The importance of TRUE friends

Within the last year, lots in my life has changed, some visible, most inside. But I am astonished at the number of friends who don't call anymore. One friend in particular, or should I say a person that presented as a friend, anyway at the same time typing an email that said "I am in this for the long haul", completely stopped emailing after that. Eventually changed that email. Moved without even giving an address. I allowed that to break my heart for a while and that I became angry. This was a person who, when others were not talking to him for a stupid reason, I was the one who said "I am here and refuse to do like the others". Now that has been flipped on me.

This was an old friend, someone I knew from college, which we realized was almost 20 years. This is the last time I will devote ANY energy to this person. I am better than that and have way too much bad stuff on my plate. There is no room for that mess. If that person ever sees this, I have some pictures of you as a little kid. I would be happy to mail them back to you...

I have people in my life who really are in my life for the long haul. I think after all these months I feel nothing but pity for you.

It has only been two days, but......

I miss my family! They were ALL just here on Saturday, but already the house is too quiet. There is lots of food left over. That wonderful cake that barely got touched is still here and I can enjoy it as breakfast.

I wonder when we will all get together, and hope it will be for a happy occaision. It was fun the other day trying to ID the younger ones, who had all grown up. Some were more difficult than others. Some looked so much like their parents, it was easy. Some that we do not see as much, were only ID'd because of who they came in with.

All total, we went through all the hotdogs that were brought (at least 40), Dad said somewhere around 60 hamburgers, and about 30 BBQ Chicken legs. I have not yet stopped to count how many people were here. But we estimated that to get a group shot would have to involve a ladder. That is alot of relatives all in one spot.

It was a great day and one I hope that we do not have to wait until next year to repeat.

Reunion Hangover

Now I have to start this by saying that there was absolutely no alcohol involved in this activity, but I am sure that everyone who was here today is very tired, a little sore, and exhausted beyond belief.

We came, we saw, and we ate...lots. And there is so much food left over. Almost 80%of a sheetcake, which I will enjoy for breadfast many mornings.

It was a great day, and I cannot wait til we do this again.

I am wiped out, so see ya in the morning!

Family

Tomorrow we will have probably somewhere around 50 people descend on our house, and they will stay pretty much all day. They will all be either my Mother's brother or sisters, their kids, or grandkids. Yep, we will all have some of their blood running thru us. My Grandma died unexpectedly.

One of my Aunts was determined that we have a theme, so we are doing the Olympics, but with our style of games. Water baloons, bocci ball, croquet, badmitton, volleyball, but we have medals all made up and prizes too. We also have Family Fued, and other games. It should be tons of fun and an event to remember.

We have been bringing out pictures by the hundreds, marking your initials on the back, so you hopefully will get them back. It is sad looking through some of the pics of family who has gone on to Heaven. And others who have had a rough life and now look so much older than their actual years. Sad stuff.

But there are also dozens of hilarious pics. Our family is crazy, and someone is always joking or playing a joke on someone else, like sticking bananas in their ears. Or people cramming in to a perfectly good photo right before the flash goes off. And more Christmas photos than you can count and can only distinguish by the fact that different clothes are on each picture, or the grandkids are a certain age.

I am sure that by tomorrow evening and Sunday we will all be worn out, probably a little sunburned, but with lots more pictures and even more memories. It should be a fun day, but I am going to bed early tonight to rest up before they all descend on our house. I will love every minute!!!!

FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!!

I am a Happy Camper, football season has started. OK, technically, these are games that do not really count, but after the dreary off-seasons of having nothing to watch on Sunday afternoons, action on gridiron is welcomed by those of us who truly love the game. Of course being a Redskin fan, this past weekend was glorious for me. Two of our best players were put in the HOF where they should be. (Oh, to non football people, that means Hall of Fame). But chances are, if you did not know that, you saw what this is about and stopped reading.

I loved the fact that most (John Madden said 95%) of the crowd in Canton wore Burgandy and Gold. I was at home cuddled up with my Redskin blanket. I have to admit, that from 8-9 I watched Big Brother, but I have to say, Colt Brennan shook up some people I think. He was fantastic. Todd Collins should be feeling a warm breath as Brennan is breathing down his neck I am sure.

How refreshing to see the Skins behind at the Half and actually coming Back to win. That was a change from last year when they would give the game away after Halftime.

Funny thing, I did happen to be channel surfing just at the perfect time to see my favorite Redskin Chris Cooley make a big catch. Maybe he waited til I was watching. I have often thought we had some ESP going between us.

And all the specials this weekend re-capping the 1982 Super Bowl season, I loved them, and recall fondly standing on top of my wheelchair as the bus went by. I drew a lot of looks, got very wet that day, and found out we weren't the only ones who thought of taking metro that day. It was an AWESOME day!!!

I love my Redskins, win or lose, but am so happy this weekend we got a win!!

CHOCOLATE ANYONE??

I am convinced that on the 8th day, or the 15th at the very least, God created chocolate! Just kidding. But is it not the best thing EVER!!! Friends make flake and go away, other people have to sleep when you are up all night long, other stuff can happen, but chocolate in ALL forms (currently being devoured by me: M&Ms, Bliss by Hershey, and Fudge from the Fudgery in SC) is always there.

I think I have made a decision, though not 100% convinced, about my surgery. I have several questions for my doctor, that will settle things. I have trouble sleeping, I cannot turn off my brain.

A really good distraction is that Training Camp has started!! Whoo hoo!!!! It makes me so happy to see those guys out on the field. I am sorry about the injuries the first day. One was Philip Daniels, a really nice guy. He tore his ACL and is out for the season. He is set to have surgery. I am praying that it is not too painful. I had that same injury, not from playing football but I just twisted it the wrong way.

Last year Dad and I went to Training Camp, and it turned out to be the hottest day in August. Dad got great pictures as he has a camera with a super photo lens. When we went to get them printed, he had taken about 50 or more pics of Chris Cooley, since he knew that #47 is my favorite on the current team, second only to the great Darrell Green. It was just funny that I ended up with that many pictures of one person, but of course I loved it.

And the Skins added the Dance Machine himself Jason Taylor. He should be a good asset.
I gotta get more info. on the new guys before I get in touch with my Uncle. We guess at the beginning of each season what we think the team's end status will be. I won last year!

Until the next time.........

Big thanks!!!

Big thanks to Tanner, for helping me figure out how to get that darn counter out of here!!! Now this looks like it is supposed to. Big hugs, Tanner!