Five Years Passed

Five years passed
And during this time
Dreams were established
Goals defined

Standing alone
Seeing it all now
The challenges and triumphs
The ups and downs

One year passed
Success on the rise
Struggle and hard work
Building in size

The needs of others
Came in high demand
Creating the profit
And the need to expand

Three years passed
Feeling so alone
Sustaining business
Stress deals a heavy blow

Health becomes an issue
Pushing pain aside
Family on the back burner
Personal needs denied

Five years passed
Decisions to be made
Economy undermining
The foundation laid

Business closing
Gain greater than loss
Friendships developed
From paths that crossed

Five years passed
The journey bittersweet
Necessity satisfied
The dream is complete

*For Sister Y...I love you

Time

Time is the most elusive and non-tangible asset available and yet it is in greatest demand by its owners. Workshops have been created to help us manage our time with the end result being “more time available” for other things. Friends and family wait patiently for each other because one or the other or both do not have the time to spend together. One may say to the other “Let’s have lunch when we have more time”. Sadly, we create self-imposed stress because the time we have is never enough, and when it is enough, we are too “stressed out” to notice.

Time cannot be purchased, bottled, packaged, and sold in your local supermarkets, department stores, and coffee shops. Time cannot be rescheduled to another day in an effort to add additional time to the 24 hours we are given on a daily basis.

The bottom line on time:
We have 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.

Can we obtain more time?
No, we have 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.

The one exception to the rule is Daylight Savings Time. Fall arrives and we gain an extra hour by “falling back”, bringing to an end that year’s daylight savings time. So technically…that is the only event in which we receive more time because we have 25 hours in one day.

However…when we spring forward at the beginning of daylight savings time…we must return that hour back to the cosmos and unfortunately, we only have 23 hours available to us for one day. In reality, that extra hour was on loan from the previous year, and as is customary, loans must be repaid.

For me personally…there is never enough time.

What is the definition of time?

time (defined by thefreedictionary.com)
n.
1. a. A nonspatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession from the past through the present to the future.
b. An interval separating two points on this continuum; a duration: a long time since the last war; passed the time reading.
c. A number, as of years, days, or minutes, representing such an interval: ran the course in a time just under four minutes.
d. A similar number representing a specific point on this continuum, reckoned in hours and minutes: checked her watch and recorded the time, 6:17 a.m.
e. A system by which such intervals are measured or such numbers are reckoned: solar time.

Well there it is in black and white. Basically, a measurement of minutes, hours, days, and years.

As I simplify my life, I’m going to remove “time” from my vocabulary as it relates to what I can’t do, what I didn’t do, what I forgot to do, and what I don’t want to do. Instead I will use it as a description of my happiness and joy.

I had a great time.....This is an exciting time in my life.....Fall is my favorite time of the year.

I am no different than anyone else that resides on our planet. I have 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.

I'm Having a Mother Moment!

I'm in the throes of a Mother Moment! Mr MP, my young son, has been on a "presidential mission" since Sunday. He was expected to be back this morning but I haven't heard from him yet. It's 2:45 his time. He informed me before departure that he would take his cell phone and try to call me if he could. His mission - "escorting" for the inaugeration. I sent 2 text messages on Sunday (about the Arizona game), then had Facebook chat with Mrs MP on Tuesday. She had only talked with Mr. MP for 2 minutes that day. She really didn't have any details on Mr. MP's mission. Then I call Mr. MP's cell phone a few minutes ago and can only connect with his voice mail. Good Grief! I want to talk to my son! RIGHT NOW! I want all of the exciting details of the last 4 days.

Okay...it helps to clarify something. I want all of the exciting details. I think the "I want" part of that sentence is self-explanatory, if you catch my drift. Based on my frustration right now...I can only assume my very first phone call with Mr. MP, while he is driving home from his mission, will sound something like this...

Mr. MP calls:
Mom: "Hi honey. How was your mission? Were you excited?...Did..."

Mr. MP: "Ummm..." (I haven't taken a breath yet, so I don't hear Mr. MP talking)
Mom: "Did you get to see the President? Did you see anyone you knew?..."

Mr. MP: "Well..." (Did he say something? I continue talking before I lose my train of thought.)
Mom: "By the way, you need to change your voice mail. It still says Private. I thought we talked about that before."

Mr. MP: "Mom!"
Mom: "What?"

Mr. MP: "Can I call you back?"
Mom: "What?????"

Mr. MP: "I'm tired."
Mom: "Tired? Really? Well, I'll have you know that not everyone is as lucky as you are to have participated in a presidential mission during this exciting HISTORIC EVENT!"

Mr. MP: "Okay. (sighs)"
Mom: "Can't you tell me anything? You know...trying to have a conversation with you is like pulling teeth!"

Mr. MP: "It wasn't THAT exciting!"
Mom: "There's no need to get testy about it Mr. MP (I really use his first, middle and last name firmly)"

Mr. MP: "I need to go. I'm home now and I want to tell Mrs. MP about the mission."
Mom: "What??? Okay, whatever. Call me later. Call me soon. Call in 10 minutes okay?"

