Piercing Trooper

For some it is a right of passage,  other's sometimes go too far piercing body parts that have no business being with one much less multiple holes in them.  When I was a kid my parents told me that when I turned 18 I could get them done (how many times have we heard that saying in our lifetime and now find ourselves saying it now).

I was 18 and I went to a local department store, not really entirely sure what to expect. I  knew many people who just disinfected a needle and had a friend stick the needle in their ear, my mother actually had a physician do hers.

Yesterday was unlike many trips to the mall, except our main focus was going to get last minute wedding day items off our continuing list of things to get. At this point a week away and the list is getting shorter by the day.

Our granddaughter, Hadleigh  3, going on 13 was accompanying us on the trip and my daughter, Jennifer asked her as  usual, "Do you want to get your ears pierced?" Mind you her mother has had two such ear piercing stories and also a belly-button piercing story. The first ear piercing for her mother took many tries at getting them done due to the people ahead of her not being "big girls", and she got her belly pierced without our knowledge but after having Hadleigh let that hole close up (good choice I said).

We planned our attack plan of the mall and each store we entered and exited we asked her if she wanted to get her ears done, each time with a resounding "YES". I mentioned to my daughter it might be better to make the candy store the last stop in that we could reward a good experience with the candy.

We entered the store, walking around looking at all the other jewelry displayed. Of course she wanted her April birthstone ( I proceed to tell her Dad she would of course want real diamonds for Christmas). The clerk asked her if she was ready and she nodded and the clerk proceeded to hand her a large stuffed bear to hold if she wanted. What little girl is going to turn down holding a big plush bear? Every customer that passed the window admired what a "big girl" she was and motioned to us watching her sit there so patiently. We informed the clerk could you do a double shoot as it was our experience that it was easier for all involved to do it that way. "No problem" we would just have to wait for the second clerk to come in. My daughter and I looked at each other like, "Oh boy this might be the kicker because we would have to wait". I thought of my daughter at this point because she would have decided back in the day to forget the whole ordeal. But, Hadleigh, being who she is sat patiently waiting for the girl.

The time came and with ear guns in hand we all were in anticipation of what expression and experience was to come. We both jumped but with smiles on our faces and surprise---not a peep out of Hadleigh.

She is now part of the girls and boys of all ages, shapes and sizes that adorn ear piercings. Now I just hope she won't asked to have anything else pierced in her lifetime. Oh well, her mom will thank goodness have to deal with that time when it comes. I just hope I am around to experience it with the both of them down the road.

Memorialized

Yesterday I took a walk around the courthouse downtown. Mind you it was for a good reason. I parked the car in a normally busy area of town. But this bright and sunny Sunday morning it was very peaceful. I stepped out of my car not sure whether to go left or right first.(More on that later) Being the lefty that I am I went left. Step after step I scanned the names on the bricks. I came across several names I recognized some I didn't. But the reason these bricks are  proudly around the lawns of the courthouse have meaning to at least one person if not more to this town and to our country.

My family has two such bricks. One for a person who never even knew where Sedalia was, the other visited several times throughout his life cut short.

Carmon L. Conner, U.S. Navy, World War II enlisted in the Navy, a young man from West Virginia. The man I knew didn't speak much about the war, worked as a mailman, loved to garden, do leather work, bake, loved Elvis and rock and roll music. He was a true "Quiet Man" his entire life. He died when I was 17 years old. Believe me, not until later in my life did I realize all that he kept to himself about, but like other men and women who served and have served since, his stories would have been able to fill volumes of pages.  Some days I think of him more than others. There are so many people in my life he never has had the chance to meet and each year that list gets longer and longer. But I am happy that he is sitting in the front row. Although he is next to someone he never met, my grandpa was the type of person he would make my brother-in-law welcome.

Harvey D. Goalder, served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He was David's oldest of three brothers. He loved anything Coke, he was married, and had two children. He was David's best man at our wedding. Although we didn't spend a lot of time with him over the years, the memories remain. As kids Harvey and the other boys spent many summers in Sedalia with family and one of his last trips during his long illness was to Sedalia our first Christmas after we moved back in 1997. By then he was very thin and frail.

Two men in different wars but with stories like all the other bricks with names. They gave up many years between them to our country so that we could live the lives we do today.

Honor Flight is a terrific group that sends war veterans to the War Memorial in Washington D.C. A group just recently returned this past week from a trip. War War II, Korea, Vietnam and others make the 20 hour turn around trip. I have thought since they started that I would love to go on a trip sometime since both my grandpa and brother-in-law are gone.  I had the chance a couple years ago to see the monument and it is a very emotional experience.

