Thursday Thought...

Hmm.
As I gaze at my new 40 gallon gas hot water heater
Which I paid my hard earned saved cash for-
I still continue to believe this is an item only
Parents and grandparents purchase--
Certainly not me.
I guess I did need it.
Hot water is a great thing.
However my mind swims with
Thoughts of what I could have used
Those green papers for--
Ya know--a FUN purchase-
Like a bunch of Blue Bell ice cream as I
Watch my new 60 inch flat screen TV.
Sometimes being an adult can be overrated.

My Birthday...My Bench

My day isn't over yet. Phone still rings with those to add their wishes for a great birthday. Feels quite nice. Even my cats have been good and plus, I'm off again tomorrow...LOVE that!

Most of my day was spent with friends, as will be the rest of the week. In fact, I just came from dining with Movie Man. He looked all spiff in his shirt and slacks-just came straight from work-while me in my shorts, Tazmainian Devil t-shirt and tenny shoes. Perfect pair. :) See, before I met up with Movie Man, I think I did my most fun thing today.

I went for a walk. After all it was National Walking Day--I LOVE being national!--and I walked around the park I spent so much time on. Especially during my recuperation from open-heart surgery, in 2006, when I wondered if I would ever get around it -just once- and not have to sit on one of the benches-before I continued on.

My walk around the park, which is about 20 miles from my house, was my chance to reflect and be grateful. Honestly, I couldn't wait to sit on my Forrest Gump bench. I've missed it. How many times, in the last three years I sat there after my laps? Just to look up to the trees, the sky and talk out loud to God? Then smiled when the wind's kiss rustled thru the trees and carressed my face. I knew I had been heard.

Funny how things change. In yester-decades' birthdays I was always out. Usually partied pretty hard too. I reminded a chum of my 35th birthday where--well...hmm...let's just say, another time another place. A good time was had by all that night and I got home about 4 am. Even at my 40th birthday, some guy tried to tell me how his wife just didn't understand him, and why don't we just take a bath together?

I digress.

The point I'm trying to make, my birthdays have been memorable, some more than others. But these days, there's a small thing that sticks out. And today that was my walk. I walked for my parents and for me. I walked for the fact I was their last chance at a baby after four stillborns. Because of one more try, I'm here. My mom and I stayed in the hospital for almost a month after my birth because she wasn't well enough to go home. I walked for the memory my dad's annual story of how the nurse whisked me past him. I screamed at the top of my lungs while the nurse said, "Don, it's a girl!' and Dad said he just saw all this black hair. And I walked to remember Dad would call me at 4:37 am on each April 8 to wish me Happy Birthday. He's been gone eight years and I still expect that call. I walked because even at this age, my gift is to my parents is to do the best I can. For them. To make them proud. Then my bench gave me rest.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Stay tuned.

Thoughts...

Did errands tonight. When did I fall in love with thrift stores? Not that long ago I called em 'junk stores.' For some they may be, yet I love the treasure search. Or maybe I know I need them more and more after the $45 filled my gas tank.

Croutons. The best...and I mean the BEST yum-yum croutons are New York Original Texas Toast Cheese and Garlic Croutons. Big (just like the state of Texas!) Crunchy and all around dee-lish-shus! For the calorie conscious two tablespoons will weigh you in with about 35 calories. These babies enhance any salad! Croutons....when did I get to the point in my life where I'd WANT to talk anything that went in or on a salad?

Thunder. Lightening too. Don't think the Dallas weather people predicted this! Hmm. One summer evening, while I was grade school age, I watched a softball game with my parents. We were at our town's park, along with half the town. Thunder started to roar. Lightening graced the sky. I announced to my parents that thunder was Heaven's door opening for the people. Lightening was to show them the way.

When did I ever stop believing that?

Birthday and more......

Been a few days since I've written. Spent the weekend in my Iowa hometown for the 50th birthday party my high school class threw for ourselves. A good time had by all. I can't believe we're 50. I mean, at 18 we thought 50--was well.....death. How OLD it seemed--then.

Oh my. Now, one my classmates asked how I felt about it. Being honest, I told her I couldn't actually utter 'fifty' above a whisper. Not until my birthday did I actually say he word out loud. And Proud. We both agreed, we both felt 'freer'---that we can say what we mean and don't much care. The wisdom is the main thing. Thirty some years ago, we thought we were wise. Turns out, we didn't know squat.

All in all-my time spent in Iowa was GREAT! I wished I stayed a while longer, yet I was glad it was time to leave. That town is still my home. All two grocery stores of it. I was born and grew up there. My parents are buried there.

To see and to chat with classmates brought back so many memories. God sends many messengers to speak His plan. The last chat of the night, was with a guy, I really got to know after graduation. We spoke of passions and dreams. He's turned into a public speaker for farming procedures. He's just a good ol' guy who likes his Bud, yet makes others sit up and notice when he speaks. He encouraged me to public speak. Told me he expects me to hear him what I'm doing --and soon. He ended with, "You have a gift. Don't waste it."

Got age? It's a good thing.

You can go home again.