On Bruce's birthday I thought I would reflect on the American Dream verses American Reality.  The ideas, hopes and dreams of our generation.  How when I was graduating high school our economy tanked.  How the eighties were seen historically as an economic boom, but yet it was the time of the angriest music including punk and heavy metal.  When Glen and I were first married and Born in the USA came out and we questioned why it is thought of as patriotic......but, it is true reality and that is why it is a good song to represent us.  The sixties a great time in American history, especially with Art, music, television and the movie industry.  Yet, the most turbulent with civil rights tensions, assassinations, Vietnam war, etc.  The music tends to be an escape...if it's good or bad times the music tends to reflect it.   When Wrecking Ball first came out....I was so disappointed.  I listened to it in the car and cried a lot.  Then Sandy came and went and Wrecking Ball had a new meaning.  This storm did a lot of physical damage, but the psychological and economic blows it took will not be wiped away anytime soon.  But, now I listen to Wrecking Ball and it is so helpful.......hard times come..........hard times go.  I am in awe of the depth of songwriting of Bruce Springsteen.  I am thankful that I have the music to help me through the hard times and celebrate the good times.  I remember the first time I put the needle on the record of Badlands and how it helped me through the end of my teenage years.........you just gotta get through the bad times and know just around the corner is the light of day.

Bruce Springsteen discusses "Wrecking Ball"

Talk About a Dream........Try to Make It Real

This is the most haunting picture I ever took.  I remember taking it and thinking my children were growing so fast.  We were cruising out of New York City and appreciating the New York skyline.  Little did we know how much life would change after this picture was taken.  But, really life is about changing, growing and dealing with loss.  After all, life changes everyday and we grow older.  Is it a loss or a gain?  Well, I guess that is how you look at life?  I have always been conservative, not ready to dive into anything without a certain amount of time given to make sure I was making the right decisions.  I am so happy I was blessed with twins, because it never gave me the time to think. I just did what I had to do and focused on keeping my children safe and healthy.  Then something huge happens like 9/11 which was totally out of my control.  But, I knew after this I had to be the best example for my children.  Just go on going on....take them to school and get back to work.  I had started a new job twelve years ago and we were about to open the Boscov's at Monmouth Mall and I remember our local economy was already on the decline.  Boscov's closed in 2008 and I was lucky to find a job within six months as an assistant manager for Paper Source in Princeton.  It was a dream job for me.  Kaylyn and Ian were attending college and Glen was ready to retire.  After six months working this dream job, every morning I woke up with one thought and one thought alone.  I have to have a store of my own.  Every morning I woke up with a space in Asbury Park in mind.  Before I knew it each morning the store was filling with merchandise.  What makes you have dreams like this?  What creates that thought in your head?  What makes you leave a dream job and sign a lease for that storefront in your dreams the next day.  What makes you take a leap of faith without any consideration for anyone else?  I know I never did anything like this before, because I was afraid of the risk financially and the fear of failure.  All I know is I don't have any regrets for this decision.  I have met people I would have never met.  It ended up a great creative outlet for Glen, also.  Well, thanks for reading my reflections on the day after 9/11.  Raise a glass, raise a flag to our land of hopes and dreams and may all your dreams come true!

Land of Hope and Dreams

http://youtu.be/gtAK1EQC2uA
EVERY morning driving to work  I hear this song.  It plays on E Street Radio at 7:30 am.  Sometimes I am picking up my co-worker and I am saying all aboard as the door opens for her to get into the car.  It is the perfect song to hear as you face a day of hard work.  We filled our store in two and half weeks.
We dropped boxes in departments, planned where the merchandise would go, processed or hung the merchandise on the fixtures, communicated with buyers and our new co-workers, and opened this weekend to large crowds of customers.  Opening a store is exciting and challenging.  Now, we finally get some time off, but it is hard not to be there, hoping all is going well.
   We had some local people win the powerball lottery last week.  When faced with the question of showing up to work the next day, I often wonder if I would.          I would.   I work for the money and security, but I find to be the best person I can be it is not just about having money.  It is finding something you enjoy and having someone appreciate it.  I work for a company that is family owned.  The owner is in his eighties.  He has been in the store for twelve hours a day since opening and has come to my department several times.  He came to me yesterday to shake my hand and say thank you.  Sometimes when you work for someone that is all you need.  A warm handshake, direct eye contact and a thank you.  Yes, I work for the paycheck.  But, I know when I saw him on the first day I shook his hand and said thank you to him.  I appreciate the work and he appreciates me.  That is all you need sometimes.  I am back onboard and it feels good.....every bone in my body aches, but all will be back to normal soon.

Mirror mirror on the wall........

.....Will my life have a fairy tale ending after all?

 Every corner is not perfect, but it contains memories of my jobs and what I love.  This corner has a mini Spode plate I was given on a buying trip to New York City when I worked for Brielle Galleries.  Above it is a tiny eiffel tower I purchased when in Paris, France.

This contains a  pin from when I first had my twins and it was hard to get out of the house.  I started doing home parties for The Homemakers Idea Company and I sold baskets.  That is one of my favorites because it shows home is where the heart is.  And, it makes me remember how wonderful and supportive my friends and family were who had or went to a party of mine.

 This corner shows a little Madame Alexander pin which I wore at the Grand Opening of Boscov's at Monmouth Mall in the year 2001 and shows how life is a circle as I am working for them and training to open a Boscov's in Woodbridge in August.

 This one shows a little teapot and the rectangular piece on the bottom is a barrette I bought on a trip to Mexico and has sat in my jewelry box since 1975.

 This one has a pin from Crabtree and Evelyn which planted in my head the idea of owning my own store one day.

 This is the finished mirror and when I look into each day I can feel thankful, loved, well traveled, and accomplished.  Those are great feelings to have.  To be creative, to me, is one of the best feelings in the world.  First to have the idea and hold on to it.  Then think about it and collect objects I might use some day is the most fun.  Then to finally finish the project and not how I intended.  And finally liking it more, because it is my idea and not someone elses.  Yes, life is like a mosaic and to make one on a mirror to reflect my life, well that is satisfying to say the least!  I also would like to thank Mark Montano for all of his inspiration in his books:  Big Ass Book of Crafts  and glue e6000 which I won in a contest and used for this project.

Once Upon A Dream

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Willie Nile - American Ride

This reward of traveling cross country we gave ourselves.....not just once but, three times that year.  Glen had lost his father a few years before and they were VERY close.  We even lived with him for a period of time when we renovated our beach house.  We took a train, plane and then my favorite our Voyager(sometimes referred to as the Voyageralyner) and a pop camper cross country.  We called it the check it out America tour.  We mainly went to visit Glen's dad's younger brother and family.  But, we also wrote down every single thing we always wanted to see in this most wonderful country of ours.  No regrets, no thoughts of how we wished we went somewhere.  We went to almost every National Park out west.  We would buy a classical music CD and ride, ride, ride through the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.  It was a dream come true for both of us.  We contemplated moving to our three choices.  St. Augustine, FLA, Kansas City or Camano Island north of Seatlle, WASH.  We came home and sold the camper and after renting the house out, I think we actually broke even and had a trip of a lifetime.