I am one of those people who is your classic "couch potato" type person.  I have never, ever had an athletic bone in my body.  I am most content curled up reading a good book, watching a good movie or my favorite shows on TV, or sitting on my wonderful covered porch watching the squirrels play in our trees and listening to the birds sing.  At various times in my life I have been more active than I am now.  In my 20's and early 30's when I was single, I used to go dancing several times a week.  Now, I didn't just kinda dance, I full-out danced and worked up a sweat!!  I had a blast doing that!  And I was HOT in a pair of jeans.  But as I have grown older I have become more sedentary, i.e. a couch potato.  I do get out and ride my bike once in a while.  In our home office, we have no less than two, yep, two treadmills, and one recumbent stationary bike.  But have I availed myself of those??  Not so much.  While I am not huge, neither am I the skinny slip of a person I used to be.  About a year ago I had had enough and I went to Weight Watchers and lost 25 pounds.  During that time I exercised some, but mostly I lost because I followed the REST of their plan.  But I got to a point where no more weight was going to come off without some effort on my part, i.e. exercise.  So, I just took a powder and haven't done anything since December of this year when my membership ran out. 

 

Well, I have decided I am tired of vaguely resembling that doughboy's long lost sister.  I am not so old that I don't love fashionable clothes, and folks, what I call "fashionable" does NOT come in my present size.  I attended a ribbon cutting for a new business in our town a week ago since I am on our Chamber of Commerce board.  It was a cute little antique shop, and they were serving FOOD!!  Now that's my kinda deal!!  So, I did my chamberly duties and was headed out to my car for lunch (I really didn't eat much at this little shop).  I saw a friend of mine talking to a guy who had also attended the ribbon cutting.  It turned out it was her personal trainer from a new gym here in town.  They were looking at some flyers he was wanting to get put up around town.  Being the NICE person that I am (most of the time anyway) I offered to take one and put it up at my office.  Then I got to looking at the flyer.  Well, it seems that they are having a six week fitness challenge.  You pay $20 for six weeks of training and the people who lose the most inches/weight etc. win prizes.  WOOHOO!!  That sounded pretty good to me.  So I talked to the guy.  "As you can see....I could be a real challenge for you..."  He didn't even miss a beat.  He said "You'll be no problem at all!"   My response..."RRRrrrriiiiiiiiiggghhhhhttt!!"   I have one bad knee (which has been operated on twice), a bad shoulder that's been operated on once, and a bad back (curved spine).  This guy is just not even bothered by this.  He says...come on down.  Try it out.   Well, being the extremely intelligent (uhhh huuhhh) person I am, I said I would think about it.

 

Folks, the more I thought about it, I figured that I could do just about anything for six weeks, especially for that price.  So I took the bait.  Tomorrow I report for my first weigh in/measuring session.  Now these people best not be putting my measurements out there for the world (or people in my little corner of it) to see.  But other than that, I am P U M P E D!!  I am ready to jump in and see just what this old lady can do in six weeks.  To that end, on Monday I started getting up early and walking on the treadmill.  I am NOT a morning person and am not fit to talk to until about 9:00 or so when I have had a chance to drink my 1/2 coffee 1/2 vanilla cappucino.  Even the dog knows better than to  try for too much attention very early.  But I am going to walk every morning and the trainer guy says I need to train at least 2 days a week, but hopefully 3-4 days a week.   Hopefully, once the weigh in stuff is done tomorrow, they will proceed with the training. 

 

If you don't hear from me for a while.....it will either be because it killed me.....or because it made me wish it had killed me.  Folks, I am NOT into pain, and I have heard from my friend how this personal trainer has worked her during their sessions.  Yep, I have heard the horror stories and I am still going to do this.  Why???   Because for all the pain she has gone through....my friend is now toned and buff and looks great!!  I would settle for somewhat toned and remotely buff at this point!!  Time will tell if I need to have my HEAD examined for even thinking that I could do this. 

 

So, stay tuned.  I am hearing the Rocky theme in my head....."Gonna fly now...." as I totter off to get ready for bed.

 

Till next time.....

 

BBB 

Given my last entry, I thought I would add a little caveat here.  I have read comments that have been left for some of the young mothers who blog here on spaces, and they seemed rather harsh at times, and even gave the feeling that these women weren't thankful for their children because they use their private space to "rant" about their children.  Let us all show a little grace and understanding to these mothers.  No one knows better than they, just how difficult it is to raise a child 24/7.  Better that they "rant" about the wee ones here and have that release!!  Personally, I have found that their stories are just real and human, and sometimes just downright side slapping funny!!

