Valentine’s Day Everyday

Valentine’s Day what does it mean 

It is a  special day that it does seem

I know it is not the candy or flowers

 For me it is more about the hours

All the times we sat and talked

The times thru the fire we walked

To each other holding on tight

Happy to know we made it through the night

It looked like it could not be

But it is right we did see

It is the tears and the laughter we do share

knowing each of us is always there

It is those things that lead up to the day 

The gift for me is all the love you give me along the way

 

So to my  love I say

Happy Valentine’s Day

Everyday!

 

 

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THANK YOU TO ALL SERVICE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES – “MY VILLAGE”

 

I realized something lately and that is the Military Service life I grew up in did me a lot of good.  My dad served 21 years in the Air Force.  It took me a while to fully appreciate what I learned from that life.

I would first like to start out by Thanking every man and women that has ever or is now serving in services defending and protecting our country.  THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.  I also want to thank their families.  Unless you have grown up or been in the military life you don’t realize all the families go through  and the sacrifices made many times.  Moving constantly among all else.  This is very hard on the families. 

I grew up an Air Force brat moving every couple of years.  Always the new kid on the block.  Being very shy in those days it was very hard.   But it was also exciting in one way and that is that I got to see and live  in a lot of the US and lived in Japan and went to first grade there.  Japan was beautiful and very different but fascinating to see the difference in cultures.  That experience showed me a whole new world and I loved traveling even then.

Someone made a comment that set me off about another country and its people a few days back.  Thinking about it made me realize how lucky I was and am because of the fact I have been able to meet many people from around the world.  I have been blessed with an international view of the world.   That is one thing about the service you do get.   These people are my “Village” that I grew up with and learned from and saw life through their eyes even if it was for a moment.

Even when  moved to Sunnyvale California our neighborhood had several different nationalities within it.    Most of us have heard and know “it Takes a village to raise a child”.

My village was great.  I learned so much about different people and cultures and learned we are all people and go through so many of the same things.  In the service those families of the service person are a big part of that village.  Again, I thank them because I know it made a great difference in my life and how I look at things.

For me it is a good thing. It has opened me up to so much just in the fact that I got to see so much and meet so many different people from different walks of life.   I see everyone as an individual trying to make it in this world the best they can.  Doesn’t matter what the color of their skin, or shape of their eyes are.  They are just trying to survive and thrive as most of us do.   I see everyone as a  possible friend unless they themselves prove me wrong.

We were going Paris a few years back and we had someone tell us how rude “they” were over there and other negative things.  Well  i am a firm believer in you get what you put out and we went in with excitement ignoring this person’s impression.   Well we were treated great everywhere we went.   I don’t think I came across one rude person in my dealings.  But then we went in with smiles and treated them with respect and we got it back.  It was a wonderful trip.  And that has been the same for all our trips.  We will rob ourselves of meeting some wonderful people if we go with the attitude of other nationalities being bad or unequal to us.   Oh yes you will meet many bad people in life too but remember that is an individual.

Being a service brat gave me a love of travel and meeting different people.  It is wonderful to learn about others.   Again, thank you to all the service families that I had in my life and for your services that you also serve with your spouse.    

I also want to mention how blessed I was in my neighborhood in Sunnyvale.  I had 3 “other moms” whom I grew to love and cherish and taught me a lot of things during my high school years with a lot of stuff going on.  I thank you all and love you ladies!  You were there for me more than you may ever know.   THANK YOU and it is good to still talk to some of you after all these years.  I think you will know who you are if you read this!    It is not about where  your from or what you are it is how you treat others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Place To Be

There is a place I found

A place where nature is all around

The sky is filled with birds to sing to me

A more wonderful song there not be

The flowers and the trees all play their part

They fill my senses and my heart

But most of all it is the view

Of our majestic mountain

which stands tall and protects the valley too

Almost everywhere  you go Mt Si is seen

Once you see it you will know what I mean

It fills your heart with a sense of wonder.

It lifts you up when you ae down under.

A more beautiful view there not be.

for Mt Si is the one for me.

 

 

 

 

 

AGAIN I AM REMINDED!

Again I am reminded on how unexpected life is and the only for sure is that it will end.  In the last few years I have lost three very important people in my life.   They are at peace now so I am happy for them.    I realize more than ever how important it is to remember all the good things, learn from the bad and more on.  Live while you can.  That world has so much beauty and good in it if we look for it instead of looking at the bad always.  We already know we can find that.  It is wasted time we can never get back.  Being bitter and angry produces illness.  It robs us of precious time.  Being nice to people does not take money or good looks or higher education, not that it is bad to have any of those but it is not mandatory.  You get the same sense of satisfaction from a smile or a pleasant word back either way and  if you don’t you gave food for thought to a unhappy person.  Some times all someone needs is a smile to change their whole day from bad to good.  A kind word goes many many miles.

