BIG WILL ... and my rambling descriptions.

Tonight is Girls Night Out

My sisters Sandi and Margie are meeting with our cousin Cyndi and girlfriends Marie and Madonna. Not THAT Madonna ... our friend had the name first ... well not really first, we all know who had it first, but our Madonna had it before the Madonna we all love to not love but secretly love.

A couple weeks ago we all met for a night out and saw a band we'd never heard before. Big Will and the 360 Degrees Band. Except, Big Will isn't BIG. He's big in talent, but he's not big in his size. The sound is big and the talent all the musicians have is BIG and the fun was BIG, but again Will is not BIG. Will was big. You can go here to read his story and get a shot of inspiration.

In keeping with my big rambling theme, I really want to say tonight is more than a girls night out or enjoying good music and dancing. It's about BIGGER things.

The bigger things are really "the smaller things." Being together to share a laugh, a hug, a funny "ya had to be there" moment. Taking time to stop in our daily routine to enjoy the moments that can't be replaced or made up at a later date. Making the time just to be together to create new memories and laugh over some old ones.

So tonight's BIG Will and the 360 Degree Band will be the entertainment for our night of fun and celebration of the moments we share in our "girls night out."

Six Word Memoir Meme

I've been tagged by Lori.
The assignment: Write Your Own 6-word Memoir

The rules:

1) Write your own six word memoir
2) Post it on your blog; include a visual illustration if you’d like
3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible
4) Tag at least five more blogs with links
5) Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

My Kids

I'm glad
they still come
home.

Instead of tagging you ... I'll leave it up to you to write yours.

Hope ... for the Flowers

My brother calls me a couple times during the week when he's taking a break at work. We catch up on little nothings and everything. He's in automotive design, and for the most part we chat about his latest projects.

::: That of which I can't write about or he'd have to carjack my blog :::

Mike and I have been close since we were small. Maybe because we are just over a year apart, but probably because we "get" each other. Did I mention he is my only favorite brother too? He's had some medical deficits over the years that he's overcome, and some he's still dealing with. (I'll be posting about that soon.)

About 17 years ago, he had a closed head injury, an AVM blow-out in his noggin. Long story short, medically, he shouldn't be here, but since he is, he should have some handicap's. He not only fully recovered, he's gotten approval from the FAA to fly again. Anyway, his short term memory seems to be the only thing he deals with. I tease him that he uses the injury as his excuse, because all us over-fifty-year-olds suffer from CRS Syndrom. (can't remember s*it)

On the flip side, Mike can remember things from years ago that most would forget, even if they had it written in a journal.

::: Raising my hand and nodding yes here :::

There is a personality change that I see in him since his injury. He has a keen awareness to the "little things in life". His appreciation and focus is on the here and now. Mike certainly is one that stops to smell the roses.

Which brings me to our call of the other day. He was relating to people he is in contact with that are considered successful and wealthy by society's standards, and to those who struggle day to day to reach a level they think will bring them happiness and solve all problems. He asked me if I remembered the book Hope for the Flowers. We proceeded to recall the story.

I'm glad my brother is one who approaches each and every day with thanks and hopes. I wish I wouldn't allow myself to get so side tracked.

I came home and read the book again.

An excerpt:

"How does one become a butterfly?" she asked. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."

If you haven't read it, please put it on your list to read. Especially to your children. Although it's a quick, 15 minute easy read, it will have you thinking for days to follow. And in our case, years.

Hope for the Flowers
By Trina Paulus

Tupperware ... Timeless

I was clearing out one of my cupboards last night and found some old Tupperware stashed way in the back. I never use it, but can't pitch it because of this picture.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Bryan and Caitlin when they were little. I had it blown up and framed and it hangs over one of my dressers in my bedroom. Even today, isn't it nice the simpler things like Tupperware, pots and pans, and empty boxes are the timeless toys that most all little ones gravitate to?

They're back! TMNT

Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello

Those pizza eating, heroes in a half shell, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I remember round one of their popularity. My son Bryan is 21. When he was little, ever kid was so obsessed by these adorable ninjas, they were impossible to find.

No problamo, my darling little blond haired, blue W-I-D-E eyed son decided not to bother asking Mom and Dad for them, Santa would bring them. YIKES!

He wanted Leo, Ralph, Mic, Don, Shredder, Splinter, April, etc., all of them were a must to be able to properly reenact the stories from the movie and TV shows. So I made friends with the stock people, night shift, and dock hands at my local 24 hour Meijer store. I remember it took about 2 weeks of going there at 3AM every night before I got all of them. Santa pulled it off! I still have every pizza loving one, with all their frickin million little pieces stashed safely away.

The new TMNT movie comes out this Friday. I plan on seeing it, maybe Bryan will go with me. !!! COWABUNGA !!!

You've Got a Friend

I recently got an e-mail from my friend Karin. It amazes me that no matter how many miles there are between us, there is no way to measure how close we really are.

Karin and I were best friends, 8th through 12th grade. After graduation, we went our separate ways, but continued to keep up with each others lives. She got married and moved to Florida while I stayed in Michigan. The distance has kept us from a daily continuance of best buds, but the bond of our friendship remains intact.

As young girls exploring all the experiences we could get away with, Karin and I have more stories and memories than I can explain and probably many we'd rather not have anyone read.

(Hey KEG, remember that huge party at your house when your folks were away? Or how about when we got your Dad's Mustang caught on the garage door hinge and scraped the side of the car trying to get it out? And the time we tip-toed back into your house way past midnight, only to see the glow of your Dad's cigarette waiting for us in the family room.)

In my senior year, I had a difficult and personal situation to try to deal with. As all girls did in high school and still do, Karin wrote me a note. It was the most sincere, and healing words I had ever read. She also quoted the words to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend" in the note. That was 1973, I still have the note and when I hear that song on the radio, she is the first person that comes to mind.

Karin, I think Mokey Bear has watched over us through the years. We will always be friends ... cross my Red Wing patch!