Confessing Fifty

When I started this blog I was 47  and was just "finding forty". In other words, finally becoming comfortable in my forty-something skin. I'm 50 now and it is much harder than I had imagined. The whole concept of being 50 is much more of an issue that I contemplate than being in my forties was. I get all "Jodie Foster" in my head and pronounce to myself  " I Am 50!!! I Am 50!!!!" Putting all kidding aside, it has been difficult at times when I look back on my life and realize there are things that I just feel too old to do. When in reality I am probably not. I could take a new career path  develop a new skill, or start my own style company. That is what I really want to do. My last year in my forties was a difficult one. In a nutshell: I had shingles, breast cancer, a lumpectomy, six and a half weeks of daily radiation treatment, surgery on a hernia which gave me another cancer scare for awhile, lots more aches and pains in my joints, and oh yeah, my car caught on fire and was totaled after being in the wrong place at the wrong time. (parked next to a car that was being targeted with Molotov cocktails and yes that really did happen) I must now mention the really good things; Mike graduated Law school, passed the  very difficult Florida Bar on the first try, finally got a really cool job that was worth the wait and is living MY dream,  and his too in a nice building downtown. Tara and Brad got married and are having a wonderful life together. Zach is doing great at Full Sail following his dream and already has some work on the side. Life IS good at 50!!

Parenting Young Men

You see many artcles, advice columns, magazine articles, etc. on parenting young children and teenagers. The thing I have come to realize is that the worry doesn't shut off when the house becomes emptier. I almost feel the job is harder in some ways. I can no longer insist they come home at a reasonable hour, threaten to take away the car, or any other powers I could have exerted in their eariler years. Now I think the problems become more expensive and monumental and more difficult to solve. That is when you truly have to abandon your fears and rely on your own personal "higher power." In my case, that is done through prayers and many of them. Funny how it really does release a burden especially when I repeat the mantra in my head, "Let Go. Let GOD".

Facebook Woes

A few weeks ago I was checking Face book as I used to do every Friday and was appalled at what people were casually writing as if they could care less how ignorant and prejudice they really sound .It was so disheartening and I somewhat reluctantly posted that  it turned my stomach. My sister in law posted back not to let it get to me so much and she is completely right. Another high school friend suggested I hit the defriend button and she was also completely right. It would save me a lot of grief. I guess my naive self doesn't believe people are really that mean spirited. I was so taken back that I went to my profile and deleted the read my blog and blog address that I had posted. I mean some people sound really crazy and it makes me almost afraid to post my views. The difference is that you have go out of your way to read my opinions and ideas and I tery not to show off or shove those opinions down the throats of the facebookers who simply want to find out how their friends and acquaintances are doing. how about some more of those cute family pics and less of the biased and hateful rhetoric that is so tiresome to read.

He STILL has a dream.....

Yes, I still support President Barack Obama and I am sure I always will. I will always be a believer in him and what he stands for, His dream, His ideas and His goals for a better and more tolerant America. It really is easy for me to be a proud American and citizen under his leadership. Many seem to be happy and almost gloat about the fact that he hasn't been able to solve all of the country's problems yet. Do we all live in the same land? Why do those naysayers seem to anticipate and be happy about him NOT achieving success in his office as President? That is just unbelievable to me and it makes absolutely NO sense. Admittedly, being able to oppose our leaders is what makes us a great country but the level of disrespect is sickening. For example, Mitt Romney, in all his brilliance and glory, kept referring to our ELECTED PRESIDENT as Obama. Obama this and Obama that. Isn't he President Obama? I still hear "President Reagan" and "President Clinton" and "President Bush" when they are being quoted or talked about. That is such a lack of respect and it is shameful especially when those seeking to replace him have nothing tangible to bring to the political table. They spend all of their MORE than 15 minutes badmouthing and catering to hate mongers and irrational thinking weirdos (sorry about that) rather than giving us THEIR better ideas and how they would solve all of America's problems in 4 years. I hate it when those people who wear those funny hats with those tea bags taped to them you know, the same ones who go to rallies for free hot dogs, stand around and do nothing but shout ridiculous chants of prejudice and stupidity. These are the same ones who claim they have such love and respect for America. What kind of loyalty is that? They give no dignity to the very country that so many people have fought and died for.

Family Tradition? I think not!

"Why do ya drink and why do you roll smokes?" That used to be a line in one of my favorite country music songs. Remember the good ole days when good ole country music singers stuck to crooning and composing great words to country music songs. It was "Feel Good" music you could just sing and enjoy. We would have a couple of drinks on a Friday night and just let loose. You know, "Take this job and shove it!" Johnny Paycheck? Everyone's favorite Weekend Theme Song. Things have changed. Now one of our favorite "good ole boys" has decided to compare a President of the United States to Adolph Hitler and an innocent golf game to some ugly political analogy that, in his mind, has some deep hidden evil meaning. It is so ridiculous there are ALMOST no words. Why does Hank Williams Jr. have to ruin it for so many of us? We just want the innocence back and have our fun!!!!!!!!! Jeez Oh Pete, WHY????????????????? Maybe Hank Jr. should go to Iran and express his opinion if he is so "disillusioned." They could place a potato sack over his head, take him away in the middle of the night and we would never know what became of him. That is the reality. I guess I should be happy at the fact that he can even speak his mind, as warped as his opinion is. I was pleasantly surprised to see Fox News analysts at a loss for words when they heard the ridiculous, laughable rhetoric coming from the Family Tradition guy. Let's pretend he didnt even say that about Hitler. Maybe he said something about a bed of roses and puppies and flowers, etc. or something completely different. He still sounded completely ignorant and lame!!!!!! I can imagine Senoir rolling over in his grave ashamed at the obvious prejudice views of his boy. That is the way I hope it would be. I like to think that the ignorance and stupidity in Junior's words does not reflect the "Family Tradition"!

my boys are young men now

It is finally beginning to sink in that I am truly an "empty nester". My youngest son just moved out a month ago and I miss him so much. Not that I don't miss my oldest son too but I just figured Zach could live with me forever. Of course that's not realistic, but a mom can dream. I miss the clanging of pots and pans followed by the aroma of omelets and turkey bacon cooking at 3:00 am in the morning. Yeah, that's right. He doesn't get caught coming in drunk or hell raising with his friends, he enjoys cooking healthy and working out. (I'm not saying he never does drink or raise hell, just not enough to cause me worry) I guess if anything I should be filled with pride at the accomplishments and character of the young men I have raised. They truly do not have a mean bone in their body and they show compassion and care for others. They never end a conversation without telling me they love me and more importantly, I never hear them saying goodbye to each other without saying the same thing.