"When was the last time, you ever saw the sunrise?" Have taken a couple of vacation days, no regrets. Was running tired from the last few years, and sometime we all need a chance to just be ourselves, without an of the roles life has us playing.
My one brother had us out to his home on Sunday, a family get together my Cali brother in for a visit with his wife, some catching up done, a nice day with contributions made by all the nieces and nephews, originally cousins close enough in age to still be able to truly enjoy seeing each other, and they bring plenty of smiles to us oldsters. I'm guessing we're happy they stayed tight, and can relate to each others paths so well, always encouraging the other.
And the rest of us are just glad we all were able to have the day together, see each others familiar faces even with a few new hair colors and lines thrown in, like yo-yo's we go up and down in weight as have a chance every few years to see each other.
For my brothers and I we know for certain where we came from, where we wandered off to, and now we live in the present day, wishing each other more!
We have grudges of old, we buried our hatchets, it was our way, we value any upcoming times.
My niece was in tune, she grabbed a camera, and clicked, only regretting later that she didn't get everyone in some photo's, she concentrated on my old core group, and though rapid age progression has ensued, we are still the same siblings, one regretting he moved away at all, one with a sweet smile proud I think that his daughter remembered a photo op, and me with of course the frickn child stealing in laughing but close to tears.
A nice day Sunday, a day of smiles.
Yesterday I spent the day with my oldest sibling, it was a valuable day, we maxed it, a ton of conversation and emotion, two trips to the city as I drove us from one world to the next, again no regrets of spending the day with him.
Some animated conversation earlier at my house for a totally ad-libed visit that turned into our Monday nite beef sandwich dinner, usually a time to catch up with our son, conversation flowed about my sons days at the special education school, he expresses al ot of warmth for the children, and see a little genius in each one. Eventually we got onto our favorite auto's ever possessed and my brothers was his baby blue benz of our younger day, my son's is his current ride a 2003 Ford Lightning he cherishes, mine was a 71 Ford Torino I had years back. And then Rick,
After taking my brother back into Chicago's Hotel of choice, I drove back home at top speed, tired but hoping my spouse would still be up just to sit with him awhile, and to my surprise he was, me happy to be back just chilling with my friend back in my own roost.
“Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.”
―
Charles Dickens
We all walk through our days together knowing we're not quite alone in it. When one is weak, another is strong, that with time and care we can survive it all, enjoying all the great days in between. The Good outweighs the Bad, and Forgiveness walks hand in hand with Love, doesn't it?
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A visit with my side of the family
"When was the last time, you ever saw the sunrise?" My oldest brother from California is in for a visit along with his wife, a week of house hunting, and catching up with family and friends, she was born here, too.
She loves California more than him, he wants to come back home now. She loves the California weather, but has an aging auntie here, who needs more helping as time goes by. The auntie has turned mean, and threatens her niece with the family wealth, makes it more of a challenge, so house hunting they go in the land of Lincoln.
Today is our family gathering, a couple of years since the last one already, my mother's daughter is so looking forward to this that some 5 hours too early I am showered, dressed and ready for the day, and yes I can still laugh at myself if I want to, people never believe when I tell them the child lives on inside me, but it all too true. My non-smoker brother will host the event, mostly due to his young grandson, and toys and known terrain bringing comfort to one so young, and we love this boy, and love watching grow, he's very good natured and loves his little world of exploring.
And me, I'll be happy to see them all, so many things to get caught on, things a phone just can't accomplish as well. Some leisure time on a sunday that promises 60 degree weather.
A day in the life of sunshine <3 p="">
She loves California more than him, he wants to come back home now. She loves the California weather, but has an aging auntie here, who needs more helping as time goes by. The auntie has turned mean, and threatens her niece with the family wealth, makes it more of a challenge, so house hunting they go in the land of Lincoln.
Today is our family gathering, a couple of years since the last one already, my mother's daughter is so looking forward to this that some 5 hours too early I am showered, dressed and ready for the day, and yes I can still laugh at myself if I want to, people never believe when I tell them the child lives on inside me, but it all too true. My non-smoker brother will host the event, mostly due to his young grandson, and toys and known terrain bringing comfort to one so young, and we love this boy, and love watching grow, he's very good natured and loves his little world of exploring.
