Celebrate

Prompted by a reminder of how far I’ve come these past few years, I checked out my blog post for June 18, 2007.  Well, hot damn, I have come very far indeed!  And I must say, I admire the spirit of that 2007 Beth.  Despite some rough times (and, of course, many good times as well) I think I still retain that spirit and sense of wonder.  Not every day, mind you, but more than enough to keep life interesting and my place in it a joy.

My birthday is coming soon.  On that day I think I’ll celebrate the person I’ve become.  I like her.  Not only is she happy, she makes me happy just thinking about her.  ;) 

Instead of having the requisite number of candles on my cake (enough to risk causing a fire) perhaps I’ll request just five – one for each of these past years of change and growth.  Admittedly, some of the growth has been in my girth but what the hell.  Chocolate has been an essential contributor to my sense of happiness.

When I blow out those candles, I’m going to wish for more happiness.  I know you’re supposed to keep what you wish for a secret or it won’t come true but in this case it can come true – because I’m the one who makes it happen.  Always with the help of family and friends – of course. 

(WHAT A FIND ON GOOGLE IMAGES!  A birthday cake with five candles for “ELISABETH.”  Spelt with an “s.”)

photo credit: http://sew-blessed.blogspot.ca/2007/12/five-candles.html

Cottage Video

Success!  I created a “Cottage Life” video.  However, if there’s no accompanying music, I’ve violated copyright laws.  Again.  I did that with the first experimental video I made.  If the audio has been removed, please hum or sing along to Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days.

Background

My mother bought the cottage property twenty-six years ago.  Our cottage (by “our” I mean my boys and mine) is located between my two sisters’ cottages.  Easy to love thy neighbours…  This family compound is a place of much joy, laughter and love. My mother died this past January.  What a wonderful legacy she left.

Other Info

1. We also own property across the lake.  We have partnered with a Nature Conservation Agency to ensure this property remains in its natural state – which includes the protection of wildlife habitat.  (And as long as the wildlife stays over there, I’m okay with this…)

2. Re: the picture of my mother and my eldest with the fish they caught?  My son is an avid fisherman of the “catch and release” sort.  For my mother’s sake, they kept these ones.  My mom (old school) wanted them fried up for dinner.

3. As well as seeing my sons and nephews, you will also see a few other men in the video.  If you happen to wonder if one of these men is my ex, the answer is no.  One is my brother-in-law, the others are family friends.

4. You will notice a lot of dogs.  I didn’t go out of my way to choose pictures with dogs.  They appear in just about every cottage photo.  And, yes, there are quite a few of our big old black mutt Major.  We still miss him.

5. The music (if it’s still there) may skip.  Why?  Don’t know.  And I don’t know how to fix it.  It was fine in the iTunes slideshow. 

I hope you enjoy my labour of love…

Grown-Up

In spite of my advancing years, I feel I have yet to achieve the status of “grown-up.”  I’m still struggling to attain certain traits I associate with the word – traits such as maturity, wisdom, dignity, stern expressions, serene acceptance, composure…  On the other hand, I still rather enjoy the childish aspects of my personality.  I’m reluctant to give them up.

However, when I finally make the momentous decision to do so, Kid Confidential: An Insider’s Guide to Grown-Ups will be my guide.  This wonderful book is written by Monte Montgomery and illustrated by Patricia Storms.

I’ve mentioned Patricia on my blog before.  If it weren’t for this talented (she not only illustrates children’s books and magazines, she writes them), funny and a little bit crazy (delightfully so – that’s why we’re friends) woman, I would never have started blogging.  So, you have Patricia to either curse or bless regarding my presence in the blogosphere.

On her blog, Patricia is currently hosting a Kid ConfidentialBook Giveaway Contest.

