The Poetry of Youth

I have been going through some old boxes and trying to condense all that I brought to Sweet’s house after hastily moving to an apartment from my old life and then moving directly to his house.  I took over two closets and his gym with my crap so after two years, I figured it was time to go through everything.

It was so nice seeing all my old stuff and going through the mementos, pictures and most especially the boxes that I had begun for each child that was to hold all the special moments of their lives growing up!

I went through their boxes and it was melancholy yet without a hint of tears.  Bravo!! It was joyful and happy, it was better than a time machine in an amusement park.  First Born’s kindergarten paintings that I somehow knew to lovingly put in plastic. My daughter’s softball awards, the photo pins and her high school letter jacket.  Youngest’s kids many sunglasses that he had to have and so much more!

Then it was time for my box.  My box contained items from high school, pre and post divorces, relationships, friendships and some family items.  It was a time machine but not like the aforementioned amusement park.  No mine was more like a chronological viewing of what had been.  You know the old saying that some things are better left unsaid?  That’s right, I found all the old diaries.

So I sat for hours that turned to days reading what made me happy, sad, worried, oh so proud (actually said that many times) and all the emoticons that appeared before my eyes as I placed the emotion for that particular entry.

Then sitting between two pages and stuck to one was an attempt at poetry and although I don’t see how I would have written this for the person that had been discussed on either of those pages, I found that some times even bad poetry is timeless. 

 

Enjoy!

When I first met you,

                                    you scattered every emotion

I held throughout the whole of my being.

                                    The charm within your soul

stunned my senses to heights

beyond imagination.

You enticed my will and

anchored my heart and you

have become a special person

in my life.

                                    I cherish the day we met and

I wait to hold you in

my heart again.

Riiiiight?

Hello from the Big Island!!

I am so blessed that Sweet loves to vacay and travel as much as I do.  We love Hawaii and plan on visiting a different island every year.  This year was the Big Island, Kona to the locals.  Special note~ Hawaiian’s really do not care for people calling it the Big Island, just as San Franciscans really don’t like the word Frisco.  Hmmm..

This trip was extra special because we took my BestieFF along with us.  Bestie Y we will call her was a little leary of going with us because she had not been on a vacay in such a long time.  Sweet works for the airlines so if you have read of my travels before, you know we always fly standby.  We have had pretty good luck when we fly, by that I mean making the flight we hope to, so when we asked Bestie Y to go with us, I wasn’t sure how this would work.  Of course, without a hitch!!

Now Sweet is a bit OCD responsible and on Day 1, he called me ten minutes before my alarm went off, so with sleepy salutations I told him I would call him back.  (head shakes with love)  So I finally get up around 4:30 and get ready because Bestie Y is coming to pick me up!  After the luggage was loaded into her SUV, we finally got on the road.  It had been raining that day in our area and as soon as we got on the freeway, the heavens opened again and it was coming down in sheets!!  We could barely see but we made it!!  Sweet was waiting outside for us and we were on our way!

We landed in Kona and my goodness it is beautiful and Hot!  There is just something about Hawaii that is peaceful and easy.  Chillaxing is really a word there.  So we get our car and head straight for our condo in Kailua.  (Sidenote:  He owns timeshares with Wyndham and we couldn’t ask for a better company to have timeshares with!  Back to you in the studio!)  We stopped at the Bite Me Fish Market and Grill to eat and the food was amazing, so was the bucket of island beers that Sweet bought.  

Outside Patio at Bite Me Fish Market and Grill

We got to our condo, Wyndham Royal Sea Cliff and as always the room was fabulous!  We unpacked, put on some suntan lotion and went to the grocery store to fill the kitchen for the week and of course the ingredients for delicious imbibing.   Then we just hung out on the lanai and watched the sun go down.  Ahhhh..  chillaxing…

Day 2 was St. Patricks day in Hawaii!  Bestie Y and I started the day with some Yoga while Sweet went to the meet and greet that the Royal Seacliff offers.  Then it was breakfast prep time and a nice meal on the lanai!  Sweet came back just in time and then announced that we were going to stay an extra day!  Yayyyy..   who doesn’t love that?  So we just piled on the suntan lotion and hung out at the pool all day until it was time to get ready for dinner.  We celebrated St. Patty’s day at Lulu’s and the place was amazing, oh and food was so yummy!  Next we went to a little place on the beach called Huggo’s on the Rocks where they had a little Celtic band.  It was a perfect first day!

Day 3 was Volcano day so we got up early, had breakfast and drove to Volcanoes National Park, which is about a 2 hour drive from our hotel.  It was a beautiful drive along the Hawaii Belt where you see beaches, greenery, small little towns and also spots of rain.  We went to the Jagger Museum, Crater Rim, Holei Sea Arch, Thurston Lava Tube, Black Sand beach and even watched a Hawaiian burial ceremony.  We ended our day at the hotel making dinner, having drinks and enjoying each other’s company.

Holei Sea Arch

Ponalu'u Black Sand Beach Park

Day 4 was Beach day!!  We started at the Sheraton Breakfast buffet then began driving along the coast road.  We saw black crabs and sea urchins.  We went to Kukio Beach where we saw Green Sea Turtles that lay up on the rocks and beach.  Next is was Hapuna State Beach park where we wrote in sand and watched children play at the water’s edge.  Yep, I was one of them….  We then went to Pololu Valley Lookout where we could see people on the beach down below should you decide to hike down.. no no, we didn’t.  Maybe next time.  Then it was back to the hotel and poolside with some snacks and Hawaiian singers.  Another great day in the HI.

