And So it Goes...

2012

It has been an eventful year for many. Especially me.

2012 has been rather life changing for me.
 

I lost my Mom,

 

became my Dad's care-giver.

 

I turned 50.

 

Almost lost my marriage, but instead strengthened it.

 

Had one Daughter not only graduate from college, but land her dream job.

 

While the other got the chance of a lifetime, studying abroad and catching dreams.

 Strengthened some friendships and family ties as well.

We have had some health scares. And we have had financial hic-cups.
The weather has been strange, down right crazy.
The World's current events have been terrifying with our own USA crime unbelievable.
The lack of respect and responsibility has been embarrassing.

 

Made some pretty major decisions. And started seeing things differently.

Through all this year, one thing is certain.  I have become a much stronger woman.  I have found my voice.  I think I have come to understand that regardless to what happens in my life, I have the power to stand... to take what God has put before me and to figure it out. 
I use to think that everything that happened was a part of God's plan... I don't so much anymore.  I do believe that He has planned my life and given me the opportunity to live life to its fullest. However... I do not find Him responsible for the evil and bad things that happen in our lives.  He helps us through the storms, and helps us from sinking.  He puts things in our paths to help us find the solid ground or even sometimes a floatation to get us to that solid ground. 
This I know.  God Loves Me.
As I pray I am doing what I should and it is good enough.
I have come to realize...I am enough.

I have caught my breath and I am ready for what 2013 has in store.  There are so many exciting things looming around the corner. I am thrilled to take on this year.  I am sure there will continue to be mountains to climb and valleys to cross, but, I'm good.
I got this.

 

You Look Just Like...

Do people ever tell you that you look just like someone?
I must have one of those faces. I get it a lot.  Interestingly I have been linked to some celebrities.  For your "entertainment" I decided to share and see what you think.

Back in the 70's... some people said I looked like Marcia Stassman. Remember her? It's Julie Kotter! Remember "Welcome Back Kotter"?  I had the same glasses too. Didn't every "cool" girl wear these?

Once when I had a Paper Route, a sweet little boy would wait on his porch, every week for me to deliver at his house.  He would just smile & smile.  Finally one day, he spoke to me.  I will never forget what he said;
Little Boy: "Gosh... Are You HER?"
Me:   "Who?"
Little Boy, pointing to one of the women on his T-Shirt of Charlie Angels:"HER!" 
Me: "Oh, No Sweetie, I'm not her, that's Jaclyn Smith!"
Little Boy: "Well, YOU look just like her!"  Bless his little heart... Someone needs to get the poor child some glasses!

I often got mistaken for this gal~

Leann & Jan 1979

This is my cousin Leann. My partner in Crime during my visits to Houston.
Today I look more like her sister Janet.

Jan & Janet 2010

My sweet Hubby use to tell me I looked like these two celebrities:

Stephanie Seymor

Stephanie Seymor in the 1990's

Stephanie Seymor... Do you remember her?  This is a more current photo.  You might remember her better before the four kids...when she was a model for Victoria Secret. Let me refresh your memory.
And theres this lovely actress...

Elizabeth Hurley

Isn't he the sweetest Hubby?  Telling me I look like them?  It did always make me smile (although I know I have never really resembled them).

I was also told this actress reminds someone of me...

Katherine Helmond

I was told, "even though you are much younger than her, I can see you looking like her when you are older."  Hmm Remember when she was in "Who's the Boss?" How about the sitcom "Soap", for you oldies like me.

Maria Shriver

My Mom has always told me I look and have the characters of Maria Shriver.  I actually see this.  And I find it a wonderful compliment as I have the highest respect and admiration for her.






I get pissy when I am told (and it is why I stopped wearing my glasses when my hair is in a bun), I look like this person...

Sarah Palin

ewe....really?

I have ALWAYS wanted to look like this woman, that is just a couple years older than I.  Michelle Pfeiffer . She is AMAZING!  Is she really in her 50's?  Gosh to have her genes!





