HIBERNATION

HIBERNATE-

1) to pass the winter in a resting state.

2) to be or become inactive or dormant.

This is what good old Websters defines hibernation as.

I understand why bears do it,

It seems to be what South Louisiana and other

Southern states has had to do for the last few days.

Having been down with a sinus infection myself,

I have hibernated the last three days.

I am not sure why I feel quilty on those days that

I just do nothing, well nothing that looks like work.

Yes, I made my bed when not laying in it and 

I kept my kitchen straightened up.

Cleaned after our pups, fed the fish,

but besides those daily chores, I did

nothing but play computer games, watch Netflix

and read, read, read.

Having been finally at the place in the New Year

that I can begin to make the changes I spoke of

called New Years' Resolutions,

I definitely fulfilled the one that said,

READ MORE

In today's fast paced life, I and I am sure others,

feel badly if we don't just do anything.

Having an "ACT OF GOD"

moment such as the last few days forces us 

to relax, slow down.

One quote I use most often is,

"SOMETIMES GOD DOES FOR US

WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES."

Hence, the freezing temperatures forced bridge and 

road closures, companies to close,

shoot even the casino closed, and aside from 

hospitals and Walmart, those casino's never close.

Today it will warm up, I am feeling much better 

but wow, those hibernation days were some good!

MY THOUGHTS ON BULLYING

I was bullied. Back in my day it was called teasing.

While I was in Disney there was a down the bayou incident

of a child committing suicide leaving words saying he

could not take the bullying.

This has to stop, really it does.

Now there are words that the child himself was actually

one who bullied. Of course, an investigation is being

done and the school that I graduated from is under investigation.

They cannot speak up for themselves, it is against the

HIPPA laws. Those that can speak are saying

this child went to officials and "nothing was done".

Having been in the school system, maybe not enough

was done but to say nothing was done, I don't accept.

I know something was done, they just can't speak.

I am sorry for the family and the child, really I am.

But I am also sorry for all involved.

I can't speak much about what happened there.

But this teasing stuff, this social media has gotten carried

away in every way. I have family members who

have been bullied and they are pretty popular kids.

If they can be bullied then there is too much of it.

What bothers me is how many teens out there are

struggling with depression, sadness.

I know their world is so different from ours was.

I also believe the social media things they live with

has complicated their world way too much.

For me, my bullying/teasing consisted of

being called baldy when I first went to school after

cancer and my hair was growing back.

Then it proceeded to "bird nest" when the hair

grew back kinky and curly.

I was teased because of my teeth that were stained from chemo.

On the bus, one certain boy would take his lollipops and

hit the back on my head with it so it would stick

in my mound of hair.

What did I do? I laughed, I laughed and made fun

of myself. I laughed that is until I got off the bus,

turned my back to it and ran home to cry

in the comfort of my parents arms.

What helped me? It was one small thing my daddy

told me many days:

"Lilly, it does not matter what the world thinks of you,

when you enter this house, you are loved"

That is it, that was enough to give me the courage to face the

next day, to laugh with them.

Eventually, because it didn't seem to bother me,

I was not the target.

I am embarrassed to say there were others after me and

sometimes I tried to stick up for them but mostly I 

was relieved that it was not me anymore.

I can't say how I would have reacted if I would have had

Facebook and instagram. I have a feeling that because

we were not rich and my parents were older we may 

not have had that and so I would have been protected.

I would not want to be a child of today and I guess

I want to say to all those kiddies, especially those I love,

my nieces and nephews, my teens who are important to me,

"Try and laugh at it, speak with your parents, if it gets to be

too much, be brave to ask your parents for help, counseling.

It helps to speak to someone who does not love you who

can give you advice and a plan to make your life a little easier.

For me, the love and words of my parents and family were enough.

I speak aloud now to teens about bullying.

If they can see me now, vocal and outgoing, admitting to 

being bullied, I hope that helps them.

It has to stop before more children are found dead.

I pray for peace for all involved, the parents and family of the

young man, but the school and those involved also.

Keep an open mind as this incident unfolds.

If you are one who bullies, STOP!

Stop now, you don't want to be labeled in that way.

If you are being bullied, try the laugh technique and

cling to your friends who love and care for you.

May peace be with all the children and families of the world today.

THE SECRET IS OUT

 The sista's decided we wanted to do something for Kaylee.

KK is marrying our Kris.

She is a planner, she is organized, she

was coming this weekend to make wedding things.