And me, I'll be happy to see them all, so many things to get caught on, things a phone just can't accomplish as well. Some leisure time on a sunday that promises 60 degree weather.
A day in the life of sunshine <3 p="">
Richmond
"When was the last time, you ever saw the sunrise?" So many reasons why this blog is named this way, not related, inter-related, musically related, and a sprinkling of memories.
Standing in N.Richmond's Kitchen, my (first home) green stucco house, no more than 3, looking up at Ma washing dishes, man I loved that kitchen with it's Birch Cabinets, Silver handles for ease of opening, counter tops black, white kitchen table with a red trim, red kitchen chairs to match, it was a child's haven, that kitchen was. And my dog Beauty, a great friend, she always defended me, usually you didn't find one without the other, I was a puppy, too.
She'd just gotten a new album, " You are my sunshine" was playing and I fell in love with music.
My favorite part of childhood was Richmond, living on the 2nd floor, although we lived on the first floor twice, colder down there not as much warmth, I had my two brothers, 4 yrs and 6 yrs older than me, always someone to play with as long as you were into being a bit of a tom boy, baseball, cowboys, although I never did well when they got to football, I couldn't seem to understand the shaping of that ball.
Going to Quality Food Store I believe if my memory serves me further up North Avenue, when Doctor Pepper first came out they marketed it as a soft drink that could be served cold or hot, and the sample lady was there to serve it.
And all the people we met on our walks to the stores, and some became friends through those years.
Walking home through alleys at times known as shortcuts, we did encounter a neighbors dog that escaped, and it had always been a mean dog, it came for me growling, and it was the only time you'd see my mother hit an animal with her purse, so many times the dog retreated back, my mother loved animals but she did not love their owners when they trained them to be mean.
To me the alley always smelled funny, which must be where the word rank came from. Sometimes the boys played a short game of catch there before supper time.
The whoola hoop came out while we still lived there, the boys had the big one and I had a little one, fun. And still a mystery why kids can do that so well and for so long, and adults can't. Amazing.
Once a week we'd go at night with Dad in the car and shop for groceries for my Grandpa John and his 2nd wife whom we were to call Aunt Jule, Aunt Jule had never liked my mother but she depended on her to help them with groceries and medical needs, but she didn't have many kind bones in her. She sat at her kitchen table giving commands to the rest of us, but mostly to my mother. I loved my Grandpa big time, and always enjoyed seeing him but Jule was almost always crabby with us, and "you must sit quietly and don't touch that" were standard phrases that would follow us when we visited. She never had children of her own and was no way-no how Grandmother material, so I guess I never really had one, Dad's side was already gone as well as my maternal grandmother.
Every once in awhile we'd go out to eat at Father & Sons Pizza, or at a restaurant called S & L's, but mostly Mom cooked. Frankie forced to eat his carrots, darn I hated that why did we have to have them? And at that time I didn't like Pea Balls, so the cool part ways the table had a drawer in it, a drawer no one ever used.
When I was twelve or so Dad did tell me he had found the peas eventually long after we moved to McVicker Ave. Dad was always intriguing he guarded many a secret never telling my mom, I've always wondered why he was so loyal. I've wondered what his childhood was like, he was the youngest, too. And so was Ma, yep I've wondered.
One summer Kool Aid came out, Ma had a real neat pitcher with matching glasses, and I remembered summer days with that a treat after we cooled off playing in a child's pool. And we lucked out our best friends at the time lived next door to us on the same floor, so even if it rained we could be out on the roof porch and still be talking back and forth.
We had some very strange tenants throughout those years, Mom and Dad grew weary painting and repainting, and fixing whatever they'd mess up, the neighborhood started to change rather quickly from grown up speaks, so we went house hunting for what seemed FOREVER, long days out in a car, no air conditioning at the time, 3 children in the back seat which resulted in pinching, slapping or biting wars, until Dad would pull the car to the side of the road and threaten us with what would happen if we didn't stop.
They found it. We moved. Chapter 1 closed.
