We Love You Too! And Always!!

Sunday, June 26th, 2011 "Noreen" Lives!!! Still!! The Hollyhock now has petite leaves, again close to the ground, and the tiniest Hollyhock flowers I have ever seen. How did she do this in only 3 days. Is someone sending me a message? I think so....We love you too "Noreen"! The little plant is actual size looking at it from my height. The larger picture is a zoom in so that you can see the flowers.

It all depends on how you look at it!

On the surface someone can appear to have it all. Behind the scenes they can be struggling just like ourselves or may even be in a harder fight than we can imagine.

Our Mom had a favorite expression which went something like this, “Stop your complaining, it could be worse!.” Her equivalent to, “People are starving all over the world, so eat what is on your plate.” One day, after I had given her advice back to her like grown children are known to do, she said, “You know Marti, it can also be better!” I said, “Of course, otherwise why would we try so hard to succeed.” Secretly she liked that response because it meant that she had been successful in her parenting; on the outside however, she gave me the finger.

But the fact still remains that some people, no matter how hard they work to change their lives, seem to be bound to the fact that they will have to work harder for their goals than the next person, or so it would seem. “Those things that don’t kill us will only make us stronger”, another favorite Mother saying along with, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle!” But sometimes it would appear that we have reached the limit of our ability to rebound. Never!

Will and determination are awesome personal powers and if we remain focused we can surmount the most difficult issues. We learned this as Fiery Fairy Princesses and later practiced as all knowing Druid Queens. We are down in the dirt scrappers not to be beaten, as were our parents before us and their parents and so on.

Out the outside our family appeared not to have any difficulties. Sure it was obvious that we did not have a lot of money, it was also observed that we knew how to work for what we wanted and accomplished our goals. We were taught, “Never to air our dirty laundry in public.” another favorite teaching from our Mother. What went on in our house stayed in our house way before the expression, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

Our oldest New York Goddess, the Fairy Princess/Druid Queen herself, made her transition with the Grace of God on April 17th of this year. She had succumbed to metastasized breast cancer after at least 10 years of the disease and a final heart wrenching battle for the last 18 months. It was only in these last months that we, her closest blood sisters, learned that she had many life battles that we never really knew about. That was her way, to keep those things most unpleasant to herself.

Were these problems any worse than those of others? Probably not, but wouldn’t it have eased her burden a little to have shared with family or a very close friend? I believe we all do the best we can with what we have at any given day in our lives. Sure, there were things she could have done differently or even better; but each day I know that she did what she could do with the powers that she had.

Does this determination transcend death? I know that it flows through our blood to our children and their children; but what about through the veil between the living and those that have passed on.

My neighbor gave me a hearty Hollyhock plant to put in my flower garden in memory of Noreen. She knew that Noreen and I both love wild flowers as does our sister Debbie. There were no flowers yet but a strong sturdy stem and lots of luxurious leaves. And so “Noreen” was planted close to the house and in full view of my kitchen window. There to remain year after year as a reminder of a strong woman and of the thoughtfulness of my neighbor. Two days later I was raving mad as I thought that “Noreen” had fallen victim to a careless weed whacking. “Even as a commemorative plant, can she not catch a break?!?!” And by the way, Hubs never owned up to the whacking…………….

A week later and “Noreen” has once again sprouted leaves, close to the ground but healthy! Hurrah! She lives!

One week after that “Noreen” has flowers! A true testament to those powers of Will, Determination and Survival above all else.

Oh no, it was not a whacking after all………….the leaves and the flowers are now gone again with remnants of bunny bite marks…….

Anyone want to lay odds on whether “Noreen” will rise again? My money is on the Hollyhock!

News from the Florida Weather Diva, Another Relocated New York Goddess

GOOD MORN ITS THURSDAY

JUNE 9,2011

MY=HOW TIME FLYS AND WEATHER KEEPS ON CHANGIN====

ONLY IN OUR WORLD CAN YOU HAVE IT ALL. I MEAN,WEATHER FORECAST,HOT
TOPICS,AND FASHION UPDATES,SO SIT BACK AS YOU ALWAYS DO,WHILE READIN
THIS ISSUE,GRAB YOUR DRINK,AND THAT FAT FREE DONUT,AND ENJOY,THE
'DIVA'.COMMIN AT YA!!!!

