There Is Always A Bad Dragon!!

       For all who have never seen the TV series, Game of Thrones, I am so sorry.
It is a grand adventure, and I feel drained. I said after the Big Bridal Party Massacre, I was finished. Then I said, "If John Snow dies, its over for me!" another lie!! I have the hook of dragons in my mouth, carrying me out to sea, and damn if there is not a bad, blue-eyed one!! My son, Hart, assures me, that they have gone way past the book series, which is shameful, because I do not do well, with delayed gratification. John Snows ass will have to hold me over to next season. I will, in the between time, tell you, that bad dragon will know his mama!! Trust me on this one!!
   Another Joy documentary, Perlotta, so thankfully guided me to, Iris. She is a spirit animal to so many, me included. If you like fashion, or lack of it, enjoy! I want to live in her house, with her sweet husband, ( who has since passed). A beautiful story of not getting old, in body of spirit.
    A few quotes by Iris, "Color can raise the dead!", " I want a person to be curious and have a sense of humor." When asked how she feels at 91, shes says, " Vertical, I am happy!" Iris Apfel, darling girl, thank you.
         Each day, I jot down, words, that I have read, that just grab me. Either I have not heard them in years, or have never heard certain words used. Everyday. Last week, I saw the words, Tidy and Tawdry, no one uses these words anymore, and I love them. I am going to use them more often, along with NITWIT!! Whats in a word, a mouthful, I assure you.
       This week, my darling hubs, retires at 70, and I get to speak at his little shindig. I will post a copy, when I have all my words on paper. He has worked forever, for us. We appreciate his taking such good care of, The Baron Family. ( He keeps talking to me about a budget!!now, what is he talking about?) ( baby steps husband)
   August is coming to a close, and I am reminded of how constant pain, can derail a person and all that surround you. I will see the Bone Doctor, who is a little cocky, with a big folder ready for a plan. the first week in September.
     I don't have to play tennis again, but .....I have things to do......so I will keep you in my loop on loony tunes, "Have Bones will Travel" saga.
   AND..... I may need to slay a dragon, damn blue eyed dragon!! wiped out the entire wall!! Your mamma is coming, behave!!

He Is Still In The Building

        We all have our morning rituals. Bill(hubs) and I have always woke up with the chickens! or earlier, we had a bunch of little mouths to feed, and just wanted an hour to ourselves. To this day, we continue to rise early.
        Bill gets up before me, and starts the coffee, walks Lucy, and watches the news. I stir and come down, hoping to not see or hear the news, but he makes the coffee!! So I just ask that he turns down the volume. I like to go to sleep and wake up with good thoughts, so I can be a more positive source of energy and hope in the world. I also like to know everything that is going on, I just prefer to read it. This morning I know about Barcelona, I just don't have to see it. The horror is real. I vote and work hard for my country and the democratic process. I just can not watch the news, 24/7.
    Back to rituals, I come down daily to the news, but a couple of days ago, I was walking down the stairs and heard Elvis!!!
   I picked up my heels, and much to my surprise an Elvis movie was on!! I looked over at my beloved, no words were needed.
   Oh what a beautiful man, and his voice, I went down the rabbit hole, and was a happy 12 year old girl. I told Bill all my stories, again, about Aunt Gail taking me to all the movies. Then we would go back to the house and fix our hair, to look like his leading lady. Later we would practice all the dance moves. Aunt Gail had a great memory, so she knew them all. When the movie album would come out, we would start again, singing and dancing, She worshiped Elvis, I just liked being with her. I fell in love with him through her eyes, and later my own. She wore all the styles, I was still too young, and The Beatles had arrived.
   I watched the movie with glee, and happiness that I married a man, who thinks of me in such sweet ways. ( you know he was watching the news on his IPAD) ( but that is OK)
  I thanked him, for remembering that Elvis was an important part of my life, and then he blew his nose, LOUDLY!! three times! Now that is a quick trip back to reality. In order to enjoy the gift of Elvis still being in the building, I needed some respect from the audience. The mild mannered husband of mine said, " I have a COLD!!"
  Yes, I know, and I cocked my eyes back at the TV, several times!! ( I saw him laugh)
         What a summer, wet and now hot ( I love the heat) and all my kids in the house.
 All of my children, here for a visit in August, was the best gift of my 65th birthday. I see them all, though the year, but seldom at the same time. Keith and Kelly came a little late to the party, but so happy they came to play.
          I was like a mother hen, with all her eggs in one basket. Tired and in awe, that we raised five wonderful humans, all college grads, independent thinkers, kind people. Working, loving, bright babies who grew up. Looking back we wonder how we did it, and smile.
        We get up early!! and never stop loving and teaching them, even to this day.
         It also helps, to wake up to Elvis, seriously he has never left my building.
         Happy mommy, good kids.
           
