Mush

Lessee..... you got married in 1965, so that makes this (gets abbacus) year 42. What year is that? I had to look it up. It's between Ruby and Sapphire. The bearded eye-roller will have our 'fruit' anniversary next year. What's THAT about? A case of kumquats?



Here you are, cutting the wedding cake. Dad- you have an uncomfortable smile on your face. I wonder if it's because you're worried that Mom is going pull that fun wedding prank of shoving cake in your face.

She's the type to do that you know. This apple didn't fall far from the tree, if you get my drift.

Mom, you look just beautiful in this picture. WOWzers! The interesting thing is, that I still see you like that in my minds eye. Sure, you're a 'little' older now, but in my head you're about this age.

I can't say the same for Dad. I don't see him like this at all in my head. Something about missing a mustache and suspenders.

I guess this means that you're no longer newlyweds. Sometimes I find that hard to believe because I see how much you two still flirt with each other. I'm old enough now where I don't think it's gross anymore. Well, most of the time.

Dad, I have seen some of the love notes that you've given to Mom. I wanted to steal one once so I'd have something tangible to hold in my hand to show how much you love each other. I also wanted to hold it as proof that there really is romance in that dad of mine. You don't seem the type, Dad.

I'm glad I know better.

Not many kids get to say that they've attended their own parent's wedding! Even though I was only five when you got married, I remember a lot from the wedding. I remember that you had doves (I can't remember if they were real or fake though), I remember a lady with cat-eye glasses (stylish at the time. Oh wait, they're back in style!) singing at your wedding. I remember running around a lot with Michael , probably making nuisances of ourselves.

Mostly I remember being able to say the word, "Papa" that day, for the very first time (later it turned out to be "Dad", but it was "Papa" for a while).

I even remember bits and pieces of when you were dating, but my lips are sealed. Tee hee. I'm kidding- it was all very proper. (Did I say that right? OK, you can pay me later...)

I especially remember, during your dating days, fitting all of us (you two, Michael and me) in Dad's corvette. Me between the two of you sitting on the console with the stick shift, and Michael laying in the back window ledge. Wow, how did we ever survive without those seatbelt and car seat laws, huh?

I guess you were planning to be a confirmed bachelor with a cool corvette for a while, huh Dad? Ha! Joke's on you! INSTANT family!



Yo! Michael! Way to rock the knee socks and bow tie! I think you should try to bring that look back in style again. You look SMASHING!

Adding to the 'instant family', came sweet JP, and Heidi . I don't write much about JP, here on my blog because I feel so protective of him. Rest assured though, he is always in the forefront of my mind. He was an awfully fun kid brother to have. Now he's just down-right special. A sweeter spirit has never existed, if you ask me. Well, unless he's cranky. Sweet? Not so much. tee hee.

By the way, I hope, in the light of being a sweet spirit, he's forgiven me for breaking his leg that one time.

I'm so blessed that you cared for Cameron and Casey while I worked. This gave them the opportunity to be in a good atmosphere (because it sure wasn't coming from MY house- cwazy wabbit that I am), and always in a place where they were loved. No daycare in the world could EVER compare to having grandparents watch over them.

I know this is getting very long, but I wanted you to know how thankful I am for the event that took place on July 23, 1965. You are yin and yang, constantly balancing each other out. A perfect match.

Mom and Dad, I hope you have many more happy years together. While I'll never see you as that 'cute little old couple' in my head because you'll be forever in your 30's- I'd sure like to see that happen for you. I guess all kids want their parents to live forever, but even more so when we can see that they're with someone who loves and adores them. We (your four children) are lucky to witness that love and adoration coming from both of you even after all these years. It seems to get more that way every year.

Happy Anniversary. You are both loved more than you know.

Love,
Lori
(you know- the one who gave you gray hair)

I got to spend almost 2 hours with Riley this morning before everyone else was up. The bearded eye-roller and I were downstairs watching TV, and in the room comes Riley saying, "Hi guys!".

He and I immediately got down to the business of making waffles and playing Legos. What FUN!

