Things I Never Thought I'd See

It is a chilly Tuesday night in Chicago and it's got me all contemplative.

Seasonal changes have a way of doing that to me.
Last weekend I saw an older lady in Union Square, pushing one of those wheelie-grocrey-cart things that you often see older people in urban areas pushing (or pulling).
In her cart she had a sleeping bag, a whole bunch of aluminum cans, the requisite boom box, a piece of firewood, what I could only assume was a backgammon board (or her briefcase) and a single ski. She had on flip-flops and mismatched socks, some way-wicked "I Love Kitty" capri pants, a hooded sweatshirt (that made "sweat" an integral part of the description) and she was wearing goggles that I thought only welders wear.
I don't think her hair had visited a brush or comb since Reagan was in office. And, I couldn't take a picture for fear that I'd capture her soul.
There's just no way, even with my wildest imagination, that I could have ever thought I'd see that.
And then there's my life. There are so many (Seriously, I'm talking sooo freakin' many) things I never thought I'd see....
Meet JT (my son, aka: Justin Thomas) and his son Felix Oliver.
I'm old enough to be a grandmother.
Never thought I'd see that.
Wow. Rock on.

Dream Big Dreams....

When I was way too young to almost remember I believed I would grow up to be Mary Poppins. Christmas of 1964 Santa brought me her hat, her umbrella, her bag, a tea set and a table and chairs.
When my daughter was 4 she announced (repeatedly and to anyone who would listen) that she was going to be a doctor. She's scant moments away from making that real. I'm completely in the moment and way more Mary Poppins that not.
It's only been very recently that I've remembered that all I wanted to do (when I was 4) was to be that person who could show up with flashlights and monkeys and socket sets and duct tape and oatmeal and hot chocolate in my purse. And, here it is.... today...and I am that person.
I am a nazi... I expect everybody to use their manners. I believe that we all wake up... every morning, and we do the best we can... and, every once in a while...somebody will show up with all the tools we need to do our job right...or have our backs tickled....or we'll spoon and laugh and sing the songs our mom taught us.
I'm just amazed at how everything you wish for will come to you.
You just have to remember what it is that you wished for.

Meagan Has A Birthday

My Sister turns 40 Today
Meagan is my little sister. She was born 7 years behind me and we share very limited memories of living in the same house...growing up together.
Over the course of the last year I've gotten to know her more than I could have ever hoped. And, she is one amazing person.
She lives in Colorado (as she has for the past 17 years) and she has 4 amazing boys. She has perfect nails and unbelievably enviable hair. She can sing like a lark and either doesn't know it or hasn't realized it yet.
When she laughs it's like a perfect wind ripping through a strand of evergreens.
She has some serious back bone.
She will sometimes tell me things I don't want to hear and other times tell me things that nobody has ever told me about myself. I value her for both of these.... Her candor is so precious.
Once, when she was very little I told her that my best friend had a tail. She believed me. Another time I told her that all those little utility stations along the turnpike were UFO tracking stations. I think she believed that till she was in college. And, once Meagan believes something it IS the truth. You've really got to work overtime to make her believe otherwise.
She still sends my brother money in prison.
She has hope.
I am so blessed to have her in my life...as are my children...and her children...and her great big ol' Irish Catholic family.
She is amazing.
And, it's her birthday.
So...Good vibe Meagan today.
Life is short...good vibes are forever.

Things I Remembered

To be fair, I may have known a lot of this stuff at some point in my life, but apparently that information got squeezed out and replaced with (what I can only fiugre is) random stuff that doesn't matter all that much.
1. You have to have the right tool for the job.
2. Even though something may look like it works and it's all good, it could be tragically and dangerously broken.
3. You really can't believe most anything you hear or read and it's probably best to hedge your bets.
4. You simply can't go back.
5. If you do lots of dishes by hand all your callouses will magically disappear. And, not in a good way.
6. Warm and clean clothes can turn a day around.
7. There really are no bad kids, just sadly misinformed and/or lazy parents.
8. Holding people to the same standards you hold yourself to will only lead to heart ache.
9. Expectations may, indeed, only be premeditated resentments, but there's no real way to live a full life without them.
10. There seriously is NO gain with NO pain.

So, there y'have it. Perhaps I just needed to leave this here so I can come back and find out what it is that I think I know.