Happy Thanksgiving

Oh, gosh, it sure does feel good to chill today. I’m not going to think about work or anything. Wonder if I can pull that off? Heh.

BF is still in bed, but he’s going to go to his sister’s for a huge family meal he couldn’t get out of, my daughter is over to her father’s where she’s got to cook for him and her brother BEFORE going to work…might I say she’s not happy about that.

And, me?

Well, I really have no family to speak of except for my kids, so I’ll be sitting home and, hopefully, decorating the tree. I’m going to see if I can’t talk BF into helping me get into the attic before he leaves so I can get the decorations down before he leaves so I can at least get that out of the way.

I love Thanksgiving usually, but this one is kind of weird. Before today, I had it all planned. I knew everyone was going to be busy elsewhere and the first thing I thought of when I learned that was…I don’t have to cook! Visions of kicking back, watching holiday movies, trimming the tree, and having the house to myself sounded delicious!

And…then…it’s now Thanksgiving and, well, I’m thinking maybe the idea of doing those things sounded really good, but I don’t think it’s cutting it.

It’s kind of quiet really.

And I’m starting to look back at what’s happened lately – an ex-boyfriend died of cancer a few days ago and a young man of 31 who my daughter knew was drinking, ran his car off the road and killed himself just a day or two after that. I’m sure the families of both these guys aren’t exactly having a Happy Thanksgiving either.

And it’s kind of making me sad.

The ex-boyfriend was Mike Huether of Pungoteague. I had known Mike throughout high school, but never really got to know him. It wasn’t until years later when I saw him again and I’m not really sure where it was or what happened, but we decided to go out on a date.

We had fun times, but it didn’t work out. Two years down the road, we broke up and I never saw him again.

His death came as a surprise because I didn’t even know he had cancer. He was only 52. Talk about a wake-up call.

Then, a couple of days ago, the son of the guy my daughter worked for had stopped off at this restaurant that his father owned and he was very drunk, so I hear. They tried sobering him up with pepsi, but they let him go out the door. It was only about 5 in the afternoon.

He was on the road going to his house when he went in a ditch, the truck overturned and he was tossed out into the field. He died on the way to the hospital. The guy was only 31.

Horrible, simply horrible.

So, it’s kind of a sad Thanksgiving this year and being alone isn’t helping.

I guess I’ll go do some cleaning. Maybe I’ll take a nice, hot shower and pull out a Christmas movie. Hope everyone is having a Happy Thanksgiving…and…can you save the drumstick for me?

‘Tis the Pre-Christmas Season…

Jingle bells…jingle bells…anyone in the Christmas spirit yet? Okay, stop smirking. I’m sitting here watching a Christmas movie and the holiday cheer is contagious.

Actually, I’ve been thinking a lot about Christmas lately. And the first thing on the agenda is getting a new Christmas tree. I’ve had my old tree for nearly twenty years and it’s time for an update!

Amanda was over from King George for a few days. Oh, you remember her. She lived with me for awhile, called me Mom, the whole shebang…then she moved on. Quite upset at the time but I’m good with it now.

So, she came over for a few days because her father is co-signing for her for a new Jeep Cherokee – the same kind as my daugher’s only newer – and she wanted us all to do something Saturday night. I had waited on tables all day long and really wasn’t in the mood, but the girl is relentless. I had so much work to do with the tours, but I just couldn’t say no.

My daughter and I had planned to go to Salisbury to look at Christmas trees so I told Amanda that’s what we’ll do….shop for a tree and go out to Texas Road House afterwards.

It was a plan.

Our first stop was Target, and they had beautiful trees, but the price tag just wasn’t in my budget, so we kept on. Our next stop was Boscov’s in the mall. Now, Boscov’s has an excellent Christmas section, but again, price tags were in the $200 – $400 range. Ouch.

We gave up on it and did a little shopping in the mall (got my son a sweatshirt from Hollister’s and a couple of pair of boxers from Aeropostle), then headed out to Texas Road House where we dined on steak, baked potato, salad and all the rolls you could eat – ymmm.

So, no tree, but at least we have an idea what’s out there.

This tree I have now has a little bit of history to it. I had just gotten a job at a department store and used my first paycheck to buy it. It was the most beautiful tree in stock. I remember paying about $80 for it but at that time, that was expensive. And, for someone who had to go to work to support the kids, I really couldn’t afford it but it’s lasted for almost twenty years. The tree stand has to be supported with a book, but the needles are all intact.

So, why a new one? I’m not sure except there’s a certain kind of tree I’m looking for and it would look so good in here. The one I really want is $400 but I think that’s kind of ridiculous to pay for something you’re only going to use once a year.

Ah well…I’ll keep you updated. Meanwhile…jingle bells…jingle bells…

Tags: Christmas shopping, Christmas spirit, Christmas movie, King George, Texas Road House, Hollister’s, Target, Jeep Cherokee

Home, Home on the Range

I’m home. Dear, dear sweet home.

The trip went well, but it wasn’t the same as last year. I don’t know whether it was the fact we’ve been to the Smokies four times in a row and needed fresh never-before-seen scenery or what, but it was like, let’s do it and get back home.

