C.G.

Do the above initials mean anything to you? If you answered no, stop reading.
Now if they do remind you of Christian Grey, read on.
There are certainly many well written good books out to read, and then there are books that read us!!!!
Fifty Shades of Grey

Darker Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades Freed

by E.L. James

Degrees of color, I think not. Comparative darkness, not much. Mommy porn, well....yes and yes again. Women of all ages are abuzz, an erotic novel in the burbs!!!! in between tennis matches!!! Yes and yes again. The trilogy has me in a stupor, its complicated, sexy and worth devouring.
This is a love story, with some.....how shall I say.....handcuffs and whips!!!! This is not Eat, Pray Love but......prayer does come to mind!!! I think I may have heard the angels sing several times while reading these jewels!!!
This book is for women only. Its taboo and delicious, and a must re-read for me, just in case I missed something!!!! My Kindle is recharging as I type, mercy!!!

The book cover alone, that tie!!??

Road Trip with Grown Children!!

We have always traveled by car, because we had no more kidneys to sell, for airfare with five children. Even when there were four, then three and now two stragglers want to GO!!! No one cares where, they are jumping on the adventure ride, period!!!
I like to travel by air, to downtown Atlanta! Car rides have lost the laying in the backseat, while your father drives feeling of peace.
So I happen to mention a road trip to J'action'ville, to see my people. Hart and Emma were packed, at the thought. I have no complaints, they drive and I count road kill!!! Florida is a few hours away, enough time for reflection!!! They want to hear the stories, about Gatorbone lake, Andrew Jackson, the Jetties, how I did not have a curfew, church friends vs school friends??, Kenmore street, all my loves, how I use to practice kissing into my pillow and then on the glass panes of the french doors!!! Then I ask them if they want to learn Italian!!!! plug in the cd. The angels will remind me, that all hours in the day, are not teaching opportunities!!! Oh YES they are!!!
We are all packed, as if it is the last supper. You never know!!! my motto, take six of all, even for three days. We have an extra bag for all the cords , that fit electronic equipment, Homer will have hours of material over that tidbit!!!
I'm so grateful that my children want to take trips with me, and get on a plane to visit near, and far. Traveling is never easy, but so worth the trip.

OH DEER!!!! Ticks!!!!!

This warm winter, we enjoyed herds of deer, trolling through our backyard. Abundance of nature, three steps away. A nice photo op, then we were throwing apples out back, because they could be hungry. There is no such thing as a free meal, Bambi and her mother have remained for the spring. They also have invited cousins, bags packed for the summer. The boundary lines between wild animal friends and suburbia have shrunk. The dog doesn't bark at them anymore, they lay down and nap!!! Next, I know they will be asking for drinks and nachos! Recently I heard two of my adult children, calling them names, like Sally and baby Jane!!! Not good, naming is never good.
Now I have to proceed with my deer tick lesson. You can DIE from these ticks, they will hop over the fence on us, and make us sick, running crazy in the streets!!! I have called in my yard person, to cut down all branches and cool ivy, make their habitat not so comfortable. ( I will pick up the quilts before he comes, you know we thought they were cold this winter!!!) Honestly, I would not change the fact, that my family loves animals. Right now, we have to just be happy with the dog and cats in our life, and let Bambi go! Deer in suburbia, against mother natures plan for these precious beasts. I may have to bring out the big guns!! NOT GUNS!! the movie Born Free!!!!

Some Assembly Required...