  

Why You Are So Awesome

   One of my gifts on this 65th birthday, was a little book from, my girl Emma.
   I wanted to share it with you. ( Girls are very different then boys!!) ( Fact)
You have the funniest sense of humor. ( Emma's thoughts are underlined)
You are the most awesome Grandmother in the world.
You are awesomely talented at Painting 
It would have been awesome to know you when You were 21. ( ha)
If you were a holiday, you'd be  The 4th of July.
It is awesome going to The Movies with you.
I wish I were as awesome as you at Pop Culture.( You are almost!)
I want to steal your awesome Lipstick !!!! ( Red is not for all, but go for it!!)
We would make an awesome Singing team. ( we are awesome, road trip!!)
It is awesome how you  Love Children 
Your Southern Style should be studied by science. ( Word!!) ( Southern crazy)
You're awesome at giving Your opinion. (Blessing and curse)
         ** My thoughts always in (parenthesis)
If you wanted to, you could easily Be Uma Thurman ( Yes, tall, thin, and dancing with John Travolta)
                                                                                      ( well at least the babies call me UMA!)
You have awesome taste in Books. ( I so agree)
If you were an animal, you'd be a Cheetah? ( Now you are off, I can barely walk, but maybe in my dreams, I am a Cheetah!!)
You make me want to be a more awesome Human. ( I told you since you were little, that you are the best!!)
It's awesome how you're usually right about  Everything ( I know, right)
It would be awesome to see you Onstage. ( sweetness, I have been on a few, before you though!!)
You're awesome at making People Laugh( Life is hard, find something to laugh at!)
It's awesome to play Poolside with you (  the sun is calling us! Beach or Pool!)
Bette Midler should play you in the movie of your life. ( Now that is fantastic, a mermaid, singing at a bathhouse, singing like an angel!! Love Bette) ( thank Em)
I still can't get over how you Deal. ( No choice, just deal and keep moving)
It is so awesomely funny when you Touch Random People. ( Show love, never met a stranger, this comes from Na-Na)
I'm eternally grateful that you Love us all. (Love, Love, Love)
If you were a color, you'd be Pink or Black ( All black is my color, but I will throw on some pink lipstick or shoes!)
Remember how awesome it was when you Danced( All day, every day!)
I never get bored of your stories ( write them down, stories are huge!!)
It's awesome how you believe in Prince (damn drugs, he was a genius, I believe that for sure)
I always want to  hear what you're going to say on your blog !!
                                              Well now you know, I copied some of what you said to me.
                                               Thank you for knowing me so well, and hanging with me.
                                               My only girl, from a mother far away, is so special.
                                               I think you may have come out of my body!! you are a tad like me!
                                               All my good sides, throw the bad away.
                                               Love,
                                               Mommy