Standing in N.Richmond's Kitchen, my (first home) green stucco house, no more than 3, looking up at Ma washing dishes, man I loved that kitchen with it's Birch Cabinets, Silver handles for ease of opening, counter tops black, white kitchen table with a red trim, red kitchen chairs to match, it was a child's haven, that kitchen was. And my dog Beauty, a great friend, she always defended me, usually you didn't find one without the other, I was a puppy, too.
She'd just gotten a new album, " You are my sunshine" was playing and I fell in love with music.
My favorite part of childhood was Richmond, living on the 2nd floor, although we lived on the first floor twice, colder down there not as much warmth, I had my two brothers, 4 yrs and 6 yrs older than me, always someone to play with as long as you were into being a bit of a tom boy, baseball, cowboys, although I never did well when they got to football, I couldn't seem to understand the shaping of that ball.
Going to Quality Food Store I believe if my memory serves me further up North Avenue, when Doctor Pepper first came out they marketed it as a soft drink that could be served cold or hot, and the sample lady was there to serve it.
And all the people we met on our walks to the stores, and some became friends through those years.
Walking home through alleys at times known as shortcuts, we did encounter a neighbors dog that escaped, and it had always been a mean dog, it came for me growling, and it was the only time you'd see my mother hit an animal with her purse, so many times the dog retreated back, my mother loved animals but she did not love their owners when they trained them to be mean.
To me the alley always smelled funny, which must be where the word rank came from. Sometimes the boys played a short game of catch there before supper time.
The whoola hoop came out while we still lived there, the boys had the big one and I had a little one, fun. And still a mystery why kids can do that so well and for so long, and adults can't. Amazing.
Once a week we'd go at night with Dad in the car and shop for groceries for my Grandpa John and his 2nd wife whom we were to call Aunt Jule, Aunt Jule had never liked my mother but she depended on her to help them with groceries and medical needs, but she didn't have many kind bones in her. She sat at her kitchen table giving commands to the rest of us, but mostly to my mother. I loved my Grandpa big time, and always enjoyed seeing him but Jule was almost always crabby with us, and "you must sit quietly and don't touch that" were standard phrases that would follow us when we visited. She never had children of her own and was no way-no how Grandmother material, so I guess I never really had one, Dad's side was already gone as well as my maternal grandmother.
Every once in awhile we'd go out to eat at Father & Sons Pizza, or at a restaurant called S & L's, but mostly Mom cooked. Frankie forced to eat his carrots, darn I hated that why did we have to have them? And at that time I didn't like Pea Balls, so the cool part ways the table had a drawer in it, a drawer no one ever used.
When I was twelve or so Dad did tell me he had found the peas eventually long after we moved to McVicker Ave. Dad was always intriguing he guarded many a secret never telling my mom, I've always wondered why he was so loyal. I've wondered what his childhood was like, he was the youngest, too. And so was Ma, yep I've wondered.
One summer Kool Aid came out, Ma had a real neat pitcher with matching glasses, and I remembered summer days with that a treat after we cooled off playing in a child's pool. And we lucked out our best friends at the time lived next door to us on the same floor, so even if it rained we could be out on the roof porch and still be talking back and forth.
We had some very strange tenants throughout those years, Mom and Dad grew weary painting and repainting, and fixing whatever they'd mess up, the neighborhood started to change rather quickly from grown up speaks, so we went house hunting for what seemed FOREVER, long days out in a car, no air conditioning at the time, 3 children in the back seat which resulted in pinching, slapping or biting wars, until Dad would pull the car to the side of the road and threaten us with what would happen if we didn't stop.
They found it. We moved. Chapter 1 closed.
Friday, April 26, 2013
A Spring Dream, some of my peeps
"When was the last time, you ever saw the sunrise?" So many ways to see it, she muses.
Wednesday nite & last nite had same dream Mike, My Ma & My Dad, too funny:
I see my Ma, Mike & my Dad standing together by a bunch of yellow spring flowers, I said "Hi guys what you doing here?" They smile at eachother, and they say "we’re not there, you’re here," and sort of give me sweet sad little smiles and watch me to see how I’ll take the news. I wake up both nights it's midnight exactly.
I can’t get it out my back burner mind ever since, don’t know if pre-cog or some other fine border lined meaning. Smiling though. Best case scenerio, maybe the borders on as dense as I thought they were.
