'Tis the Season to Give

If you can, please give to those less fortunate. Here are some really good charities to help out. Please donate your time, money, food, toys, etc. It will all be appreciated by so many this year.
Marine Toys for Tots Foundation , The Salvation Army: Home , Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee Feeding Hope

Some days are better than others

This isn't one of those, again. Today my brother, John, and his family will return to Texas. His leaving isn't something I think I will ever get used to. If I were 16 I would tell you "It sucks!". Ok, maybe that isn't true. When I was 16 I may have offered to help him pack. However, I am 38 now and I will tell you it hurts. Not like a paper cut, not slamming your finger in a door, not even like hitting your toe on the edge of couch. No, this pain will grab your heart and squeeze it until water pours from your eyes, and you gasp for air. This is hurt. This is love.

Not Happy Holidays for many in Tennessee

I was reading a friend's web site this morning, Sharoncobb , and I had to write something about this as well. After 8 yrs of Bush we have people standing in food lines. His parents must be so proud of what all he has managed to destroy. Do I sound angry? Good, because I am!
For anyone with teenage children please watch this video:

www.tennessean.com Nashville SPECIAL0348 The Tennessean

Perhaps they will see how good their lives are even if they do not get the iPod, laptop, cell phone, etc that they have been wanting. Maybe, just maybe they will be willing to forego some gifts to help those that simply want food. And after seeing people trample each other to get black friday deals, I think some grown ups should watch this video as well.

Special Thank You

To Mom and Dad,

Thank you both so much for surrounding me with family, for teaching me the value of people is far greater than the value of stuff, and for always being there for me. I love you.

Idava

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. What I am thankful for? Family and time. Because one is not really much good to me without the other. This is the painful lesson that most of us do not learn until we find out either someone we love or ourself is running out of time. Let me say this, I love my family. I love all of my family. I love the ones that piss me off and make me crazy and I especially love the ones that I get to piss off and make crazy. I have been so very blessed in my life. I come from a close knit Italian family. That basically means I have aunts, uncles, cousins and I know them all. If I need anything and it is within their reach they will find away, as I would do the same for them. I was 34 when my brother who was 39 wasn't home for Christmas the first time. Was Christmas the same that year or since? No, and all he did was move a way. I can still call him. And right now, he is here. He loaded up his family and drove all night to be here with us. I know how hard that drive is for his family but I am so grateful for this time with them. So, today we will all be at my Mom's. Mom, Dad, my sister Brenda and her family (including a grandbaby), my brother John and his family, me and my family , and anyone else that shows up!
But our hearts and our minds will really be with my Aunt Bobbie who isn't healthy enough to come up here this year. She has been battling renal pelvic kidney cancer. On Saturday she had to be taken to the hospital. It seems the chemotherapy really has not been working, so they are going to stop. So, why this video? It is one of her favorite songs. It used to make me crazy as a kid. I would go to her home and she would have this playing. As kids, we would whine about it. So, she would put her big 70's headphone's on, then we just got to hear her sing it. Now I call it her theme song. So, more than a house, a car, a job, a tv, or anything else , I am Thankful for Family and time.

Quote for 11/27/08

While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. Leonardo da Vinci

Looking Back Looking forward

I remember when this song came out back in 1983. Twenty-five years later and the song still applies. Don't know about everyone else, but I sure could use a little good news day.