Road Trip-Missouri Style

I am always up for new adventures. Sometimes as we mature in life adventures are few and far between, but I guess they are really whatever you make them into.

Recently I started another venture into the world of direct sales. A new hat I wear is Dove Discoveries Chocolatier. It's my second hat to wear in the direct sales world. For seven years I have struggled to sell Beauticontrol products (I still do that but with the economy makeup and spa products are a luxury) so when I was approached to do this I jumped at a new adventure. I debated on whether to travel outside my general area but when an acquaintance asked if I would drive 150+ miles one way to do a party for her I said I would.

So I put my road trip hat on and ventured south. I wasn't a virgin when it comes to packing up the car and going on a road trip. As a kid it wasn't strange for my Dad to decide we were going to drive down the Pacific Coast Hwy and find a place to stop for ice cream, get gas and then turn around and go home. The sites were indescribable sometimes but thank goodness I wasn't prone to car sickness.

This past Saturday, I packed my wares and started out. One major difference is no major freeway, mostly two lane highways to my destination,although they are widening to four lanes part of the way.

I passed towns with funny names like Rescue, Albatross and Plew which the last one looked like a word jumble that you thought wasn't even a real word.

Animals of every kind were not foreign; cows, and more cows, Texas Longhorns, llamas, emu and a camel of all things. I had to do a double take for that one. I was surprised and saddened how since the recent road improvements how some of the tiniest towns are more like ghost towns. Although the roads improved it didn't improve the populations or services if anything it probably made it worse.

As I got closer to my final destination I traveled the old "Route 66" and thought how wonderful it must have been back in the day to pass what now was just a memory. Old abandoned motor stops, run by families, old gasoline stations with old pumps, progress didn't up lift these home style amenities.

Of course this trip didn't come without getting a little misplaced. The google map was wrong, (NO GPS for me yet) so I basically crossed my fingers and stood at a crossroads much like Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway in the end, and had hope that I would be able to have enough signal on my phone to reach my party destination.

I mentioned on my Facebook that day if I did get lost at least I had chocolate to eat. Thankfully I didn't have to resort to eating my profits.

This city girl adapted as best she could to the real country. It was a Missouri Road Trip--what more could I have expected.

Once Upon a Time......Long, Long Ago....

This is the story of a shy, young girl. She worked eight hour days, five days a week. Went to college part-time three days a week and some Saturdays. She took time out for her hobby but this was the life of someone almost 21 years old. Sounds a little boring but she had just ventured out on her own and moved away from home into an apartment with a friend. Five months into this new and exciting life her office was moving to a new facility and she was asked to work extra days to help the move go smoothly over a weekend in November.

The moving company did a walk-through on Friday and she was introduced to a foreman who would be handling the move. Blonde hair, blue eyes with that little hint of devil in him and of course well-built in her eyes. This guy worked a fast pace. Directing the guys what to get and where to put it. Little did the young girl realize her life would be changed forever.

No this isn't a fairy tale, wait no maybe it is. But this is the beginning of my love story almost 29 years ago. David and I worked side by side that weekend and we haven't left each other's side since. It is hard to believe that tomorrow we will be married 27 years. Two children, 1 1/2 grandchildren later. Our lives have been filled with happy and sad stories, peaks and valleys, laughter and tears, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Although we don't get to spend our day together like I had wanted we did get to go out earlier in the week and have our date night. Sometimes we are like two ships that are passing in the night but, 29 years ago our ships bumped into each other head-on like the Titanic to the iceberg and I thank God for him everyday.

You really can't look for love, it hits you when you least expect it. The picture is on our honeymoon in my most favorite place Hawaii. I think one of the reasons it holds a special place in my heart. We were young, pounds lighter and not a care in the world and had no idea what was ahead of us. Little did we think that we would continue with the story this many years later.

Happy 27th Anniversary, may we have 27 more together.

The Written Word Changing How we Communicate?

I have always said that doing my blog was very similar to what my grandmother would consider her written diary post every day. It might be what she eat that day or writing that I had come over to spend the night with her. I really wish I would have been able to get a hold of her diaries to keep for myself to refer to for my pleasure or to be able to share with my children and grandchildren.

Today my blog, which hard to believe I have been doing for three years in September.It's hard to believe that I have managed to think of topics or just ramble on for this long. Who am I kidding, I admit I am never at a lose for words.

Even though a good percentage of my time is more on a technology item be it through e-mail, Facebook, texting and phone calls. But I still manage maybe not as much as I have in the past to take pen to paper and actually hand-write notes.

A few weeks ago I heard that a school district in another state is actually considering not teaching cursive handwriting. Even with my knowledge of technology I was truly appalled. How can we not teach our children to write? My first thought was how back in history people grew up never learning to know how to write. But to chose not to teach children to write because the statement made "with technology and computer age we don't necessarily need to have perfect penmanship".

