Monday, November 5, 2012
There is a dark side
Though we like to walk in the light, there is a dark side just to the left or right, down the street or in a friend you meet.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
A Cowboy To The Rescue
Last night I went to bed feeling somewhat congested. I took some congestion medication which is a rare thing because I don't like taking pharmaceutical meds unless i am really sick. I didn't check the label and sure enough it said will make you drowsy. That is important because it has the reverse reaction on me. 3AM I am wide awake and miserably congested. I try to force myself to sleep but the motion sensor lights kept turning on. I knew that I needed to be up by 5am to feed animals, shower and head to my friends house to help her unpack more boxes and organize things in her new home. The next sound I hear is the 5 AM alarm sounding. I roll out of bed extremely ill and I have a fever. Suddenly I am shivering cold and disoriented. I text my friend canceling my day with her and grateful that i refilled all the animal feeders after the animals went to sleep last night.
I downed some NyQuil and climbed back into bed. A good news phone call came in from my cousin that his brother was receiving a liver transplant today, that was very exciting news!
I again fall asleep and the fever dreams start. They are always horrible! I woke up several times but had no real strength to get up out of bed. I did not even have my usual coffee cravings (a sure sign that I am really sick)!
3PM I force myself up and out of bed to check on the animals. To my surprise I open the front door and there is a huge 900 pound cow staring at me. Those that know me, know I do not deal well with animals out of their stalls or fences. I slip on my shoes and the cow heads toward my lovely garden. I run to the garage door and open it, in hopes of scaring it away. But he just looked at me and said lady is that all you got? I started to hoop and holler and he knew I was not as soft as I looked. I managed to chase him away from the garden and he hightailed it to the fruit trees and got his horns tripped up in the rope holding up the peach tree and then headed to the back yard. He stopped at the chicken coop to drink all their water. Then he decided since he reached the other side he would munch on the grass in the back yard. You know they say the grass is greener on the other side.
Chasing this beast was getting neither of us anywhere so I, sick and on medication, still in my PJs jumped in the car and drove to the neighbors. I first went to the wrong house but eventually found the owners. I asked them to come and get their cow. I could hear Alfredo's voice in my head be nice, it is okay. He'd be so proud of me!
Then a tall, handsome cowboy on a beautiful horse, comes a riding with rope in hand and with extreme precision lassos the cow and heads him out. He said "sorry ma'm for any inconvenience." I said "thank you so much for helping me out.". He was so kind and respectful, how could I be upset.
Now I bet you are thinking I was overwhelmed with fever and it was all just a dream or the medication.......
I did get a few pics
I downed some NyQuil and climbed back into bed. A good news phone call came in from my cousin that his brother was receiving a liver transplant today, that was very exciting news!
I again fall asleep and the fever dreams start. They are always horrible! I woke up several times but had no real strength to get up out of bed. I did not even have my usual coffee cravings (a sure sign that I am really sick)!
3PM I force myself up and out of bed to check on the animals. To my surprise I open the front door and there is a huge 900 pound cow staring at me. Those that know me, know I do not deal well with animals out of their stalls or fences. I slip on my shoes and the cow heads toward my lovely garden. I run to the garage door and open it, in hopes of scaring it away. But he just looked at me and said lady is that all you got? I started to hoop and holler and he knew I was not as soft as I looked. I managed to chase him away from the garden and he hightailed it to the fruit trees and got his horns tripped up in the rope holding up the peach tree and then headed to the back yard. He stopped at the chicken coop to drink all their water. Then he decided since he reached the other side he would munch on the grass in the back yard. You know they say the grass is greener on the other side.
Chasing this beast was getting neither of us anywhere so I, sick and on medication, still in my PJs jumped in the car and drove to the neighbors. I first went to the wrong house but eventually found the owners. I asked them to come and get their cow. I could hear Alfredo's voice in my head be nice, it is okay. He'd be so proud of me!
Then a tall, handsome cowboy on a beautiful horse, comes a riding with rope in hand and with extreme precision lassos the cow and heads him out. He said "sorry ma'm for any inconvenience." I said "thank you so much for helping me out.". He was so kind and respectful, how could I be upset.
Now I bet you are thinking I was overwhelmed with fever and it was all just a dream or the medication.......