To quote the lady:  “Here’s how it works. I will give away three paperback copies of this awesome book, plus 1 hardcover. That means four fabulous lucky folks will win! But you can’t win if you don’t comment on this blog post. And I request that your comment be either A) When you realized that you had finally became a grown-up or B) When you realized that you would never become a grown-up. Contest starts today, and ends Sunday May 6th, midnight, Canuck Toronto time (whatever that is). I will put all the names of the folks who have commented into my magic tin, and pull the winning names out, and announce them on this blog, Monday May 7th.”

To inspire you, here’s the comment I left:

“I’ve known for years I will never become a full-fledged grown-up.  I don’t simply possess an inner-child, I am a child – in many ways.  Burping, potty-talk, giggling, stomping my foot in puddles, mini-temper tantrums, indulging in “treats,” reading children’s books, defying orders, kicking piles of autumn leaves…all these things still delight me.  Being a grown-up is highly overrated.  I’m quite content retaining my sense of wonder and my belief in miracles and magic.  (But I do know there is no Santa Claus.)”

Do pay a visit to Patricia’s blog to learn more about the book and to leave a comment.  You’ll not only make both of us very happy if you do, but yourself as well - whether you win a copy or not.  Patricia is a treat.  A sweet, funny one.

(One of) My Great Escapes

I’m gettin’ out of Dodge this weekend.  Leaving the city and all its Christmas cheer and incessant Christmas music in my dust.  Perhaps when I return I’ll be more receptive to these festive reminders but right now I’m a bit weary of it all.  It’s been bombarding us since November.

I’m pretty sure there hasn’t been a massive dump of the of the powdery white stuff where I’m headed.  The picture of me lugging my stuff through the snow was taken last year at the cottage.  Someone (who goes by the name of Beth) did a piss poor job of shoveling the path.  And, yes, I was wearing sweat pants.  They’re warm - and style is not an issue when you’re at the cottage.  Truthfully, style isn’t much of an issue for me anywhere but, as in all things, I do know right from wrong.  Sometimes my choices are right, sometimes they’re wrong…

While I’m eager and anxious to return to the cottage (a place of beauty, refuge and peace) that’s not where I’m off to this time.  Instead, I’m going to this beautiful place…

…where two wonderful people make me feel so welcome and so comfortable that it’s like a second home.  How lucky I am not only to have another “home” but to have such people in my life.

I’m a strong, competent and independent woman – have always been so and these traits have stood me in good stead now that I’m on my own.  But sometimes it’s awfully nice to be taken care of – to be in the capable, generous and loving hands and company of such supportive and amazing friends.

I’m hoping they don’t play Christmas carols the entire time, but if they do, I’ll sing along.  Which shows you just how special these people and this place are to me!

Friends in Hot and High Places

Yesterday I met the delightful Reeny of Reeny’s Ramblin’. She is as amusing, intelligent and witty in person as she is on her blog.

Quite frankly, we both are. I guess that’s why we hit it off. ;)

We met at Kensington Market on one of the hottest days ever. It’s a testament to our compatibility that we stuck it out in that brutal heat for as long as we did. I shared my suntan lotion with her because, yes, I am that generous – and I enjoyed her company that much. And because it’s not a pleasant experience watching another person fry.

Reeny is probably still wondering why it took 45 minutes for our simple lunch order to materialize. I didn’t tell her then but I’m admitting it now – when you’re with me, shit happens. They had misplaced our order.

While strolling through the outdoor marketplace – chatting, burning in the sun despite the lotion and dripping sweat (we were beyond lady-like perspiration) - we came across this intriguing although slightly grungy looking establishment.



I love their slogan. (Click on the image to enlarge so you can see it clearly.)

The Hot Box Cafe: “Although cannabis is illegal in Canada, this is Toronto’s first and only pot positive café where you can light up in a safe environment and not feel guilty. If you’re 18-plus and enjoy the “greener” things in life, you can hang out on the “potio” where it’s BYOP (bring your own pot.) The café is actually a restaurant so you must purchase something in order to hang out and there’s a one hour limit, and absolutely no drinking, dealing or mooching -- but this keeps things relaxed and safe.”


