Seven Year Stretch

HI Daddy,

It’s been 7 years tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s been that long. I miss you so much. But I know that you are happily dancing with Mom. So many things have changed since you left. And I wonder would you recognize me now? I am not the same person I was when you died. I know you guys were there are the wedding looking down at me.

So tomorrow, I’m going to eat some boiled peanuts and maybe have a beer in your honor. And I’ll think about my favorite memories of you. Like your first nickname for me. And when you read me bedtime stories. And when you taught me how to rotate my tires, change the oil, and break pads. And when we worked on my car together in the rain. When we went fishing. That time you caught me sneaking in at 3am, and laughing when I told you why. And all those one-liners that made everyone laugh. And when you made such a big deal out of me giving you socks. And the time you tried to teach me to drive.

I am so blessed you were my Dad and you were the best Dad in the world. I miss you and will love you forever. Say hello to Mom for me.

Love you. PJ

Counterinitiative Movements

It was July 2005, and I was crying on the phone with my mother. The relationship I was in had long come to an end and I was trying to figure out how best to return home to the South. We had both tried as hard as we could, and it just hadn’t worked. We met when I was 14, dated from 16-18, then parted ways as teenagers do. We reconnected 13 years later, convinced that we were the loves of each others lives. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

I was feeling like such a failure, just absolutely worthless. If I couldn’t make it with my high school sweetheart, the man who had loved me since I was 14, I was clearly a failure and couldn’t do anything right. That made me question every decision I had ever made, and question my own ability to navigate life.

Sound dramatic? It’s not really. As humans none of us are immune to failure, or feeling worthless, whether it’s actually true or not. And nothing will make you feel like you failed more than that relationship that was supposed to last forever, with the person who was supposed to love you forever.

And so I was trying to do something right…which meant planning my move back home. No one was going to be able to call me irresponsible, because I was going to have ALL of my ducks in a row. They were going to be perfectly in line and in step. Feeling like a failure in the relationship only magnified my need to show that I actually could do this responsibly, because I felt I had to show everyone I wasn’t a complete loser.

I would make sure to have a good amount of savings, not only for the move, but for anything that might be needed. I was going to have a job lined up, so I all I had to do was walk in on my first day. And I was already going to have a place to live picked out. My car was going to get a tune up, and everything would be nicely and neatly packed. The move would be organized and orderly. I would also wait until I was at in good place at work so I had good references, and maybe could transfer. Because that’s what responsible people who weren’t worthless failures did, right?

And then life would happen…and every time I had a little saved up, my car would need something, or a there was a medical bill, or a vet bill. or something. Always, Came. Up. And it was beyond frustrating and made me feel even more like a failure. Forget loser…I was way beyond that…I failed at the relationship, failed as a girlfriend, and then, to top it off, I couldn’t even try to leave responsibly because I failed at saving money. Then work laid me off, and my part time jobs weren’t paying enough for bills and a lot of savings. And I felt like I failed again. My inner monologue was awful, and the way I talked to myself was terrible too.

Thus the call with my Mom. I was thoroughly disgusted with myself, discouraged that nothing I tried was working, and exhausted from all the work of trying to be responsible and get everything in line. No matter what I did, or how hard I tried, failure seemed to find me. There was no hiding from it. And I had to be responsible, because that was the one thing I could control.

And my mother said something that cut through all of the noise, and resonated so far deep within that the vibration of her statement nearly knocked me off my feet. Not only for it’s simplicity, but for it’s boldness.

“Just Leave.”

“What?”

“Just leave. You can figure out all of that stuff after you get here, you don’t have to figure it all out now. So just leave leave. We’ll help you with the rest.”

“Mom, I can’t leave, that’s ridiculous. I mean, I have to be responsible. … Don’t I? I have to have everything in line and totally planned out. Don’t I? That’s what responsible people do, and I am responsible. I don’t want you to think that I’m not.”

“No you don’t. You don’t have to be or do anything, but just leave. So do it. Just. Leave. And come home.”

And there it was. Right in the open. Out loud. And it washed over me, over my soul, like nothing ever had. Even though it sounded so counterintuitive, so counterproductive, so irresponsible and so…wrong. It was simple, and brilliant, and true, and Right. In that moment I give myself permission to Just Leave. No planning, no savings, no waiting to be in a great place at work….

And I packed up and left the next month. And what seemed like the worst thing, the most irresponsible thing, was actually the best. And it freed both my ex and I to move on from our brokenness and heal. And oddly enough, in just leaving, I found my confidence to realize that I was not a failure, nor was I worthless – Because I left, and had people who loved me waiting on me to get home. And slowly, I realized that no matter what, I had worth and value. All of that because I left. Because I wanted a new start more than I wanted to settle for not having things in line.

Life is short, and sometimes the most counterintuitive things are actually the best things and the best decisions that you can make. Because if I had stayed until everything lined up, I would have been there for years. I would have been trapped in an unhappy, unhealthy situation, and in turn, so would have my ex. By leaving I freed both is us, and that was the most responsible choice. Why couldn’t I see that? Sometimes when you are in the weeds of a situation, just can’t see above it. And that is where I was. I needed the wit and wisdom of someone else who could see the forest, weeds and all, to help pull me out of the situation.

And oddly enough, after I left, things did fall into place. I did find a job, and place to live, and had savings soon after. I stayed at my Mom’s for a week to decompress, then slept on a friends couch for three weeks while I searched for a job in Atlanta. And it all worked out.

And it will for you too.

A Stay with an Open Heart

My father-in-law had open heart surgery recently, and it has been an up an down adventure of everything related to hospitals, healing, and emotions. While it is wonderful that he is at the best place in the world, the place where the artificial heart was invented, it still doesn’t take away the sting of seeing your parent, (or parent in law) weak, sick, confused, and frustrated at the limitations of his own body and what it can and cannot do at the moment. It’s hard to see parents vulnerable, or even scared, when all you always seen them as strong.

And it reminds me of show scary it was seeing my own parents that way – the incredible gravity of when they are confused and look at you like a child, looking for answers or approval. Even if that moment only happens once, and only for a few seconds, it is something that is burned into your psyche forever.

And so it has been, not much sleep, lots of worry, and even more prayer. So it has been, having faith in the doctors, in the healing process, in the nurses, in medicine, in prayer, and in God.

Life is short, even fleeting some might say. And days like this distills life with crystal clear precision. It makes priorities come to the surface because you don’t have time for anything else. Times like this show you truly, with tunnel vision, what you value, and on what you are willing to spend the few spare moments each day, before you fall asleep for a few hours from sheer exhaustion of the circumstance. Don’t forget when the dust settles and you are back to life as normal – those things that were most important and too priority.

Fill your life with those things, when the dust settles. I think we get so bugged down in the unimportant – the he said/she said, the social media posts, the #instalife ready, the Tiktoks, the appearances, the minutia of our daily lives… that sometimes it takes a jolt like this to realign us. Sometimes it takes a short stay to open our hearts to what we should be paying attention to. So when you realize what those important things are, fill your life with them. Not the irrelevant extraneous crap. Because that stuff? IT leaves you empty and craving for deeper, more meaningful connections. So make time for those important things, the things that when you only have a few moments, you knew were so important, that they were right at the top. That is the way to live and and love for a lifetime.

As the Page turns

It seems that I have been absent here as of late. There has been much to do with work and clients and life, and the house, and travel and family responsibilities, and mergers and acquisitions, and contracts, and that growing to do list and…Life. I guess that’s how it goes sometimes too doesn’t it? We get so busy in our lives that we don’t have to to be in our lives. Indeed that is exactly how I have been feeling lately. And it shows. I never thought that I wouldn’t have time to write, as writing is at my very soul and is how I process many things in this daily life. Whether it’s scribbling things down in my handwritten journal, or my planner, or here on this medium, it’s where I always reflect.

And when I don’t have time for whatever reason I just feel…creatively constipated. And because I haven’t had time to write for myself, my professional writing has suffered as well I think. And as a professional writer that is not good at all. And isn’t it strange, how it is all connected? The creative and the technical, the professional and the personal?

And I think it goes beyond the normal self care routine of making sure you get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, exercise, and get some sunshine. You also have to take care of what makes you feel good, what helps you be creative, or gives you purpose beyond you job. Because it’s all connected. and of you don’t pay attention to one, the other will suffer.