Now, back to reality...
I think I look most like this gal~

Julie & Jan

And I am perfectly content with that.  She is my wonderful big Sis, Julie.  We always have resembled each other.  As we age, even more so.

Quondam Tuesday ~ Photobooths

Recently, while attending a wedding, the couple had a photo booth set up at the reception. I loved this idea! (Although I could not get Hubby to go in it). All the young adults hovered around it laughing and enjoying. The company that supplies it, sets it up for the guest to enjoy their photo strip (free), and copies go to the newlyweds.

Got me thinking about the fun in photo booths over the years. I know I have many more, but here are the ones I dug up for Quondam Tuesday.

Gene Gardner 1943

This dashing young man is my Great Uncle Gene in 1943. He was Grandma Kitty's brother. A charming wonderful man she loved dearly, & I am sure I would have too.

Jan around 1972

Awe, look at me! I am guessing here but probably around 1972, ten years old.

Mary & I 1974

This is my Lifer Mary (Moore) Dougherty. So cute.

Tammy & I 1975?

Tammy (Bayliff) Cunningham and I around 7th grade. I loved those octagon glasses!

Tammy, Mary & I 1975?

This is me and Tammy again, joined by Mary (Crenshaw) Gilleispe. We had a Camp Fire Girl event at a mall. That is our groovy Indian costumes thingys with our patches & beads. Notice my tongue. Must have been eating candy?

Tribby/Meyer cousins 1977?

This was hilarious. We got all FIVE of us cousin in the booth! In front~ Janet, Julie. Back~ Shari, Me, Leann.
Julie & I had so much fun when the Tribby cousin came to town. My Mom was great at making our time memorable & we packed as much as possible into our visits.

Nadine & I Summer 1977

Nadine Wilham was one of my Best buddies in San Antonio. She lived down the road from my Grandparents, and we quickly became friends. I lost touch with her though over the years. I ran into her brothers at Grandpa's funeral, but Nadine couldn't make it. She was a Doll, and I have great memories with her.

Grandma Kitty & I 1978

Many of you are familar with this one. I have it enlarged and framed in the dining room, and keep the original in my wallet over my driver's license. It is without a doubt my favorite photo. I see and feel the love Grandma had for me in this photo. I adored her as much as she did me. Two peas in a pod.

Me & Deb, 1980

Deb (Wiggington) Merino, Lifer Bestie. I know I have more of her & some with Sheri & Lynn. They are misplaced though.

Rich & I 1981

Here I have Richie & I. Thinking this was taken in 1981, but may be wrong. I love how we aren't ready for the first shot.

I would love to see your photo booth pictures. Don;'t they just make you smile?

Sister~Cousins

Meyer's and Tribby's July 1967

I love this photo.  I just discovered it and I love the how you can see more than just a family gathering photograph.  Notice everyone is tense.  Almost as if we have been yelled at or forced.  I am the little five year old in the green dress with giant flowers in the front row. My cousin Shari is next to me, and we are the only ones smiling. What ever it is that has everyone else so uptight isn't affecting us little girls so much. We just know to smile when told "cheese".  My cousin Billy has a suit & bow tie on. What's up with that?  My Mother, who always is smiling and happy in photos, but here she can barely be seen hiding behind my Aunt Nancy's hair.  My sister Julie also is always hamming it up and this is a rare photo of her being still and somber. Julie is the sweet little seven year old in the center. The other day when this was discovered, Shari, Janet (the baby in the photo), and myself, started trying to analysis this photograph.It was a good laugh.

Family can be interesting.  Very complex or very simple.  Sometimes, I think for most, somewhere in between.  I believe that when you have a dysfunctional family, you are very much clinging to each other, knowing you know each others secrets.  You need each other to survive.

Through the years, I have been Blessed to stay in touch pretty well with my cousins. Of course there are times we get busy and are not as close as we wish, however given the fact that we live across this nation in multiple states (as well as countries, with one cousin that lived in Canada for 7 years), we have always been there for each other. Not so well with my boy cousins, somehow, ever though we love each other and all, we didn't stay as close.  Except the silly boy in the striped shirt.  That is my cousin Rob, whom I was very close to. (He even lived with us for a while).  Unfortunately, we lost Rob to suicide several years back when he was just shy of his 40th birthday.

