Family Relationships: THERE WAS A TIME

I have had some recent disappointments from certain relatives.  They made me believe/hope that they would come through on their word. Nope!

There was a time I would have set myself on fire, to keep others warm.

There was a time I would have crossed oceans to reach people who wouldn’t cross a stream for me.

There was a time I would try, too hard, to be seen by those, who would simply never see me.

There was a time I felt unworthy of a person, who could actually never be worthy of me.

But not anymore.

You see my friend, there are many ways to spend your time on this earth 

but wasting it on those who are not appreciative of your attention, is a crying shame.

Use your time wisely.

Save your best efforts for those who care. 

For those who would return the favour or at least appreciate your attention. 

Those who truly value you.

And the rest? 

If they do not see you now, they never will.

And they are missing out.

Make this the time that you realize your time is precious and should only be bestowed on those who bring you comfort, positivity, support, love, or joy.

Or all of the above.

Remember, you are the main act, not a warm-up, 

and this, my friend, is no dress rehearsal.

This is it.

The curtain is well and truly up.

Shine on.

✨

Author 👇

Donna Ashworth

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Old Love Interests Never Die

There were recent FB posts of DH's first serious girlfriend in Milan on an outing with mutual friends.  Hard to look at her without feeling a pang of jealousy.  After all, she's  still lookin' good.


Can't forget a certain female relative when then-boyfriend/DH first introduced me. We were dating seriously and BF had dumped this pretty girlfriend whom said relative had actually met in the old country.

This lady obviously wears her heart on her sleeve as she was aghast at his choice of yours truly. Her disapproval was palpable. I assumed I was not pretty enough ... not good enough ... not smart enough -- all of the above, none of the above -- fill in the blank.  I faked a smile and bore her dislike of me like a trouper (I sincerely hope I came across as such). Mercifully, she stopped speaking and just stared.  I could hardly wait to get away from her.

Well, fast forward to now and she remains a relative and our lives are intertwined whether I like it or not. Distance and the rare times we are actually face to face has enabled me to dislike her less. But she and family members are on FB. There's no avoiding her completely.

I've shown GF's picture to our kids and say she could have been their mother.  They insist that their Dad chose well and that I'm the better looking one.  Good answer, kiddos, LoL!  

  Keep an eye on the girl with the glasses & pink shirt.

There Ain't NOTHING Gonna Steal my Joy!!!

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John Lennon on Sale

Remembering John Winston Ono Lennon on what would have been his 77th birthday on October 9, 2017.

Busts/Containers were at the resale shop I frequent ... used to store alcoholic beverages. His quote on honesty and true friendship is  àpropos for our social-media dominated lives, and for Life in general. 

fb: triple m hobart

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

- John Lenon, Plastic Ono Band

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:  but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  -- Jesus speaking in Matthew 10:28

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Pretty Blue Eyes @ Baker Hill Restaurant

We don't eat at this popular spot often enough.  The opportunity arose when our friends from Michigan were in town for a visit. Good food -- for cheap. 
Whoa! How long has the restaurant had a roaming Balloon Man?!

Kentucky Wedding

As we got ready to exit on Rt 335 from I-57, we heard it. A thumping, somewhat grinding sound from the left side of me (sitting in the second row, right side). A slight burning smell also.

Pull over, says hubby to our son, the driver.
Jared had just been manipulating the cruise control, but pulled over safely to the shoulder.
An hour away from home, on our way to Eric and Laura's wedding in KY, and now this!

What's the problem here??!!! Engine starts, but shifting gear resulted in stalling.

We weren't going anywhere.  Off in the distance, to the right, is the exit to Monee.
To the left, is McD's. And bathrooms. I needed to go. Sigh.

Called Geico. Very, very nice black lady on the phone.
Within a half hour, a confirmation from Superior Towing (driver Tom).
But no Taxis in the area. Huh?! Let's call non-emergency Police for help.
Over an hour later, Monee Town Police shows up.
Two minutes after that, Illinois State Police shows up (Officer  Powell with an assistant, license plate 5-43).
Monee Police is a no-go.  It's against their regulations to take us anywhere except to the nearest gas station.
Tow truck can only fit two more people. State Police could also fit only two.  But there were 6 of us!
Rules were bent and winked at...off we ALL go. Must go backwards 5 miles to a Dodge dealership - hallelujah!- in Matteson. Meanwhile, I am being transported in the back seat of a Police car.

Two hours of waiting at Denny Guests' Southoak Dodge. Problem: blown out/bad ignition coil.
It was an original part. Bound to break, sooner or later. A nice office lady made us feel better by giving us Coke with ice.  Finally... 4 hours after break down, the car is fixed. Kentucky, here we come!

Officer Powell said if we had stalled around Kankakee, there would have been no one (meaning, car service) around for many, many miles. Realized later that had we passed Kankakee, in the backwoods area of Illinois, we would have ended up sleeping in the van while awaiting help 'coz NOBODY would have found us till the next day. The area was similar to the "Deliverence" movie in remoteness (I could be exaggerating here, but that's what it seemed like to me).  It would have been worse than trying to find Janice's dad's wake.

Finally made it at the hotel (Fairview Inn) at 9:15 pm. Had we not been delayed, we would have been here by 4 pm. Now, there was no time for the pool. At leasts there was wi-fi. Plus, below  was the glorious view outside our rooms' windows. We don't have this around our town. Yet.

Our morning meals were also included in our rate (unlike our friends who rented from Marriott).

Breakfast: 
Jimmy Dean Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
Jimmy Dean Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
Ham, Egg, Cheddar Quiche
Otis Spunkmeyer Apple Cinnamon Muffin
Dannon Light Fit Strawberry Yogurt
Orange Juice
Hard-boiled eggs
Coffee