Why is that? I’m not entirely sure, except that it helps us to be a more rounded person. And maybe that is where the term work hard, play hard comes in. And it feels like I have just been grinding away at life, too busy and smell anything, much less roses. I feel a big B creeping in…Burnout. Oh, and that is a nasty word isn’t it? And it sounds as bad as it is: BURN OUT.

It hurts to just look at the word. So maybe when we feel that sensation creeping up on us, maybe that is a signal to take the Burnout by the horns, flip it around by slowing down, and by doing so, showing it the door to get out. Which brings me to my current station. Here. Writing, outside, under a cloudy Texas sky, with a glass of water and a tumbler of bourbon.

And what of discipline? Oh, that’s in there too, don’t think all the fluffy talks excludes it. But maybe we are going about it all wrong. Yes, we need to have a lot of discipline in order to accomplish the things that we want – and we must be comfortable being uncomfortable. But maybe we also need to be disciplined in doing what keeps us motivated, what keeps us with a clear mind, and what keeps us healthy. Because if we don’t, who will? With all the layoffs, Corporate America isn’t going to tell us to take a breath, or a break, or a walk around the block to clear our minds and get our circulation going a bit.

So maybe that is one of the secrets to being better at work and life, is being disciplined and dedicated to doing the things that keep us from burn out.

Life is short, too short for burn out. So take a walk, do some jumping jacks, drink some tea, enjoy a moment outside with some fresh air. Burnout is no fun. And let’s face it , that to do list – both at work and at home isn’t going anywhere, so you’ve got the time to take care of yourself.

Hope, Love, and New Years Past

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Be grateful to God, every year you live.” - Lailah Gifty Akita

“I hope you realize that every day is a fresh start for you. That every sunrise is a new chapter in your life waiting to be written.” – Juansen Dizon

For something to begin, there must first be an ending. And that which we must ego will lead us to our wildest dreams, meaning we have to let go to make room for all the wonderful that is coming. And it is coming. And New Years is no different. So as this year comes to close, there are reflections and shadows of the past 365 days. This year that has been amazing, scary, exhilarating, frustrating, exasperating, breathtaking, and beyond my vocabulary to explain.

This year I have worn a wedding dress, my beautiful wedding dress, twice. Walked down the isle twice, once given away by family, once walking by myself. Both days were beautiful and beyond my imagination of wonderful. Both were better than anything i could dream.

And there were trips and travels, to Belize to see dear friends, to Croatia, Bonsai, and Montenegro for a honeymoon, to my hometown for my mother to be honored for the community work that she did. There were drives in the country to discover old cemeteries, to hug old friends, meet new ones, have some drinks and delicious meals.

There were conversations and giggles, hugs and smiles, whispers and plans, dreams put into play that came to fruition, and dreams that were pushed to the side. A new life was started, and we anticipate the adventures ahead. There were so many milestones this year – turning 50, a 70s themed party, our weddings, a new roof and interior repairs that was the precipice of a freshening up of the house.

And there was work, so much work. Work with new clients, new contracts, old contacts, and new dreams. Work to meet deadlines, meet people, submit answers, headcounts, decisions, and schemes. There were submissions and fights, wondering if things would get fixed, watching water pour down the walls, repairs, and victories. There were many 16-19 hour days, new contracts, clients, clothes, goals, and visions. There were also mistakes and fixes, a few tears, and many, many smiles. And so many times I was ridiculously, absolutely, totally, unfailingly, in love with my husband, whose kindness, Grace and patience inspire me every day.

And there was so much stuff to do, that it was almost overwhelming, and towards the end, we are just exhausted from everything that has happened. How can so many things happen in just 365 days? It certainly feels this last year has had at least 3 years worth of events.

So it goes, and the new year begins. As we make plans together, and our family, for the next 365 days. We wrote them all down, in our planner, so that we move together, as one, towards those accomplishments. And my heart skips a beat at spending another year with my wonderful husband. Mostly because, all because, I love you. And you loving me in return makes me the luckiest and most blessed woman in the world.

The Christmas Spirit

The holidays, where everything is a rush of hustle and bustle of get here, go there, buy this, wrap that, call them, see those, party tonight, and see you tomorrow. It can be a time of moving through life at breakneck speed, with barely enough space to catch your breath. And indeed that it what it has been this season. Oh, everything is so much fun and it truly is my favorite time of year.

But all of the running around can be quite exhausting, even if it is incredibly fun and festive. We love decorating for Christmas, and every year it grows both inside and outside. I think my hubby wants us to make the Griswold’s look like armatures. And as much as we enjoy it…this year, we are dragging our feet a little. It has been am amazing year with a huge wedding, a church wedding, two trips, a complete roof replacement, and lots of projects, we are have bene having a hard time getting off the couch. And it’s not a matter of being lazy, or not in the Christmas spirit, it’s just…we are tired.

A huge project has had me working 16-18 hour days, where taking a shower was been a major accomplishment outside of work. And my hubby has picked up the slack with everything around the house, even though his work has been demanding as well. The yard…well, between the drought, water restrictions, and our lack of time…it’s not pretty. Add roofers and big trucks to that and it’s a downright mess. Sometimes, no matter what part of the year or season it is, you just need to slow down and take a breath. Sometimes enjoying life, and the season, means taking a moment, or 5.

And then, there are the things that ground you. Especially this year, because this is the year that I officially have a family. Like many, I grew up with family being at the center of the holidays, with many traditions. All the baking, and wrapping, and laughing, and eating, and drinking, and love. And the unofficial best and most creatively wrapped present contest – which my sister is forever the hands down champion with her Rudolf wrapped gift, complete with eyes, antlers, and bright red nose. With my official family now, this year once again has taken on a joyous tone, though a subdued one.

At first, it was going to be a grand celebration in San Antonio, exploring the River Walk and enjoying the amazing lights. Then going downtown, staying at a swanky hotel was the plan, perfect for not having to cook or clean. And then, a small, quiet Christmas was what we all settled on. And it was marvelous. It was perfect.

In this world of bigger is always better, and flashy and more ostentatious is best, can we really enjoy small? YES. And we should. Because it’s not the big and flashy that grounds us. It’s the tiny fibers that we weave throughout our daily lives, the things and people that we always return to, that’s important. If you stripped away all the extraneous and irrelevant noise, what and who would be left? That’s what you need when you get right down to it and back to the basics.

And that is where this season is for us. We have those whom we love the most around us this year. Our time in this world is finite, so be careful how, and with whom, you spend your time. When someone is sharing a meal with you, put your phone down. Talk to them. Ask them questions. If they were gone tomorrow, what would you want to know today?

Life is short. So this Christmas is about what matters most – family. And so there will be laughter and love, and sharing, and merriment. It will be small and intimate, like the best things in life are. There is value in small. There is value in what isn’t in Insta, or Snap, or the social de jour is. Life is in the small, in the quiet, in the non-posted, non-seen things. Don’t forget that this season as you are giving and getting in the Christmas spirit.

Today in a Lifetime

Today is the day that I get to marry the love of my life twice, because today is the church wedding. We had the big wedding in May. He gave me my dream wedding, on a 27 acre estate that was the perfect. But more that that, I was marrying the most wonderful, patient, kind mind I have ever known.

And today, on my parent’s and grand parent’s anniversary, we walk down the isle at a wonderful cathedral, with my favorite priest, making it truly official and recognized in the church. And on this day, when I get to be the third generation married on this day, I am so very thankful that this man loves me so unconditionally. He makes every part of my life better. And he makes me want to be a better person. He makes me want to be better every day, for him and for our love and our marriage.

And this Thanksgiving, I will be immeasurable thankful for our lives together.

The Drama Life

“Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, surrounded by assholes.”

-Unknown

We all know those people who have nothing but drama in their lives. They are always fighting with someone, always having some kind of bad luck, things are always happening to them, and it’s just one drama after another. Even the most calm person will have some drama in their lives, there is no way to avoid it. At some point there will be a divorce, a family squabble, or some kind of something. But for most, a drama is not a normal thing.

People who always have drama in their lives are exhausting, because they usually want to share that drama. And they usually spread it by sharing as well,, which, like the flu, is most unwelcome.

