Thursday, August 27, 2015

The Power of a Crayon

So, let me take you back to 1978 when this card for Glen was created.  We had gone on our first date that New Year's.  We dated on and off and when we started dating seriously, I decided I need to go away to college.  I was only eighteen when I met Glen and always had a tug a war with being free or in a relationship, especially being so young and in love.  I decided to be in a relationship I needed to be the best person I could be.  First, I went to my parents and they supported the decision, but they would only pay for half of the cost.  I still had to pay them back, because in December I decided to quit Brookdale and they wanted me to pay the half they paid for that back. So, thanks to a good friend's support who made an appointment with  the dean of admissions I was accepted as probation student, which meant I would attend college that summer.  It was a tough conversation with Glen when I told him I decided to attend college.  I was working hard at Evelyn's Seafood Restaurant and was saving my money.  I had no excuse to not go through with my decision.  I drove myself the three and half hours with every possession fitting in my Chevy Vega that I had also bought myself, since I had been working since the age of thirteen.  I walked into my room and met roomate and her lovely family.  I didn't realize really how brave I was until they all started asking where my parents were.  Oh, they are in Florida, I replied.  Oh, you are from Florida? No, I am from New Jersey, but they are living with my grandparents.  So, I am now realizing the decision I made was not really normal, especially when we go to the auditorium and everyone's families are in attendance.  I start classes with a vengence and love it.  I missed Glen and that was probably the hardest part of going a distance to school.  Reality set in pretty quick as  I started getting parking tickets, as freshmen did not get parking permits.  Going home was a struggle, because I didn't have money to put gas in my car.  Sending letters even became an expense, not to mention my outrageous phone bills.  I would go to the bookstore and look at the cards to buy when I had the money to send to Glen. So, I decided to make a card as I couldn't even come up with 5 dollars to buy a card.  I already had crayons and a black marker. This card is a copy of Mountain Arts Cards.  They were the best and always said exactly what I was feeling.

 Only you can smile at me...and turn the world into a kaleidoscope of happy things...opening my eyes...
 .....to stars and butterflies....
 and make me want to dance on hilltops....
 .....and all my yesterdays into shining tomorrows....
 you have gathered up my dreams...and made them all come true......
 Only you can hold me tightly.....and make me feel freer then I have ever felt.....
 And only you.....can make me feel the presence of your absence....
 When we are together....each dawn's a new beginning and every sunset a happy ending......
.....for me...there will always be.....ONLY YOU!

Quite a declaration for someone who had only been dating someone for seven months!
I could not say it any better after all of these years.  My favorite line is "Only you can hold me tighter and make feel freer than I ever felt".  We have had our ups and downs....struggles and celebrations....but after thirty three years of marriage I am so happy to share my life with YOU!  Thank you for letting me be me.  Another observation that made me laugh was thinking of our  Anniversary celebration dinner at Revel three years ago and reading facebook comments and Ian saying something about my use of ........and Janeen and Laura's reaction which led us all to be looking at our phones and laughing.  But, look on 7/28/78 I was all about the......too!

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Lighthouse

 So, this is a work in progress by Pork Chop....
I loved that he was actually there, and I could talk to him.  I could tell him I loved the colors.  I loved the waves.  I loved the way the lighthouse is reaching up and seems to be lighting the way for the refurbished Salvation Army building in the backround.  I could hear the work in the backround and it will be a boutique hotel ready to open in the summer of 2016.
My vacation last year involved traveling to all the lighthouses in NJ on the eastern coastline.  Almost everyday I would hear the song "Lighthouse"  by Ziggy Marley....I haven't heard it since.   This mural has so much meaning to me and the city of Asbury Park.  It really made my day and I am so happy I get to see it whenever I am in town.  Shine On Pork Chop!

Friday, August 7, 2015

This is Our Time

Did you ever have the thought?  What am I doing this for?  I was driving to work, yesterday.  I knew I was in for a long day and driving at an unusual time.  I was thinking of the birth of my children.  They were born at 10:30 am.  It was 10:27 am and this song came on:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMdV0y05b3o     It was a good thing I was alone in the car.  I was fist pumping and singing at the
top of my lungs!  What is really something is a song like that coming on the radio is SO random, yet the time was so perfect!  And, I have met Willie Nile before and able to tell him how much I love this song.  More random, Saturday we are invited to a Bar B Q and guess who is the entertainment?  Wooohoo!  I can't wait to tell him how much the song Willie Nile has written means to me!!!!