 

So you hang in there young mothers and do not be discouraged!!

 

Now, I shall step down off my soap box and haul my fiftyish self to work.  Have a great day!!

 

Till next time....

 

BBB

If there is anything I have learned in my 50 plus years, it is to expect the unexpected, to roll with the punches, to have a thick skin sometimes and just let certain things go, and not to sweat the small stuff.  I have also learned that God definitely has a sense of humor.  We want certain things in our lives and we ask for them, and we don't quite get what we asked for.  We get HIS version of what we asked for (i.e. what we need).  I remember from a very young age loving babies.  I learned how to babysit with my cousins and other neighbor's kids and have just always loved babies.  I had a cousin a few years younger than me and she was my living baby doll!  I carried that child everywhere, and to this day we have a special bond.  One thing I always KNEW from a very young age, is that I wanted to be a mother.  I wanted to have children.  When I was in high school, there were certain girls that BFF and I ran around with that we never ever DREAMED would be mothers.  But I just knew in my heart that she and I would be mothers together.  Our children would grow up togther and be BFF's too!!  We would laugh, we would cry, we would share stories of potty training and projectile vomiting and skinned knees.  Because, of everyone that we ran around with, she and I were the ones who most loved children.

 

Well, God didn't exactly give me or BFF children in the way that we both hoped and dreamed that he would.  But I think because of this, BFF and I have both learned that blood does NOT a mother make!!  God has given me (in two marriages) four step-children that I have loved like my own.  BFF is a teacher of children and she loves every one of her students (and they absolutely adore her).  Did either of us have our children in the conventional sense that we had prayed for?  No.  Has it been difficult?  Yes.  If anything ever rocked our respective faiths, it was that BFF and I have never understood why God did not give us our own children.  So, we have a bond she and I, of aching for a child.  Yet, here we are on the other side of 50 and neither of us have ever experienced a pregnancy of our own.  It just wasn't in the plan for either of us.  I have never known the joy of telling my husband we were having a child.  Never experienced morning sickness, cravings, swelling bellies and ankles, planning with family for a joyous arrival.  Neither has BFF.  I think both of us will regret for all time never ever having experienced that. 

 

With that being said, I love my four step-children and their respective children.  Daughter of my Heart is just that.  My daughter in every sense except that I did not carry her for nine months and birth her.  I feel her every joy and every heartache, just like any mother.  Given the fact that she does not have a relationship with her birth mother, I think God knew she would need me.   So, I have "children" just not in the sense or way that I had prayed to have them.  I love my children no less because I didn't birth them.  If anything, maybe I love them a little more fiercely.  Yep....God has blessed me with with "children" that I could love and that I think love me, each in their own way.  

 

So I have read the blogs of many young mothers here on spaces with great interest.  Through these blogs I have learned of the joys and the heartaches that many of you young mothers go through.  Looking at things from my perspective, you are all so blessed to have your little ones.  I know that being a parent is hard, sometimes really hard.  But how blessed you are to have those little ones.  There are those of us who would have given almost anything to be in your shoes dealing with snotty noses, dirty clothes strewn about a bedroom, sleepless nights due to ear aches, you name it.  So, out there in blogland, if you are blessed to have a child, just know how truly blessed you are.  Hold them and kiss them and scold them and love them. 

 

Life lesson learned?  Sometimes we don't get what we want, but that does not have to be a bad thing.  We hopefully grow to accept our disappointments and to be thankful for the blessings that we do get.  Is it easy?  Not by a long shot.  Can it be done?  It certainly can.  BFF and I are living proof that it can. 

 

Till next time.....

 

BBB

 

Note:  I just came from the hospital.  Former MIL's cancer was worse than anticipated.  I appreciate prayers on her and the family's behalf.

