Look & Listen

It's Saturday and Christmas time -so much to do and such limited time.  Sam has been working overtime so I decided to do the usual chores; clean up the house and get groceries.  Grocery shopping is something I despise, so many rude and inconsiderate people in the stores on the weekends it takes a toll on me.  On this day, I said a little prayer, "please  God, help me stay calm'  -honestly, I didn't expect this to work.  (see previous post---I'm not an optimist)

As I walked through the isles, it was surprisingly slow for a Saturday, lots of room, no one gabbing on their cell phones or yelling at their kids. (like some weird twilight zone episode-- for those of you under 35 I'm not talking about vampires). 

I gathered all my goods, reluctant to be thankful just yet, I entered the check out line.  The cashier was scowling, I patiently waited for her to finish with the customer ahead of me.  As I moved up she grumbled an obligatory 'hello', I returned it with a bit more enthusiasm.  I don't normally make small talk, like my husband does ( I get in, get out) but I decided to comment on the lack of craziness at the store.  She replied, 'it was busy earlier', then she went on to say how Friday was even busier and after her shift she came back to the store with her husband. "What are you nuts?" I thought.   If I worked here (which would be difficult for me) I surely wouldn't come in after my shift.  " My husband needed to get out of the house' she said. he is legally blind and he cannot go out without me.  I paused.  "That must be difficult for you" I returned.  "Yes, it is very stressful, he can get around the house by himself, but he can't do much else'.  I murmured back to her something like;  I often think losing your sight would be one of the hardest of disabilities, like living in constant darkness.  Yes, she said,  he would much rather have lost an arm or a leg than his sight, it's been about 10 years now.  She finished my order and sent me on my way with a softer, more gentler 'have a nice day hun', you too, I returned, "Merry Christmas".  

As I walked to my car, it felt a little surreal.  I looked, I  listened.  I was thankful for a stress free trip, grateful for that tiny answered prayer for calmness.  I often take for granted; the ability to shop for groceries for my family, to drive myself to the store, for independence, for sight (even on a gloomy, rainy day) for smell and touch.   I said a new prayer, for her and her husband, may their much more difficult situation be met with some ease, some peace and joy.   I was thankful for the gift.


Merry Christmas season, my jazzy friends, I hope you are awake and listening during this amazing adventure we call life. I"m thankful for all of you and I leave you with these quotes.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart”
― Helen Keller

I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.”
― Helen Keller

Watching him play

Nervous, excited, proud, just some of what I feel when I watch him play. My wishes for him:

• PASSION-to find things in life you love, whatever they may be
• CHALLENGE- to try things that help you learn and grow
• TEAMWORK - while its important to challenge yourself, learn and grow in your own skills, its important to be a team player,  help others, pass the ball and support the greater good
• COURAGE- to try new things even if you aren't good at them at first
• TENACITY & HARD WORK -- practice, keep going even when its tough, never stop getting up when you fall

Most of all FUN!

Rain Boots

Jazz Therapy

The past several weeks have been busy at work, the next several will be even more challenging. I'm learning to live in the present moment and steal the little opportunities when I can.  Tonight my photo is my 5pm Jazzercise students! I love them, they are the best therapy I have ever had or could ever imagine.  They show up, they work hard, they laugh, they holler, sometimes they complain a little, I'm certain they call me names under their breath :). They give me more than I could ever give them and I truly couldn't imagine getting through the stressful times without them.   Grateful for the hour I stole for myself and for my students! win-win!

The Escape Artist

It's day 4 of my photo-a-day project, clearly I was delusional when I committed to this.  I missed my photo yesterday, so here I am 10:00 pm grasping for a photo opportunity, keeping my goals in mind (things that are important and I want to remember...... blah blah blah).  

 I am just 21 short days from go live of one of the largest projects I have worked on in my 23 year career at my employer. I teach 4- Jazzercise classes per week, I have a family, a commute, and somewhere in all of that I really should sleep. None the less, I committed to this, so here I am.  

My photo tonight is my son's pet hamster, Alex.  Alex was first named, Derek, and then Matthew (my 8 year old) got sentimental and renamed him after our late yellow lab, Alex.  Alex-the-hamster is becoming quite the master at escaping from his hamster house.  He has escaped 6 times now.  The fifth escape, which was just last weekend, my husband, masterfully devised a strategy to catch him in a bucket (lured with peanut butter) Alex couldn't resist and was caught almost instantly.  We decided we should purchase an addition to his house and give him a bit more room to roam, so Mike and Matt built him an extension.  Just one short day after he moved into his new house, he escaped again!  This was his longest adventure loose in my house (roughly 12-15 hours).    To be honest, I never expected a hamster to be smart enough to do much of anything (I mean he does spin around in a circle on a wheel most of the night!) but darn if this little guy doesn't have some sense, he keeps finding his way out.  As for the new house, I think it just gives him more escape hatches.   I think Mike is starting to lose it too, tonight he was walking around the house calling himself 'Mouse Hunter" or something like that!  Never a dull moment that's for sure!   

365 Photo Project - Day 2

Today is Day #2 of my commitment to the 365 photo-a-day project, I'm already starting to enhance my goals (surprising, I know).    I"m taking a picture everyday so that I can:

1. Focus on what's important everyday
2. Have a year long record of every single memory
3. Improve my photography skills
4. And....(insert drum roll here) .... improve my photo editing skills

Today's photo, my best friend.  We were cleaning up the basement after the wreckage of Matt's hamster escaping.  Sam was sitting at the bottom of the stairs breaking down cardboard boxes and he called me down. When I looked at him,  at the bottom of the stairs, for a single second there was a glimpse of the young boy I met over 20 years ago.  I don't know if it was the silly grin he was wearing or just that he was tired, but  I saw that young boy and it warmed my heart.  I said 'WAIT!!' hold that expression on your face (so I could run and get my camera) in that second I knew that he was my picture for the day. 

As a bonus, my picture was awful. The lighting was bad, cropping, etc.  Thus goal #4  I think I did a decent job at editing the photo.  I love him, in sepia, in black and white or in color! 

365 Photo-a-day Project

I know it's 7 days into the New Year, but I heard this idea about making a  365 day goal.  The goal I heard was 'you can't buy any new clothes for a year'  It peaked my interest, but I don't think I'm ready for that!  I did a little research and found lots of people have taken a photo every day for a whole year.  I love photography and I love the idea of documenting the wonderful little things that happen everyday.  I created a new blog site as I've struggled with this one, but I think I"ll take another shot at seeing if this will work here.  Wish me luck on my 365-day journey!       Happy New Year!