Christmas shopping and pet shops

I went Christmas shopping today. I traveled to Erie, PA in hopes of wrapping up my holiday wish lists and for the most part I think I've covered it.

Most of the day was spent with my daughter Heather, her friend Kassie and our buddy Liz - she even offered to drive since she had the only car with four wheel drive. So I had the opportunity to sit back and be the passenger. How nice.

Lattes, Americano's and coffee freezers kept us fueled through our three-hour marathon shopping leg at Target, then linner at Panera's, Wegman's and then the mall. Our last stop of the day was the mall pet store where Liz fell in love with an English bulldog. I learned that they have financing for the pet store. Financing is necessary when you find out the pup your holding is more expensive than what I paid for my first car! The store was asking $3900.00 for the caramel ball of puppy fun. Liz wanted to take "Olive" home ... but we left her at the store for the next millionaire to buy.

We got home at 11pm tonight and I can't recall the last time I spent a day with my girlfriends wandering around the mall. It was a nice break from the busy work and holiday season coming over the next week and a half that seems somewhat non-stop. Unplugging on Saturday was the best day. Thanks ladies for taking the trip.
Merry Christmas!
Now what I really want to know is, when is the next girls day trip?




Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
13 thankful posts down, 18 to go!

Friday night revisited

I recall the days of waiting anxiously for Friday night to arrive. I'd hang out with friends until all hours of the morning, drinking too much coffee ( really coffee!), eating diner food way to late and not being old enough to feel the effects of it. We'd go to shows of unknown musicians - now that would be called "Indy".

Tonight after leaving my office I had the Friday butterflies in my stomach. I picked up my kids, dropped one off at a birthday party and took the other to the grocery store to pick up pizza and supplies for baking this weekend. We got home, cleared the table and all sat down with our white pizza, chips and soda and soaked in the Friday of the night.

There may not be a show this weekend or a night out with friends till dawn.
More importantly, for 48 hours there are no long meetings or counting of work hours.

It is Friday night. :)
Thank God it's Friday.




Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
12 thankful posts down, 19 to go!

Elephants never forget

At book club earlier this week, the topic of memory came into the discussion. We talked about the different kinds of memory we all have and use. People cramming text books of information into their heads just long enough for college exams, people reciting phone numbers long enough to get in touch with a plumber, or learning a poem so it can be recited for a Christmas program. So much memory is held in that temporary file and exchanged throughout the day, I got to thinking. What memories and thoughts do we really hold on to?

Its often said that elephants never forget. When I was a kid I used to picture an elephant with all sorts of strings tied around it's trunk, limbs and tail when that would be said. I'd often wonder why anyone or anything would want to remember everything they've ever seen, experienced or said. Even now, I can't imagine retaining all that information.

There are things I wish I could remember better though. When thinking of fuzzy memories of loved ones, I often want a physical trigger to help me reconnect with a happy moment. Sometimes a scent or a photo can be a switch for long lost connections to be made. Its true there are certain times of the year that I become more nostalgic; anniversaries, birthdays and even dates of loved ones passing have made me yearn for authentic memories to come to life.

Earlier this week, a student in one of my groups greeted me excitedly saying, "Hey, I have a Christmas present for you!". I was taken by surprise, and happily opened the red tissue wrapped bundle with anticipation. The switch was flipped by what I unwrapped.

Inside the wrapping was a stuffed plush elephant. It's tiny black eyes peered into mine and I recalled a moment when my sister and I had been given crystal nick-knacks. They were the glass blown animals tinged with color that were easily found at craft stores. I think mine was a mouse, but I clearly remember that hers was an elephant. I was warmed and comforted by the memory of my sister holding her glass elephant. She loved elephants.

My student had noticed my Indian purse that had elephants on it as well as a skirt I'd worn one day that was covered in elephants. She knew I liked elephants and when she saw the stuffed elephant at the store, she bought it for me.

Funny thought, I never told her why I liked elephants so much. My sister passed away at the age of 15 from complications of a heart defect she'd been born with. It's been over twenty years since she passed away, but I have always remembered her affection for elephants. In a way, I suppose my enjoyment of elephants is a way of feeling connected to her and the memory of opening our glass creatures that day.

Unwrapping our memories is something that takes us off guard, rather like opening an unexpected Christmas gift. The giver had no idea how precious that gift was and I'm thankful to her for giving something that was unexpectedly jogged my childhood memory.

Although my mind contains lots of fuzzy memories, I found out this week that the old adage is true - elephants never forget. Sometimes they even help you remember.



Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
11 thankful posts down, 20 to go!

Meme of 6 random things

So far two of my blogging friends (Da Youth Guy and Marko) this week have participated in the "Six random fact about me" writing exercise, so in the pace of writing everyday for a month I thought I'd jump in on this meme. Join in as well and fill the blogging world in on 6 random facts about you too!

1. My middle name is Lamont. There has been a great deal of question concerning why and how I ended up with the middle name "Lamont". I was not named after the TV show, Sanford and Son. My Mom tells me that she had a friend in high school who was either from France or her parents were and her name was Lamont. Apparently, my Mom was impressed with with her kindness, sophistication, and uniqueness of coming from somewhere other than Irwin, PA. My first name was given for the song, "Tara's theme" from Gone with the wind. What a mix of culture, the American south and France. Now I just need to get to Paris.

2.My favorite foods are Greek. Baklava, Greek Salads and Chicken Souvalki. Sadly though, I'm not Greek.

3.My favorite childhood toy was my Raggedy Anne Doll. I took here with me everywhere I went up until she was lost in our move from Russell to our home in Youngsville. I sometimes think I'd like to get a new Raggedy Anne Doll to remember her by.