 

I have been very fortunate in my lifetime to have some really precious friends.  I have friends that I see all the time and do things with often and also, like most of us, friends that I don't see very often, but when we do see each other we just pick up like we saw each other the day before.  Yep....in the friends department, I have been truly blessed.  But the biggest blessing in my life has been my BFF.  As you can tell, I am living life on the other side of fifty.  Well, I met BFF when we were in seventh grade...so we were about 12-13 years old.  I first came to know her as another member of our Junior High chorus class.  BFF was absolutely one of the "cute" and "popular" girls.  One of the cheerleaders, always had a gaggle of girls around her, and always had the cutest boyfriends, and thus, always had someone's ID bracelet.  Boy, am I dating myself or WHAT!!  Yeah, all you youngsters out there, and you know who you are, way back in the dark ages of the 1960's when boys and girls "went steady" the big thing was for the guy to give the girl his sterling silver ID bracelet that had his NAME engraved on it.  Or, the other choice de juer that COULD be used if you didn't have an ID bracelet, was the ever popular (back then) St. Christopher's medal.  The one thing that was different about BFF though, was that she was friendly to EVERYONE!!  And one of the very first things I knew about her was that she was a Christian.  Now, she didn't beat you over the head with it, but she just has always, even at that young age, just lived her beliefs.  She always has walked the walk, not just talked the talk.  She is someone who was liked and admired by most everyone who has ever met her.

 

BFF and I had chorus and some other classes together in Jr. High, but we really didn't become close friends until our Sophomore year.  I heard from another mutual friend that BFF had a crush on a guy named John P.  John P. was a HOT guy and he also went to my church.  So I told mutual friend, take me to BFF and I will see what I can do to "help her out" because I know John.  At the football game that Friday night, my other friend and I went and talked with BFF.   "Yepper....I hear you have the hots for John P....well he goes to my church...I bet I can fix you two up!!"   Well, BFF was just so excited and said sure....see what you can do.  So, I enlisted another friend to help me get the two of them together.  A couple of Sundays later, our youth group was having an activity after church.  I cooked it up to have BFF visit evening services with me, then after, she and I, along with a couple of other friends and John P. would ride to the activity together.  Of course, when the evening came, other friend and I conspired and had BFF sit next to John in the back seat of the car.  Being the smart HOT guy that he was, John was definitely happy about this situation and took things from there.  I think they went out a few times after that.  Alas, that "love connection" didn't last, but my friendship with BFF took off from there and we became inseparable.  I was in the semi-poplular group of kids.  BFF was in the popular group, but she always and I mean always, hung with everyone.  She was voted "Most Friendly" our senior year.  Over the years, we have learned that we have the same birthday (she is a few hours OLDER than me...hehehe), we complete each other's sentences, we buy the same shirts at different times without each other's knowledge and end up wearing them to same events.  I even found out a few years ago, that our social security numbers are almost identical.  I guess that would be because we were both born the same day and in the same state.  Not sure on that.

 

I wish everyone could have a friend like my BFF.  She is my yardstick for the kind of person I want to be.  She is someone I just admire more than words can say.  I cannot imagine my life without her now, and I know for certain, that my life would not be what it is today if not for her.  Actually, I might not be here at all if not for her love and support....but that's another story altogether.  I thank God for her!!  What a blessing she is to me.  I wish you all THAT kind of true friend.

 

Everyone have a lovely spring weekend!!  I am really looking forward to mine.

 

Till next time....

 

BBB

My parents are now in their 80's.  I am the typical 50ish child born just at the end of the baby boom.  Since I live closest in proximity to my parents (2 blocks away), it usually falls mostly to me to see to their needs and care.  My sisters step in when they can and when I express a need.  It works for us.  Momma and Daddy have been married for 63 years.  When I think of that in this day and time where marriages and sometimes families are "expendable" it just blows me away.  Have they always gotten along?  Not by a long shot!!  They had their hard times, they had their disagreements.  We are talking about a fiery red-headed irish woman and a stubborn German/Dutch man.  You can bet they have had their moments.  But, all in all, theirs is a true love story.

 

Flash back to the 1940's.  America is embroiled in World War II.  My Daddy was a 21 year old Army private stationed at a Camp in Oklahoma for his "boot camp" training.  My Momma was a barely 17 year-old high schooler who had just completed her junior year.  Now, in those days, when young people were looking for something fun to do, they went to movies, they bowled, they went skating.  Thus was the case for my parents.  My Daddy was on leave with his buddies and they decided to hit the nearest "big" (I use that term loosely) town to go skating.  Now it just so happened that my Momma and her younger sister were expert skaters who even had their own skates!  Now Momma didn't just kinda skate in a circle like most of us.  My Momma had her skates "set just so" in order that she could do figure 8's, she could dance and shimmy and of course she could whirl around and skate backwards.  I remember in my junior high years my Momma being a "chaperone" for our church skating parties.  Now, I knew she could skate.  She still had her skates, but I didn't know how well.  Suffice it to say that while I did well to make it around the rink once or twice in succession without falling, my Momma was out there doing her figure 8's and dancing!!  My friends thought she was the coolest!!   So, back to a night in the 1940's.....Daddy on leave....Momma and my aunt skating and showing their moves.  In walks said Daddy and friends, they get their skates and proceed to the benches to put them on.  Daddy looks up as a beautiful, slender, fiery red-head goes a shimmying by.  He (and his friends) couldn't take his eyes off her.  Now, my Daddy was just a really handsome man, but a tad shy.  I am not sure how he did it, but he managed to introduce himself to that beautiful red-head, my Momma.  The rest, as they say, is history.  It must have been pretty much love at first sight.  A whirlwind courtship ensued. 

