Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
It takes a leap of faith…..
I am in the middle of making a life altering decision – one that I am not prepared to share at this time, but those who are closest to me and those involved in the process know what it is. I have a goal and a plan, but some of the details and in between stuff is a little out of my control. The out of my control part is what makes me nervous because this is huge and it is difficult to plan around variables that you can’t control. However, I am ultimately in control of the end result – I take comfort in that.
And……I have the faith, determination, and passion that can will make it work – no matter what twists and turns I may have to maneuver around. I have faced difficult life decisions in the past and, while they may not have always gone exactly as planned, the end result always worked out because I knew where I was going and basically how I wanted to get there. When I put my mind to something and want it bad enough……I make it work!
So, how am I preparing for and working through this decision? First, I made sure I had the end goal fixed – this has been known for quite some time, but I wasn’t sure until recently how I would make it happen and what time frame I was considering. Then, I went into research and planning mode – big time! Thinking every option through to the smallest detail. Spending many sleepless nights going over “what if” scenarios in my mind. Creating pros and cons lists upon pros and cons lists upon pros and cons lists. Then, I made my plans known to those who may be able to help with the variables, talked it through with family and friends who could help ensure I’m not overlooking something important, and relied on support and advice where appropriate. It has gotten a lot easier to work through since I stopped trying to think it through all on my own.
Now, I just need to work out a few little details before putting the first big ball into motion…….then, all I’ll need to do is tackle the variables as they come – with the same faith, determination, and passion that got me this far!
That first big ball is very scary…………………..and very exciting…………………and very important! I can’t wait to finish with the decisions needed to get it rolling so I can breathe again!
Puddles’ Story
Four years ago, today, my sweet Puddles left us to go dance with the Angels. I can still feel her soft fur on my cheek when I think of her and miss her terribly! Follow the link to read all about my precious angel and her amazing story – she was a treasured gem in my life!
https://kiminsanford.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/remembering-puddles/
Her Royal Highness,
The Princess Puddles Pritt
April 20, 2007 – 16 years, 4 months old
Terrified…..Heartbroken…..Grateful
As I stood out on my deck this morning watching the girls play in the yard, I looked up and noticed this gorgeous blue sky with birds singing in the trees and squirrels racing along the branches. So peaceful, so lovely, so calm! It brought the first smile to my face since a little before 3:00 pm yesterday. Until that moment, I had no smiles, no sense that the near future had any hope for peace and calm in this community. My emotions over the past 24 or so hours ran the gambit of terror, fear, sadness, compassion, and relief. My heart is breaking and, yet, I am eternally grateful.
Yesterday, our community was hit by a devastating tornado that resulted in lost homes, lost businesses, and lost lives. The day started out as a normal spring time Saturday morning and the only potential wrench in what should be a gorgeous day was the threat of some severe thunderstorms later in the afternoon. Regardless of the forecasted rain, people went about enjoying the day — shopping, errands, routine Saturday activities, community events – including the annual Broadway Our Way event in nearby Broadway, NC. But the day ended with mass destruction, fear, chaos, sirens, emergency rescue efforts, news helicopters, the National Guard, tears – lots of tears, blessings being counted………and a broken community coming together to assess what may be needed to overcome the wrath that nature bestowed upon us.
I am choosing to only post the picture of today’s beautiful blue sky in an attempt to remind myself and others that life does go on – even after something like this. But, I would also like to share the powerful photos in this link to a slide show put together by Sanford Herald photographer, Wesley Beeson – they show the devastation, but also the compassion and immediate “rush to aid” that was so impressive in the aftermath. Click here to see them!
As for me, I am OK! The storm pretty much stayed in the South Horner Blvd, Lee Avenue / Industrial Drive, and St. Andrews / Lemon Springs areas and then moved on out of our community to unleash more evil on the Raleigh area. When I saw WRAL’s Facebook post saying “Sanford, take cover NOW”, I gathered up the girls and shut us up in the small guest bathroom, which is the only room in my home that has no exterior walls. I have never been so afraid of a storm – I live in a solid house that is well-built and sturdy – I typically don’t get nervous or scared with the threat of storms, but the warnings of this one just felt different! I heeded the advice and took shelter in the bathroom that never felt so small until I was in it with the door shut and three dogs. I never lost power, but did lose internet and cable, so my access to news updates and information came via my iPhone’s Facebook app. When I emerged from my safe haven, I found that we and my neighborhood was spared – no damage, just signs of some minor leaf and limb debris and a very saturated yard from the massive rainfall. I am truly grateful to be able to say that and am heartbroken for those who can not say it! But, as heartbroken as I am, I didn’t cry last night – something I found very odd and disturbing! I am a very emotional person and cry at the least little thing that touches my heart – good or bad – so, why not over this? I wondered if it was because it hadn’t sunk in, yet – maybe hearing the reports and the few photos I saw didn’t make it seem “real” – maybe I was just too stunned. All that changed this morning when more photos came out and more reports were posted – I started to cry and couldn’t stop! I felt helpless! I had to be realistic – I am not physically able to get out there with a chainsaw or to pitch in to haul large debris in the clean up efforts. But, there was a lot more that was and still is needed – I dropped off a donation at the Lee County Red Cross and some food and cleaning supplies at a collection point at Lowes Foods. It is a small contribution to the overall help that is needed, but at least I did what I could and that helps me honor my pride in our community. Yesterday, right after everything settled down, I went out for a bit – I know I probably shouldn’t have ventured out, but my best friends are out-of-town and I couldn’t tell from the postings if their area was hit. So, I drove out to check out their home – thankfully, all was fine and I was able to call them and put their minds at ease.