I did get a few pics
Friday, September 7, 2012
Brigham Temple
I was invited by my daughter to take a tour of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saint's temple, in Brigham City. We had an a 3:45pm tour appointment. We arrived and stood in a line in the hot sun waiting for a bus to shuttle us from the parking lot to the temple. Once we arrived at the temple the line to get in was a full city block. 1 hour later we arrived into the parking garage where we were placed in a room to view a video of why the Mormons build temples. We were shuffled into another line that led us to the entrance of the temple. Our shoes were covered with white plastic shoe covers. We were then guided through a very elegant, breathtaking, beautiful temple. The tour took approximately 15 minutes, while our total wait time and drive time was 4.5 hours. The bus driver indicated 50,000 people showed up for the tour. 
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Moments Captured in Time
One of my post retirement "to do" was to sort through thousands of photos that have captured moments in my life timeline. I knew this was an important task as I have witnessed, when a loved one leaves us, those left behind are faced with decisions of what to do with all these photos. I've vowed that my children will not have to sort through tons of photos and make decision or try to determine who is in the photo. I had tons of photos in photo albums, I decided to remove the photos and store them in an orderly fashion, grouped by person, family, friends, church, camp etc. I am a bit excessive compulsive believe it or not, I am on day 4 of this process and am nowhere near the end.
I wish I would have been a better photographer, but 30-40 years ago we did not have the technology available to use, in processing photos as we have today. Regardless of the quality of the photograph, as my eyes gaze upon each photo, I can recall the details that surround the photograph. Yes, I am to the age that I don't remember everyone in the photo but I do have independent recall of the details of the photos. I've smiled, laughed, cried and experienced every emotion a human can feel, as I've gone through each photo.
I've sorted photos into family piles. I have a Pete (brother), Tommy (brother), Gloria (sister) and Diana (sister) pile. What I have decided to do, is to give photos to each of my siblings that either have them, their spouse or children in the photo. I will leave it to them to share with their children or to keep for themselves. Just as long as I don't have to clean up their photos someday - that is a joke.
I have a cousin pile that I will be sending to Becky, Doreen, Danny, Genevieve. They can decided what to do with the photos.
As it should be, the largest pile of photos are of my Priscilla and Alfredo Jr., my children. I will attempt to sort their photos into equal piles. I remember that people always told me, you take far more photos of your first child, than of your second or subsequent children. I don't think that is true in my instance. These photos are my prized possessions. They remind me of yesteryear and how much fun I had loving my Priscilla and Alfredo Jr (Brother). Their daddy, Alfredo Sr would take them camping, fishing and hiking while I worked. They did not get their sense of adventure from me. They were lucky to have such a fun daddy and the photos are a reminder of those fun days. Now that Priscilla and Alfredo Jr (Brother) are both gone, to make their own way in the world, most days these photos are the only reminder of their existence. The only problem is that I sit and boo hoo (cry) for hours remembering the good times we all had. I often wish they were little again so I could hug and kiss them. Their needs, were my top priority, now there priority is needing to be away from me. This is how life works. I don't like it much but it is life.
Family vacation photos in Jalcocotan Nayarit. I was thrilled my children were able to make these trips and I was able to capture them in photos. I have so many fun photos of Alfredo's family and so glad my children got to spend time with their Perea cousins and their Perea Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents.
My next step in this process will be to write on the back of all the photos, or at least as many as I can remember. Age does amazing things to ones recall ability. My advice is, when you take and develop photos, write on the back of them as soon as they are developed. I have sat with my mother looking at old photos and she has no idea who is the subject of the photo. Once it is gone, you don't remember - therefore I've realized (a little late) it is important to identify them while you can still remember.
I am amazed at all of my friendships I shared in the yesteryear. Those friends and times are gone. Very few friends remain. Even less would remain if it were not for Facebook. It has been great to be reunited with so many friends from a time long ago.
The next largest pile of photos is church and youth camp photos. Church was an important part of my life as were the youth camps, where so many friendships and alliances were formed. Church is what we did, it was what we were about. Those photos are in a pile for subject identification. I will post some of these on Facebook for my youth camp FB friends to view.
I was thrilled to find photos of all my friends from Shriner's Hospital. Wow, had not seen these photos in over 30 years. Such great memories and times were shared, with so many people from as far away as Bolivia. Danny Balderrama, Cindy, Rae Ann, Robin Andrade, Tim Mosher and so many friends that I have photos of. Dr. Olivero and Dr. Stevenson were so amazing! I've decided that my love of Halloween comes from my Shriner days. I have photos of our Halloween costumes and party it was the bomb! The darkest time in my life is illuminated by wonderful friendships I hold dear to my heart. I recall my Tio Gabino Martinez, my hero, he would visit me every week day at Shriner's Hospital, because he knew my parents were only able to make it out on the weekends. I don't think I would have made it through without him and his encouragement. We formed such a great friendship during that time. May he RIP!
