You're One of My Kind



Happy 13 12th Anniversary to my honey bunny. This is the honest truth ... I have to get our marriage certificate out every year so I can verify the correct year of our wedding. It's crazy, I know. There was a lot going on back then and we were having so much fun that getting married was simply a formality. It was a spur of the moment decision to seal the deal on a weekend we were heading to Laughlin, Nevada for a big round-up with a couple hundred like-minded friends. I was super excited about the weekend plans and sometime about a week before the event, he popped the question: hey, ya wanna get married while we're in Nevada? Super romantic, right? That's how he rolls and I've been rolling with him ever since. For documentation's sake, I said yes but I warned him that if it got the tiniest bit complicated, we would be putting it off until we got back from Nevada. I don't do complicated. It wasn't. We did. And, we're still doing this marriage the best way we know how ... one day at a time.

 

I woke up thinking about this last twelve years. Here is what I've learned from my side of the street. This is what has worked for us. Take what you want and leave the rest:

• Marriage shouldn't be hard.
• This relationship comes first. I love my friends but he's number one.
• We try hard to not criticize each other.
• Pay attention to physical stuff. We're getting older. Take care and tend to each other. Attend doctor appointments together.
• We try not be crazy on the same day.
• Have your own interests.
• A lot can change in 24 hours. Sleep on it ... whatever it is.
• Know your limits. Know their limits.
• Be flexible.
• Be kind.
• Be forgiving.
• Be yourself.

I heard an old favorite song from the 80's on the radio this morning by INXS called "Need You Tonight" ... I've got to let you know, you're one of my kind. Nothing has been truer in my life so far. Raising my coffee cup to you, husband of mine, father and grandfather, friend and keeper of our fur kids. I adore you more than I can ever say. love, susan

Movie Marathons

What a perfect day for a movie marathon. I don't believe my hubby has ever sat in one place with me for 12 hours to watch the entire season of anything. But today he did!

 

"Making a Murderer" (on Netflix) has been the hot topic of discussion at work and on the internet. I've been eyeing it but I didn't really want to start a new series until I finish watching all episodes of "Parenthood" (I'm in Season 5 now).  Nonetheless, I turned it on at 7:45 this morning and just finished it about 7:30 tonight.

 

We took a break so he could go buy hamburger, buns, and frozen french fries. While he was at the store, I stuck my head outside to see if there was still snow on the ground from this morning. It was raining and I captured this beautiful double rainbow.

 

Making a Murderer is fascinating and sad. I can hardly wait to get back to work to discuss it with friends. I'm not going to reveal anything about it here in case you haven't seen it yet.  See it!

 

I did manage to take a shower tonight but I'm not giving up my jammies.

 

When was the last time you did a movie marathon? What did you see?

 

love, susan

 

 



Three Days After Christmas

A road trip yesterday led me to stand out in the middle of the bridge in Prosser to shoot this calm winter day. I'm not sure when I've ever experience zero wind but I was thankful for the calmness and sheer beauty of the moment captured here. Just prior to this shot, two bald eagles flew overhead.  This was the perfect ending to a hard week. Or perhaps the beginning of a better week, whichever way you look at it. Friends buried their 2 1/2 year old baby on Thursday. Three days after Christmas his heart stopped beating. The service was as beautiful as that sort of thing can be. I wasn't going to attend but at the last minute realized it was not about me. The speaker must have said the word love about a hundred times and I felt it. Their baby had many physical challenges but I never saw him or photos of him without a huge grin on his face. He brought joy to this planet, that was his purpose. At the end of the service, they played a home video where he was responding to his mother's voice. He never talked but he tried. Everyone attending the service was touched by him in one way or another.  His smile will be forever etched in my mind.

Life surprises me every single day, just like those eagles flying overhead. Take a look around. There is so much to experience. Some things are hard but even in the difficult events there often is something to be positive about. Do not be discouraged.

 

love, susan 



Adios Facebook

I deactivated my Facebook account today. I've been thinking about it for quite awhile and this action falls in line with my theme word for 2016. Improve.  The countless minutes and hours I've spent looking at my screen is time I can't get back.  The decision was hard. I have a photography page I started some time last year and it is where I promote the fact that I love taking family photos (for free) for people. It's not a business. It is purely a hobby that I've been able to share with a lot of people through the FB page and word of mouth. Will I be asked to take photos if I'm not on FB? We'll see.  PICTURES of family and friends I will undoubtedly miss because I deactivated. Plenty of people don't have FB, right?  EVENTS may happen where I'm not invited because I'm not on FB. Oh well. I've never had a lack of things to do or places to go. NEWS will be from another source now. The straw that broke my FB camel's back was a meme that was put up by an otherwise funny source this week. It was a racist, bullying, not-so-funny meme that has become the norm on my FB roll. I've had enough. POLITICS can go on without me. I will not suffer one more day of seeing Donald Trump's face on my phone screen, bless his heart. MY BEHAVIOR is bound to change. It has already changed since I started sending emails to my closest people in September. Some great dialogue has happened and I hope it continues.

How much time do you spend on FB? Do you have trouble turning it off?

love, susan