Memorial Day 2008

"Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things."

Interesting Memorial Day Link

Here is a link that was forwarded to me of pictures of the World War II memorial in Washington DC. We have been there and it very inspiring.



http://flickr.com/search/show/?q=wwii+memorial

Life Advice

"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."
Ben Stein

Twice in this last week I have read advice about how to get your life moving in the right direction again. I read an article in a magazine about using a life coach and that was the first question she poses to her clients. "Decide what it is you want."

It doesn't seem like it would be that hard to decide what it is that you want but when you stop and think about what you really want, that is accomplishable it becomes an interesting question. Winning the mega lottery would be nice but that isn't something that I can control other than buying a ticket, so I scratched that desire. "Something finite that will make you happy". Figure it out they say and then it is easy to put a plan into place to achieve it. We'll see!

I have been away from the computer this week because we three have been under the weather. Mike must have brought a virus home because on Sunday he was flat on his back with major stomach pains and vomiting all day. He was sure he had food poisoning but as he and Steve had eaten exactly the same thing and Steve was showing no signs we ruled that out. When he was still feverish and cramping we took him to the doc on Monday and it was ruled a virus. He was relieved and as I had imagined all sorts of awful things I was too. He laid around the rest of Monday and was back to work on Tuesday morning at 5AM. But I started throwing up right about the time he went to work. I spent Tuesday in bed but before I could rally completely Steve started the process late Tuesday night. Fortunately we are all recovered now, but look out if you have seen us in the last 48 hours.

The memorial day weekend looks promising weather wise for a change and as there are still plenty of outdoor projects and activites we will stay busy. I think of memorial day as a day to celebrate our heroes. John is one of them this year.

Update on Mike

As many of you know Mike started a new job this week at the local Bass Pro Store. Monday and Tuesday were orientation and they were not even in the store. The rest of his schedule was working Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 5AM until 2PM. He will be working full time in the shipping and receiving department but until the store opens he is stocking shelves like everyone else. He has been working in the fishing department the last two days and as you can imagine there are lots of little things that need to be put out for display. He will be working a rotating schedule, working one weekend day every other week. His hours will always be 5-2 though. I guess he will be getting to bed earlier in order to be up by 4:15 AM. He is driving himself and as it is less than 3 miles from the house it doesn't take long to get there. He is very excited with this new adventure and we are hopeful it will be a good match for him so he can continue his quest for independence. And along those lines, he and I went out with his realtor Amanda this week to look at a foreclosure in Perrysburg. Amanda is a high school friend of Jessica's who has agreed to take Mike on as a long term client. We have looked at two small condos in the Belmont area. Mike has been saving well but would still need a roommate to be able to handle a mortgage payment. It is good for him to see the potential of living on his own. Working with Amanda has been great because she knows our situation with Mike, and the fact that we may be looking for quite a while. This is a shot of Realtor Amanda and Mike.

Sometimes others say it better

Here is a poem that I found today in my search for a quote to start a blog update. It explains exactly how I feel sometimes when the tears are so close to the surface. I am doing ok most of the time. The sunshine helps and it has been great to keep busy.

Please See Me Through My Tears
by Kelly Osmont

You asked, "How am I doing?"
As I told you, tears came to my eyes...
and you looked away and quickly began to talk again.
All the attention you had given me drained away.

"How am I doing?"...I do better when people listen,
though I may shed a tear or two.
This pain is indescribable.
If you've never known it you cannot fully understand.
Yet I need you.
When you look away,
When I'm ignored,
I am again alone with it
Your attention means more than you can ever know.

Really, tears are not a bad sign, you know!
They're nature's way of helping me to heal...
They relieve some of the stress of sadness.

I know you fear that asking how I'm doing brings me sadness
...but you're wrong.
The memory of my loved one's death will always be with me,
Only a thought away.
My tears make my pain more visible to you, but you did not
give me the pain...it was already there.

When I cry, could it be that you feel helpless, not knowing
what to do?
You are not helpless,
And you don't need to do a thing but be there.
When I feel your permission to allow my tears to flow,
you've helped me
You need not speak. Your silence as I cry is all I need.
Be patient...do not fear.

Listening with your heart to "how I am doing"
relieves the pain,
for when the tears can freely come and go, I feel lighter.

Talking to you releases what I've been wanting to say aloud,
clearing space
for a touch of joy in my life.

I'll cry for a minute or two...
and then I'll wipe my eyes,
and sometimes you'll even find I'm laughing later.

When I hold back the tears, my throat grows tight,
my chest aches, my stomach knots...
because I'm trying to protect you from my tears.
Then we both hurt...me, because my pain is held inside,
a shield against our closeness...and you,
because suddenly we're distant.

So please, take my hand and see me through my tears...
then we can be close again.

Sunsets from Tortola

"Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven."
John Lubbock