Looking back on my life, some of the most drama filled days were not caused by me, but by others. I am not someone who seeks it out – I’m too busy, and it takes too much energy to deal with it. But at a certain time there were people in my life who thrived on it. While dealing with drama exhausted me, it energized them.

I was once in a book club where one of the girls didn’t ‘t like me. She cause such a huge fuss about it, the organizer of the book club called and said “well, I guess you know all of the drama about you?’ I was shocked and said simply, “No, no one has said anything to me…what’s going going on?” That group of women were a constant cause of drama, with in fighting, gossiping about each other, and freezing each other in and out…it was a mess. And that is how they treated their friends, so I would hate to think how they treated their enemies. I didn’t last very long in that group before I had to leave. Over the years I have encountered multiple “Catty” groups of women, which I never understood. But it hasn’t been restricted to women.

I have dated men who engaged in conversations with friends, only to exploit both sides to cause issues. Men who enjoyed stirring the pot, one who even tried to pit his ex-wife and I against each other. Men who enjoyed orchestrating misunderstandings and miscommunications. They seemed to see themselves as a mastermind of negative situations, as it made them feel like they had control.

I have also known women who constantly found themselves in dramatic situations over and over again but refused to do anything about it. Or those who kept making the same mistakes and creating the same drama over and over again. I had one friend for many years who dated to same kind of abusive men, many criminals and drug dealers, a few of them who beat her and put her in the hospital. She would call and cry, then go back to him. One of the last times was when my father was still alive, but going downhill fast with end stage liver cancer. I just had to walk away because here was my father, who was doing everything to stay alive longer, and then there she was, doing everything to mess up her life while refusing to do anything to fix it. I was dealing with real drama, – losing my Dad shortly after losing my Mom. This friend had man-made drama that she could walk away from if she chose to.

And there have even been family members that loved the stench of drama, as it smelled sweet to them. So they would stir, and accuse, and meddle, and insinuate, to sow the seeds of discord.

If you want to have a peaceful life, you must first recognize these people, and second, step away – no run away, quickly. Because drama sucks all the energy and joy out of a room – and out of life. If you are constantly dealing with drama, take a look at the people who are around you. It is possible that you have surrounded yourself with the wrong group of friends.

” You glow differently when you enforce your boundaries and restrict access to people who drain you.”

– Tamsen Fadal

Quite frankly, I’m just too tired and too old to deal with it. Which is why those people are no longer in my life. And since then, life has been a wonderful breeze with peace and happiness. I have been able able to focus my energy on making a fabulous life with my husband. Because when I moved to Texas, I left all of that old drama behind, never to let those people back in.

Why do certain people love to cause discord and strife? I don’t know. That is something I will probably never understand. But I do know that those people have no place with me. And they should have no place with you either. One of the many things I have learned is that you must truly be discerning with who you have in your life, especially your inner circle. It is said that the 5 people you spend the most time with are the people who will shape your thoughts and life. So make sure both are filled with positives.

Second, not everyone who says they like you actually does, something of a hard lesson everyone must learn. Not all friends are truly in your corner. And those who do not have the same values of loyalty and honesty as you, will hurt you, it’s just a matter of time. Does this sound pessimistic? It’s not. It’s the reality of life that you need to accept if you are to have a truly happy and peaceful existence.

Do not engage with drama. Sweep that out with the spring cleaning. And understand that you don’t owe anyone anything, so as soon as you see signs of jealousy, resentment, or general troublemaking in a “friend”, get rid of them. When they are gossiping or saying bad things about you to others – get rid of them. When they have so much drama because they cannot manage their own lives – get rid of them. Had I done this earlier when I was younger it would have saved a lot of time and trouble.

Build your life as the magnificent story it was meant to be – which means only having good, drama free people in your life. And if you pay attention you will notice that those who have a lot of drama in their lives are not good at managing things in their lives – where those who are peaceful are. Those with no drama are usually capable of successfully navigating through life’s challenges. Why? Because their time and energy are focused on important things, not petty events created by board people.

Life is short – too short for unnecessary drama. Run away from these people, situations, and messes. No matter how much you love them, their drama will consume you until you unhitch yourself from their wagon. Trust me, it’s worth it. A peaceful life is waiting for you.

The None That Got Away

Sometime the most random things make you think, or inspire you. The other day it was a TV show I was watching were two characters were talking about “the one that got away.” Yes, that infamous, illusive “One,” you always wonder about and for whom you pine. You wonder….what if…? And I got to thinking, wondering actually. Do I have a OTGA (One that got away)? And if so…who?

And the answer was a resounding – No.

When I was younger I had no interest in getting married yet. So I dated freely. Some I broke up with, some broke up with me. Some were nice, some were not, most were decent. Most of the men I dated in my 20s and 30s were truly good men with whom it just didn’t work out. Timing, careers, geography, scheduling issues, complicated relationships with kids or ex spouses, or just not being ready. They were nice, were treated each other well, and eventually, for whatever reasons, we parted ways. Most of them ended up very happy with others, as I have now. Looking back there are no regrets.

It seemed that the older I got, the worse dating got too. And I don’t mean the preverbal slim pickings in the dating pool, I mean that men got rather sophisticated with their dating games. Maybe it was just a sign of the times as dating and hook up apps began to gain popularity, and meeting people the old fashioned way was, so passé. It was was ghosting, Netflix and chill suggestions after the first date, cheating, lying, non committing to lazy situationships.

No thanks.

I looked back on all my relationships over the years, and there is not a single one that got away. There were a few from whom I ran, there were a few that I truly care for, but no one I wonder about, think about, or wish. My heart is happy where I am and with whom.

So why do people hang on to those ones who got away? Why do some always wonder, wasting valuable time in the present to daydream about the future past? I don’t know. Maybe it is a fear of missing out, maybe it is not being satisfied with who they are with, maybe it’s a thousand other things. And maybe they also need to put old outdated thoughts to bed, or take them out with the trash.

Before I met my husband, I did wonder if I would end up with one or two that seemed to resurface every few years. But one of the things you realize when you are with someone who really loves you, if that if all those others really loved you, they would be there…and they aren’t. And they weren’t. So at that point, I let all of those old thoughts go and concentrated on the wonderful man in front of me, who as there, who was showing up, who played no games and made no excuses. Actions speak louder than words, and the whisper of his actions shouted his feelings for me louder than anything else I had ever heard.

And I knew I was where I belonged.

Life is hort. Stop wasting time wondering about the OTGA. Those kinds of thoughts slowly erode from your current relationship and leaves the door open for cold drafts. If they were meant to be with you, they would be. Because if they wanted to be with you, they would be. I am loved more now than I ever have been, more wholly than I ever have been. There is no one who got way, because he is right there with me every night. And that is the best feeling in the world. End of story, chapter and book.

Rain Down

There are times in life you just have to accept that you are in a rainstorm and you are going to get wet. And you have a choice – fight it, or embrace it and get wet as you dance. I came to this realization while loading full grocery bags into my car during a typical Texas summer afternoon monsoon. The skies were clear when I went in. But somewhere between the cereal isle, and the laundry detergent, the storm moved in.

As I walked out and looked up into the clouds, I determined that there was no way to stay dry. The umbrella was in the car, and the rain was coming down so hard it wouldn’t have been much help anyway. So Why not enjoy it? And isn’t that the way it is in life? We face storms of may types and intensity. But sometimes, when you are going to be in the middle of it, it is our attitude that will make the difference and get us through. After all, if we want the rainbow, we have to put up the rain.

Let the rain wash over you and cleanse your soul. Feel the drops on your skin, the coolness of the wet, and revel in the sensation. Let your inner child out and smile. Taste the rain, smell it, feel it, love it. And love your life with the same abandon. In order to make the best out of whatever difficult situation, we must first find the joy, the appreciation, the empathy in it. It’s Texas. It’s been in the triple digits for months, we are in a drought. We need the rain, My flowers in the garden will be happy. And there en lies the joy.

Life is short. So dance in the rain, enjoy the cold, smile at storm, speak with the thunder and make friends with the storm. When the skies clear, you will be better for the experience.

Frogger

When I saw it I had did a double take. Was that the ex that cheated on me with prostitutes and strippers…showing up in my “People you May Know” under a fake name? The world is a small place, especially on social media.