 

At their 50th wedding anniversary, my Daddy told the story that, he was about to ship out to Europe (he fought in the Battle of the Bulge).  My Momma, knowing this, proposed to him!!  My sisters and I just looked at each other and it was..."well I didn't know that....did you know that???...nope, never heard that particular tidbit before..."  My Daddy accepted Momma's proposal and they were married just with a few family and friends to witness.  Daddy soon shipped out, and Momma went to live with his Mom and Dad, and quit school.  She eventually got her GED, but a high school diploma just wasn't her priority when it came to her love of my Daddy. 

 

Momma and Daddy raised three girls and we turned out pretty well if I do say so.  In Februrary they celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.  If I ever wonder what real, true, deep love looks like, I just go spend some time with my Momma and Daddy.  They are still absolutely devoted to each other.  Momma is in end stage non-alcoholic liver disease, and is in hospice care.  Daddy takes loving care of her.  They are in assisted living, but when push comes to shove, it is really Daddy who looks out for Momma.  It doesn't take people too long being around my parents to realize that their love is the real deal.  I am so proud to call them my parents.  I aspire to be like them.   I am not sure I always succeed......theirs are some pretty big shoes to fill.

 

Till next time....

 

BBB 

My friend the Gypsy has told the rest of the story with the Mr. Bill "C" supposed lookalike.  She tells me that she got a call at her office again.  This call came a couple of weeks after their ONE and ONLY meeting.  It helps to keep this in mind when you hear what this idiot said.  Gypsie's secretary puts this guy through and first thing out of the box he says...Well I've really been thinking about this religion thing and you know, I am just not comfortable with your beliefs.....you know....nothing WRONG with them, they just aren't compatible with mine.  So I don't think we should see each other any more."   Gypsy says she pauses for a minute and decides he deserves this comment said very loudly and with a very "distressed" tone of voice...."Are you BREAKING UP WITH ME???"   Now, Gypsy KNOWS her co-workers are listening....but she just has to rag on this guy.  "I just can't believe...you are BREAKING UP WITH MEEEEE...."   She says he starts stuttering.   "Well, now, it's nothing against you.  But I just really can't be around your cats and dog....I am allergic you know."   Now THIS really got her attention.  Gypsy says...."Are you sure you have the right woman......who do you think you are talking to???.....I don't have a  #$%$#@#@# DOG!!"  And she hung up on him.  She said that when she hung up all her co-workers came in to check on her and she started laughing SO hard that she almost cried.  This guy must have a very inflated opinion of himslef and his effect on women, and he must not be able to keep track of them either.  Gypsy does NOT have a dog...only two cats.  The jerk can't even keep his women straight and "broke up" with her after ONE date.  I am sorry guys out there....but this is the kind of guy that gives guys a BAD NAME!!!  And rightly so.  Gypsy did clue her co-workers in that she was okay...that she was just playing with the guy since she really didn't know him that well and had only been out with him once.  They got a big hoot out of the story when they understood what was going on.

 

I laughed my butt off as well!!  This poor guy just doesn't get it and he was so outclassed by the Gypsy!!  I just hope and pray that some day a fine gentleman will come along and love and cherish her as she so deserves to be loved and cherished.  Gypsy doesn't hold out much hope.  She has pretty much given up and says she will just enjoy her friends, her family and her cats....thank you very much!!

 

So that is the rest of THAT story. 

 

Till next time.....

