your smile, your hug, and your strength that walked me through the worst of it when I could not move my own feet.  In so many times before, and since,  I am so very grateful for the gift of you.

I marvel at how you went from being someone on the other end of my telephone line, to the most important person in my universe. 

It still makes me laugh when I remember how I'd planned to come out for a short while, lend a hand then return home.  It bothered me to hear of the trials you were enduring when I could help to make things better.   You've always said that I didn't come here for you, but for your 3 little bears but we both know that you were always a package deal.  One could never mean nearly as much without the other. 

20 years ago today marked the first time we met in person after many hours clocked in talking, typing and letters.  I think some part of us already felt something, but there was a matter of some 3500 miles and neither of us saw what we might want as an integral part of the equation.  I worried about my family, and your worried about yours.  Who would have thought that it would be the birthday requests of the littles that would finally seal the deal?  I guess life's just like that sometimes. 

Sometimes peaceful, often bumpy and rarely boring.  Today I am grateful for unanswered prayers and plans gone astray.   I cannot imagine my life without you and the 3 little bears in it.  

As we embark on our 21st year, our grandson is a wee bit younger than our baby bear was when it all began.  Our granddaughter, a little older than our brother bear - we have come full circle. 

Today I woke up to your smile, a kiss on the cheek and the sound of our grandson singing in the next room.   We're 20 years in to our adventure, and the best is yet to come. 

I love you sweetheart! Today, tomorrow and for always.  XOXO

It Takes A Village

11 years ago today we picked up the keys to our first home and moved into the village of Cardinal, Ontario. Seems to me that the welcome sign said 5000 and we joked we were going to sneak over and place a big 5 over the last 0.

Dear Mr. You..and Catching Up!

These past few weeks have just seemed to fly by and I just don't want to blink. So much on the go, and many more in the works -- we never seem to have time to get bored.  I never thought I'd be wishing for a day of good old fashioned "boredom."  I'm afraid that hasn't existed around our house since the kids were younger..  

Living in the Medzone - It's a Mindset

It's funny how after a while of chronic med issues how your mindset changes. We seem to find a new normal with each new escalation of things and we adapt in order to keep functioning to the best of our abillities. That's my own personal theory anyhow.