Birthday

It's about 3 weeks until my birthday. Last year was a biggie for me so this year is somewhat anti-climatic. I spent the better part of last year reading and planning for a trip to Paris with my friends to celebrate the birthday.

No trip this year and no focus it seems. When I have bigger trips coming up I read and study about the location, getting around, pricing etc. I do better when I have a big focus like that to occupy idle hours.

My life is good don't get me wrong ... I am fortunate to have a job I enjoy (not always the people but most always the job), good casual friends close by, great friends in far away places, two nephews doing well and good health. I have much to be thankful for actually. But sometimes the inner beast rears it's ugly head and says "Aren't you missing something?"

To be satisfied with our station in life .... that is a hard task for us all. We tend to want what we don't have or to have things and not want them. Grace gets us through the tough days and prayers from family and friends prop us up when we are weary.

I need to be more thankful tomorrow. Today I am just a bit tired and sad. To say nothing of nearing another year older ... yikes.

Windy City

In Chicago this past week for work. It is a city that I like very much actually. So much to see and do downtown. Many buildings are old and very ornate. It is a downtown that a person can walk in with no trouble at all. I found myself walking many miles in the evenings.

Stayed at the Hilton on Michigan .... a grand, old hotel it is. The TV has a show about the history of the place - very impressive. The Grand Ballroom is beautiful and patterned after Versailles. My room was very nice - with two bathrooms. That was a first for me. I looked out on lake Michigan and Grant Park.

The city had lots of rain this past week - something I have been missing where I live. There was a terrible storm on Thursday evening. It forced me to seek out the Athletic club which was fabulous .... track, machines, pool, hot tub and a balcony to sit outside on.

My friend Alicia and I think this is a place to come visit as she has never been. Curiously enough J does not seem impressed with the town and it is way down on her list. I wish she liked it more and we could all see it together. Guess that is why there are so many places in the world for folks to spend time.

Tired and Busy

It has been a week since I posted last. This week at work wore me out. I had to be up at 5 or so each day. My training group was 38 people and that is alot. They don't ever think the trainer needs a break, to go the restroom or just to sit for a minute. They were a good group though and I enjoyed them. Had post work meetings 3 nites and got home late. I wish my boss would let me stay in town when there is training - it would make my life so much better.

Off to Chicago this week. Was looking forward to walking around the city and it seems like it will be raining most of the time - wohoo. Oh well, it is a city with lots of cabs and I have an umbrella. I enjoy Chicago when it is not the winter.

Must go pack and get ready. Won't blog again until Friday as I won't have my laptop with me.

Matthew

My oldest nephew, Matt called me last nite. We talked for almost half an hour. He was in a hotel with his younger brother Kyle. Kyle's "birth Mom" was getting married today in Wisconsin and they were there to attend. He said there were no kids at the wedding though - meaning Kyle did not get to see it - which seemed odd to me.

Matt and I chatted about his swimming, school starting (he will be a frosh), his classes (several honors ones) and sports. We have much in common.

I was totally smitten with Matt since the day I saw him at 3 weeks old. He was three days old when the attorney brought him to my brothers house. My Mom and I waited till they got in a rhythm so to speak before we went to visit them in Illinois.

I worked hard to see him almost every month till he was 6. My Mom got very sick then and for about 7 months all I did was work some and then be at the hospital. It was a very stressful time for me and my brother was little or no help. I didn't get to see Matt then as I couldn't get away. That is when Kyle was born.

It is hard for me to believe that he is 14 and over 6 feet tall. I still remember this curly, red haired baby that loved his aunt "blue". Where that name came from I will never know. He would just cry each time they left or I left. He was my little buddy.

He seems to be doing well. He is very busy with his swimming and that is good. He's too tired to get into much trouble. He does well in school and is not taken over by girls. I asked him if he had a girl he liked yet and he said "no, they are too much trouble". I told him he was right and they also made him spend his money. He just laughed.

We argued about sports a bit. He said that most aunts can't do that. That made me proud. My sports knowledge does come in any.

I miss my boy. I wish I lived closer so I could see his activities at school and such. I don't have much of a relationship with my brother now and none with my sister-in-law. I do better just to stay away from them. That keeps me from the boys which is sad but it is all I know to do with the situation.

I hope Matt knows how much I love him. I wish all adopted kids had it as good as he and Kyle.

Lending a Helping Hand

Can you imagine peeling 40 pounds of potatoes? That's what I helped to do this morning. My friend Jane had to make a huge amount of mashed potatoes for a pitch in dinner this evening. I peeled my 10 pounds, helped slice others up. I am not a good person in the kitchen so I was glad to be able to help.

A chore or trouble is less so if you have friends in your corner. An ordinary day can become special if shared with a friend. A special event can become extraordinary when shared with friends.

The expression, "Friends are the family we choose for ourself" is so true. A person has lots of friends in their life .... situational, work, church, school. The friends that stick around for the long haul - they are the forever friends. There is something comforting know a person is going to love you no matter what.

Call a friend today and let them know what they mean to you.

Stroll Down Memory Lane

Tonite I went to see a high school volleyball game. I haven't been to one in a while. It took me back in time a bit. I used to coach volleyball and played in leagues. Volleyball is a sport that I really enjoy. It takes a mixture of finesse and power. It is totally a team game. One individual can't win a volleyball game by themselves.