CAMDEN,DE====93'
CHICOPEE,MASS==92'
FARMERSVILLE,TX====93'
GAINESVILLE,FL===97'
KANSASCITY,MO====90'
KINGSTON,NY====86'
KINGSTON,RI==91'
MANCHESTER,NY====86'
ORMOND BEACH,FL===84'
PHILADELPHIA,PA====99'
PINE PLAINS,NY===91'
SEATTLE WASHINGTON=====73'
SYRACUSE,NY======84'
WINSTED,CONN===88'

SO THERE YA HAVE IT,ITS HOT ALL OVER===GO DOWN TO THE OLE WATERIN HOLE
TODAY,AND JUST LAY THERE AND COOL OFF! I KNOW THE LITTLE BITTY FROGS,
WOULD LOVE COMPANY AND THEY COULD SLIDE ON YOUR BACK,GOOD EXERCISE FOR
THEM,AND YOU GET A FREE MASSAGE!!!!!!!

BUT THE NEWS=ITS CRAZY TODAY!
AS YOU KNOW WEINER AS LEFT THE BUILDING=HE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN THOUGH,IT
SEEMS THAT ALEX BALDWIN,MAY TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME,AND GO FOR
IT,,,,,MAYOR!!!!!
DONT BE TOO SURPRISED,REMEMBER,WE HAVE HAD ACTORS FOR PRESIDENTS,AND
GOVERNORS,SO WHY NOT TRY MAYOR!!!!!! WE ALL KNOW ITS A GREAT ACTING
POSITION,COME TO THINK OF IT,,YOU PROBABLY DONT HAVE TO GO TO ACTING
SCHOOL==THATS A GREAT BREAK!

ON WE GO TO OTHER THINGYS,,,,
THE SOLAR FLARE PICKS UP TODAY. SO IF YOUR CELL PHONES DONT WANT TO
WORK,THATS THE REASON,,SO FIND THE PHONE YOU JUST THRU IN THE GARBAGE,IT
STILL WORKS SILLY ITS JUST THE FLARE THINGY GOIN ON, GO AHEAD GRAB IT
FROM THE GARBAGE=YUK!!!! AND WIPE IT OFF,IT WILL BE FINE,USE SOME
SANITARY STUFF ON IT,SO IT DOESNT GET ALL COUGHED UP!!! YUK!!

ADRIAN=AH YES=SHES OUT,TO SEA AS WE SPEAK=YEAH! BUT THERE ARE MORE
COMMIN IN,SO GET READY......

N,Y,CITY IS HOT=HOT=HOT====
GOIN TO BE RECORD BREAKIN TEMP. TODAY, SINCE RECORDS WERE KEPT FROM
1933==YIKES!!!!!! SORRY GUYS,BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS====US FLORIDA PEOPLE
JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS,,,WE ARE VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE,

NOW AS FOR BEAR IN THE POOL IN FLORIDA,,, I HEARD THAT HE JUST
INVITED HIS WHOLE FAMILY TO SHARE THE POOL WITH HIM,SO=WATCH OUT=THERES
GOIN TO BE MORE BIG SPLASHIN GOIN ON,THATS SO=NICE=== THE OWNERS MOVED
OUT YESTERDAY,TO BE ACCOMMODATING======SEE THERE ARE NICE HUMANS
AROUND,BUT JUST WAIT 'TIL THEY TASTE THE TURKEY-MEAT-A=BALLS THAT ARE ON
THE LOVELY COVERED POOL SIDE TABLE!!!!1 HA,HA,HA==SEE YA, DONT WANT TO
BE YA=======AND YOU THOUGHT I WAS JUST GOIN TO LET THAT HAPPEN WITHOUT
THE TURKEY THINGY POPPIN UP,,,NOT ME,WHO ME,NO NO NO=====

SO,LIFE GOES ON AND FOR ME GOT TO GO========
('SAY GOODNITE GRACY')
YOUR DIVA,MEL

Until We Hug Again!

Siblings are your first friends if you are lucky. Reenie was my first friend.

She told me, “it was OK to have imaginary friends, just don't bring them to Kindergarten."

We shared a bedroom and a bed in those early days and she never took all the covers.

Also, we would ride for hours on our imaginary magic carpet (the bedspread) high above all those people and things we imagined could get at us. We called them sharks! Who Knew!?

When she accidentally locked herself in the bedroom after one of our childhood spats, I slid pretzels under the door so that she wouldn't starve in those two hours before Dad came home to fix the door knob.

We were good friends then and always and forever.

In our family we rarely say goodbye, we say see you later!

When Debbie, Pete and I left her hospital room on the last day we would all be together, she did not say see you later or goodbye, she said “Sleep Tight”

We try not to mourn a death either, as we would rather celebrate the life that went before.

It is not about the dying; but Noreen had astonishing grace when faced with it’s inevitability.

It is about the living, which she did to the very best of her ability in all things!

