Was It You?

Dear Brian,

Last Sunday, I was doing my normal laundry, in and out of the garage with loads of laundry.

The orange extension cord still hangs on the hook of the workbench, and was hanging there the entire time I wandered in and out of the garage.   I finished up the last load of jeans, took it all to my room and put it all away. 

I was done with laundry and most of the chores, the last thing was to take a bucket of cans to the recycle barrel.  When I opened the garage door, I saw the extension cord extended across the garage floor!!  About 6 feet of it was stretched out toward the big garage door.  How in the world did that happen???   It wasn't there the whole time I was doing laundry ... I would have noticed that!  And it didn't get "caught on something" or it would have pulled inward toward the house. 

So my question is:  Was it you???

I also took your advice and bought some 3/8" quarter rounds at Home Depot, and painted them red.  I just need to tack them into place along the kitchen backsplash.  It's kinda kitschy but that's ok.  The rest of the cabinets are old and there's not much I can do to update them, so I settle on kitschy.  lol

It's time to change the furnace filter, and the batteries in the smoke alarms. 
and you're not here to help!

I bought a carpet cleaner, and had to put it together myself, because
you're not here to help!

There's a big hole in my life, and in my heart, where you used to reside. 
And nothing takes your place.

I miss you
every.
single.
day.
Love,
mom

Country Music

Dear Brian,

Raising you, it wasn't an actual goal that I set regarding the type of music that would appeal to you.  That you liked 70s and 80s hair bands was great!  .... well, maybe it's what you grew up on.  But country music also held an appeal, I know.  For me, the older I get, the more I feel like I need and want to get back to my "roots".  I grew up on country music - Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner - too many to name here, but the 60s and 70s stick in my mind.

A new comer to country music is Craig Morgan.  His 19 year old son died it a boating accident, and he wrote a beautiful song that really fits:

I've been beat up

I been pushed and shoved

But never ever really knocked down

Between mom and dad, Uncle Sam and friends

I somehow always pulled out

But the pain of this was more

Than I'd ever felt before, yeah I was broke

I cried and cried and cried

Until I passed out on the floor

Then I prayed and prayed and prayed

Till I thought I couldn't pray anymore

And minute by minute, day by day

My God, He gave me hope

I know my boy ain't here but he ain't gone

In the mornings I wake up, pet the dog, head to the kitchen

Pour a cup of wake-me-up and try to rouse up some ambition

Go outside, sit by myself but I ain't alone

See, I've got the Father, my son, and the Holy Ghost

I hope, I love, I pray, I cry

I heal a little more each day inside

I won't completely heal till I go home

In the mornings I wake up, pet the dog, head to the kitchen

Pour a cup of wake-me-up and try to rouse up some ambition

Go outside, sit by myself but I ain't alone

I've got the Father, my son, and the Holy Ghost

One day I'll wake up and I'll be home

With the Father, my son, and the Holy Ghost

When I'm here at home, I can feel you
Sometimes I turn and expect to find you there
Other times I find myself telling you to "c'mere"
and give me a hand.
How I miss you.
For some reason, even more today.

One day, I'll wake up and be home.
With you.

Love,
Mom

Little Piles Everywhere

Being so scatterbrained lately, I've come to realize that I have little piles of "this and that" in odd places around the house.  And when it comes to finding things .... my memory is on the fritz with all the stress.  So I spend too much time looking for things, and not enough time dealing with them.

I don't know how long this phase lasts, but I sure hope it passes quickly!

I'm big on pictures -- taking them, saving them, and folks who know how much I like pictures send them to me as well!  Especially family photos.  To me, it's important to know where you come from in order to get where you're going. 



I found these just yesterday,
in another one of these little piles,
so I'm going to share them.















Brian "spelunking" at Lava Beds National Monument 

and a joyous moment before jumping in the lake! 

Dear Brian,
You gave me moments of sheer joy; I will never forget the laughs and tears, the adventures and mishaps we've shared over the years. 
I miss you every day,
Love, Mom