A-Z April Challenge F is For The Sound of Music and Oprah Winfrey

When I was in high school I was a member of the chorus.  It was an elective class that I took and I actually stuck with it for all four years.
I can’t sing.  There were probably 75-100 other voices in the chorus, which is why I was able to participate without my shy, little, most likely, off key, voice being heard.
The chorus performed on graduation day.  We sang songs from “Sound of Music.”

I was a fan of  Oprah Winfrey’s 4:00 in the afternoon show.  The show I looked forward to the most, though, was her Christmas show.   The one where she gave out surprise gifts to an unsuspecting audience.
I remember one year being very upset with Ross because we didn’t get home in time to see the show.  (Obviously, pre-vcr,dvr, tivo, etc.)

What do these two things have in common?

Well, one of the songs I remember singing with the chorus on my graduation day was “Favorite Things”.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

The Oprah Winfrey event that was a must see for me was “Oprha’s Favorite Things”.

“And you get a car, and you get a car, and you get a car!”

So I thought I would ponder what a few of my favorite things might be. 

Before I begin, though,  I must explain  that I am a worrier.  Logically, it naturally follows, therefore,  that I am also a “the glass is half empty” kind of person.  

That means that, for me, this exercise will be a challenge as well as an unusual dip in the pool of positiveness.

So here are some of  “Lynda’s Past and Present Favorite Things”  in no particular order but, rather as they pop into my mind.  

Having a “just the right temperature” cup of tea in the quiet of early morning before the rest of the day is fully awake brings about a peace and contentment for me.   

Coming up upon the crest of a beach on a brilliantly sunny winter day, looking out at the expanse of emptiness,  breathing in the air of the sea, and being hypnotized by the movement of the waves makes me understand what majestic means.

Falling asleep to the sound of my best friend’s rhythmic breathing makes me appreciate having someone so close to me for one more night.

Hearing the phone ring and listening to the “phone lady” announce the name of  Jen, Jimmy, Anne, Johanna, Elaine, Dolores, sometimes Ray, even less sometimes Samantha, and anyone else who isn’t an 800 number makes my heart skip a beat.  Okay part of that is hoping everything is okay, but most of it is the joy of finding out how their day was.

Walking along listening to the chirping song of a single bird, then stopping for a few minutes to see if I can spot her, makes me realize that I can be curious. 

Comments on my blog make me smile.  You know why.

Each of the exact moments I gave birth because they were the most exhilarating moments of my life.

The first time each one of my grandchildren called me Grandma, or some form of that, brought a new purpose to my life.

Having a conversation with my grandchildren because their little voices remind me of  the thrill of discovery.

Being able to follow a knitting pattern makes me realize how smart I can be. 

The SandBox Cafe is quirky and makes me feel like I am at an island resort.

Discovering that I have ideas which I can put into written words and communicate those ideas clearly and sometimes even poetically, fulfills a passionate need that I apparently have. 

My three Jays, the people who they love and who love them,  and the precious lives they brought into the world because nothing else matters.

I feel closest to Joe for some reason at the Children's Memorial Garden.  Perhaps it is because I know the others who visit understand.

Ross because he is “My Favorite” and will probably be a post by himself, I'm thinking R.

My goodness, that felt good.  And I had to stop myself because I could go on and on.

What???  Me??? Feel good?    

I guess my glass is really full after all.

If you want to make me smile, leave a comment on one of your favorite things.  

A to Z April Challenge E For Embellished Experience

I am Contemplating having a procedure done.  (By the way, that C word was taken directly from a wonderful post written by Nouveau Scarecrow.)

In order to help me make, what is to me a scary decision,  I was referred to an expert.


First of all, I have to tell you that I immediately regress to infantile behavior as soon as I enter any kind of medical facility.

Secondly, the haunting mantra taught to me by my Italian heritage, “Trust no one other than your family” bubbles up to the surface and takes over, leaving me with zero ability to discern fact from pre-conceived perceptions.

Now, I will freely admit, that I might embellish the re-telling of this experience, you know, just to keep your interest.
By the way, I have learned the art of embellishment from the best in the business.  And you know who you are RG, don’t you?

Okay, so back to my embellishment of my experience with the expert.

Although the door was unlocked, it looked like no one was around.  Except for the power saving emergency lights, the room was dark.   The office was dimly lit, but I could make out  the somewhat gruesome “in-progress surgery” artwork taking up every inch of space on the dingy walls.

Ross was with me and we both began to call out…”Hello?”  “Is anyone here?”