We will be healthier and happier through kindness.  The world needs this.  This is what will help bring peace.

LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE!

Today my blog is also on my Facebook page also.  I think everyone needs laughter in their live.  So the more that can be reminded the better for all.

So much sadness, so much sorrow.

Let us all stand together and

wish for a better tomorrow!

 

And yet there is so much that is good out there. But you don’t get overloaded with that kind of news. And how about the kids?  What are they to think when that is the focus?

 

I try to focus on that as so many of us do but all we hear about the world is negative all the time.

Many years ago it was suggested to me not to watch the news, especially before trying to go to sleep. Anything I need to know I will find out but to hear everything that is wrong is so narrow and hazardous to one’s health.   

I think we all need more laughter. It is the best medicine up there on the list under prayers. Pills can’t do it.

Our cousin from Australia sent us this e-mail. A reminder to me as I needed reminding to take my laughter everyday.   He and His wife laugh a lot and like to make others laugh too. 

This video is a few years old but it still made me laugh. So I thought I would share it.

And if this doesn’t I hope you find something that will.

 

How women burn Fat in France

https://www.youtube.com/embed/yEH4Yum4nN4

 

I wish everyone peace and joy and lots and lots of laughter! It is great medicine. HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Yes Again! As We Get Older!

Shame! Shame! Shame!  Not only I am have not been here at all with a blog, now I show up and use the same title as the last one.  But what can I say?  I am getting older and learning all these new things.

But they are not new it is just what we always heard but didn’t believe or realize how it goes.  When we are young we are invincible and think we can do it all.  In reality the wall of  invincibility breaks down with age and that’s when the “OH I GET IT OR OH I SEE WHAT THEY MEAN!!”  comes to us!

I have lost several more people in my life.  It is so hard sometimes.  Some have led long good lives, some not so good but all taught me many things.  All leave a small hole in my heart.  I choose to remember the good from all of them.

I choose to pay attention now more than ever to what I say and how I treat people.  One never knows when it may be the last thing you say.

I choose to show more kindness to everyone, again now more than ever.  I see how life can just vanish!  I see more and more I need to keep learning and keeping my mind open and non-judgmental because I have not walked in their shoes.  And even if the stories of people are the same it never is just the same.  Everyone’s experience is different even under the exact circumstances.  And no matter how bad one story is there is worse!

So now that I will attend another good-bye to someone I loved.   I am now really starting to appreciate getting older!  Think of the Alternative!

I learn how precious our time is and the way I want to spend mind is in peace and love!  Now I will appreciate life and my loved ones more and I Thank God for everyday I get to be here and appreciate life AND as I get older!

 

 

As We Get Older!

I have heard many things about “As we get older”.    And I am now seeing a lot of these things happening as I get older.  One of them is loss.  The older I get the more loss I see.  There is not just older people either just people you know that seem to die young or old.

Of course we all expect to see our grandparents and parents go.  That is one of the hardest things.  My dad died when I was in my early 30’s  and then every now and then we would lose a friend or an uncle or two in a year.

I have started losing more and more friends.  And last year the very devastating loss of my mother.  So what does all this means.  It means that as I get older so does everyone around me and we are all approaching that age where people are dying at.

So what have I learned from this?  Well take good care of my health.  Be kind to others especially those you love their time may be soon and then they are gone.  It is too late to let them know how much you cared.      Because we never know when it is our time.

I also have learned that stress is  a big killer.  Every day I start my day now sitting outside listening to mother nature’s news cast for the day.  No TV. not even my music which I love and listen to all the time.  Music is medicine for the soul and mind and body.  But being outside sitting. listening, feeling the morning air at 5  or 6 am (or whatever time you get up will help start your day with calm and joy.  And hopefully more time to hang around with a good friend that just may not be around for long.   You may find something different that works better for you but keeping stress away from your life is critical.

Yes age does bring a lot to us, I just want to handle it with as much grace as I can and hopefully these old bones will take me  and my friends and family through to another day.  Thankfully I have discovered how to start my day right and I will be working on all the rest!   Have a Great Day!

 

To Our very special friend Chris V.  you will be missed and you most certainly will be remembered!

Life’s many roads and side streets!

I started this post about 4 times now and all going in different ways.  I was even thinking of giving up the blog all together since this last year my attendance to it has been so bad.  I have never been a daily blogger but so much has distracted me this last year and a half that all my writing has suffered.  Practice makes perfect but you have to do it to reach that.  And I am not a quitter so as I typed almost a whole page on it I realized I could not do that.

Then I started a page but it was a rant and I didn’t get too far when I realized that I didn’t want a negative post especially since I hadn’t been on for a while.    I always try to have positive posts unless it is something I feel is important enough to rant about.  As I deleted this page to start over I was lost in my head.  Where are my poems?  Where are my stories??   Why am I at that writer’s wall again or I should say still??