 

BBB 

It seems I have left one of my stories kind of hanging.  I guess I should finish the story of my friend, who like Kenny Salvini, had his life altered in a moment in time.  Well, I continued to see my friend through his hospital stay and into rehab.  The thing that absolutely amazed me is that he never ever in my presence asked the "Why me?" question.  He just knew from the git-go that he was paralyzed and that he had to deal.  He worked so hard in rehab and of course, everyone loved him.  Because he is a wonderful guy.  My life took a turn not long after my friend went into rehab when I decided that I needed to return to college.  I had quit a couple of years before and entered the workforce with nothing but a high school education.  I knew it just wasn't going to get me where I needed to be.  It was so hard to tell my friend of my decision because I felt like I was deserting him when he most needed his friends.  However, being the great guy he is, he was really sweet and encouraging.  I tried to come in from school as often as possible, but as time went on, I just didn't make it to see him like I should have.  Over the years, my friend and I have stayed in sporadic touch.  I wish I could say we were still amazingly close...but life just lead us in totally different directions.  Do I think about him still??  Yes....just because he is such an amazing person.  And, there is a part of my heart that he will always and forever own, just like all people we love in this life.  I am so glad that God has blessed this man with a wonderful wife and family.  From visits with him over the years I think he has had a good life.  Is it the life he had planned??  No, certainly not.  But, I think my friend is at peace that God had a different path for him.  Would that we could all be at peace with where the twists and turns of life take us.  I think we all have our share of heartaches and disappointments.  What we DO with those ultimately makes us,  and shapes us into who and what we are. 

 

So there you have the rest of that story.

 

Till next time....

 

BBB

Last night hubs and I had our friend, the Gypsy, over for a belated birthday dinner.  It turned out lovely, with a fare of steaks, which Gypsy loves, baked potatos and caesar salad.  I even got her a little bitty birthday cake which she loved.  Now Gypsy and I met when both of us were going through divorces.  I remember that first winter, sitting in the living room of her small apartment.  It was Christmas time and everyone we knew were with their loved ones celebrating.  Being the resourceful women we were, we decided to do our own Christmas eve dinner.  We made roasted cornish hens with dressing and ceasar salad, plus several bottles of good vino.  Both of us were poor as little church mice.  Our exes had all the money and it seems, both our exes got the houses with our fireplaces!  We ate our dinner and drank our wine and commiserated with each other about how unfair it was that our respective exes were probably sitting in front of OUR fireplaces on this cold, cold night.  From that time....our friendship has evolved.  Gypsy is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met....inside and out.  She will tell you that she has gypsy blood, and I truly believe her.  She just has an aura about her, and....she KNOWS things....and not intuitively.  I don't have any expanation for that.  Anyhoo....we have been through many good times together and some pretty rough times together.  My re-marriage (which she predicted spot on timing wise very early on), the births of grandchildren, job changes, you name it.  We are both in good places in our lives right now, so it was appropriate that we celebrate last night. 

 

One thing about Gypsy is that she can tell a story like no one else I have ever known.  I have been begging for years for her to write a book about her life and the stories she has told me and the hubs.  Last night, she told us a story that just had me in stitches!!  Since the Gypsy is still a very beautiful single woman, she gets many offers by friends, family and acquaintances to "fix her up."  You single women know how that usually goes.  Gypsy's equally devastatingly beautiful daughter says..."Mom...you need to just try it...go with it...you haven't dated in SO long."  So, an acquaintance approaches her.  "My wife and I have this friend...divorced for 3 years....really nice guy.....you'd be perfect for...yada yada yada."  Against her better judgment, remembering her daughter's urging, she gives in.  Okay...he can call me at home.   So he calls a couple of times.  She sees his name on the caller ID and just can't work up the courage to pick up.   Well, then the guy calls her at work...which in Gypsy's book is a NO NO!  Work is for work.   She doesn't get the call as she is in a meeting.  Sure enough, he calls again that evening and this time she picks up.  They talk a few moments and decide to meet for a cup of coffee or a drink, whatever, at a restaurant they both know, after work the next day.   So, at the appointed hour, in Gypsy walks and there is "the man."  This man is wearing a long wool coat and is standing there just grinning at her (he knew it was her from their friend's description).  She says he asks "Do I look familiar?"  She thinks about it, wonders where this is going, and says...'UMMM..no."  He says "You don't think I look like Bill Clinton???"  Being the perfectly honest person she is...."Ummm, NO!"   Seeing the handwriting on the wall here, she orders a beer instead of coffee.   They visit for a while as he tells her everything about himself.   She says....So your friend says you've been divorced three years...  His reply....UMMM...No, actually when I find the right Christian woman, I will divorce my wife, and marry the Christian woman, but right now my wife and I aren't together.   Gypsy orders another drink!!  They visit a little more and he questions her about her religious views, then says he's not sure he is quite in sync with her view of God and religion.   What is UP with that????  Oh...just wait.  It gets better.  He then proceeds to tell her that he HAD been in a relationship with a good Christian woman for several months, but he broke up with her when he got up one morning, went into her bathroom and found her FALSE TEETH laying on the bathroom sink!!  He poses the question.... "Ummm....do you have false teeth?"  Gypsy orders another beer.   "Well....can't you tell if I have false teeth???"   Now, friends, I have to say, I have been on some REALLY bad dates.  But this one takes the cake!!!  Gypsy made her escape from this date, but not before he hugged her and made the comment that "Wow!! Those are real!!!"....referring to her boobs!!!   To her credit....she didn't clock the guy like I WOULD have.  Thus, her dating forays are over thanks to Mr. Clinton.  She says that she will stay single, thank you very much!!  Who in the world can blame her???   At least she has a sense of humor about it.  She said she had to laugh...it was just too unbelievable to do anything else.

