Friday, June 29, 2012

imprinting

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...
to leave the world a better place...
to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.
This is to have succeeded.
Ralph Waldo Emmerson

We walk along the sandy world,
grains sliding underneath our feet, moving, shifting, touching, 
and
all the while
leaving
an
indelible imprint
in the proverbial sand of time.

We don't think about it often,
but
every little step,
every place 
we set down our foot
there 
holds potentiality
to change the world.

We really do not have to 
do 
a whole lot we don't have to 
make some kind of big 
over the top change

truth is
if we live 
by the wisdom of emmerson
laughing often,
smiling,
touching
those we come in contact with
well
perhaps
our little footprints in the sand 
that shift and slide
and
get all covered up by the grains of others...

perhaps we walk
thinking that what we do,
who we touch doesn't matter
but 
in the big world
in the big scheme of life
every imprint 
matters--even mine---especially yours.

our imprints
move around
slide around
get all mushed up with other folks
and
together
all the tiny imprinted 
grains
somehow mesh
to make us
we humans 
who we are...
it is really too big to grasp
to think about 

but
next time
you think what you do doesn't matter
that nobody is watching
that nothing is affected by what you do or don't do...
well don't fool yourself
we imprint the world
little by little
step by step
one tiny little movement at a time
and
it all matters

Take a moment 
to look at your imprint today
and
make a decision
to give it your best
live 
love
touch
help
give
be....
your life matters
your steps matter
for
each of us
changes the world
a bit
at a time.

One step toward goodness at a time...
that is how I'm trying to live...
Happy Friday....
hugs and blessings

The Radical Rambler


Monday, June 25, 2012

You are still that guy....

Most people live life on the path we set for them, too afraid to explore any other. But once in a while people like you come along who knock down all the obstacles we put in your way. People who realize freewill is a gift that you'll never know how to use until you fight for it. I think that's the chairman's real plan. That maybe one day, we won't write the plan, you will.
Adjustment Bureau, last quote

We drove to Salem, Virginia this past weekend.
My husband's first nephew, Jeffy was getting married.
Jeffy who I first remember being
that little kid who would come and visit when
Big Daddy and I were first dating.
We'd throw him in the back of my red Honda CRX two seater and
we'd drive around doing "cool" things and it seemed anything
Big Daddy did was cool.  It seemed Jeffy appreciated Big Daddy's off color humor in a way that not many others did.
They adored each other and I came to adore Jeffy as much as Big Daddy did and does.
He was 11 when I first met him and I felt myself
well with pride as he thanked everyone at their "rehearsal party".
He has grown into a burly man with a beard and a smile
that never faded from his face.
He has had his fair share of relationships---seems for the past few
Off Color Christmas Party's--Jeffy has had "The ONE" with him and then the next Christmas Party---"the one" was replaced with "this one".
Around Valentines day (which by the way Jeffy was when Big Daddy asked me), he acknowledged his love for his "girl" before her parents and his parents.  It seems "M" had captured his heart.
"M"  and Jeffy met when he was coaching a kids baseball team, rumor has it her son played on another team.
So this weekend, Big Daddy and the whole off color family--extended family even---gathered for a Big Celebration.
I've never ever seen, Jeffy more happy.  He beamed and
throughout the entire day, I watched him and when I watched him, I'd find myself beaming just a bit as well.
Every time he looked at his "girl", his eyes would well up and
the happiness he felt in his heart
was all over his face---I swear I think I saw a glimmer of Joy---every time I looked at him.
As they danced to "your just too good to be true" at the rehearsal party held at the local museum, it appeared that the world stopped for just a few minutes and it revolved around both of them and love wove around and in between and through them.
Watching them was like a glimmer into what
Lady GaGa would say was, "right on the edge of glory."
We really haven't met his new family other than through quick introductions.  His lady seems to be strong, outgoing and full of love.  She beams when she looks at both of her boys, her little one and her big one....and let me tell you "M"...you might not know this yet...but if Jeffy is anything like Big Daddy and I know he is...
well you've got yourself someone who loves to laugh and have fun and some days...it just might feel like the boys will outnumber you in more ways than one.
We enjoyed being part of your celebration
and
while it may have appeared we left a bit early at each
event--I'm sure Jeffy will share part of our story with you
and
I'm sure you'll understand why we usually disappear a bit early at parties.
Off Color Aunt said it well at your rehearsal party---a museum was the perfect place to celebrate your love---because
all three of you are making history.
My prayer for the three of you is
that
you will always love each other
enough to do the hard work that it takes
to have a strong marriage
talk often,
disagree when necessary,
give each other grace
and
realize
that none of us
can change our genetic make-up
our personality
or
much about the way we look.
May you have patience to listen---even when you don't want to---
and
mercy enough to forgive
and
humility enough to admit when you are wrong and apologize
then
may everything you do as a family
always be under girded by
the love that
flows from the source of our creation.
M and son
we are thrilled to have you as part of our family.
Jeffy--now you will be privy to
off color big Daddy's anniversary card antics---you've got lots to look forward to...