She was a Mom, a wife, a home maker.

She was a friend, a volunteer, a hard worker, a valued employee and a respected public representative. She was an artist and a poet, she was our Sister.

She also loved this poem.

I am sure that many of you have heard this before.

The author is Mary Frye, and we think she must have had a little American Indian blood, as we do. When an Indian dies they believe that their soul becomes a part of all nature that encompasses our lives. Their after life is in the wind, rain, fire and earth. In the bear, the deer, the eagle and the rabbit.

We think that This Poem is representative of how Reenie would want us to feel today.

It is Called: Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

When I am long gone from your side,
And all your tears have then been dried ...
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
------------------------
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow;
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
--------------------
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
--------------------
And when you stroll in the evening hours,
And smell the aroma of beautiful flowers;
There'll be no need to sob and cry ...
I am not there, I did not die!

Until we all hug again our friend, our sweet sister, you are forever in our hearts.

Sunday Mornings

Sunday Morning, a time for peaceful reflection. A time for extra cups of coffee, a real home-cooked breakfast, reading the paper or a magazine, playing with the family pets or snuggling on the couch with your children and/or spouse and the family pets.

Also a time to watch Sunday Morning on CBS a long time favorite which helps to unwind with a little news, a little art and more than a little thought provoking chatter about the state of things in the past, now and those things to come. I have been watching Sunday Morning as long as it has been on TV and now I find that my grown children enjoy this as much as I do in their own homes. I wonder, is it there way of feeling that they are still at home on the couch with all of us together?

This Sunday Morning I finished a book mostly about women, their friendships, their children, their romances and their power to survive alone if necessary. I thought that this would be a “fluff” book, a summer read, a quick escape from everyday problems. And so it seemed until just near the very end. The heroine had ovarian cancer and she was gone in just two chapters. Clearly her dying was not as important as her living had been.

She passed with fight and dignity and wisdom profound. She was a single Mom in love with her daughter’s father and rekindling that romance, still in the prime of her life. You could say that she never gained full happiness; or you could say that the love
Finally returned by this man was simply the sprinkles on top of the icing on her well baked cake.

I had wanted a happy ending! I was really upset as I realized that the older, non-related mother figure in the story was not going to die first as would have been sad but acceptable as that is the cycle of life. No, it was the young Mom with so many more years to bloom and grow and watch her child grow and have children.

This really aggravated the hell out of me. Still does, sort of. But it is not really about the dying, it is about the living. I had a brief but some what chronological peek into this woman’s life and it was glorious. It was not extraordinary. It was almost close to what one might call ordinary except that she was a fiercely independent woman who had made a success of her business and was able to, at the same time, raise a seemingly happy and well adjusted child.

Predictably, she was a secret diary keeper. Within a brief time after the funeral and well within the all consuming veil of grief, her elder mentor produced one of these diaries which had all been put aside for her daughter to read one by one. What a gift,I thought, to have something in writing from someone you love.

Well this, of course, is not a new idea. People have been writing their memoirs for hundreds, thousands of years. Famous people, infamous people, literary types and scientists and yes ordinary people as well.

My sisters and I have often talked about doing just that either collectively or singularly and so now I begin my attempt to share those events I feel that have molded me into the person I am today. Not extraordinary, close to ordinary with independence and strengths
and weaknesses and joy and sadness all rolled into one. After all, it is all about the living.

Our Cousin The Weather Diva

JANUARY 28,2011 (THIS IS GREAT STUFF! MEL SENDS US ALL HER LATEST UPDATES EVERY DAY EXCEPT SAT AND SUN AT ABOUT 7:30 AM JUST IN TIME FOR US TO CATCH UP BEFORE WORK.
IF YOU WANT TO BE PUT ON THE WEATHER DIVA'S LIST HER EMAIL ADDRESS IS:
jones-zn@webtv.net GIVE HER YOUR CITY AND SHE WILL REPORT THE WEATHER FOR YOU. ANY OTHER TID BITS OF NEWS AND SHE WILL REPORT THAT AS WELL. ENJOY!!!!! I CERTAINLY DO........

FROM MEL: THE WEATHER DIVA!!!

