Great Reunion in Heaven

Last night I was having trouble falling asleep and somehow got thinking about my grandparents who are gone now and other ancestors that I know only through family history research. I got thinking about whether or not we actually see these people again when we die and if we would all know each other. I finally fell asleep and kept dreaming about this. In my dream I met some of my ancestors. It was such a wonderful dream! I remember feeling so good. Then today, I found out that the mother of friends Becca and Bethanne passed away late last night. "Granny" was such a great person. She had lost her husband about a year ago. Again, it got me thinking about this great reunion in Heaven. I hope that Granny and her husband are together again. Based on my dream last night, I know they are. And, I know that someday, I'll see my grandparents again and tell them all about my kids and everything else that's happened since they left. I'll get to meet all those ancestors I've researched and tried to keep alive through documenting them and their stories. I don't necessarily want that day to come anytime soon but what a magical thought to look forward to someday - many, many, many years from now!

Thanks, Einstein

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --A. Einstein

The Greatest Gifts

One thing I really dislike about Christmas is giving gifts for the sake of giving gifts. To me, the greatest gifts are when you find something you know someone is going to really love or you know it's something they really need. To me the best gifts are:

* Homemade gifts - Giving them and receiving them. When I was a kid, I used to make everyone a gift. I got so much joy out of that. I could hardly wait for them to open my homemade gifts. I wouldn't even care about opening my own presents. I have to admit, some of the gifts were gifts only a mother (or grandmother) could love! Today I gave my ski friends the scrapbooks I made. I was so excited to give them!

* Gifts from someone who really "gets you" - A few years ago, I had a friend, Allison, that I exchanged gifts with. We always got each other the fun, quirky, hobby-related gift that no one else would think of to get us but that we always loved.

* A gift that someone really needs - These days, when people need something, they just go out and buy it. That makes gift-giving even harder.

* A gift from someone you don't expect to get a gift from - To me, that means they really appreciate you for something or found something they just knew you'd love. For example, today I unexpectedly got an edible arrangement of flowers made of fruit from some facilitators on my team that I worked with a lot this year. They thanked me for all my hard work with them this year. Very special to me!

* A letter - A letter sharing a story, family history, a happy memory, feelings, etc. are wonderful gifts that mean so much. One year, a distant cousin shared a bunch of family history with me for Christmas. This year, Alex wrote his girlfriend a poem for Christmas. I didn't get to read it (too embarassing for him he said) but what a sweet thing for a 15 year old boy to do! I hope she loves it!

* A gift that makes a dream come true - See horse story below.

A Gift Horse

As usual, I'm not feeling the magic of Christmas this year. It all seems so rushed and contrived. More and more people aren't doing things like sending Christmas cards or decorating their houses. It seems to just be all about the shopping and feeling guilty cause we really can't afford to buy all that we are buying. But . . . one thing happened this past week that I hope results in magic for one little girl and if it does, I'll know that I had a part in making that magic happen. That will make me feel good!

Here's the story: I have a friend who has a horse she needs to find a new home for. I have another friend who is looking for a horse for his daughter. So, I let him know about it. It turns out he has already gotten a horse for his daughter but has another friend, Al (that I also know from college,)who is looking for a horse for his daughter. When I asked my friend with the horse what she wanted for it, she said her husband was willing to give it away if it went to a good, loving home. You can't beat that! So, I just heard that Al is very interested and is going to look at the horse. He's hoping it will be the right horse for his daughter and he can bring it to his place and surprise her on Christmas morning! I remember horse crazy friends I had as a child and know how excited they would've been for that kind of gift. I wish I could be there to see her face!

Word Magic

I think words can be fascinating - where they come from, what they mean, how they sound, "double-meanings" . . . The other day I experienced an interesting play on words. The Weight Watcher leader at work sent an email explaining that a new session starts in January and at that meeting you can join Weight Watchers or resign. I did a double take. I have to resign from Weight Watchers? Can I really?!! Then, I realized she meant - "re-sign" as in enroll again. It got me thinking about how it's sort of ironic that one word spelled the same can mean very different, almost opposite, things. I can "re-sign" or rejoin (a weight loss group) or I can "resign" as in "quit" (the weight loss group)or, I can resign myself or "give in to the inevitable" as another definition the dictionary gives. In other words, I can resign myself to a life of weight watching! Just a little word magic to liven up a dull dreary winter day.