The humor in this story was that several people who also have bricks have told me it was an experience for some that took several trips around the courthouse for them because you don't know where they have placed your bricks. As I took each step, scanned the three rows I would think to myself about each war that was listed. There are already many Iraq soldiers listed. As I turned each corner still not having found our bricks, I almost began to wonder if they had done ours. So by the time I made the last turn onto 3rd St. and Lamine, the last grouping they were in. I admit I got a little teary, they gave so much, and have missed so much, but they are looking down on us each day with smiles of what we have all accomplished and will continue to strive for.

Now each time I have to go to the courthouse I will turn park in back, turn to the right and visit two honored men.

The Circles in Life Will Continue to Go Around and Around

This past weekend we celebrated Easter both in the Easter Bunny and biblical senses each brought back memories of childhood. We had no time to color Easter eggs this year we realized way to late, but as I told my daughter next year we will put it at the front of the list to plan to do. I think both granddaughters will enjoy it since they will probably understand the whole process a little better being one year older.

Growing up I remember going through the egg boiling process, letting them cool and then wanting to drop the little colored pill into the vinegar/water mixture. Watching the vibrant color getting brighter and brighter was always such a joy. I always loved the brighter colors--the pinks the purples the blues. Of course all the deviled egg sandwiches for lunch the next week wasn't a bad thing either.

Several egg hunts with our kids come to mind but one in particular was at a friend of their babysitters that had so many eggs in her yard we actually couldn't collect them all. Both kids in brightly colored outfits and a bright sunny day was always the joy of the beginning of Spring and the Easter Holiday. This year unfortunately the weather was a little cold and David was on the road and wasn't able to celebrate with us but we made the best of it.

One vivid memory of mine is going to Sunday church services with my grandmother. Easter hat on head, white shoes on feet and some brightly, spring colored dress was always part of the picture. This year my daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Hadleigh decided to join me at church. It was Hadleigh's first experience attending church and she did exceptionally well. Sitting quietly entertaining herself for the service made me think to when I would go with grandma and sit through services.

The circles of life go round and round no matter if the weather doesn't cooperate, eggs are not colored and if certain family members aren't able to be their for one reason or another it still can be a learning experience, an uplifting message of hope and a wonderful time to reflect on past seasons. Things change but we can continue to pick certain milestones in our past lives and keep them close to our hearts and share them anew.

Like it Not, Ready or Not-It Will Probably Come

This past Sunday the pastor at my church used the like it or not phrase as part of his sermon message. He shared that like many of us, as a child his mother frequently forced him to eat things that he didn't like. His dislike of certain vegetables is not unlike mine as a girl. I didn't like peas (still will not eat unless they are mixed up in something) and a few other's that I have since if doctored a bit I will eat now.

Like anything in life if we see something coming or it lands on us unexpectedly most of us truly are usually unprepared for what might happen. Fighting tooth and nail on some such situations still is part of my DNA and the older I get the more difficult it sometimes becomes to pull myself out in hopes that calm is just around the corner.

Mother Nature has packed several punches this season, equipment breakdowns have kicked our butts big time, routine situations in the first six months of the year await outcomes that you never truly know until the very last minute if they will be in your favor or not. Deadlines loom that sometimes we are not ready for not only in business and pleasure. I have said for many years, from November until June with the holidays and the beginning of the year funk, a small window of opportunity of pleasure times is so short its unfair. Some situations are just completely out of your hands.

Ready or not here it comes. Every time I hear this I think of when I was little and we would play hid and seek.  A wonderful game played either in good weather or bad, in the house or outside. Yes, those of us who are "OLD" played outdoor games and were not tied to the TV or video games like kids of today. Some of my favorite places playing it indoors was the laundry basket, under my bed, or way back in the closet underneath just about everything (this is when being really small is at your advantage). Of course giggling always put me out of the game or being sniffed out by our pet dogs, those minutes of fun were and still are terrific memories.

Some things in life you learn to appreciate, tolerate and yes even like. Vegetables or other such basic things are much easier than life struggles. The pastors' point in the use of this was obviously the biblical sense. The past several months I admit I have looked to the higher power to guide me, give me strength. No hiding, just seeking a sign or word was enough for me to bring myself into the light of a better day and count the days until the sunshine will put a much better "liking" too life situations.

I am ready and it will be coming soon.

February-Out Like A Lion, March In Like a Lamb

Whatever the saying is I think I may have changed it up a bit. Believe me it was necessary considering  how disastrous February was for me and for others around me. If it wasn't the two feet plus of snow we received, being stuck indoors for a week, truck being down for two weeks with repairs AGAIN, and two many other things to even want to bring up again, basically I have felt all month that I have been skating on very thin ice.

