Thursday, September 19, 2013

A Gift From Heaven

I am an avid reader, and in several novels I have read, the main character has received an unexpected gift from a loved one who had passed away.  I always thought it would be so special to receive a gift like that myself.  Well... I can finally say it did indeed happen to me.  An unexpected gift arrived from my Dad who passed away just 2 months ago... and it arrived just when I was deeply feeling his loss, and really needing to feel his presence.

One of my all time favorite authors is Sue Grafton and her alphabet series... A is for Alibi, B is for Burglar, C is for Corpse... etc.  I have read every single book in this series and anxiously await for the next novel to be written and hit the market.  My Dad and I both shared a love for Sue Grafton and all her books.

When my Dad passed away a couple months ago, my brother and I had to go through his apartment and all his personal possessions to pack them up, give them away, and choose items we wanted to keep for ourselves.  It was a tedious and emotional experience... we found ourselves feeling every invasive of his personal space... but it was a task that had to be done, and could only be done by my brother and I.  While it does feel very invasive, it also serves as good closure and an end to completely knowing everything possible about one who has passed from your life.

While going through his personal items, we found totes and totes of books he had read, planned on reading, or was in the middle of reading.  I get my love of reading from both my parents.  I came across a couple of Sue Grafton's books that I had not yet read, so of course I took these items to read and to cherish.  As I read these books over the next few weeks, I couldn't help but continually think of my Dad... remembering many happy moments of him sitting or lying in the window seat, reading on cold snowy and rainy days, or of the many books we would chat about after reading them, or the many cookbooks he would send to me for my Birthday and Christmas, and the many books I would send to him on his Birthday, Christmas, and Father's Day.  It was good to enjoy reading Sue Grafton's books, as well as taking this walk down memory lane with my Dad.

The first year of firsts without a loved one is always tough... however, my first first was my Birthday, and my Birthday just happens to be one of those special days I ALWAYS knew I would get to chat with my Dad.  I would receive a very special card with a hand written sweet message inside, and he would always send me a new cookbook.  I had just finished reading the last of the Sue Grafton books I had gotten from his apartment, when my Birthday rolled around.  The day of my Birthday made me really really miss my Dad.

Immediately after my Dad passed away, I was looking online for when Sue Graton's new book (W) would be released.  While searching on Amazon.com for this book, a window popped up about entering a sweepstake to win her new book "W is for Wasted" and be one of the first to obtain a copy of this book before it actually hit the market.  So... of course I entered this sweepstake... then I completely forgot about it and was patiently waiting for this new book to hit the market so I could purchase it and begin reading it.

It just so happens that I indeed won this book!  Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!  I was beyond excited to have actually won this new book of Sue Grafton's... but... in my heart I just KNEW that my Dad had had something to do with it.  I'm convinced he sent this book to me from Heaven for my Birthday, and it arrived just when I was missing him the most.  I am currently in the middle of reading and enjoying this new novel... and thinking of my Dad with each page I read, but... I also feel such peace and happiness inside knowing how much my Dad would have also enjoyed reading this new book.

Some may think that this is all just a coincidence... but I truly believe this was a gift from Heaven, sent to me by my Dad to let me know he too misses me, and was indeed thinking of me on my Birthday.  Thank you Daddy for this AWESOME gift, I will cherish it forever, and you made my Birthday the most special of all Birthday's!  I still miss you bunches, but now I KNOW you ARE still with me and will always be watching over me!  LOVE and HUGS, Victoria!

Monday, September 16, 2013

Feeling Fallish

Well here it is that time of year again, when Summer is waning and Autumn is falling.  Some love this time of year, and some dread this time of year.  I'm one of those who is already mourning and whining about the end of Summer.  I am a heat and sun seeker, wanting to be outside from sun up til sun down.  There are 5 days left until the "official" end of Summer and beginning of Fall... the question is.... where DID this Summer go?

I can feel Fall in the air, and am beginning to see signs of Fall in the trees.  I really actually don't mind the Fall season... it's just that... Fall comes and goes so quickly, and then before you can say Happy Halloween, we are in the midst of Winter.  Fall is definitely a very beautiful time of the year, with a the beautiful colors, crispiness in the air, and a very earthy scent filling the nostrils.

On my bucket list is taking a trip up to the North East for the "color tour"... however, this won't be the year for that because my schedule is already booked thru January, but I am sure it will get checked off my bucket list in the next couple of years.

I truly try to be a positive person... so in keeping with that... I will focus on the good things that the season of Fall brings with it.  Such as... caramel apples, leggings/jeans worn with boots, sweaters and scarfs, Halloween and Trick or Treating.  Thanksgiving and the feast that goes with, pumpkins, apple pie, football games and tailgating, apple cider and hot chocolate, lit fires in the fire place... the list goes on and on, and I'm sure you readers have your own special things to add to this list.

