The Classiest Woman You Never Did Meet

Grandma's Nursing School Graduation photo

The last month has been the strangest blur. I've experienced fear, anxiety, excitement, hope, sadness, grief and relief.

My grandmother was one of the most classiest women you never met. If you were as fortunate as I was to have known her your entire life, then you already know that you were blessed.

This woman gave her all to everything important in her life. Family, friends, and her career. She was a fashionista, graceful, witty beyond measure, wise beyond her years, she took pride in everything she earned and loved. Her motto was, "Do your best, be yourself. That's all you can do."

I can hear her distinctly still telling me "Well honey, I think that's just wonderful!" This was applied to success, aspirations, a new look, a new time in my life...everything was wonderful.

She passed away September 25th, 2011 at the age of 79. She had suffered with Alzheimer's for close to 10 years. She always kept an upbeat personality. She actually would attempt to assist the nurses in the home she lived in...I guess being a nurse for 40+ years is a hard habit to break.

About 2 weeks before her passing I decided I needed to see her. I'm so grateful I did. She wasn't doing much, sleeping in and out, but she squeezed my hand and I kissed her on her forehead one last time.

Grandma, I love you. I'm so relieved you are at peace, but I'm so sad that I won't get to watch you wave goodbye from the porch until I'm out of site. I will miss your genuine interest in my life and the positive attitude you had toward everything that was dealt to you. Thank you for being the person I would really love to be some day and for striving to keep this family so close knit. You are one special soul. 

Tuesday, who could hang a name on you...

Tuesday and I, we have now established a bittersweet relationship. 


I was born on a Tuesday. In June. At 3:47 in the AM. 


This last Tuesday though, it was the worst Tuesday of my life.


Have you ever experienced the worst phone call ever? I can tell you I have. Twice. 


The thing about the worst phone call ever is, if you've had the worst phone call ever before, you know the millisecond you pick up the phone that the previous worst phone call ever has been trumped.


Your stomach sort of flops, then your heart bumps in your chest for about an eternity...then you hear confirmation of the fear you felt building in your innards.


Last Tuesday, I was working away at the accounts payable, it was 11:51. It's odd how you hone in on miniscule details when your world washes over you. I had actually been joking with my boss.


"Hello, this is Disaster, how may I help you?"


"Hey, Disaster" (I'm in full fear, amazing how acute your senses are).
"This is your father in law," (who is watching my children, so now I'm frozen with panic)
"Hi, what's going on?"
"Ya, well, MTV (my soulmate/husband/bff/partner in crime), he was rushed to the hospital, they think he might have had a heart attack or stroke."
"Are you serious?" 


Now, in my defense, here are some facts about my MTV:
He is young-ish. 34, to be exact.
He has the physical health of a 22 year old. (According to every single test he's ever had.)
I had just kissed him that morning. He was really in a fantastic mood, do people that are going to have strokes feel great prior? I'm so confused.


Well, he didn't have a stroke, he didn't have a heart attack per se....
His heart was racing at 191 bpm for over an hour. 


That is like running for your life. 
I'm almost positive his coworker saved his life.
They had to stop and restart his heart....twice.


If only I could relay the feeling of agony, regret, fear I felt. 
He was doing better, and I have no idea exactly what went on...(tests will have to determine that).
Only, I was slapped in the face with mortality on a Tuesday, and I pray to the stars I never take another human being for granted.


Especially my MTV.

The Golden $1 Coin

"What do you have there?" Gigi Pa asked Nunu as they sat in the go-mobile.

"A Golden Dollar Coin," says Nunu.

"Where didja find it?" asks Gigi Pa, with squinty eyes and a crooked smile.

"On the Grassy-grass over there," Nunu says pointing to some random patch of grassy-grass.

"Lemme see it." Gigi Pa reaches over with his leather tan wrinkled hand.

"NO!" Nunu clutches the golden treasure tight.

"I wouldn't take it from you! Just lemme see." Gigi Pa opens his hand.

"Fine," Nunu sighs and dumps his coin in Gigi Pa's palm.

