Letters and the Joy They Can Bring Anytime

I often find some very interesting stories in the Parade Magazine section of the weekend paper. I came across one recently that I had saved to read for later. The cover had Al Pacino on the front and his new movie coming out called Danny Collins. It is based on a true story about a letter John Lennon wrote to a British folk singer back in 1971. The folk singer never got the letter until 2005 from a collector that had found it.  I am not really a Al Pacino fan but this looks like a movie maybe worth seeing.

What caught my eye was after reading the article that maybe the lost art of letter writing might be making a comeback. (Not sure if maybe it ever really left, at least not for me).

When you stop and think, there are many types of letter you can write. When I think back to all the letters I have written over the year's, several important ones come to mind.

When I went through my quest to find my adopted family, I wrote MANY letters. The final one was to my birth mother. I still have a copy today that I occasional reflect over.

 As a student in school I remember having writing assignments where you had to write to a business asking for information. I remember at the end of junior high probably in a social studies class we had to locate a person (pen pal) to write to from another country. The teacher had located somewhere the class could write too. The teacher sent the letters and you waited to hear back.  We eventually heard back from a class in Korea. The girl that was assigned to me wrote back a few letters but eventually after a short time I didn't hear from her. I was very disappointed but she had somehow sent my name to a girl in Sweden. I remember in the last letter she sent to me she stated she didn't have time to write so she was sending my name to this other girl because she wanted me to have someone to write too.  I eventually wrote the girl a few times and she wrote that she had too many people to write too also (guess by today's standards its like having too many Facebook friends) so she was passing my name to a relative.

The true pen pal letter writing campaign started in 1976 and lasted until 1981. Lisette was the same age as I was but lived a very exciting life. She was going to university (equivalent to our high school at the time) and was working as an au pair. She would send me postcards of all her travels in Europe with the different families she was employed with. She wrote frequently about drinking and other things at the time I had no clue about. I remember my mother thought she was just too advanced but it was so fun reading about her adventures. I kept the letters and occasionally think back how innocent I was and how much of a jet setter she was.

I now wonder what that 54 year old woman is up too. Is she living in Europe? She had always talked about visiting me and I her which never happened. Is she married with children? She talked about wanting to work for the airlines also at one time. I am sure our lives are completely different but I would love to find her now and catch up.

One of the letter writing stories mentioned in the article was a website started by a girl in Atlanta. MoreLoveLetters.com was started by Hannah Brencher in hopes of inspiring more letter writing. She has also wrote a memoir If You Find This Letter: My Journey to Find Purpose Through Hundreds of Letters to Strangers. 

One of the sad statistics listed in the article was since 2007 the U.S. Post Office receives 20% less letters.  One  positive statistic is 1 million+ kids in America alone sent letters to Santa Claus last year (he would still rather get a letter than an e-mail or text in my opinion).  I know I still enjoy sending a letter to a few people during Christmas and I really enjoy getting a response from them.

  It also reminds me of a song I heard as a kid called "I'm Going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" from the musical Ain't Misbehaven'. I might just write a letter to a friend I haven't heard from in a very long time. You can too!

Today We Are All a Little Irish

A poem was read in honor of this day at a recent meeting I attended it goes like this:

May love and laughter light your days,
And warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
Wherever you may roam....
(Celtic Blessing)

Today we are all a little Irish. Well maybe. I had my yearly Shamrock Shake from McDonald's this past weekend all 660 calories of it. It was so much better than corned beef and cabbage or green beer. We wear our green today in honor of St. Patrick. According to lore, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Lutheran's celebrate the feast of Saint Patrick with food, parades, shamrocks and drinking alcohol. But today everyone shows their Irish.

This past year I had the pleasure of traveling to Ireland without even leaving the comforts of my computer. The youngest daughter of friends of ours in California attended a semester abroad in Galway. Every couple of weeks she posted on her blog (unfortunately it has since been removed) her travels to various castles and interesting towns and tourists spots, along with all the different foods, drink and other Irish must see and do. The many pictures were breathtaking and her step by step adventure and beautiful stories made it like you were walking along with her on this adventure of a lifetime.