So, as I reflected last night on what had occurred here and my personal experience, I found that I am blessed and grateful for many things. Some of them may seem trivial or self-centered in the grand scheme of things, but isn’t that what blessing counting is all about – recognizing the things in your life, big or small, that give you something to be grateful for and taking the time to consider them blessings to be counted? Here are some of the things that went through my mind during my time in the bathroom and throughout the evening that followed:
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I am so very grateful that the worst thing I personally had to endure was being terrified and locked up in a small bathroom with three dogs for an hour or so.
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I am grateful for Facebook for several reasons:
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the WRAL posting that made me realize this was to be taken seriously because there was a potential I could be in imminent danger!
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the postings of friends passing on information about what was going on
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the postings of friends saying they were OK
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I am grateful that my family lives 800+ miles away – WOW – that is the first time I EVER thought that!!! But, knowing they were all far away from the storm meant that I didn’t have to wonder if they were OK
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I am grateful that I had a slow start yesterday morning and didn’t get out and about as planned – I got up rather late, was slow to get motivated to do anything, and then got tied up and didn’t go out to do the things I had planned for Saturday. Popping in to Lowes and Big Lots were on my errand list and, if things had gone as planned, I likely would have been in one or the other or at least in the general vicinity right about the time the storm hit!!!!
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I am grateful that it happened in the middle of the day in broad daylight so that people could see what was coming and get to safety, where possible, and see to assess the situation immediately afterwards
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I am grateful for all the emergency responders who seemed to be there and working to care for those in need in a flash!
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I am grateful for my decision to purchase THIS house – not only because it is located in an area that didn’t get hit, but more so because one of the top three I was considering was located in the St. Andrews subdivision!!!
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I am grateful for the beautiful weather we are having today and over the coming week – it will help a lot as our community needs to get out there to clean up
Yes, I have a lot of blessings to count……..if you are counting your blessings today, as well, please consider sharing your time, money, supplies, comforting words or support, or prayers – whatever you can do that may help someone who has a few less blessings to count today! A lot is needed right away, but more will be needed as our community begins to rebuild. If considering a monetary donation, please be sure to donate directly to the Lee County NC Red Cross at 507 N. Steele Street to ensure the money stays here in Lee County and is applied to this disaster relief effort.
It is a sad weekend in Sanford, but I am so encouraged by the way everyone is pulling together and helping out in whatever way they are able……….shows the strength of character of a community and this community is overflowing with it!
Katie’s Story
My beautiful Katie turned 7 years old yesterday! I can not believe how time has flown by and she has gone from a scraggly, sickly pup to a gorgeous red-head in her senior years! Katie had been a source of pure joy in my life from just about day one! Truth be told, though, she is the one that chose me……not the other way around! I wasn’t looking to add another 4-legged baby to my family, but she literally gave me no choice in the matter, whatsoever! So, in honor of her seventh birthday, here is her story:
It began on a very stormy day about six and a half years ago. My best friend was driving on the country road he lives on heading in to town. We were about to be hit by the outer bands of a tropical storm. It was already raining pretty heavily and the winds were starting to kick up. As he pulled up to the stop sign to turn the corner, he noticed a dog just off the side of the road in the field – she was drenched and looked scared and lost! He went on in to town, but couldn’t stop thinking about that poor animal out in the storm. When he returned home, he looked for the dog and she was still there – a little closer to some brush, but still out in the weather that was getting really bad, really quickly! So, he stopped and called out to her. She came running and hopped right in the truck. He took her home to shelter her from the storm and planned to see if he could find where she belonged after the weather broke. After all, if one of his dogs got lost in a storm, he would hope someone would do the same to protect them. When he got her home, she was very timid and scared. It was obvious that she had been severely neglected and was starving! He fed her and cleaned her up and gave her a safe place to sleep for the night. Then, as planned, he attempted to find her owners. Given her condition, it was not surprising that his efforts didn’t result in finding her home. After some time, he simply assumed that she was dropped off there or wandered away from a bad situation. So, he set out to find her a new home……….and his first thought was ME! WHAT? REALLY? I already had an elderly cock-a-poo, my precious Puddles, who had been going through major health issues and needed a lot of attention and care. But, I had many friends and family who kept urging me to get a companion for Puddles and acclimate a new dog into my home while Puddles was still with me.
So, I was invited over to meet this little rag-a-muffin! She was very loving and sweet, but extremely timid and shy. I thought that she had a good disposition for my home because, like I said, Puddles was quite old, set in her ways, and calm, quiet. She didn’t need a rambunctious puppy annoying her and giving her any stress. Puddles went with me on the visit and they seemed to take to each other very well – it appeared to be an instant friendship! So, I played with her for a while and she seemed to be comfortable with me, too. I tried to come up with a name for her — she had red hair, so I wanted an Irish name and I wanted it to be a human name. So, I sat on the retaining wall and talked with her about names. I said things like, “how about Shannon – do you like that name?” and went through a list of names that I thought might fit her. She gave me no reaction or indication that she thought any of them were to her liking. Finally, I said, “you know what? I always thought that if I had a daughter, I would name her Katie Elizabeth – after Katherine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor. What do you think of Katie Elizabeth? Would you like to be called Katie?” Well, she got all excited and jumped up on my lap and gave me a big kiss……………..so, Katie it was!!!! I then said, “well, Katie, would you like to come live with me and Puddles?” – she, again, got all excited and danced around and headed for my car!!!! And so the three of us – Puddles, Katie, and me – got in the car and went home.