Could he be any cuter? No? I didn't think so.



I got called "Grandma Lori" SEVERAL times this weekend. Every time I heard those words there was NO wiping the grin off my face.

Head-over-heals, people. I'm head-over-heals in love with this kiddo (his mommy too!).

Another 12 hour sleep for me and I'm just about ready to have a nap.

I feel like a useless pile of bones (well, I'm nowhere near a bag of bones, but you know what I mean!). The bearded eye-roller has his cute coveralls on and is cleaning out the garage, and I'm still in my jammies, messing around on the computer. I suspect that if you check back with me in 2 hours, you'd find the same scenario. I'm fairly certain that by 5pm or so, I might have had a shower and gotten dressed. I wouldn't bet the farm on that though.

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers on my sweet friend and her sis and niece. Seriously, if you knew this gal- you'd love the stuffin' out of her. She's IMPOSSIBLE not to love. She is just one of those people that oozes a bright light and radiates happiness. Not a mean bone in her cute little body.

She reminds me how blessed I am that I have the cream of the crop for friends- and that includes YOU, my dear online friends. Gosh- I wish we all lived on the same block so we could stay up all night and yack over coffee; or beer in KathyHowe's and Poopie's case; and wine in most everyone else's case (too many of you winos to mention but y'all know who you are!); a margarita in Phyllis' case; and probably hot chocolate in sweet Annie's case.

I suspect we might not know nearly as much about each other if that were the case. I don't really hang with my neighbors, and of course seeing y'all in person would require that I'm dressed- so that would cut down on the visitations. Usually when I'm visiting you, I'm in my jammies with my hair all messy and no makeup. Maybe I should take a picture so you can get THAT mental image planted firmly in your head.

My 'in real life' friends (distinguished from acquaintances) are small in number. I don't allow too many people in real life to see the 'me' that my online friends get to see. If you're my IRL friend and read my blog- well, that tells you something. I have LOTS of acquaintances and lots people that I call friends, but I don't necessarily share 'all' of me with them. There is a very distinct line for me.

I'm awfully lucky. I really am. Wonderful family and wonderful friends (lots of whom I consider to be family). What more could anyone want?

(George Clooney?) OK- just throwing that out there...

Poor BER, he's really been through it. I can't imagine having to watch someone I love do the things I've been doing.

He asked me how I was today and I told him that I feel less foggy. I think I'm thinking more clearly now and I can certainly type better- although only if I go really slow.

This drug the doctor has me on knocks me on my butt. I feel like I have a hangover until sometime in thte afternoon. I ought to be really effective at work next week, eh? Yes- the doc said it's best that I try to keep my mind active, so working is the best think for me. I shudder to think about what I'll be producing.

Anyhoo- he told em that today was the first time he's seen me smile since all of this started, and that made him really happy. Gah- I really love that man.

I've profusedly thanked him over and over again every day (and every hour) fro being so kind and gentle wiht me. He keeps telling me to stop thaking him, and last night said, "put the shoe on the other foot. If it was me going through this, how sould you treat me?"

I told him that i'd drop hom like a hot potato.

That sweet man deserves a medal.

Bless his heart- he's been SO good to me. I guess the pool boy has gotta go. ::snort::

I've pre-posted my vacation log so it runs thru tomorrow (Friday) and am glad that I've given myself the gift of catching my breath after this wonderful experience.

I wasn't planning on starting up the daily blog again until this weekend, but I was sitting here watching Dr. Phil (shut it- I *LOVE* Dr. Phil). The bearded eye-roller is on a business trip and returns tomorrow, which explains why I'm watching Dr. Phil at 9pm. I have a list of things I do when BER travels:

• Watch the shows I save for the weekend (Dr. Phil, Oprah, American Idol (yay- Jordon!), and Dancing With the Stars (thanks to Kathy Howe for turning me on to this show... I must kill you NOW) and The Bachelor (shut it! I cry at the finale every.stinkin'.time. and this time was no different.)


• Have my Vietnamese Hot Chili Garlic Sauce (stinky breath that I wouldn't subject on BER , but yum!)