I have had many friends that have kissed the Blarney Stone, toured the Guinness Brewery, walked the moors. Each time I saw Megan's pictures with new friends and also family that visited I couldn't help think what a lucky girl!

I have missed two opportunities to visit Europe over the years. Not sure if it will be in the cards to visit but it was a wonderful adventure seeing bits and pieces of Ireland through a young girl's dream trip.

May you explore your Irish roots today.

Facebook Throw Back Thursday; Meaningful Skating Memories

I enjoy Facebook’s Throw Back Thursday for various reasons. Sometimes longtime friends post pictures from bygone days, I post childhood photos of myself and my children, and the really interesting pictures are those of objects that most kids of today probably have no clue what they are.

Some of the interesting “old timer” items: typewriter, pencil sharpener, television rabbit ears, etc.

Figure skating has changed through the years just like everything else.  Techniques change and instruction has changed drastically.  A visit several years ago to one of my home rinks made me realize how teaching skating has changed.  For beginning skaters’ who may have a difficult time standing on skates most rinks have an apparatus made of PVC pipe much like walkers for elderly people. They scoot rather easily along the ice while providing ease to stand up for those who are not adept yet.  When I took my first steps on the ice I walked along the railing until I felt comfortable and then ventured out further and further until I was skating on my own. I fell a few times but as they say “you must fall a few times, get back up and go on”.

Recently I came across a picture on Tai Babilonia’s Facebook page (shown below) of a routine 78’ record. Way back when I was a young skater most if not all rinks had an area where a record player sat along the ice rink railing or off in a small room close to the ice surface. Hours and hours were spent listening as is still the case music joinders’ from classical to show tunes to current hits. Once the coach/student decided what music they were doing, a routine record was recorded. These records were played over and over and over again. Most competitive skater’s had several copies made so one was for competition and one for just in case the needle stuck. My competitive career did not start until cassette tapes so I never had a 78’. With the evolution of music now it is all about music played from your phone, ear buds, CD’s and digital rink systems.

Photo by Tai Babilonia

While going through my closet recently I came across my scribe. What is it you ask? Well along with the massive changes in skating one big one happened starting in figures in 1968. In competitive skating it accounted for 50% of scoring. Then again changes were made in the 70's and 80's to now compulsory figures or no longer included in ranking competitions. The only hold out group that still continues to enjoy the mastery of figures is adults who can still compete in competitions recreational with the ISI (Ice Skating Institute). The scribe device was a great tool to help you master the two or three circles used in figure skating. The size of the circle was based on your height and the scribe could be used before or after your initial tracings. Some skaters would resort to using it first to make the circles to trace, most instructors preferred that you trace the circles yourself first and use the scribe to trace over and see if you were accurate in the sizing. Most of the time my figures looked more egg-shaped (which was not good).  Compulsory figures used to be the separator of the men from the boys so to speak. Today with the scoring system it's about who can do the bigger quad. 

My scribe will go back in its comfy place in the closet along with my skates in their bag. Oh that has changed too. I had to hoof the bag on my shoulder, now they use roller bags. What won't they think of next?

Leave it to Oscar to Create a Social Media Firestorm

Although I only saw one of the Oscar nominated movies (Gone Girl), I still enjoyed the Red Carpet Highlights and the Academy Awards this past weekend. Although the fashion was a little blahh for my taste, I enjoyed getting on Facebook and conversing with a friend about some of the fashion hits and misses.

Although I have not seen the movie Boyhood which took twelve years to complete, I have followed a little of the actress who played the mom and also won the Supporting Actress Oscar, Patricia Arquette. She is from an acting dynasty. Grandfather, Cliff Arquette (Charlie Weaver) was best known to me as a regular on Hollywood Squares. Dad, Lewis Arquette, played J. D. Pickett for many years on The Waltons.  Her brother is actor, David Arquette and a sister, Rosanna Arquette.

I always enjoyed Patricia's role on the program Medium and I am looking forward to her new role in CSI Cyber. In any interview I have ever seen of her she always seems to be a very soft-spoken woman. I am sure when you win the top honor of Academy Award and you have that short window spotlight on you many struggle with the thank yous to family, agents and everyone you ever have worked with.  She did all that and then some in my book. After her thanks to all the really important people in her life, she chose to end with this.