Maybe it's tied to a family re-union on my side this weekend, a recent worry and scare hopefully lifting,
maybe it's simply just to re-enforse a lesson to cherish what you have, I have two brothers and a couple of years since we last met up together, and possibly that both sides of the line hold merit and value of their own. I wasn't scared when I saw them, I wasn't unhappy at all, I just felt warmth and light at seeing some people I loved very much, it was so good to see them all together, they were fine, too.
I always tell this blog, noone knows what's in this noggin, when I'm smiling. Love you guys
Wednesday nite & last nite had same dream Mike, My Ma & My Dad, too funny:
I see my Ma, Mike & my Dad standing together by a bunch of yellow spring flowers, I said "Hi guys what you doing here?" They smile at eachother, and they say "we’re not there, you’re here," and sort of give me sweet sad little smiles and watch me to see how I’ll take the news. I wake up both nights it's midnight exactly.
I can’t get it out my back burner mind ever since, don’t know if pre-cog or some other fine border lined meaning. Smiling though. Best case scenerio, maybe the borders on as dense as I thought they were.
Maybe it's tied to a family re-union on my side this weekend, a recent worry and scare hopefully lifting,
maybe it's simply just to re-enforse a lesson to cherish what you have, I have two brothers and a couple of years since we last met up together, and possibly that both sides of the line hold merit and value of their own. I wasn't scared when I saw them, I wasn't unhappy at all, I just felt warmth and light at seeing some people I loved very much, it was so good to see them all together, they were fine, too.
I always tell this blog, noone knows what's in this noggin, when I'm smiling. Love you guys
Saturday, April 20, 2013
The Rains, The Floods & The Dog Rescue Mission
Sometimes it's with much pride and humor, that I watch one of my sisters, who lives for her children, map out here time frames week to week on which one she's going to visit, which one she's going to help. A young grandchild needs babysitting she's their girl, birthday parties she's there helping, I love her to death and she's always in the thick of it, week to week, month to month.
And that is good, it is how she loves to spend her free time, and her children do appreciate her and love her well, she one mom who would always be there for her children despite their ages.
So this weeks adventure that I have seen some beauty involved her babysitting her daughter's dog, while her daughter was on a business trip to the west coast, "simple, simple, I'll just stay there all week, and drive into work each morning", she observes. "It's a long ride my husband tells her, bring the dog and stay with us". Nope. She'll stay at her daughters place, wouldn't want to make it hard on the dog, lol.
And that worked until we got the very heavy rains this week.
And it rained.
And rained.
And flooded.
Then horribly flooded.
She tries to find a good way there after work, rush hour worsened, so many roads flooded, so many roads closed, she's later but she finally gets there to her daughter's complex. Police are at the entrance, front and back entrances, all closed.
They won't let the residence back in, the entire subdivision is under water including the bridge leading in. The powers out also and they've no idea when it will restore. She asks if she find a different place for her car if she can walk in, but they won't allow it for her own safety of water up to her waist or thighs in some places might take her under in other land contours.
Poor Dog, no going for it's walk, no food, no heat, no light. Poor Dog. Poor daughter when she finds out her dog is stranded.
24 hours pass, you know what they say, what a difference a day makes, she tries again, this time taking more family with for the possible rescue, had to be grueling by the descriptions, but she's got the dog, and she's keeping him safe with her at her sons house.
She's happy, her daughter's happy, her son's happy probably because they'll bugging him about the dog, his little girls allergic to dogs, but they'll get by for the few days until her daughter returns.
I laugh with her, I laugh at her, but for a female she remains one of my hero's. Wink, Wink.
And that is good, it is how she loves to spend her free time, and her children do appreciate her and love her well, she one mom who would always be there for her children despite their ages.
So this weeks adventure that I have seen some beauty involved her babysitting her daughter's dog, while her daughter was on a business trip to the west coast, "simple, simple, I'll just stay there all week, and drive into work each morning", she observes. "It's a long ride my husband tells her, bring the dog and stay with us". Nope. She'll stay at her daughters place, wouldn't want to make it hard on the dog, lol.
And that worked until we got the very heavy rains this week.
And it rained.
And rained.
And flooded.
