I got to do something wonderful today!

I got to do something really wonderful today. I got to wake up with my best friend, confidante and lover - my husband.

Marriage certainly has its ups, twists, turns and even down days - but I have been blessed to spend the majority of them with him - not missing him.

While college students - we knew he was facing a year abroad - France.

One September I put him on a plane, with the cliche in my head - "If you love something, set them free. If they return to you it's real - if not, it never was.."

Probably the hardest moment. I could not, would not chain him.

Even for Iowa, it was the longest scholastic year of my existence. Ever.

Cliche or not, in May we met, after only exchanging snail mail - and the first thing he did, after kissing me was propose.

In Paris

(Swell the romantic music - it plays in my head each time I remember it)

I was remembering that day - because of those I see in real life and even in the tales told by the many writers online, in what I call tales of the heart - more commonly known as Twilight Fan Fiction.

I see dear ones to me approaching marriage - and I want for them all the sweetness I have found and more.

I see other dear ones, currently separated, either by circumstance or foolishness, some will know the rapture of a reunion, others will not.

So why do I read those tales - Emancipation Proclamation by Kharizzmatik, (Blogspot)or the University of Edward Masen by Sebastien Robichaud?(fanfiction.net)


In real life, I can only pray to ease the ache I see. I cannot and will not meddle. I will listen, as some did for me that year.

In the written tales I can hope the authors take a note from Jane Austen - she would write for happy endings and bright futures - control where real life can give us naught.

Hug your love - let them know

Steve - you are my happy ending and happily ever after!

Once Upon a Snowy April Sunday!

I can't believe how much the sky today looks like it did 26 years ago - but it's a lot warmer. April 29th 1984 was the day I began my real life with my real love! What began as total confusion as to who was Frank and who was Steve, to friendship, to love, to letting go as he went off to France for a year,to wonderful letters and a courtship via snail mail! a proposal in Paris! Service in the USAF, 2 darling children,a daughter-in-law, a grandson, a house, 12+ exchange student children, 3 political campaigns,
moves, trips, dinners, laughter and loads and loads and loads of love
Thanks Honey
I can't wait to see what the next 26 years bring.
Your Red Head!

Birthday Wishes and Realities

I'm older - yes for all of us above ground and breathing - that happens every day. On the day I mark another rotation of the sun. I got one of my Birthday wishes - I got to be inspired and receive the gift of hope. I attended the Sarah Palin- Michelle Bachman Rally in Minneapolis. I's been quite a ride the past few days, the dismantling of NASA, the looming dread of April 15th make my special day a little nerve racking. The words on that stage re-kindled my faith in Americans. I learned there was a name for the spirit I assumed we all got from our ancestors - who jumped onto rickety contraptions, without radio, internet, GPS - and sailed across dark cold waters, away from every comfort,every convention, family, friends, heck even favorite foods - Just for the chance at a freer, new start in a place where you were allowed, even encouraged to do, go , be as much as you could. The name I learned in school was American Exceptionalisim. We are made up of those with the guts! to go. No old world con-strictures on your future. If your dad was the local cobbler, you weren't forced to follow - you might be a baker, a doctor,- Lincoln was a self taught man, from the cabin (I've been to Salem, IL !) to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I wish for someone who has sat at the kitchen table with the checkbook and bills, who drives the highways THEMSELVES, to take the reins of our country. Hearing first from our Governor, the only other man who had gotten down on bended knee (asking for my vote! for Pete's sake at the state convention) before me. He reminded me of how far we have come. Sarah Palin reminded me of the basic wisdom and how important it is for every "one" to serve in government - not just those who attended law school and have been groomed since birth It is our citizenship at stake these days - the country I grew to love is growing strange to me.

Ahh Spring - Season for Change

Actual Sunshine! Yes I know that it exists-but a normal March would mean Spring in theory more than practice. This year we have a lot of grass and warm temperatures, indicating change is in the air - almost time to put away the heavy boots. Change is in the air for my country as well. The changes I see on the horizon are not fluffy clouds and gentle zephyrs - they seem like angry wall clouds, harbingers of trying things to come.
I worry that many have lost their way in America, lost their path to adulthood with all it's joys; and responsibilities. I grew up with the image of the shining city on the hill, the place where responsibility and self determination were the guiding principals - if you chose to do something stupid - you paid the price. The training began on the playground.
I recall the days of the tall slide, can you remember them? before we had the lawyer approved, shock absorbing surounded, playscapes - we had real jungle gyms where if you went too far beyond your limits, you risked an injury. Those tall slides, the kind that the little kids waited to go tandem with you on? There was always one jokster who had to -jump off - or try standing - or something else? They got the broken arm, etc and we got the lesson, now we pamper and protect our young so much that at 26? or more they cannot fathom leaving the nest? They never faced a small risk, they got a trophy for showing up and heaven help their first supervisor - there are no trophys and gold stars for just showing up at work.
There is great honor in responsibility, great freedom in making your own way, and then having the choice of giving back - and how you give back. There is only frustration in having to wait all the time to see what you will get. Having it taken from you is not the same, think about the bully taking your desert - or you sharing it with your first crush - get the picture?
Let's get back to competition, for in the challenge is the energy to meet or exceed the goals. No one wins all the time - but the best are found and rewarded, and those who compete also earn their own honor. Competition also implies a choice of when to compete and when to support the competitors.
As the parks hopefully fill with children, this year let's start leaving the nanny state behind. Anyone want to race to the tall slide?