I haven't coached for a long time and when I watch games it makes me miss it. If I was given a "do over" I would go about coaching in a much different way than I did before. I had a bad temper and the desire I had to win lead me to get out of control too many times. That was not a very good example for the girls. I wanted them to work as hard and care as much as I did. That isn't always easy to do with teen age girls.

Thinking about coaching makes me think about teaching ... I used to do that too. I am a trainer in my current job and that still allows me to feel like I am helping folks to learn. The big difference with adults is that they are already formed.

A good teacher can have a life long impact on the kids that pass their way. I often wonder about the students I taught....how are they doing, did they reach their potential, did I help them become a better person.

Do you ever wish you got "do overs"? What would you do differently? Would you change things about your educationl? Who you dated or married? Where you lived? What career path you chose? We don't get a do over but we can go forward and do better with the right now.

Back on the Road Again

A part of my job that I enjoy is the travel. I have been working on a project for several months and it has kept me in the office. I don't enjoy being in the office all the time. The politics of it all wears me down.

Finally my project is done and I am getting back on the road again. I went to Birmingham this week and really enjoyed it so much. The hotel there was built in 1902 and was renovated this spring. It had a nice old, southern feel.

Had a first for rental cars ... a new, black Mercedes C300. I thought the guy was joking when he said he had one for me. The car was sweet!! I can see why folks like to have them.

I enjoy working with associates in the south - they "get me". My accent does not bother them and phrases I use they understand. Folks in the south are so open and hospitable. They are usually late for most things though. I remember that from living there years ago. They just kind of move to a slower pace than the rest of us.

More traveling coming up in the next few months and I can't wait. I need to start getting hotel points and airline miles. A person has places to go.

"Life in the Slow Lane"

A typical summer day in the Midwest. Hazy, hot and very humid. I went to a friends pool and just laid on a raft for about 2 hours. Picture a big yard in the country, corn field behind you and trees off to another side. Not really much noise - the occasional car going by. Floating on water makes even bad humidity not so bad.

I thought of this picture taken in June at a birthday party. They had a cotton candy machine. Not sure who enjoyed it more - adults or kids. As you can see, some kids really got into the eating. And got it all over them in the process. Adults manning the machine had it all over their hands, body and in their hair. It was hilarious to see. Just good ole fashioned American fun.

We might not all "live in the fast lane" but sometimes those of us that go slower get to observe more along the way. The Bible encourages us to "be still" and there's alot of merit to that. Floating on a raft, reading a book, laying in a hammock - just giving our minds a chance to rest and relax. That makes the "cotton candy" times all the more enjoyable.

More Friends

This is my friend Jamie and her kids....Seth, Gracie, Analise and Avery. We have been friends for well over 20 years. She and Alicia and I have gone through births, deaths, weddings. Not a lot of people can say they have such life long friends anymore.

J is my deep thinking, creative and literary friend. She creates the most wonderful scrapbooks, cards etc. I have so many up at my house and my office. She writes me the old fashioned notes and letters - and I love that. Technology is good but nothing is better than getting a handwritten note from someone.

J and I have our squabbles every so often...as most folks that are close do. But I know that she loves me in spite of me and will still always be my friend. I talk to her and share things that burden my heart and mind.

My dearest memory to date is a true reflection of her spirit ... several years ago my Mom was very sick and in the hospital. It was the beginning of a 6 month seige. She traveled with a young son to visit her sister in MIchigan and then flew down to surprise me at my home. It was Feb and cold. I got home very discouraged from the hospital and found her and a sick Seth at my house. It was the happiest I had ever been to see a person. I was at one of my lowest points ever and did not know what to do for my Mom. Having her and the baby at the house for a few days was the greatest medicine for me. I will never forget that surprise and sacrifice on her part.

Oh heck, now can't leave out about Alicia flying in to surprise me when my Mom passed away. She was a rock. She supported me, helped me go through my Mom's things. That touched me a such a way too. She puts other people first so often.

See what I mean about awesome people in your life. We have had our share of crazy times too but I will save those for another post.

You Gotta Have Friends

How true the above saying is ... especially for me. My friends are my family. There is an old saying.......

"Friends are the family you choose for yourself" and that is very true.

I am an extremely lucky person to have had 3 wonderful friends in my life. One passed away several years ago now. She was 7 years older than I and was one of the most Christian women I have ever known. God was as real to her as the sun is to most. I was not always what she wanted or expected me to be but she loved me with all my flaws. I miss her often ... her name was Donna.

The picture above is my good friend Alicia. Actually she is really more like a sister than a friend. She is one of the nicest people I have ever known. The kind of person that is naturally good and does not struggle and work at it as hard as I have to. She is loyal and would do anything to help another person. She is not a writer but is a very faithful caller. Her name is Alicia and she is a great friend.

I want to post a pic of my 3rd bestest friend but can't get it to post properly. It keeps showing in the wrong spot. Will just have to make a separate post for her then.

I wish all of you were to be as lucky as I in the friend department. It is true, "A friend that sticketh closer than a brother".