(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

Peace on Earth,

Good will toward All,

From my pets to yours!

This dog is being nominated for sainthood someday!

Award

Traci at 38 and Growing gave me this wonderful award.  She has a wonderful blog that you should consider checking out if you get the chance.

So, guess what?  I'm supposed to tell you 7 things you don't know about me.  I am beginning to wonder what there is I can tell you that:

1.  You don't already know.
2.  I don't mind you knowing.

Hmmm, let's see . . .

1.  I once went 5 full days and nights without eating a thing, only drinking water.  Dumb, very dumb.

2.  People who barely know me believe me to be a very confident person.  The truth is, I am actually one of the most insecure people you'll ever meet.

3.  I've only sent my picture to one online acquaintance, ever.  Unless you meet me in person, you probably won't ever know what I look like.

4.  I don't like nuts in brownies.  They ruin perfectly good brownies; I just don't see why people are so quick to do that.

5.  I've always wished I had a sister.  I've always felt a lack of women in my life.

6.  I spend time noticing that often the most idealistic people are also the most negative and I wonder whether they ever realize that.

7.  I think Robert Redford is an absolutely horrid actor.  Very handsome, but a horrid actor.  I just don't get it.

Okay, now I'm supposed to pass this award along, but I am always hesitant to do so because I dread leaving someone out, many blogs no longer accept awards, and I worry you won't actually want it (see #2).

So, if you're reading this and think you'd like to participate, please snag the picture of the award above and go to it.  Come back here and leave your link so people can find you.  Okay?  Okay. 

Thanks again, Traci!  I love your blog.

Saturday 9

Happy Saturday!  I don't know about you, but I think this past week was one of the longest in my entire life.  I take refuge this weekend.

Time for the Saturday 9:

1. How many of your friendships have lasted more than ten years? Which of your current friends do you feel will still be important to you ten years from now?  In my adult life?  I think, sadly, I would have to say none.  Yikes!  But, in my defense, it has been a very fluid 15 years or so in college, moving, moving again, having a family, etc. 

2. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what’s the first thing you look at?  My hair.  In this humidity, it is usually quite the spectacle.  Ugh!

3. Who was the most recent person on your missed call list on your cell phone? What’s your relationship with the person?  My daughter's therapist.  She is my lifeline these days. 

4. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say?  "Hi!  Can you believe it's me??  I'm seeing if I can get this text thing to work.  I'm going to send this now." 

5. How would you “label” yourself?  I have no idea what to make of myself.

6. What was your favorite age that you’ve been?  I think the first year of my son's life was the best -- everything was simple and happy and within my control.  I was 30.  Or maybe back when I was 19 or so and thought I knew everything and could handle anything.

7. What is your current desk top picture? What’s it significant?  Our chickens eating some watermelon, a fun summertime image.

8. What was the last thing you said to someone that you‘d like to take back?  Nothing, honestly.  I am very good at not saying things I don't mean.

9. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to go back in time and fix all your mistakes which would you choose?  Truthfully, I would GIVE all I will ever earn to be able to go back to fix my mistakes.  Not that there are many.  Just one.  A big one, that's all.

Pop over to Crazy Sam to participate or find other participants.

Have a weekend!

I'm 1!

One year ago today, I began this blog.

I registered with Blogger and away we went.

I have met people who live down the road as well as down-under, from women with sheep to boys with chickens, people who knit and people who cook and, gasp!, people who do both.  Women and moms, fathers and men, and even a dog; you all bring something special to my life and I cherish those things.

I have laughed with you and cried with you . . . I've written when the words come easy and when they must be forced onto the page and glued down to stay there.

And you, my dear readers, have been most generous and patient with me.  You've read it all.  You've read when I've had something to say and when I've felt like I had nothing to say.

I thank you for all the times you've stopped by and for every comment you've left.  I have honestly treasured every one. 

And I thank you for the company and hours of companionship you have given me through your own blogs.  Your talents overwhelm and inspire me.

You have enhanced my life. 


Thank you. 

An Important Sandwich

A bridge was crossed yesterday.  A milestone reached.  And I'm not sure how I feel about it.

I was up to my eyeballs in paperwork, telephone calls, and official emails.  Lunchtime descended.  My son broached the subject of what to eat.  Food and serving food was the last thing on my mind.  What was on my mind was what was on the paper in my hands.

That's when it happened. 

Without even looking up from the document I was reviewing, I asked my son to make his own lunch . . . his own sandwich, namely.

And he did it. 

Somehow, while I continued to read on, he located the bread, the peanut butter, the jelly, the apple, and even selected a yogurt.

And he ate.

And then cleaned up. 

I finally tore myself away from my desk long enough to take him to his chess meet. 

And then I went back to my reading and my calling and my waiting to be called. 

And then we ran errands for three hours. 

And pretty soon I was kissing my boy goodnight.

And it was only after I sat down with my husband and reviewed the day's happenings that I realized that my son had made his own lunch for the very first time.  And my heart squeezed a little.

He's ten years old.  More than capable of making his own sandwich, I know.  And I know it is something he should be relied upon to do from time to time, with growing frequency as he gets older. 

But, from the time he was born, I promised myself I would not miss a thing.  I would not take anything for granted.  I promised myself, and my boy, that I would not wake up one day with a grown man for a son and not remember it happening.  That I would take notice of the little things, the measures of progress, and the milestones, for I fervently believe my great-grandmother's adage, "Every step they take is a step away from you." 

My boy took a big step away from me yesterday.  He made his own sandwich.  And from now on, it will be nice if I make him a sandwich, but not necessary.  Not necessary.

And it did, it snuck by me in an instant when I wasn't paying attention.

One more step away from me.

Time goes so quickly when you're watching a child grow.

My boy is on his way.

But as I look around the house, I am comforted. . . 

With all the socks he has still not learned to put in the hamper, he won't get too far.

 

Thursday Thunks

Time for Thursday Thunks . . .

1. Do you have any special talents? Tell us about them.  Well, I've been told I'm a pretty good arguer.  Wanna make somethin' of it?

2. What is your favorite sound?  Hmmmm . . . probably my son's, "Good Morning, Mommy!"  or maybe the chimes on a town clock or perhaps the angelic voices of a boys' choir. the coo of a mourning dove . . . how can anyone answer this?

3. What was your favorite TV show as a child or teen?  I was big into Little House on the Prairie as a child, I confess.

4. There are a lot of specialty TV networks now devoted to things like golf, gardening, shopping, game shows, sports, news and sci-fi. Do you have any favorite TV networks?  I like the Food Network and the new Cooking TV. 

5. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?  The Real Housewives of ______.  What?  Oh, you love them, too!

6. Have you ever dreamt that you made love to someone you haven’t yet met?  Yes, and that's all I'm saying unless you buy me dinner.

7. What is your favorite sci-fi movie?  King Kong -- classic.

8. What is your favorite reality show?  It's a tie between Top Chef and Project Runway.  (Tie -- clothing humor, get it?)

9. When shopping at the grocery store, do you always return your cart?  Of course I do . . . what kind of psychopath do you think I am?

10. Do you take compliments well?  I'm horrible at it.  Don't say anything nice or I will have to argue with you until I win (see answer to #1).


To read more answers or to participate yourself, click over to Thursday Thunks.