Even tho' I'm watching football games, my mind isn't in it. It's a wandering blog posting kind of day.
The past few months have been memorable in many ways. Most of you know that I live and breath MLB (mostly the Texas RANGERS) from Opening Day, to the close of the season. This season's run to the World Series was as fantastic as imagined. The best part of each game was the people that I shared it with - in that most beautiful of all Ballparks. Cassidy and I were at all of the same games (except that last one, where GREAT friends offered me an extra World Series Ticket!!), and cheered and cried with those guys. Of all the memories I tried to make as my children grew up - I believe this one - of "Mom, Baseball, and Ballpark Peanuts" - my version of that saying - will stand the longest. (Not that Christmas ornaments are any less important - because heaven knows, I have a tree full of 30 years of memories!)
On three occassions Cassidy and I were able to visit other ballparks this season. June took us to Yankee Stadium (where we proudly wore Ranger shirts, made some fun Yankee friends, but lost the game), July found us in the Nationals Park, where we missed by 1 day getting to watch "our" Pudge play for the Washington Nationals, and mid September we landed at Turner Field in Atlanta (albeit that's NOT were we were headed!). When Cassidy and I travel - our mantra has always been "It's an Adventure!" Boy, our original baseball tickets that morning were in Minneapolis to watch the Twins play in a noon game, but we ended up in Atlanta with a 4:00 Braves game. Adventure? Yes, please.
What this says is this: We make plans in life - sometimes they work out perfectly - sometimes they don't. The difference is what you do at the end of those plans. For the past 7 1/2 months, I have been on a different work adventure - changing positions at my place of employment. I've been blessed to meet new people, work with and for great men and wives, and watch my new boss's family set out on a completely different 'venture - without their wife and mother. Each person that I see daily confirms that life takes turns - some small, some huge. The difference in all of these turns is how we face life tomorrow. There are tears in every instance. Some are tears of happiness (we witnessed a beautiful bride marry the love of her life yesterday), some are tears of sorrow (when a courageous lady shows how to live life in the face of dying), and some are tears of disbelief (those Rangers allowing another team take a hard fought win away from them). They are still tears, nonetheless.
The question is - how do I display my daily adventures? I wish all of my tears were of the first kind, but I'll never apologize for the others. When friends rejoice, I will cry tears of joy with them: when friends are hurting, I will cry tears of anguish with those, and the rest of the days - I'll cry at Hallmark and those dog shelter commercials singing "Arms of An Angel". Or... days without the need for any tears would be just dandy too.
I just hope we won't have those World Series kind of tears next year. Because as "that" movie once said....
"There is no crying in baseball."
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Present, Past.... and the Past
Two things... I can't believe I haven't written here since February. It even surprised me when I saw the background - forgot that I had made changes. :)
Secondly - before I start going down memory lane, I have to say that I love my job - my house - my life. Had to say that - so that wandering minds won't wander - or wonder. My present life is blessed with more than anyone deserves.
Three different events brought me to blog tonight. And the funny thing is that they all happened in a three hour time frame. Becky, Dale and Katie.
At the present time, a friend at work is in the trenches of moving - not across town, but across the country. In talking about her world being put in boxes and tubs, suitcases and trucks - I realized I have more "stuff" than I want, or could ever use. I would hate to think that I had to move all this across country, but it has made me think about moving it across town - to charitable organizations. I wish I knew why there was such a desire to hold on to things. I blame it on being at the end of the supply line in North Dakota, unsure when the USAF Commissary would get a delivery. But truthfully, it's deeper: it's a desire to hold on to the past - the memories - times that were good, easy and full of the future. My mind still believes I'll "use it one day". To be nostalgic, those one days are slipping by, and the plans to make that t-shirt quilt or wear that old set of scubs for some dress up event are definitely past - way past.
After work, I went to a facility to see family - a second cousin who was so vibrant in the past, but presently, is such a shell of the person he was. He was the life of the party - full of laughs, cigars, short shorts, and ready for a game of poker at the drop of a hat. (Do you have a mental picture yet? Add in that he is in his 70's.) Alzheimer's disease (or dementia... does it make a big difference in the sadness that he's not the same person we all remember?) has taken so much of the present - and even our past. I remember family reunions where he would take anyone who wanted to go out on his boat - hook a fishing line for anyone who would fish with him, and made more people laugh than I can count. What hurts is that he doesn't remember it. I applaud those nurses, who work in that environment day in and day out. What a huge heart they have.
