Truth be told, I don’t follow a recipe very well. Perhaps it’s my need to improvise all the time? Maybe it’s the methodical time involved in carefully following the steps? Maybe I just can’t “FOLD IN THE CHEESE?” Although, this week my son said, “Ma! You made a fantastic, the best ever Mac N’Cheese.” So, perhaps I do know how to “Fold in the Cheese?”
Like many people during these difficult times, I too, am looking for happiness. I’m searching for peace and resolve. Could it be found in a dinner date with friends? Could it be in the act of helping others? Could it simply be found on the back of a truck? Is this truck smiling?
In the last weeks, my love for humanity has been shattered, battered, and scattered. I’ve felt hopeless, lifeless, and joyless. I keep asking myself, what can I do? What is my role? How can I help? How can I rise? I do believe there is a light, if we reach far within ourselves to find it.
Yes, that was me, the David Cassidy singing gal skiing up and down tracks 2 and 6 with a smile on my face. But, I wasn’t alone. I was with so many other skiing enthusiasts, smiling and enjoying the gift of pristine fresh winter snow in February. It doesn’t get better than this. This is pure love!
As a tween, an almost adolescent, I didn’t really understand what sexy was. All I knew was that Elvis Presley made me feel differently. For some reason, I wanted to kiss him and my eyes were glued to his body when he performed. Once I fully understood what sexy was, Elvis was gone, never to return. Left to seek out other sexy avenues I stumbled upon, David Cassidy, John Travolta, Tony Defranco, Davy Jones, and the super cute guy down my street.
Friendships are the ‘ebb and flow’ of daily life. Friendships also go through changes as people’s lives experience many adjustments along the way. Bending that licorice of life and going with the flow is needed to sustain beautiful friendships and families.
Last week I was given a fabulous opportunity to take Noonie to Ogunquit, Maine. She has been visiting OGT for 62 years. Noonie prides herself with telling people she was pregnant with me on the beach. Which makes me not quite 60 yet, but I’ve been to OGT for over 60 years. Go figure.
The next time you see a beautiful sky, a sunset, or live through a perfect day, thank the world. Appreciate all you have been given.
Take this happiness and give it to something or someone else. Spread the joy and give it back too.
Naturally, I’m already on a slower speed than the rest of the world. In truth, this annoys people who know me very well. I have a tendency to get lost in the moments. I putter, think, wait, watch, listen, contemplate, and daydream, a lot. You remember, the kid the teacher always told to stop daydreaming. As a student, I preferred to sit next to the classroom window. Frequently, I gazed outward, wondering, thinking, pondering, and then alerted to stop daydreaming. I wasn’t daydreaming, I was creating! Pink Floyd The Wall, “Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!”
The simple joys of life really hold the greatest value in your time. Give it a try. Go into the history books of your life and find the moments when you can say to yourself, “It doesn’t get much better than this”. What was it? Where was it? Who were you with? What made it so special that you can bottle it?
One more week to go for our JDRF Sun Life Walk to Cure Diabetes event. We will be walking on Sunday, June 12th. This article was written after our 2021 Walk to Cure. This year, we have the same hopes, dreams and wishes. In reading this article, you will know exactly how I’m currently feeling! Enjoy!
Gladys Presley gave her son Elvis a guitar at a very young age. He was born with music in his blood. At first his famous dance moves were not purposely part of his stage act. The music he was creating made his body move in those very interesting ways. Actually, he found it hard to control his body when he was performing. The music controlled him. Without a doubt, he had it! Naturally given talent!
A loving reminder… Sometimes you don’t have to say, “I love you” to mean it full heartily. Sometimes your actions will speak much louder than words. I’m a firm believer of what a person actually “does” speaks volumes rather than the words a person speaks.
My parents usually called me “Suzie” or “Sue” or “Suz” in a playful kind of way. When I would hear my name screamed as “SUZANNE!!!” I knew the sh*t hit the fan and I would run for cover under my bed or hide in the corner of a very dark closet. Of course, once I was in a dark space, I had to go to the bathroom. This was an automatic response to my fear and sudden confinement. I’m kinda the same today.
It’s so very important to surround yourself with brilliant, creative, funny, loving, wonderful friends. I am very lucky in that I have an AMAZING group of fabulous friends. Recently, my incredibly smart entrepreneur friend Sally gave me a GIANT piece of advice. She told me to “Stay in Your Lane”. That’s not all the great advice she has given me.
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