I had a flashback of sorts – He left 2 weeks before my father died, saw a prostitute named Pearl Prime the night my dad died, and then tried to get my electricity turned off the day after my dad died. I found out about his cheating a month after he left when I turned his old phone over to the carrier and they accessed it before wiping it. I was shocked and humiliated when they showed me the pictures of the naked women who surely didn’t look of age. Had that really been over 6 years and another lifetime ago?

I clicked on the profile to see if was it really him or some fake cloned account. No, it wasn’t fake, it was his. And it was full of pictures of half naked women with him. The kind of women who have their Only Fans page link on their profile. Five years after we broke up, he is still living the life and that “lifestyle.”

I remembered what my then grief counselor said about it at the time…this was not a man in his 20’s experimenting (which would be bad enough and still not normal), but an older man. And at his age, it is an addiction to the lifestyle. And it was the likely cause of the ugliness of our breakup, because men who are addicted like that often act out in abusive ways. Hearing that was hard, but a relief. I had blamed the demise of our relationship on the death of both of my parents and grieving their loss, which would have put a strain on any relationship. No, my grief counselor assured me, our relationship would have ended anyway, though the deaths expedited the process – which was an extreme blessing.

Why do I go into all this? Because there is a reason why things don’t work out. And not just for the right person to come into your life (like my wonderful husband), but also to protect us from incredibly dangerous and toxic things we may not even be aware of. I had no idea of the toxic world in which he was partaking. And it was such a blessing that the relationship ended when it did, and before I paid the price of his participating in such a drug and disease ridden part of society. I dodged a huge bullet, the verification of which showed on my Facebook page.

I smiled and blocked him. That night I hugged my husband a little tighter, thanking God that he was there – an honest, faithful, man of God, who loves me.

Life is short. Have faith that you are exactly where you are meant to be. And those who didn’t make it with you? It’s because they would be toxic, or at the very least not serve you, on your current path. Be thankful for the life you have now. Be thankful for the roads not traveled, the battles not fought, the breaks that are not on your heart. And celebrate the life you have, the joy and the people who are there with you, supporting you, loving you, every day.

Honeymoons away

I have only been married once. I waited a long time, what seemed like forever, to find the right man. The man who would truly love and honor me, the one who could be my safe harbor in a world full of storms. We were married in May, but just now took our honeymoon. My wonderful led a men’s retreat shortly after our wedding, se we postponed it until after the retreat was done. I am so very proud of him for the work and service he does for others.

And then we were off. A trip of a lifetime with my lifetime partner. it was beautiful and magic and amazing and fun. And what i learned is that I truly enjoy spending time with this man. we were away from everything – no work, no emails or phone calls. Just us. Out in the wild, exploring, playing, laughing, eating, drinking and having a blast. A trip to Croatia was what he gave me as out honeymoon. A day trip to Bosnia, and Montenegro.

A wine tasting at a beautiful family owned vineyard. He made friends everywhere we went, as he has never met a stranger. I swam in a cold waterfall. And jumped into the Adriatic Sea. We found a hidden bar on a cliff, and enjoyed local spirits. We sat under unfamiliar stars, talking to foreign accents while holding hands. And it was magic.

I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful husband. And beyond blessed to have this man as mine, and blessed to be his.

Share this:

Losing your parents is extremely difficult, and not for the faint of heart. A friend of mine is going through this, and the aftermath of picking up the pieces after the remaining family imploded. Having lived thorough this myself, we have talked quite a bit over the last few weeks as she starts her life in the new normal, moving forward and starting fresh. I have learned this unfortunately happens quite a bit. I wrote this to her and hope it might help anyone going through similar.

Losing family and your roots is a shock to every system of the human condition. And it sucks. It’s that sadness that won’t go away, the uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you ache for the simpler time of Before…but…

But…know that it’s just a short time that you have to feel this way, only a short time before you find yourself and your new life. All you have to do, is just through this short period of time, and then you will be invicible and made of steal – 

Because nothing will ever hurt this much again. And once you get through it, it will be done. And you never have to feel this way again. 

And it will make your stronger and simultaneously more compassionate. You will feel joy from such a deeper place, it will astound you. A joy borne from the depths of all the pain. And you will dance with appreciation for the breeze,

 and the sun, and the most mundane of things. You will shine with the finest patina, that will mark the world with it’s beauty. All this, because you will have persevered. 

A Trying Day

Dolly’s response when a journalist asked her about her feelings her variety show being cancelled after just one season.

I’ve never been one to follow celebrities, or get star-struck. Celebrities are just people who put theur pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us. So I have never understood the fascination with celebrity or fame. But I do make an exception…for Dolly.

I love her. She has been in a tough industry for decades and managed to stay the same bubbly person she has always been, and also stay true to her roots. She is beautiful, funny, and is amazing talented as a singer, songwriter, and actress.

Throughout her whole career, Dolly has been trying, dabbling in different things here and there. She’s been trying new genres, new styles, new formats, new people and now she is singing rock. And she is fantastic at all of it – especially trying and then succeeding! The lesson we can all learn is that you can’t succeed if you don’t try.

We all know this, we have all heard it most of our lives, but how many of us truly live it? In this day and age of everyone having an opinion about everything, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, it can be easy to listen to the critics. It can be easy to settle in the comfort of what is old, and staying put out of fear. Fear of what though? Fear of failing, fear of being made fun of or criticized, fear of losing, fear of…probably a thousand things.

But what kind of life is that, if we don’t try? And imagine what this world would be like if we all succumbed to our fears and insecurities? It would be a boring, colorless world. Because there would be so many things, songs, movies, businesses, people, that simply wouldn’t exist if there was no effort, no risking it with trying it first.

What what if you fail? So what. What if people find out and think you are crazy? So what. What is they criticize you, talk about you, or laugh at you? So what. They aren’t trying anything new, so the only thing they can succeed at is being exactly the same. And it’s none of you business what people say about you anyway. Trust me, life is much better when you realize that.

And sometimes trying something new means a complete change of life. And that’s OK. Maybe it’s a career change, a move, a new hobby, a new start up. IT’s scary, actually it can be terrifying. But it’s worth it. I remember when I wanted to try to be a writer, and I left my very secure, very nice finance jo. People called me crazy and laughed. Who’s laughing now?

Same thing when I moved from Atlanta to Texas. And when

Life is short. IF you can think it, dream, it, then try it. You’ll thank me later.

The Measure of Man

The measure of a men’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves. – John Hagee

Many times in my single life I prayed for God to show me a good man with whom I could plan my future and my life. And many times I thought I had found him, only to find that I was wrong. It got rather discouraging. And it left me rather broken and distrustful for quite a while. Especially the time, 1 month after my father died, I found out the man I was dating cheated on me with prostitutes and strippers – ouch.

I remember asking the Hospice grief counselor, who graciously talked to me about more than my father’s death, what I could do to make sure I never make the mistake of dating someone who could do those things again. And his answer was so simple in its eloquence, that it cut through all the irrelevant: Find a man of God with whom you an pray. I never forgot that.

Years later, after I moved to Texas to start a new life, I did indeed look for a man with whom I could pray. A man who not only believed, but also lived his faith. Three years later, this past May, I married him. We will be taking our honeymoon soon, as we put it off for him to lead a religions means retreat this past weekend.

He led the retreat, after having worked over 8n months in preparing, praying, forming the staff, holding meetings with his staff and also the board, making sure everyone would have what they needed for the program. And we prayed together about it, about all of the work coming together for those who attended, and those who were on staff to meet the needs of the attendees.

And indeed, I have followed the very wise advice I had been given that very sad day, sobbing, begging for any answer that might mitigate the future risk. And I have to say, this man, my husband, watching him serve others, watching God work through him, is quite amazing. And every day I am incredibly grateful for having such a wonderful, solid, moral, kind, loving and incredibly patient man.

who you chose as your spouse is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your life. One of my best friends passed away 5 years ago this month. She married a man who was cheating on her while she was getting treatment for terminal cancer, he kicked her children (his step children) out shortly after her death, and never gave them children their inheritance, money she specifically set aside for them and their college.

Life is short. Choose your partner wisely. I did, and my life is all the better for it. And he was worth the wait.

Men are not made religious by performing certain actions which are externally good, but they must first have righteous principles, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions. – Martin Luther

Choosing My Hard

We have all seen the above meme about choosing your hard. And indeed the first time I heard it years ago, it stopped me in my tracks because it reminded me of something a good friend told me years earlier.