Ahhhhhh...the somewhat psychotic behavior of a mother when she's slipped into the infamous CONTROL MODE.

I can only hope that he calls soon. I can't wait to hear if he actually saw the President? Did he meet anyone? You know...EXCITING STUFF!

Wait...my phone is ringing. It's Mr. MP! Finally!!!!

What you are about to read is the conversation in near-perfect verbatim form. I took notes during our call.

Mom: "Son - I'm so glad to hear from you! How was it?"
Mr. MP: "There were a lot of cops"

Mom: "There were a lot of cops????"
Mr. MP: "Yeah"

Mom: "I heard on the news that there were 20,000 soldiers, MPs like yourself, and police - so yeah...there'd be a lot of cops". (Did he really graduate from high school? I think he did - but I'm beginning to wonder.)
Mr. MP: "Yeah"

Mom: "Are you on your way home?"
Mr MP: "No I've been home"

Mom: (snarling) "When did you get home?"
Mr. MP: "This morning."

Mom: "Why didn't you call me?"
Mr. MP: "Mrs MP and I had to run some errands. I got home about 9:30"

Mom: (That is 6:30 a.m. my time and I am just now hearing from him? Are you kidding me?? Change the subject!) Okay, well what did you do in your mission?"
Mr. MP: "That's classified."

Mom: "WHAT?????????????" (He had already informed me of what he would be doing because he had had a trial run last week so what's up with this?)
Mr. MP: "That's classified"

Mom: (I heard you the first time Mr. P) "Are you serious?"
Mr. MP: "Well...it was classified until now."

Mom: (I'm pulling my hair out and rolling my eyes into the back of my brain looking for patience!) "Can you tell me what you did?"
Mr. MP: "Well...we went to Location 1, escorted buses to Location 2..." (There is background chatter. Mr. MP is now involved in a conversation with Mrs MP about turning the television down - did I just hear my son call his wife DUDE????) "...Anyhow then we went to Location 3 and escorted military color guard to Location 2". (I'm using "Location" to protect the innocent - ME! Should Mr. MP ever read my blog - there could be hell to pay for naming the actual Locations, because I would probably get them wrong.)

Mom: "That took you 5 days to do this?" (I'm in full mother madness now - - I'm exaggerating the time frame. Sunday through today is 4 days but throwing in the extra day adds emphasis to my statement.)
Mr. MP: "Ummmm, you mean 2 days?"

Mom: "TWO DAYS??????? I thought you left Sunday"
Mr. MP: "No we didn't leave until Monday"

Mom: (Okay now I really question whether he graduated high school because Monday through Wednesday is three days in my book). "I texted you about the game on Sunday and you never responded. I thought you were leaving Sunday"
Mr. MP: "I texted you back - I told you I was watching the game."

Mom: (Furiously looks through received text!) "I DID NOT receive a text from you."
Mr. MP: "Well I sent it."

Mom: "Well I didn't get it."
Mr. MP: "Hold on." (now looking through his sent text) "Oh...it didn't go through. It has an X."

Mom: (Sighs again). "Well were you anywhere near DC?" (I ask this because of the locations he gave me.)
Mr. MP: "Uh-yeah...(like I'm stupid!)...you go right through DC to get to Location 1."

Mom: (Sighs really loud into the phone) "What I mean is...(composing myself briefly) were you anywhere near the presidential activities on inaugeration day?"
Mr. MP: "No."

Mom: "Did you have a good time?"
Mr. MP: "It wasn't too bad - kind of a hassle."

Mom: "Okay..." (I finally give up) "...why don't I call you when I get home from work."
Mr. MP: "Okay, bye."

I have to tell you, I was laughing hysterically through some of this conversation and Mr. MP has no clue as to why. I laugh and tell him I had envisioned our conversation to be something like it was. He laughs - probably just to humor me.

Why I think that my Mother Control freak outs would have any benefit is beyond me. They didn't help me in any way when Mr. MP was in high school when I would frequently spin off into a tangent that always included "Where were you? Why didn't you call me? What were you thinking?"

Now that I'm calm again and the craziness of my Mother Moment has subsided, I will remember to read this blog when I need a good belly laugh. The only thing I will need to read is the first two lines of my phone call with Mr. MP:

Mom: "Son - I'm so glad to hear from you! How was it?" (escorting for inaugeral activities)
Mr. MP: "There were a lot of cops"

Inaugeration Day!

It's the first day of change, a new political reign, a powerful movement that has been needed for a long time.

Much of 2008's events were unfathomable. The collapse of department stores, banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and most importantly, the housing market. The rise of gas, cost of food, and unemployment. The fall of financial stability, personal net worth and feelings of longevity and security.

And the election of an African American as President of the United States.

I've never been so captivated by a changing of The Guard, as I am at this moment in my life. I don't know if it's because I'm older, or I'm in need of hope, or if it's because my son has dedicated this time of his young life to our country's armed services. Is it because I want to feel what it must have been like when President Kennedy was elected? To live amongst a simpler time when government and patriotism were the backbone of this country's citizens? I was a little girl and too young to have a political opinion or a patriotic need during the Kennedy years. But now, at this stage in my life, I do have a patriotic need. I need a leader. I need honesty. I need to know the truth that before things can improve, difficult obstacles must first be overcome. I need an explanation, not a justification. I need a proactive plan, not crisis management. I need a vision of a better tomorrow, not the promise of what it will look like.

