Stepping Back in Time

One year ago when I went on a visit to California I stopped by one of the skating rinks I spent many hours at during my childhood. I had heard it had been closed for awhile due to new ownership and renovations taking place. The building I knew was older, the windows were tapped with black plastic someday to reveal a new dynamic rink. This picture shows how it was that day I stopped by to see my old homestead of sorts.

This past month I again thought I would stop by and see if any progress had been made and to my surprise the sign read OPEN in big black letters on the marquee. A few cars in the parking lot so I thought what the heck I'll stop in and see what it looked like.

I have to say when I pulled in the parking lot I stopped for a brief moment and sat behind the wheel of the car. I rush went over me. One because it had been at least 25 years since I had stepped foot in this particular rink. Alot of great memories but also alot of sad one's too. When I stepped through the door I briefly told the young man in the office that I used to skate at the rink as a kid and I just wanted to see all the new work they had done. "No problem, Mame go ahead". That in itself was strange to me because the last time I had set foot on the ice there I was in my early 20's. As I canvased the new renovations. That rink smell was still there. That large patch of white had a couple single skaters and a couple coaches but other than that it was just as I had remembered. Now equipped with surveillance cameras at 6 different sights (that seems to be the think in most areas of California sadly) most things in the inside were still the same.

Although all new coaches pictures graced the wall, I didn't strangely recognize several from my days of gracing the ice. The only major difference was that the old fire pit that proudly stood in the middle of the off ice area was now just black rubber. A little sad as I spent many a time sitting there warming my hands and other wet spots on the body from falling down on the ice.

Many hours of my early lifetime was spent at this establishment. That brief few minutes standing there at taking a 360 degree look around was a little daunting for me but I am extremely happy that it did get purchased by someone who loved it for what it was a special place for many people who have come through those doors. Either for recreational or professional hopes of becoming another Dorothy Hamill, Kristi Yamaguchi or whoever the current queen of ice might be.

It provided a wonderful haven for me, I met some wonderful people and had some of the best times of my life in that place.

Life is Like a Jigsaw Puzzle

Several weekends ago I had taken a trip out of Dodge to attend a Leadership Conference for our Business Women's Group. It usually consists of various speakers and words of wisdom to hopeful change your thinking about things to enhance your life.

With my A type personality it usually is very difficult for me to admit my shortcomings although I seem to be doing better as I get older (I hope).

One interesting exercise in personal growth included a jigsaw puzzle. One of the first questions that the speaker asked was whether we had ever done a jigsaw puzzle without looking at the picture first. Such a wonderful question, and it actually got me thinking. No never in my life had I done that. It reminded me a little about a game I played called Concentration. You turned all the pieces over with pictures not showing and proceeded to turn two at a time to match as sets. The object was to see how fast you could match all of them up.

Part of the object to me of putting together a puzzle has always been to get an idea of what the picture is and to start with the outer part of the puzzle and work you way to the middle, thus finishing the puzzle.

To me doing a puzzle without looking at the picture is like putting something together without looking at the directions. But in life you don't always have directions. Sometimes you have to make up your own directions or just experience the situation first hand in your own way. Sometimes it is not always the best way but for each individual it can be the right way.

After doing many puzzles as a kid if the picture was one I really liked or if it was a really difficult one I would usually buy puzzle glue and forever seal its fate and use it as a picture. Now that I look back at that it probably wasn't the best thing to do except that it was forever locked into place and hung on the wall to enjoy.

After the completion of the exercise many of us at our table considered trying to do a puzzle next time without looking at the picture. I believe I would try a small puzzle rather than a 1,000 piece one just to be on the safe side in hopes of completing it easily. As in life sometimes we want to take the easy way instead I guess.

We also got to choice two pieces of the puzzle at our table, picture down, that had a little saying on the other side. How fitting the two I choice were:

"Be grateful for pieces of life's puzzles that fit" and "Expect there to be missing pieces and learn to live with them". Two very fitting quotes that really do describe something that needed to be a reminder to be.

Doors that the Internet Opens

Since returning from my trip to CA last week I had to stop and think that no matter how far away you may be from other parts of the country the Internet keeps us connected to anywhere we want to go around the country and also around the world.

As much as people complain and I know I do my share, the Internet has provided so many opportunities to everyone. Some people rely completely on the Internet to do everything in their daily life. I admit I have not completely turned my life over to it (contrary to what some of my family thinks) but it is truly wonderful how we are able to keep in touch with others or do business over the world-wide web.

I recently went into a shop with some friends and the first thing the proprietor asked was "Where did I live?" after telling them they stated "Oh, I am sure they must have a store close by". Rather than correct them I thought I will just check on the Internet. Of course the closest store is more than three hours away but after checking on-line I found it was easier just to make purchases there than the long drive.


When I stop and think how much on-line shopping you can do it blows my mind. I have bought a wide variety of items and it is like Christmas when the UPS or Federal Express man comes, package in hand.


Some are not happy to step out of their personal comfort zone, but hey if you can't find it locally go on-line its a big world out their and it's your opportunity to see everything, from the comfort of your computer screen..