If I can remember, this is the first year I’ve juggled my regular job and my touring company job AND went on vacation. I think it made a difference. All I could think about was, are the tours running right, on time and are people hating me for leaving?

I had to take a break, though. And, you know what, I know know that despite the fact it was the same old, same old, I did come back refreshed and ready to dig in, so I guess that’s what vacations are all about.

Next year, though, it’s the California trip for sure. My daughter is talking about going to NY for a few days and we still might do that, but the trip to California has been planned for years so we might as well go ahead and do it.

I wonder, though, why it is I can never commit to going? Maybe it’s like Christmas – after the presents are opened, it’s like, it’s over.

Speaking of Christmas, my daughter and I went looking for Christmas trees today! I think it’s a Spruce I want, but if it takes me all season, I’m going to get that Spruce. I love the short needles. We saw some real Spruce trees in the Smokies (think that’s what they were) and omg I wanted to dig one up and bring it home.

And, omg, while we were walking around Cade’s Cove, I found a branch that had fallen off a tree and there was some kind of fern growing all over it. I threw that baby in the back seat of the van! The only way to describe it is that it looked like that air fern you see in stores. Could that be it?

I did have fun, though, looking back. The only thing I didn’t like about the cabin was that it had four floors and I got so out of breath climbing them. The bottom room had the media room (that was REAL nice) and the washer and dryer. The floor above that had two bedrooms and the pool table and the floor above that was the main area with the living room (with fireplace which we used even though it was hotter than all get out there), dining area where we hosted the birthday party for my daughter, the kitchen which had an island to die for, a bedroom and another bathroom. Oh, the two bedroom floor had a bathroom, too. And, the floor above that had a bedroom with a jacuzzi and in an area off that, a pool table. What I didn’t like about the pool table was that you couldn’t play without hitting the walls. Major bummer.

Most of the time I was climbing stairs. Up and down, up and down. No one told me vacations were supposed to be this strenous!

Got some good footage, though. Haven’t watched it yet because I can’t figure out how to play the darn thing in the TV, but I was really glad I bought the camcorder before I left.

Like I said, it’ll be a different destination next time, but I still love the Smokies, no matter how many times I go. Only, next time, it won’t have 4 freaking floors!

Smoky Mountain Cabins Up the Ying-Yang

I am slowly going BONKERS. In exactly one week from Monday, I will be leaving and going to the Smokies to stay in some godforsaken cabin that is driving me nutso to find. Okay, here’s the deal. Back in my day, if you rented a cabin, you were lucky to get inside plumbing.  I mean, you knew what to expect.

Not now. Omg, there are even swimming pools INSIDE some of these things. And whole rooms with nothing but chairs and a huge 9 ft. screen and they’re calling it media rooms. There are one bedrooms, two bedrooms, twenty-thousand bedrooms. There are mountain views, lake views, wood views, sky views. There are pet friendly and not pet friendly. They all come with pool tables, hot tubs, and in most of them foosball tables. Decks? There’s not only one, but two and three and all of them have some kind of scenic view.

It will drive you apeshit.

We had a beautiful cabin last year. Absolutely breathtaking, but the thing is, we’re now spoiled. We want something we’ve never seen before. Daughter wants the one with the pool inside and I want the one with the media room (just imagine chilling to a 9 foot screen!) and nowhere the ‘twain shall meet.

The good thing is the ones with the pools are all taken. Granted that would have been mighty cool to jump in a pool in the middle of your house in the middle of fall when it’s crisp and cool outside. Oh, they all have fireplaces, so all you have to do is jump in the pool and go warm yourself afterwards by the glowing embers of the fireplace. Does sound nice.

So, anyway, I’m like at the point where they are all looking the same and none are standing out as the perfect one. Now, this is what I like:

Is that like living like a goddess or what?

So, we’re still looking, but between you and me, I vote for the media room. I’ll let you know what we decide because it better be soon or this goddess is going to be heading for the funny farm for vacation.

Tags: Smoky Mountain cabins, mountain views, hot tubs, Smoky Mountain vacation

Starchild Abraham Cherrix

Many, many years ago, it seems, although it wasn’t that long ago, a little boy came into my life.  Actually, he brought with him a whole family that I grew to love dearly. 

I’m sure you had to have heard of him because he was in all the news and on all the talk shows.  His name was Starchild Abraham Cherrix and he defied the court system by refusing chemotherapy and, instead, opted for more holistic means of finding a cure for his Hodgkin’s disease.

There was a big court battle and all the news stations from the city descended upon our little Eastern Shore of Virginia – Accomac, in fact – and watched and waited to see if the judge was going to rule in his favor.  According to social services, Abraham’s parents were not fit to be parents if they didn’t make the boy undergo court-ordered chemotherapy, so the court case went on for awhile until it was declared that the Cherrix parents were not neglectful and that Abraham could continue his holistic therapy.

The thing is, which makes me really smile tonight, I just read that his cancer is in remission.

I remember the Cherrix family and still have contact with the mother, although since they lost their house in foreclosure, I have not heard from the father.

In fact, the kids do not hear much from their father, either.

