Should've!?

My year of whimsicality, hmmmmmmmmm, not really off to a great start, but that means it can only get better. This is what happened.

Because I had a 30% off coupon at one of the department stores, I wanted to make use of it. So, I went shopping and and to my chagrin, found absolutely nothing, not even a pair of socks! After wandering through the store, trying on countless items, I was exhausted. Yah, for me trying on clothes is exhausting, unlike my gdaughters. They can go on for hours and if I am with them, eventurally I need to find a place to sit! What can I say, I tire easily these days! Anyway, on my way out of the store hunger was "eating" at me. I gave Subway a brief consideration and then in a moments "whim" I decided on lunch at Arriba's Mexican Food Restaurant! MISTAKE!

The food was so spicy hot, it made tears roll down my cheeks! It wouldn't have been quite so bad, but before I ordered, I specifically inquired on the level of seasoning and was told, "No, it's not very hot, there's no chilies in it!" Wrong! If they weren't chilies what were those long green things? So, you see, my whim of the day went totally awry, my coupon expired and I couldn't eat lunch and now my thoughts are fixed on, SHOULD'VE!? A phrase I am to pay special heed. . . .

Those Were the Days my Friend

Over the years I have often been haunted by a tune along with the words of a song. I awoke at five this morning with one playing in my head. Every so often something comes up and the words, "Those were the days, my friend" just pop into my mind and roll off my tongue. Why is that!? It's a common thing, I know, but it's driving me nuts!

This is a song of bygone days and you have to have lived awhile for it to have
real meaning:

Those were the days my friend

we thought they'd never end

we'd sing and dance forever and a day

we'd live the life we choose

we'd fight and never lose

those were the days, or yes those were

the days!

I am reminded of two quotes; Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life and Living in the Moment. Both sound easy, but so difficult to put into practice. The first is the title of a series of essays written by DR Wayne W Dyer. He goes into great detail of both in his book, Excuses Begone.

I do practice "living in the moment" and try not to dwell in the past, which for me, right now would be so easy, as well as not dwelling entirely in the future. I am trying to enjoy the journey! Finding the little pleasures in every day, be it a beautiful sunset, walking my little Max, chatting with a friend, enjoying a cup of coffee with my daughter on the phone, having one of the little neighbor girls running out to greet me, that's what living in the moment is about. I take this another step further to appreciate myself for who I am right now! So when I look in the mirror I say, "You look good, girl!" But those haunting words keep coming back, Those were the days my friend, oh yes, those were the days!

But in my heart I know it won't be long until "these" days will become "those" days, my friend! Let's just take them one at a time!

How Fun Will That Be?!

Recently, I was asked, "What do you do for fun?" Sounds much like those other questions I stutter and stammer over, such as, "Now that you are retired, what do you do?" And, "What's your hobby?" Why do these questions bother me? That's a better question. If you are retired are you no longer a contributing member of society? Are they stating, if you are not working, how and what can you possibly be doing to fill all those hours in the day? Do they actually want you to say, "Oh, I just kick back in my easy chair and watch the tube?" I think all three of these questions are the kind the person asking really doesn't want a real answer, much like, "How are you?"

What do I do for fun?! When I become perplexed over something, especially a word, I refer to my friend, Merriam-Webster! So, herein lies the answer. Fun l: what provides amusement or enjoyment: playful often boisterous action or speech. It also means Jest, Sport, Game, Play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. Fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

Wow, I must be having fun most of the hours of the day because most of my day lacks serious purpose! I also asked myself, "What would Jessie or Miche, (grand children) respond to this question? Without doubt, their number one response would be, "Hanging with my friends!" That would be whether or not they were at The Mall, playing sports, participating in band or color guard, on fb, on their cell phones, txting, but mainly it would just be being together with their friends. Well, I can go along with that. That is probably very close to what I consider fun, but I would also have to include hanging with family as well! It is not so much what you are doing, it's that you are with friends! Boisterous action or speech, that would be watching a good football game and hopefully the team I was cheering on would be winning, but not always the case.

When I print this for my journal, I think I will post it on my desk where I can refer to it the next time I'm asked one of these questions. And pity the poor person who asks, for they will receive a barrage, of responses! How fun will that be?!

(refer to Lesson # One: Trampoline Lesson, now that was FUN!)

New Jersey; I'm wearing those "rose colored" glasses!

Year of Whimisicality!

About this time last year I proclaimed that 2010 would be my year of adventure. It was my grand daughter Jessie that suggested that. And recently, with suggestions from she, Miche, and their Mom, together we dicided that 2011 would bring forth my year of "Whimisicality!" What do you think? Great word anyway? To me whimsical means fun, being spontaneous, and enjoying life to its fullest.

My year of adventure was just that, adventure all the way. Outstanding was the number and variety of my many trips: seven in all. They included one to Sedona, AZ last March, three to Nebraska: May, August, and November, Vegas in June, trip to Flagstaff in September, and last but not least, to New Jersey in October. That's about a trip every two months. Out of all, the trip to NJ was the most adventuresome in a positive aspect, and the last trip to Nebraska, from which I just returned was the most negative, due to the loss of my beloved sister, Donna Ruth Carman. So you see, adventures can be fun and exciting and also just the opposite. I still have several more weeks of anticipated adventure to finish the year of 2010. It will include the family being together once again on Christmas Eve. (Amother is never happier than when her children and their families are around her.) Like other families everywhere, mine is so very busy with their own families, careers, education, sports, hobbies and day to day matters, that it is amazing they can still find time to be together. But they do!

This blessed season, and always, I am thankful for my family, friends and good health; all of which I take not for granted. God has blessed me in more ways than I can count!

Thinking of you, wishing you a Happy New Year! And may you also enjoy life to its fullest! Like me, try to be a little whimisical!