In Toronto? Who knew? Not me. Figures.

Reeny and I just took pictures of the place. Truly. ;)

In the Words Of...

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

~Christopher Robin to Winnie The Pooh


I recently had a heart-to-heart with a friend who said to me, “You’re a smart woman - don’t ever forget how strong you can be.”

Being the sort of person who travels through life with an abundance of literary quotations in her head, I replied, “Hey, that reminds of what Christopher Robin told Winnie The Pooh!”

My words were met with a blank stare followed by a look of dismay. I suspect he was re-thinking that “smart woman” remark.

I explained my quantum leap of thought – the similarity of the advice.

He still looked a bit perplexed.

Hey, what man wouldn’t want to aspire to the wisdom and eloquence of Christopher Robin? Or for that matter, the wisdom of Winnie The Pooh? Or any inhabitant of the Hundred Acre Wood (aka 100 Aker Wood)?

I would take such a comparison as a compliment. ;)


P.S. We’re still friends – he just knows me a little better now – is more prepared for those quantum leaps…



photo credit: www.msu.edu/user/steinbr1/pooh/images/classic/pooh78.jpg

For M & M

If you’re lucky, you have a sister or sisters. If you are very lucky, your sisters are also your friends. And if you’re not blessed with a sister, consider your best friend one. Close enough. I ought to know. My best friend is like a sister to me.

This post is a tribute to the threesome that consists of my sisters and myself. Loving, fiercely loyal and supportive, together we are and always have been a force to be reckoned with. We’ve embarked on yet another journey together – a difficult one. I don’t know how I would cope on this journey without them – and without the love and support of my best friend.

For what it’s worth, I’m the middle sister. It’s a lovely place to be.


Random Glimpses - Past & Present

July 2009. At my nephew’s wedding. Mother of the groom on the right. Who knew the baring of shoulders was the style this summer? Not me. Figures.

August 2009. Two out of three goofing off for the camera. A rare shot. We’re usually all in sync with the goofy looks.

Trip to Jamaica - a time out from being moms. Oh, the stories we could tell about that trip! But we don’t. We keep them amongst ourselves. That’s what sisters do.

Had to put this one in to show our pre-motherhood bodies. Not that our bodies have changed much at all. Really. {{wink wink}} Although I must say, looking at this picture I realize what a boon pregnancy was for my bust size. (Baby brother in the background.)

With our Mom – the woman who raised these bright, beautiful (?!) & sometimes silly girls. It’s now our turn to take care of her – with patience and with love.

A family photo with our Dad. We don’t have too many of these. Each one is precious.

Dining out on big sister’s birthday dressed in our finest. Looks like my sisters cut their own bangs. Mine seem to have disappeared. I either totally butchered them or my mother used a barrette. Hard to tell with the lighting.

Family lore has it that my father described little (!) Beth as, “Built like a brick one…” The expression is actually, “Built like a brick sh*thouse.” Judging from the stance and size of me at such a young age, I can see why. I am 2 ½ years younger than my sweet lady-like (hands folded nicely in her lap) older sister.

“Thank heaven for little girls…they grow up in the most delightful way…”
The “baby” sister.

My sister-friend – who is camera shy.

What an amazing, sometimes sad, sometimes crazy but always wonderful ride we’ve had together!

“More than Santa Claus, your sister knows when you've been bad and good.”
~Linda Sunshine

And they still love you!

Uncensored...

“So far, everything he had ever said to her was spoken without criticism. There was no reason to ever hold back or change things in mid-sentence at the first sign of judgment coming her way.”

~ Gilaine E. Mitchell - Film Society


If you have someone in your life like this, consider yourself fortunate.

If you don’t, I recommend you look for that someone.

I found such a person.

It’s not that I’ve ever been lacking in a strong sense of self-worth or friends who respect me; it’s just that having this particular person in my world simply makes it an even happier, more enjoyable place to be.


(I also recommend the book.)

Heartfelt & Shameless...

