Wow! Where did the last ten years go? I have spent several days now watching the "reviews" of the past decade on television. Complete with photographs of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Some I would rather not be reminded of, but as the saying goes, if we choose to ignore the past, "we are destined to repeat it". I certainly hope I learned more than a few lessons, as there is a lot that happened that I don't ever wish to repeat! I hope our country has, too.So many things triggered memories both happy and sad. When seeing photographs and videos of monumental events over the past ten years, I found myself wandering into the territory of "where was I when this was happening?" And of course, the memories flooded in. Although the decade of the "aughts" was filled with losses for me in the way of relationships, jobs, homes, and friends and loved ones who departed this earth, it was also a time of new beginnings and joyful happenings as well.
The births of my younger three grandchildren took place during the 2000s. I cannot imagine 
this family without the blessings their births have added to our lives.
First came Hannah Elizabeth, now age 9. This little dark-haired beauty was very precocious at an early age. She was definitely a product of the new millennium, and her outgoing nature was evident from Day 1. I have the cutest videos of her at age 18 months singing along (in Spanish) with the cartoon Dora on television. "Olla" she sang, hands waving in the air to accompany herself.
When, at age three, she wanted to do a "cheer" for me, my old cheerleader heart jumped with her! "Two, four,
six, eight!" she shouted. "How'd you get so ugly??" (Big jump now, hands spread wide.) "Yo mama!" I nearly fell over laughing. I suspected big sister Miranda had a hand in teaching this to Hannah!
Hannah is finding her way academically, and giving her siblings and cousins a run for their money with straight As in the TAG school she attends. I'm now looking forward to the day she delves deep into her creativity and develops what Dad tells me is a very pretty singing voice.
The next grandchild to be born was Matthew Travis, who joined us in July, 2002.
What a big-eyed, beautiful baby boy he was... and 
what a little imp! He knew how to get Grandmommy to read one book after another to him as he snuggled up with Pup-pup. Now he can read books to Grandmommy (and is also making straight As in second grade this year), and plays sports with all the enthusiasm of someone much older -- and bigger than he!
He is still my little imp, and resists having me take his photo by hiding or making faces. He's such a cutie pie, too, that I keep on trying. Sometimes I'm successful, but not often.
Most likely to be my very last grandchild, Kelly Marshall graced us with her presence in November 2005. Her arrival thrilled big brother Travis (at left), and he informed everyone that his brand new baby sister needed a present. When asked what kind of present, his reply was "a pink Power Ranger".
Miss Kelly or "Kelbell" as big brother Travis calls her (from months of speaking about "Kelly in Mommy's belly") is devoted to her big brother. She is a four-year-old charmer with golden curls and big blue eyes that has and will be featured over and over on Grandmommy's blog. The curls were yet to come in the picture at right, but the big blue eyes are brightly shining!
If nothing else good happened in my life the past decade, these three new additions to my family would be enough to make me happy. But that is not the case.
this family without the blessings their births have added to our lives.First came Hannah Elizabeth, now age 9. This little dark-haired beauty was very precocious at an early age. She was definitely a product of the new millennium, and her outgoing nature was evident from Day 1. I have the cutest videos of her at age 18 months singing along (in Spanish) with the cartoon Dora on television. "Olla" she sang, hands waving in the air to accompany herself.
When, at age three, she wanted to do a "cheer" for me, my old cheerleader heart jumped with her! "Two, four,
six, eight!" she shouted. "How'd you get so ugly??" (Big jump now, hands spread wide.) "Yo mama!" I nearly fell over laughing. I suspected big sister Miranda had a hand in teaching this to Hannah!Hannah is finding her way academically, and giving her siblings and cousins a run for their money with straight As in the TAG school she attends. I'm now looking forward to the day she delves deep into her creativity and develops what Dad tells me is a very pretty singing voice.
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The next grandchild to be born was Matthew Travis, who joined us in July, 2002.
What a big-eyed, beautiful baby boy he was... and 
what a little imp! He knew how to get Grandmommy to read one book after another to him as he snuggled up with Pup-pup. Now he can read books to Grandmommy (and is also making straight As in second grade this year), and plays sports with all the enthusiasm of someone much older -- and bigger than he!He is still my little imp, and resists having me take his photo by hiding or making faces. He's such a cutie pie, too, that I keep on trying. Sometimes I'm successful, but not often.
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Most likely to be my very last grandchild, Kelly Marshall graced us with her presence in November 2005. Her arrival thrilled big brother Travis (at left), and he informed everyone that his brand new baby sister needed a present. When asked what kind of present, his reply was "a pink Power Ranger".