I found photos of friends who have passed from this life. Jackie Broadbent was my best friend from my childhood in West Ogden. Neva Merritt was a friend I met in Jr. High School at Mound Fort. we remained friends for years. May each of them rest in peace. It was difficult to fight back the tears as I gazed upon the photos.
I found old photos of my former work mates which I have now thrown away. Some memories are not worth holding on to.
I found photos of so many weddings. I at one time made wedding cakes, wow... I'd forgotten about them until I found these photos. I was a bridesmaid for Sonia, Selma, Carol, Laurie (married to my brother Pete), Leonard and Becky (maybe more but... well you know it is an age thing). A flower girl at my sister Gloria's wedding, I was so little and cute. I went to many weddings and was supportive to many individuals, who didn't share the importance of supporting me at my wedding or my daughters wedding. There I said it.
I made a mom and dad pile. I am most amazed at how much my parents have changed over the years. It is crazy, when you are close to someone and see them every day, you don't see them changing. When you look at old photos you see dramatic changes. I am so grateful to have my parents with me today! One day the photos will be all I have left. I don't look forward to that day!
I found photos of my mother's step siblings. I did not come to appreciate them as individuals until later in life. They indeed are kind and amazing people!
Last but not least I have so many photos of babies. You know those photos they take when the baby is born... TJ, Jamie, Rachel, Stephanie, Angel, Oscar Benjamin and so many others. Makes me wonder where times goes.
Now that I am an emotional mess, I will continue to sort through photos. I am grateful that I was able to capture so many moments in time. The photos serve as a reflection of the moments that were captured in my lifetime and those individuals who shared my joys and sorrows. These photos, in the future may not mean anything to the person who finds them, but to me they reflect how I turned into me.
Organize your photos
Identify your photos
Share your photos with others if you are not in them
I wish I would have been a better photographer, but 30-40 years ago we did not have the technology available to use, in processing photos as we have today. Regardless of the quality of the photograph, as my eyes gaze upon each photo, I can recall the details that surround the photograph. Yes, I am to the age that I don't remember everyone in the photo but I do have independent recall of the details of the photos. I've smiled, laughed, cried and experienced every emotion a human can feel, as I've gone through each photo.
I've sorted photos into family piles. I have a Pete (brother), Tommy (brother), Gloria (sister) and Diana (sister) pile. What I have decided to do, is to give photos to each of my siblings that either have them, their spouse or children in the photo. I will leave it to them to share with their children or to keep for themselves. Just as long as I don't have to clean up their photos someday - that is a joke.
I have a cousin pile that I will be sending to Becky, Doreen, Danny, Genevieve. They can decided what to do with the photos.
As it should be, the largest pile of photos are of my Priscilla and Alfredo Jr., my children. I will attempt to sort their photos into equal piles. I remember that people always told me, you take far more photos of your first child, than of your second or subsequent children. I don't think that is true in my instance. These photos are my prized possessions. They remind me of yesteryear and how much fun I had loving my Priscilla and Alfredo Jr (Brother). Their daddy, Alfredo Sr would take them camping, fishing and hiking while I worked. They did not get their sense of adventure from me. They were lucky to have such a fun daddy and the photos are a reminder of those fun days. Now that Priscilla and Alfredo Jr (Brother) are both gone, to make their own way in the world, most days these photos are the only reminder of their existence. The only problem is that I sit and boo hoo (cry) for hours remembering the good times we all had. I often wish they were little again so I could hug and kiss them. Their needs, were my top priority, now there priority is needing to be away from me. This is how life works. I don't like it much but it is life.
Family vacation photos in Jalcocotan Nayarit. I was thrilled my children were able to make these trips and I was able to capture them in photos. I have so many fun photos of Alfredo's family and so glad my children got to spend time with their Perea cousins and their Perea Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents.
My next step in this process will be to write on the back of all the photos, or at least as many as I can remember. Age does amazing things to ones recall ability. My advice is, when you take and develop photos, write on the back of them as soon as they are developed. I have sat with my mother looking at old photos and she has no idea who is the subject of the photo. Once it is gone, you don't remember - therefore I've realized (a little late) it is important to identify them while you can still remember.
I am amazed at all of my friendships I shared in the yesteryear. Those friends and times are gone. Very few friends remain. Even less would remain if it were not for Facebook. It has been great to be reunited with so many friends from a time long ago.