It’s a real sad situation, but the way Abraham’s mother tells me, they are really happy now living in Floyd.  The people have welcomed them with open arms and the kids are thriving.

I was always concerned for the children because they had always been homeschooled, but they are taking to school like fish to water.  Really surprised me.

I have not talked to the mother in months, but I am so happy to hear the news about Abraham being in remission, I don’t know what to do with myself.

If you could only know the boy like I knew him, you would know that this boy is so far beyond his years, it would amaze you to talk to him.  He’s kind and gentle and I know will grow up to be a responsible and caring adult.  Yes, he has been through a lot, but maybe that only added to his easy-going nature and his ability to cope with anything that comes his way.

I wish you well, Abraham, and hope that the cancer stays in remission and I also want you to know what a trooper you are.  You defied those who thought they knew best and, right now, you can laugh and sing triumphantly. 

If you would like to visit his website, click here.

First Dates

I haven’t even fully introduced myself, yet I’m starting to tell you about my first date.  Actually, dates aren’t even on my mind since I’m way past that stage, but a friend of mine sent me a video today of her father talking about his first date with his wife who has Alzheimers sitting across from him.  It’s actually really cute.

I’ve had many, many, many, many first dates but my very first first date happened when I was in ninth grade.  I was a cute kid when I was little – long blonde hair that curled at the bottom Shirley Temple-style - but when adolescence hit, that all changed and not for the good.

When you are a child and you are stick-thin, people really don’t notice too much, but when you are a teenager looking for a guy, it matters a heluva lot.

Seemed the boys wanted fully endowed girls who could give them what their hormones needed, but I wasn’t that gifted.

So I became quite subconscious and withdrew into a shell. 

When I was in the ninth grade, I was sitting in study hall and I kept getting hit on the back of the head by spit balls.  I turned around and some jerk a couple of rows back thought nothing was funnier than to see me turn around and scowl at him, which I did a number of times.

This lasted until the end of ninth grade when finally he got the nerve up to ask me if I wanted to meet him at the movies.  Of course, I said yes.  I have no idea why…I think it had something to do with never having a date before and I wanted to see what it was like.

I had a cousin – Myriam was her name.  She was an outcast, too, only she did have boobs and lots of them so I never understood why the boys weren’t paying attention to her. 

We were excited.  I was about to have my first date, something both of us never experienced ever in all our lives.

We made it to the movies and sat in the third row when I felt something hit the back of my head.  I turned around and there he was.  His name was Nicky Bowen, that much I can remember.  I also remember him sending some little kid over to Myriam and I, telling us that  Nicky wanted me to sit with him.  I guess I didn’t have the first date thing all figured out, so I went and sat with him leaving Myriam kinda pissed because she had to sit alone.

I was nervous.  He took my hand in his and placed in on his stomach as we watched the movie.  Up and down my hand would go according to his breathing and it was the closest thing to sex I ever felt in my whole life.

Finally, the movie was over, we said goodbye and I went to find Myriam. 

When Monday came, I didn’t even speak to the boy. 

Now if that isn’t a soul mate thing, I don’t know what is.  I think that was the first time I ever used someone instead of them using me and it felt pretty darn good.  That’ll teach’em to spit spit balls at me.

Do you remember your first first date?  Watch my friend’s father as he remembers when he and his wife – my friend’s grandmother – dated for the first time…it’s so cute!

Welcome to My World

Ahh…first posts…don’t you just love it when there’s so much space and you’re dying to fill it?

Speaking of space, let me tell you there’s nothing like home whether it’s a castle in Belgium or a tent in the middle of the Smoky Mountains.

To some people, home means a place to lay their hat and to others it means a sanctuary.  It’s that middle ground where I am right now.

The middle ground is like a weird little place…you don’t know if you’re going or coming sometimes and you really feel that no matter where you call home, it’s just not IT.

I call this blog “Where’s the Damn Picket Fence?” because it’s going to be a collection of those thoughts behind the proverbial meaning of the phrase.  Picket Fence.  Picket Fence.   

I’m not even sure what the phrase means except to say that sometimes you search and search for it and something always gets in the way of you finding it.

Perhaps the picket fence theory went out with Leave it to Beaver and there just is no such thing anymore, or is it?

That’s what we’ll be doing here…searching for that white picket fence.  I know it’s out there, hiding behind the bushes of dysfunction and covered with the branches of a cold, cruel world.

But that’s not what this blog is going to be about.  This is going to be about a somewhat ordinary fifty-something woman on a quest to find that damn picket fence if it’s the last thing she does.  You will step into my life while you are here and travel along with me as I embark on the last years of my life because I am determined I am going to find that picket fence before I croak and wouldn’t it be nice if it helped you find your picket fence, too? 

Maybe you already have your picket fence.  If you do, tell me the secret to finding it.  No, wait.  Your picket fence can’t be my picket fence because everyone has their own picket fence with their name on it.

So, I guess I’m in this alone.  Follow me then on this humourous and not so humourous journey and, hopefully, I won’t bore you to tears with all my drivel.  But, I kinda think you’re going to enjoy the ride. ;o)