Through recent tragedy, I have reconnected more with my cousins. We don't have as many distractions now that our children are grown (well, mine anyway). We have vowed to stay connected.  We now feel more like sister's than cousins. We will keep our priorities straight.  We will try desperately to meet yearly with a fun Sister~Cousin trip. 

These girls know me better than anyone.  They understand who I am and how I got here.  My sister and I both are both so lucky to have each other and now we have the cousins to lean on and to embrace.

Janet, Janis, Shari

I am very fortunate to have these women in my life.

Moving Along Slowly

I have anticipated this week as a glorious one. Even though the Hubby is out of town, I seem to flourish getting odd jobs done, writing, and cleaning. I try to get some visiting too as I never seem to have time.

The weekend started off with a BANG.

As I drove home from work, singing along with Diana Krall's CD, I heard a horrible BANGING! Scared the crap out of me and I saw out my rear mirror my Sun Roof fly into the interstate. Luckily the Explorer behind me dodged it before it shattered to the road. I pulled over but the traffic was intense. I decided to move along off the exit. There was no rescuing of the roof, and it appeared no was was hit or having any problem with the pieces of glass on the interstate. 5:30pm isn't exactly the time of day to try to pick up something off the major interstate unless you are suicidal.

The next morning, my car guy, and everyone that works at the dealership, was amazed as they had never seen this happen before. It appears to have literally rusted out. Now, Im not mad. Things happen. This Monte Carlo is a wonderful car that has served me well. The ironic thing is Sergio is trying to talk me into a new car (which I don't think I need till the girls graduate from college). It just so happen, the car in front of me when this happened...was the same type, style & color..except for the interior. I was daydreaming about should I.... when BAM! Is that a sign? The good news of course is that no one got hurt. The bad news, the car is 12 years old and we are experiencing some difficulty in finding parts. It will get done. The other bad news, the warranty cant be honored (long story...boring so I wont bore you).

Bummer.

Sunday, our Beloved 4th of July, I was blessed to meet up with my Sister, Julie, niece Michelle, her boyfriend Dominik (visiting America for the first time from Germany), and my Ms Annie joined us as well for lunch downtown @ Scotty's Brewhouse. I picked this spot as it is about as American as you can get. Plenty of choices for Dominik to try, a great Vegetarian Menu for Julie & Michelle, and for me~ their famous Fried Pickles. {YUMMY!} Then we walked down to the canal, the Monument Circle and just about any other interesting sightseeing spot we could find downtown. I am honored to have gotten this opportunity to meet Dominik. I see what Michelle sees in this charming young man. I see a twinkle in Michelle's eye that I have never seen before. I love seeing this in her. The weather was lovely, the company even better!

Today was icky. Started the day at the Vet. We discovered {yuck} FLEAS on our furry family members. So everyone has been treated and the house as well. That pretty much took all frickin' day long! Ugh... So gross. I feel so bad for our pets. They have been traumatized. They aren't use to it and I think they are embarrassed. ( Lets not tell them I have Blogged about this!)

I am having issues with my Mom lately. I love her so much, but we have drama when she starts getting manic. I friended her on Facebook...nervously. We were "friends" for about a week. Today, I had to block her. I have tried to explain the whole wall vs message thing, but she doesn't understand. She is putting personal information out there that I do not appreciate being on my "wall". It is way too much information!

The interesting thing is, well, people that Blog are exposing themselves but in a controlled way. I give you details but carefully. I never lie or falsify information. I put my heart on my sleeve and pour out my feelings. Most of my followers are strangers. At least we start out that way. I am cautious about letting people close to me "follow" my Blog. I am better about it. I am proud of this Blog, and I am proud of how I have learned to express my feelings and use the blog to validate myself. Some of the stuff I have exposed about myself, I don't want my loved ones to worry or misunderstand. Mom is one of those that I think will misunderstand and worry. She wont' read what I write rather what she think she sees into something. My Mom is over-the-top. She thrives on crisis & her manic behavior tends to elevate everything. Mom has found my Blog. Hello Mom. Oh Boy. I knew she eventually would. I have had it for over two years. So, okay. I am okay with it. I don't know if she has read it all, or just discovered through Facebook how to hit the link & only read the last post. So, I don't know. Nervous, to say the least, about what she thinks of my Blog.