STARTING THIS DAY WITH SOME OF THE SAME--SORRY FOLKS! ITS GETTING
CHILLY ALL OVER AS I PREDICTED YESTERDAY,TO SEE HOW COLD LETS GO TO THE
ROUND-UP

CAMDEN,DE==24'
CHICOPEE,MASS==10'
FARMSVILLE,TEXAS==33'
GAINESVILLE,FL==33'
HUDSON,NY==15'
KINGSTON,NY==14'
KINGSTON,R.I.=17'
MANCHESTER,NY===14'
ORMOND BEACH=36'
PHILADELPHIA,PA==25'
PINE PLAINS,NY==17'
SEATTLE,WASHINGTON===41'


THERE YOU HAVE IT! ITS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE=BUT TALKIN ABOUT
PICTURES=GET OUT YOUR CAMERAS AND TAKE SOME......... WHO KNOWS THE RIGHT
ONE, COULD MAKE YOU MONEY==YOU KNOW FROM WHO==THINK=THE GREETING CARD
COMPANIES,FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS! SEE=THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO
TURN THE HARD TIMES AROUND.

YOU CAN EVEN GO TO A TOWN NEARBY AND JUST MAKE BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING JUST THAT THING! NO ONE WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE,I HOPE,,,,,, AND JUST ACT LIKE A BIG SHOT! YOU'LL GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE HOME FOLK, AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED AT THE ATTENTION, YOU WOULD
GET. MAYBE A FREE CUP OF COFFEE, FREE CONVERSATION, AND FREE PICK -ME-UP
FOR THIS LOUZY WEATHER COMMIN IN. I DIDNT SAY PICK-UP,,LET ME MAKE
THAT--CLEAR.THEN MAYBE-A CARD COMPANY WILL PAY YOU FOR YOUR SHOTS YOU
TOOK. HEY!!! IT WOULD BE FUN,EXCITING,FREE,AND A NICE EXCURSION.....TRY
IT!!!!

THE WEATHER=AH!!! IT IS WHAT IT IS===I TOLD YOU====HOPE YOU HAVE
PLENTY OF FOOD, FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS,AND MAYBE YOU'LL HAVE TO SUPPLY
SOME HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH FOOD ALSO. I SURE HOPE YOU'VE BEEN DROPPIN
COATS OFF, AT YOUR LOCAL SALVATION PLACES,THEY REALLY NEED THEM NOW.

THERE IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT, WHAT I HEARD THE
OTHER DAY, WHILE IN PASSING. DID YOU KNOW, YOUR EYE GLASSES ARE NOW
KNOWN AS YOUR( 'WINDOW DRESSINGS') SO=== NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO DRESS
UP YOUR REGULAR WINDOWS WITH CURTAINS,NOW YOU'RE WEARING THEM! MY ADVICE
TO YOU IS;

1) GO TO THE DOLLAR STORE

2)BUY 4 DIFFERENT COLORED FRAME GLASSES

3) GO HOME,QUICKLY,DONT WASTE TME,BUT BE CAREFUL WITH THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS!

4)SIT IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, AND PUT ON GLASSES TO MATCH YOUR CURTAINS!!

NOW-THATS WHAT I CALL A 'DIVA'

YOU HAVE TO BE IN TOUCH WITH YOUR INNER SELF,,,COLOR LOTS OF BLING,BLING
AND SPLASH IN YOUR LIFE. JUST PUT EACH DIFFERENT COLORED GLASSES IN EACH
DIFFERENT COLORED CURTAIN ROOM.

THEN,,,JUST SIT BACK,YOU'VE TURNED YOURSELF INTO A 'DIVA' LIKE ME!! EXCITING????????? YOU BETCHYA!!!!
YOU'LL FEEL SO======= GOOD YOU HAVE CO-ORDINATING GLASSES AND CURTAINS,YOU'RE
IN STYLE===YES,YES,YES!!!! GO AHEAD DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE PLANNED
FOR YOU,BESIDES WORK????

IT WOULD GIVE YOU EXERCIZE W=A=L=K=I=N TO THE STORE,AT LUNCH BREAK,THAT $4 WOULD HELP THE ECONOMY AND YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL GREAT WHEN EVERY LITTLE THING MATCHES==YEAH!

THATS ALL THE EXCITING INFO FOR TODAY,IM RUNNING LATE,FOR AN
IMPORTANT DATE=='NOT'

SAY'GOODNITE GRACY' YOUR WEATHER 'DIVA' MEL

Things that were said 55 Years Ago

Only 55 Years Ago

Thought you might enjoy it...
for some, it will be a trip down memory lane.

in 1955 Baby Sister was, in fact, just a baby. Big sister was about 11 and I was 6 years old.

Comments Made
In The
Year 1955

"I’ll tell you one thing, if things
keep going the way they are,
it’s going to be impossible to
buy a week’s groceries for $10.00."

"Have you seen the new cars
coming out next year? It won’t
be long before $1,000.00 will
only buy a used one."