I always admired those that had beautiful handwriting. Being a "lefty" I always thought I was fair in the writing department as far as cosmetic look. I am not your typical slanted left handed writer but I have had people who I have known for years say that it still looks the same. I admit I don't take the time and I sometimes have trouble reading my own writing but still I am thankful all those hours my teachers took to teach me.

We have stopped having physical education, and some music and arts programs have been cut back significantly. But don't make another mistake America and do away with the true written words on paper. In my personal opinion its just another thing you are taking away that makes people unique.

Just When I Think My Life May Be Boring, Then a Tornado Comes into My Life

Over the last several years I have thought that I lived a rather ho hum life. I work at home and get out of the house to do the basic everyday errands with a few little surprises thrown in for good measure. Although over the past almost six years I have made many a trip to hospitals, doctor appointments and other such trips with my mother-in-law these trips are usually pretty routine.

With the recent tornado activities all over the Midwest it makes you think a little bit more; what will I do and how will I react if when comes close? The Joplin tornado was such a horrendous one, words can not describe the pictures and stories that those poor people have been through. With the St. Johns Hospital taking a direct hit it would have been a usual first place to probably take cover for people.

I have to admit I usually take tornado warnings with a grain of salt. My first thought usually is: What would the chances be that an actual tornado would touch down in my area?

Wednesday, March 25 at 12:25 p.m. I got my answer. Although I didn't have any direct damage. I know several people who were hit extremely hard. An F2 can still do alot of damage.

My west coast friends took for granted that everyone has a basement. As I told one friend, I don't have one and where I was the basement wasn't the best place to be. Actually we had just returned to my mother-in-laws from the hospital and were home only ten minutes when we had our first warning. We actually had to drive half way across town to another family members basement something I probably wouldn't have done if I were by myself but since I had three elderly people to worry about, safer was getting them someplace else. I was amazed at my 5 '2 body could maneuver two men and a woman from a car, in the driving rain and wind to the safety of a dry basement. But I did!

This was my second close call in the 15 years I have lived here. My one friend who has lived here all her life has been through 3 tornadoes all of which she has had significant damage either to houses and/or businesses. This one hit extremely hard for her at a time when she was contemplating retirement in the near future. I know she will make the best choice for her. Personally, my choice would be to find a place to live where there is no tornadoes, no earthquakes, no hurricanes, no adverse weather of any kind but as I have been told time and time again--there is no such place. For now I guess I will make do where I am and consider myself lucky again and also consider my life not as boring as I thought, there is an adventure around the corner every day.

We Are What We Wear-Or Are We?

On a recent program feature about the type of clothes you wear and how they effect your life there was one statement that made me stop and think. We learn from an early age about the clothes we like and how they make us feel comfortable or how we want to be perceived. I do agree a little about this but it also made me think how times have changed drastically on clothing in general.

As a child most of my clothes were home-made. Both my mother and grandmother knew how to sew, so all of my clothes were not bought in a store. Sewing is a lost art in today's busy world. It also takes a lot of patience. Frankly, I have sewn very few items because my patience level is extremely low. At the time I disliked having clothes that were not bought in a store, because most of my friends didn't have home made clothes. Wow how many times have we not heard that saying today!

I also remember how excited I was to make my first purchase at age 12 of store bought pants. Dittos were the "in thing" in pants at a time. I had one pink and one blue pair. I remember being so excited going to school and feeling like I was just like everyone else. Times have not changed much in that respect that we want to fit in.

We usually are told to look for clothes that we like and sometimes that isn't always what we should be wearing. Years ago a co-worker and I were going shopping for a jumpsuit that I wanted to find for a very special date I was going on. I still remember her picking out a black stripped suit that at first I thought just looking at it wasn't for me, but once I put it on it was completely different on me than on the hanger. I still hear her voice in my ear sometimes when I pick out clothes. Unfortunately, now I am older but usually still gravitate to a younger look.

Climate and geography also has a big influence on what we wear. I used to wear light, clothing and only had a light jacket. Where I currently live it is sometimes very hard to find clothes that are fashionable. I also have several large, heavy coats due to the cold weather, My area is geared more to rural living and practicality more than fashion. If it's not jeans, boots and a tee shirt you probably won't find it at a local store. Driving one to two hours to a mall has become routine. Is it unfortunate to drive miles and sometimes states away just so you can have something different in your wardrobe.

Women are usually more fashion savvy than men. When I first met my husband his wardrobe was brown corduroy pants, brown boots and a brown shirt. He really had no color wheel when it came to clothing. Over the years, since I buy his clothes he has come to enjoy a new color and comment that he looks really good in that outfit. I like to say he cleans up well since he usually wears jeans and a polo shirt for his work dress.

