D-Day – Taking the Moment

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some … stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. ~~ Gilda Radner

Hard to believe that so much time has gone by and not a word from me published in this blog for many months.  To say my life of the past year or so (or more) has been one of ups and downs would be an understatement.  And believe me… I feel tremendous guilt, even remorse that I haven’t kept up with my ideal to post regularly here.  So much to say …

But, nevertheless, a myriad of reasons have kept me away.  Ranging from personal to financial to legal… to new employment, new homes and changed surroundings; along with lost friends but new relationships, computer breakdowns, issues of health, issues of politics and even poker.  Yes poker!  All and more have conspired to keep me from writing, but enough about my “living the dream,” time to stop and smell the roses!  Better yet, time to write about the fragrance.  Taking the moment, making the best of it and not knowing what’s going to happen next.

Tribute to a Dad

My ex-father-in-law played an integral part in my life for more than 20-years.  He is the only father I’ve ever known.  Today is his 90th birthday.

It’s hard to imagine that so many years have gone by, but that seems to have become normal for me when recalling fond memories of the past.  I’m older today by a few years than he was when we first came to know one another.  At the time I was 23.  He was bigger than life, outgoing, happy-go-lucky, energetic and just plain fun!  I liked him from the start as does anyone privileged to know him.  The father of six daughters and now the grandfather and great-grandfather of dozens more he’s lived a rich and full life.  I hope today he would reflect back on those 90-years and can say he’s enjoyed the journey.  I think he has.  And I hope too he would know how proud his father, and his mother too, would feel about their son’s many accomplishments.

It Was a Wonderful Life

Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997)

This past Saturday July 2nd marked the fourteenth anniversary of the death of my favorite actor Jimmy Stewart.  Over the span of his 89 years Stewart created an enduring movie legacy that is matched by few.  But being one of Hollywood’s most revered film stars wasn’t all there was to the legend.  Stewart was also a devoted husband and father, a humanitarian, a patriot, and a bona fide war hero.  Here are a few things about him you may not have known.