This is Katie the night I met her – she is having a star-struck “I’m in love” moment with my friend’s Great Dane, Midas
Until Katie came into the family, Puddles was Midas’ one true love, then Katie stole his heart
But Puddles remained his first and bestest sweetie until the year they both passed away within a month or so of each other!
When we got to the house, Katie instantly took over! She ran through the house like she was on fire – she was wide open!!! My friend said she never made a sound at his house and was very well-behaved, but she wasn’t in mine more than a few minutes and she was barking at everything in sight and jumping on and off every piece of furniture and bed and rolling around on the carpet and furniture like a mad woman!!!! She did the same in the back yard!!!! It wasn’t an “anxious” type of reaction — it was an absolute “this is my new home and I’m just so happy I could explode” type of reaction! It was like she knew my friend’s house was a temporary safe haven, but this was home and she was making it her own as quickly as she could! Poor Puddles didn’t quite know what to make of it — she just sat there watching her act like a wild child on way too much caffeine and looking at me like “what is her problem?”!!! Once she settled down, all was fine, but man, those first few days of her getting settled in were exhausting!!! For all of us!!! hahahaha So, yes – she chose me and my home to be where she felt she belonged and chose her own name and that was IT!
I took Katie to see Dr. Cindy at All Animals to find out if there was anything I should be concerned with exposing the frail Puddles to. There was nothing in that sense to worry about, but Katie did have some serious medical problems. She was severely malnourished, had a non-contagious form of mange, and had an extremely serious urinary track infection, among other things. She was lucky to be alive! It took a lot of medication, treatments, and loving care to get her healthy! She was small, scraggly, and scruffy looking – her hair was short and wiry and she looked more like a terrier of some kind than anything else! Once we got rid of the mange and her health turned around, she started to grow…….and grow……..and grow……..very quickly! And her hair started to grow out and get soft and long and beautiful!!! It became obvious, then, that she was a Golden Retriever mix. I suspect that she is perhaps mixed with a Sheltie – along with the Golden features, she also has some strong Collie/Sheltie features and is much smaller than a normal Golden. We estimated her to be about 4 or 5 months old at the time.
Regardless of what breeds she has in her blood, she turned out to be an extremely beautiful girl – I call her “the pretty one” – Katie, Katie, Pretty Lady!! And she is just as sweet as she can be. She’s a social butterfly — she loves every person and dog she comes into contact with and they all love her!!!
Along with the medical attention, I also took her to Bon-Clyde for obedience classes and she has a framed diploma to prove that she completed her training and has graduated from school!!!
Katie and Puddles became the best of friends – they loved each other to pieces! As time went on, Katie became very protective and nurturing of Puddles. As Puddles became more and more confused and was not able to see or hear well, Katie would “herd” her to help her find her way. It was so precious to watch. There were times I would be in the den on the computer and Katie would come in all upset and whining at me to follow her into the living room where I would find Puddles on the couch acting like she wasn’t sure where she was or how to get down to the floor. She became the mother hen watching over her dear friend who was slipping away from us. She seemed “lost” and broken hearted when Puddles was no longer there to love and watch over.
So — here is Katie — the birthday girl — my beautiful red head — through the years:
During Katie’s first few days in her new home
Please let me in…….
Katie and her new best friend, Puddles – they became inseparable!
Katie starting to grow and her hair starting to fill in – at first, she was just about Puddles’ size, but she quickly passed her up in height and weight!
BFFs!!!
Katie and me with our hero – Dr. Cindy! She has cared for and saved the lives of all my girls at one time or another, but in particular with Puddles and Katie!
We LOVE Dr. Cindy!
Katie loves her back yard……taking in some shade!
The beautiful Miss Katie!
Katie loves her pool time!
And then, she loves to dry off in the sun!
Enjoying some birthday cake at Rae-Zor’s on her 6th birthday!
The birthday girl on her 6th birthday, last April!
Katie with her current sisters – Megan and Amy – enjoying a warm summer day!
HAPPY SEVENTH BIRTHDAY,
MY BEAUTIFUL
MISS KATIE ELIZABETH!!!
Ice Cream
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Ice cream – what is better than that smooth, creamy, cold, delicious treat that brightens eyes and creates smiles? I have many a fond memory wrapped around ice cream! While having ice cream in the freezer for a treat on a warm summer evening at home is great, it doesn’t compare to the chance to go out for ice cream at a local ice cream parlor, soda shoppe, dairy, or wherever ice cream can be found close by. Just taking a drive and ending up having ice cream – whether planned or not – makes the day ever so special. So, here’s a tribute to ice cream and some of my special memories that revolve around this amazing treat!
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My Grandfather delivered newspapers as a side job after he retired and would often take me or my brother along to help him fold the papers when we weren’t in school. At the end of his route, we would always stop somewhere for lunch, which always included an ice cream cone or a thick milkshake.