"Why, I've never seen this kind of golden dollar!" says Gigi Pa, "I will trade you one dollar bill, for one golden dollar coin."

I lean close to Nunu's ear and say, "If I were you, I would trade it for ten dollar bills."

Gigi Pa says, "I'll give you FIVE dollar bills for it."

Nunu replies, "How about FIFTEEN?"

"No, how about ten?", replies Gigi Pa, his big crooked grin and squinty eyes even more crooked and squintier then before.

"Naaaaah," says Nunu, "I think I'll keep it!"

Gigi Pa roars, "BWAHAHA! I think you have a quite the negotiator there Disaster."

3 to the 1

Today is my BIRTHDAY! Ironically I thought of the blog I have not touched in what seems like ages...mostly because I remembered a birthday post last year. I declared I would be a "YES" person.


This has been an AMAHZING year...(yes with an H)!


This past week as I squeaked into 31 all I could think of was the wonderful people in my life. I know that it can be so hard to find common sparks. To feel love and loyalty with so many people from so many backgrounds is euphoric. I have been floating on a cloud for the last couple of days in gratitude of my mere existence. I feel like time is short so live, live, live. 


What I'm saying is...I'm happy. Happy to be a year older, a year wiser (?), and pray that I get to live another year with more experiences and sparks that will be burned into my memory for years to come.

You WANT to give me money?

So, after flailing my arms around and being supremely dramatic, my MTV and me have found somebody that would LOVE to give us money for a home of our very own.  Turns out that we are in grand shape to buy a house. Praise the Lord!


Now, pass the dough.

Word to your Mutha!

 Happy Earth Day fellow Earthlings! I celebrated the Mother Earth a tad early this year. We make it a point in our scouting tribe to do something of the service project sort 2-3 times a year at the least. This year we decided to put ourselves more in the community by participating in the County's Park Appreciation Day.


This service project was awe inspiring! To see everyone come together to make a park that is used by all spring beautiful was amazing. I have to admit that I hadn't ever visited this particular park and was excited to explore new ground. This park happens to have quite the doozy of blueberry bushes (trees?) and every year hundreds of people come to pick them.


I also found that not only do the parks organize this day, they also provide the dumpster, pruning tools, rakes, shovels and the like every third Saturday of the month! What better way to show the love for the parks you take your kids to then to help keep them in top shape for generations to come. I plan on visiting on third Saturdays to come...and maybe in late summer to pick my own blueberries.

What do you do to help your Earth Mother?

Evolution of the School Bus.... or another post with automobiles.

Today I was unfortunate enough to be running late and naturally that means I was stuck behind a school bus. Nothing says "GOOD MORNING!" like having a bunch of elementary kids give you pig nose faces from the back of a bus on a dreary Friday morning. So as I contemplated faces sticking in that snotty pig nose way, I also contemplated that buses look more and more like insects every decade...which also made me realize that I couldn't quite remember what the school bus I rode (as a snotty pig nosed kid) looked like.


Hence I give you the evolution of a school bus...in pictures!


WARNING: I am not educated on the history of school buses...therefore some of the photos might not actually be from THAT decade. I used google. Deal.

1900's Era: Great on a sunny day...in the winter? Not so much.

1910's Era: Not sure if I'm more fascinated with the bus or that Dorothy Gale actually went to school!

1920's Era Bus: Once again with those open windows. Can you feel the breeze?

1930's Era Bus: These gentlemen are inspecting the bus...or the driver? Have you been drinking sir?...oh and nice saddle pants.

1940's Era Bus: This is where designing buses to look like insects came in!

1950's Era Bus: I'm digging the STOP sign...and how the 50's tried to seem wholesome....

1960's Era Bus: This is something I could make a home in. Yay for pill shaped vehicles.

1970's Era Bus: Now, this is looking more like the scary death traps I used to ride in.

1980's Era Bus: Think leg warmers and Debbie Gibson.

1990's Era School Bus: It's a short bus...but you get the idea.

2011 School Bus: Check out the mirrors...now, you tell me...bug antennae? I think so.


I'm thinking the bus of the future should look perhaps, like this:

I'm just sayin'.