Anne Lamott has written another, jewel in her crown, book. Some Assembly Required, A Journal of my Son's First Son, is a love note to her son. The book also depicts a year with her new grandson, Jax and navigating around the baby boys mommie!! Truly it is, like all of her books, a story of her fully flawed human life. I so connect with all the truth that she writes, her analogy that we are all here in one big penal colony!!! She reminds me that life comes on life's terms, not Bonnies!!! What a concept, that is soooo...hard for many. We are powerless, and YET control freaks, especially moms of the world. I march at the front of that list. She writes that so often she needs to control and spread her sickening fear ubiquitous litany of good ideas!!! YES, I have those ideas too, and for sure I am right!!! Maybe not always, and being able to say that is wisdom. When you forget about yourself in the big picture, that is Ms. Lamott's idea of heaven. She tells her son, that she cannot remember not knowing and loving him. That one sentence, is the most beautiful thing I have ever read. She also reminds him, about raising his son, that it is hard now, and shall be hard all the days of his life!! In my opinion, she could have said that again!!! Life is wicked hard, and wonderful beyond words. One of her friends said," Grace is a small white butterfly, and life is a semi trailer careening up I 95 headed your way!"
This woman of grace, Anne Lamott, touches my soul with her words. She is a woman of faith, and common sense, a rare bird. She has a God Box that when she is up against the wall, and all prayed out, she puts the problem, or person's name on a slip of paper. Then with great hostility she hands this prayer to Jesus, and says, "have a go at it!!!" Her honesty is so palpable through the pages, even the Kindle. Thank you Anne, I'm so grateful for you and yours. Letting me know that Love and Grace are bigger than the nightmare, supposedly!!!!Brilliant work!!!

You Think Someone Could Teach You To Dance?

Dancing With The Stars is back on the tube, and I'm giddy with excitement.
After watching this week, I have swished and swayed instead of walking. I have won over all my family members, convincing them that this is entertainment. Now to hear them talk, they can critique all the numbers, from Salsa to Rumba. They remind me that next week is the Fox Trot! We discuss gowns, and the lack of chest hair on the men!! It's riveting conversation. I occasionally have to shush the crowd, I have to concentrate learning my moves!! This is serious stuff. After my love of Mighty Mouse, came a crush on Gene Autrey, then I saw Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly dance, now that was love. I was a child, a baby who knew what she wanted!! I wanted them to glide me all over the dance floor, hold my hand in theirs, swing me and my Ginger Rogers gown all over the floor. They were magic, and this baby was going to dance. Somehow Tarzan came into the picture and I wanted to be Jane, but that dancing queen never left me. So you see why I'm thrilled to be getting my twinkle toes ready to move, even if it is via the telly. I've still got it, I danced all the way upstairs the other night and asked my Bill if he thought someone could teach him to dance?? He stopped snoring and said "NO." He is lucky I don't anger easily!!! and I know he loves to see me dance. He also knows I love Fred Astaire more in some moments!!!! Like now!!!

Where is Murray State?

March Madness basketball is making me "Mad as a Hatter!"
Oregon, Murray State, Boise?? who are these people?? Bill said, " You like Vanderbilt, don't you?"
"I don't care if they win or lose? tonight or any night." It is just too much, game after game, after game. Thank God the weather is, Judy Garland's red shoes, beautiful.
Some people drive around looking at Christmas lights, I nearly wreck the car, looking at spring. The earth comes alive(I just heard the word BCU come from the basketball watching people in my den, that I use to call family!!! BCU, don't care!) with blinding colors, like the BIG box of crayons, all with pointed tips!!! Birds are freaking tweeting their beaks off, landing on every branch in my yard. A woodpecker was so loud, I had all Barons combing the house for a burglar, until I saw the giant red-headed pecker taking down a pine tree. My yard man, Mr. H, spread pine straw today, and you would have thought it was the second coming of Jesus, I was so happy. Sunshine, warm air, windows open, pollen caked on all things standing still, March Madness be gone!! I have Spring, and my brackets are all marked correctly!!!

Happy Birthday Class of 1970

This is the year that we all turn "60", and it makes me smile.
My precious daughter just this week said, " Mom the 80's are calling and they want their scrunchie back!!" Little does she know, that I may pull out Go-Go boots from the 60's and my Abbey Road Album from 1970! I have furniture from the 40's and 50's, and I still have a serving spoon from our senior breakfast!!!! There has been a lot of living in these 60 years, and it makes me proud.
My memories are still 'intact" and even embellished !!!!! My growing up years were the best, my children still listen to MY music, and consider me a classic!!! ( that is not like a car?? is it)
Yes it may be a miracle that we survived, but we did, and we flourished. This liberal group of free spirits grew up, and some even became the "R" word!! How I don't know, we were high on pot and life! We are bright, creative people with a "Joy" about us. Hard times did not skip over us, it fell on some hard, and we all picked up the pieces. I can not begin to explain how much I love these people, my class of 70. There are no words, maybe just calling them family, says it all.
Happy Birthday Class of 1970