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Across the street from my high school was a little Tastee Freeze – a small soft serve ice cream shop that was only open during the late spring, through summer, and early fall. Back then, we were allowed to leave the school to go wherever we wanted to go for lunch – home, a restaurant, wherever – so long as we returned in time for our next class. I remember going across the street with friends during lunch and having an ice cream cone or a sundae instead of lunch as often as I could when it was open. We’d sit on the picnic tables and eat our ice cream and talk and flirt with guys that chose the same lunch option. If we wanted ice cream and it was the off-season, we would just walk down the street a ways to Woolcott’s Dairy and have lunch there.
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The Tastee Freeze was also “the” destination after my brother’s little league games – if his team won, the coach would take the whole team there and celebrate with ice cream. Many of the spectators – including Mom and me – would tag along to join in on the fun, too! If the team lost, my Mom still took us for ice cream and most, if not all, of the rest of the team’s parents did the same!
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Woolcott’s Dairy was a main fixture in Albion, NY – right on Rt. 31 at the end of Platt Street off set slightly from four corners, which was the main intersection of Main St. and Rt. 31. They sold milk, bread, and some other quick grocery items, but the main attraction was the service counter where you could sit and have breakfast, lunch, dinner, and their amazing homemade ice cream!!!
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As a child, we lived with my grandparents on Platt Street. My Grandfather was a foreman at Hunts, which was also located on Platt Street. I would walk up to Woolcott’s and get him a pineapple milkshake and take it to him on his dinner breaks – it always seemed to brighten his day!
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During my senior year in high school, I worked at Woolcott’s Dairy – I was a waitress, cooked a little, and served up ice cream – yes, I was a soda jerk (keep your comments to yourselves)! One of the perks was FREE ice cream while we were on duty! We’d keep a pile of plastic spoons near the ice cream case and scoop out a big bite whenever we walked by and make ourselves a big sundae for our breaks! The king of all sundaes was the Woolcott’s Special – this was a colossal sundae – sort of like a banana split on steroids!!! It was a large dish with several scoops of different flavors of ice cream with a banana, several toppings, whipped cream, and of course a cherry on top! We were taught to weigh the dishes to be sure we weren’t giving the customers more ice cream than was supposed to be in any particular sundae, but when any of my friends came in, I’d “forget” to weigh the dish and put a little extra of everything in it! YUM!!! My favorite, though, was always anything with caramel and nuts on it! Mom’s favorite is a Mexican Sundae – vanilla ice cream with spanish peanuts, chocolate syrup, marshmallow cream, whipped cream, and a cherry.
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Albion also had two other soda fountains / restaurants downtown – Gus’s and Greek’s! It was a time when kids could ride their bikes or walk all over town all day long – we’d be gone from early morning until dinner time and parents never worried about what harm may come of us or what trouble we might get into. It was a small town and there just weren’t the dangers that there are today. Anyway – we could be found most days having a soda (a real soda – ice cream, flavoring, and soda water – made to order with whatever kind of ice cream and flavoring combination you could imagine) at Gus’s or Greek’s.
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Albion no longer has Woolcott’s Dairy or either of the soda shoppes, but there is still the Tastee Freeze and there is a similar place in nearby Medina called Double Dips that is also a seasonal place to get soft serve ice cream. Mom and I still enjoy popping in at Double Dips when we’re out and about during my visits to get a sundae together – we usually get the idea to stop at the same time – she’ll say, “you know what’d be nice?” and I’ll say “I’m already planning to stop for ice cream” – hahahaha. They also got a Stone Cold Creamery in the Tim Horton’s on Main Street within the last couple of years or so. That is always good!
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My grandparents had a cottage at Sunset Beach on Lake Ontario and we spent a lot of our summer days there. There was an ice cream stand out on the main intersection of two roads – one that went to Sunset Beach and one that went to Lakeside. We’d walk from the cottage out there – it was quite a hike – to get ice cream. It was the packaged kind of ice cream – like Nutty Buddies, Fudgecicles, Good Humor products, etc., but it was still so good and well worth the long walk on a hot day! My favorites were Nutty Buddies and Creamcicles – that wonderful orange and cream combination!
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When I first moved to Sanford with my new husband and son in 1985, we would take off on Sundays to just drive around to explore and figure out what the area had to offer – we’d head out in a different direction and just drive as far as we could and see where we ended up. It always included finding somewhere that we could stop for an ice cream cone! When we’d get in the car to head out, Robby would always say “can we stop to get ice cream?” – like there was really a chance that wouldn’t happen – and we’d always say “we’ll see, depends on how good you are and where we end up”! But, he had to know that we never went out on a Sunday drive without stopping for ice cream – even if we didn’t find a place that served ice cream cones, we’d stop at a convenience store and get something from the freezer section!
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There used to be a TCBY Frozen Yogurt shop in that little strip plaza on the corner of Third Street and Horner Blvd that we used to enjoy going to, as well. The idea of big waffle cones filled with frozen yogurt and a variety of toppings, like crumbled candies, M&Ms, bite sized brownie squares, and more, was very novel at the time — a real special treat we used for celebrations and special occasions!
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A big part of driving from Sanford, NC to Albion, NY and back was always stopping for a refreshing ice cream from Dairy Queen when I really needed a break from the road! When Puddles (my precious cockapoo) traveled with me, she always got her own small dish of ice cream! She LOVED ice cream so much! I had to spoon feed it to her slowly because she would wolf it down too quickly and it would be obvious she would get a brain freeze!!! After the first couple of times she did that, I started keeping her dish on the dash board and give her a spoon full every other time I took a bite of my own. When she got old and sick, her diet was drastically restricted and she didn’t get out much. The week that I decided it was time to let her go, I took her for ice cream and long drives every day to make her last week as special for her as I could —– and to share some final memories!
