IN MEMORY OF DAVID…

                                       

MY younger brother DAVID  has been gone  22 years now. It seems even longer to me  than that. It seems like only yesterday that  I was living in Ca. and had not been back to Michigan in 7 years.  Jobs and money always got in the way of coming back to visit. Life happens you get busy and you lose track of what is important. On that April morning I heard a knock on my door, it was very early in the morning.  I thought that it was odd so early in the day to be awakened. It was my aunt..she had come to deliver the bad news, that my brother had died in a car accident. It was a shock to my soul. I could hardly stand up. I sat on the couch and my body shook all over. I had known he was kinda unhappy in his life and wanted to change things. He never had the chance to do that. The next day I was in Michigan with the help of some relatives, I managed to catch a plane home. The whole thing was a blur to me. I remember seeing my aunt and uncle talking about something that was in the morning paper that day. It was a normal day for them but not for me. Simple things like packing a bag and calling my boss and arranging a ride to the airport seemed like monumental tasks. Everything was moving in what seemed like slow motion. The plane ride was smooth and uneventful I hardly knew when it was time to get off. My mind raced with thoughts of the past and growing up together.  Time had flown by. I was jarred back from my memories when the wheels hit the landing strip.

 It was cold, colder than Ca. for sure. It was April in Michigan..that can be pretty cool to a person who the day before was in 75 degree weather.  Such a shock to my system, to be so upset and see everyone around me the same way. When life gets taken so quickly a person just does go into shock I guess. I wore a heavy coat to the cemetery. The service was packed with people from all over who knew my parents or knew my brother. It was standing room only during the service and the director told my folks he had never seen such a crowd. It was then I knew that my brother had made an impact on people of all ages. He was likeable and left quite an impression on people. I was so sad that I had to catch up on his life like this..why had it taken me so long to get to know him better? He didn’t like to talk on the phone much and so we never chatted about this or that . I remembered the last time I saw him in the airport in Detroit when I had come home for a visit. I had the most awful feeling when I left that day inside me. Something I could not put into words or feelings. I cried on the plane going home, something I had never done before in my life after visiting home. I wonder now if I really deep down knew I would never see him again. I have had some ” vibes”  in my life, but none like I had that day.        David at 7 years old.I learned through my brother’s passing, that I  should really keep my family and friends as close as I can. I always try to do that now..no matter how busy I get or what else is going on. I think I have become a better person for that knowledge.

I therefore pass that on to anyone reading this..Time is SHORT…live it to the fullest that you can..and keep your heart and mind open to every experience that you can hold on to. Keep your loved ones close as you can and never take anything or anyone for granted.

You are missed dear brother…

WHAT’S NEW

I’m back to blogging again and hope it will be more than ONCE a month. I slacked off a lot because of Facebook. I know it is just so easy there and you can get instant replies. Makes it hard to come back to what you did a long time ago. I stated on my other blog that it seems like IONS ago that our little community of bloggers visited each other and we kept in touch at each others blogs. Times  sure have changed.  Recently I have seen some stuff at Facebook that shocked me. WHY I have no idea because I shouldn’t be shocked at ANYTHING any more. This report was being investigated in schools here in Michigan on CANDY made with Marijuana. It seems to give a real buzz to CHILDREN and they are trying to find out WHO IS SELLING IT to MINORS.  Good grief.. what the heck???? I hope they find out and really NAIL the culprits. I do know they make dope look like candy too so why not suckers and hard candy. It’s just hard to wrap my brain around this one. 

Watching a show this past week on NBC called ROCK CENTER caught my eye when they reported about a new device that could be attached to the new smart phones and report your health issues right to the doctor’s office, e mail or his own phone. Talk about technology..it reaches out and helps people stay alive. but then again…many jobs will suffer if and when it is applied in our lives. Imagine not having to leave your home for testing like EKG’s or  Ultrasounds. I was fascinated and a little frightened at how far the whole thing reaches. It is a report worth watching. 

DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS IS???         

