There...I Said It....

I am not Dog Lover.

There - I said it.

As much as I try and try, I just cannot get on board with the smell, the barking, the always in my face (pet me, pet, me), please play fetch with me, where is my treat because I think I am about to faint, let me bark and protect you from that falling leave outside at 2:00 a.m., let me lick your face after eating kitty poop, and take up 80% of your bed.

Now, for the record - I LOVE our dogs! Jake and Annie are the coolest dogs around and, despite their flaws, they are pretty awesome to have around most of the time. They are both ferociously loyal and seem to have the personalities of Laurel and Hardy!

Still...I'm not a Dog person!

I prefer the calming spirit of a Cat! Cats are mysterious and have a snotty attitude that screams, leave me the hell alone and we will get along just fine. I like that kind of sassy attitude! Cats do not discriminate in showing their love and affection - they are not particularly loyal. Who ever has the cat treat, cat food and pooper-scooper is the man or woman of the hour! Cats are pretty much self-sufficient and can tend to most all of their needs on their own. Yep - I like that about cats!

In a dog(s) and cat home it's hard to take side though. Truth be told, I would take them all before I would do without. Kitty-poop breath and all!

Peace

 
 
 
 
 

10 Things I Believe...and Then Some

In a world of uncertainty it's easy to questions the things I know and believe. Though the last five years have been a difficult season that I had to walk through - here are 10 things that I believe:

1. I believe it is impossible to feel secure that there will be a tomorrow. Life is a blink and then it's gone. You can't prepare...you can't plan for it...you just have to live it. Every single day!
2. I believe grief and loss give way to life and peace eventually - you just have to wait it out.
3. I believe sometimes we need to distance ourselves from our closest loved ones and friend in order to get to the next level of life with them together. In order to not hurt them, or drain them...we have to save the relationship through gentle distance until it's time to close the gap.
4. I believe my grandchildren are the reward for surviving our childrens' teenage years! Through the dark times it's tempting to throw in the towel and give in to the chaos of parenthood - to just sit and drown in the waves of loneliness, fussing and loss of identity. Those times pass and change. Hang in there - it is totally worth it!
5. I believe people come in and out of my life for a reason and a season and then leave. It's difficult to let go and my ego has led me to hang on for dear life when I know the season has passed. Recognize that the lesson to be learned was learned and move along so they can move along.
6. I believe that being kissed on the hand with soft warm lips is the most romantic gesture.
7.  I believe lipstick is an amazing anti-depressant for me! It's hard to frown with pretty red lipstick!
8. I believe fireflies are the most amazing creature...ever.
9. I believe in God!
10. I believe love is a choice...an attitude...a job...a duty...a responsibility...and a blessing to give and receive. Keep doing it - every day. Begin with yourself first and then spread it around!

Okay - 5 More:

1. I believe God gave me the most loving woman to share my life with. From the time our cells were formed, as we held each other in the womb...we were meant for each other. While naturally concepted (is that a word?) fraternal twins are rare - identical twins are a fluke of nature. We have lived a life-time of different emotions about us - for us and against us...but she is mine - I am hers.
2. I believe that (sadly) my tolerance for bullshit, injustice, whining/complaining, laziness, discrimination, wallowing in your own misery, and compassion has gotten lower as I have gotten older.
3. I believe only I can determine if I have achieved the level of success that I wanted.
4. I believe I was loved by my parents, loved deeper than I will ever be loved again, loved in a way I will miss until my last breath. The true love of a parent will stay with you (me) forever - when it is gone a little piece of you (me) dies.
5. I believe 'tump' is a word!

Peace!

Looking Down The Barrell Again

After a nice dwell-time, we are staring down the barrel of the deployment gun again. With just a few years before being able to throw down his retirement letter, once again we are getting ready to do the deployment ride one final time. This time, so far, the 'range' is different - but we know how things can change. It has been a nerve-wracking month of deployment...no deployment....deployment....no deployment....this week it is on. Today we sat down and wrote dates on the calendar and looked ahead at the next couple of months, to make sure we are on target to kick-off. The CRAZY thing is that we are nearing the closing on a little lake house just across the Tennessee line. Now that deployment is 'real' (well, as real as it is this week), I begin to feel the butterflies of handling not one, but two, homes. Twice the upkeep, twice the expense, twice the maintenance, twice the home where he will not be. This is the last...no more....never gain.

Another caveat to this deployment is that we will soon send our son down range. His trip down range will be a great deal more intense than Rich's, though shorter in duration. I've never sent a son...only my husband....now I have both.. As a mother I want to stop it. I don't want to give my son (my only biological son) up to this ridiculous cause that has no end.  My stomach and mind are all knotted up. This will be his only, his last....no more....never gain!

Peace.