I met my friend about 18 years ago when we lived in the same apartment complex in Atlanta. A wirery, tough, Harley riding gentleman, who simultaneously looked like a member of ZZ Top and The Hell’s Angels, I immediately liked him from the moment I saw him across the parking lot. It became my mission to meet him, not out of anything romantic, as he was much older, but out of knowing that this man had a story and I wanted to hear it. So an unlikely friendship formed between the two of us, and it is one that I still cherish to this day.

He would take me for rides on the back of his bike, to biker bars for beer and snacks. I enjoyed walking in with him, seeing the crowds part as we entered. And we always had the best conversations about life, love, happiness, good jokes, and so much more. This particular day we were talking about regrets and things we would do different in life.

When he was younger, his employer at the time offered to pay for his degree in management, but he didn’t take the offer because he was young and didn’t want to invest his time in something that hard. What he didn’t know was how hard his career and life would be without taking that offer. He said he very much regretted that decision because “Time passes regardless of the decisions you make, so you might as well put in the work.” I never forgot his observation, made more profound by his age and experience, and I’ve used it many times when planning a forward path.

Years later I read the “Choose your hard” meme. And I was again stopped in my tracks as I heard my friend and recalled that conversation years prior. And indeed it is right on the mark.

I think it’s because that life is never easy, so we might as well choose the hard that will result in something positive. I know people who are lazy and never want to learn or work hard, never seeing the value of accomplishing anything more than high video game scores. I don’t understand people like that, because life it meant to be lived, not played. After all, time is going to pass whether or not we do anything.

This is also a time of convergence of two other sayings with which I have become familiar – To accomplish anything, you must get comfortable being uncomfortable, and If you’re dreams don’t scare you, then they’re not big enough.

So, I am stepping out of my comfort zone and learning new things, again. With the advent of AI in the business world, I am taking an opportunity to learn beyond my current experience in working with this new field. I got my first taste of AI working with IBM Watson, and it was fascinating. But now, it is time to up the game. So, after a long days of writing, I sit down to learn. It’s hard, but it’s good to stretch my mind around all that is happening in this new field. It also lends itself well to my content design and UX experience, as it is all based on natural language and human centered communication.

My mind hums as I extrapolate how to apply the most recent developments into a useful path. It’s a bit like the wild west in the world of AI, and it’s not going to calm down anytime soon.

I am choosing my hard. And it feels great. And uncomfortable. And a bit scary.

Life is short. Take the chance and choose you most interesting hard. Because if it doesn’t scare you at least a little bit, you’re not doing it right. Stay tuned…

My Main Wedding

“I have found the one my soul loves.”

It was the happiest day of my life, like a dream of a fairytale, but was reality. He is mine and I am his. My best friend, my confedante, my partner, my love. For the first time in my life, I know I truly have a partner, unconditional love, and someone for whom my heart does not want to be without. He is the most patient man I have ever met and teaches me Grace every day.

And I was blessed to marry him this past weekend, in the eyes of God, on a 27 acre estate, with our friends and family present. Life is bliss.

W

The Rush to Breath

It is a few days before the wedding and life is a crazy rush to get everything done. Getting the house ready, running last minute errands, sending out emails, answering questions, making sure everything knows where they are supposed to be and when, writing vows, going to alterations and fittings, picking loved ones up from the airport, practicing the first dance so I don’t trip or throw my new husband’s back out, organizing pre wedding gatherings, makes for busy and hectic days. Add to that a leaking roof and water all over the foyer, finishing up a freelance project where the clients refuse to pay the amount agreed upon (if you hire an editor, let them edit a complete document, not a half finished one you are still writing), getting legal involved, and a few ex’s popping back up (no, thank you), and trying to drink water and stay hydrated…It’s a lot. Enough to make anyone exhausted.

And sometimes when things get hectic we get overwhelmed and forget to breath. In the midst of all the hectic extraneous noise, it’s easy to get carried away in the kinetic energy of the moment. So what do we do when we find ourselves frazzled by the everything that is life? What I have to remind myself to do is take a moment, breath, pray, and have faith that it will all work out. Because at the end of the day, I am marrying the best man I have ever known (not counting my Dad). And at the end of the day, that is all that matters.

And maybe that is the key to life – focusing in on what is truly important to put things into proper perspective. In 10 years, what will matter is that I married this man, not that the house was perfect or the first dance wasn’t.

Yes, in this day and age of information all of the time, and being busy as a sign or status, we can cut out the noise. And we do that by stepping away and breathing to simplify our thoughts, calm our minds, and amalgamate what is meaningful and essential in our lives. Even if we feel so overwhelmed that we are gasping for air, we can slow things down enough to be manageable. And that is what I have had to do, even as the wedding to do list seems to grow by the minute.

It is the rush to breath, so to speak, and slow things down. Time will continue forward, even if everything on my to do list isn’t done. And that’s OK, because the things that are truly important to me are already right there.

Life is short. Too short to be so overwhelmed and busy that we forget to enjoy what is important and right in front of us. So cross your to do list off you to do list. Breath and look around you. And take the time to enjoy the beauty in this life you have created.

The Day is Almost Here

Hi Mom and Dad,

It feels so strange to be getting married and not have you here. No Mother-daughters moments getting ready, no Dad walking me down the isle. And yet here I am, just a few days away from one of the happiest days of my life. And I am beyond excited, and happy, and every emotion that comes along with planning a wedding and getting married. But you guys are really not here, not in the physical sense. And that is so very strange.

And I just wanted to say that, or write that, out loud. Because when I write it, it’s real. I wish you could have met this wonderful man, because I know you both would like him. Dad you would enjoy talking about engineering, and beer. Mom, you guys would stay up talking about about politics and the state of the world. Both of you would enjoy discussing history with him, as he is incredible well read and knowledgeable.

Dad, two wonderful men are walking me down the isle to give me away, two because they have some huge shoes to fill. Mom, you would like my mother-in-law too and I am blessed have her in my life.

I know you will be looking down on me, smiling at my wedding. Just know that you are loved and missed. And you are always in my heart.

A Glimps

It seems that life has been so busy and full lately, and I just want to soak every minute, every second up like a sponge. Between wrapping up contracts, shopping for new contracts, interviewing, planning the wedding, dinner parties, bridal showers, exercising and trying to lose that last 5 pounds…It has been crazy. And wonderful.

Sometimes in life, maybe you do get everything you want. Maybe somewhere after puberty and all the hard work of being an adult, somewhere in between hope and laughter, and in the space that separates fact from fiction, our dreams become reality and we find happiness.

And what a long strange journey it has been to where I stand now. To be here now, with a full heart and more love than I knew a life could hold. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this really is my life, and yes I do deserve it.

And I wonder would I be here now if I had not taken the roads less travelled? Would I have found my way here, in this place in this moment, if I had not had the struggles, heartaches, missteps and adventures leading up to now? Which begs the questions are we the sum of our parts in that respect?

Yes, I think we are, even though we are also more than the sum as a whole. I don’t know if I would still be in this exact place if a million little moments, miracles, and decisions didn’t line up exactly so. I do know that every experience in my life has made me who I am now. And maybe that is the glimpse into the future, knowing that all of our collective experiences lead us and build our lives into one huge, wonderful, complex novel.

We write the chapters of our lives with each step and decision that we make. And we are free to change direction nd start over anytime we want. We are never too old, too young or too anything to start over, change direction, make a new decision, or new direction. So if you feel stuck in life – whether it’s a job, or city, or relationship, you can change that with one decision. That is all it takes.

So take that chance, take the step, make the move and write the next chapter – make it whatever you want it to be. No one can change you life except for you. Remember that.

A little over three years ago I moved 1,000 miles away to where I am now. I was devastated from the death of my parents, family drama concerning the will, and a broken relationship. And then I woke up one morning and realized I didn’t have to be there any more. Some people called me crazy, but most of my friends reminded me of who I was, and that anything was possible. They helped me pack and move. And life wasn’t perfect just because I moved, but it did slowly get better, as my heartache healed.

Life is short. Too short to be stuck when you don’t have to be, and you never have to be. If we are the collective sum of our parts and experiences, then you have nothing to loose and everything to gain. Take. The. Chance. I promise you it’s worth it.