So, I started this yesterday, let’s see how far we get???? Lol!!!

I find that life has many roads and side streets to travel.  Some lead to nowhere, some lead to danger, some lead to wonderful things for us to see and experience.  It is our choice how we choose to react and learn from each turn we take.  And that is what many of the turn offs and side streets are for.  Learning!  It may be something we need to learn about ourselves or others but it is put there for that.  If we choose not to learn from it then it is our choice if the outcome isn’t what we wanted, we did choose it.  It takes some of us longer to remember that, and learn these lessons but bottom line is we make the choice.  Of course, there are circumstances that come that people cannot control such as illness, death, and other issues, but it is still our choice how we handle it.  I think this last year and a half this has been one of my lessons along with patience and letting go.  I think these are hard lessons but I see now I do have control to learn and grow from these lessons.   As I change the way I look at them I see the difference on how I handle them.  And  WORK is involved.   Work is a main tool in life.  If you don’t put in the work you won’t get very far.  I have always had good work ethics but I keep forgetting to apply it to all aspects in my life especially in myself on this journey of life and its many roads and side streets.  So I am rolling up my sleeves to dig in and do the work.

Now I came back to finish this morning and still not sure if this is what I wanted to write about when I got this in my mail I figured the timing was right:

“We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what’s wrong in your life, or you can focus on what’s right.”

– Marianne Williamson

I also want to thank all my followers who stick with me.  I really appreciate your support and patience.

To the bloggers out there who put out so many good posts and every day!  That is impressive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAR

I am sharing this wonderful poem from friend.   He posts from what he calls his “front Porch”.    This hit me because I am going to my 50th class reunion this summer.  This poem took me back to that time when Viet Nam was going.  All of us from that era have  been touched by that war.  Either with someone who  died or some who came home so damaged. It was tragic.  My first published poem was in 68 about Viet Nam called “The Gun” it is on this blog somewhere in the back.  But Daron’s is more about the people mine was about the gun.  With all that is going on right now this sadly could be a real thing again.  WE DO NOT WANT WAR!!!   Daron’s poem shows how it touches everyone. He especially felt it.  Thank You Daron for reminding me of friends past and present who still live the trauma.  And Thank You for bringing this awareness to us all!!

 

WAR

(Dedicated to my Brother, Eric Schwartz, 1st Marines, Vietnam veteran)

Man was at war before he invented the wheel..

He’s fought with everything from stone to steel.

All through time he’s fought for space.

Wars to preserve his very race.

What troubles me is the standing truth

That the young must die so the old may rule,

That the debt is the lives of daughters and sons

Who must go to ground while still so young.

But war, I’m sure, does not seem so wise

When seen through a troubled mother’s eyes.

Is victory worth a victory won

When a father receives a medal in trade for his son?

War is nothing but a monstrous sin

When you see flames dripping from a child’s skin.

War today will never justify

Hope extinguished in the blink of an eye.

Our children die in a sea of green

For greed the worst that I’ve ever seen.

Humanity dies evermore each day

For we the people to our leaders lack the courage to say

Enough.

DB

3/29/2017

Semper fi

The Inaugural Rise & Thrive Breakfast By ENCOMPASS

Today I would like to promote an event coming up put on by a place close to my heart.  Encompass is a nonprofit organization here in North Bend that helps children and their families.  They serve North Bend, Snoqualmie, Issaquah, and Eastside communities.    They believe that from the start you teach a child to thrive , helping young children get the help they need early.  They know by starting young they are more prepared later on.    I have volunteered in several different places involving kids and I can say Encompass is awesome.   I have seen what they do and how they do it.  I cannot say enough of the love and care and effort they put in to show each child how important they are.  Each child is made to feel good about themselves and their achievements.

Encompass

“Serving the Snoqualmie Valley and Greater Eastside communities.”

Invites

Business people, and community leaders and friends, and family

To attend

The Inaugural Rise & Thrive Breakfast

By

ENCOMPASS

Tuesday, April 25^th from 7:30-9:00 am

At The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge (formerly TPC)

 

 “This unique opportunity will feature an engaging keynote speaker complimented by a delicious breakfast, and will bring together over 250 community leaders, educators, local businesses, and parents to help engage in our vision to create a community where ALL children thrive”

The Keynote speaker will be Bill Krueger, a former Mariner.  He is an active early intervention advocate.  The Pediatric Therapy Branch of Encompass specializes in early intervention.

Chris Cashman, a veteran of television and radio will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Kathy Lambert, King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert will be in attendance as Honorary Chair for this Flagship Event. 

For all the details please go to https://encompassnw.ejoinme.org/rise-and-thrive-2017