A Tale of Two Rings!

Another journaling for a scrapbook page but such a good story I wanted to save it here! A Tale of Two Rings A Best Man has only a few important responsibilities. Get the groom to the church on time and hold on to the ring. Curt’s Best Man, Bill Burkhalter, a fellow medical school classmate and housemate got the first right but not the second! The night before the wedding is always exciting and stressful, family and friends are arriving, there’s the rehearsal to attend and a dinner to follow. Our rehearsal went as smoothly as these things ever go and Curt gave my ring, a simple gold band with a beaded edge, to Bill to hold onto until the ceremony. We had a fun dinner at a restaurant near the airfield, The 56th Fighter Group. I headed back home to try to sleep and Curt went off with Bill and his family to the hotel. The next morning all was going well, the tent was set up, my mom and sisters were decorating, Dad was working on the food. The kitchen phone rings…it’s Curt. “ I have to tell you something so you won’t notice at the ceremony and get upset.” “Bill lost the ring.” ! A high-pitched scream is heard from the kitchen! “Don’t tell your parents, they will be so mad.” “Don’t be upset, we have a ring but it’s plain, so I knew you would notice.” Oh, boy! At this point it was only a couple hours before our noontime wedding, I really couldn’t get too upset, it was just a ring and as long as there was a ring we could still get married! The wedding was perfect and no one noticed the different ring. Curt had even managed to get it engraved, although it looks like a 6 not an 8 for August. Now it is 28 years later, I have worn this simple gold band every day. Never once did I miss that other band, because this is the one he placed on my finger and pledged to love me for a lifetime with. It’s okay Bill, I forgave you then and I still don’t mind that you lost my ring, although I do occasionally wonder what ever happened to the other one! Story - August 11, 1984 Page- February 18, 2013

I can hear her voice...

Curt’s Aunt Dode, his father’s sister, my aunt for the last 28 years passed away last Saturday. We were with her when she died. I think it was especially hard to see her so quiet because she was so very full of life! Her voice was distinctive, perhaps a bit loud sometimes, but always glad to see you. I can hear her - calling on our birthdays to sing Happy Birthday. I can hear her – Oh, look at you, I haven’t seen you in a hundred years! I can hear her - If she needed anything she’d call, “ Tom, Tom, Tom! Come here!” Dode liked to dance and sing, she liked to play Yahtzee and card games. She loved dolls and Halloween and decorating for Christmas. She loved flowers and Uncle Tom’s garden and making pickles! Dorinne loved her family, her 4 kids, her 9 grandkids, her 19 great grandkids! And also her brother, her sister in law and her 2 nieces, 1 nephew, their spouses(me!) and our kids. I can hear her now and I will miss her so. Farewell Aunt Dode, we love you! February 15, 2013 Aunt Dode - 1930 – 2013 I can hear her voice…

Dear Mercedes CLK-

I have been participating in LOAD this month. It's been quite a fun one with some thought provoking prompts about happiness and what make us happy. If I do say so myself some of my journaling has been pretty great! I am particularly pleased with this letter to my car! Only got 1 comment because the layout itself was not to exciting, which I must admit makes me feel a touch peeved. Anyway, over my pity party heres the journaling! Dear Mercedes CLK 320- Just wanted to write a letter to tell you how much I adore you! I have been waiting all my life for you. Ever since I was driven around in your much older cousin as a child, I have loved you. As an adult I coveted you but you were too small for a family and too much money for our budget. But now, now that I have turned 50 and my chicks have mostly left the nest, I could have you! My wonderful adoring husband, who tolerates with much good grace my love for you, found you for me. From the moment I saw you on the lot, shining in the sun of that September day, I loved you. You are my dream come true! In the beginning I was nervous every time we went out together. My hands would grow sweaty on your smooth leather wheel. I would anxiously watch every other driver to be sure they didn't get to close to you. I parked in only the safest spots. I washed you carefully, shining up your lovely silver hubcaps. Now, I drive with pride, smiling at the other drivers in their boring, ordinary vehicles as I glide along, top down,wind in my hair, powerful engine at my control. I live for the days that it is warm enough with little chance of rain so I can take down your top. Feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, putting a hand in the air as I cruise the streets singing along to my favorite tunes, perhaps played just a bit too loud on your fine Harman-Kardon speakers. I love your gorgeous platinum color, the way you sparkle just a bit in the sun. I love your perfect figure, curving in all the right place. I love your smooth leather seats, warm in the winter and cool in the summer, that hold me oh so comfortably. I love all your buttons and controls, that tell me all that important information, speed, temperature, radio station, direction, and when it's time for your next tune-up. I love how you make me feel when we go out together, beautiful and sexy and loved and special. It's amazing what you do for me! Thanks for always being there when I need you, day, night, sun, rain, no matter, you are ready and willing and able. I hope that we will have a long, long time together, until I can no longer swing myself into your low, leather seats. I love you my Mercedes and I just wanted to let you know that. Yours forever, Karen

February goals for 2013

Where to begin? I know it’s not just me that constantly has too many goals. But it seems like others accomplish theirs. I think I’d feel better about my goals if I didn’t seem like I always fail. I am still overweight, I only exercise in bursts, my house is not organized completely….Sigh… My One Little Word for this year is ADAPT. I am not sure how I can set a goal for that though. I’ll have to think on that some more. I guess if I make it through the year without a stay at Western State I’ll have succeeded! I have been inspired by the book “The Happiness Project”. I will be working on some of her ideas this year. Already I have tried (albeit briefly) to show more appreciation, just do it, and be Karen. But the decluttering and tackling tough projects seems overwhelming to me. I think it will have to be a year long project for me too, and I guess it’s really a lifelong project. Well If I have learned nothing in my 50+ years it’s that every day is a new beginning! And I can accomplish anything with baby steps!! So I guess I will start with some baby goals. **Walk at least 28 miles this month – aim for walking 5 days a week. **Cut my portions by a 3rd, eat mindfully and a bit less. **Spend 15 minutes 2 times a day to tackle tough chores, de-cluttering , bills, phone calls etc. Just Do It!!! **Complete a LO every day for LOAD!! OK I am stopping there! **I will also try to show gratitude and appreciation as much as I can! Now really I’ll stop…and go finish this LO! February 4th, 2013 (Would be my Mother in law’s birthday and also the 30th anniversary of the week I met my husband!) I wrote this for ascrapbook page but thought I should save it elsewhere too, so here it is!