CAN YOU BELIEVE  TEN YEARS HAS PASSED SO QUICKLY. (I cannot..and still think he should have won that year). This is the twelfth season of this show and I know I watched at least 9 years of it. So many talented people came from American Idol. Some big stars today still represent this show in one way or another and some have just faded away. When they started changing the show around and got all kinds of new judges, well I kinda just stopped watching it. I really don’t care for one of the judges now at all. Not naming names, I think you know who I am speaking of. Hope they are not on the show the whole season. Hate watching judges argue and fight all the time.  It sure takes away from the talented ones who are trying their best to advance themselves on in the competition. 

ARE YOU GOING TO BE WATCHING THE SUPERBOWL?? ANY TEAM FAVORITE?  Stay tuned here I will be posting my favorite and my Superbowl plans.    

WINTER COMES..

Wonderful view of the sunset tonight..we have had several days of warm temps and really enjoyed it. December is here but we are cherishing every day we can, the winters are long enough.      

 

   The squirrels were busy today gathering.  I watched them running up and down the old walnut tree. I wondered if this was another sign that the cold was coming soon. They kept to their task way into the day. On my walk I observed the neighbor’s yard filled with Christmas decorations, but the air smelled of early fall.  It seemed too soon for the holiday, but really only 3 weeks away. I thought of those in New Jersey and New York and areas where Sandy fell hard on them. How many are still homeless, where will their Christmas be?  I said a silent prayer for them all. In this season of Peace On Earth..I do hope we find it soon. Looking forward to 2013 being a good year for us all.

FALL BACK

 

FALL BACK..do I like it?? NO..not really.. I love the long days of summertime.I can do so much more in a day with them longer. Some get up early for work in the dark and now they come home in the dark. It’s a sign of winter coming so I guess we just get used to it. I remember that last year the fall was warmer and it was nice to have winter take it’s time getting here. Wish it was that way always. 

 I feel for all those who lost so much in Hurricane Sandy..now that it will get darker earlier..it will be colder too. No heat and winter right around the corner. People during hurricane Katrina did not have to worry about SNOW and ICE hampering their recovery process. I know some places never did recover there, some may not in New York or New Jersey either. Losing everything is so hard and so many will have to start over again. I pray for those who need help and shelter..it will be a long hard winter.
The RED CROSS is taking donations..I know that is a good thing but I also know that sometimes it takes awhile for the funds and the help to get where it is going. I was so relieved to see the marathon cancelled and those supplies moved to where they can be used. When they knew this once in a lifetime storm was coming they should have cancelled it sooner. It sure makes me wonder though,  with the elections coming, that the outcome could be accurate with so so many people NOT VOTING because they cannot get to the polls or have no poll to vote at. People are still in shock, reeling from the loss they have had and could care less about the election now. Will be interesting to see how it all comes out. 

MEMORABLE VACATION

“What was the most memorable or BEST vacation

I ever had?  

 

Now a vacation should be AWAY from your home.. and at least

more than a couple of days. It doesn’t have to be with family, but can

be. I thought of these…..

 

WITH FAMILY … it would have to be the first time we flew to Ca. to visit

relatives. THAT was memorable.. our first plane ride on AMERICAN

AIRLINES 707 at the time. This was when attendants were called

stewardesses and they dressed the part. We were served REAL MEALS

on the plane. I will never forget how it felt to look out the window and

be eye level with CLOUDS.

 

WITH FRIENDS…. OH BOY that is a rough one.. I think the most

memorable one would be the first trip I took with SUE and we toured

Michigan,  stayed over night in motels and had a blast. We 

crossed the border into Canada. It was the ONLY time I ever stayed in

that country. I never laughed so much, ate so much. saw so much and

had such a wonderful time. Oh for the good ole days of adventure!!

 

 

BY MYSELF… I traveled to Montana by plane from Ca. to meet up

with four best friends.  Sue lived there.

It was a monumental historic visit, as some of us

had not been in the same room together in several years.

It was a trip of a lifetime. I will go into that as soon as I can track down some

photos that seem to be misplaced right now. 

 

Then I got to thinking.. where would you go if you had the chance to go

and money was no object and time was not a problem? I answered that

in about 2 seconds.. HAWAII!!  HANDS DOWN!! I loved the scenery and the

water. Something about it makes you want to see it and when you do never leave.

Well those are my memories how about yours??

 

 AUGUST is here and summer will be on it’s way out before we know it.

 

HOPE YOU ALL GO OUT AND ENJOY THIS SUMMER DAY!!!