The next largest pile of photos is church and youth camp photos. Church was an important part of my life as were the youth camps, where so many friendships and alliances were formed. Church is what we did, it was what we were about. Those photos are in a pile for subject identification. I will post some of these on Facebook for my youth camp FB friends to view.
I was thrilled to find photos of all my friends from Shriner's Hospital. Wow, had not seen these photos in over 30 years. Such great memories and times were shared, with so many people from as far away as Bolivia. Danny Balderrama, Cindy, Rae Ann, Robin Andrade, Tim Mosher and so many friends that I have photos of. Dr. Olivero and Dr. Stevenson were so amazing! I've decided that my love of Halloween comes from my Shriner days. I have photos of our Halloween costumes and party it was the bomb! The darkest time in my life is illuminated by wonderful friendships I hold dear to my heart. I recall my Tio Gabino Martinez, my hero, he would visit me every week day at Shriner's Hospital, because he knew my parents were only able to make it out on the weekends. I don't think I would have made it through without him and his encouragement. We formed such a great friendship during that time. May he RIP!
I found photos of friends who have passed from this life. Jackie Broadbent was my best friend from my childhood in West Ogden. Neva Merritt was a friend I met in Jr. High School at Mound Fort. we remained friends for years. May each of them rest in peace. It was difficult to fight back the tears as I gazed upon the photos.
I found old photos of my former work mates which I have now thrown away. Some memories are not worth holding on to.
I found photos of so many weddings. I at one time made wedding cakes, wow... I'd forgotten about them until I found these photos. I was a bridesmaid for Sonia, Selma, Carol, Laurie (married to my brother Pete), Leonard and Becky (maybe more but... well you know it is an age thing). A flower girl at my sister Gloria's wedding, I was so little and cute. I went to many weddings and was supportive to many individuals, who didn't share the importance of supporting me at my wedding or my daughters wedding. There I said it.
I made a mom and dad pile. I am most amazed at how much my parents have changed over the years. It is crazy, when you are close to someone and see them every day, you don't see them changing. When you look at old photos you see dramatic changes. I am so grateful to have my parents with me today! One day the photos will be all I have left. I don't look forward to that day!
I found photos of my mother's step siblings. I did not come to appreciate them as individuals until later in life. They indeed are kind and amazing people!
Last but not least I have so many photos of babies. You know those photos they take when the baby is born... TJ, Jamie, Rachel, Stephanie, Angel, Oscar Benjamin and so many others. Makes me wonder where times goes.
Now that I am an emotional mess, I will continue to sort through photos. I am grateful that I was able to capture so many moments in time. The photos serve as a reflection of the moments that were captured in my lifetime and those individuals who shared my joys and sorrows. These photos, in the future may not mean anything to the person who finds them, but to me they reflect how I turned into me.
Organize your photos
Identify your photos
Share your photos with others if you are not in them
Monday, January 16, 2012
Simba
Thirteen years ago we lost our lil dog Pee Wee a full blood Mini Pinscher. Now we morn the loss of our dear lil dog Simba. Ok so why did we call her Simba? Her name comes from my love of the Lion King movie and the lil lion "Simba". Her name confused everyone because you think of Simba and you think male, however my Simba was a female. She was a gentle soul. She either loved you or didn't want you near her. She was quick to let you know her choice in accepting you or chasing you away. She could read people in a special way. She calmed unruly children when they got out of sorts while around her. She was gentle to the gentle. My heart smiles when I recall Madison sitting next to Simba and gently petting her head. Simba would sit still and feel the love. Thirteen years Simba saw many changes happen around her. She saw Priscilla and Alfredo Jr aka Brother grow through their teenage years into adulthood. I am certain each of my children hugged her when they were sad, she heard their problems, she felt their anger and she worked to hold us all together. She always remained neutral and didn't take sides. She simply loved all of us. I depended on Simba to fill a huge void a mother feels when her children leave the nest. Children go their own way and make their own lives and their priorities change. They no longer need their mother everyday, in every situation. Simba helped me through that transition. Every day as I arrived home from work I could rest assure that someone was waiting for ME! She would be so excited to see me and waited for a gentle pat or touch. She made me believe I was loving her, but truth be told She was loving me. Alfredo would often work out of town or state and I knew I was not alone as I had my lil protector. I felt at ease knowing Simba was there. I'll be honest I cried for a couple of days. Yesterday I shared the news of her passing with a friend and I still had to fight back the tears. Alfredo told me that I could not cry anymore. I am working on that. Each passing day gets a little easier. I'm not there yet but I am where I need to be. Simba I miss you! Priscilla and Brother I miss you. Just me alone and missing my past!
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