(& thrilled to do it)…promotion for my talented, witty and beautiful friend - author and illustrator Patricia Storms!






Do check out Patricia’s blog re: the following events:


A book giveaway for her new book “The Pirate and the Penguin.” If you have a child or know of a child (you must know at least one) they would love this delightful story. Although I’m not a child (okay, sometimes maybe I am…) I love it and I own two copies. One will be given away as a Christmas gift and the other is mine to keep. Yes, I am the proud owner of an autographed copy.

Photo credit: Debbie Ohi

And for those of you living in Toronto or nearby, Patricia and her husband will be performing a skit based on the book Sunday, October 18 in Don Mills. Click on this link for details as to time, location, etc. I guarantee the skit will be great – and I oughta know. I’ve spent time with this woman. She possesses a talent for being funny & silly as well as for writing and illustrating.

Possible added bonus – you might just see me there! ;)


And just so you know, I wouldn’t promote anyone’s work if I didn’t love it.

A Friend Indeed...

When it takes about twenty minutes for you and your friend to notice she’s wearing two different shoes (in her defense, they were of a similar style) or when you leave the house wearing a t-shirt inside-out (in my defense…well, there really isn’t one…) YOU KNOW that long ago the two of you chose the very best kind of friend to have.

The kind where, when you begin losing it, someone else is along for the ride – and you’re both capable of such incredible laughter when those mishaps occur. The tears and snorting and gasping for breath and tummy torture sort of laughter.

My God, we crack each other up.

Whose turn is it next, Half-Brain?



Photo credit:
http://www.zazzle.co.uk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60684086@N00/2755925328/

My Friend

I recently thought I’d lost a friend. Not due to distance, change of circumstance, lack of interest or any sort of falling out – but in one of the worst kind of ways.

I’ve previously mentioned him with humorous anecdotes of past encounters but until these past few weeks, I had no idea how much our friendship had grown, how much his presence in my life meant to me. It took the possibility of losing him for me to recognize this.

When I finally had the opportunity to speak with him again, he gave me that huge, disarming smile of his. I returned it with my own instantaneous, heartfelt one.

“I was worried,” I admitted.

“So was I,” he replied, grinning.

He’d made it through a frightening medical crisis. He will never be fine – but he is okay. He is still with us.

When others joined our conversation, I stood back and observed him talking and laughing and was suddenly struck by two thoughts – I love him and he is precious to me. Not love in the romantic sense but in the sense of truly caring for a genuine, compassionate person. Someone who – for whatever reason – finds me delightful, enjoys my company and lets me know that.

I had been taking all this for granted for a very long time. And one should never, ever take such a friendship for granted. They are rare.

What have I been doing with my feelings these past few years? Keeping them bottled up in an attempt to protect myself? Content to live in the realm of fantasy? Are there others who have become part of my life I take for granted? I hope not. It shouldn’t take such a scare for me to appreciate such blessings.

I’ll now be keeping my eyes and my heart open – although still with some degree of caution. Some barriers need a little more time for dismantling.

Watch Over Me

Someone I love told me about this song. Each time I listen to it, I think of myself watching over that certain someone.

Because I do. Or try to as best I can.

As for me? For most of my life I believed I worked best without a safety net - preferred coping and handling things on my own. I realize now that a safety net has always existed beneath and around me.

I am blessed to have so many people in my life to watch over me.

You know who you are – know also that I am watching over you, too.

(And to everyone reading this, I hope you are equally blessed.)







Watch Over Me – Bernard Fanning

When trouble fills my world
You bring me peace
You calm me down
You're my relief
When walls come crashing down around my feet
You light my way
You're my release

So say you'll watch over me
When I'm in too deep
Tell me you'll always be
There to pull me free

When the sun is beating down upon my brow
You are my shade
You cool me down
Every time I tried to turn away
You brought me 'round
Your humble way

So say you'll watch over me
When I'm in too deep
Tell me you'll always be
There to pull me free
There to rescue me

For every time you sheltered me from harm
You showed me truth
Kept me warm
Every time you left me on the street
I found my way
I found my feet

So say you'll watch over me
When I'm in too deep
Tell me you'll always be
There to pull me free
There to rescue me
There to pull me free
There to rescue me

Spiders and Toads and Ears! Oh, My!