I've been anxious to meet up with Cousin Janet in Chicago Tuesday & Wednesday, but New Jersey got hit with a power outage and that may postpone the trip. :( My girls are hoping I go too. They are excited for me to get out. Janet brings joy to my heart and I am happy around her. Oh, and Emily & Annie are planning a "little party" and well, lets just say, I will be in the way. So hopefully, tomorrow will be a go. Lord knows I need it!

Well, I have chatted way to much. Hope I didn't bore you too much. I have so much more to share, but lets make them into another post or two!

Buzz Buzz Buzz

I have such a busy day ahead of me.
So much to do, but I want to have one more cup of Joe and a few minutes in Blog World.

Today marks my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. I will Blog of this later. I need to devote a well written Blog, not a rush version. So, with that in mind, I will enter it later this weekend.

Today also is my Cousin's Wedding. "Baby" Jamie (she is 34 but so much younger than my sister and other cousins, she will always be Baby Jamie to us). Jamie & Brad have chosen to marry in a park. The weather looks lovely, but I anticipate being hot, even in the evening, when the wedding will take place.

This afternoon, I will pick up another cousin at the airport, that is coming for the Wedding. I am most excited about this. Even though Janet will only be here for 20 hours, I can't wait to see her. We are both products of a very dysfunctional family. We get each others pain and there is an understanding that can not be explained. The plan is to have a couple of glasses of wine prior to today's event and stick together!

We have to go to dinner before the wedding to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. I will have Sergio, Annie & Nathan, Emily and Mike, Janet & myself, joining Julie, Brent, Michelle, and of course Mom & Dad. Nothing like a little stress before a Wedding.
Wine may have to be involved.

My house is a disarray, packed boxes, missing the homey feeling with the bare walls. Janet will overlook this and appreciate the bed and wine. We will laugh. Catch up. And maybe a tear or two will flow.

I am anxious.
My cup is empty so I must get going. I will keep you posted.

September 11th

September 11th marks more to me than the anniversary of 9/11. First and foremost it will always be my Grandma Kitty's Birthday. I think of her first.

Second, my cousin and her husband worked at the Trade Center. So my concern that tragic day was very personal.
I remember calling Sergio in to the living room and watching it together, holding hands.
Our conversation went like this:
Sergio: Are you sure Janet & Patrick work @ The Trade Center?
Me: Yes, A large accounting firm around the 70th floor.
Sergio: Honey, I am sure they are fine.
Me: Look at it burning!
Sergio: They will get out. We don't even know if they work in that building. I bet they are in the 2nd bldg.
Me: Oh My God! It's collapsing!
Sergio: Janet's not in that bldg.
Then, as you know, the second building collapsed.

It would be hours before I would know their fate. I had to go to the office as I was in charge of our Real Estate Office, with our Broker out of town. There, my friend Carolyn & I held on to each other in fear with the rest of the country. Her son was in the Army stationed in Europe. She was terrified for him. We stayed tuned to the television.

I soon found out that Janet was fine. She had just transferred out of that office weeks earlier. It would be another four hours till we found out about Patrick. Luckily he was on the first floor Starbucks at that fatal moment. He was unable to reach Janet though for several hours to assure her he got out. I can only imagine.

It is so unbelievable how vulnerable we as a country were. How horrific we lost so many lives and not just in one location. Lest we forget the two planes that crashed in the Pentagon and Shanksville.

I agree with Sergio about his thoughts on the memorial site in NY. Rebuild the Trade Center Buildings. Honor those who died showing we can not be torn down.

I pray that we never ever see such tragedy in America again.