• Stay in my jammies all day on my telecommute days with no makeup

OK, that's neither here nor there, but I was positive you'd be interested in what I do while BER was traveling.

Anyhoo.... What a great day.

It started with lunch with one of my favorite people in the world who shares the same middle name as me. I've told her this many times... when we get together it fills my soul. There's just something about her that I connect with more than just about anyone else. Plus? She gives the best hugs ever.

Maybe I should have lunch with her every day.

Girlfriends are the best. I only have a handful of 'true' real-life girlfriends, but I treasure them SO MUCH even if I don't see them often.

If you're in my "real" life and I've given you my blog address- you are one of the people I count as my 'true' girlfriends- be assured of that. I don't trust very many people in my 'real' life to give this blog address to.

I drove to work because I had a doctors appointment after work. On my way home, I listened to one of my favorite CDs- Don Henley's Inside Job. Whenever I hear the lyrics from the song Annabel, I *always* think about my sons and it brings tears to my eyes.

I watch you sleeping
My weary heart rises up on wings
I hear your laughter
Something deep down inside me sings

Oh child, I cannot tell you how the time just flies
But I have had my days of glory under sunny skies
These days, your bright dreams are all I want to see
Sleep tight, Annabel
You can always count on me

In this cold world, folks will judge you
Though they don't know you at all
And I may not be there to catch you
Anytime that you might fall

But, you got my hard head
And your mother's grace
All the likeness of the loved ones right there in your face ( ::chills:: )
And I know in the end you'll be who you will be (something I've always encouaged to my sons)

So sleep tight, Annabel
You can always count on me

Then I topped it off with a song that I relate to in ways that boggle my mind- My Thanksgiving. I'm only pasting the words that ring true to me:

Now the trouble with you and me, my friend
Is the trouble with this nation
Too many blessings, too little appreciation


I've got great expectations
I've got family and friends
I've got satisfying work
I've got a back that bends

For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving

Have you noticed that an angry man
Can only get so far
Until he reconciles the way he thinks things ought to be
With the way things are

Here in this fragmented world, I still believe
In learning how to give love, and how to receive it
And I would not be among those who abuse this privilege
Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge

And I don't mind saying that I still love it all
I wallowed in the springtime
Now I'm welcoming the fall

For every moment of joy
Every hour of fear
For every winding road that brought me here
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving

For everyone who helped me start
And for everything that broke my heart
For every breath, for every day of living
This is my Thanksgiving

Amen brother Don, that song just says it all.

When I got home, I found a letter from my sweet grandmother in my mailbox. I have a little file folder in my filing cabinet with a heart on it. Her letters are in that file. She tells me how much she loves getting letters from me and I can totally relate because it could be the worst day ever, but when I see her writing on an envelope, suddenly my world becomes a million times brighter.

Since BER was out of town, I thought it would be a great night to give her a call. I'm still smiling from that conversation.

I lived for 46 years without my grandmother in my life, and am so grateful that I met her, even though it took 46 years. I'm so grateful that have the opportunity to get to know her. She's in her 90's, and what are the chances that she'd live this long- long enough to allow me to connect with her?

I'll tell you this- you'd never guess her age, so I'm hoping that I have as much time as possible with her. We have a lot of time to make up.

That brings me back to Dr. Phil. The show was about people who grew up not knowing anything about one or both of their parents. As I listened to their stories, I hoped for them that they will eventually find the missing piece to the puzzle, like I have. Because I have a wonderful dad- the man who raised me, it was so easy all of these years to pretend that finding this side of my heritage didn't matter- but now that I have it? It DOES matter. I feel so enriched and fulfilled now that the missing pieces are together, and I feel so blessed.

The evening was topped off with a call from the bearded eye-roller . I never thought it would be possible for me to miss someone so much after just one day- but this house feels so empty without his presence. Who knew that I'd be so happy that I would miss someone so much? I sure didn't. I am not exaggerating when I say that I'm thankful EVERY DAY that I've found someone that makes me feel this way.

Yep, it's been a great day.