What Dreams Are Made Of

   My mom and I are the only two people I know, who dream every night. We also remember most of them, good or bad. I think it may be a curse. I often wake up tired, I think from HUGE dreams. I have to be careful what I eat at night, some foods increase the intensity of the dream, causing nightmares. Chocolate is a no, or a big meal late into the evening, I think the body begins to digest and go crazy.
     I really don't like to eat past 6pm, but in life, that is sometimes impossible. Especially in the summer.
    Just the other night I had mint chocolate chip ice cream in the evening, and knew I was in for a long night. I remember telling the hubs, well there is not that much chocolate in the ice cream, but the color was overly green!! You know the food coloring was off the charts!! ( get these poisons out of our food!!)
    Well I went to bed, and began a dream about the Pope in Madrid. The colors were so beautiful, I was so excited. I also got to spend some time with my sister, Trudy, always a good dream. They were selling rosary beads all over the place, and I only had a dime. I wanted one of every kind, but I needed to find a seat. They were hard pews, and I found a good one. Trudy went off to find something, and I was getting anxious, too many people, I decided to stand in the back. ( I thought in my dream, I have claustrophobia even in my dreams!) ( that seems not fair) ( dream fairies)
 I lost Trudy, could not find her, lost my purse ( every dream) and of course could not find a bathroom( constant in my dreams) but I saw the Pope ( I wish it had been Jude Law) and he was beautiful, holy and I felt such peace. It was wonderful, peace and the colors of Madrid. I slowly got up from bed( dream is over), put my slippers on and went downstairs. What did I hear on the TV but Satan, ( yes that is his name, and I still can not fathom how any one could have voted for that idiot)
  When I sat down I told Bill, " Well I went to sleep with the Pope and woke up to Satan!" Honestly, what a day and night kind of change. I asked the hubs to either mute the news, or turn it off, its toxic and I need peace. I pray every night to wake up and not have this dream of our elected president, being a moron. Groundhog day continues, and nothing I eat or don't eat can take it away. I still have faith in people and our country, you see I have been to Madrid and seen The Pope.
    I have hope, big jars of hope.
    Also a few dozen prayer beads draped over both arms, and my neck.
    Dreams are made of........what we absorb, swallow or spit out.
    Be careful, loving and kind.
    Sleep well and have sweet dreams 

So Un Far

  Upon returning from Dinner the other night, I found, to my surprise, about 20 notes from grandson Finn, that read, SO UN FAR!! They were in plain site, and hidden all over the house.
  I began to gather them up, knowing what he meant, when he said, " That is not all of them."
  So I looked some more, all went into the trash except one. There will be a time, maybe his college graduation, or a wedding gift, where he will get this little note framed, back in his possession.
   He was trying to tell me, and the entire family that we were so unfair. We left him behind and all went out to supper. He had to stay behind with his dad, because he is too old for pitching fits, about sitting in the front seat with anyone.
   Let me back pedal, he had a rough day.
   Woke up with a whine and ended the day with a fit. It wasn't his day. Now granted we had all jumped through hoops for days, to make both Adrian and Finn happy, movies, golf, panning for gold, with going to the pool in between adventures. That day Finn was not having fun, Adrian's foot was on his part of the couch, he wanted some new toys, and a dog. He had pop rocks and cotton candy for a snack, so I was trying to squeeze in some orange juice, to balance the sugar, he was having none of that.  ( The day before he insisted that I have no authority over him, I could not boss him) ( which I had to remind him he was in my boss kingdom)
    It was just a bad day, we all have them. Finn looks like a cherub and works it to his advantage, except with me. I told him, that I had his number, and he was staying home. We all went to dinner.
Of course after he cooled off, and wrote his notes, they came up to the restaurant. These boys were bone tired, but good manners don't care if you are tired.
   We all enjoyed the dinner, and when I got home, is when I saw his pain.
   Life had been so unfair to this 8 year old, almost 9 year old child.
   I told him that I thought writing down things when you are angry, is such a good thing to do. I appreciated his feelings, and this was not the time for my lesson on "Life is a Bitch and then she has Puppies"( that part I kept to myself) I did briefly tell him, that we were not being unfair, but we had decided that his behavior was not OK, for a family outing. ( I did tell Brian that there was plenty of peanut butter and jelly, in the house)
   He was quiet and that was that.
   Parents and grandparents have to set a good example, be firm, with love, even during vacations.
   It is not easy being little, and adjusting to others rules, but life is all about adaptation, even when young. Time out can happen at a pool, a restaurant or school, and adults are in charge for a long time.
Is it fair? It is just the balance of nature right now, and you are learning my sweet boy.
  Kindness, being patient, helping others, good sportsmanship, that is fair.
  Your parents and Grandparents, love you and want to teach you.
   I will keep your note, that we were "so un far" because I can always learn to be better also.
   Have fun at camp next week, and remember my words.
   Love
   Uma

Do You Know Me?