Living the Dream

The day is getting closer, the plans are being finalized, the vendors are secured, the evweything is almost done. All of the planning and dreaming and loving and the sweet and wonderful anticipation. It is all coming together.

It is almost here, the day I marry my best friend, my partner, my love. The only thing that could make it more peefext is my parents, but they will be smiling down at us. My Mom will find a way to be with me, they will send a sign that says I love you. They will find a way to make their blessing of our union known.

Family and friends will be close. And they day will be ours.

My life is bliss. At this moment, I have everything for which I have prayed. And for this I am humbled and forever thankful. My heart is full.

Scam, Bam, Thank You Ma’am

These scams are getting pretty sophisticated and scary. We all know about the Nigerian Prince who needs you to send him money, in cash or Amazon Gift Cards. Or the business mogal who needs you to transfer some money for currency exchange. But what about other scams that seem legit?

An ex from 17 years ago contacted me today (no, that is not the scam). He said a rude man called him looking for me, and passed on the information. I called and it all sounded very official. I am being sued. Didn’t I recieve the letter of notification? It was sent to my address…I owed $XX amount of money on a credit card opened on this date, closed on this date.

Except it was a credit card that I never had, and account that was never reported on my credit report. I told the man this and he immediately became beligerant.

And when I said that I would need to verify everything before making any payments, he became extremely beligerant and unprofessional, accusing me of being argumentative, and reminding me he was under no legal obligation to offer me any kind of payment plan.

I had to laugh. A payment plan? On an account I don’t have, for an card that doesn’t exist, and an amount I never charged, for things I don’t own?

The first of many red flags is how defensive he got when I said I needed to verify and do my due deligence first. In this day and age of so much fraud and ID theft, any collection agency will understand the desire to verify. That is your (and My) legal right, especially if you have no idea as to the account or charges. Any reputable agency will work to get fraudelent charges straightened out, though you may have to show documentation to prove it’s fraud. If they don’t, report them.

Life is short, too short to be taken in and ripped off by fraudsters and criminals. If they do not accept you verifying the information, they are not legit. And the fact that they contacted my ex made it seem more urgent and legit. They had my ex’s name, number, and even his address, which has been separate from mine for over 15 years. Credit to my ex who called letting me know. I imagine it must have been both concerning and unnerving to get a call like that. Don’t fall for it. These guys know what they are doing.

Ex’s and Ghosts

There are moments when you realize just how lucky you are to be with your partner. When you understand with perfect clarity why it didn’t work with any others and how blessed you are to have love of your partner. While I realize this every day, how incredible blessed I am to have my man, I was reminded again recently.

There have been many articles written on the whys of ghosting, from both points of view of the “ghoster” and the “ghostee”. Personally I have never understood why people ghost others. Unless your life is in danger, there seems to be no reason other than cowardice honestly.

Part of being a mature adult is having those uncomfortable conversations. And whether it’s the “It’s not you, it’s me” or “We’re in different places,” or whatever, talk, it should be done especially if you have been dating for a fair amount of time. And it should be done face to face if at all possible. If you are not mature enough to handle the breaking up part of dating, then you are not mature enough to date.

I have been both broken up with and the one ending the relationship. And neither is pleasant, but you do it because you are a grown. You do it because that is the right thing to do. You do not chicken out and taken the coward’s exit.

Having said that, we all have those ex’s that surface every few years, for…whatever reason. I have only been ghosted once, and that was enough. The man and I had been dating almost a year. Everything was fine, there were no issues of which I was aware. He offered to cook dinner for my friends and I, but bailed at the last minute because he “needed to mow his lawn,” (not joking). I never heard from him again. Until today, 5 years later.

Linkedin is a professional site, so I was surprised to find a message from him saying hello and that he hoped I was well.

After I recover from shock, to be polite I respond that “I am fantastic, hope you are too,” thinking that would be the end. No, the ex felt compelled to catch me up on the last 5 years, right down to what his kids were doing.

Thinking Linkedin is a wildly inappropriate please to reconnect with an old flame, I respond simply that I am very happy and getting married. That is usually a signal to most men that they should move on. This was not the case. Instead, this ex that ghosted me 5 years ago responds in a way that is pure arrogance, “I am happy for you! He is a lucky man. remind him of that, often.”

One of the blessings of being older is you really don’t care who you offend, or how you are perceived. So I remind him that he ghosted me 5 years ago, bluntly asking him why he was contacting me, on a professional site and what did he want?

Apparently he was rather upset that his bad behavior was called out and the door was slammed in his face, because he incredibly defensive and told me he was blocking me.

Life is short. Too short to deal with arrogant narcissists. Ladies, if he slides into your DMs without an apology, or explanation…have a good laugh then slam that door so fast, so loud, and so hard, that he will have to pry that doorknob out of his arse. That’s what he gets for disrespecting you in the first place. And be thankful when you find a real man who knows how to treat a woman and a lady.

The Best Things in Life

There is a saying that the best things in life are free. I do have to agree. And the best thing in the entire world? Love. Loving others and feeling loved is a wonderful thing. And this month, my birthday month, seems to be an extreme expression of being loved. This past weekend I did a first for me – through myself a birthday party. Complete with a theme (the 70’s, in all of it’s disco glory), catered food, costumes, and good music. I invited friends that I have made in the short 3 years that I have been here in Texas. And it was fabulous.

In addition to my friends here in Texas, one of my best friends flew in from Atlanta and my “sister from another mister” flew in from South Carolina to celebrate with me. Everything, from the moment they arrived, to decorating, to the party, to a tea at St. Regis, to a fabulous dinner, to them flying back out was a reminder of how much I am loved. And that is not to brag, it is actually quite the opposite actually.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily lives, and the rat race, and everything in between, that we forget to look up and look around at all of those who love us. Sometimes we are too busy, too unassuming, or simply too un aware, of all the love that is around us. And it is a beautiful and wonderful thing to be reminded.

And I was reminded in spades, as my friends arrived to celebrate with me. As my in-laws helped decorate (there were disco lights, disco ball balloons, lava lamps, beaded curtains, and glow bracelets). And as my friends came to eat, drink, be merry, and celebrate me. And everywhere I looked there were smiles and fun being had. And then I saw my wonderful man, who had been pretty quiet about his costume, as he came out in full 70’s disco, complete with groovy round sunglasses, 70’s wig, paisley shirt unbuttoned half way down and a peace sign necklace. He went all in. As did several other friends.

There were people talking and laughing everywhere, inside, outside, and even some kids in the pool.

And my heart was thankful and happy. When I moved here three years ago I was pretty broken. Coming off the death of both parents in less than a year, all the family drama associated with being the executrix of the will, and having had a relationship end shortly before the move. I was heavy with grief and sad in my soul. The move to Texas was a new, fresh start after devastating loss. And as I looked out at my birthday party, at the smiles and laughter, at all of my friends who had come to celebrate, including those who flew in from out of town, at the love of my life having a fun time, I realized things have come full circle. And this year is going to be the best one yet. Because of all of the love, that wraps around me like a warm blanket and provides a soft place to land.

Life is short. If you are unhappy where you are, or if you just need a fresh start – move. You are not a tree. Go where you can rebuild yourself and your life. Go find your self again, find your purpose, and your joy again. And when you get there, celebrate yourself and others will celebrate with you. The best things in life are truly free, because friendship, love, making memories, and sharing a good life are priceless.

The Birthday Month

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living it well. – Voltaire

The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age. — Lucille Ball

Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter. — Satchel Paige

Whatever with the past has gone, the best is always yet to come. — Lucy Larcom

Every age can be enchanting, provided you live within it. — Brigitte Bardot

Oh it is that time of year again, my birthday month! Oh, how I love it. The holidays are over, and just when you think things are gong to slow down a bit…it’s time to have more cake and celebrate another year. And to be honest, I have always considered my birthday to be the start of the new year for me. I It’s not really a new year until I have celebrated my birthday. Then, I can start all of those resolutions.

And thought it is not a popular opinion, I do love getting older. Always have, always will. There is just something magic about it. About how we change, our bodies change, our lives change thorough out the years. The things you learn and unlearn. The adventures and experiences. May I never sit still and be an old lady, no. While I do want to grow old I want to do so gracefully. And bee unabashedly unashamed of my age. No Botox, fillers or filters. And while other ladies are living up for such things, I’ll pass.. First that stuff freaks me out a bit, second I am proud of my fine lines and wrinkles. I’ve hard for them.