"If cigarettes keep going up in
price, I’m going to quit; 20 cents
a pack is ridiculous."

"Did you hear the post office is
thinking about charging 7 cents
just to mail a letter."

"If they raise the minimum wage
to $1.00, nobody will be able to
hire outside help at the store."

"When I first started driving, who
would have thought gas would
someday cost 25 cents a gallon.
Guess we’d be better off leaving
the car in the garage."
(In 1969 I still bought gas in Oklahoma for 28 cents a gallon.)

"I’m afraid to send my kids to the
movies any more. Ever since they
let Clark Gable get by with saying
DAMN in ‘GONE WITH THE WIND’,
it seems every new movie has
either HELL or DAMN in it."

"I read the other day where some
scientist thinks it’s possible to put
a man on the moon by the end of
the century. They even have some
fellows they call astronauts
preparing for it down in Texas."

"Did you see where some baseball
player just signed a contract for
$50,000 a year just to play ball?
It wouldn’t surprise me if someday
they’ll be making more than the
President."

"I never thought I’d see the day
all our kitchen appliances would
be electric. They are even making
electric typewriters now."
(and that is what we all had to use until about 1984)

"It’s too bad things are so tough
nowadays. I see where a few
married women are having to
work to make ends meet."

"It won’t be long before young
couples are going to have to hire
someone to watch their kids so
they can both work."

"I’m afraid the Volkswagen car
is going to open the door to a
whole lot of foreign business."

"Thank goodness I won’t live to
see the day when the Government
takes half our income in taxes.I
sometimes wonder if we are
electing the best people to
government."

"The drive-in restaurant is
convenient in nice weather,
but I seriously doubt they
will ever catch on."

"There is no sense going on short
trips anymore for a weekend. It
costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay
in a hotel."

"No one can afford to be sick
anymore. At $15.00 a day in
the hospital, it’s too rich for
my blood."

"If they think I’ll pay 30 cents
for a hair cut, forget it."


Know any friends
who would get a
kick out of these,
pass this on.

Write down your goals, Succeed with positive affirmations Continued

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1g3ENYxg9k (Copy paste to see Bob Newhart as your friendly shrink) Now, wasn't that just the most depressing New Years Message ever?! Actually there is a positive spin on this story. You see, the walleyed pike also had the ability to see more clearly through murky water than some other fish. It spent all its time looking east and west and in all the other corners and through the muck and myer; but rarely looked at what was right in front of him. ie. the "food"!

Lesson: Take the time to look at the obvious! You don't have to keep hitting your head against a glass wall to get what you want. Those things that matter most can be right in front of you and easy to spot if you "Just stop" looking elsewhere. Bob Newhart might just have it right, take the simple series of steps or acts to accomplish your goals. Stop being busy for busy sake, stop looking in all the unturned corners for what you need, instead look in front of you and "just stop" obsessing about the bad in your life and appreciate the good!

Write down your goals, succeed with positive affirmations, etc........

But what if you find yourself ambivolent about your goals? What if you wonder what it is you really want to do for the rest of your days? What if you are finding it more and more difficult to muster up the enthusiasm for anything?

"Where will I find the inspiration to continue my blog this year?", someone on Twitter wrote recently." Maybe I will just write when I feel the inspiration. Oh Crap, what if I never do? "Where will I find the energy to "Pimp My Business this year?" someone on LinkedIn wrote. Why bother, business has been so bad with the economy and all..............

Well, I watched a video clip this morning (sent by my cousin who is also in the same business as myself and a New York Goddess) and it was just to apropos. Bob Newhart was a mental health practitioner and his answer to every problem or phobia was "Stop It!!" That is why he only charged $1 a minute because he had the clients out of there in less than 5 minutes.(This was, of course, c.1960 phych rates) Sometimes I guess it could be just that simple. "Cut It Out, Stop It, Just Go Forward!!"

Years ago I was at an industry convention listening to a motivational speaker. His topic was. "Beware the Walleyed Pike Syndrome" or something like that. To make the lesson short: The walleyed pike has divergent eyes (in which the eyes turn outward away from the nose. The Japanese term is ron-pari, as one eye is looking at London and the other is looking at Paris) on each side of its head.

Phychologists did an experiment with this fish in a tank by feeding it in one specific place each day. After a while, they put up a glass wall between the fish and its feeding place. The fish quickly bumped into the glass wall and continued to do so for at least 5 days. On the 6th day the fish no longer swam near the glass wall and did not attempt to feed. On the 7th day they began to feed the fish again without the glass wall but the fish did not feed and eventually died even though the food was readily available.

To be continued.....................