Then horribly flooded.
She tries to find a good way there after work, rush hour worsened, so many roads flooded, so many roads closed, she's later but she finally gets there to her daughter's complex. Police are at the entrance, front and back entrances, all closed.
They won't let the residence back in, the entire subdivision is under water including the bridge leading in. The powers out also and they've no idea when it will restore. She asks if she find a different place for her car if she can walk in, but they won't allow it for her own safety of water up to her waist or thighs in some places might take her under in other land contours.
Poor Dog, no going for it's walk, no food, no heat, no light. Poor Dog. Poor daughter when she finds out her dog is stranded.
24 hours pass, you know what they say, what a difference a day makes, she tries again, this time taking more family with for the possible rescue, had to be grueling by the descriptions, but she's got the dog, and she's keeping him safe with her at her sons house.
She's happy, her daughter's happy, her son's happy probably because they'll bugging him about the dog, his little girls allergic to dogs, but they'll get by for the few days until her daughter returns.
I laugh with her, I laugh at her, but for a female she remains one of my hero's. Wink, Wink.
What was the point?
Simple things, simple thoughts. And every once in awhile some mad men loom unknown, unseen, this time unnoticed to simple Marathon Participants, this one held yearly in Boston, MA., aka: The Boston Marathon.
My niece and nephew have participated in races or competitions similar to this but here in the Midwest, and this week some small measure of happiness for their locale.
The madmen set a couple of home made bombs in hidden places along the Marathon Route, what's your point, what is your point? When the bombs went off they kill several people, and they maimed over 170 people, now multiply that by all the friends and families affected. And gently add all the people and their families that have ever participated in any Marathons or even any sporting events, and you might be able to see where people everywhere were shocked by the event. And all of us ask ourselves "what would be the point of harming so many people who were simply participating in a marathon?"
On the scene there were people helping people, hero's of sorts who helped another in spite of not knowing if more bombs would go off, and end up injuring themselves, hung in there to make a bad thing a little better by their care.
And a huge investigation took place, potential suspects have been found, the people of the land rally this, and I understand their thoughts and feelings, no one likes to think of unknown evil lurking in their background, they feel better if they can see the evil.
And sometimes for me, all of dark things that occur out there, especially the crimes against other people who were simply going through their own day innocently, well these events still just make me ask "What was your point in doing this?"
My niece and nephew have participated in races or competitions similar to this but here in the Midwest, and this week some small measure of happiness for their locale.
The madmen set a couple of home made bombs in hidden places along the Marathon Route, what's your point, what is your point? When the bombs went off they kill several people, and they maimed over 170 people, now multiply that by all the friends and families affected. And gently add all the people and their families that have ever participated in any Marathons or even any sporting events, and you might be able to see where people everywhere were shocked by the event. And all of us ask ourselves "what would be the point of harming so many people who were simply participating in a marathon?"
On the scene there were people helping people, hero's of sorts who helped another in spite of not knowing if more bombs would go off, and end up injuring themselves, hung in there to make a bad thing a little better by their care.
And a huge investigation took place, potential suspects have been found, the people of the land rally this, and I understand their thoughts and feelings, no one likes to think of unknown evil lurking in their background, they feel better if they can see the evil.
And sometimes for me, all of dark things that occur out there, especially the crimes against other people who were simply going through their own day innocently, well these events still just make me ask "What was your point in doing this?"
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Not sweating the small stuff, it's all a stepping stone:
"When was the last time, you ever saw the sunrise?" Slight sunrise seen most days over house roof tops to my east, I could never describe all the thoughts that swirl.
I now 58 and my better half hits 60 this coming week, first thought each sunrise is I am glad we're both here, ironic since at days end I still have the same thought.
I think of our family, and of our families, and again feel the warmth of first light. We blessed, time, smiles, laughs, more. Back to "I wish you enough".
In a world where all types of cultures hold Gods, prayer, and methods in conflict, where a persons lifespan and events altered what they believed or to what extent they believed, I find I am totally well grounded in at the very least savoring the beauty I see with each days new start. Each an opportunity to get something furthered or in some cases corrected.
And then the clock keeps ticking.