Words I like because of how they sound: Serendipity, circuitous, juxtaposition, malaria, ironic, charisma, myriad, cello, clairvoyant, panorama, conundrum, phenomenal

The Magic of Gratitude

Yesterday, the nation took time out to officially give thanks. While Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday, gratitude is magic we can find everyday. It's very easy to get
really caught up in everything that's wrong in our lives. However, I guarantee your outlook will change if you take time every day to list or think about three things you are greatful for. Even finding one thing can turn the day around. At this official "time out" for gratitude I am greatful, of course, for family, a home, a job, and health. But here are some other "off beat" things I am greatful for that have a tremendout impact on my well-being. I am greatful for:

1. My craft room and the opportunity to spend time being creative.
2. Having the opportunity in my life to have learned to do many different things that I can still enjoy - skiing, scrapbooking, playing the violin, writing
3. An understanding boss who is also a soccer mom
4. My Book Club
5. My yearly ski trip to look forward to
6. The fact that the worst thing we've had to deal with so far in having teenagers is a trip to court for a speeding ticket!
7. Kids with good grades and that care about their grades
8. The Internet -- that makes anything you need to know available within seconds, allows you to find and reconnect with old friends, hosts webcams that let you glimpse into another part of the world, provides ways to instantly communicate and share information, and so much more!
9. The fact that Dwight and I are in our mid/late 40s and still have all of our parents with us in relatively good health
10. Being able to leave my kids home alone and be able to trust them
11. Having a husband that cooks dinner since I hate to do that and helps out around the house

Lost and Found

I don't know if this is true for anyone else but when it comes to losing things I tend to lose things in "chunks." What I mean is, I can go for weeks and not have lost or be missing anything important and then all of a sudden I can't find a bunch of things. In the past week or so I've been stressing over losing Dwight's spare car key, a key to a desk drawer at work, an external comptuer drive at work (I think someone borrowed it and didn't replace it), and Mackenzie lost a video card from one of her teacher's cameras that she borrowed. It had important pictures on it. When I can't find important things I get all stressed out and tear apart things looking for them. Usually that is not effective, but I feel that I should be doing something. What I've learned, though, is that usually I find lost things when I'm not looking for them. They just seem to appear. This has been true this time as well. Yesterday, Alex found Dwight's keys in the backseat and I also realized what I had done with the desk key. Tonight I was looking for the video card for Mackenzie. I didn't really find it -- all of a sudden I looked and it was just lying there in front of me on the desk as I searched. I really don't know where it came from. I haven't found the external drive yet. So, I'll wait and bide my time. I feel confident it will turn up. I tend to find when I'm not looking. A good lesson for life in general!

Where are the Refrigerator's Going?

This past weekend I was on the road a lot all over Ohio. Friday, Mackenzie and I went to the University of Cincinnati. Then, Saturday I drove up to Medina to meet my cousins from PA to scrapbook and visit with family. I came home Sunday. While I was on road, I saw four trucks (at different times) hauling refrigerators! What is up with that? Where were these refrigerators going? Was there a refrigator conference somewhere in Ohio???

Magical Ceiling

Earlier today I was sitting at the computer in the kitchen. The sun was streaming in through the window and Amber (the cat) was sleeping lazily in the sunshine. Mackenzie walked in and said, "look at the lights on the ceiling!" I looked up and saw a bunch of small pastel colored light spots reflecting on our kitchen ceiling. It was beautiful! None of us could figure out what was reflecting the light or where it was coming from. After looking around we finally found that a plate covered in small pieces of colored glass tile I had bought at a thrift store and set on a table in the family room was the source of the unexpected light show!

Fall is Here

I was driving home from work yesterday and as I drove past a wooded area I looked over and - surprise! Fall is here (the season I mean - not the fall of the stock market which is definitely here). Somehow I hadn't noticed the trees changing. Then yesterday - there they were - orange, red, yellow. The colors of fall. Have I just not been observant or did it happen overnight? I mean, it's definitely October. We've had some chilly (but mostly warm) days this month. Soccer is just about over. All the milestones are there. But, I just didn't see it coming! Maybe it's the warm weather that's had me lulled into a sense of never-ending summer. I used to hate fall but now I have to say it's my favorite time of year after spring. I might even like it better. For one thing -the school year is still fairly new. Lately, I've come to dread Spring because it means the school year is on it's way out and my kids are on to another year older. This year, especially, I want to hang on to everyday. Well, my boss gave me the unexpected gift today of a few hours off so I'm going to go out and enjoy the fall!

