Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Days Of Our Lives

Sometimes I get to thinkin' I was back in the old days, long ago
When we were kids, when we were young, things seemed so perfect then, ya know
Days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shining, we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
The rest of my life has been just a show.

Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing remains
When I look and I find no change
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the time
Ain't that a shame
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sittin' and thinkin' what you did
You can lay back and enjoy it through the kids
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow

Because these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
Those days are all gone now but one thing remains
When I look, and I find
Hope still survives.
I had a dream last night. I was napping on the couch in my home at Bounding Bend. It was day. I stirred from my sleep at the sound of an approaching car coming up the driveway. I opened my eyes and listened. Who was coming? I wake, not knowing.
The sound of the gravel under wheels always made everyone stop and listen. For the longest time, before the construction, we lived at the end of a long, gravel country road. Whenever we heard the gravel under a car, we would stop and listen - would they turn around, lost or just on a Sunday drive or would the sound stop, followed by the sound of car doors announcing visitors?
It seems that all my dreams of "home" take place at Bounding Bend. I don't recall dreaming of any other home, though I've lived in several. Because those were the days of my life.
I want to have more dreams. I like them and I like trying to figure them out, the puzzle of them, the agony of them, the comfort of them. This last dream, I don't know. So short. I woke up knowing that in the dream someone was coming. But I woke up. I don't know who. Are they coming to visit me?
A few months after my mom died, I had a dream about her. I was laying in bed (in my room at Bounding Bend) and she came to my bedside. I was under a thin sheet but could see her through the fabric. I sat up and she laid her hands on both sides of my face, smiled, then kissed me and said that I'd see her soon. She backed away and was gone.
This dream was so real. I remember my conciousness knowing that it was a dream. The fact that there was a veil, a curtain, the thin sheet between us meant that I couldn't touch her. That she was there yet unreachable. Her smile was real and her words were clear. What does it mean, "You'll see me soon."? Is my life to be short or does time move more swiftly for her now and the years that I have left are nothing to her? I do understand how sometimes the deaths of husbands and wives can happen so close together. Does this mean that I want to die? It doesn't. But it has changed how I look at death.
A friend of mine at work just lost her Great Aunt. The family was with the old woman as she died. The woman was very old yet very clear of mind. When the old woman passed, her last words were of greeting those who had passed before her. She was being welcomed by her mother, father, family and friends! She was seeing them as she passed from us! This is the joy of death and rebirth! I am not afraid knowing that I will see my mother again forever.
I miss my mom. Things are different. There is a hole in my heart that will forever remain empty while I live. But... the heart can grow. While the hole will always remain, my heart grows. The above song is not of my doing. It's credit belongs to Freddie Mercury and Queen. The music is equally beautiful but the lyrics are strong and speak to me. "Those days are gone now, but I look and find that hope still survives." I feel that something teriffic is going to happen to me. I find myself greeting each day like a child on Christmas morning. Not knowing but knowing something awaits. Something wonderful. It may be my death, it may be my life. Both are wonderful. I can hardly wait to unwrap my presents!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Snow?

Snow has different meanings, huh?
President Bush made a landing aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Thursday, arriving in the co-pilot's seat of a Navy S-3B Viking after making two fly-bys of the carrier. Moments after the landing, the president, wearing a green flight suit and holding a white helmet, got off the plane, saluted those on the flight deck and shook hands with them. Above him, the tower was adorned with a big sign that read, "Mission Accomplished."
This historic landing and speech took place on May 1st, 2003, nearly 4 years ago.
I got nothing.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The New Me

Real quick note to tell everyone that I've lost 7.2 pounds in my first week of the evil dieting. Yeah!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

New Years

Well, it's a new year. I want to start by saying 268.9. What does 268.9 mean? It could mean many things. But at the beginning of the year it pretty much means only one thing... resolutions. I have one resolution that I made and I didn't make it on the first, I couldn't bring myself to be so cliche. I made this resolution on December 30th. It's time to think of my body and my health.
I weighed in at 268.9. Can you believe it? Where did it all come from? Surely not the Captain. My old friend. Stromboli... another old friend. Papa John, definately an old friend. Old Friends.
As we get older, we lose our old friends. Some move away and we never hear from them again. We think of them often but we never call... and they never call us. Some of our friends die. Some when they should, some before they should, some even go beyond when they should. But my new old friends will no longer be purchased at the grocery store or delivered to my door. My friends the comfort foods.
Two hundred sixty eight point nine pounds. No wonder my feet hurt and my knees are bad. I hope you all will give me all of your support as I endeavour to extend my quality of life and improve my health. My aim is to lose 55lbs. by June 15th. Please watch me as I will track my victories (and defeats). I'm doing 2,000 calories a week on a planned diet (more on that later). I've already cheated. I had some chips and cheese on Monday and a whole mess of Club crackers yesterday. I should have thrown them out before I started, but I didn't. Who knew that their voices would scream so loud calling me to munch them to their deaths. Well, with them devoured, there is nothing left to tempt me. Here I go. Mr. America by June! Wish me luck.