The treasure lies in them, not the things....

When an old friend becomes very ill, I begin devoting a lot of time in my thoughts to them. Really hoping they get better, really hoping for the best. That they don't leave us too soon. I think about their family, where they've been, and where they are going, at least, before they became ill. These thoughts have lead me to memories of days gone by. Such fond memories too. Being so young, in high school, having the time of our lives if we had only noticed back then.

You know, 'stuff' doesn't really matter. The cars we drive, the amount in our bank accounts, etc. It doesn't matter that much. What matters is people. Who we have in our lives, the relationships we nurture, those we spend our time with, our given, and chosen families. The treasure, lies in them. Not the 'things'.

It makes me sad to lose touch with friends, to then devote an entire day(s) of my thoughts to them, because they're very sick, and we don't know the outcome yet. Why did we lose touch? Is what I wonder. I know how it goes. Life becomes extremely busy, we grow up, go to college, get new jobs, move away from home....and before you know it, years have passed. It's not that we don't love our friends anymore, not at all. Life just gets really busy, doesn't it?

I just think maybe it shouldn't get so busy that we can't say hello once in a while. It just takes a few minutes to ask a friend how they're doing, if they're happy in their life.

Well, these are my thoughts tonight, as I sit and remember some great times with an old friend.

This is for Beth. Rest well friend, and continue to fight the good fight. My thoughts are with you and your family.

To you, my reader friend: call a friend you've lost touch with. I bet it will make you feel better than it does them.

See you soon,
Tiffany

What makes you feel nostalgic?

nos·tal·gia   


noun

1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time

I've been feeling nostalgic for a few days. I don't always relate this to feeling homesick, but it can at times. Looking through picture boxes can really trigger nostalgia for the days when my sisters and I were the hardest playing kids in the neighborhood, as if we were getting paid to play! Wouldn't that be fun.
"I think I'm going to build a fort in the backyard"...."I'll pay you five dollars to do it!".

I can be a daydreamer sometimes, taking simple tasks and creating ideas around them. As I was sweeping the kitchen floor this morning, I thought well isn't this like life?. Gathering little piles of things to throw away because everything looks and feels cleaner when they are tossed in the garbage. If there is something that I no longer need to hold onto, and I know my life would be better if I gathered it up and escorted it out the door, I do. Things like resentment, or grudges. Negativity.

I was doing one of my most favorite activities last night, utilizing the fireplace, when I realized that the beautiful fire I just built, was like a healthy relationship. It needed oxygen. Room to breathe. A solid foundation beneath it. A safe place where it is built, and then cared for throughout its lifespan. I had to tend to the fire every once in a while, to make sure the logs were placed just so. If they had shifted too far to the left or right, I gently moved them back into place, and added more wood to keep the flames burning. 

I love to read, so I have many books laying around, either waiting to be enjoyed, or revisited if they ended up becoming a favorite. One in particular comes to mind that I pulled off the shelf today while dusting;  "Epiphany" by Paul McCusker.
"Richard Lee may be gone, but he's not yet departed. In this captivating Christmas novella, as the unseen observer of the family events that follow his own death, Richard watches his children return to their hometown to attend his funeral, settle the estate . . . and come to terms not only with their father's passing, but the general direction their lives have taken"

I've always loved the word epiphany. I was walking through a bookstore one very cold December Saturday when I stumbled upon this little gem. When I read the excerpt that I just shared with you, I chuckled a little as that is my sons fathers first and middle name, Richard Lee. I thought, well this was meant for me to read obviously, especially given the fact that it has an unreal "It's a Wonderful Life" quality that leaps out of the page from almost the beginning. I hope I've enticed you enough to read it.

Reading a book again, is like visiting an old friend. A comfortable place where you go to become warm inside. Learn about life, or just sit quietly.

What makes you feel nostalgic? I've noticed the feeling coming around after I've just spent time with my family. I was able to walk the beach every morning with my sister(s) over the Christmas holiday. Watching the kids romping through the sand, drinking coffee, laughing hysterically as we are trying to get everyone to stand still and look straight ahead for pictures.....are my favorite memories from this trip. Both my mom and Dad were there, it was monumental to say the least. My youngest sister has become quite the photog, you can visit her here http://www.sincerelysara.zenfolio.com .  In her "About me" portion of the home page, my favorite part reads "I read once that "the days are long but the years are short."

Indeed.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS If I could have THIS with breakfast every morning, my world be a very zen place.

The end of Innocence?

I immediately started humming the song by Don Henley/Bruce Hornsby but thats not what I'm writing about today. Although this line from the song, "Didn't have a care in the world" would absolutely fit.
Somehow one of my 90 mile per hour discussions with a best friend today led to the "remember when" and "what was your most favorite Christmas gift you received when you were growing up?"
I have a two word response for that question. Barbie. Dreamhouse. It had an elevator in it people!
I explained that I also had a Barbie townhome, so of course I hooked the two together, therefore having a makeshift Barbie Mansion. I placed them right next to the Christmas tree, and pretended that I had the biggest Christmas tree in the entire Barbie neighborhood. Of course the kitchen didn't have a "toy" oven in it, it had one painted on the inside of one of the townhome walls, where you could clearly see a painted apple pie in the oven. So the poor thing could only cook that one lone pie, over and over everyday. I KNOW she got tired of that. You really had to use your imagination playing with Barbies (since they can't talk), apparently MY imagination ran rampant from the time I got up in the morning to the time I went to bed (and still does at times). I think it's because my mom read to me a lot when I was growing up. I'm surprised kids today can't make a live doll with the way things are going, like in the movie "Weird Science". #quote "Making a girl. Actually making a girl. Like Frankenstein... except cuter" This would fall in the "and we'll be flying through Space like the Jetsons soon" statement.
I remember this particular Christmas so well, and I know my sister does too (hi Melissa) because she got a speed buggy. Oh how I wish I had that picture of her sitting in it <-------I'll get a phone call about this statement with possible death threats. =) She also got a Sit 'n Spin, we made ourselves so dizzy with that thing. How does one come up with genius ideas like that. "Hey, wouldn't it be fun to sit indian style on a sphere with a round handle in the middle so you could spin at high speeds until we fall over?!" YES! Lets do it!. (seriously?) We got sleeping bags that year too, I think we slept in the living room by the Christmas tree that night and for the entire week after Christmas.
Nostalgia at its best, remembering these things.

I dont think I'll ever see the end of innocence. I don't want to anyway. Yes we grow up, become adults, hopefully more mature than when we were younger, learning who we are and becoming the best version of ourselves if we're lucky. Those stepping stones of childhood, as we move along our paths, encountering different circumstances, are an absolute necessity in helping us reach our destination. I look back on them sometimes, and find myself grateful for them.
Whatever your story is, I hope you have favorite memories like these.

Four day weekend commencing.....now.

 Have a great weekend, and a very happy Easter!

I'll see you soon,
Tiffany

Note to Sara: yes you were there, but you won't remember this Christmas, you were just a baby. =)