New Experiences

I have realized lately that even though I have experienced many things in life, there are tons of things I have never done. So, like many people I have a list of things I would like to do. Part of why I have not done some things is because I have wasted so much time in my life being shy and being so responsible(first child syndrome) . Things like riding bumper cars, people might be looking at you , after all! So, I rode my first bumper car this summer with my grand son Caden. We had a blast and people actually watched us and I survived. :-) I went to Medford the other day and I took some time to actually go to a movie BY MYSELF and it was great. Everything was actually fine when I walked out, the world had survived without me for an hour and a half. So, what is something you want to do? Big or small. Life is Beautiful. Who wants to go play with me? :-)

One for the History Books

What a truly amazing day yesterday was. (no matter what your political beliefs) To really internalize what happened, it was be an incredible day in history. Ever since I can remember, especially as a little child, my mind could never accept that we could be treated differently because of the way we look , what we believe or even how much money we make. My very first LOVE in my life was in Kindergarten and his name was Willie. He had a hugh smile and the sweetest eyes I had ever seen. It didn't hurt that he ran across the gym to me, as fast as his little feet would go, to stand by my side to be my partner in P.E. We were learning "Oh, Johnny Oh' and the "Virginia Reel" and I still to this day, join in at school, with a happy, happy, heart. I told my mom all about Willie and then one day she showed up to pick me up and there I was holding Willie's hand excited for her to meet him. From that day on I was never "allowed" to talk to him again. I had never noticed that his skin was black, he was just beautiful to me. Well, if you know me at all you know I still talked and danced with him, my mom just didn't hear about it. But, my point is, my mom just did not know any better, she was raised in the 40's.
We moved the next school year but Willie was always a part of my heart. He was my very first LOVE after all. Who knows, Willie could be the NEXT president! :-)

Life is a Pathway

A Quote from "Broken Trail"
This life is a pathway between the two Eternities.

What's in a Name ?

I just finished a book titled "Someone Knows my Name" by Lawrence Hill. It's about a fictional character (a young African girl who is stolen into the slave world of the 1700's) written with historical facts. Any way, the honor of her name is a major theme in this novel. It got me thinking this week about my own name and how people perceive it. Now... Take a minute and think of a name.. like Santa...Your best friend's name...Hitler...Elvis...Jesus. Whenever you think of a name, an image pops into your head of that person automatically. Good or bad, it is never neutral. You can't help your reaction. It is in direct proportion to the way they make you feel. Now think of your own name, how do people think about you?

I remember a thought and I do not know the author. It says:

I may not remember what you said
I may not remember what you did
But I always remember how you made me feel.

My goal for this year is to have anyone hearing my name think of it as a positive.

P.S. How come even in a crowded store when you hear mom or nana. You happily look around for a second, even though you know it's really not for you, hoping it is?

HAPPINESS

I admit it... I am a smiley face junkie and I like happiness. I add them to my notes, I collect them. So fun. An article in LDS Living had some facts about my smiley face and happiness I didn't know.
* 1963 was when it was invented. It was a graphic for an insurance company who wanted a logo to improve their employees moral.
* 1988 was when the phrase"Don't worry be happy" was coined by Bobby McFerrin in his hit song.
* 1 in 3 Americans rank themselves very happy.
* 1 in 3 Americans rank themselves very stressed.
* 71 is the average age of the happiest people.
* 18 minutes was the average time people in the 1950's laughed each day.
* 5 minutes is the average today.
* The U.S. is ranked the 13th! happiest Country in the world.(Shame on Us)
* 5 months is the age in which babies can distinguish between a happy or sad song.
* Every person in the world recognizes the smiley face to represent happiness.
* 112 times young children laugh during the day, the average 42 year old only 6
So don't worry be happy! When things are OK store up your smiles in your happy bank to get you through the hard times. Hey, am I the only one blogging? I thought this was for the family??? :-)

PROGRESS.... It's all in your perspective

Every summer from my 12th year on, we would travel from San Jose and our well trimmed, edged yard to visit Aunt Zelda and Uncle Orville in Fort Jones. (Prior to my manicured lawn, and having a dad, from birth to age 12 I lived among gangs and had full responsibility for two younger siblings.Time for that tale in another story. I actually have been blessed with many "perspectives" in my lifetime) For a week each summer we visited my cousin Cindy. Scott Valley to me, was a world of horses, cowboys, Indians (for real!) pine trees, logging, ranching, farming, fish in the streams and about a million deer. At age 16 my dad decided to move us to Scott Valley. I told him I would run away if he took me away from my friends, we did not move. As I look back, more perspective, it probably would have been a good move. I love it here. I probably would have married a Friden, Heitt or a Thackeray. All really good people. The valley grows really good people.
In 1977 I finally did move here and with $4000.00 we started the very first cable company in Scott Valley. Up to that point they only had access to T.V. through antennas. In 1982 we sold the cable company to the phone company because the cost of operation was becoming prohibitive. In 2009 the cable company is now shutting it's doors because the cost of operation is ..... you guessed it too prohibitive. Customers must choose to use a satellite dish or ANTENNAS.
Well, 32 years later and we still have horses, cowboys, Indians(for real!) pine trees, logging, ranching, farming,fish in the streams and about a million deer. We still grow good people and we still don't have Cable!