So — that is my life as it has been touched by ice cream! There are many, many more memories that I can link to ice cream, but these are the ones that stick out the most. A dear friend mentioned wanting a hot fudge sundae on Facebook tonight and just the hint of how great that would taste made it so I had all I could do to keep from getting in the car and heading up to the Dairy Queen, but I was a good girl and restrained myself (literally – I went in and put my jammies on so I wouldn’t be able to go – it all but came down to duct taping myself to the couch)! Writing about this topic has me really wanting a big dish of pralines and cream with caramel sauce and maybe some hot fudge, too……..but, it was also therapeutic – I may want it, but I’m not going through compulsive cravings for it……….not really!
Makes Perfect Scents
Funny how some conversations I have just scream “this will make a great blog post”! Either as I’m having them or as I think about them later, I start to work through how I will take the topic and run with it. It just makes perfect sense (or in this case scents) to me. I had such a conversation early last week – it was just a brief comment or two and it was over, so no elaborate discussion, but just enough to prompt further thought about the topic on my part.
The topic? Perfume! The conversation that triggered the need to write? A friend asked what perfume I was wearing and we talked briefly about how she thought that was what it was because it is one that she likes, as well.
The perfume? Tabu! I love Tabu – it is very elegant and classic. I also like Windsong and often alternate between the two, but Tabu is really my favorite. I used to wear both in high school, but they disappeared (or at least from stores I shopped in) and just recently (in the past couple of years) rediscovered them both. So, if you run into me, I will most likely be wearing one or the other. My Dad used to tease me when I finished getting dressed to go out by saying “are you wearing your OFF?” – it was a dig at keeping the mosquitos (boys) away, so it was a running joke whenever I put on perfume or he put on cologne or aftershave!
Perfume is a very personal item. When purchasing perfume for a gift, it is wise to find out what the lady likes before purchasing something just because you happen to like the smell you sniffed from the sample bottle. Perfume is not only a personal preference, but also can smell very differently on different women – depending upon how it mixes with the oils in their skin. Some women prefer musky scents, some prefer flowery scents, some prefer more classic scents, and others prefer cleaner/lighter scents.
Personally, I am usually not a fan of musky scents – on me or on others. I have asthma, so many overpowering scents or ones that give off a musky aroma tend to take my breath away. But, it isn’t just that. I just don’t usually like the smell of musk. However, I have been known to wear Vanilla Musk in the past and have liked it. There was a long period of time when I wore Sand and Sable almost exclusively. But, either they changed the formula or something has changed in the way it smells on me because I suddenly found that I really didn’t like the way it smelled on me at all – I’d get a whiff when my blouse moved just right or the breeze caught it now and then and I’d cringe. I stopped wearing it. It is a shame, too, because I really liked it at one time! When I was in grammar and junior high school, there was a cologne called Baby Soft that I wore a lot – it smelled like baby powder. But, I out grew that when I got into high school and moved on to the more sophisticated Tabu and Windsong.
Other perfume type scents I enjoy:
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For years and years, my mother wore Emeraude Creamy Skin perfume and I loved how she smelled when she wore it. But, they stopped making it and the liquid version just doesn’t smell the same.
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I love the smell of lavender – so calming and beautiful.
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I have gotten so that I much prefer the smell of soap in the shower over scented shower gels.
Other scents, in general, that are sure to put a smile on my face:
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Puppy breath
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Freshly washed sheets that have dried outside in the breeze
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My house when a big dinner is roasting or desserts are baking in the oven
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Fresh baked bread
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Fresh ground coffee beans
And then…….there is the one scent that everyone wears at various times in their lives, even though it is not bottled and sold (thank goodness) and not on anyone’s favorite scents lists. It is called: “Keep your distance” – appropriately subtitled “I’ve been playing or working hard and you really don’t want to get too close until after I take a shower”!!!!
Keep your noses clean and enjoy the wonderful scents all around you!
Farewell, James Epps
A good, sweet man passed away this morning – James Epps. James was a security guard for many years at Wyeth. He was there for as long as I can remember – I’m not sure if he was there before me or came just after I started, but he was definitely a constant smiling face for most, if not all of the 23 years I have worked there. James retired a few years ago and then was back at the front gate waving and smiling at us as we arrived each morning. I have missed seeing him and am so sad to hear of the news of his passing. I didn’t know James outside of work, but he was a kind, sweet man who left fond memories with me that will last forever.
Back in the early days – when we were Praxis Biologics – there was only a handful of us that worked third shift. James was the night guard back then and he watched over us and made sure we were all safe and well as we rattled around in that big old building. He brought in birthday gifts on our special days and always had a story or a joke to help us pass the time. He was there to greet us when we arrived and sent us home with a smile and a wish for a great day when we left. Through the years, the mergers, the growth, he was still there smiling and offering a cheerful greeting.