One more stop before heading home led me to a store where I ran into a former student who I interpreted for. I watched her for a moment, as she worked in her position - in silence - and I was amazed at her attention to detail. We had a great talk - catching up on life, and what has gone on since I saw her last: a car wreck, family changes, a new boyfriend, the frustrations of working where people don't understand that you can't hear or understand them... and so many past emotions flooded over me. I loved the years I worked with high school deaf teenagers. Loved listening to their stories, their jokes, talking about their families, their hopes and dreams as they became adults. Tonight I miss that interaction. Miss the light on their faces when their silent world becomes alive, when they can "talk" to someone - even for a few minutes - to break up the world where they are ignored.
And I am thankful. I'm thankful for friends, family and former students. Each person that I have interacted with today has made an impact on me - some possibly better than others. Whether it will be as much of an impact next week remains to be seen. By this time next week, I will have experienced more memories of the past - more highs in the present, and unfortunately - more regrets that my past isn't as perfect as I would want. So in case my clothes closet hasn't been cleaned out - my craft room is still in as much disarray as it is tonight, and my mind doesn't remember as much as it did last year, I want to come back and read this again - to remind myself that there is more to life than stuff. So what if I don't get home until 8:00 from a work day? Will it count against me if I never have a showcase home? Do 5 (or 6, or 8) extra pounds determine who I really am? The days when I had a great clean house, a 4 course meal on the table at 6:00, and a size 4 wardrobe all mean nothing today. What does have meaning is remembering the smiles - and all the people who have shared their lives with me. For THAT is a present "far too small".
Which brings me to the words of an old song:
"Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all."
Perfect present - by all definitions.
Secondly - before I start going down memory lane, I have to say that I love my job - my house - my life. Had to say that - so that wandering minds won't wander - or wonder. My present life is blessed with more than anyone deserves.
Three different events brought me to blog tonight. And the funny thing is that they all happened in a three hour time frame. Becky, Dale and Katie.
At the present time, a friend at work is in the trenches of moving - not across town, but across the country. In talking about her world being put in boxes and tubs, suitcases and trucks - I realized I have more "stuff" than I want, or could ever use. I would hate to think that I had to move all this across country, but it has made me think about moving it across town - to charitable organizations. I wish I knew why there was such a desire to hold on to things. I blame it on being at the end of the supply line in North Dakota, unsure when the USAF Commissary would get a delivery. But truthfully, it's deeper: it's a desire to hold on to the past - the memories - times that were good, easy and full of the future. My mind still believes I'll "use it one day". To be nostalgic, those one days are slipping by, and the plans to make that t-shirt quilt or wear that old set of scubs for some dress up event are definitely past - way past.
After work, I went to a facility to see family - a second cousin who was so vibrant in the past, but presently, is such a shell of the person he was. He was the life of the party - full of laughs, cigars, short shorts, and ready for a game of poker at the drop of a hat. (Do you have a mental picture yet? Add in that he is in his 70's.) Alzheimer's disease (or dementia... does it make a big difference in the sadness that he's not the same person we all remember?) has taken so much of the present - and even our past. I remember family reunions where he would take anyone who wanted to go out on his boat - hook a fishing line for anyone who would fish with him, and made more people laugh than I can count. What hurts is that he doesn't remember it. I applaud those nurses, who work in that environment day in and day out. What a huge heart they have.
One more stop before heading home led me to a store where I ran into a former student who I interpreted for. I watched her for a moment, as she worked in her position - in silence - and I was amazed at her attention to detail. We had a great talk - catching up on life, and what has gone on since I saw her last: a car wreck, family changes, a new boyfriend, the frustrations of working where people don't understand that you can't hear or understand them... and so many past emotions flooded over me. I loved the years I worked with high school deaf teenagers. Loved listening to their stories, their jokes, talking about their families, their hopes and dreams as they became adults. Tonight I miss that interaction. Miss the light on their faces when their silent world becomes alive, when they can "talk" to someone - even for a few minutes - to break up the world where they are ignored.