Senior Moment

Last night Dwight and I walked Mackenzie across the soccer pitch to be recognized for Senior night. It was our first "Senior Moment." This was the first of the moments to come this year when we celebrate the end of high school and get ready to move on. I thought I would be very emotional and I wasn't too bad! I hope I'm that good at graduation! As we walked across the field, I was just so, so proud. She made it! When she was five and just starting to play - with her jersey hanging down to her knees - I dreamt of her playing for her high school team someday and now it's almost over - that fast. Soccer has had a lot of ups and downs for her. She usually hasn't been the best on the team and we've had our struggles with playing time, coaches, etc. But she has always had a good attitude and tried so hard. She's shown so much character -- especially this year. And, she's made so many friends and had a lot of fun. It's been worth every penny we spent. Twenty years from now she won't remember who the starting players were or who won the awards. What she'll remember are the friends, the fun, and the life lessons she learned.

Last night was "magic." The weather was great, the team won AND coolest of all - she scored a goal! I also found out that she and a teammate who she's known a long time resolved some long-time, deep issues that ruined their friendship for the last couple of years. They are now friends again. That's about as good as it gets!

Let There Be Light!

Today's everyday magic is electricity! We finally have it after being without for 54 hours. You really realize the "magic" of electricity when you don't have it! It was so funny how our "enlightenment" happened - we had just gotten home from a soccer game to a pitch black house. Fifteen minutes after we got home, Alex flipped the switch to his flashlight and it didn't come on. Thinking the batteries were dead he went downstairs and replaced them. When he flipped the switch again, the flashlight still didn't light but random lights around the house lit up! If we would've known all we needed to do was turn the magic flashlight on to get power we would've done it two days ago!

The Power of No Power

Right now I'm in the middle of the "everday magic" experience of not having any power at my house. A very severe windstorm - a combination of the remnants of Hurricane Ike and a cold front - knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in Central Ohio. All the neighborhoods around us got power back within 24 hours but we are still without electricity almost 48 hours later. School is out for the second day but unfortunately my office has power (which is where I am now) so no vacation for me. Some observations:

- No matter how much I know I don't have electricity, I still hit the light switch every time I go in and out of a room.

- It's very liberating to know there's no use taking the computer or any work home because there's no way to do it.

- It's liberating not having to spend the evening doing housework, laundry, etc. There's actually a feeling of boredom at night when we can't do anything else. I haven't felt that in a long time!

- It's also very liberating not to spend time in front of the computer and TV. I miss the computer and internet but can at least access it at work and email by phone. I think I'd really be going crazy if I didn't have that.

- It's interesting to see my kids try to figure out what to do without the computer and TV. Alex, especially, is lost. I didn't realize how dependent they are on those things.

- There are so many things we take for granted that we can't do or have to work around - like remember to take a key to the front door (since we can't get in and out of the garage), not put food down the garbage disposal, can't dry my hair, can't iron (which is getting to be a problem since we iron as we go), can't do laundry.

- We are eating great dinners - all sitting down together -- since we have to use up our food before it spoils and all extracurricular activities are pretty much cancelled.

- I have read an entire book (Prizewinner of Defiance County) by flashlight!

- Apparently the preferred comfort food for Westerville residents without power is Ben & Jerrys! Alex and I decided to get some ice cream for a treat in the dark last night. We had to get a small carton to eat in one shot since there's no way to keep a carton cold. I was all psyched for "Chubby Hubby" but Meijer was all out of most B&J flavors. Haagen Daz in the quart container was plentiful as where other brands - all on sale. B & J was wiped out.

- There is a strange feeling of disconnectedness without access to the Internet and TV. I find myself actually listening to the radio for news and looking forward to getting the paper.

- There is also a strange feeling of disequilibrium. We are not suffering physically or financially in any way right now but there is a strange feeling of the universe being off-balance, and a slight feeling of my world being "rocked."