But, I have a very special, personal memory of James that always warms my heart when I think of him. I will be forever grateful for his kindness and compassion one very late night on March 20, 1999. It was the day my Dad passed away. I found out late that Saturday afternoon and couldn’t get a flight out until the following morning. I packed and took care of things at the house and then I just sat in the living room staring at the walls and crying. I couldn’t sleep. I just sat there watching the clock for the time I could head to the airport. Finally, about 3:00 am, I decided to try to take my mind off things and went in to work to wrap up a few things, send some emails, and leave some notes for my staff and co-workers about things that I left undone that they should be aware of. When I arrived, James met me at the door and asked what in the world I was doing there at that hour! I told him that my Dad had passed away and I needed a distraction – it was the first time that I said it out loud and I started to cry and he hugged me and just let me lose it right there in the lobby! He walked me to my office, brought me some coffee, and checked on me every 1/2 hour or so to see if I was OK and to be sure I knew I was not alone! I will never forget him for many reasons, but this is the memory that shines through them all.
May you rest in peace, James Epps – I know the angels have a special place ready for you because they know, as we did, that you were a kind, sweet, good man! Farewell, my friend.
Weekend Words
What a great weekend this was……perfect weather (until it got a little cooler today, but still nice), and lots of thoughts clanging around in my brain! So, it is time for a brain dump and to just ramble on about the things I did this weekend and other random thoughts. Not sure where to start, really, guess I should just jump in with the weekend activities and go from there.
Thursday was St. Patrick’s Day – we had Irish Pub music playing in our office area all day, which was interesting. I went by Southern Jewelers to drop off the items I gathered for their Scavenger Hunt contest – I am now in the running for the Grand Prize – a pair of 1/2 carat diamond earrings!!! Yes, that is a 4-leaf clover on my cheek!
Friday evening wasn’t all that special. I thought about going out to eat, but ended up just staying home. I didn’t want to be out too late, anyway, because Friday night is my night to watch “The Defenders” and “Blue Bloods” on TV. I LOVE those shows! Yeah – I DVR them, but I’d still rather watch them when they air, unless something really special takes priority over them. But, when I got all settled in and comfortable in front of the TV, I discovered that – for the second week in a row – both shows were preempted by basketball games! Uugghh! When is the basketball season done so that we can have our TV back??? At least last week, was just local games, so there was a “new” episode of each on and I was able to catch them on HULU the next day. This week must have been wider spread coverage or they were reruns, because I haven’t seen new episodes posted on HULU, yet. So, I ended up watching a couple of hours of back-to-back “Say Yes To The Dress” episodes – most of which I saw before, but sat through again cause there wasn’t anything else that interested me on!
Saturday was cool, though. The weather was FABULOUS!!! 80+ degrees, sunny, and totally enjoyable! The weather has been very good the past several days, but Saturday, I actually got to enjoy it because I wasn’t inside working all day! I bummed around the house and played with the girls most of the day and took a much-needed afternoon nap. Then, I got ready and went out for the evening. First, I had a perfectly cooked rib eye steak dinner at Cafe 121 – YUM!!! Then, I went to the Temple Theatre and got a ticket to the Saturday performance of the current show – “Proof”. The show wasn’t to start for an hour, so I took the opportunity to stroll around downtown and enjoy the gorgeous evening. It was still 70+ degrees and so quiet and peaceful. I looked in all the store windows and just wandered around in an attempt to walk off just a little of the delicious dinner. I got back to the theatre and it was still a little early, so I sat on the bench outside and continued to enjoy the evening. Between dinner, my stroll, and my time at the theatre, I was able to say hi to several people I know and that was so nice. The show was good — as always, the Temple Theatre did a very nice job of bringing the performances to life. After the show, I went back home and had the chocolate pound cake I got “to go” after dinner at Cafe 121.
The other neat thing about Saturday night was the moon. It was not only a full moon, it was a super “pedigree” full moon! Apparently, it was the closest it has been to the Earth in about 20 years, so it appeared much bigger and brighter than the typical full moon. It was quite beautiful.
So, today – the last day of the weekend, but the first day of Spring – is Sunday! It was cooler today – a friend on Facebook said it best: “Only in NC can the last day of winter be 84 and the first day of spring be 54!” But, I don’t care – it is still the first day of Spring and I am so happy to see this day come! It was a rough winter for just about everywhere in the country this year! I love Spring! It is my favorite time of year – with the exception of the pollen weeks!
I went out for a little bit. I needed to fill my gas tank — something I dread, along with most of the rest of the world! I started to head to Lowes Foods to fill up there, but decided to go to the Murphy Express station at WalMart, instead. I’m glad I did! Along the way, most of the stations I noticed were posting gas prices of $3.50 – 3.51 a gallon and there was one place I noticed that was $3.49. Murphy Express price was only $3.46!!! Five cents cheaper than most other places. Then, I was REALLY glad I went up there, instead of Lowes Foods — I went by there on my way back and their price was $3.52!!!! What’s up with that??? I thought they were supposed to be a discount gas station!!! I usually go there because it is closer, but will definitely go to the other end of town from now on! Six cents a gallon less is absolutely worth the drive to save!
Then, I had lunch at the Dairy Bar and went to get some groceries.