On the way down,
Big Daddy started telling me about
an interview he saw with Matthew  McConaughey
about his wedding day...
Jeffy
as I watched your eyes well and your heart jump up into your throat
when "your girl" walked down the aisle...
well i couldn't help but think about what Big Daddy told me,
it went something like.... 

“The silence before she came out, 42 years of history ran through my veins… and then I thought of her. Twenty-nine years, a young lady’s dream to marry whomever that may be, the most important moment in the fairy tale, and tonight, right now, I am that man for her, for the first time and forever.”

As I watched you, I felt my own tears well up as I held Big Daddy's hand
and
I wished for you...
a love the way I felt for Big Daddy, but there was no doubt
in my mind what you felt when I looked at you---
you'd found the one for you...
and
we couldn't be more thrilled for all three of you.

Big Daddy,
I am most thankful
for that most important moment
in my fairy tale,
for that night
you were the man for me
and
almost twenty years later...
guess what
you are still that guy for me...
from that first moment I met you at
the gas station and you sang over the microphone
until now...
two off color children later
You are still
and
always well
be...
"that guy"
My guy!!!
always and forever and then some more....

Happy Day to the newlyweds
may you love each other
always and forever...
and
Jeffy..
guess what
it might be too good to be true....but it isn't.....
glad you found her and can't wait
to initiate her into our off color world.

Happy Monday...
and
hugs...

The radical rambler...














Thursday, June 21, 2012

what we ought to believe.....

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in."
quote from the movie Second Hand Lions

I grew up believing these things as well
people
they are good underneath all that stuff
and
when their not good
well
folks are just human
and
that's all
good having a bad day.
I still want to believe it
even when I really wonder if it is correct
i do believe that underneath all
the masks we put on our face
all the spotty clothes we
put on to cover up who we are
underneath all
that stuff
lies a
core filled with goodness
courage
hope
underneath the spots
all of us have that
I sometimes am just not privy to see it all.

honor
courage
virtue
all that matters
all that shows who we are
how we live
who we will become
I do believe that
that is for sure
I just don't always share mine
and
I don't always trust the pool of another human's core---my thin line of scientific skeptism
invites me to doubt until proven right.

Power
power really gets one nowhere
but wrapped up and tied up
in the fight to get it and to have more of it.
Money
ah money if you have it does make life easier
less stressful
but
it certainly doesn't bring happiness
that is for certain.

and the old uncle on the show did get it right
Love never dies....real love never ever dies
it weaves around us
runs through us
over us
in us
and
while the
picture of love may change
even once
the liminal limits of death
overtake
the
connection
the
souls
the souls still hold tight
and
love grows
pulls one forward
propels us forward
as
the
invisible communion
of
saints passed
roots us on.

True or untrue
I agree
I agree with the uncle from this movie
it doesn't matter if
it is really truth
it matters
because that is worth believing.
I hope
my children
embrace
this philosophy
that
I have tried to embody in my life

there have been times
when
human kind has
pulled a veil upon
my naive belief system
but
even then
even then
and
even now
I believe
deep in the root of what created us
lies a pool of goodness
mercy
grace
and
love
love that does not end
and
that
that pool
flows from the beginning of time
and
ends with us

and
whether or not
"truth"
is part of it
it makes life
good
better
hopeful
and
so for today...
just for today

I believe...
and I hope you do to....

Have a great day
and
blessings...

The Radical Rambler


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Big Daddy Day!!!!!

off color kids at ages 3 and 4 years old
 
                     (Elastigirl): ... just a little trouble with Daddy ...
                 (Violet Parr):     you mean Dad's in trouble or Dad is the trouble?
                     (Elastigirl):     ... I mean, either he's in trouble or he's going to be ...
From The Incredibles

