1.28.2011
A Heart of Joy
A few of his nicknames:
My friend: SAM - U- eL
Me: SAM.BO
His late Grandma S.: SAMMY
Me: My Baylor Bear
A Friend: HAM
Me: SAM
College Nickname: Sam-I-Am
Our Song: I Was Country...Wasn't Cool. Barbara Mandrell (Yes, I know that is hard to believe)
Samuel Joseph...a shining light in my life, always. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON. 1.28.11
12.12.2010
LETTING GO & SQUARING UP
Placing a strip of masking tape down the middle of the bedroom that I shared with my little sister, Janellie (second from L.) made everything nice and neat. Being the oldest of the four, I chose the side closest to our closet. Little did I know that would cause a protest from this 6-year old. My Mama Rush taught me if you do two things your home would be presentable, even if you didn't agree. First, always hang up your clothes and second, make your bed. That has stuck with me to now. As a little girl, it didn't always keep that 10 x 12 room tidy, but we tried. If being organized was a character trait in the 60's, I didn't know about it or read about it...my reading was limited to mysteries and teen magazines. Now maybe if we had Container Stores (why didn't I think of that) it would have been helpful. In Texas City, we were lucky to have a little Mom and Pop five & dime store, Rock's. I learned the art of organization from having a small space...it was survival. A space to read, write and talk on the telephone for all of 15 minutes, my allowed time lest I be in big trouble if I chatted longer. There was no call waiting or voice mail and my Dad had his own business so no long talks on the phone for me. Besides, our one phone-house hung on the kitchen wall. I was always asking "please, Daddy can't I have a phone of my own?" But it was my space all the same.
A routine of organized cleaning wasn't my mother's cup of tea. It was, however, her mother's, my Mama Rush, who thought cleanliness was next to godliness. That being said, Christmas was the time my mother thought we should take a day from school vacation and clean out the closets. I always looked forward to those school holidays when we woud have a day designated to cleaning out and going to the church thrift shop with our goods. There were no garage sales or sidewalk sales...you just marched on down to the little shop and handed over your "stuff." With a clean and organized closet my life was squared up. Now, when my life feels a bit out of sorts I head to the closets and start the cleaning. Organizing my closets with clothes sorted and color coded...well color me happy!
to enter and become a part of my life...NOW?
10.25.2010
SECRETARIAT
Barns, stables, leather, horses and the smell of oats and fresh hay bring back memories of my teenage and early adult years. While many of my friends find furry children of the smaller stature the ideal companion, I've always gravitated toward horses... big horses and when my Dad bought my second horse, the color red became a favorite. Big sorrel geldings are gorgeous creatures. Secretariat, an American Thoroughbred born March 30, 1970 with the heart of a champion, a dedicated non-human athlete, now some forty years later, has Disney telling his story to remind us all what a winner he was 37 years ago. I treated myself to the movie of this Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Famer(1998) and yet one more time he did not disappoint me or, from the teary eyes and chatter after the movie, anyone else. As I walked into the darkened movie theatre, I made every attempt to erase my memory of those exciting days over 37 years ago when I watched Secretariat take the spotlight on a small television screen to begin a journey with a winning destination that no horse the preceding 25 years had captured. He was running for a landing place in the history books that no horse as yet surpassed. It was a little difficult for me to detach emotions from the past with the historical facts, a lot which were left out, but it didn't dampen the spirit of the horse's story, nor the movie. Throughout the movie you could feel the bond between the owner and the horse - it was a powerful. As was said more than once by his owner, " I am his voice" when dealing with the ever engaging journalists who wanted an inside look into his life. All the while, she was gracious, articulate and eloquent. Diane Lane, who portrays Secretariat's owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy, with her emotional connection to the big red sorrel gelding who, in the early 70's grieving over the loss of her mother and not long thereafter, the loss of her father, Christopher Chenery set about, in a decidedly man's world, to take on the challenge of saving the family's farm, all the while multi-tasking a family of 5 in Denver. Her father, a graduate of Randolph-Macon College and Washington and Lee University was an engineer. He bought Meadow Farm, near Richmond, Va., in 1932 where Secretariat was born. Although records show Mr. Chenery as the official breeder of Secretariat, it was Penny Chenery who sent the family farm's mare, Something Royal, to be bred to Bold Ruler, twice. The filly, The Bride, was the result of the first mating and Secretariat was the second breeding, in 1969. A tribute to Washington and Lee University: The silks of the Meadow Farm were Royal Blue and White checkered.
The cinematography was superb and a huge success with it's creativity and angles. You could almost feel the thundering pounds of the horses hooves and the breath of these beautiful creatures as they pushed hard and fast to the finish line.