       I have to ease into things, the thought of a surprise birthday party is not on my list of fun things to do. I do not like anything that says, "Boo" or "Happy Birthday". Even as a child, I did not want to be surprised!!! However, my three girls decided differently, and I was the lucky recipient of the surprise of my life.
     They told me for weeks that we were eating at Hart and Nicole's house to celebrate my birthday and dad's retirement from Georgia Tech. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sounds like a picnic, right? Emma kept telling me to dress a little nicer, since we were all together, we would probably take a family photo. Not hire a photographer nice, just throw on a dress nice.
      So that is what I did, throw on a dress straight from the pool, hair chlorine and ponytail, perfect!!!
Of course I had on lipstick, but people I was not going to the prom. ( Next day I got dressed for brunch, cute shirt and open shouldered blouse, and Emma said, " That is what you should have worn to the party!")  Well if I had known about the party, I may have dolled up a bit more, but no the lips were sealed for months, I find out.
     Bill and I were driving up to their house, and I mentioned all the cars, wondering who was having a party on my party day. Did not connect the dots!! I walk in the door, and my son Brian is standing with camera in hand, taking a video of me entering the room. I think I may have said, "What is wrong with you son?" Then I realized there were more phones facing my way, ( I had on sunglasses) and it hit me, "Oh No, this is terrible, OMG they did not pull this off over me!! I see BA, Jane(worm), Nancy, I think I start to cry, I hate this!!! Leigh-Leigh, Jesus, who all is here, Susan, Chris Shearer ( I love him so much) The Purwins!! Jesus you just moved to Charleston, Natty, Laura, Gemma, Ashley Baer OMG what kind of crazy is this, my heart bursting at the seams. I missed Malia and Ken walking in, and spouses scattered about, Jamie came in after the shock wore off. Every where my head turned, there was someone I loved, and played an important part in my life. My cup was FULL UP!! flowing with gratitude for the girls getting these people together, for me and Bill.( he knows I don't like to share, but he piggybacked my party and it was OK!! He deserves it!) He did know who the star of this party was!!! and let me have my shine time. ( he is a good man)
     ( If I forgot your name, know that I am old and its a part of being 65 and near insanity!!)
     ( and people should never surprise me)
  It was the most fantastic party, with all my favorite southern foods, and cotton candy snacks!!
  A gathering of family and friends, extraordinaire. Of course there were missing faces, that could not come, and they have to know, the walked with me trough this party. No stoned was left unturned, there were stories on top of stories. My faced is still sore from laughing.
   The gifts Bill and I received were not expected, because I did not even know about the party, but oh what fun we had opening them. The crazy bell, that I will hide from my husband, who knows he could NEVER ring for me to answer!! My bowl from David, which I will most certainly never put it down, He is an artist in woodwork, and I love it. So many people gave me jewelry, books and journals. I get a kick out of being so transparent!! My lipstick, beautiful pottery, coffee and movie gift cards, Watercolor magazine subscription, I can not list everything. Someone said, " This is sooo Bonnie!" Well, they are correct, my people know me. Everything was over the top, fun. Jane Worm Anders Ruffin, gave me photos of our early twenties, one with Scott Carter and myself, from almost forty years ago. We had just told the story of how I thought he was the best dancer ever, and I did not want Jane to ever break up with him. She did at some point but on my 65 birthday night, we salute you Scott Carter. ( Even though BA reminded us he was bat shit crazy) ( Man that can dance trumps BSC) I tucked the photo into my bra and danced the night away in my head, not on the floor this time!
 My Hart put on the first original Beatles album of mine on his record player, and we all grabbed our chest and started singing. These people knew my tunes. Our lives woven together over the years, in so many wonderful ways, long and brief. Thank you for taking the time to come scare the Jesus out of me, and make my day.
     And for the party planners, Thank you so much for everything, and don't ever do that again, without 911 pre-dialed, This night was perfect.
     I am surrounded by artists, writers, teachers, doctors, engineers, musicians, mothers and fathers, actors of TV and Theater, runners and tennis players. People who serve others, who make a difference, those are my gifts.
     Mary and Homer, Trudy, Benjie and Tommy are my beginning,where the stories began.
     They are a huge part of the person, you all love so much, that you came to my shindig.
     So Happy 65th Blackman Family for loving me so much, that I now can share that love with so many wonderful people.
     Know that I can not put into words, how much fun this was, awesome, fantastic, but the above are a few that came to mind.
      I guess you do know me!!
      Thank You
      Thank You
      Thank You