Dream vacation!

I gauge the success of my vacations by how long they feel and this one felt like it lasted a month! But I've experienced something I've never felt before. A let down. For the first time ever I lost energy and felt a huge let down realizing I had to get back to reality. Mind you, my reality rocks but I still felt like the air had been let out of my sails.

The rest of my week rolled along....hitting the final Indians game with my sister and aunt....visiting friends I'd not seen in eons.....witnessing a visible sign from Mom --her trademark rainbow letting me know everything will be ok. I enjoyed the Larchmere Porchfest....and capped off the week at the Metromix birthday party. I can not believe how each day towered atop the previous day's festivities. Absolutely uncanny.

Funny the roads we travel....6 months ago I was hoping to be with my Indians in San Francisco this past weekend. An unrealistic pipe dream, but it's good to dream and reach for the stars! So, I watched my boys on TV ....and took the road less traveled which lead me down much greener pastures over the last five days.

Life is good! God is good. I truly am blessed.

They're closer than you think!

I LOVE getting the oil changed on my car.

Fortunately, knock on wood, that's all I have to do right now!

It gives me a reason to take treats to my auto body shop and see their eyes open wide because someone thought about them in the midst of their ridiculously hectic day...but more importantly, I get to see Ken, the guy who sold me my car.

I make a point to stop in and take him treats as well!

Being so close to Easter, I took them all Easter candy and some of the home-made Bohemian delicacy I attempted to make!

For that 1/2 hour, Ken, who is one of the nicest people I've ever met, lets me vent or share or just talk about nothing! He knows the stress I've been under.

We catch up on each other's families and stop trying to solve the problems of the world for a little while!

Poor Ken! He had quite a spill at Christmas and was out of commission for a little while. But, he's a trooper! He hardly skipped a beat.

I'm quite lucky.

And I am finally realizing that there are more important things in this life than sticking to my day planner, crossing everything off of my 'to do list,' cleaning the toilets, or even washing my hair every day!

Life is good.

Magical memories

I am determined to hold onto those magical moments from last week!

It's very easy to have a few days off or enjoy a great party, concert, celebration...and once you get back to work or the grind of the routine, poof --everything goes out the window!

Not this time. We had a wonderful week! Jam packed as usual. But what else is new?! Every day in our lives is like being on the freeway at rush hour in LA, Orlando or New York!!!!!

Last week consisted of basking in the beautiful weather....family celebrations....new restaurants never sampled...good friends revisited from the past and the present...exotic places never traveled....making apple cider from scratch....singing, dancing and music....

Mix in the fact that baseball season is still alive! And the Cleveland Browns had an UN-BELIEVABLE MNF game. What more can you ask?!?

It truly was a dream week.

Toward the end, little things started happening as signs that the dream week was about to end. Not gonna let it happen!

Life is too short. Remember the good times to get through the bad times. Keep a sweet memory in your pocket when times get tough as a stepping stone to the next magical week.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

What a wonderful gift I've been given to be able to celebrate Mom's 79th birthday with her (all of us really)! She looks great! We've been through so much. And I guess that is what makes it sweeter! That's what makes it memorable!

Even though it is Mom's birthday, I've been given the greatest gift of all!

Thank you, dear Jesus.