 

So, if there are any guys out there...What's up with this kinda date???  The sad thing is this guy was serious as a heart attack.  He was NOT kidding.  Thank you God for my wonderful hubs!!  I am so blessed!!

 

Well, I am off to enjoy this B E A --UTIFUL day!  May you do likewise.

 

Till next time.....

 

BBB

Have you ever had "one of those calls"??  You know them.  The ones that you know from the start just cannot be good.  The ones that leave you with a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach?  Well, I got one of those calls this week.  It was from the Daughter of My Heart.  I haven't introduced you to her yet.  She is the daughter from my first marriage, not a child that I brought into the world, but one that is and always be the Daughter of My Heart.  Since she has no relationship at all with her birth mother, and little that resembles a relationship with her father, when she is in need of support....she calls me.  And I am privileged that she still does so after all these years.  It seems a little piece of paper cannot "divorce" you from certain people if you don't want it to.  So, anyway, the phone rings at lunch time and it is my daughter.  I can tell by her voice she is trying not to cry.  She says that she has just left her grandma and grandpa.  That they think her grandma has cervical cancer.  She says...."I need to be strong for her.....how am I ever going to do that?"  I told her that she is a strong person and that she can do this for her beloved grandma because when she needs to cry or have a shoulder to lean on in order to maintain that strength, she can call me.  I will listen, I will hold her close, I will pray.  We will get through this together.  I think she felt at least a little better when we hung up.  She called again the next day and the news was worse.  They are pretty sure it is ovarian cancer....she has most likely had it a long time and it has most likely spread.  She will have surgery next Tuesday.  I again had that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

 

Now, I know when you go through a divorce, the usual way of things is that your are "divorced" from the family you used to call your own.  But in my case, although I don't see them often, I still adore my ex-in-laws, but most particularly my former mother-in-law (MIL).  I know all the jokes, I have heard all the MIL stories.....I know.  Many people don't like and in some cases, hate, their MIL's.  I guess I was truly blessed, because from the first moment I met her, I loved my MIL.  It was pretty much love at first sight with her son....and with her as well.  We were so very close.  She is a lovely, loving, hard working woman.  Larger than life she was to me.  And I was even MORE lucky because she loved me too!!  I will never forget her heartbroken words to me when my ex and I divorced...."You were the daughter I never had..."  It was hard to let her go.  I have gotten over her son and missing him.  But I don't think I will ever get over "losing" her.  I still see her and FIL from time to time because of my relationship with my daughter.  I last saw her when my daughter and her husband renewed their vows on their 10 year anniversary.  She thanked me for being there and continuing to love my daughter.  We sat and talked like old friends.  It was wonderful and I got one of her wonderful hugs! 

 

So, now, I will see this lovely woman's life story continue to unfold.  My heart hurts for her, for my FIL, for my daughter, and yes, for my Ex.  I hate the thought of her going through this.  I want to see her.  I want to be there for her.   I asked TOHTC (the only husband that counts) "Do you think it's okay to go see her....I know it makes Ex uncomfortable..."  He said, this is NOT about him...it is about her and what she needs.   Ex needs to suck it up and think of her.  So, I am thinking I will go visit her whenever I can, while trying to be unobtrusive to my ex.  What do you all think?

 

I know I will, at least, be there for my daughter.  If she loses her grandma, it will be devastating to her.   Truth be told, it will be devastating to me as well.  If you get a minute, please say a little prayer for this sweet woman.  I know I have been and will be wearing out God's ear in her behalf. 