Miss Kelly or "Kelbell" as big brother Travis calls her (from months of speaking about "Kelly in Mommy's belly") is devoted to her big brother. She is a four-year-old charmer with golden curls and big blue eyes that has and will be featured over and over on Grandmommy's blog. The curls were yet to come in the picture at right, but the big blue eyes are brightly shining!
If nothing else good happened in my life the past decade, these three new additions to my family would be enough to make me happy. But that is not the case.
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During this time period, I took two wonderful vacations that left me with fun memories for a lifetime. There were lots of short trips and visits through the years to places like California and Arizona (even a brief residency there), but the cruises I went on, especially the one with daughter Carajean and her family, were the most memorable. I have written about that one at length in a former blog... How we had private plane trouble in Alabama and were in danger of missing the cruise ship in Miami when son-in-law Branch saved the day by chartering a private jet! Now that was an experience I'll never forget! Nor will my four grandchildren who were with us on that trip.
I moved out of and sold my home of seventeen years -- affectionately called "The Barn" -- in 2001, and wandered around for several years, never feeling at home anywhere else. Then this past year, out of the blue, my dear friends here in Burnet bought a small home for me to rent and live near them and near my younger son Matthew in Austin. I'm settled in now, and hope this will be "home" for many years to come. How does one ever express gratitude for such a gift?
I liked to think of this property as my "Walden Pond"... my cabin in the woods. I lived there alone for 13 of the 17 years. I might have been there still if it hadn't been falling down around my ears! It was not meant to be a residence.. just a temporary abode that would be an office and workshop for my husband's business when we finished the "big house" at the front of the property. Unfortunately, the big house was never finished. When someone asked me why, all I could say was "we ran out of money and we ran out of love". Needless to say, it was more complicated than that, but I was so thankful to have this little two room structure to live in while I healed and discovered facets of myself I never knew existed. I had many adventures while living in the barn... from snakes in the bathroom to squirrels in the walls... Parties and gatherings and creative ventures. I made many new friends and found a way of life and a philosophy that has brought me peace of mind.
During this time period, I took two wonderful vacations that left me with fun memories for a lifetime. There were lots of short trips and visits through the years to places like California and Arizona (even a brief residency there), but the cruises I went on, especially the one with daughter Carajean and her family, were the most memorable. I have written about that one at length in a former blog... How we had private plane trouble in Alabama and were in danger of missing the cruise ship in Miami when son-in-law Branch saved the day by chartering a private jet! Now that was an experience I'll never forget! Nor will my four grandchildren who were with us on that trip.******************************************************************
I moved out of and sold my home of seventeen years -- affectionately called "The Barn" -- in 2001, and wandered around for several years, never feeling at home anywhere else. Then this past year, out of the blue, my dear friends here in Burnet bought a small home for me to rent and live near them and near my younger son Matthew in Austin. I'm settled in now, and hope this will be "home" for many years to come. How does one ever express gratitude for such a gift?This is my late sister Jean visiting at the Barn. You know you are living in a primitive state when your sister walks in, claps her hands and says, "Oh! you got a sink! How wonderful!" She had helped me wash dishes in the bathtub the first few months I lived in the Barn!
I liked to think of this property as my "Walden Pond"... my cabin in the woods. I lived there alone for 13 of the 17 years. I might have been there still if it hadn't been falling down around my ears! It was not meant to be a residence.. just a temporary abode that would be an office and workshop for my husband's business when we finished the "big house" at the front of the property. Unfortunately, the big house was never finished. When someone asked me why, all I could say was "we ran out of money and we ran out of love". Needless to say, it was more complicated than that, but I was so thankful to have this little two room structure to live in while I healed and discovered facets of myself I never knew existed. I had many adventures while living in the barn... from snakes in the bathroom to squirrels in the walls... Parties and gatherings and creative ventures. I made many new friends and found a way of life and a philosophy that has brought me peace of mind.
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My older two grandchildren both graduated from high 
school and each is on a scholarship at college -- one at SMU (Audrey), and Cameron at LSU in Louisiana. They both have been and will continue to be featured on Grandmama's blog. Cameron is my opera singer (future star!), and Audrey is my passionate environmentalist. I expect great things from both of them!
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My dad turned 91 this past November, and is still enjoying his life in Mineral Wells. He has many friends as he has lived in that town for over 40 years. He knows his way around well, and still drives to visit them and go to his VFW and American Legion functions. His best friend is a small Pomeranian named Mickey.