Good luck President Obama. Your country has been waiting for you for a long time.

A Day Off Before Change

It's Monday and the new work week is upon me beginning with a day off in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. I'm fortunate to have this opportunity to prepare for massive changes at work beginning this week. I've been reassigned "temporarily" to assist another department three days a week for a month or more. It is well known by my peers that if I ever was reassigned to this department due to budget constraints, downsizes to my department and the like, I was prepared. My solution: Stick a pencil in my neck and bleed out.

That solution has remained consistent for years...until Thursday when I received news that it's time to get that pencil out and reevaluate if I really wanted to pierce my skin and deal with gushing blood everywhere. Of course...I decided that might not be the best option considering I really don't like pain and I loathe the sight of blood, specifically when it's coming from me.

The news struck me like a solid punch to my gut, leaving me gasping for air as I flopped on the floor like a fish out of water, while my mind run amok with visions of life imprisonment to an institutional setting. Okay - a bit dramatic I will admit - but I did have great difficulty processing this new directive. I elected to "sleep on it" and wake up with a new attitude.

The morning came and with it...the need to write.

The Comfort Zone

What lies beyond the comfort zone
Is awkward and far removed
Yet Change has frayed the edges
Of life’s day to day groove

If asked to describe my comfort zone
I think of it best as a playground
The biggest slides, the highest swings
In the greatest city park in town
Decorated with bright colors and flags
Happy melodic tones fill the air
Laughter and giggles of delight abound
Magical moments sprinkled here and there

The comfort zone is then heavily pressed
Like a broken elevator with lights out
Standing alone in the blackened silence
The mind riddled with fear and doubt
Varying levels of insecurity take over
A simple breath difficult to take in
Change is knocking, open the door
The comfort zone rapidly begins to thin

What is lost reeks like a horrid stench
The eyes burn from the permeating smell
The comfort zone of once heavenly bliss
Begins to look like a fast forward to hell
But then, as if time has been stopped
Clarity comes with thoughts of grace
Give not into the fear of losing comfort
Instead seek comfort from a Higher place

Like life, a comfort zone changes
And like life, we change with it too
He always knows what is best for us
Better than we think we do

Thank you for this moment of peace
Thank you for knowing I can survive
Thank you blessing me with a comfort zone
Thank you for challenging my life
Thank you for the daily reminders
That I can only live in this day
Thank for guiding my earthly path
And helping me through this Change

Okay, I'm ready for Wednesday.

Blue Star Moms Rock!

Tri Counties Blue Star Moms is a new adventure for me and after my first "packing" event Saturday, I can honestly tell you Blue Star Moms rock!

There were an enormous amount of volunteers helping our Blue Star Moms prepare care packages to be sent to troops stationed overseas. Students, teachers, and community members giving up their Saturday morning so that our troops can open a box and have a piece of "home" with them...no matter where they are. Students had written cards and letters to be packed in the boxes and our businesses donated snacks, food, and various clothing and toiletries (even new skivvies for our guys). I'm so proud of our city supporting our nation's military effort and its young men and women who selflessly serve and protect each and every one of us. I'm not sure of the accurate count, but I believe there were at least 250 snacks and hygeine boxes packed in a couple of hours. I'm so fortunate to meet these really fabulous Blue Star Moms who have children in all branches of the armed services. Their wealth of information, knowledge, experience and support will be extremely valuable to all military moms, aunts, cousins, uncles, siblings, dads, grandparents and so on, now and in the future. Especially...this new military mom.

Was It Just A Year Ago?

Was it just a year ago?
When you returned home
So beaten and bruised
So lost and alone

Army green committed
Signed on the dotted line
Looking for direction
Seek and you shall find

Five months passed by slowly
My little boy was gone
Graduation would soon be here
I would see you “Army Strong”

With your training completed
Came news of a great love
There was the girl of your dreams
Yes, you had met “The One”

Orders for the Old Guard
Would send you out to DC
Your Home is now where
The Army wants you to be

Now you are newly married
Together with your Army wife
You look into the future
And plan your military life

So young you both still are
So difficult the times you face
Your wife will soon deploy
And be half the world away

But this a mother knows
When she thinks of her young son
God will take good care of you both
As He has always done

Time will pass by quickly
You will ponder when she returns
“Was it just a year ago?
The lessons of separation I learned”

The mother smiles broadly
As she looks over her life span
Was it just a year ago?
My little boy became this Man

In the Beginning

It is January and as is customary this time of year, I take the annual retreat to my soul within, and review what I've learned through my actions, or lack thereof, and evaluate the growth I've made from the obstacles put before me. As 2008 presented me with many changes in my life, I tapped into my creative outlets again, and blogging seemed to be the next obvious "one foot forward" movement to make. I'm not certain where I'm headed, or even where I've been...I just know that this spot, right here, is where I need to be.