Cuddly Star

That's right - Cuddly Star - well if that isn't an impossible image, I mean a star is a hot ball of gas, far far away (Even some Hollywood - type stars would fill that bill) Ha Ha, that is my Christmas Name according to a website. I guess I would like to be a "Cuddly Star" someone who, even though gained some notoriety could be seen as approachable and friendly,maybe someone to have lunch with. Oprah - no, Mary Steenburgen Yes, Elizabeth Reaser & Meryl Streep - Yes, Sarah Jessica Parker would be a maybe. In the real world, Sarah Palin - yes, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi - no, But I'd like to think the lady who was and may still be in charge of HP would be a yes. My point in all this rambling is simple. There are two ways to get 'fame' it can be thrust upon you, like a lottery win or surviving an accident - or being discovered doing the wrong thing with the wrong person, etc - or you earn it via hard work, good works, talent, doing the right thing. The question then turns on your character - can you handle it with grace, can you smile at a reporter, thank them for their interest and let then know you are not going to grace that question with an answer. In the face of today's headlines, grace good humor and manners are in short supply. I like to live by the words of Mark Twain - "Love your enemies - it'll drive them crazy. Hope that helps when you get the one person you didn't want to get in the office/club exchange for the Holidays! Merry Christmas one and all and to all (no exceptions!) Good Night

Eternal Sunshine of the Reset Mind

Greetings Readers
I'm sorry I haven't been here in a long while - I was on my way to an event in late September, when I was rear-ended. Due to the height of one car and the placement of my rear bumper, I got a good whack in the back of my head - presto! by 24 hours post accident I was slurring my speech, dragging my feet and forgetting - well forgetting a lot of things. I didn't work or drive for almost a month. The good news, I can speak well again and pick up my feet, the downside is I still have to find another vehicle (man I miss that Dodge Minivan!), get my full balance back, my ankle still aches. I have found that rather than a return to normal; I am dealing with what I call the new normal - my short term memory is not dependable ( sorry again to all the folks I've mis-dialed) I have a horrid compulsion to smoke (!?) and my fuse is no longer a slow burn time delay - I can be a bit sharp. It is like ordering a soda, having it arrive and after you take a sip, you frown, thinking cola but tasting root beer - it's good but it is not what you expected. I have spent a bit of time re-reading favorite books, there is comfort and familiarity - and sometimes a surprise!
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and If this was to shake me up, and give my dear loving husband a fresh wife - well that is how I came up with the title of this post. I now have such an appreciation for those who are recovering from injuries great and small. I had few marks on the outside, but I felt like I had been in a blender on frappe for too long. I am so grateful the help arrived quickly, that my grandson or anyone else was not riding with me - that I have a good team of doctors and a good lawyer too. I hope this never happens to you. As for me, each new day truly has a sense of adventure too.
I promise more musings in the days to come
The Red Hed Mom
Reb

Pleasant Valley Sunnydays

Blue Skies,

fair winds, moderate temperatures; these things make it almost possible to ignore the problems surrounding our families, friends and even our country. It's hard to believe the changes just one year can bring. It hit me on September 11th and it hasn't gone away. When I look back to the feeling in the country a year ago, it seems that there was more energy and less anger. When the announcement was made that the recession was over, I heard a lot of nervous laughter, and someone I was with said "For who?"Government and the major media like newspapers and television seem to be operating on the premise - if it's not broke - we can brake it and complain. The one thing that really got to me yesterday was an article in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune on all the charter schools in Minnesota. These public schools with specific purposes in mind (Language, science, arts, classical education, etc) seem to be working with parent and teacher control (NOT a big district bureaucracy) but that is now bothering the "experts and administrators" WHAT? oh I'm sorry if parents having the ability to get their children into a school that suits their child better than the big box education is a problem for them, but involved parents make for better educational outcomes. To me this is just another symptom of us vs those little ones (us vs them just doesn't do it justice) that seems to be the attitiude of those who are in 'public service' This is America - where doing it yourself, closest to the situation used to be the norm - this is not the hope and change we need.