I find that it becomes more and more difficult to find clothes that I enjoy. As I get older I want more comfort but still want something that makes me feel good, no matter my age. Not that I want to be that hot older lady, but I am sure I won't be too conservative either.

I like to think I enjoy fashion, I like color, variety and comfort like the next person but I also like to make a little of a fashion statement within reason.

As Mother's Day Approaches

Time certainly does fly. It doesn't seem possible that it is already May. I also have to admit that this is probably the first year in a very long time that Mother's Day has quickly approached for me without a second thought. Then the advertising and commercials for flowers, and other items comes on the radio or television and it makes me go back what seems like a lifetime ago.

It doesn't seem at all possible that 18 years has gone by since I found my birth mother and family. Although the process of searching has become more simplified with technology, now information can be but keystrokes away. Seven years of leads, letters, more research, false hopes and then a simple blind letter to an address changed my life forever. I'm not sure I was fully prepared for what was yet to come at the time, but everything since then has changed my perspective on a lot of issues on so many levels.

I have a binder marked Adoption that has every piece of information leading to a life that took me to many different places. Some pleasant, some not so pleasant. My search went from a bittersweet meeting to just being content knowing where I came from but that binder holds the keys to where I came from. A little bizarre when you really think that a binder can hold the key to a life.

I am asked frequently whether it was worth it all. In a word, Yes it was. I would rather live in truth then to live my life with lies and half truths. To coin a saying that my husbands absolutely hates, "It is what it is". Sometimes the truth hurts, I have found that out a lot too. I always love the part in "A Few Good Men". "The truth, you can't handle the truth". Many people can't handle what they perceive to be true. I will admit I haven't always handled all the information well but it is a part of my history and somethings you just can't change.

Sometimes I hate to admit that I am more like my family members than I care too. This is probably why our communications with each other is almost non-existent. Everybody handles there "truth" different. I also have to say because I was raised by another family I also picked up a lot of those family traits which sometimes helped me get through my process.

Today adoption is such an different and can be a more open process, much more than it was long ago. Probably for good reasons. Now the process usually takes more consideration of what the child may need in the present and later in their future.

I am a part of a time when adoption was a hush-hush, sweep under the rug event. Secrets don't always stay hidden and I don't believe it does anyone involved justice to be secretive. I found that be protective most of my early life probably did more harm than good.

I have never asked or wanted the pity some want to give me for having been adopted. I do admit I am lucky to have been born. I'm not sure I agree with some people who are adopted considering themselves special in being picked by their parents. It probably is true for some but sometimes I am not sure that all parents truly know what they are taking on adopting a child. Having a child and giving away or keeping to raise yourself always has its pitfalls. It's never easy, no book can tell you everything and all you can do is hope your decisions will be right for them.

Even in the 1960's women could decide to have a back room abortion. I am thankful my mother chose not too. Although debated, I am also glad today women have a choice, not always politically or morally correct, until you walk in a women's shoes and know what the situations are no woman should be told what they are to do. It's a personal decision.

Thank you Mom for having the strength to put me up for adoption, thank you to my Mom and Dad for raising me the best way they knew how, thank you to all my grandmother's for being special ladies in my life. Thank you to all Mom's everywhere. Mother's Day is not just one day a year, it is 365 days a year.

Lessons Learned

With less than a week left as President of our Business Women's Group I am reflecting on the year that I am leaving behind me. What a year it has been!

It wasn't enough that I was stepping way out of a comfort zone and taking on a task that I was not sure about. It has definitely been an experience of learned lessons. Some expected and some not expected or surprised at the outcome.

I think the biggest lesson I have learned is some people are just not comfortable moving forward. Technology, new ideas, and just changing what has been done for years hinders that process a lot. I am not a personality type that just goes with the flow. If I set my mind to doing a task I want to complete that task the best way I can. But, if you don't have an entire group behind you it is a far harder situation to complete.

I set some high goals and expectations at the beginning and I feel I definitely scared off a lot of people either due to my approach, some would call it western bias or just the fact that our group has taken a turn in another direction. I would have loved to been able to run with my ideas but it seems they were only my ideas and a few others. The majority of the women are happy just sticking to their current rulebook. Unfortunately, that limits our group and will eventually change in the wrong direction.

A big thank you to those who wanted changes and we did make a few. Some said little steps are better than no steps at all. This possibly is true but you have to listen and sometimes I felt I was talking on deaf ears. You can't please everyone, but its not about pleasing its about changing with results. At some point I realized your really not hurting me but hurting the group in general.

It was an experience and I hand things over to a very capable woman. I look forward to seeing what's on my horizon and I am enlightened by the experience.