Big Daddy has been a stay at home dad off and on through the off color children's life.
 I remember early on coming home from working night shift and
finding my children
sitting in the living room with Big Daddy
chanting,
"Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!!!"
omg
yes it is true
when other kids were watching sesame street and Mr. Rogers
Big Daddy was exposing the off color kids
to
teen age pregnancy and who is DA baby daddy
trailer trash fist fights
and various off color things that most adults should not be exposed too.
They figured out early that I did not like it
because he quickly taught them to chant
"Jerry, Jerry, Jerry"
when I would walk through the door
and they all did it just to get my reaction.
Now he did have a few  good TV moments,
he'd pounce off the couch  as the lion
and dance in the floor as the tin man
when
Off color son became obsessed with "OZ" as he called it
or
"the wizard of oz"
He'd play barbies with off color daughter
and
he taught them
"what not to do in life"
by exposing them to numerous episodes of Cops, Judge Judy and Maurie.
Off Color son
could count by sevens and threes
early on in life
because everything
became
:down, ready, set:
Touchdown!!!
and
off color son would have to count up the score.
When they entered school,
he'd come in from his out of town travels and
go to the school to eat lunch with the off color children
after a bit,
off color children requested that he not be allowed to come...
seems
when he was there,
their table would get on the red cup
which means
they would lose some of their recess
off color daughter and off color son
swear it was Big Daddy's fault.
He'd pretend to be mentally challenged in the grocery store
and
yell
"pretty woman" and "faygo"
now it didn't take too long for
off color kids
to realize
"that just wasn't right"
and
didn't want to shop with him anymore.


Off Color Kids are now teens
and
they still never know what Big Daddy will do
who he will moon,
or what he will say,
they roll their eyes,
forewarn their friends
and
occasionally
join in the off color humor--off color daughter more so than off color son.


He is a great dance dad,
"yelling to off color daughter--"do it Big"
He is probably the only person to almost get thrown
out of the middle school
basketball games
for yelling too loud and being way too passionate about
how well
off color son is playing.
During football season,
he could be seen running up and down the field--wherever the team was--that is where you could find Big Daddy
really
all you had to do was listen.


Underneath all of his
Jerry springer, judge Judy, Maurie Povich antics,
he is a bundle of big heart
who is always in our corner--even when we might not want him to be---
Yes----
He has embarrassed all of us,
but he does makes  us laugh,
and makes life fun and unpredictible
and
 then
embarrasses us some more
 most of all
He  always loves us
and
that is what is most important after all.


He is the bestest off all "off color baby daddies"
cause he is ours!


We love you Big Daddy
Happy Baby Daddy Day!!!


the rest of the off color family
xox

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Exhausting.....

Lewis Thomas

In our busy life,
we spend so much time
running on the hamster wheel
that
on some days
it feels like
seems like
is like
we can't even take the time to breath.

We run around doing stuff,
taking care of someone else,
checking items off the agenda
and
all the while
life moves right along
and
all we do is
get tireder
tighter
and
out of breath.

It is exhausting
our shoulders are heavy and we can't breathe
and
we feel like
our back just might break....

Whew...
It has been that kind of week for me...
my work after vacation has been overwhelming,
transitioning back into life after sitting a spell
is tough
All week
the pressure swirled and I ran
and
got irritable
and
unreasonable
and
agitated.

I didn't really even like myself on some days
and
I usually love this pile of sexy rotund hotness.

Whew...
I'm tired...
and
I see
what appears to be a semi-colon;
and
i'm running toward it
 the next park bench,
I plop my hot butt down,
lift my feet off the ground
and
Whew.....

Saturday's on the couch,
or park bench,
or
floating in the pool (remind me to tell you about Big Daddy's backyard pool fiasco)
are the best place for
a semi-colon
and
a park bench.

Today I breath in and relax!!!

Hugs to you You--
hope your day is relaxing and energizing








Friday, June 15, 2012

Enjoy your walk......

If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there.
Lewis Carroll

Choices,
two roads,
three roads,
a million roads,
to the right,
to the left,
up and down the rock path,
to the mountain top,
to the valley,
just around the bend.

Our destiny
is determined by
the choices we
make
as we read or don't read the signs along the way.

I mean--lets face it...
not a one of us wish to be stagnant, do we?
we are all going some place
getting somewhere
moving to our next thing to do....

I stood and stared at this sign
that sat in a yard on one of my walks
and
being directionally challenged--no lie--
I stood and laughed.
I'm am sure that if I chose to go to London,
I'd end up in Japan,
that is the way my directions go...
I've learned and am learning along the way
to just take the next step,
I don't worry as much about where it will lead
I'm just trying to enjoy the view
from right where I stand...
it does change with every step you know....

Got your life all planned out...
hope it works out for you...
as for me
I've learned
plans are okay
but rarely work out the way we foresee....
if i keep my expectations down to a minimum,
look around at
birds and trees and rocks and shells...
well
if I see the eyes of those I love,
those who need,
touch a few folks along the way...
well
if just doesn't matter
where I'm going anymore..
I'm just enjoying
the
gift of a long walk....

Thankful to be alive!!!

Happy Friday...

The Radical Rambler....