Missouri Blizzard of 2011

As I posted on Facebook earlier, I am all for being a part of history making events, but this isn't what I had in mind.

For the past 36 hours all we have heard on the weather reports is that this could be the storm of our century. If you chat with people who are from where I live here in Missouri, some say they haven't seen anything like this since 1940's, 1969, 1982. Well those of us who are not born and raised here this is our first blizzard.

As I am posting this the snow is almost to the valves on the fire hydrant outside my window. My poor dogs are not real thrilled on having to suit up (yes they have little snow coats) and venture out to do their business. Earlier this morning they ventured to the base of the house where there wasn't any snow, but now with the wind blowing the snow every which way they will be lucky to make it two steps out the door.

I am wagering that I will be snowed until possibly until Friday. I know to those who live on the sunny west coast, you haven't a clue, those who live on the east coast think "hey this happens all the time to us, especially this year". I spoke with a client today from Toronto, Canada who really had an "oh well" attitude. But to be honest I think we are all sick of the wacky weather we have all been experiencing around the country.

Another one of my first thoughts today was "this must be what it is like to live in a snow globe". I have several in my skating memorabilia and I have a whole different perspective on them now.

My poor doggies want nothing to do with the outside world at this point. For one reason they are too small and might get lost in it.

Well I am sure this will be the storm that we will be talking about for years to come. I am seriously thinking about flying south for the winter in the future.

Homeless in America Hits Any Age Group

It is always nice to get away from home for a day and just have a little fun with friends. Today was just that day. With all the snow we have had and being cooped up in the house for days at a time, the sun was bright, almost blinding so it was a perfect day for a road trip and lunch.

After the great day I came home to a little television. I had heard earlier in the week a report about the staggering numbers of teen homeless in our country. There are roughly 2 million homeless teens in America today. That's a number that for me no real parent can fathom.

The segment told the story of four teens, ranging in age from 13-18. Another sad statistic is the large amount in the state of Oregon. I always had the thought that Oregon was the carefree, hippie state. Lots of people move there either to retire, or raise children because of the peace and tranquility.

Each story of these teens in itself was extremely heartbreaking. One young man who was 17 was sent on a one-way trip to see a relative. Later his mother confessed there was no relative--she just couldn't handle him. There stories differed greatly but after living in a tree for a short time in San Francisco Golden Gate Park, he managed to get his life back on track, graduate and briefly re-connect with some of his family.

Another young lady was tossed out by her mother after most of her life living in cars and shelters. Again her mother told a different version of the truth and the girl was eventually emancipated by the State of Oregon. She later received over $16,000 in scholarship and is attending the college of her dreams.

The other staggering figure on this is alot of these young people are those who feel uncomfortable in their own skin due to transgender. Another high occurrence is drug and alcohol use.

Each of these stories brought a different aspect of how this homeless teen epidemic is a truly sad situation.

Although I have never been homeless and am a parent myself, I am unable to understand these parents. It is possible that the whole story is really not told, as in any situation but we as a society can only hope these kids can turn things around and be productive citizens because they are the future.

Everyone has a story some like fairy tales and others like horror stories. They can stop the cycle and get off, or chose to continue peddling down a road to nowhere. The chose is their's some are on the right road and others are lost. I thank God everyday my two children are doing well.

The other thought on this is I complain about being cooped up in my home during bad weather, next time I will be thinking about those kids or anyone who doesn't have a home at all.

The Snow--Better Memories

We have seen our fair share of snow this year. Maybe not as much as years past but I find as I am getting older my tolerance to the non-recreational snow is getting less and less.

Growing up in California, living on the coast the only time you saw snow was when you were driving north and could see the snow on the top of the local mountains. You went to the snow, it didn't come to you. Bundling up gloves, hats, extra socks, boots, jackets, scarves I have obviously spent more on seasonal clothes in the past 14 years than I care to admit.

I actually still have hanging in my closest my first pair of suspender ski pants I bought for my first ever ski trip. I am not even sure why I have kept them all this time, I haven't been skiing in 13 years.

My first experience skiing was at 21. David and I had been dating six months when he invited me to go skiing with a few of his friends. I thought that at least with my figure skating ability I might be able to get by a little. Boy, was I surprised. I spent more time down than up but after one full day of clearing the ski run for others I finally got the hang of it. Mammoth Mountain was one of the premier lodges in Northern California and a great place to learn.

Later on trips to Lake Tahoe, Big Bear helped to get my skating legs into skiing legs. On a trip to Alaska and Vancouver BC I had big hopes of getting to ski, but with the severe fog in both places we were unable to get the chance.

Our last ski trip was to the local ski area, Big Bear the Winter of 1996. It was bittersweet because by then snowboarding was in full swing and skiing had become more difficult to maneuver because of the snowboarders as they both "shared" the mountain.

One thing I know is true, its alot better to have fun in the snow then it is to be stuck in or shoveling it..

Playing Catch Up or Slowing Down A Big Part of Life

I catch myself already saying to my nine month old granddaughter "slow down". At some point in the not so distant future I will probably tell her to "come on lets go, hurry up". Somehow we are never satisfied with the speed in which we travel in life or how others do sometimes either.

