Basketball voices

I am the extremely proud mother of two girls that both made the middle school basketball team this year. They have had three games and are still undefeated. Both my daughters have improved so much in the few weeks they have been playing, and have had plenty of game time. Going to the games has been so exciting and fun, however, it is in my moments of happiness that I miss my Dad more than ever. He would have been so proud of them watching them play. He probably would have volunteered to either announce the starting line up at the beginning of the games, or would have run the clock for fun to stay busy during the game. Remembering his voice announce games really makes me smile now, but I was slightly embarrassed back then. He really got onto the announcing! I regret not having him recorded doing at least one game. I would love to play his voice for my daughters to see their faces at how loud and fun his voice was during the games. It doesn't seem like he has been gone nine years until I struggle to remember his voice. I just wish I could hear it one more time.

September eleventh angels

     It was amazing to me that on the tenth anniversary of September eleventh I received numerous emails and calls about people seeing hundreds of dragonflies flying all around.  Some even said they saw thousands.  I too saw hundreds at the soccer field, and they were the ginormous kind, the kind where you can see their eyes as they fly by you.   Those are the best because they actually look like the illustrations in my book.


     After pondering the significance of seeing thousands on 9-11, I called a friend that had seen them near her home, who also has a fantastic camera, to see if she could see them the next evening and take a picture for me. I honestly thought I would be able to share a photo here on my blog.  All week long I had people looking for hundreds of dragonflies flying together like so many had seen on Sunday 9-11, and not one person saw them again,  therefore, I have no photo.  Although I have no photo, I do think it is incredible that so many saw this beautiful site on September eleventh.  Thousands of 9-11 angels letting their loved ones know they are there, watching over them.


     It gives me great pleasure to help others with my dragonfly story, and when I hear so many connect dragonflies with their loved ones now, I am thrilled!!! Although  my parents died very young, everyone out there is looking for a sign from their loved ones who may have died young, or in an accident, on 9-11.  Everyone has a story.  I am honored to bring comfort to those who need to believe.  

     I believe all the dragonfly sightings were the September eleventh angels. >!<

Summer

Summer is the best season for me throughout the year. I love the long warm days with no schedule for my kids except deciding on a fun activity, or having friends over.
Summertime also brings many memories of my childhood back to me. Sounds and smells are really what triggers these memories. It is hard to believe that the human senses help keep things so close to your heart.
The smell of certain flowers or plants outside remind me of playing catch with my father in our backyard in upstate NY. Being a major tomboy, this was one of the daily summertime activities I did with my Dad. He, being the father of three girls, also enjoyed this time with me, the one daughter that liked to play any sport he suggested. I loved this time because it was just he and I. My sisters and mother were never interested in joining us, and to me, that was perfect. Being the quiet middle sister, this time was welcomed not only because I loved playing catch, but because my sisters were not talking over the top of me. I usually had the least amount to say in our family. I honestly did not mind, just as long as I could get my own time in, on my own terms. I enjoyed listening and still do. A skill that not many have.
If I were to close my eyes and hear the sound a ball makes as it smacks the leather of a glove, I can be taken intantly to my backyard. This sound, coupled with the smell of the summer flowers in the air, is something I am very thankful for. Thankful to have not forgotten my Dad who I miss more than words can explain.
July 2nd 2002 was the day he died, but with my memories I can keep him alive, especially when I feel the need to play catch and have alone time, with just he and I.

The Day I Saw a Dragonfly

Dr. Seuss

Today is Dr. Seuss' Birthday, and my girls were so excited to wear their PJ's to school and bring their favorite story of his to read. We have celebrated his Birthday every year since they were in preschool. It is a really big event here in Warrenton.
This morning I read "The Big Brag" aloud, while they munched on their cereal. This has always been one of my favorites. As I began to read, it reminded me my childhood listening to my father read to me. He could really make the words in a story come to life. I am so thankful for having a father that loved to read to me!
In the back of my mind I could hear his voice reading the "Big Brag", as I gave it my best effort, reading with expression and changing the voices of each character. The girls laughed and smiled which made for a fabulous morning! I must admit I did a fantastic job with the voices!! Especially the worm at the end. For no apparent reason that Worm takes on a Southern Old Man Voice every time I read "The Big Brag."
Seeing the smiles my performance brought on my babies faces reminds me of how wonderful childhood is, and reading to them makes us closer. The memories of me reading in my silly voice will stay with them for a lifetime.
The gratitude I have for my father reading aloud to me always comes out on Dr. Seuss' Birthday!! Thanks Dad and Dr. Seuss!!

Spring

I do see light at the end of the winter tunnel I have been in. Spring is such a fantastic time of year for me. I can shake of my winter blues and start feeling like myself again!! This winter has been exceptionally difficult for me for some reason. I felt like a dog a few times a day needing to shake my head to wake up!!
This April will be the two year anniversary of my Mom's passing. I am thinking my winter blues were at their worst because of the whole "grieving process". From what I have read and experienced, the second year is harder because you are out of the initial "fog", and are feeling your emotions one hundred percent.
This Spring, when the temperatures warm up and the flowers start to bloom, there will be a certain smell in the air, a fresh, clean aroma that awakens my soul. I am so thankful for this time of the year. As I sit here in my office typing this blog I feel a sense of excitement knowing that Spring is around the corner!!

I am thrilled to be coming out of hibernation. This winter, Northern Virginia has been pounded with snow. I can hear my parents now, informing me that I should have stayed in Baldwinsville, because they are having such a mild winter. It actually makes me smile because maybe they had something to do with all the snow I have had this year.
My kids wore their PJ's inside out and put ice cubes down the toilet in hopes of "a snow day." This year, it actually worked!! Who knew they would be off from school for almost three weeks!! A gift of snow from my parents who loved winter, or so they said. Possibly their love of winter was not for the snow, but for the hibernation that comes with all that snow!
"Bear" was the nickname my father called my Mother for as long as I can remember, I always thought it was from the story "The Three Bears." This winter it dawned on me that her nickname wasn't from that story at all. It was because she LOVED to hibernate.
I felt very "Bearlike" this winter in Virginia, being stranded up on my hill in the snow. Although I am not a fan of snow or winter, I smiled imagining my Dad's voice calling me "Bear."