Praying, trying to repeat to yourself over and over again things will get better, rubbing the worry stone (I really need to pick one of those up the next time I see one), you begin to run out of ways to try and keep your blood pressure down.

Everyone these days has at least one problem or issue. If you say you don't you are probably in complete denial or one of those happy go lucky people (gee, I wish I could trade in my Type A personality for the alternative).

Some people refer to Facebook rants or shares, I often write in haste and then hit the delete button just as quickly, TMI sometimes you just need to push yourself away from the keyboard.

One situation this month put everything into perspective a little on how maybe we are moving to fast and need to take a step back and go back to the good old days.

I drew straws to deliver Meals on Wheels one week this month and everyday my last delivery was to a sweet little 90 year old lady in a trailer park. She lives alone, in a little old trailer and is always very nice and appreciative of her meal and newspaper everyday. I know she lives in a park that has been bought by a business that will be clearing the area for their expanding business. My curiosity got the better of me on the last day because I know soon she will be moving away. I asked her if she had made plans yet to move to another site. She stated no she hadn't as of yet but that she still had some time in which too move (11 months). She said that she had faith in God that she would find a place. Unfortunately, she had found out after coming back from being in the hospital after breaking a hip that the park had been sold and that she would have to move. She said she hated to leave the trailer that her and her late husband had bought the trailer brand new in 1982 and that they both had lived there together until he passed away several years ago. Because of the trailers age she probably would not be able to have it moved, so at 90 she will literally have to uproot herself somewhere else.

So as we move into March, I take a deep breath close my eyes and look forward to the sun melting the snow still outside my window,  and click my feet together like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and say it will get better, it will get better. 18 days until Spring. The countdown begins.

Showing my Love of Skating

In trying to organize my life recently, I had our main business in one closet and my Dove Chocolate Business in another, organization is usually always a part of our lives in almost each and everything that we do; if we are lucky. I guess that's why I like many other people have gotten somewhat addicted to Pinterest. It gives you an opportunity to have several boards of fun things that either are currently a part of your life or maybe your past life and also something that maybe you have on a bucket or wish list of sorts. that may be important to you and that is fun to share with others.

 Dorothy Hamill-1985

Ice Capades-1979

I came across some "vintage" Ice Capades, Holiday on Ice and World Tour Programs. It was always a time of enjoyment when the Ice Capades or some show was arriving in town.  I guess for skaters this was their version of the circus to some kids. The rush to buy front-row seats was always a highlight so that you might get a chance to be picked by one of the skaters (hopefully someone you might have known and skated with)  especially as a smaller child to ride on ice with them. Although it has been many moons since I have attended any skating event  (2002 was the last event I attended for the first with my niece in Kansas City after moving to MO) and with the Ice Capades disbanding many years ago, unless you go on a cruise ship the shows are almost like dinosaurs--you have to dig to find them.

When I struggle through daily ups and downs to take a little time and thumb through programs and wonder "Where are They Now?" or "The Good Old Days". I feel so blessed to have been able to thumb through this wonderful programs.

If you would like to see more of the programs I have collected go to Pinterest and type in Figure Skating Daze.

Happy New Year--I Think??

Well 2013 got started. We made it through the Mayan prediction of the world ending and the holidays. It's a good thing, right? Last year was filled with smiles and tears, ups and downs, highs and lows you name it and it pretty much crossed my path whatever way it could. Tried to learn to say "NO", Spent money to make money (still not sure if that really worked for me or not).

In the long run as they say "every learning experience should go in the pros or cons category in one way shape or form". Not sure who said that, other than myself but trying to move forward into 2013 with as much caution as possible.

I know there are a lot of people out there that do there work, quietly and without pomp and circumstance. Normally, that would be somewhat the road I would take but I have noticed the older I get the more I need validation that I am still worthy to move along the road I have been given. You notice I don't say "chosen". Frankly, sometimes life isn't always the choices but if its good for everyone involved.

Trying to eat healthier, trying to learn something new, attempting to be kinder to others (that sometimes still seems to elude me lately as every time I attempt to do a good deed on a random basis it ends up backfiring on me not sure exactly why).

I am always listening, looking for that new idea.  No resolutions, there really isn't a point its too hard to follow through with something that is way to unrealistic.

The world has changed and is changing sometimes way to fast.  I only hope that 2013 allows time to get off the merry-go-round for that time when needed and allows me to hope back on and continue through my off-ice skating journey through life :)