What If?

There it sits, wind-blown, sun-bleached, alone. The silk flowers wilting from weather and age. The paint peeling, wood warping, and leaning slightly to the left. The lone cross casting shadows on the dried grass as the rush hour traffic zooms by. A memorial of one lost, not forgotten.

You've all seen one, planted alongside a winding mountain road, posted on a telephone pole near busy intersection. A wooden cross, a sign, a painted white bicycle...a memorial placed at the site where someone lost their life. As you drive by, do you ever say a silent prayer for the lost soul or wonder how their family is doing? Maybe you contemplate your own life and what your family might do if they lost you. But have you ever wondered 'what if...?"

What if we placed memorial symbols in every place where someone has passed away? I know, it's completely morbid, but so is the idea of repeatedly visiting the exact site of your loved one's sudden death! Can you imagine meeting up with your realtor to find a new house & walking in to find a memorial posted on the wall marking the room where someone passed away earlier in the year? Or maybe getting admitted to the hospital for a minor procedure, and the room you're admitted to has a big ole cross on the wall (or maybe a few) denoting that someone died in that room? Would that boost your confidence in your doctor or your chances of making it out of that room alive?

Don't get me wrong, I do believe that we need to remember those who have passed before us. But, that does not mean that I want to go to my grandmother's house and sit in her living room, on a hospital bed, remembering those last few moments of her life. I want to remember her living life! I want to remember those vibrant moments that made me smile, laugh, cry. I would rather not focus on those last few moments, as her emaciated body struggled with her last breath.

So, the next time you're in the grocery store, at the bank, or walking into your public library....just imagine if we plastered the world with memorial plaques any place where someone took their last breath! Just wondering "what if...?"

Half-Your-Age-Plus-Seven

"The 'half-your-age-plus-seven rule' is a mathematical formula used to judge whether the age difference in an intimate relationship is socially acceptable."

So that means....divide by 2, carry the 1....Phew! We just made the cut off! :)

Peace, Love & Happiness on this sunny Autumn day!

"Where's you gavel? Your jury?
What's my offense this time?
You're not a judge but if you're gonna judge me
Well, sentence me to another life"

~Paramore

Plumb

I fell in love with a song the other day! I've been rockin' out to a remix of Damaged by Plumb for years now and the other day, while wandering through the endless tunes on the "HD of Doom," I stumbled across a new favorite Plumb song. If you were ever in search of a great life soundtrack song here it is (especially for any of you parents out there):

In My Arms

Your baby blues, so full of wonder
Your curly cues, your contagious smile
And as I watch, you start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight

Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in but you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down, waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Story books full of fairy tales
Of kings and queens and the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You'll someday see the truth from lies

When clouds will rage
And storms will race in but you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down, waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
But you are never all alone
Because I will always, always love you

When the clouds will rage
And storms will race in but you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down, waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms, in my arms

~Plumb

~>Peace, Love & Happiness<~

Guide to Inking

For any of you out there planning on getting some ink...here's a little guide to help you decide which bodily part to decorate:

On the agenda for this week:

• work
• dinner guests
• housework
  
• music fun
• more work
  
• and fun times!

Hope you all have a great week!

~Peace, Love & Happiness

We've had some rainy days in the City of Trees. I love the way the weather changes here. Last week we were roasting in the 90s and this week everyone is breaking out the sweatshirts & hot cocoa. I only wish we had had some good summer thunderstorms this year. Nothing beats a warm, stormy night.

With the change in temperature comes the need for warm winter-wear. M & I had fun taking the kiddos shopping today for winter coats and warmer shirts. We were much more successful than the earlier swimsuit shopping adventure this spring! Found a toasty warm coat, jeans, shirts & boots for A...and some shirts, tanks & boots for J. Adorable girls! And no shopping trip is complete without a lunch date. A's eyes were HUGE when the waitress came out with the Mile High Mud Pie slice...even between the 4 of us, we couldn't finish it. We were stuffed!

I'm glad we could help their proud papa out...at least give him a break and a boy's day with his baby boy. Plus it keeps M from going through kiddo withdrawals. :)

Wishing you warm days with family & friends!

~Peace, Love & Happiness