enjoy the third quarter of 2008 by having one NEW and FULFILLING experience in July, August, and September

We survived my daughter, who was newly separated from her husband, and her two children living with us in such a small place. We all pulled together and made it work. Lots of love made this work with patience and compassion. So worth it.

I celebrated Mardi Gras on August 3, 2008 with all three of my children. I let my hair down, so to speak, and enjoyed every moment of it. We laughed and giggled until 5 am. It was so nice to let go of the Super Mother place and enjoy my adult children. I told stories of my youth that I probably should have told them long ago. Information that led to understanding. Very Rewarding.

I was extremely assertive. Actually it was a Popeye moment. I’ve had all I can stand and I can’t stands no more moment. July 15th, 2008 will remain in my memory as one of the strongest days of my life. Very rewarding.

For high school. Nothing to meet his needs here in old Louisiana. He’s attending a math and science academy in Georgia, while living with my sister. It was a little much to homeschool him and recover from Gustav and Ike. He’s doing well. Harder on me I think. He took the Psat 2 wks ago. Waiting on the results. I know this is the right thing for now. There’s an opportunity for early college this way.

So, September. September was filled with “ultimate” stuff. The last rehearsal with the theater band (with me more like an outsider), the last get-togethers with friends and ex-classmates, the last days in the city. Packing up bags for a year. Saying goodbyes after goodbyes every time you meet someone, knowing it would be the last time you’re gonna be seeing each other for quite a long time. And yet usually there was a next time. So yeah, September was quite an odd month. But still, living each day as your last is quite fun, I’d say.
And it’s not even that bad after all.

It isn’t that anything new didn’t happen in those 2 months. But at the time, I really didn’t feel that they were fulfilling. I tried to give blood but my iron was too low. My daughter turned 21 in August and while to most parents this is a milestone in their child’s and their lives, I dreaded it because she was no longer be my little girl. Well. things haven’t changed, she is still my child.
In September, granddaughter actually took her first unassisted steps at 10 months of age and now cruising is second nature. She still uses crawling as her primary mode of transportation but not for long.
My daughter’s car was totaled in September. While this could have been a tragedy, no one was seriouly hurt. Neither my daughter nor my granddaughter were in the car at the time. The solitary occupant crawled out of the wreckage on her own steam, mostly shaken. Although, she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, the airbags did what they were designed to do even after the vehicle turned over a couple times. I don’t know what really led up to the wreck that night, whether the girl was drunk or high or just joyriding. She is the first in her family to actually graduate from high school and attend college and has been doing very well in her studies. Obviously, God has a plan for her and I hope she learned something from this experience. I hope my daughter has, too.

There were lots of changes during those 3 months. I don’t regret any of them. In fact, having those big changes has made me realize that I’m a strong and wonderful person and ver grateful for being loved by so many people.

Can’t believe it but I did sing in front of 7 other people (it was pretty much compulsory)and I am not much a singer. It was quite emotional since the song was – in the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise…..let me be brave and strong and true. Anyway I pushed through – aaaaah!

Just to top it off

• Read in my first mass, a wedding for a dear friend. Definitely new and fufilling. Would love to do it again, but there aren’t too many oppertunities for heathens like myself to get to read
• Had a full 43 things list for the first time since joining the site. Looks like it’s time to do some fall cleaning, but fufilling to know that my life is so full of things I want to accomplish
• Responding to a personals ad. Would have been more fufilling if they had written back, but definitely new!
• Attending the Hell’s Kitchen flea-market. First flea market in NYC. Heck, first flea-market I’ve ever been to as an adult of my own free will, although I remember getting dragged to plenty of them as a child
• SEEING THE DYMAXION CAR. Honestly, I can die happy now. So. Much. Fufillment. Words. Cannot. Express.
• Meeting Jane Yolen. A childhood icon live and giving advice. That was definitely new and fufilling.

It’s been a busy month. In sumary, I think September’s “new and fufilling” was both (a) getting out more and (b) doing things on my own. Both of which were new and fufilling in themselves, and also contributed to my many other sucesses over the course of the month.

Thanks John Lee. This goal always challenges me to learn and grow. See you next quarter!

It is RIDICULOUS that September is over already! A hundred projects jabbing at me has made me feel overwhelmed, but there have been tons of New and Fulfilling experiences going on, too.

We’ve gone to and hosted several family gatherings this month that involved lots of relatives on all sides. None of those festivites were accompanied by a funeral, either, so that in itself is fulfilling.

I had the opportunity to have friends over here for fun activities. Usually I assume the role of teacher, as was the case for “craft day” on the 24th, but my Brazilian friend is teaching me Portuguese, although we both want to learn Spanish now because it is more useful in Arizona.

I’ve been to several baseball games. Unfortunately, that was not so fulfilling because I got to witness the Diamondbacks’ freefall from 1st place in the NL West to so far out of it that they don’t even get to play in the post-season. The games were still fun, though; Chase Field is a beautiful stadium.

The NEWest of my adventures this month was going to an Israeli Restaurant with my niece. I “chickened” out and stuck with what I knew, but I did have falafel for the first time. She even picked up the tab. THAT was really new! Next time I’m having the tzatziki. I’m all about the cucumbers!

Today, I started writing my own arrangement for a song I will play at a piano recital in December. I have been taking lessons for 8 months now.

Oh, and I am wearing size 10 pants. Woo Hooooo!