"To every woman who gave birth, to every tax payer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights. It's our time to have wage equality once and for all and rights for women in the United States of America".

Of course social media exploded after her speech. Some positive and of course the naysayers were also quick to add their two cents worth. The first that popped up for me was a piece on Fox News by news contributor and actress Stacy Dash (ironic that she played in the movie Clueless) and that she was appalled at Arquette's speech. Dash insinuated that Arquette needed to "do her history" because in 1963 President Kennedy passed an equal pay wall that is still in effect. I think if I hear this 1963 quote again in 2015 I will choke.

Yes, it was passed but what people both men and women still seem to ignore is it is outdated, laws are broken each and every day.  Yes, the National Partnership for Women and Families, according to a recent study (more recent than the 60's or the last census) women make on average 78 cents for every dollar paid to men amounting to a yearly wage gap of almost $11,000 per year. 

The next day after the Oscar's I posted my displeasure about the Stacey Dash comment. To my surprise a dialog/debate started about men and women and equality.  I realize men and women are  different. We process things differently, we approach things differently. We work differently. But, in the end if we tackle a task and come out with a successful result shouldn't we get paid the same??  I realize today equality should also include gender, race, religion etc. Society seems to be on super fast forward and our laws and thinking sometimes stays stuck about 10 or more years behind. 

Today the burn your bra group and the sports bra groups seem to be in completely different universes. As I said in my Facebook post: "I have a son and daughter and two granddaughters and two grandsons. I would hope that by the time they go into the workforce that they can say, "ERA oh yes I remember my grandma talking about it and how hard it was to get equality, but we have it NOW".

Facebook has many pages if you are interested in learning more about the causes: 

The Alice Paul Institute-located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey helps to educate the public especially young girls about equality.

ERA Now-is a advocacy community that shares information regularly about equality

ERA Once and For All-based in Newport Beach, CA is another source of great information on equality

I always like to share a story about equality that took place in 1982. I was a young, civil servant that volunteered to help with our office relocation across town. Single, unmarried and weekends free I chose to spend a Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the office. A young, handsome man from a state contract authorized moving and relocation company and about 25+ young men made the move happen. This young, ambitious woman flitted here and there for hours on end making sure boxes, furnishings and records got securely on the truck and sent over to the new facility. I would enter and exit the door many times. Each time I did this I would see most of these same young men, taking smoke breaks, getting refreshments and standing around.  The young, handsome man finally after many long hours of work, made this statement "WOW you work harder than most of the men I have here today, for a little thing you work hard".

Today, 33 years later I still work with that man 24/7 365 days a year. I may not work as fast or as hard as that little thing I used to be but the determination will be with me until the end.

Thank you the Patricia Arquette's of the world for speaking from the heart and believing it can and will happen someday soon.

The Shortest Month of All can Sometimes be Very Long

Some years you are lucky and February has 29 days and then there is the 28 day one like this year. You wouldn't think that two or three less days would really matter that much, but they do.

The rare time that it was a good thing was when I worked (we only got paid once a month) and it was nice when the 28 or 29 days would wiz by until another pay day. Guess that also works both ways. You just get done with January bills and February has three less days in which to pay bills for the month.

It is great that February is during the winter months because Groundhog's Day is the first day of February and we wait patiently to find out how much more winter weather is in our future. We have been fortunate this year that we haven't had it really bad, thankful for that at least.

As we get older the days seem sometimes to fly by, this month is almost over with only a few days left until we will be into March and spring and day light savings will be here. I am ready for those few more hours of day light and sun.

I am sure for the east coast they are also waiting patiently either to dig out from all the snow they have had or to at least not be home bound for what seems like the entire month of February.

Two holidays in February (Valentine's and President's Day) is also unusual as most month's have only one.

No morals to this story, just observations. Life is short, and so is February. On to March.....

What is in a Name? Unique or Euphonious

On my morning journey to and from daycare to drop off #1 granddaughter I listen to Kid Kraddick in the Morning. I find myself laughing out loud sometimes to some of the things they talk about. It takes me back to when I used to make my hour plus commute in Los Angeles and I would listen to Mark and Brian (my LA people will remember them both).