I Remember Like It Was Yesterday

Sometimes everday magic is recalling a bittersweet memory. Most of the time these days I'm doing good if I remember what I did 20 minutes ago, but on this "Back to School Eve" I remember so clearly this day 9 years ago. We had only been in our house a few months then. I was sitting with Alex on the front porch ruminating on the realization that the next day he would start Kindergarten and today was the last "totally free" day of his life - the last day before the long road of education began. I remember thinking that "tomorrow I give my baby to the world." Things would never be the same. Tonight I ruminate and shed some tears over the fact that tomorrow he starts high school. I remember that August day in 1999 so, so clearly that it had to be just yesterday. And, on Thursday, I watch Mackenzie start her Senior year. Really, where does the time go?

Another "Small World" Encounter

Part of the reason I started this blog was to track the times that I ran into or reconnected with old friends or people from my past since people tell me that happens to me more than anyone else they know - and usually in unusual ways. Well, it hasn't happened in awhile but tonight I had another "coincidental reconnection" . . .

We went up to Ashland tonight for Mackenzie's first soccer game of the season. We won. As we were standing in the parking lot talking to my parents who came to the game, an Ashland parent called out to us "good luck with the rest of your season" to be nice. He started to get in his car but Dwight called over to him with a question about their team. The guy came over to us and started talking. All of a sudden, I realized that I was talking to Parrish Lanzer -- a friend from grade school and high school. We played in the orchestra together from 4th grade through Senior year. His daugther was the Ashland goalie. The funny thing is that I would never have known it was him if he hadn't made his "good luck" comment and Dwight asked him a question. It's weird to think that the whole game I was watching the daughter of a good friend from school play soccer and almost didn't even known it. Makes you wonder how many other "close encounters" you have with people from your past that you never know about!

Angel Says: Clear Your Space

The Angels are speaking (or giving me a needed kick in the butt!). I have been working on cleaning out my craft room/office for weeks and weeks. I put a bunch of stuff out in the hall that's just been sitting there cluttering everything up. I just can't seem to get enough time or energy to get the room organized. So, it remains an impossible, cluttered mess. Tonight, I went in there determined to get more done. As I got started, I found in a pile some "angel cards" a friend gave me. It's a deck of cards. Each card represents an angel with a message. You are supposed to select cards, ask a question about something you want to work on or have answered in your life and the Angels' messages on the cards will give you guidance. One way to work with the cards is to spread them out in front of you and select 3 cards you are drawn to in some way or select a card that physically sets itself apart some way. So, to procrastinate from cleaning and organizing, I started playing with the cards. At one point while shuffling the cards I found one that had fallen behind something. I took this to be one of the cards that set itself apart physically so - - it must have great meaning for me! I picked it up and started laughing - the angels' message was, "Clear Your Space! You will better reach your goals and attain the peace of mind you seek if you rid yourself of clutter." The Angel has spoken! Back to work!

Sad Ducks

It's really sad - at work they are draining two beautiful ponds we have around the building to put in more parking ("They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."). As I was walking into the building yesterday, there was just a little bit of water left. What appeared to be a family of ducks stood on the edge of the water line staring at their diminishing pond. It really looked liked they were sad ducks watching their home being destroyed. It made me sad until I saw one of the ducks start "marching" towards the workmen draining the pond. The duck got about as close as he dared to the men and then started flapping his wings - I took this to be the duck equivalent of the middle-finger salute! It made me smile. You go, ducks! Somebody had to tell them.

Totally Summer

As I sit here at the computer on this beautiful mid-August summer night the kids behind us are running around outside - screaming, laughing and playing flashlight tag I think. It hit me how far away from this I am getting. My kids don't run around in the summer darkness anymore playing some kind of game. Tonight Mackenzie is working and Alex is hanging out in the park with his friend Patrick and a couple of girls. And, it's been SO long since I ran around chasing lightening bugs. shooting baskets in the dark, and playing flashlight tag. I barely remember it until a night like tonight with all the windows open, a cool summer breeze, and the kids screaming outside brings it all back. What a feeling - total freedom, total energy, total joy, and totally summer!

Wait - Alex just came in with Patrick and Lauren. They're going to play Cornhole in the backyard! Maybe there's still a thread of childhood summer left at our house.