It is also important to realize that growing old is not a luxury not afforded to everyone. And maybe you realize that more as you get older. But also the last few years have taught me this in spades. I said that to a good friend over the summer after he was complaining of getting older and gaining weight. He actually died about a month later.

I went to a someone’s birthday party in November, and she was sobbing almost the entire night she was so upset about her milestone birthday and the fact that she was getting older. I almost wanted to slap her. Getting upset about it doesn’t do anything – time is still going to pass. You are still however old, and time isn’t topping – unless you die. So why get upset about it? At least she was alive and had friends and loved ones to help her celebrate.

So on this milestone birthday I will also throw a party, which is something I have never actually done. I usually just go to dinner with friends or my man. But this year, this wonderful year that all these amazing things are going to happen, there will be a party to celebrate. Indeed friends are flying on (if airlines and the FAA don’t have another major malfunction), the cake and catering are ordered, the theme chosen, and the pool is heated. Because I am alive, and here, and loved.

And this celebration will continue the entire month, as it does every year. But for some reason this year is special. maybe because of all that is coming this year, all of the celebrations, and changes, and people and everything. I remember when I was younger and I would wonder what this birthday would be like, what I would like like and what my life would be like. And while it looks much different than I thought it would be, it is the best life that I could have ever dreamed.

Life is short. We only have this one life. We are only here for such a short period of time. Let or birthdays be reminders to celebrate not only ourselves, but our lives as well. Don’t worry about those little wrinkles, or if things are drooping a little bit. Look around, and see all the good that is in front of you, surrounding you. Appreciate every moment, every year that you have. And celebrate it, every day.

The Review and the New

The beginning of the new years is a time when many look back and reflect upon the past year, and what they want for the next 265 days. Maybe it is human nature, maybe it’s part of being self aware, maybe it is our quest to always keep searching and improving. But whatever the reason, none of us are really immune. And as I think back of this past year, with it’s mix of ups and downs, and ins and outs, I am sure that I have much for which to be thankful.

My career was fantastic during the past year. And while there were challenging clients, for the most part, all of my projects were very enjoyable with amazing teams. And I have learned that accomplishing high goals means consistency, perseverance and excellence. If people know what they can consistently get from you, then they trust you, your word, and your work.

I had to say goodbye to several dear friends this past year. One owned a distillery, one was my first director on stage, and one was a good friend from high school. And I also said goodbye to a dear pet. These losses taught me once again not take take a single day with those you love for granted.

I have learned about Grace and patience as my wonderful man has both of these in spades when dealing with me, a red haired, strong willed, spitfire of a woman. Every day this man amazes me, and I am beyond blessed that he is mine. Every day, he embraces me with truly unconditional love that I had only read about in books and fairy tails. He is as steady as the Earth herself. He teaches me about God’s love, and how to be a better person every day, and he does it by example. And every day I am thankful that he is mine and I am his.

This is reinforced as hear I bits and pieces about the lives of various exes that made me cry over the years. The ex-finance ex lost another job and is selling another house to relocate who knows where, again. Another ex continues to chase the youngest and easiest in Brazil and other countries known for trafficking. One laments online how ever girl he meets is a sociopath. Still others seem to walk from one disaster the next. I see all the bullets that I dodged over the years, and how many times those unanswered prayers were truly a blessing. It is true that God hears conversations you don’t you, sees things that you don’t. I have learned to trust this over the last year.

We made the new house a home in 2022, settling in quite nicely, unpacking, hanging, organizing, repairing, entertaining as we have friends over, and swim a lot. There were gatherings and conversations, laughter and a few tears. We have made this space a place we love, and a place where our friends feel warm and welcome.

I have also learned the power of being inspired, and having a reason to achieve beyond your own desires. It is different when you are working toward something. And it is gratifying and fulfilling to work together, as partners, in achieving what my man and I both want. We discuss our goals on a regular basis, and we work toward them together. We move as one unit, in mutual respect and support.

I have also learned the value of health. I started 2022 in physical therapy after ignoring an injury that got increasingly worse. Now it is much better, but still something that must keep up. As it turns out, exercise doesn’t just keep you in shape, there are actual tangible health results that I had not had to experience before, because I had never been injured.

I’ve learned the power of relaxing and downtime as well. I can be a bit of a work-a-holic, and working from home doesn’t always help. So my man getting home form his office forces me to stop and change direction. Balance is a struggle for most and we are no exception. How can you get everything done? I have found the secret: First, make peace with the fact that you can’t. Second, have a schedule that includes time to relax. While that may sound counter intuitive, for me it seems to be the key to me not getting exhausted and overwhelmed. And if I can stick to somewhat of a schedule, then I can breath.

And so I say goodbye to this past year 2022. It seems it was a bad year for many , but it was quite a wonderful year for me. It wasn’t an easy year, but they never are completely. However, it was a great year, filled with great lessons, conversations, trips and moments. Mostly because, all because, of love.

Life is short. And now that my life is calm and wonderful and filled with so much love, I can see the tattered landscape of the past. And I say goodbye to that as well. It is a new era, a new year. But saying goodbye does not mean that we forget or let go of the good stuff. For me, it means that I cleanse myself of the bad, but hold onto the lessons and wonderful memories. It means that I carry all the good of them in my heart and use them to enrich the year ahead. And that is what I wish for you.

The Great Season

The holidays are a time of both wonderful and hard, with all of the hectic energy, parties, decorating and shopping. Since I have lost family members I am also acutely aware that it may also be hard for those who have lost loved ones, or those who are alone.

It is the slow week between Christmas and New Years when everyone is recovering from the hectic holiday season. And indeed this is one of my favorite weeks of the year. The quiet week of in between, as we wrap up the last in order to make room for the first part of the new. Everyone is settling in and resting up. It is the time for warm tea and hot coffee, fuzzy blankets and all that is comfort.

And as I reflect on the past years I have to smile and my heart is full. This year has been the wonderful everything. There has been much hard work, but it has been beyond worth it as we built the next chapters of our lives. We moved in, unpacked, made memories, discussed dreams, and are building the life and the story that we want.

And this Christmas was even more spectacular and joyful than any I have experienced in many years. The house and yard were almost decorated to the point of obnoxious, but not quite. The house had Christmas in every room, and the 2nd annual Christmas Tree Competition. There was hot chocolate, spiced apple cider and neighborhood festivities, parties, and most of all love. So much love as my in-laws came over and celebrated gifts, family, and a delicious Christmas dinner, – the fist my man and I hosted.

This life now is so different from what it once was, almost unrecognizable. Indeed I have a hard time believing this is the same life, my life, but on a different plane of existence. I think back to the holidays of the past, with my parents and sibling. We would drive to Mom and Dad’s place, spend time wrapping in warm blankets, visiting and catching up over hot coffee. Then stay up all night Christmas Eve wrapping gifts, laughing and drinking wine. How can that be the same life?

Indeed, it seems my life has been split in two – before and after. And it is hard to grasp all those memories of so many years ago, in places that no longer exist, with people who are no longer here. Indeed, thinking of my past holidays before my parents passed is like an out of body experience. And I wonder if everyone experiences such?

And maybe that is the things about life and love and the holidays and memories. That as we get older, and as families shrink, change, and grow again. how do we reconcile the life that we once had with that we have now? Or nary the two shall meet? Perhaps the latter, and perhaps that is why the sweet in the bitter still makes us smile, even as a tear dances on the rim of our eyes, never escaping down our cheeks? And maybe that is why pictures are worth a thousand words.

Life is short. So celebrate what you have, and what you had. There is room for both, as both continue to shape our lives and who we are.

Lit Up

It seems that after Thanksgiving and before Christmas is the busiest time of year for many people. Work, family, shopping, decorating, parties, and just a general rushing around before the lull after the new year keeps everyone extra busy. And my life is no exception. This year has been an wonderful mix of everything and the kitchen sink. But it has been glorious. I don’t think I have ever been so happy about being so tired and overwhelmed but so happy.

And that is the thing about this time of year, it is crazy, joyful. sad, overwhelming, hard, soft, and everything in between. As we get ready to let go of the old and ring in the new while holding down the fort, decorating the tree, and wrapping it all up, it’s easy to need a moment of quiet reflection to take it all in.