Some humor emerges, I am without a doubt the same damn child I always was, peg board on the floor, hammer in hand that would occasionally miss and hit thy small fingers instead of the peg for which she aimed. And more fun to the mix was shapes of pegs I wanted in the slot, so in the words of the great Kurt Vonnegut " And so it goes".........
Much progress made can simultaneously equal no progress made, and the peg board of life goes on, so you never really know what makes a girl smile.
At times I watch our son, sort life out, oddly enough using his mother's processes instead of his better organized fathers, that would be too easy if he inherited all of his good qualities, instead he got too many of the woman genes, so after a spring break of sending out many, many resumes for potential teaching opportunities in his beloved High School ENGLISH, the very last day possible on this Earth, he signs up for the burden of more classes to obtain his endorsements in Special Ed, it is a course that will consume 1 week in June, and 2 weeks in August, for which the charming school charge $16,000 more which will have to go onto the student loan burden of life, thus the harshness of having made that particular decision for a young man with plenty of good dreams to yet be realized, who is already working two jobs these last two years trying to get the old student loans down SLOWLY...., plus he will have to take time off of work in order to achieve a goal that might make him realize a better future, but it is for now the best decision in an economic down-turned teaching market, hiring freezes, school closings have hit at a worst possible time for some. This one area of special education keeps growing and has much demand foreseeable well into the future.
And the lady of the house plays with the pegboard, trying to live up to the next IRS expectation, one would think an easy fix, but it is always a challenge, as there are plenty of other arenas that sponge up any small excess, and I'd guess in a perverse world with some perverse humor added, that could be a reason for some smiles to flash, that irony of the peg board is still with us, and the challenge of getting them hammered in as needed goes along following us like a shadow while we walk amongst the day.
We're here, families here, works here, and finally Spring is here, and I'll keep paying homage to each sunrise that is here, :)
I now 58 and my better half hits 60 this coming week, first thought each sunrise is I am glad we're both here, ironic since at days end I still have the same thought.
I think of our family, and of our families, and again feel the warmth of first light. We blessed, time, smiles, laughs, more. Back to "I wish you enough".
In a world where all types of cultures hold Gods, prayer, and methods in conflict, where a persons lifespan and events altered what they believed or to what extent they believed, I find I am totally well grounded in at the very least savoring the beauty I see with each days new start. Each an opportunity to get something furthered or in some cases corrected.
And then the clock keeps ticking.
Some humor emerges, I am without a doubt the same damn child I always was, peg board on the floor, hammer in hand that would occasionally miss and hit thy small fingers instead of the peg for which she aimed. And more fun to the mix was shapes of pegs I wanted in the slot, so in the words of the great Kurt Vonnegut " And so it goes".........
Much progress made can simultaneously equal no progress made, and the peg board of life goes on, so you never really know what makes a girl smile.
At times I watch our son, sort life out, oddly enough using his mother's processes instead of his better organized fathers, that would be too easy if he inherited all of his good qualities, instead he got too many of the woman genes, so after a spring break of sending out many, many resumes for potential teaching opportunities in his beloved High School ENGLISH, the very last day possible on this Earth, he signs up for the burden of more classes to obtain his endorsements in Special Ed, it is a course that will consume 1 week in June, and 2 weeks in August, for which the charming school charge $16,000 more which will have to go onto the student loan burden of life, thus the harshness of having made that particular decision for a young man with plenty of good dreams to yet be realized, who is already working two jobs these last two years trying to get the old student loans down SLOWLY...., plus he will have to take time off of work in order to achieve a goal that might make him realize a better future, but it is for now the best decision in an economic down-turned teaching market, hiring freezes, school closings have hit at a worst possible time for some. This one area of special education keeps growing and has much demand foreseeable well into the future.
And the lady of the house plays with the pegboard, trying to live up to the next IRS expectation, one would think an easy fix, but it is always a challenge, as there are plenty of other arenas that sponge up any small excess, and I'd guess in a perverse world with some perverse humor added, that could be a reason for some smiles to flash, that irony of the peg board is still with us, and the challenge of getting them hammered in as needed goes along following us like a shadow while we walk amongst the day.
We're here, families here, works here, and finally Spring is here, and I'll keep paying homage to each sunrise that is here, :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)