When I was skating I was usually in time with the music. (Sometimes I would skate to fast and be ahead). Sometimes I would scramble to catch up if I had a fall. The coach would always tell you "if you fall get up, go on and finish the program, No matter what.. One such time when I was competing at a national competition with my group we literally had a trainwreck, one of the ladies fell, and cut her nose. But she got up and continued on to finish. The picture taken after she proudly showed her battle scar and with all that we managed to "Survive the Trainwreck" as it was proudly known for years after.

I still haven't caught up and it's only nine days into 2011. Now really should be the time in my life where I should be able to slow down a little. But like "retirement" its not a word in my vocabulary.

The old saying "Stop and smell the roses--or coffee" whatever the case maybe I am going to try my best but I won't make any promises. Who am I kidding, until the day I die I will probably be rushing on to the next event, or task but I will never be accused of never doing enough..

A Life 103 Years Young

I think I speak for alot of people when I say that attending a funeral is not one of the high things on our lists. We do it out of respect/and or love for the person and the family. But sometimes after attending them we come home with a sense of maybe knowing the person a little bit more and sitting back and reflecting on what we have or have not accomplished in our own lives.

This past weekend I attended a funeral for a neighbor. When we first moved to the neighborhood she and her husband were the "cute little couple" across the street. He was a tall, lanky guy who always helped his wife to the car. Shortly after moving to the neighborhood her husband after a short illness passed away and her son came to live with her. At the time I didn't realize how old she was until another neighbor told me a little about her. She was 90, Herbie was her second husband, and she had four sons, two who she outlived.

Over the years I had a chance to talk to her a few times. When you went to her house it was like going to grandma's. She always offered you candy and hours of stories that I would always love to listen too.

Living out on the farm with her first husband, being a young widow with two small children during a time when so much was happening not only in this town but in the country in general. The late 20's and early 30's were as turbulent as the current time is. But with all that she lived through it. She saw many things in her lifetime, really too much to count on one hand.

The invention of the car, phone, television, computers, the list goes on and on.

Her grandson told of how after his Dad passed away, he and his sister came to live with his grandparents. He said he really had so much to thank her for that if it hadn't been for them he didn't know what would have become of him. He said one story that came to mind was that she taught him how to drive in the local Liberty Park Baseball Field parking lot. Seeing his grandma do donuts with the family car was something he and his grandma kept secret for many years. She drove a car until she was in her early 90's.

Another story that had been carried down was once when "Cindy" and her older son got into a heated discussion so much so that her son lifted her up (she was only about 4'11) and put her on top of the refrigerator until she "cooled down". That visual in itself I still laugh at.

Some people live in neighborhoods and never speak to their neighbors. Others form a friendship of sorts.

I was proud to know "Cindy" and will miss the little conversations.

Christmas Season the Groundhog's Day Approach

Another interesting week has come and gone. Not without drama, laughter, frustration and a little Christmas shopping thrown in. Our granddaughter, Hadleigh hit a milestone that none of my children accomplished at her age. She made her first visit to see Santa. I was in a panic wondering would she sit on his lap, cry some of the things parents and grandparents cringe at in that first picture. But I am happy to say that she did wonderful. To see the wonder in her eyes at looking up at the white bearded man was in itself priceless.

Which made me think several times this week. Maybe I will keep that Christmas joy and its decorations up in my house until just before spring! One thing that I think I may have a touch of is the approaching winter duldrums and just having and seeing the lights, the decorations may keep those duldrums at bay. I will give anything a try.

People laugh at me because ice skating is considered a winter sport and it is cold and I did it all my life, so you would think that winter wouldn't be such an issue. It has only been since moving to the midwest where you experience all the seasons-some more than others.

So if you happen to drop by my house after New Year's Day don't be in total shock if you see a Christmas tree and Santa Claus and all the other symbols of the holiday season, I am just keeping the winter duldrums from knocking at my door.

A Time to Give Thanks and a Time for Giving

One a day with turkey and all the fixings and taking time to be with family and friends, I actually had a little down time during the morning of basting and preparing to sit back and watch a few minutes of the Macy's Parade and a quick heartwarming story. I flipped through the channels and stopped at a story on ESPN about a handicapped man who was the 50 year pride of a small college on the eastcoast.

On a cold winter day in 1960 a young college student was driving home when he stopped upon a woman with a young man in a wheelchair stopped along the road. The young college student asked if he might assist her and little did he know that he along with hundreds of other students would have a lifelong bond with this man.

Butch became a fixture not only to the college but also to the young men and women he touched. He became the mascot of the football, basketball teams, attending all of the games for the past 50 years. Each basketball season the football team gets him to every game and each basketball season the football team makes sure he is there to cheer them on also. Over the past years he has made many friends and is a part of each and every one of there families. At a recent football game he tearfully thanked his first friend who picked him and his grandmother up that cold day and said he felt so blessed to know all of them. The excitement they see on his face they said made there time at the college a truly inspiring time in all there lives.

Of course by the end I was tearing up as well. Thanksgiving is a time to remember memories of past and present. It is a time for family and friends and also a time to remember how thankful we all are to have our health, jobs to go to and loved ones to hold close. Enjoy every minute and give to others no matter how small it might be.