In 97 days I will be on my next cruise.
Even with the recent tragedy in Italy
I seek vacation on a cruise ship.
I cruise once a year now and am hoping
to increase that to twice a year as I ease
toward retirement In retirement I hope
to change that number to 4 or 6 times
a year -being able to jump on those
last minute discount deals.
I have been cruising on and off for the
past 30 years and have seen the dramatic
changes in the industry. I see the terrific
value in a cruise vacation also. I paid more
to take my son on a cruise in 1988 than I did
in 2011 when I took my son, his wife and my
grandson to the Caribbean.
This year the excitement while traveling with
a couple of my cousins is having a Spa Cabin
on the Carnival Dream. Access to therapy pools,
saunas, and the works is thrilling. I'll grab a couple
Spa treatment deals also. The Oxygen Facial my
daughter-in-law and I had last year was amazing.
Next year in addition to crusing with adults I will
undertake the 'family style' crusing with my grandson.
We were going to take a New England and Canada
cruise before school started but he changed that.
He told me Nickelodeon has a cruise with all the
characters -so that's our 2013 choice. That cruise
will lead us to our 2014 choice of the new Disney
Fantasy Cruise.
It's fun to plan and it's fun to enjoy each magical
voyage. I'm sure I will have much to blog about
after Memorial Day.
Such an absurd question, 'Did you
ever love a Boy Scout' ?
Maybe after many, many, many years
I learned that I fell for a Boy Scout and
didn't know it at the time.
The tendencies for a Boy Scout to be
honest, loyal, trustworthy, etc., etc. don't
really enter your mind. You may just wonder
why he is so genuine with you.
You may not realize that he has conditioned
his actions to reveal his true character. Oh, my
dear woman you should be so flattered. Sad
to say his feelings for you may be true but
he treats many others in his life the same way.
You will be proud to walk by his side and share
meaningful conversation. You may never know
where he got his strong convictions or willingness
to help others but you'll never forget you fell in
love with a Boy Scout.
Feeling the need to spend time on my blog gives me the opportunity
to remember those dearest to my heart at the time of the year when
the retail market hopes we lay down a lot of cash.
To me the time to tell others we love them is not just one time a year.
It's nice to let them know that we care throughout the year.
Lately I learn lessons of love from my grandson. Sure he asks for
everything when we are at the mall or on any shopping adventure.
After a few hundred 'no's' we get down to brass tacks. He just
usually wants to cuddle on the couch and chat. He truly appreciates
everyone in his life who loves him. He shows that he is genuinely
happy to see you when you enter a room to see him.
Maybe Valentine's Day is better observed through a young child's
eyes.
While the sadness of Amy's death surrounds me I cannot
believe my first thoughts of the loss of great musical talent
at age 27. I recap in my mind -Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix,
Jim Morrison (but do not remember Kurt Cobain only because
he was not from my generation-love his work but did not know
the age he died).
I do not see an enormous body of work left behind by Amy.
What I know of her work is that I loved it all. I remember
the gals in my office sequestered in cubicles singing new words
to 'Rehab' as a testimony to work tasks we did not want to accept.
Try it you may have fun, 'They tried to make me............I just said
'No, No, No' -it just may make your day go better.
When Janis, Jimi,Jim & Kurt exited this life the immediate news
by internet was not part of their world. If technology did not give
us such an immediate access into celebrity lives we may have had
Amy amongst us a little while longer.
I for one want to scoop up the remains of her work plus her duet
with Tony Bennett to just know I can leave a little something
for her family she leaves behind.
Amy, I for one will tell anyone who wants me in rehab, 'No, No, No,'
May you now rest in peace and have fun in Rock and Roll Heaven &
no longer be judged for who you are.
As I reach another mile marker in the age
category I have attained part of my 'real
age' goal to make 60 the new 50.
Last summer I started out with the Real
Age test and was right around my regular
chronological age.
My 'Real Age Test' is now 55 and I plan to
hit 50 or lower during this year.
Physically, emotionally and mentally I am
feeling my best age ever. Mainly knowing
that I have made some good and bad decisions
over the years and lived through them with
the grace of God is no small feat.
I can look back on the lives of my son, daughter-in-law
and grandson and see the happiness in my life.
I can share past and present happenings with
a dear friend and know that our experiences
keep our friendship alive and well.
Is 60 the new 50? I plan to make it true.
While my grandson spent the night last night I
realized that sometimes children are not the only
ones who need to be held sometimes at night.
He let me know that if I could just hold him till
he fell asleep then he wouldn't be afraid of the
monsters. Even as adults if we just hold that
special person at night we keep the monsters
away from them. Oh -it's so true!
I am not one to celebrate 'traditional' calendar
holidays like 'Mother's Day' at the Sunday
Brunch with mothers of various degrees of
grey,brown,black & blonde hair coloring shades.
I also don't believe a date on the calendar is the
only time your child or children should remember
their Mom.
Last night into the early Mother's Day hours I was
at a local rock club watching my son's first band
headline a 20th reunion show of thrash metal.
Yeah these various former and some current
rock musicians just screamed it loud and boldly,
'Come get your Mother's Day!' And guess what?
I did and I loved it!
I reminded the guys in my son's former band that
they are now the age I was when I first started
showing up to their shows at that very club over
20 years ago. That was something to mull over!
The rest of the evening was getting to see old fans
of my son's first band plus a few old high school
buddies of the band (yeah they went to grade school
and high school together). I also got to see and spend
time with musicians in my son and daughter-in-law's
current music circle. Club scenes always lend the
time to meet new music fans also.
Until the headliners took stage I almost forgot what
those 'garage band' days were to 3 high school friends.
Then hearing my son on his double base pedals working
his entire drum kit with a disciplined frenzy much different
after years of study and cross country touring than that
young drummer over 20 years ago I realized he became
who he wanted to be. My son wanted to be a professional
drummer -and so he is. As a Mom I get to watch him perfect
his craft -time and time again. Every club show, every concert,
every cd release is Mother's Day for me.
No matter what your taste in music it may be hard to grasp
that musicians are people with families just like you & I even
when their lyrics or musicality is not soothing to the ear.
I spent time talking to lots of Moms last night out with hubbys
or just their girlfriends. I spoke to sons whose Moms are just
the best in their eyes but maybe not into the rock club scene.
So if you ever run across a band who plays, 'The Ballad of Jimi
Hendrix' or 'The Ballad of Jim Morrison' or 'The Ballad of Elvis'
and you have any angst or troubles bothering you just remember
your audience participation line to yell back to the band, 'He's Dead!'
Then smile to yourself and remember you are still living and have
a Happy Mother's Day or Father's Day or Valentine's Day each
day you continue to live.
Thanks to my son for one of the best Mother's Days ever!