And I am thankful. I'm thankful for friends, family and former students. Each person that I have interacted with today has made an impact on me - some possibly better than others. Whether it will be as much of an impact next week remains to be seen. By this time next week, I will have experienced more memories of the past - more highs in the present, and unfortunately - more regrets that my past isn't as perfect as I would want. So in case my clothes closet hasn't been cleaned out - my craft room is still in as much disarray as it is tonight, and my mind doesn't remember as much as it did last year, I want to come back and read this again - to remind myself that there is more to life than stuff. So what if I don't get home until 8:00 from a work day? Will it count against me if I never have a showcase home? Do 5 (or 6, or 8) extra pounds determine who I really am? The days when I had a great clean house, a 4 course meal on the table at 6:00, and a size 4 wardrobe all mean nothing today. What does have meaning is remembering the smiles - and all the people who have shared their lives with me. For THAT is a present "far too small".
Which brings me to the words of an old song:
"Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all."
Perfect present - by all definitions.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Is it already February 2011?
As much as I do enjoy writing, it has to be "when the spirit moves me" kind of day. Guess the 5th "snow/ice" day out of 9 is a good prompter!
It's been busy - these last few months - all by choice. I've looked for a Travel Template to show my emotions, but guess I'm not THAT computer savy! :)
Since I last wrote, we had that awesome church Garage Sale, where my church family raised/pledged over $10 million dollars to build/send/launch Greater Things all over the world. I reveled in the hoopla about the World Series, hung onto every broadcast and am so proud of "My Texas Rangers"! Thanksgiving was different this year: Joel worked, and both kids were at other family events, so I enjoyed lots of coffee, a bowl of soup and lots of football! We all gathered that Sunday night for our family meal - weird and not impressive.
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| Yes, Mama Mia on Broadway! |
Cassidy and I took a quick trip to New York with a mutual friend the beginning of December - and caught The Radio City Rockette's Christmas Show and Mama Mia on Broadway. Ate some AMAZING food and loved being in THE city with Christmas all around. Pure delight.
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| Yes... Times Square. Do you ever get enough of that place? I didn't! Even at midnight in 28 degree weather! |
The Schrimshers were all together for our Christmas morning (the kids even spent the night here so we'd all wake up and celebrate together)! I was blessed to have 11 days off from work - vacation time (Yippee!) and loved having no alarms.
January was really on the go! Cassidy and I ventured to the other coast - to Los Angeles, CA. Our first time there, and yes, it was amazing. Drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, met up with a great friend, took tours of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, downtown LA and the Staple Center, among other places, ate some awesome food, took hundreds of pictures, and sat in the seats of Academy Award winners at the Kodak Theater.
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| Walking back from Venice Beach - a Venice Canal! In California! |
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| THE Hollywood Sign - from Griffith Park |
The next weekend, Joel and I flew to visit Brett, Melissa and the boys, and loved laughing with them (and visiting South Padre Island!)
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| All 6 of us, at Bob's World - courtesy of Bowen's request! On the way to Port Isabel and South Padre Island. |
Following that, my American Airlines travel buddy and I took off for San Diego, CA. As much as I LOVE New York City, San Diego is my 2nd favorite place to be. Could sit and watch the Pacific all day at La Jolla Cove. THAT will definitely be a repeating destination!
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| The USS Midway. Why does my heart jump when I think of the magnitude of service and sacrifice that was experienced on this great vessel? |
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| At La Jolla Cove. What an amazing place! |
We came home just in time for the massive DFW Super Bowl hype, which occcured in the middle of a Texas weather anomaly - FOUR DAYS OF ICE AND SNOW! No school, no work, and not too much positive production! I'm looking forward to 50 degree weather Saturday - because I have another plane to catch! To meet some more fantastic WHS friends for lunch - to remember, to laugh, to be together once again. A day to make my heart happy.
Today is another "inclement weather" day - once more, no school, no work. So instead, I drink coffee while sitting in front of the fireplace and write this.
And pray.. praying for very special friends who are facing some tough medical issues. Which makes me remember: This body is frail, decaying for all of us... and this world is not our home. It is a blessing to love, and to be loved, and to know that there is always Joy in the "mourning". Through the technology of 2011, we get to share, laugh, cry and pray with and for each other here - through the blessing of internet. I'm so glad I have you to do all these things with!
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