Mourning the Loss of a Friend

Sorry, another deep thinking post. It's not like me, I know, but my funny bone is sprained at the moment. I'm mourning off and on about the loss of a friend. Not to death, but the end of a friendship. I don't lose friends very often and I tend to take it hard when I do.

I heard a speaker talk about friendships and it really changed my perspective. Certain people come into your life at certain times when you need that kind of friend. Sometimes, friends move on or you've outgrown the friendship or had a falling out. Instead of directing bad feelings towards them, be appreciative of the things you've learned from them or what they offered you at the time when you were friends. There is something to learn from everyone.

I want to include the lyrics of a song that I love from the musical "Wicked." I can dedicate this to everyone who has been in and out of my life:

FOR GOOD

I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn.
And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them and we help them in return.
Well I don't know if I believe that's true
but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you......

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun, like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part
So much of me is made of what I learned from you, you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine by being my friend....

Like a ship blown from it's mooring by a wind off the sea. Like a seed dropped by a skybird in a distant wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you I have been changed for good.

And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness for the things I've done you blame me for.
But then, I guess we know there's blame to share and none of it seems to matter anymore.

I do believe I have been changed for the better, because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

Playin' Tag

Karen tagged me with this Meme of "Four Things." Thanks, Karen. I have some material to post now. Besides the fact that I had a nightmare last night of that scary lady chasing me with her lunatic laugh!

A. Four places I go over and over:
1. Wal-Mart because it is less than two miles away.
2. PARC, because that's where I work!
3. The bathroom in the middle of the night. (JK!)
4. A special place in my mind that I like to revisit! (he! he!)

B. Four people who e-mail me regularly:
1. Karen, my BFF
2. Kari, my other BFF
3. My dad in Oregon
4. My cousin who sends me way too much junk mail.

C. Four of my favourite places to eat:
1. I'm not picky, but don't do pasta.
2. Good Thai restaurants.
3. Bajio's Mexican Grill
4. My calendar says this month: "It's not so much as what's on the table that matters, as what's on the chairs." W.S. Gilbert

D. Four places you'd rather be:
1. A massage bed.
2. Thailand on vacation.
3. The West Indies on vacation.
4. Anywhere my hands and feet aren't permanently cold at the moment.

E. Four TV shows I could watch over and over:
1. 2. 3. 4. I don't like watching things over and over. Sorry, no answer. Party pooper, I know.

F. Four people I think will respond:
1. Janine
2. Christina
3. Diane J.
4. Dad

Diggin' the Dancing Queen

Last night Ali and I turned on the Roland digital piano and stuck in some of our midi-discs and sang our little hearts out. It was more fun than pretty. We would add our little "ows" and "Xena calls" and had each other laughing. We would make up our own words to some of the songs just to make each other laugh. One of our favorite discs to sing to is "ABBA." I know. I know. Some people consider that child abuse. Mimi is catching on and loves singing ABBA too. Her friends come over and they have no idea what she is singing.

So.....then we make up funny dance moves and Ali does the "booty shake." Can I just say no one does it like Beyonce? We just do not have the right genes. Her dancing far surpasses my dancing and I could hurt myself with some of the moves she did. I haven't danced since the late 80's. Our purpose in dancing - to make the other person laugh.

It was fun "playing" with my daughter. I always love the one on one time I get with each of them. When I got home from work today Mimi and her friend were outside and she tells me, "We're playing 'Princess and Servant.' Lauren is the princess and I'm the servant." I said, "I want to play, but I want to be the princess." They said no.

Happy Birthday, Seth!

You never forget the day your children are born. Seth was born at 8.6 lbs. I couldn't find any newborn photos of Seth because a lot of our stuff is still packed away. Especially books, since we don't have an allocated library. This is Seth in Australia when he was about nine months old.





This week, he turned 18 years old. That means I had him when I was 11. They say the years go by fast......some went slower than others.



He was about two years old in this picture. This was in our front yard in Oz. We had a mulberry tree just a few feet away from this spot and he used to go out there in bare feet and come in with purple feet, hands and face.




This is his very first day of school at Acacia Ridge Primary School. They had uniforms. One difference between our schools in the US and Oz is they had no cafeteria. They brought a home lunch or bought something from the "tuck shop" and ate on the covered porches on the floor.

They also learned to swim at school. Being about an hour away from the beach, swimming is a popular sport. Once a week they would bring their "togs" and towels.


This is my favorite picture of me with my favorite son. I tell him he's my favorite son a lot. He also tells me I'm his favorite mom.

He has a great sense of humor. One day I was annoyed with him for something and I said the usual line, "Seth! How many times do I have to tell you....?" He answered, "Oh, probably two or three more times."

Once he threw an embarassing fit in front of some ladies at my house because I wanted him to clean his room before he went out. Then he packed his bag and "ran away." I was so furious from the scene that afterwards I put a sign out in our front yard that said, "Boys Room For Rent - must do chores." A few hours later the sign mysteriously disappeared and he came to me and apologized.



This is Seth's senior picture from high school. He never shows his teeth when he smiles in photos. I don't know why, he has very nice teeth and a very nice smile.


Mimi asked Seth if he was excited to be 18 now. Then she quickly added, "You can order stuff now!" Someone watches way too many ads.









This is Seth today. He is still recuperating from shaving his head - yes, down to the skin. I was not very happy about that. Mimi asked him if his head was always cold. Cord (AKA my other from another mother) is in the red.


Happy Birthday, Seth! Thanks for filling my life with laughter and for the free trip to the looney bin. Just kidding....kinda. Your my favorite son ever!

WHAT'S YOUR THERAPY?

Some people eat. Some people work out. Some people shop. I refer to my outlet as "Vocal Therapy." There is something theraputic about belting out a song or ten. I should be totally embarassed to share this video clip. But you know, I feel everything else is out there, why not share this as well? It's like looking into a mirror and you think you look better than you do - or listening to yourself talk on tape and it's like fingernails on a chalkboard. So I warn you now....do not press play unless you want to see me totally making a fool of myself. Rocket Scientist, I thought I was losing my "nickname" until I saw this video - do not say a word!!! Thanks Jared, for being the camera man, being my fan and giving me a friendly face to look at!

Here's the question of the day - what is your therapy?