Once Winter has also arrived, it's not soooo bad... the snow is pretty and delightful, Winter brings Christmas, New Years, and Valentines Day.  But Winter also brings... heavy coats and sweaters that are necessary, along with the need for car hinnie heaters and defrosting the windows.  Once the fun holidays of Winter have come and gone, there is always the promise that Spring is just around the corner.

I do enjoy the change that the different seasons bring with them, but no season makes me happier than Summer... with the scent of suntan lotion, chlorine, and sunshine!  Here's to a fun Fall, beef stew, caramel apples, cutie patootie children in their Halloween costumes, and to boots, sweaters, and scarfs!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Birthday Reflections

Today is my 55th Birthday... yes... I turned double nickels today!  The weirdest part of turning 55 is that I just don't feel like I am 55... I truly feel like I'm 35.  Even though my body says... "OH YES YOU ARE 55".... my brain says differently.  I have never been one who dreads my Birthday or the number of years I have reached... each one is a celebration, and each day in between is a blessing.  I hope to celebrate Birthdays up into my 90's or even reach 100.... IF I'm still of sound mind and body.  I proclaim my age happily without hesitation, and always will.

On the day of all my Birthdays, I reflect back on the past year, what I have experienced (good and bad), and then I reflect forward on what I want to do in the year ahead.  This past year has had many good times and some of my deepest saddest times as well... and this is definitely my hardest Birthday yet, because my Dear Sweet Dad passed away just 6 weeks ago.  I didn't get to see, visit, or talk to my Dad often... but when we did get to connect it was ALWAYS just so special.  I could always count on him calling me on my Birthday, getting a card from him with a loving message inside, and usually getting a new cookbook as a gift from him.  I can't help but just feel sad today knowing I won't get that phone call from him ever again, and not smiling at receiving the cookbook he had selected just for me.  The year of firsts is always the hardest when a loved one passes from your life... but it's really hard when your first first is your Birthday.  I sure do miss you Dad!!!!!

Moving on to happier times of this past year... my husband Joe and I purchased a new house in Florida.  It is the first house in our 35 year marriage that we bought just because we wanted to live in a certain place.  Our entire marriage has been us "having" to move here or there for his career... never knowing how long we will get to stay in each place, and never knowing where the next move will take us.  We decided it was time to take advantage of the slow housing market, and the great interest rates to purchase a vacation/retirement home for our future.  We absolutely LOVE our new home and have already spent several weeks enjoying time in it.

I had bunion surgery on my right foot 2 days after my Birthday last year, and then bunion surgery on my left foot in January this year... here I am a year later, getting my screws removed next week and pretty much back to 100% with my feet.  It was a long year of recovery, but it felt like it went quickly and the pain was far less than I expected.  It was surgery that needed to be done, the pain prior to the surgery was MUCH worse than any of the pain post surgery, and here I am... all done!

I received a GORGEOUS yellow diamond bracelet from my AWESOME husband this year for our 35th wedding Anniversary!  35 years with my soulmate and love of my life.... I'm just soooo very blessed!

I've met several new friends this year, who have become some of my 'Dearest Friends'.  Other than my Father's passing a few weeks ago, (which I am soooo grateful, and feel so blessed that I made it to his bedside before he passed, and held his hand until he left this world for the next) this has been a really wonderful year, full of love, friendship, opportunities, and blessings.  Sooo much to look forward to in the year ahead of me.

I am looking forward to being a Guest Chef in this year in front of me... a challenge and opportunity I never thought possible.  I am excited about my menu for this Guest Chef appearance, and the evening spent with others who will enjoy my labors.  I look forward to many more trips, and time spent in Florida enjoying our new home with family, friends, and loved ones.  I look forward to being able to play golf again after my year recovery with my feet.  I look forward to continue learning the two new languages I am in the process of learning (French and Spanish).  I look forward to also being able to race my husband's porsche again after my year of recovery.  And with the smell and feel of Fall in the air, I am looking forward already to next Summer... my FAVORITE time of the year!

Who knows what other opportunities and blessings lie ahead of me in my path as I live each day of my 55th year... but I am excited for each day ahead of me, for every loved one and friend who I will get to spend time with this year, and for all the new challenges I will get to engage in.  Getting older is a wonderful thing.  We can reflect back on all our good times, cherish all the times we were able to spend with loved ones, and hopefully change those things we need to change from the lessons and mistakes we have made in the past.  It is only 10:00 am and I have already had a morning filled with loving Happy Birthday wishes from loved ones, family, and friends!  I truly am VERY BLESSED!  Here's to my year of double nickels!!!!

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About Me

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I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.