 

Till later.....

 

BBB 

I know, I know....I haven't finished my previous story.  But I promise I shall at another time.  I thought you might be wondering where in the world I came up with "bbubblesbest" and thus, BBB for my space.  (And that is assuming alot.....you might not wonder at all!)  But I figured, just in case,  I would fill you in any way.  After all....it is what a blog is for, right???  To write what I think might be interesting??

 

So, I go back to the year 1963.  Some of you were definitely not even BORN then.  But I was a skinny, spindly, tow-headed seven year old at the time.  Now I had two cousins on my Mom's side of the family who were my very favorites.  They were my Mom's younger sister's boys.  I didn't get to see them very often and when I did it was always an adventure.  You see, at seven, I was already a "city girl."  My cousins, on the other hand, were "country boys" who lived in rural Missouri.  In June of 1963, we happened to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins on my birthday.  That made the visit even more fun than usual because I had presents not just from my Mom, Dad and sisters, but also from my aunt, uncle and cousins, along with a home-made cake!!  The present that my aunt chose was these cute little packets of powdered bubble bath.  They were really pretty decorated packets and each one was a different scent.  Wowzer!!  Eureka!!  I was in hog heaven and could NOT wait to try my very own bubble bath!!  So, that evening, before bedtime, my Momma let me empty my very own packet into the tub and draw the water for my bath.  I was so excited and just absolutely loved them.  Now, my country boy cousins just thought that it was a HOOT that I was so excited about something like bubble bath.  So they took to teasing me the rest of the weekend.  My given name begins with a "B" and at some point I am sure I will reveal that, but not just yet.  Anyway, they started chanting "B" as in my name "Bubbles Best"!!  I cannot tell you how many times the rest of the weekend I heard "B...Bubbles Best!!"  It became my nickname for all time with those particular cousins.  To this day, I am at the ripe age of just a little over 50....still "B...Bubbles Best!"    I was thinking back on that time and decided to use my pet name for my blog.

 

So....there ya have it!!  Probably not the most earth shaking revelation...but it was a special time I remember just like yesterday.

 

I hope everyone survived this Friday the 13th with no bad luck!!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

BBB

Have you ever felt that sense....I have been here before....I have felt this before....I've done this before???  Well, that is the feeling I felt more than a year ago when I saw a little blurb on MSN Spaces about the featured space.  Kenny Salvini's space.  I read a little bit....then I went over to Kenny's space and read not a little bit more....but a whole lot more.  I went back in the archives as far as I could and just sat and read, read some more, kept feeling that feeling, I cried, and kept on reading.  You see, in a sense, I had been there before.  Many years ago.  I had a friend, a very good friend, who was in a diving accident and ended up as a quad.  My friend, like Kenny, was a recent college graduate, young, good looking, he played every kind of musical instrument and sang like no body's business, he had the world by the tail.  He had his whole future before him.  And in the blink of an eye....in one horrible mis-step, it all came crashing down.  I will never ever forget the call.  "He's been in a diving accident."  "He's alive, but....it doesn't look good....neck broken....cervical area of the spine...in intensive care."  A little of me died at that moment because I KNEW that his life, and mine, would never be the same.  In reading Kenny's account from the first hours and days after his accident, I just got goosebumps.  I remember so well walking in that room the first time to visit my friend.  Before I went in, his Mom took me aside.  She said "No matter WHAT you do....you cannot cry in front of him"  "We need you to be positive...encouraging...can you do it?"   Well, I am a BIG time crier about a lot of things because I am such a sensitive person.  I wasn't sure I could do it.  But I said...yes...yes...I will do what you say.  I just need to see him.  And it was just almost overwhelming all the tubes and equipment my friend was hooked up to.  But the most overwhelming was that "halo" and the drill holes in his beautiful head.  But I didn't cry.  I went in and just talked with my friend, like my heart wasn't broken for us both.  And....being the person he is....my friend was the one encouraging me.  He said he KNEW from second one exactly what was going on.  And, being a phys ed major, he knew enough about the human body, that it was bad and he was paralyzed instantly.  He said he never lost consciousness and he was praying his friends would see that he was in trouble.  They did thank God.   So as I walked through Kenny's life since the accident, I walked yet again, through my friend's life.  I am happy to say that my friend has made a very very good life for himself, albeit, not with me.  But he has a lovely wife, her children, and his family and friends he has made all over the place since his accident.  He has a ministry and talks to high school youth groups trying to keep these kids from making the same mistakes he made.  He tells them "you think you are invincible"  "you are young...nothing can happen to you"  "things like that only happen to other people"  then he tells them "I am living proof that it CAN happen to you!!" 

