LOVE LETTER

Dear Internet,

I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU---well most of the time---but today you are the love of my life.  You have made my life SO much simpler!  I have set up new utility services and cancelled old while sitting in my recliner with my laptop keeping me warm.

SO---Internet--WHO EVER (we all know who it was NOT) came up with the idea of you----THANK YOU!  You are wonderful!

CHARMED LIFE

There are a few---and I might add in my poll a VERY FEW---that seem to lead charmed lives.  It's difficult to understand why their life is so perfect--when most of us are struggling to keep our head above the waves---but there it is--they are perfect.  

I have one sweet friend--that fits this bill---husband does what she tells him and loves her dearly---children have all succeeded and never given one minute of grief and now the grands are all following the family tradition.  It is pretty amazing---usually don't share much of the realities of life with her--not sure she would understand---does NOT mean she isn't a wonderful friend and sweet believer---just doesn't get it.

As we were walking yesterday, she started telling us how perturbed and disturbed she was and so aggravated that she had not come up with a solution.  It turns out her newspaper is late EVERY day---they don't deliver it until they call and complain.  I walked a few more feet after this announcement---stopped in my tracks  and said,

"THAT'S IT---THAT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT???"  At which time everyone cracked up.

Well I've always known that it is all relevant to where you are in life--but just couldn't let that go by without making that comment.  

WHO PUT THOSE IN THERE?

I cleaned out my pantry today...I would just like to know WHO SNEAKED INTO MY HOUSE and left all those boxes and packages with very little in them in my pantry?????   SURELY I would not put a sack of pasta back up with 25 noodles in it----AND SURELY I would not have 6 packages of the same type of pasta with 25 noodles in each of them???

I would NEVER have 8 packages of the same instant potatoes that I use to make "Sonja's DELICIOUS potatoes" when it only takes 3!  Why I COULDN'T have possibly left a box of the crackers with ALL of the individually wrapped sections open!  AND WHO would have left 3 jars of partially used peanut butter and 3 jars of pickle relish there?  

AND WHY would you sneak in and put all of your out-dated cans in my pantry?  Why not just throw away your evaporated milk with an expiration date of 2011 instead of placing it in my pantry.

ALL this time--I have felt SO safe and secure---NEVER suspecting that some strange deviate was stocking my pantry with their partial packages, over stocks and out-dated groceries.  WELL!   I would get the locks changed--but OH YES--I'm moving!

SHAKING IN MY BOOTS!

I have heard over and over---HOW BRAVE YOU ARE!  Here is a moment of real truth---I am shaking in my Texas Boots!  This move scares me silly!  I have had LOTS of "WHAT AM I DOING??" moments!  I am leaving what I LOVE---Love my Friends!---Love Ruston---LIKE being in my Comfort Zone!

What is courage?  Courage is admitting you are afraid--facing your fear---and moving forward anyway!  It's like riding a bicycle for the first time--jumping into that swimming hole from a high branch--climbing that mountain in the Rockies----It is SCARY!  My knees are knocking---BUT when I conquered those fears and took that first step---I was always glad.

SO thank you for your encouragement---thank you for thinking I am brave--but know I am just reaching down from the bottom of my boots (Texas) and pulling up my Big Girl Pants---and taking that first step---Not so brave---more determined to try!

PARDON ME WHILE I BANG MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL!

Sometimes--my stupidity even amazes me!  WHY would I go see a Nicholas Sparks movie????  Totally predictable and TOTALLY SAPPY!  How more lame and pitiful can you get than to be sitting ALONE in a "Happily Ever After" movie??  All around are couples--including 2 rows at the back of pre-teen/maybe teen junior highers---who SOME of which clap at the "we are all happy" ending.  

SO what's wrong with Nicholas Sparks---not one thing--if you don't mind anticipating the ending before it even gets going good---knowing the predictable plot as well as you know every fairy tale you ever heard.  Does life EVER really work out like that?  Well let's see--today's movie--after the crazed abusive husband knocks the ever living daylights out of the heroine---and they struggle over the gun---HE dies--even though he is OBVIOUSLY much stronger than her AND she has one slightly discoloration on her beautiful cheekbone.  NO black bruising---or swelling---she is as beautiful as before the struggle.

There is no guilt to live with after the husband dies---the children are not traumatized by their brush with death or loss of life long memories AND they all live happily ever after--not one ill effect from any of the trauma.

SERIOUSLY---I need to write a book--BUT who would believe it?  The world does NOT want reality--they want fantasy---AND SO DO I!!!

ESPECIALLY TODAY--

Especially today---I want to tell all of you that have loved me---supported me--and especially prayed for me---how much I love you all and how I thank God for you.  

Valentine's Day could be a sad day for those that are alone---but I've thought about it and decided to remember the love that I have been shown by so many that God has lavishly blessed me with as family and friends.   

What is love?  In my world--it is the act of putting self aside and not looking in the mirror--but instead focusing on the others that God places in my path.  Listening to what they are saying--hearing their voice and responding as God leads.   I've learned this by watching my family and friends do the same for me.  Unselfish acts of kindness, love and support have sustained me---grown me--shown me--the very face of Jesus.

SO---HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY---Precious Family & Friends---I love you all dearly!

WHEN I GROW UP-----

When I grow up---I want to be a    "Life Manager"---

I have LOADS of information and skills acquired over a life time of living and "taking care of business."  I can talk insurance with you, contracts with you, servicemen, carpenters, remodeling, finances, taxes, selecting professionals, budgets, pay your bills, hire your gardener/housekeeper/nannie, consult with you on your investments, make your appointments, handle your insurance claims, ---almost ANY business detail you could think of as well as plan your diet/meals and exercise program.  I would be select and only provide services for a handful AT THE MOST---you pay me enough--I will do it just for you.  I could manage your life---down to the smallest detail.
LOTS of experience---head full of knowledge---plenty of acquired wisdom.

Only thing I don't have a good track record with is  "Relationships with Significant Others"---You are ON YOUR OWN----I respectfully bow out of that area of "Life".