Here it is Sunday already. Normally I'd be asking where did the time go? Well I'm still asking lol. An extra day for the weekend. For paid holidays at the workplace, this was the long stretch. The last paid holiday was Jan 1st, New Years Day. Go figure.
Any holiday is a reminder of things gone by. Used to be we would all gather at mom and dad's for a holiday picnic. Sure miss them very much. So I was thinking back to some of those past Memorial Days and the holidays at my parents in general. We always cooked something on the grill. Just like about every American. One of the things we used to do was play Bocce Ball. If you ever have played it, this is how it starts, you throw a little ball which I just looked up that is called the jack. Wherever it lands is where you want to roller the bigger Bocce balls to get as close as you can get. Usually we played in teams. Well the lawn in our parents backyard wasn't the best for Bocce Ball. Sometimes just throwing the jack would disappear into the grass. I was chuckling thinking about this. So as we played on sometimes the roll of the ball would do funny things because the yard wasn't exactly smooth like it should be.
Anyhoo I miss our picnics but it's all part of life goes on. After I get things all settled and such, hopefully I'll be able to start some new picnics.
I finally got the lawn mowed today. It's rained for days. It was too wet to do yesterday. When I looked at my weather app Saturday night it was calling for rain Sunday morning around 11 a.m. I got started about 9:45 expecting I would just get done in time. It's turned out to be a pretty warm partly cloudy day. It's just after 4 now and I expect the thunderstorms are just about to get here. Hope it's not as severe as they say.
So take a moment tomorrow and honor our brave men and women......
What a strange weekend weather wise. Yes talking about the weather. It all started Friday. The forecast on the morning news said dry for Friday. Welllll early afternoon a thunderstorm blew on in. Then around 7 in the evening it rained some more. So today I was talking to a friend I knew from my last job on the phone and we were talking about how the weather people got the weather totally wrong this weekend. And I don't just mean our local people. Everyone was way off. It rained when it wasn't supposed to and was dry when it was supposed to rain. The weather apps and National weather service all wrong. So my friend reminded me that those who are studying the effects of global warming said this would be the case. That the storms would be unpredictable. They would happen without warning.
Also on Friday I saw another license plate. I was behind one of those big SUV cars that you can't see around and it had this plate: BHEMTH 2
Saturday my Buddyboy finally got his bath. I had to cancel the last appointment. It's nice to have a daughter who is a dog groomer and will groom our dog free of charge. She's been doing this for a long time now. It's starting to catch up to her now. Like me all the lifting and such over years takes it toll on the old back. Anyhoo she put one of those cute bandanas on him after he was done.
Another week has passed and here I am making another Sunday post. I was going to write about blogging itself. But today is another one of those special days. I was reading that the woman who got Mother's Day to be recognized had reservations that it would become too commercialized. And like other special days it has. So forget candy, flowers. Do something special with your mom. With love. Precious are those moments together. I sure miss you mom...Happy Mother's Day....
Well it's a Sunday already. I say that because the weekends fly by while the work week seems to drag on. So I thought I would write some more personal stuff today. To pave the road ahead and how this trip got me here. As I spoke in my last ramble it's been just over a year now since my dad passed on. The beginning of this year the purchase of my mom and dad's home became final. Took a long time. Governments whether state or federal are slow. So I purchased the home I grew up in by buying my siblings out. My gf the dog and me live here where so many memories seem fresh in my mind again. It's been an adjustment and there is still so much work to do to make it into a home. A lot more work than you imagine when you buy your own home. Still I think this is my parents home. I wonder when that feeling will fade away. This house was central to our family. For many years there were holiday get togethers. Until my parents couldn't handle all that action lol. Meaning grand kids and things like that. So I still think fondly of all those holidays and great family times we had together.
In the morning when the day begins
Hear the voices in the winds
That take you through your memories
Of days long ago caught in the breeze
Look around and find comfort
In the feelings gathered of a sort
That brings you back for you to see
The looking glass of when you were free...
~gw 5-7-17~
Last week it had been a year since my dad passed away. So it got me thinking about growing up and other things from so long ago. My dad worked for the big company here in my hometown in Ohio. When I was ten the company sent some of its employees to the big company out west in Seattle, Washington, Boeing. What was to be a few months turned into two years. So at ten our family moved to Seattle. We drove out and caught the sights on the way. When we returned we did the same. Well almost 50 years ago we returned to Ohio. We went the long way around. My dad knew a guy in California that he grew up with. So we stopped there to visit with his family. The amazing thing about our drive to and home from Seattle is we were a family of six. All loaded up in a Plymouth Belvedere. Look up a '65 and see how small it was lol. On our way we also stopped at Disneyland, Knottsberry Farm, the Grand Canyon, the painted desert and probably some other places I've forgotten.
As most of you know I'm a big Beatles fan. Shortly before we left Seattle the Beatles released Strawberry Fields Forever as a single. Yes on the 45. As I've learned recently it was released as a double A side. Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane. It's interesting because when the Beatles invaded America their B-sides of the 45's became number ones too. Plus they made films of these songs that were played on one of the variety shows. I think it was Ed Sullivan but I'd have to look them up. They were somewhat crazy films reflective of the era. The fact they were seen by a big audience around the world gives the Beatles credit as the first to make a music video. Other groups did the same but before the MTV era none of them got that big of audience. One of the many ground breakers the Beatles did for the music industry. I thought back to that morning in a hotel when we were getting close to home and the Today show was on hosted by Hugh Downs. And I was intrigued. They were talking about the new Beatles album release of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Here we were seeing a new Beatles and another ground breaking album. It's a masterpiece and the best work they ever did. It's also the first album to have the lyrics for the songs on it. Of course I couldn't wait to get home and get it! It was released June 1, 1967. Soon to be 50 years ago! It's hard to imagine so much time has passed by. I remember seeing the Today show vividly and have fond memories of the 12 year old kid I was at the time......
Two days left until Christmas arrives. The meaning of Christmas is sometimes lost. Just look at the shopping for presents that starts much earlier. Now the stores open on Thanksgiving Day. It's true retailers count on Christmas to make money for the year. Christmas is the day to celebrate the birth of the Christ. The Savior of humankind. Giving presents is a tradition to signify of giving to our fellow humans in the spirit of love. Christmas is also a time for family and friends. To share our love for hope in peace on Earth.
Up until a few years ago our family would meet at my mom and dad's home to celebrate Christmas and have our gift exchange. We would go to the evening service at church and exchange gifts afterwards. I didn't always go to church myself but as it is the church my mom and dad belonged too and our family has the services broadcast on our local radio station. So I would turn it on while I got things ready for the exchange. So for me Christmas has that special time with family. Several years ago My mom passed away and as you know my dad passed away earlier this year. Though I'm sad that my parents aren't here for Christmas, still I hope to share the spirit still. My gf and I moved into my mom and dad's home last year shortly before Christmas. I'm in the process of buying my siblings share of the house. I'm hoping to have a celebration of sorts tomorrow just like our long tradition of get togethers. For me Christmas has always been not only the celebration of the birth of the Christ but also the love and sharing of family. Is it for you too? Merry Christmas!
A special thanks to my friend Jetta for this picture..
In the past weeks a few friends I
know in the cyberspace world have passed on. It's very sad since they
were longtime friends. To Bessie and Charlotte and Ron, you are missed
dearly. And for all of us who have lost those we love.....
We walk along the journey
Never knowing when the end
Comes to open eternity
With love I surely do send
Till we meet again
Rest In Peace
Until we meet again
~gw 8-21-16~