Other thoughts:
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The Food Lion on Hawkins Avenue is going through major renovations. I mostly like the changes – looks more like some of the higher end grocery stores and is very pleasant to shop in. The only problem I have found, so far, is the produce section. They have fruits and some vegetables on old-fashioned looking market carts – very appealing to the eye! But, they are high to begin with and then they put some of the items in baskets on top towards the center of the cart – nearly impossible for short people (and I’m sure some elderly people) to reach. I wanted to get some pears – they were in those baskets – I looked around to see if there were more somewhere lower, but there weren’t and the baskets were no longer full, so the pears were down inside the baskets, almost hidden from my view. So, I stood on my tippy toes and reached the basket and pulled it forward to dump a few pears out onto the next shelf so I could pick out a few and then put the rest back. The same thing with the sweet onions I wanted to get! So, I stopped by the Customer Service counter and told the lady there that I had some feedback for her about the new design. I said it all looks great, but that the carts in the produce section make it very difficult for short people (and also mentioned the possible elderly it may impact) to reach. I told her my story about what I had to do to get some pears and sweet onions. She seemed genuinely concerned and promised to pass the information on. Even just putting some both in the baskets and within reach would be a big help. I know – all stores have high shelves that have always been a problem for us short folks, but I can deal with that – I can usually get up on my toes and use my finger tips or a pen from my purse to knock a box off the top shelf and if there aren’t any within reach that way, I either get a different brand or sometimes a kind fellow shopper reaches it for me. These baskets are different – you have to reach over the lower shelves on the cart and then down into the basket! Not good! I hope they fix it!
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Pet peeve of the day — people who think they are the only ones in the grocery store and that no one else needs to get down the aisles or look at the stuff on the shelves! I linger longer than I probably should when trying to decide what to get, if not something I normally buy, but I do try to stay over to the side and watch for people who may need to get around me or may want to get something in the section I might be blocking.
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I had to get new tires on the pony this week. Ronald changed my oil last weekend and noticed several spots with exposed threads and bald sections! So, I went to Perry Brothers and got new tires and a front end alignment. The guys at Perry Brothers were great, but it was still a hefty expense I wasn’t planning on…….oh, well!!! Them’s the breaks! (oh, dear – don’t let the use of the word “breaks” be a trigger for new “brakes”, too!) The old girl may be 6 years old, now, but she only has 52,000 miles on her – I would think that tires would last longer than that!
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With all the stories about purse snatching and other such crimes we hear about far too often, it was a real joy to read the letter to the editor in today’s Sanford Herald about the happy ending for the lady who left her purse in the cart in WalMart parking lot. Apparently, when she realized she left it, she went back assuming it was long gone, but discovered that someone actually found it and turned it in – there it was waiting for her! Sad, though, that the person who turned it in didn’t leave her name so she could be properly thanked!
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I got a little bloody nose this morning — I was wrestling with Megan on the bed and we were having fun, until she rolled around the wrong way and banged her hard head into my nose!!! It didn’t bleed much, but man, it was sore for a couple of hours and still tingles a little! That’ll teach me! hahaha
I think that’s all I have to talk about today………
Smile – it inceases your face value!
My last post was about the joy that a good cry brings. Now, I think I’ll give smiling some equal time. And, yes, the title is a quote from Steel Magnolias – Truvie, played by Dolly Parton, said it in the movie that always brings a lot of both smiles and tears when I watch it, so it is fitting to use for this post. Afterall, aren’t laughter and tears so closely tied you often find them all wrapped up in the same emotional situations?
When I first sat down with the idea for a post on smiling, it was going to head in a very different direction than where my thoughts ended up going. I intended to focus on things that make me smile. When thinking of a good title, I immediately thought of using the Steel Magnolias quote (duh – isn’t there a great Steel Magnolias quote for every situation?) and that led me to wondering what other quotes are out there about the value of smiles. So, I ran a search and found a ton of them. Then, I started thinking of songs that talk about how smiles hide inner pain or deception. And then, I started thinking about the close ties that smiling and crying have – as I’ve already talked about in my opening paragraph. I soon realized that the topic of smiles is so much deeper than just coming up with a bulleted list of what makes me smile. So, this will be a mixed bag of all that the word “Smile” brought out in me this morning. And, yes, there were tears along the way – but not sad ones!
I’ll start with what makes me smile – my original intent for this post – in no particular order, except for the first three:
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Family
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Friends
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My dogs – the girls
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Daisies – the happiest flower on the planet
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Yellow roses
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Pearls, opals, and amethysts
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Root Beer
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The wind blowing across my face
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A beautiful blue sky
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Babies
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A job well done – especially if it was particularly challenging
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Fond memories
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Listening to the sounds of nature breaking the silence of a quiet morning
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The pony with the top down on a warm spring day (like later today, for sure)
The following picture makes me smile and it just screams “life is good”! You may not see it, but I do. It is of my Poppie – the main reason it makes me smile, but that isn’t all. To know why it screams “life is good”, you have to look really close and know more about the bigger context. First, he is on the phone doing what he loved to do – working on his locksmith business – in this case, it looks like he was placing a parts order. He is surrounded by drawers and racks of tools and little bitty pieces and parts on the shelves behind him – he LOVED stuff like that and it simply sent him into a tizzy of happiness just knowing he had everything he would ever need to fix anything that would ever need to be fixed and it was all within reach at all times! He is sitting in front of his computer – something else that brought him pure joy and a hobby of building computers for friends and family. Then, on the wall beside him there are photos of the grandchildren and others and above that, where you can’t see in this photo, is a photo of him with all his siblings with their mother on her birthday. The filing cabinet behind him has a clipping of his niece’s engagement announcement, a plaque that reads “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice” – something that describes him to a “T”, and the name “Marilyn” – his wife, my mother! So, yes – this photo makes me smile every time I come across it – it looks like a busy mess, but it is a perfect image of who he was and what meant the world to him. Of course there was a lot more that he found joy in and every photo of him makes me smile, but this one says so much all in one brief snapshot in time.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of a smile? Maybe a big toothy grin – like the ones in the Pedigree Doggie Dentures commercials or Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple when Shug Avery finally makes her realize that she has a pretty smile? Maybe something funny, like perhaps a clown? Clowns – there is a word that can bring a lot of depth to the topic of smiles. Aside from the evil, scary clowns, the typical image that comes to mind is a clown with a big smile painted onto their face. But, not all clowns are happy clowns. Take Emmitt Kelly, for instance. Arguably the most famous clown ever, Emmitt Kelly based his clown on the depression era and always had a sad, worried look on his face. I loved the image of Emmitt Kelly. I used to do ceramics and did a figurine of Emmitt Kelly for my Mom, who also had a soft spot for the famous clown. We also had a large portrait of Kelly in our home for many years (in fact, it is on the wall beside Poppie in the photo above) – one that I would love to find out where it ended up and put in my home.