4.I've held the following jobs: Babysitter for neighbors kids, waitress at Perkins, graphic designer for two small print shops, Lead singer for Prime Minister, waitress/barista for John Willams European Pastry Shop, Retail worker for BMG Music, Waitress for Pasta Etc., Lead singer for The Bubble Gum Machine, Sign maker/artist for Wegmans Art Department, Youth Director for the TSA, Recreational Therapist for CFOP, Outreach and Worship Director for Westminster Presbyterian, Solo musician, free-lance writer, Teaching Artist for Arts Council, and currently Director of Youth and Family Ministry for First Lutheran. Whew..

5. One of my favorite ways to unplug from life's craziness is to go to the salon and get my hair done. It's like a reset button for me.

6. I live in a community that is greatly Italian, Swedish and Hispanic and I'm not any of these ethnicity's. I'm Welsh, Cherokee, Irish, French, Irish, Pennsylvania Dutch, German and probably lots more.





Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
10 thankful posts down, 21 to go!

Meme of what I've done... so far

What have you done with your life so far?
Bold ones are done!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - through World Vision!
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon - ran a 5k!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - drawn I think that counts!
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument




Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
9 thankful posts down, 22 to go!

SWB: Lightening rods, momentos and celebration

Lightening rods

It was a year ago this weekend that Phyllis Tickle came to the church I was serving at for a weekend long retreat to discuss the emergent/emerging church and her then upcoming book, "The Great Emergence". This year there was another weekend gathering in Tennessee called, "The Great Emergence". They had additional speakers, ( Tony Jones, Doug Pagitt, Nadia Boltz-Weber, Lisa Samson and many more!) but the main focus was on Phyllis's newest book discussing the shifts and changes occurring in the church today. In recalling last year's mini preview event, I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Phyllis as well as Karen Sloan, (author of "Flirting with Monasticism") who attended and led a session last year.

It is exciting to have people in our lives that are something like lightning rods. People who challenge us, help us focus on the important things, and help us to remember the importance of joy and love that energize us. I recall how filled up I felt after that weekend last December. My mind was buzzing with all the knowledge that Phyllis shared and my heart was hopeful for the possibilities of the ministry at the church. I was encouraged to always listen to my gut, to seek after the things that make me curious about life, to pursue the things that are life-giving. So even in the midst of some difficult times last year, being laid off, job searching, and all the questioning that was a part of that time; I tried to be a lightening rod too. It's perplexing to look back over last year and realize how much of what was taught that December weekend were only ideas then, but as the year progressed the words that were spoken, they kept me going.

Thank you lightening rods.

Mementos


(Snapshot of my sister Heather and I when I was about 6 months old.)

One word is the greatest memento in my life and that word is Grandpap.

This weekend marks the sixth year anniversary of my Grandfathers passing. He taught me how to belly laugh, sing with my whole heart, and putter in a garden. I really don't have physical mementos of him, except for the necklace I purchased with some of the money he left to my Mom and she passed on to me from the sale of his home and estate. I'm content with my mind being full of childhood memories of my Grandpap. The summer days sitting on his patio in the glider, the quarters he used to give me before I piled into the back of my parents car to return home after a visit and the wonder bread he'd buy just for me because I never had white bread at home.


(Grandpap and Grandma Dunn)

Even the difficult times when I was estranged from my parents and felt I couldn't attend a family anniversary party, my husband helped me (before we were married) to make a video where I wished them a happy anniversary and then sang them a song and mailed it off to them, the letters of encouragement that my Grandparents sent when no one in my family would speak to me, the way he smiled at me a knew me as he sat on his hospital bed that last time. We sang together in tears and laughter then just like we always did. People used to say we were cut from the same cloth, I think we were something more than that. We were one and the same heart.

This last week, my Aunt Carol passed away after her fight with cancer. Her funeral is taking place this morning as I type. Our relationship was not as close as mine with my Grandpap, but I still have precious mementos of her tucked away in the corners of my mind. (Full glasses of Pepsi, playing "Don't break the ice", and strawberry shampoo.) These memories help us stay connected when the physical connection is no longer there. Memory is our means of communicating the truth of love and that has no barrier at all.


Celebration

Saturday was my son's 12th birthday. It is fantastic for me to imagine how we've all managed to become twelve years older. He's gone from being so tiny, to beginning to look like an almost man. Shoulders broadening, voice wobbling, and getting much closer to looking me in the eye without having to stand on anything.

We went to the movies, played with tech decks, had a feast with a few of his friends at a Mexican restaurant on Saturday, and celebrated with pasta, sparkling grape juice and cheese cake at Grandma's house on Sunday.


(Nigel at about 8 months old)

My little son is now twelve. I remember the look on his tiny face moments after he was born. I called his name and he turned his newborn eyes to meet mine we both knew something very important. We are each others lightening rods, memento and celebration. We are made from the same heart, and still are to this day.

We are made from the same heart.


(Nigel and Heather after this weekend's bake fest)





Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
8 thankful posts down, 23 to go!

Pause

The pause button is almost ready to be pressed.
Calls can be returned.
Emails can wait.
But the pause that is coming is needed.
I can't wait...
for a pj day or shopping in a leisurely way.
I can't wait...
for a moment or two with nothing planned to do,
except whatever happens to happen.
I can't wait...
for some time to reflect on a week full of events and pondering the possible of tomorrow.

Pause

Pause

Pause

Reset.




Click here to join in on NaBloPoMo
7 thankful posts down, 24 to go!