Sadly, my mother decided it was time to leave in February of 2008, and my sister Jean left us this past August. They have left huge holes in the fabric of our families. However, when I get too despondent about their departure, I am reminded of one of my favorite little books, "Illusions" by Richard Bach. One of the quotes I used to keep on my refrigerator. Being told that we each have a mission on this earth, the student asked his teacher "How do you know when your mission is complete?" His response was "If you're alive, it isn't." I have to believe that both my mother and my sister had completed their missions. They left behind a beautiful legacy of love.
My "mission", as well as yours, is certainly not complete (or you wouldn't be reading this!). I discovered that about myself in November of 2007, when I suffered a heart attack and took a ride on a Careflight helicopter. As we were in the air, I was looking down on the city lights of San Angelo and thinking to myself that I was so at peace, and that I knew I would survive. I still had a mission.
What to do now? As my restless spirit has finally settled down, I am going to
tackle a few projects that have been popping up again and again in my consciousness. One is to put together a history of sorts, complete with photographs of as many of my ancestors as I can locate. I would like it to include the members of my immediate family and their stories and photos as well.
I think my muse was at work in 2007, when I tackled and produced an autobiographical handbook for my 50th high school reunion. I learned a lot from that experience. Enough to give me the incentive to proceed with such a monumental (to me, anyway) project. I hope I start and complete it before the next decade ends!
My older two grandchildren both graduated from high 
school and each is on a scholarship at college -- one at SMU (Audrey), and Cameron at LSU in Louisiana. They both have been and will continue to be featured on Grandmama's blog. Cameron is my opera singer (future star!), and Audrey is my passionate environmentalist. I expect great things from both of them!
My dad turned 91 this past November, and is still enjoying his life in Mineral Wells. He has many friends as he has lived in that town for over 40 years. He knows his way around well, and still drives to visit them and go to his VFW and American Legion functions. His best friend is a small Pomeranian named Mickey.Sadly, my mother decided it was time to leave in February of 2008, and my sister Jean left us this past August. They have left huge holes in the fabric of our families. However, when I get too despondent about their departure, I am reminded of one of my favorite little books, "Illusions" by Richard Bach. One of the quotes I used to keep on my refrigerator. Being told that we each have a mission on this earth, the student asked his teacher "How do you know when your mission is complete?" His response was "If you're alive, it isn't." I have to believe that both my mother and my sister had completed their missions. They left behind a beautiful legacy of love.
My "mission", as well as yours, is certainly not complete (or you wouldn't be reading this!). I discovered that about myself in November of 2007, when I suffered a heart attack and took a ride on a Careflight helicopter. As we were in the air, I was looking down on the city lights of San Angelo and thinking to myself that I was so at peace, and that I knew I would survive. I still had a mission.
What to do now? As my restless spirit has finally settled down, I am going to
tackle a few projects that have been popping up again and again in my consciousness. One is to put together a history of sorts, complete with photographs of as many of my ancestors as I can locate. I would like it to include the members of my immediate family and their stories and photos as well.I think my muse was at work in 2007, when I tackled and produced an autobiographical handbook for my 50th high school reunion. I learned a lot from that experience. Enough to give me the incentive to proceed with such a monumental (to me, anyway) project. I hope I start and complete it before the next decade ends!
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Looking back, it really was a decade of change for me. Lots of growth. And lots of love. Given and received. Besides the usual New Year's resolutions (meditate more regularly, start back on Yoga, etc.), I want to diligently practice the following. They are from the book, The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz, and are based on ancient Toltec wisdom. I like to think I live my life this way most of the time, but I know there is room for much improvement! I won't disclose what areas I need to improve.
THE FOUR AGREEMENTS
1) Be Impeccable With Your Word -- Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2) Don't Take Anything Personally -- Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3) Don't Make Assumptions -- Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4) Always Do Your Best -- Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
Maybe I can then change the URL of this blog to read "no regrets". Hope so.
Until next time, I'm wishing you all a year, and a decade, filled with every kind of "good stuff". We know it happens!
Love and peace,
Marilyn
2) Don't Take Anything Personally -- Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3) Don't Make Assumptions -- Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4) Always Do Your Best -- Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
Maybe I can then change the URL of this blog to read "no regrets". Hope so.
Until next time, I'm wishing you all a year, and a decade, filled with every kind of "good stuff". We know it happens!
Love and peace,
Marilyn
Very nice recap!! Happy new year, Marilyn! xxoo
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