A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Sep 11

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September 11 – There is Beauty

Ever since 2001, 9-11 has brought sadness to the hearts of many.

On that iconic day, so many lives were lost. So many dreams were shattered. So many families grieved.

And we grieved with them.

I’ll never forget where I was when the first and then the second plane hit.

I saw the pictures of the devastation of the first plane just as I was about to leave the house that morning.

I saw the second plane hit just after I got to the babysitters. I had told her to turn on her TV and we watched it together.

The feeling of sadness is still overwhelming when I watch the shows depicting what happened that day.

The feeling of heaviness and fear. The knowledge that there is true evil in this world. The feeling of insufficiency, wishing there was some way to reach out to the families.

Then I take a step back…

A step back from my sadness to remember.

To remember and revel in the love that was spread that day.

The show of caring, of bravery, of humanity.

Not only from the rescuers, the fire fighters, the police, and the EMTs. These people were incredible and I hold them in the highest regard.

But the everyday person. The people who opened their arms, their hearts and their stores and restaurants, to help everyone. The people who made food for the rescuers, the people who joined the rescuers, the men and women who fought back, the friends and relatives that surrounded the families in their time of need and fear.

This is the beauty of that day.

The day that beautiful buildings which held beautiful people were destroyed.

The day that changed so many lives.

The day that changed our world.

Forever.

While we must never forget, we must not linger in that sadness and pain.

We must look for the good…

There is beauty.

For you it might be a ray of sunshine.

Or maybe a call from a friend.

For you it might be the smile of a young child.

Or maybe spending some time with a relative.

For me, it’s remembering that on this day in 1999, I attended a barbeque where I was introduced to my husband.

It was a blind date.

For me, it’s realizing how blessed I am.

And for me, it’s looking at the beauty that comes from nature, from age. From hardship, from joy, and even from tragedy.

The picture you see is the bottom of a metal cabinet that I pulled from a dumpster.

The cabinet had obviously sat in water or was left in a damp environment. The rust was taking over the original shine. It had been neglected. There was a little rust visible on the outside, but I didn’t see this until I turned it over.

There, is the beauty. A beauty that came from age and neglect.

Find the beauty.

In the tragedy, after the tragedy, in everyday life.

There is beauty.

Patty O

Jun 21

The Toilet Paper Caper

On a lighter note,

I have an apology to make to my adorable, funny, devilish, littlest daycare girl.

About a week ago my daughter Sam found her in the bathroom where she’d unrolled all of the toilet paper.

Sam said “Did you do this?”

To which Nic responded “Yes”.

Sam promptly had her roll it back up.

Fast forward to the next week.

I find Nic in the bathroom where the toilet paper is once again rolled out and on the floor.

I gave her ‘the look’ and she quickly said “I didn’t do that!”

I believe I gave her a ‘hmm, mmm’ and said ‘let’s clean it up’.

Two days later, when the girls weren’t here, I walked in to find the toilet paper roll unrolled again!

Just then a strong wind blew in through the open window and I saw the toilet paper flutter.

Sigh.

It was the wind.

Nicole wasn’t fibbing.

I’ll be apologizing to her and I think extra hugs are in order!

My little devilish, funny girl was telling the truth!

I love that little peanut…

I hope your day brings a little quirky adventure~

Patty O

May 7

For the Mothers Who Never Bore Children

For my friends who are not mothers of children. For my daughters who have their own choice to make (ignore your Mom who keeps saying ‘someday I’ll have grandchildren’). For all women everywhere. Amen Jean Amen.

Jean Gendreau, Writer

She shines for the world—full woman, full strength—whether or not egg and sperm ever joined in her womb. In scrubs, she bends to move a patient from wheelchair to bed; in uniform, she fights for people of all colors; in judge’s robes, she draws the line between right and wrong. As a therapist, she leans toward the weeping client; as a teacher, she tutors the sulky student.

Woman’s ancient strength—her intuition, her power—flows undiluted to her friends and her work. These women are in no way wrong or unnatural. Instead, their freedom from babies means that the young woman’s energy and older woman’s skill radiates out in powerful beams to reach dark and hidden places. These are the aunts, mentors and neighbors who make time for the lonely and the weak. We’ve known them forever as healers, maiden aunts, shamans, nuns, and craftswomen mixing up colors we never imagined.

Truth:…

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Apr 12

What I’ll Say to my Children if I’m Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s

I did NOT write the following, but it made me think…I used to be one of the people that wished a loved one would die in his sleep. This blog has given me new perspective. What she writes is completely true…the experience does bring us closer to God. With every experience there is a reason. Sometimes it’s hard to see what that reason is, but we need to trust God.

————–

I was skimming some other dementia blogs lately and a reader had written in saying, that though she felt guilty about it, she wished her mother would die in her sleep and not have to continue livin…

Source: What I’ll Say to my Children if I’m Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s

Mar 30

Brainiac Nerd vs. Fashion Geek

It’s official.

The difference between my husband and me is described in the title of this blog.

We’re sitting here watching an episode of Nova on Public Television, which is explaining how Aristotle thought that the weight of an item determined how fast the item will fall.

As we watch the feather and the bowling ball are dropped at the same time with, of course, the ball hitting the ground far before the feather, I blurt out…

‘I love his green turquoise ring!’

I started to laugh at myself as Tim is intensely watching this show…

And I’m commenting on the man’s jewelry.

I am Penny to his Leonard.

Patty to his Tim.

And I like it that way.

Thank God he does too!

Have a good night!

Patty O

PS…Aristotle was wrong. Galileo’s theory of gravity is that things fall at the same rate if you take air resistance away…things fall relative to the square of the time. Tim’s words…not mine. Surprised? I didn’t think so…LOL

Pss…Image courtesy of etsy