 

Okay...intense here.  I gotta take a break.   Will post more of the story later.

 

BBB

 

As you may have guessed from the tag line of my blog....I am a little past 50 years of age.  I am a college graduate (after numerous tries).   The cast of players:  OHTC - the Only Hubby That Counts!!  Yepper...I am what I never thought I would be....on marriage number two.  Marriage number one and THAT hubby are a whole 'nother entry.  I am married to a wonderful man who is my best friend, my love, my strength, and just an all around lovely person.  He is in business for himself and is such a hard worker.  He is a very talented builder...of birdhouses, of covered porches (yaaay...it's so cool!!) and now of kitchen/dining room/living room.  He loves many things....God...moi of course, his children, his family and friends, his travel trailer AND his ZTR lawn tractor!!  :)   DSD - Darling step-daughter.  Oh yeah!!  I am a step-monster!!!  Albeit a NICE one!!  DSD is a great mom to my three grandchildren and is someone I love and admire alot.  She is a very talented decorator in her own right and I intend to get her input on putting the finishing touches on our remodel.  SIL - My much loved and hard working son-in-law.  Talk about a talented builder!!  He is just a marvelously talented man who does remodels on houses and makes a very good living.  He gets my vote because not every man will take on two children who are not his own and will love them and be good to them...but he has!!  He earns gold stars in my book.  GC#1 - number one grandchild.  On the cusp of being a teen. Beautiful girl.  Has had a hard time from the git-go, and that is also a story for another day.  GC#2 - my only grandson.  Ten years old. Just an all around good kid.  Even tempered, funny, and way cute if I do say so.  GC#3 - THE BABY.  Oh my....our little "princess" just turned three.  This little girl is ALL girlie girl and she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES her Grammy!!   Oh....oh....oh....I almost forGOT!!  Grand-Dog!!  I love this little bitty fur ball.  A sweet black and white Shitsu who came to the family in December.   Eight pounds of sweet love and energy!   And last, but certainly not least....The Critters - my four, yep you read that right, four dogs.  I have a weimy who owns...errrrr....uh.....lives in our house.  Put her outside for long????   Fugggeddddaboudddittt!!  She don't go there except to do her business and to flaunt her precious self in the faces of our other three dogs.  They are a ragtag trio of mutts, who no one else wanted.  There are other players who will be introduced over time.  They shall be introduced all in good time.

 

Suffice it to say, that I am a very blessed woman.  I love my family, my friends and co-workers.  I am at a good place at a little past fifty.  For you youngin's out there.  Fear not!!  Fifty just really isn't so bad.....once you get used to it.  However, I have learned that getting old is NOT, I repeat, NOT for sissies!!!  As always, life has its challenges.  They are just different ones when you are in your fifties. 

 

Well, till next time,  I hope you have had a Happy and Blessed Easter! 

 

BBB

 

Well, after being a "lurker" for almost a year and a half.....I am dipping my toe in the blogging waters.  I came

to the land of MSN Spaces, like about 99% of you other spaces peeps, via the awe inspiring blog of the one and

only Kenny.   You know....THAT Kenny!!  The one and only Kenny!!  Via that particular blog, I have been following

the lives of so many MSN bloggers.  I have been absolutely amazed at the things that bloggers share on their

blogs.  Stories of lives much like mine....and ones that are not like mine at all.  But each one giving a glimpse

into the the real lives of real people.  I have followed your every day lives and realize that we all are probably striving

for a lot of the same things, happy homes, loving relationships with family and friends, success in our businesses,

and to be loved and accepted for who and what we are.  I admit, I am more than a little nervous.  Will you all like

me??  Will anyone even know I am here???  Will my writing suck or soar???  Soooo many questions.  I figure

the only way to find out is to just dip in that first toe....and see where we go from here.

 

So, if any of you lovely peeps find me, drop me a note and let me know.  I promise not to "lurk" any longer!!

I am no longer a "lurker"!!!  I am now a blogger!!  I am a "big girl" now at something after 50!!  I hope in coming

months to share with you a little about who I am, how I think, what I feel.  You know....all that blog speak stuff!! 

I may "vent" or maybe not....   Only time will tell.

 

Until the next dip of a toe......

 

BBB