Secretariat was a 3-2 favorite over his competitor, Sham in the 1973 KENTUCKY DERBY and in his usual style, he broke last, moved up the track in the backstretch and pulled away to win the Derby by 2- 1/2 lengths. The records show a still-standing track record of 1:59 2/5 with Secretariat running each quarter mile segment faster than the one before. At the PREAKNESS STAKES, Secretariat made a huge, last-to-first move on his first turn, reaching the lead with 5-1/2 furlongs to go. Another win by 2-1/2 lengths, again with his competitor, Sham, coming in second. At the BELMONT STAKES there were only 5 thoroughbreds on the track for the Belmont Stakes on June 9, 1973. It is here where CBS announcer Chic Anderson's voice describes this historical race: "Secretariat is widening now! He is moving like a tremendous machine!"
Yes, Secretariat finishes his journey at the BELMONT STAKES, where he wins the Triple Crown.
Thank you, Disney, for bringing this personal story to the big screen. Thank you, Penny Chenery for your courage, perserverance and willingness to share. Thank you for allowing the unknowing to be a part of the suspense of this big red colt running away from the other horses as though nothing else mattered - he was in it for the ride.
TAKE A PEAK: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7403736/19364387
9.06.2010
Learning From the Little One
8.01.2010
Happy Friendship Day ~ Happy Birthday
There are big ships and there are little ships. But the best ship is Friendship.
~Author Unknown
Happy Friendship Day ~ The 1st Sunday in August ~ US Congress, 1935
3.17.2010
Through the Winter & Into Sunshine
1.28.2010
JANUARY 28, 1977
12.24.2009
THE GIFT OF TIME by Beverly Beckham
11.25.2009
GOOD THINGS...IN ABUNDANCE
Steven, Lauren and Brock. He's in there somewhere. 2. My family "back home." I wish we saw each other more.
3. My faith. It is always with me.
4. My health and the doctors who help me stay healthy. Dr. B., you are the best!
5. Crayolas, colored pens, glue, stickers and paper. I still love to cut, paste, stamp and glue.
6. The sunrise. "May the great mystery make sunrise in your heart." ~ Old Indian Saying Every morning on my way to work it's interesting to see the sun rise. On foggy days like this past week, it plays hide-n-seek with the clouds.
7. A good book and my fireplace. And then the good book that becomes a great movie.
8. The scent of my home and the coziness of my bed. My home is my safe haven.
9. Pink roses, my favorite!
10. Photos that capture so many moments, places, memories AND the friends who take them and share them with me.
11. Computers...and they keep getting cheaper, lighter and faster. Love my new screaming fast HP! Thank you, my HP son, for making the right one arrive here!
12. Mani's and Pedi's...thank you , Jenny.
13. My newly acquired taste for red wine, especially Conconan 2005. It's sooo smooth.
14. Baseball. It's the Sign of Spring.
15. Small mistakes. "Mistakes are a fact of life. It's the response to the error that counts." ~ Nikki Giovanni
16. Online bill pay. Though it is fun to see the little 5x7 envelopes arrive at work.
17. My "binky" for tired shoulders.
18. I'm grateful for Spellcheck...now if I can just master Excel!
19. The smell of new shoes, the look of new shoes, just NEW SHOES!
20. Matinee movies and eating movie popcorn WHEN the movie begins!
21. Chunky peanut butter. Smooth peanut butter. Organic, of course.
22. The smell of a new baby. I Love You Brock... Nana.
23. Falling into bed after a long productive day. "A well-spent day means happy sleep." ~Leonardo Da Vinci
24. Handwritten thank you cards. "Thou that hast given so much to me, give me one thing more, a grateful heart." ~George Herbert
25. My inner peace. "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." ~ C H Spurgeon
26. Oatmeal and brown sugar on Sunday mornings.
27. A "smize" from a little brown eyed girl, named Myla, who smiles at you with big beautiful brown eyes that gaze at you, hence; "Smize". At age two she warms your heart with those beautiful eyes and makes you proud with every new word and adventure. Myla's sweet kisses are treasured.
28. My happiness. "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." ~Abraham Lincoln
29. My hairdryer. Whatever did we do without them. Maybe no swimming, PAnn?
30. My dependable, sturdy, reliable Yukon. We've seen so much together.
31. My iPhone. How did I ever function without it?
33. My feelings, my emotions, my heart. "Feelings are much like waves, we can't stop them from coming but we can choose which ones to surf. ~Jonatan Martensson.
34. My friends, near and far though it has taken me many years to learn the value of a good girlfriend...I've got it now and "it's a good thing." My friend, my neighbor...love you, Sharon. And my neighbors on Farmtown, too. It's been fun to reconnect with friends from my past on FaceBook because they have re-entered my present.
35. I'm grateful for headlights in my driveway...it means someone special is here to visit. Black vehicles have extra special meaning...
As I spend my Thanksgiving Day, I will take notice of all the abundance in my life, the good things in my life...the things that make my life run smoothly and how many small miracles happen throughout the day... a baby's laughter, extended families who love each other and create Hallmark moments, laughter and good food. I want to feel that moment of gratitude on Thanksgiving Day for the basic fact that one more time, the sun has risen, it brightens my day and it will hold me tight...safe and warm like a big hug. As Princess Diana said "Hugs are free, you can never have too many."
May All The Good Things In Your Life Be in Abundance! Happy Thanksgiving.
~ BABS