Thinking of Emmitt Kelly and the old saying “Tears of a clown” brings to mind two Smokey Robinson songs that focus on how a smile or someone who is trying so hard to make you laugh may be hiding heartache. The first song was titled “Tears of a Clown” and the other was “Tracks of My Tears”. If you want to listen to them, you’ll need to click the link that comes up to take you to YouTube because of licensing issues (definitely something that does NOT make me smile whenever it happens).
A song that focuses on the deceit that smiles can hide is one by Undistuted Truth called “Smiling Faces”. Oh, and by the way – if the big white afro wigs don’t make you smile, nothing will!
Like I said earlier, I found tons of quotes related to smiling. Here are some that stuck out for me – most reflect my opinion that it is so much healthier and easier to go through life with a positive outlook and find the joy in things that make you smile.
- “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” ~Phyllis Diller
- “A smile confuses an approaching frown.” ~Author Unknown
- “Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available.” ~Jim Beggs
- “A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home.” ~Author Unknown
- “Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it.” ~Author Unknown
- “I have a tickle in my brain. And it keeps making the corners of my mouth point toward the heavens.” ~Jeb Dickerson
- “Keep smiling – it makes people wonder what you’ve been up to.” ~Author Unknown
And finally – a video full of clips of Charlie Chaplin – the MASTER of mixing tears with laughter. I dare anyone to watch this and not break out into a smile at least once – even if only from listening to the song that comes along with it!
Now – go out and find something to smile about……I hope this post put one on your face!
Smile
Even tho’ it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by
If you
Smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining thru for you.
Light up your face with gladness
Hide ev’ry trace of sadness
Altho’ a tear maybe ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile
What’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is stillworth while
If you’ll just smile.
A Good Cry
I got home from work this evening – after running by All Animals to get a bag of food for the girls and paying $45.00 to fill my gas tank – and settled in to see what I had on my DVR. Since I wasn’t feeling all that well over the weekend, I had everything pretty much caught up and watched….except the recording of yesterday’s “Sunday Morning“. This show records every Sunday morning – I used to watch it religiously, but now only watch it if the snippet of show details lists something of interest to me. This week, it had several segments that sounded like they would be enjoyable to watch, so I am now watching it!
The first segment was all about the dying art of the “tear jerker”. A comment the reporter made inspired me to log on here and write a post. The comment? “There used to be an expression about movies: ‘Oh, go to this movie and you’ll have a good cry.'” I immediately related! I love a movie that will earn me a good cry! Each and every one of the movies they used as examples are ones I saw and sobbed hysterically at – not once, but many times!!! And I don’t mean many times within the single viewing of the movie – I mean many times over multiple viewings of the movie! In fact, I got teary eyed just at the reference to the movie and the first second of the small clips they showed! I can’t resist watching any of these movies over and over again. I usually start to get choked up at the opening credits because I know what is coming!
The examples they used were:
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Brian’s Song
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Terms of Endearment
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Beaches
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Sleepless in Seattle
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A Star is Born
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Ghost
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and a few others
Others (in addition to the above mentioned) that always make me sob – movies I call a “three box movie”, meaning you’d better take three boxes of Kleenex with you, cause you’re gonna need them:
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Love Story
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Always
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Steel Magnolias
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The Notebook
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and many others
But, that isn’t a bad thing. I don’t cry because I’m sad or depressed – I cry because I get caught up with the characters and the story. It is an absolute compliment to the movie, the actors, the story, and everything/everyone involved in it. I always say that the criteria I use to determine if a movie was good or not includes whether or not I laughed, cried, and left feeling good.
More to the point……I really enjoy a good cry. There is something about the endorphins or something when you cry – it makes you feel good after you get it out and have a good hard cry. It helps fend off a bout of depressed feelings – I let myself indulge in a good cry and I’m renewed and refreshed. I leave a movie that really made me cry hard and I feel good. I’m a very sentimental, emotional person and feel deeply about things that spark my emotions. I’ve been known to cry at the drop of a hat – even sentimental TV commercials (like the old one for the long distance company when the young man calls home and he says “I just called to say I Love You, Mom!”). Quite often, when my emotions get the best of me and cause an embarrassing situation, I get mad at myself and cry even more! But, that’s OK, cause I’ll wind up feeling better in the long run.
So, what got me teary eyed tonight, besides the thought of all the wonderful tear jerkers highlighted on Sunday Morning? The $45.00 fill up at the gas station! uugghh
So……go ahead…..give yourself permission to have a good cry – you’ll thank yourself for it! I consider myself lucky to have the ability to let it all out……it is definitely healthier than holding it all in!
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