One of today's topics talked about child naming. It made me think of an episode of  I Love Lucy. The one where they are trying to come up with a name for the arrival of Little Ricky. Lucy keeps changing her mind and says she wants a name that sounds Unique or Euphonious. Ricky comments, "Well if its a girl name it Unique and if its a boy name it Euphonious". Back in those days these names were not popular.

When we were expecting our son I just remember hearing from someone in the family (not sure who) just don't use a name that has already been used. There was no real reason for naming him Matthew other than it was a name we both agreed we liked. When it came time to name the second baby; mind you this was back in the day when you were lucky to get one ultrasound and they did not give you a copy or multiple copies as they do today. I was pretty sure I was destined for another boy so we planned Kevin Wray for a boy and Jennifer Elyse for a girl.  We didn't go the unique or uncommon route.

One of the DJs on the show commented how hard it has become when you go to buy general personalized items how names can be hard to find. I even have a hard time now finding things with my name on it much less any of my grandchildren. Both of my kids have picked very unique names for all the kids: Hadleigh, Greenlee, Greyson and soon to be Gentry.  He also stated how difficult it is sometimes they way people spell names phonetically just to throw you off.

Whatever the case unique names can be euphonious in today's world.

Just Do Something-2015

Well as figured this year didn't start off as hoped. But do they ever? No resolutions, too difficult to keep. Everyone has a new spin on how to live life, improve your outlook, and just go on.

I am an avid Pinterest pinner and two things came my way recently. One was, "Do Something Different or New in 2015". I am always tired of the same old, same old so this got me seriously thinking. So far a few items pinned I have followed through on or am working on. One was to utilize the Christmas tree for other holidays throughout the year.  This might prove to be a little interesting finding articles to decorate the tree with but I have some ideas in mind. Guess those creative juices better not be frozen by the winter weather.

The other item I pinned so far was Word of the Year. It took me a while to really think this through. Finally it came to me. My word is HOPE. I can only hope things are not always what they seem and improve over time.

The other pin was "100"+ Things to Do Before You Die". Humm probably not the best title for someone over 50 was my first thought. Some call it a Bucket List. I went through the 100+ items on the list just to see what might be accomplished (some are pretty lofty and expensive. Must have  money, time and really be an exceedingly adventurous individual). Many include being able to swim (which I can't do and won't be one of the things on my list to learn at this late stage. No 

problem with using a life vest where water is involved).

I was surprised at some of the items on the list I have accomplished already:

Watched Cinderella Castle Fireworks

Made a Snow Angel

Made Own Pizza

Been to a Broadway Musical

Dog Sledding

Rode Vespa/Moped

Feed Giraffe

Finish Book in One Setting

Prepare Care Pack for Homeless

Experience Northern Lights (faintly)

Stand Under Hollywood Sign (Think that as illegal although I have been close to it several times)

Night in Teepee (thanks to Scouts)

Visit 50 States (well almost all of them 45 is pretty close)

Helicopter over Volcano (very small plane)

Many of the items call for traveling to far off lands. While picking a few on the "To Do" List. Some I think may not be as hard to possibly accomplish.

Stay in a Treehouse (Pete Nelson here we come)

Eat a Cronut

Go Lavendar Picking

Leave Your Mark in This World

Dance in Rain

Stay in Overwater Bungelow

Zipline

Go to Lock to Love Bridge Paris

Ride in Hot Air Balloon

Bathe in Milk

Jump in Pool Full of Jello

Make a Rainbow Cake

Create an Ice Cream Flavor

Celebrate 50th Anniversary (30 already accomplished)

Eat Vanilla Pudding in Mayo Jar in Public

Make Gingerbread House

Make a Rainbow Rose

Be in a TV Audience (came close several times)

Make Family Recipe Book

Pay a Strangers Restaurant Bill

Visit Chocolate Factory

Swim with Dolphins (with a life vest)

Travel Somewhere New Each Year

Name A Star

Send a Message in a Bottle

I will be knocking off one of the items tonight. Bathe in Milk sounds wonderful.  I hope many more get checked off this list over the coming year also. What ever you call it have a list of things and make an effort to put a check before it and after it.

By the way this original post on PopSugar.com was posted by someone very young and would really like to see how many of these items will be checked off the list in her lifetime. Stay tuned.