A Piece Of My Heart ...

......has just left.
Our 35 year old son just visited us from North Carolina this past week.  It had been a year since we saw him last.  Sadly to say, I was ambivalent about the visit.  We've had a rocky history, details of which I will not get into.  The past is the past.  So, as I said, I was unsure of his visit .... of his motives.  His visit was two-fold.   He was concerned about his Dad's health issues and wanted to see for himself that everything was okay and he recently connected with a high school friend and they are currently in a long distance relationship. 
The visit was nice.  No real drama took over.  He seemed to be calmer.  I didn't question it.  I didn't want to jinx the fact that maybe he was finally growing up.  I'm not saying that everything was perfect .... but it also wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. 
We can never go back and change the things that were.
But we can go forward and hope that the things that were have taught us lessons.
We say "I love you" at the end of each phone call.
We choose our battles.
A Mom's heart is a funny thing.  As he was leaving and we were saying our goodbyes, I found that I was now ambivalent about his leaving.  I hugged him hard and my heart was aching with the thoughts of "will he be okay?" .... "will he take care of himself?"  ..... "does he know he is loved?"   I watched as he got into the car to leave .... I looked away for a moment .... and when I looked back there was my 5 year old son climbing into the front seat yelling "Bye, Mom!"   I told him "I love you.....I love you...." over and over again.   I wanted to make sure that he knew he is loved.   And then I cried for what seemed like forever.
Stay safe, Keith.   You are always in our heart ♥ 

Cracker Jack ...

Cracker Jack .... brings back so many childhood memories.  

What was more fun? 

Eating the caramel coated popcorn or getting sticky fingers digging in for that prize? 

I occasionally treat myself to this little snack

and I still giggle as I stick my hand in the bag

wondering what the prize will be!

Texture by Kim Klassen

and aptly called "Cracker Jack"
Photo submitted in "Texture Tuesdays"

'Nuff said!

~ How to become a "creeper" in your own blog without even trying.....

Yup!  That's an avatar of myself in the sidebar under "Friends".  I've become a "creeper" in my own blog.  I. Am. Mortified.  Who knows how long I've been there.  I didn't notice it until I was checking out who was following me.  Just noticed the numbers first......12 "Friends".   "Well", I thought, "how about that!!!"  Then I noticed a familiar icon.  Is. That. Me?????  How could that have happened?  Did I do that?

I said:  Are you serious?  

Me said:  What?

I said:  Did you add Me as a "friend/follower" in our own blog?

Me says nothing.  Me is standing there, arms behind me's back, kicking imaginary rocks.

I said:  I didn't do it ... it had to be you!

Me said:  It wasn't Me!

I said:  That's just not right.   We look like a "creeper".

I think about this awhile.....mortified about how this must look to other bloggers and people who have been kind enough to follow my blog.  I searched the forums on how to remove "Me" from the list.   I followed instructions step by step and I still can't remove "Me"!   I read comments from some blogging communities who make fun of people who follow their own blog!   I know all about "creepers" in the internet world and I've become one!!!!  I begin to panic.  Will anybody else notice?  What will they think? 

I guess I'll just ignore having Me as a Follower in my own blog and hope you will too.  I'm really not a "creeper". 

I just want you to know, I didn't do it!  It was Me!

Summer .....

Summer is turning its back on us.

The last of my sunflowers are stretching upwards

trying to get every last second of sunshine.

Summer's bright gems will soon give way

to Autumn's earthy jewels.

 

I was hoping to post this in the "I Clicked It Up A Notch" contest .... but I was too late!  
I'll be sure to post early next time. 

~Book or Nook ....

I was recently offered a Nook.   My sister-in-law upgraded to a new and improved Nook and she asked me if I'd like to have her old one.  I hesitated but finally said "Yes".  I took it home and set it down, picked it up, set it down, picked it up again and  tried to read a "nook book".  It just didn't feel right.  It actually felt awkward.  I missed the feel of holding a chunky paperback in my hands.  I missed the smell of the paper.  I missed turning the pages.  I missed placing my bookmark in the book after I was done reading for the night.  I missed the "book".   I'm not against technology .... I like having the latest and greatest of anything and everything but this just didn't feel right ... at least to me.  So, I guess with this one I'm going to be behind the times .... give me a good old fashion book to hold and read and I'm happy.   Now, excuse me while I go and curl up on the couch and read a chapter or two.