This post was inspired by two spiders who had the gall to be hanging around my home. They met their death via wads of paper towels and Beth’s heavy hand.

Premeditated murder? Yes. Remorse? No. But the massacre got me thinking about childhood superstitions.

Kill a Daddy-Long-Legs spider and it will rain the next day.

It didn’t rain the day after I killed these dudes. It didn’t even snow. However, the possibility crossed my mind. I allow these creatures to live unless they are invading MY SPACE.

Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.

As a kid I made a point of avoiding cracks in the sidewalk - even when I was mad at my mom for some idiotic reason. Too risky. My mother’s back is fine – unlike mine. Perhaps I should have pestered my kids more often as to stepping on those cracks and the possible consequences to my well-being.

Touch a toad (or frog?) and you’ll grow a wart on your hand.

I can debunk this myth with authority. While I’m not fond of toads and frogs, my eldest was (and is). He used to collect them as pets although he always let them go. He has no warts on his hands. Nor do I from the rare occasions he convinced me to pat one.

(As for kissing a frog and having it turn into a Prince – I’ve never tested this one.)

If you experience a body shudder/shiver, someone is walking over your grave.

I don’t believe this for a second BUT after that involuntary shiver, I do pause and wonder where my earthly remains will end up.

If your ears are red and feel hot, someone is talking about you.

What an ego to believe this one! Anyway, let them talk.

If you have an itchy nose, you’re going to kiss a fool.

I’ve kissed some fools in my time but never noted a connection between those experiences and my nose being itchy. But now that I think about it, I never actually looked for a connection. It could exist and would explain WHY I kissed those fools.


Totally inane post, right? But it is amazing what our brains retain - all sorts of superstitions, warnings, admonitions, etc.

Like this last one. Another gem from my mother. I’m sure you’ve heard it, too.

Always wear clean underwear. You never know when you’ll be in an accident and end up in the hospital.

Who wears dirty underwear!?? And what a depressing thought to have whenever you leave the house.

Not that I actually think of it….

*********

An Extra Tidbit

Sherry of Sage and Thyme passed along this little gem to me with the words, “…to those who could use a little lovin’ right now for one reason or another – or in some cases, just because.”

I think I fall under both categories. Thank you, my friend.

While I suspect everyone in the world could do with some extra love, I’m limiting my “pass along” to Trish of The Coffee Shop. (I am so bad at these award things….)

So there you go, Trish – with some love and a “just because.”

Bridging Distances

The above picture is of a t-shirt I received from my blogging buddy Attila the Mom. Her son created the beautiful artwork at the age of 10.

How wonderful is it to receive a gift you are not expecting, from someone you admire tremendously and who obviously thinks you are worthy of receiving such a gift? PRETTY DAMN WONDERFUL!

Thank you, my fierce bunny slipper wearing friend. And thank you, Matthew.

The organization where you can create and purchase such wonderful gifts is called The Nth Degree.

Their philosophy?

"Yes, Virginia, there is a Disability Culture…The Nth Degree is about turning light bulbs on. We are about helping folks to recognize that there is no such thing as "Us and Them", just one big "Us". We're about increasing awareness and understanding; as much about the celebration of our individuality and our differences, as the search for common ground…
Finally, The Nth Degree is about feeding our sense of humor… Laughter is the elixir of life and the universal language. Shared, it levels walls; opens minds, assuages fear.”

Also mentioned in the philosophy blurb is a quotation from author and spiritual leader Ram Dass:

"We're all just walking each other home."

I like that. Very much.



P.S. Ted did read my post G’day, Mate! and left a comment addressed to all. I knew he was checking out Mom’s blog!