Here are just a few places that might be of interest:

www.lush.com
www.jenisicecreams.com
www.picklesandthings.com
www.reluctantgourmet.com

A Tiny Hole in a Tiny Heart

You never like to get bad news, at least I don't know anyone who does. But sometimes the best precautions can mean alot. Our new granddaughter went to her second checkup and words you never want to hear came out of the doctors' mouth. "I think she has a heart murmur?" Of course any news about your child is horrendous but being the mom I am I told my daughter, "It's probably nothing".

I was blessed with two healthly children. Yes both went through the typical childhood things, no broken bones, thank goodness and really the only severe accidents were our son knocked out a front tooth when he was two years old and our daughter hit her head on the fireplace after a "wrestling match" with her brother. I felt like I got off pretty good with minor things.

Especially considering that David's first son was not so lucky. He was only six years old when he passed away. To many abnormalities to list in a time when medical science still wasn't able to take care of things. So when I had children I was overly critical of telling the doctor of past things.

I am happy to say Hadleigh's "tiny hole" is a fairly normal occurrence and the doctor said by age two it should be gone. My daughter was relieved to here this news as we all were. After getting off the phone with her the one thing that stuck with me was that she said the doctor said he could tell with how happy and active she was that it couldn't be anything severe. He gave her a picture of her heart for her "baby scrapbook".

My thoughts are that the tiny hole is just letting lots of extra love inside her already loving heart.

Hats are "In" Again

I saw on a recent news report that hats are in again! For people who know me. Hats have not been an intrigal part of my wardrobe, until very recently. As a kid growing up a hat was plopped on my head usually around Easter with the laced bonnet or if I had a cold or ear infection my mom usually made me wear a scarf or knitted cap so my ears would recover. Usually the first chance I could get the hat came off. Once in a great while I would pop on a baseball cap but only as a last resort.

Several times I had to wear a hat or decorated cap when I was figure skating. I found there is really know way to have your hair styled high on your head and wear a top hat at the same time. It really doesn't put forth a fashion statement.

But recently I have bought a couple winter caps and since our Corvette purchase a visors that I pop when we have put the top down.

This recent news report said fedoras are back in style have probably a 40 year rest. Many of the current red carpet stars sport a fashionable fedora. I always thought only certain few can actually do hats and you definitely have to feel comfortable with one on your head. I always thought my head was a little larger and being only 5'2 thought a hat just wasn't me.

My grandpa always sports fedoras. A grey one for every day and darker for special times out. Always a little over one side to make him look mysterious.

Maybe that's why people are getting back into hats. The mystery one can put forth. Although it is probably more just styles are on a revolving door spurts and now is the time for people to wear fashionable head wear.

Well as it is I am a shoe fantatic but you never know you might catch me in a smart hat.

Something to Do with All that Zucchini

Zucchini seems to be growing hot and heavy everywhere you look. I guess due to all the rain everyone has been getting. No matter who I talk to they all seem to have alot and sometimes are at a lose as to what to do with it all.

Over the years I acquired a taste for it myself. While I was growing up I couldn't stand them, (kinda like the avocado's we were overwhelmed with 2 trees) but believe me I have learned to love it. I have eaten sauteed with onions, mixed with tomatoes, had a zucchini cheese bake, of course the always sneaky zucchini bread (I have alot of different recipe's and you would never no it is inside the bread) cookies well you get it the list it goes on and on.

The other day it again must have been a slow news day because one of our local areas had a zucchini derby. What you may ask? For all of you who have had sons in boy scouts you can relate. Scouts wasn't without its yearly Pinewood Derby. But yes they had a race apparently the 4th annual of its kind. They decorated there zucchini's and raced them down a hot wheels strip. Strange you might think but apparently loads of fun if you have nothing to do. Seems like a waste of a good item but I guess if in doubt, race them..

The one thing the Pinewood Derby keeps the memories forever and the zucchini derby doesn't is that, the memories of my son and husband making it together. They worked long and hard on the little car, painted, whittled, weighted in just the right place, put cute stickers all over it and proudly ran it down that track. If my mind serves me I think they came in second place. Another plus is that car is a part of his memory box. I rather doubt that the top winners in the zucchini run will be able to preserve their winner.

One Determined Man- Skating Across America

Usually every morning I read our paper on-line. There are usually a couple stories that catch my eye and this one definitely did.

Kenichi Yamasita is a 62 year old Japanese man who is making a trek across the country via rollerblades to thank Americans. During World War II he said many helped him and he wanted to thank Americans for doing so. He started his journey in Santa Monica, CA and will hopefully end it in Provincetown, MA before his six-month visa expires.

His determination is inspiring and personally I can't imagine going across country via rollerblades. He stopped in Sedalia and people graciously took him in for a meal.

Sadly, a story such as this also makes me think of my grandpa who fought during World War II, who wouldn't even let a grain of rice in the house. He was a very opinionated man and never forgot the time he had to spend away from home and all that he had to fight for. I can understand his feelings but also it is extremely heartwarming to also understand Mr. Yamasita's life-long determination and for him to make a trip to America and give words of thanks.

I wonder if there will ever be people in years to come who will thank us for all our country has done to allow their lives to be different-only time will tell...