How on Earth Did This Happen?

Tom and I have never been known for adding up pros and cons.
Calm deliberation is not our thing.
We are more the "take a running jump" kind of folks.
This time last year, we each had a job we hated and a nice little cottage in a "good" section of town.
Now we live in a battered trailer in a tiny community with our Tom's brother and sister in law, our nieces and nephews and their kids.
I am just now realizing what happened!
Oh yeah, we retired.
Half the money and twice the fun!
I'm so glad I didn't think this through, I never woulda done it and look at all I would have missed!

I have a life cant' wait for you I'm not through yet more rockin than rocking chair and I want it all I f you wanna come jump in and hang on with the wind in your hair cause it's a rough ride and you can bet I'll still be here for last call.

For a long while I have felt that transferring schools was the worst mistake of my life. I have been so emotionally brutalized that I developed psoriasis, anxiety attacks and acid reflux. I was truly not aware such cruelty existed. Looking back I dont' know why I didn't hear warning bells!

But I am stronger now because of it. I am able to pray for good for the one who has hurt me so. It is still a daily struggle. I know that I'm a good teacher who has something to give and I'm needed.

I get up at 5 and spend the time girding myself to face the day and mostly I'm able to hold down the fear and stay positive.

Bring it on!

I'm ready!

Jumping off the Rainbow

I feel like I've turned a corner.

like I've discovered a new world

and like I've come home...

feeling surer

feeling stronger

Feeling loved and loving...

Love Expotentially

Sitting on the my daughter's Porch,

looking from face to well-loved face,

I started to think of how it all came about.

Tom and I fell in love

I met his brother David and loved him.

Tom and I made Mariah, whom we adored.

David married Judy, who became my sister

They created Katie, who has held my heart ever since.

Then along came Caitlin to Tom and I

Giving us a baby time again

Then Mariah brought us Terry, the son I always wanted

And Katie gave us Randall, who instantly became family.

Kinda makes you wanna dance!

Response to Crisis

It's a lovely laid back Labor Day weekend

As it has been our custom for many years,

the Lagoonatics have gathered for Dana's birthday.

Cold beer

warm hearts

on Paula's deck

A sudden scream pierces the Florida drizzle!

We all jump to our feet and pound through the house!

We fling open the front door where our children are sitting on the front porch.

"Who's yelling?" I demand.

"You!" Caitlin replies, dumfounded.

"It's Stephanie!" Stacey shouts.

"Where is she?" We all scream at each other.

"She left hours ago!' Caitlin hollers.

"No she didn't" Dana counters.

"Stephanie, where are you?" I demand in my teacher voice.

"She cant' see in the dark! She's in the water!"Stacey shrills, waving her arms.

So we all thunder to the back deck

( where we were sitting to begin with)

and hear hysterical laughter

from the endangered Stephanie

who was locked in the bathroom

we all roared by twice!

Summer-ary

The summer starts speeding by after July 4.
After my birthday it careens toward school.
It's been a good one.
I've slept
slept recreationally for the first time in years
Like the Nyquil commercial
I've slept like I slept before I had kids!
I've sat on the Porch watching the sun on the leaves
and prayed with no words
just opened my heart to peace.

There's been nights laughing on the Porch with Tom
we're still finding out new things about each other.

Stephanie's birthday, where the cops came 3 times!

The great Lagoonatic graduation party for Caitlin, Leah, Cass and Ian where I got called down for cheating at beer pong!

Riding down the Causeway with the smell of the delta and the wind in my hair
the top down and the radio up
goin to see David and Judy
and my adorable nieces, great nieces, nephews , great nephews

The party at Katie's where there was
a motorcycle wreck, a Tasar incident
and a wrestling match between me and Mariah
that led to removal of clothing (it's all family)

lots of beach trips
In Florida with the Lagoonatics
Dauphin Island with Eileen, Dell and Steph

too much time on Facebook

good books

visiting Mariah and Terry in their new home
I love seeing the pride they feel

reconnecting with Donna and Ellen
My friends from the time when teaching was fun
and school was a safe place to be
They showed me that friends can always come back

singing in the car with Caitlin
riding on the boat with Gina and Caitlin and her friends
watching Caitlin suddenly grow up
and become a deep spiritual person.

Party on the Porch with my yard full of children
whose parents were once children in my yard
Michelle, Kelley, Katie, Shannon, Justin and their babies

going to the 18th birthday of Stormy and seeing Ava there
part of my family
when they were small
and we fall back into our old ways
where the lines between ages are blurred
and we are all kids
And there was an Elton John imitator there!

It's been a good one!

And I haven't' gotten all the goody out of it yet!