Green Sea Turtles at Kukio Beach

Day 5 was Snorkeling!!  The day started with a meeting that Sweet had to attend which is not required by Wyndham but usually you get money, coupons or gifts so he goes.  Bestie Y and I did what anyone waiting for someone in Hawaii would do.  Poolside!!  It was so nice laying in the hot sun and taking cool dips in the pool.  We also met some ladies from Canada that actually knew our little nor cal town by the outlets that we are apparently famous for.  Hilda and Barb, they are quite the charactas!  So on to Kahalu’u Beach park for snorkeling.  The water was so blue and the fish were beautiful colors of love and sun.  We snorkeled for hours then it was on to shopping!!  Best part of our trips, well at least to me.  I don’t think Sweet enjoys it too much.  Finally it was on to a luau by the pool where we were pulled up to dance with the dancers!  So much fun.

Kahalu'u Beach Park

Day 6 was time to leave so we packed up the suitcases, did a little luau dance with breakfast and left for the airport.  The flight home was uneventful and as always it is good to be home!  My daughter stayed with our puppies that were crazy excited to see us when we returned.  Bestie Y, Sweet and I had such a great time, can’t wait for the next trip! 

Thanks you Sweet for another wonderful memory!

A Mommy was born too!

Waiting for a grandchild while assisting in the preparation for one is not only exhilarating but time consuming as well.  I planned and executed a babyshower fit for a princess about to bear the future Queen.  This festivity included the omnipresent baby pink decor, the regaled party games that everyone hates but can’t wait to play. The food was a culinary delight handmade by moi.  Family and friends were bountiful and the smile on my daughter’s face when she walked in was priceless!   So with that done and the little clothes, receiving blankets and teeny little sockies had been washed folded and put away, it was now time to wait!  Tick Tock! Then as the due date perceived by those medical types neared, they tell her there was an error and her due date was extended for a week.  Talk about air out of a balloon!

So on Feb 22nd,  I receive the ping that is my text tone! It is 6:31 a.m.

                         Just got to hosp. contr 5-6 m aprt.

                         no water break. Just waiting for doc

                         to do an exam to see if I need to stay. 

                         I’ll text u ltr.

What?  Through blinking eyes, I read it again and then?  Recognition!!  I jump out of bed like a crazy person and think about GBabies one and two that I had missed.  Slam! Fear takes over so I send the panic stricken text back, (well because you know it’s all about me!)

                        If I don’t come now I’ll miss it!!!

 No response (it’s not like she’s busy or anything) so I send another one:

                         I’m getting dressed and on my way

 To which she replies:

                         I’m 1 ½ cm.  There gonna send me home.

 So I ask her if she needs anything and she replies:  Sleep

Well being the persistent, panic-stricken, self-indulging Mother that she was saddled with, I continue to text her with my motherly advice.  You know, like to remember to drink lots of water so her and baby don’t get dehydrated which I am sure she appreciated as the cramped waves of pain roll through her belly and at times double her over.  Then of course, since I have not received a response I feel the need to offer them a flat of bottled water.  To which they are too kind in responding multiple thank you’s and let me have my way with their moment.

So the day progresses and they go back to the hospital so she can be checked again because the contractions are more intense and now 3 - 4 minutes apart.  As I am driving, I begin to tear up thinking about the day she was born and how this is it.  She is going to be a mommy! 

I sit in the waiting area and after an hour or so I see them and they are leaving again.  Son in law is pushing MK in a wheelchair and I get up to follow.  As I look down at my beautiful girl, she rolls her head around and lazily looks up at me and says with a growl.  “Hey Mommmmmy, they gave me morphine” Then the dimpled smile appears and is followed by a song.  “And I’m feeling good!”  Buble would be proud.  We all go home and wait some more.

The 23^rd~

Five AM, the phone rings and it’s MK telling me that she needs me so I tell her I’m on my way.  I get to her house and we begin to monitor the contractions because we can’t go in until she is 1-2 minutes apart and the contractions last at least 30 – 45 seconds.  Two hours later, we are on our way and she is admitted!  SIL and I are in the room while she toils away at handling the contractions, gets her epidural and uncomfortably rolls side to side.  Then after 35 hours of labor, we receive the news from her Doc that she is dilated to 10!  Yayyy!  What they don’t say is that after the ever hoped for TEN is achieved, they want to wait so the pushing will be easier!! 

Finally the pushing is here and she was a trooper!  The funniest part for me was the comparison of when my children were born.  We didn’t have cell phones or texting to relay the demanded information about MK and the baby.  I watched my SIL text both of their phones simultaneously as he helped her push, then it was the TV remote to surf for the right music channel because the baby should be born to “slow jamz”.

The next two hours blurred as I participated in the pushing, wiped her brow with a wet cloth, gave her some ice chips and watched my Gbaby come into this world!!  It was the most amazing experience of my life and I thank God I was there to experience it.  Once she was cleaned up and everyone was in the room to visit and see the brand new little person with oooos and ahhhhhs.  My daughter grabbed my hand, held tight and watched her daughter.  Which I did as well and it was then in that moment that I realized that I had not only had the blessing of watching my Gbaby come into this world but I got to see a Mommy born that day as well.

Found Handwritten on a Wall

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.

Do good anyway.

 

If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.

Be honest and transparent anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People who really want help may attack you if you help them.

Help them anyway.

 

Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.

Give the world your best anyway.

~Mother Teresa