We were just about to leave, when a woman came shuffling out from “the back”… her slippers making  flip flop, flip flop sounds.

I know I shouldn’t judge a person strictly by appearances, but, well okay so I did.

The office was apparently supposed to be closed that day.  She told us that she had only come in to catch up on some paper work.   I get it, she hadn’t expected to run into anyone.  But really, PJ’s in the office?

I told her why I was there.   She shuffled into the receptionist's area, you know the little area behind the bullet proof glass with the tiny opening?  Yeah, that one.

I watched as she reached down and pulled out what appeared to be a big old ancient looking ledger.  She choked on the cloud of dust that erupted when she opened the book.

I noticed that there were not any appointments listed in the book.  Lucky me, it looked like I would be the first one.

While I waited for her to determine when the Doctor would have availability to see me, as if…I noticed a bulletin board hanging on the wall.  It was filled with thank-you notes from former patients.   That made me feel a little better.  I even managed a slight sigh of relief.   But as I looked a little closer, I saw that there weren’t any notes dated after 2006.

Ross asked Pajama Mama how long she had been with her employer.  Impressively, she said 25 years.

Perhaps I should have been impressed by that,  but, I immediately thought old, the man must be old.  Not that that is a bad thing.  I mean I am old.  As long as he has steady hands, that’s what counts, right?

We were there on a Friday.  It was no
surprise that I had my pick of appointments for Monday.   We made the appointment for first thing Monday morning.  I wanted to be the first patient, while he still had his wits about him, you know?

All weekend long I thought about my Monday appointment.  I already had a definite idea of what the Doc would look like.  I wondered if he would be wearing pajamas.

Monday morning, bright and early, I was on time for my appointment.

Once again, except for the power saving emergency lights, the office was dark.  Did I have my appointment time wrong?  Nope, I heard the flip, flop, flip flop and there she was.
She was making her way around the office turning on the lights.  I guess I was a little early.
But, this time the flip flop, flip flop noises were made by her nurse clogs which appropriately matched her nurse outfit.

When she called me to go into the examining room, I caught a glimpse of the expert Doctor.   <sigh>
He looked just as I imagined.  Balding on top, straggly clown hair on the sides.  Okay at least it wasn’t pink hair, but it was wiry gray hair.  Shirt half out of his pants, clown tie askew.  Okay, not a clown tie, but it was askew.

I couldn’t concentrate on what Dr. Clown was saying.  I only heard Charlie Brown Adult type noises mwa, mwa, mwa maw.

I think I heard something about “there could not be any guarantees that this procedure will eliminate the pain you are experiencing.”  I’m pretty sure some of the blah blah blah translated to “only a fifty-fifty chance that it will”… fix your problem.

I walked out dazed, confused and with a prescription for some sort of test.

So for now this somewhat exaggerated, slightly embellished and definitely influenced by apprehension tale will have to end with a “to be continued” conclusion.

Do you take liberties to make a story more interesting?


My son Joe passed away 16 months ago today.
I miss him more and more each day.

A-Z April Challenge - D is For This Day, This Very Special Day

Today is the Day.  It is a most special day.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.  Today, when I think about this special day, I remember moments about it that are sweet and precious to me.
You see, this day was the day I first met him, in person that is.   And from the first minute I saw him, I knew immediately who he was.  Oh, I had contact with him before we actually met in person.  I thought I had a pretty good idea of what he would be like, even what he would look like.  I spent hours and hours trying out different little names that would fit, what I would call him when we finally met.
Even though it was many years ago, I remember the little details that women usually remember about such things.  I remember the day, it was a Friday.  I remember the time, 2:00 p.m. to be exact.
I have to admit, he was a lot cuter in person.  I just knew he would be a joy to be around.  I was right about that. We were very much alike.  We communicated on a different level than most.
The more time we spent together, the more I fell in love with him.

We keep this day as a special day.  We celebrate each year, for there is no day like this day.

At 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 1975, I met Joseph Christopher.  My son.   When I saw him, I just knew who he was.  He was Joey.  

My Joey would have been 38 years old today.

Each year I would try to find a Snoopy as “Joe Cool" birthday card for Joe.

I always looked for one of these and picked one up whenever I would find one.

I was excited to find this one, but I never got the chance to give it to him.

That’s why this Day is the Day.  Today, this day is filled with so many emotions.
It’s a sad day for me.  I am filled with pain and grief on this Day.
On this Day I feel so fortunate to have him in my life, always and forever.
I miss Joey everyday, but especially, today, on this Day.