Work has been crazy with starting a new contract and wrapping another one up, and there have been very long hours, little sleep and dark circle under my eyes. But the work has been meaningful with a wide audience. And then there is all the decorating. My wonderful man loves Christmas and the more Christmas lights there are the better. We only had time to put the trees up last years because we moved in 2 weeks before Christmas. So this year we had to make up for lost time.

The yard is fully lit, as in we don’t even need to turn on the outside security lights. We could pull up a chair and read a book it is so bright. And it is beautiful. The inside is just as bright with the garland and lights up the staircase, down the banisters, along the hearth and on mantle. The decorations are everywhere, wreaths hung, and every trip to the store is a “oh, this would look good…”

But the best thing for me, is looking at my man’s face as he looks around at our home, and he smiles and lets out a contented sigh. “It feels like Christmas,” he says, beaming from ear to ear, unable to hide his child-like enthusiasm for the holiday season.

And so we launch into the social aspect. This past weekend was the neighborhood Sip,n Stroll, where houses set up tables of drinks for adults and children, along with snacks, music, as other neighbors have a chance to walk around, sipping and meeting your neighbors. It rained but that didn’t stop us or our festive visitors who came with coats and umbrellas, eager for some spiked apply cider and good conversation. It was glorious and fun. We were going to have a blow-up movie screen playing A Charlie Brown Christmas, but the wind lifted the screen up and sent it flying down the driveway, with me chasing it in the rain. Another time, on a still night, then.

Celebrations continued the next day with a Christmas party for friends that went from 1-11pm. Everyone was there to eat, drink, and be merry, as we opened gifts, laughed, and enjoyed being with good friends that are our chosen family. Indeed the event was full of surprises and an over abundance of love.

And that is the thing about being with someone who loves the holidays as much as you do – you get to have a great time, even when exhausted. Because you are making memories and creating a home. The truth is, the holidays are still a little hard for me after losing so much of my family. I still miss my parents and always will around this time of year. And that’s OK.

One of the things that I realized over the last few days is that in addition to loving my man very much, I am also very thankful for him and his family and friend oriented view of life and the holidays. I love the fact that he loves celebrating Christmas for all of his friends and family, and now we get to do it together. His has a life – giving way, meaning that he gives and loves with all he is and all he has, which is similar to myself. And when two givers get together, magic happens.

The holidays were hard the last few years of my parents life because they were so sick and I was the one who did and created the holiday magic for the family. And I always felt like I failed at it a bit because I wasn’t as good at it as Mom was. And I was creating from a deficit as Mom and Dad were so weak and siblings weren’t really interested beyond collecting gifts. It was exhausting to do myself, to bridge the deficient. After the family was gone. I created out of desperation. I didn’t want to be alone, so I invited everyone I could and tried to establish as many “new traditions” as possible since the old ones were gone. The thing is you really cannot create that way and you can’t force it either.

But now we are creating from a place of love, peace, and abundance, and it makes all of the difference. Everything is multiplied and nothing is forced. It’s all easy and flows from our hearts to those whom we love and back again. And that love, our love, lights up the sky, lights our hearts and lights our path as we make this life together. It lights our life and makes celebrating effortless. All the work is worth it. And maybe that is the secret of life and love, find someone who makes it all worth it, even when you are tired.

Life is short. Celebrate it. Decorate it. Share it. And make the most of it. Because we only get this one little life for a short time. Make it spectacular. Make it lit up.

The Untraditional Grateful

Thanksgiving is a very traditional holiday, filled with family, friends, and lots of the traditional foods. But this year was a very non traditional, at least for me. My family was extremely close growing up and the holidays were an especially happy time. Mom would start cooking days in advance, and all of our favorites would be on the menu. In addition to turkey and fixings, there were always yummies like cheese balls, sausage balls, Fantasy Fudge, the Burch family World Famous Cheesecake, pineapple upside-down cake…The list goes on and on.

I loved our Thanksgiving dinners. Afterwards we were all in a food coma, Dad napping and us girls chatting while sipping wine.

Since my parents have passed, it has been a mix of new and old traditions. Everything from Day before Turkey Day Tacos to driving to see family, to lots of food, and after dinner Zoom calls with loved ones. Last year it was last minute, as we had planned to go to Georgia to see my family, but had to cancel due to the house (finally!) closing the day before. It was Chinese food left overs, wine and lot’s of love at the table with my almost in-laws. This year we were planning to see my cousins, but they had their first grandchild born a few days before, so we made other plans.

We still went to Georgia, but we saw friends I had not seen since before moving to Texas. We were invited to eat with one of my best friends cousins whom I had not met before, but who welcomed us into their home with warm smiles, hot turkey, and cold drinks. Then back to my friends farm where we spent time catching up and feeding the animals. There was also time to see more friends in Atlanta, those who I had missed and had not been able to see for years.

And even as Thanksgiving will never be the same as when I was younger, and many of those traditions will not continue, there is plenty for which to thankful. There is plenty of joy. And that is the thing about life, we are constantly rebuilding, developing, and creating our lives. Just because the holidays will never be the same because loved ones are gone, doesn’t mean that we cannot still find the joy of the season. We just have to find new joy in our own time.

And that’s OK. Because our lives are ever-evolving brilliant works of art, a best selling novel with twists and turns even we don’t see coming. For me, I have found joy in celebrating with those I love and who love me, be it friends or family. And there are always things for which we can be grateful, if we look hard enough. Chances are we really don’t have to look that hard. And if you have lost a loved one, and don’t feel like celebrating, that’s OK too. Take time to cry and reflect. Take time to miss them. But know that they would not want you living in sadness and grief for an extended time. You can smile through tears and laugh through heartache. And eventually, you will feel joy again.

Life is short and so is the holiday season. So look around and find what makes you smile, what gives you joy, and pay attention to who you are with when your heart is full. Take lots of pictures and make the time to connect, because we never know what might happen in the year ahead. If you can’t do old traditions, do you best to make new ones, or participate in someone else’s traditions. Why not? Life is what you make it. So celebrate now and worry later.

The Crispy

Summer changing to fall and winter happens a little later in the year here in Texas The leaves start to have the slightest color of red or gold creeping across them, the nights go from being 89 to a nice 80, then eventually down to 75. And slowly the water in the pool goes from a nice 95 to 68 and COLD when you first get in. And the breeze starts to get just a little cooler. Even now in December, the highs are int he low 80S, the lows at night in the 60s, maybe low 70s.

The change might be undetectable to some, but I pick up on it immediately. And it is perfect. After a ridiculously hot summer that went from winter, to a week of Spring, to triple digits in May, the cooler temperatures are more than welcome. Even the plants in the gardens are responding to it being cooler – everything is growing. The garden is suddenly bursting with life that was simply scorched in the heat of the hot summer sun.

And to me this change in temperatures also signals a change in pave. A slow down where we can catch our breath a bit, Indeed, work has been fast and furious with many tight deadlines, long meetings and late night writing sessions. While I am so blessed to have a full plate of work during the recession, the start of the holidays has been a nice break from the hectic.

there have also been many home projects that have added to the chaos. Having plumbers out to prepare and connect the pool heater and generator, and inspectors to make sure everything is up to code. New HVAC systems and discovering a few leaky places in the roof, and having roofers diagnose the cause and cost of repairs and replacement. Getting a new water filter, softener and reverse osmosis system put in which came in handy during the boil water order. And let’s not forget the chimney inspector and the news that the chimney needs to be rebuilt for safety. All that in the same month.

So now I am ready for the longer nights of cozy weather, warm blankets, fuzzy socks, hot tea, Hallmark movies, and cuddles on the couch. I am ready for the slowdown and hibernation of the season, as the decorations go up, the lights some on and the AC goes off (eventually). I am ready for the crispy in the air and the bowls of chili and delicious creamy soups.

As good and blessed as this Summer has been, I am ready for all the Fall and Winter brings and all the wonder that they hold. The Christmas lights and decorations are already almost complete, Christmas shopping is all done and life is good.

Life is short, so enjoy each season as it comes. They all have something wonderful to offer, and I am looking forward to the slowdown from all the hustle and bustle of the summer and the Crispy of this winter.