Friends as Family

Michael works for Video Art Productions with the Tampa Bay Rowdies - as a camera man in the heat, rain, and noise from 2011-2013, and this year in the cool control room putting up graphics for the live feed. This year, Carla is a soccer fan, participating in all of the marvelous mayhem as a member of Ralph's Mob which urges the team to win. This year, they look for each other after the games, and sometimes they find one another - like they did this past Saturday. This picture says it all - two of my favorite people, with big, beautiful smiles, happy to be in each other's presence.

Carla has been "my baby" since she was born to my best friend, Rebecca. Becky knew I could not have kids, so Carla had two moms for the first few years of her life. Now, it's Aunt Courtenay, and that's okay. Becky is the best mother a kid could have, and I would never compete with her. Being an aunt means I can be her best friend and confidante when a mom might be too close to whatever situation needs perspective.

Carla probably knows this since she has been and will always be my first kid: I could not be prouder of all she does, all that she has done, and the person who she is today. In fact, before Michael and I could marry 33 years ago, she had to give her seal of approval. That she did, as they bonded over Smurfs in her Pinellas County home 34 years ago.  He's her Uncle Mike, and he loves her as much as I do.

Who is your family? Who do you love more than blood itself? All of us are born into a family, for better or worse, and whether or not we associate with family members becomes a decision we make as we age. Friends come into our lives at all times of our lives, and some become strangers due to time, distance, or other reasons. Some become extended family members. Though we are not bound by blood, we are bound by love, respect, and history. These family friends, too, will be with us until we leave this mortal plain - for better or worse!

Thanks be to God, and also . . .

A cancer survivor is profiled in the local section of the Pinellas edition of today's Tampa Bay Times. Her mother painted on their fence, IN 2012 MY DAUGHTER SURVIVED CANCER. THANK YOU, GOD! Yes, God should be thanked, and I, too, thank God for surviving my 2009 bout with ovarian cancer. In addition to this incident, I thank God daily for many things. Yet, when it comes to surviving cancer, I also thank my doctors, friends, and family members who helped me through my ordeal and contribute to the life I love today.  I thank God for guiding medical professionals to find the cancer in me so that it could be eradicated, for giving them the knowledge to help all of us understand what had to be done and needed to be done in the future to prevent its resurgence, and for providing all of us with strength to survive this and future ordeals that tested my faith and threatened my placid, easy going way of life. God was and is a part of all of this, but no, He's not the only entity that I thank each day for surviving cancer, or anything that threatens my life.

Every morning begins and every evening ends with gratitude to God for my life and life in general. To me, He is my guiding force, inner voice, and model to be a better person. Just as He is not to blame for floods, fires, and war, He is not the only reason for glorious days, meaningful lives, and peace in parts of the world. People of all religions, and those who believe in the absence of a supreme being, daily perform heinous acts, and God is blamed for the horrific actions that ensue.  Typhoons, earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, and untimely deaths occur, and God is called to task. Why? Why is God to blame? If these individuals truly believe in a God, or they have a superior sense of self, how can they declare war on this earth. and those who are attempting to live here, in His name or the name of Allah? How can God be held accountable by those who contribute to the poverty and famine near and far? I can not blame God for all that is evil, nor can I be totally grateful to Him for all that is good or miraculous. He is the reason I believe the world can be a better place. He is the reason I am the person I am today. But He is not the only reason.

God is my partner, teacher, friend. He is the creator, the spirit around me, and Father. I won't blame him for the injustices or horrific deeds I witness. Instead, I'll ask him for guidance to do what is right to correct that which I can control. I'll credit him for as much good as I can, knowing that if all of us followed the simple precept - DO UNTO OTHERS - we would not perpetuate the evil that permeates our world. I will give him most of the credit, and pray that those who believe in Him will follow his precepts, leading to a better world. He is the antitheses of evil. He is forever, and He is love.

Celebrating Life

It is not just about the BIRTH day. It's about life, and what you do any day, and with whom you live your life. July is my birth month, so I celebrate all month.

I enjoyed receiving flowers and a helium balloon from my loving husband. The balloon is still flying high, but I'm on a second bouquet. They smell so good.

I enjoyed having dinner with my husband and Gary - former student (1978) and forever friend. His family is our Italian family!

I look forward to more dinners and flowers all month long - all year long!

Life's Musings in the Middle of the Week

Friends are the backbone of life. Without them, life would be boring. It would be dull. It's only Wednesday, and I have enjoyed being with so many friends already. Sunday I met Meg at Panera's to learn about the changes at the district office concerning media specialists in Pasco County. Retired, those changes don't impact me, but they do impact others who are my friends. Good luck to you all.

Monday I participated in my Tai Chi class at the Palm Harbor Library, interacting with friends made in the past 16 months as a member of the class. Monday was also Leah's birthday - which we celebrated tonight at Chili's. It was also Samantha Slusak's service and funeral. She was only 23.  Devastating. To lift my spirits, I visited my Mother-in-Law, who is my Mother and my friend.

Tuesday I visited my other Mother, Mater, who made us soup for lunch. I was a little late because I visited River Ridge to hug a couple of the teachers who contributed to my MDA walk on Feb. 9th. Thank you, Diana, Mimi, and Grady - friends even after my retirement. Mater's daughter, Roxie, also contributed - my sister/friend. 

Today was another Tai Chi class, but first I attended the SENIOR FAIR at the St. Petersburg Coliseum with dear friends, Gene & Lou. We also had lunch with my best friend in the whole world - my husband, Michael.  Ken, another friend, and expert in lighting video productions, came along with Michael to meet Gene & Lou, and eat with us. Tonight, Leah and I celebrated her 24th birthday at Chili's and now I'm awaiting my best friend's return from a night time gig at USF, manning one of the cameras at the BasketBULL game. 

What will tomorrow bring? More friends, more adventures, and no chance of dull or boring moments.

After Thursday, no more groveling for votes. That's when it's over.

One vote = one email address.
Hope you have 60 seconds to watch and a couple of seconds to vote.
Thanks!
How I Spent My Summer Vacations: 2010 & 2011 on Creative Loafing Tampa Video Contest

How I Spent My Summer Vacations: 2010 & 2011 on Creative Loafing Tampa Video Contest

How I Spent My Summer Vacations: 2010 & 2011 on Creative Loafing Tampa Video Contest

I might not win the $1000, but it would be lovely to win the Readers' Choice award for most votes.

Time

Everyone has the same amount of time. No one can buy more or spend less. How one uses time says a lot about the person using it. Does one visit with friends, conversing and sharing? Does one write, read, reflect and while enjoying these activities, listen to music or the quiet? Does one create a physical object, or supervise another person? How do your minutes and hours slip away? What do you do as the seconds quietly tick by?

At this time, Ira Glass' THIS AMERICAN LIFE is on the National Public Radio Station. Michael is in his office, encoding the video from last night's productions at River Ridge High School, as the television drones in the background. My fingers type these words, as my mind filters what I write and what I hear on the radio. Multi-tasking is not always efficient. My typing or my listening is not completely involved. So I now choose to stop what I am doing so I can simply relax, listen, and reflect on the words of the stories on this evening's THIS AMERICAN LIFE.