Her Mommy was in on the surprise.

The sista's showed up early afternoon,

KK and Dolly later in the evening.

A surprise weekend for our girl and we cannot

completely tell how this is turning out

and yet no one deserves this better.

 We did good sista's….

The Magic of Disney still exists

We, gypsy baby and I, arrived back home last night

pretty late. It was a magical trip, just me and my daughter.

My adult daughter. The things I received there are

not those I call souvenirs. Yes, I brought some of those

home also. I speak today of the memories, the bond

that has been made stronger because of a week

with just my youngest child and I.

The adult she has become is phenomenal.

She has become a conversationalist. She

can spark a conversation with anyone and she does.

There are some things lines at Disney World are good for.

One would be for meeting new people. 

We did much of that. To hear her conversations

with complete strangers was like hearing myself.

For that, I am proud, proud.

We shared a bedroom for a week.

I waking up very early to go to front

lounge, get my coffee watch the people,

she to await my return with the weather forecast,

for how to dress. Her younger self would have

probably complained, not the grown gypsy.

Overprotective of my health, she carried

my bags, slowed down her walk, helped

me up when I had to sit, gave me her hand

when I needed help off of rides.

Did she learn this by watching me care for

my own mother or is it the nurturer in her?

It doesn't matter, it is there.

She would become upset when she would see

parents become upset with their children,

helpful when an older person needed it.

Sometimes she shares that she hopes to have a child

one day and at other times she fears she is too 

selfish to have a child. No my sweet child, 

I see you look at children, you will be a 

wonderful Mother… that child will come first.

I have gained things I would have not had

I not taken this trip. In her busy life, a life

where she holds two jobs, there is not much time

for hanging out. Love that we had this time together.

I missed her the first morning I awakened and we

were not sleeping in bed beside each other.

I have posted this Carol Burnett song before 

but never has it been more fitting than now.

I'M SO GLAD WE HAD THIS TIME TOGETHER,

JUST TO LAUGH OR SING A SONG OR TWO,

SEEMS WE JUST GET STARTED AND BEFORE 

YOU KNOW IT, COMES THE TIME WE HAVE TO 

SAY SO LONG.

Thank you, my baby girl, I will remember this time forever.

When I am an old lady, memories of now will fill

my long, long days.

MY CHILDREN DON'T READ THIS

Sometimes I will talk to my kiddies about things

I write on the blog. I usually start the conversation with,

"Did you read the blog today?"

Both get just a tad flustered each time and say,

"Mom, I don't read your blog"

I bet on those days they wish they had lied.

Because now I have to go into a detailed long story

on what I wrote about….

They roll their eyes…. most times.

Or they cut me off, or they listen…sometimes

but less often. Yet I watch them as adults and

I see so much of me in them when they let me.

I hear Baby Boy talking to the painter of his new

home as I walk around and beam with pride of

the home he and KD are building.

He says a lot to the painter. More than necessary.

He explains how his wife works nights and they

have a little girl so it would be hard for him to paint the home.

He is proud of his little family, throws them in his

conversations every chance he gets.

He may not even notice he does this and yet,

I smile because that is something I would do.

I watch him with his little girl, our Bean and

I see a lot of me there. His gentleness when brushing 

her hair,making her ponytails. He sometimes speaks

of how I had to brush gypsy baby's hair each morning

long after necessary. I joke with him one morning

before we knew they wete having a Jolee' and 

he was fixing Bean's hair,

"I bet you wishing for a boy so you don't have to do 

ponytails"

His answer, with brush in hand and rubber band in mouth,

"I like doing ponytails"

Well that definitely didn't come from his Daddy genes.

A boy who is so much like his daddy has much of his

mommy in him also. I am proud.

Then there is my gypsy baby. 

More like me as she matures.

She calls me yesterday to say one of her customers

had the name Minta and she had to explain how

that was her grandmothers name and her cousin.

The customer was surprised saying she had never met another

with the name. I would do that…

She also shared last week that with her job, she 

finds herself with extra time to get to know her customers.

Loves talking to them and finding out about their lives.

She adds, "I am turning in to you."

Dont' know if she is happy about that but I sure am.

Because I know long after I am gone, I will live on.

I will live in the mind and hearts of my children

and I will live in the Bean who shares a love

for all things mini, for arts and crafts, 

for being together.

Yes, my kids don't read this, but it's okay,

I have made my mark in their lives, 

I have made my mark in their hearts.