Gratitude - Even With Teenagers

Everyday Magic is . . . having teenagers that will "hang out" with Mom and Dad - spending all day at the fair with them - and seeming to enjoy it! :)

Dr. Saltz and Dr. Pepper

Sometimes the strangest things amuse me! I was just watching a Tivo'ed episode of Oprah. She had two sex psychologists on. The first one she interviewed was Dr. Pepper Schwartz who they called Dr. Pepper. Later, she brought on the other doctor, Dr. Gail Saltz. It instantly hit me- Dr. Pepper and Dr. Saltz on Oprah together! How funny. Apparently Oprah didn't see the humor in it because she never brought it up or laughed about it. A few times she referred to Dr. Saltz and Dr. Pepper together. I cracked up but no one else on the show ever mentioned the funny coincidence. Just me and my strange sense of humor, I guess. Oh well, everyday magic means finding little ways to amuse yourself!

Chicago - Not So Ordinary Sites

I love to travel and will take any opportunity for a road trip. This past week, Dwight had to go to Chicago for work so Alex and I went along (Mackenzie is on the mission trip). It was fun and tiring. I could recount the usual tourist sights to see but here are the "everyday magic" not so ordinary sites along the way:

* On the way up we saw three tractor trailers hauling the biggest propellors I've ever seen. Each truck had one blade that seemed as long as half a football field. They looked like the kind of blad you'd see on one of those "windmills" that generates power from the wind.

* On the road side in Indiana is a candle outlet with the biggest candle I've ever seen outside of it. I think it could sit alongside the giant Longaberger basket in Dresden and make a nice table display for the Jolly Green Giant!

* While crossing the street in Chicago we got delayed while waiting for a semi truck loaded down with more port a potties than I've ever seen! Definitely not something you see everyday!

* While Alex and I were looking in the Apple Store several guys from a soccer team came in. We really didn't know who they were until people started asking for their autographs. Turns out they were the Everton Club, a British Premier League team in town to play the Chicago Fire. I really didn't care who they were - I just thought they were enjoyable to look at :)

* Alex and I went to the Hancock building observatory (95th) floor. In one of the windows on the outside was a spider building a beautiful web. How did he get up there and wasn't he afraid of heights? What a view, though. Most expensive spider web real estate ever!

It's Summer! Don't Miss It!

My boss has a quote she likes to share, "Some people light up the room by coming in, others light up the room by going out." My friend Becca K is one of those people that lights up the room by coming in, so I was pleasantly surprised to have her show up at my desk for an impromptu lunch invitation out of the office. Many days I don't leave my desk for lunch so actually leaving the building is magic! I was even more pleasantly surprised to have her buy my lunch with a gift card she had. We ate outside and had the opportunity to actually enjoy a pleasant, cooler summer day. Beautiful day, good food, a good friend - it doesn't get much more everyday magic than that! It's also a good reminder to take time from a busy day to do these things. Summer is flying by. Don't miss it!

Uncomfortably Numb

Someone is trying to tell me not to get my tooth crowned! Last fall, I had a tooth that needed crowned. I went to my appointment but was not feeling well. Before he could get started I told the Dentist I was sorry but I was feeling worse and could not go through with a 2 hour dental procedure that night. Work got really busy and I put off the crown until I couldn't stand it anymore and went back this past May. The dentist got me all numbed up (Numbing #1) and then determined that the tooth needed a root canal. He stopped the crown process and sent me off to an Endodontist to do the root canal. I went to the root canal appointment, got all numbed up (numbing #2) and as soon as he started I jumped out of my chair in pain. Couldn't get me numb enough. He gave me some medication to take to try to reduce the inflammation and had me come back the next week. Deja Vu (numbing #3). Couldn't get me numb enough again. Went back a week later, same deal (numbing #4). I finally had to get put out to get the root canal done. Last night I went back to the Dentist for the crown finally. He got me all numbed up (numbing #5). While I was waiting for him to come back and get started there was a loud explosion and the lights went out. A transformer had blown and wouldn't be fixed for hours. Appointment cancelled. No crown. I wonder if the sixth time will be the charm?! Sometimes, you just have to laugh!

Hurts So Good

Today I rediscovered the "joy" of exercise! A group of WCHS "soccer moms" are working out with the coach's wife who is a personal trainer. She had us meet at the lower end of Hoover Dam. We spent an hour walking up hills, doing lunges, and going up and down the steps on the side of the dam! Damn, it hurt (pun intended) but damn it also felt so good to use my body and move! At first I thought I was going to die but as time went on the endorphins kicked in and I actually felt really good! When I got to the top of the dam after climbing all those steps, I felt like Rocky!

6330 Buckingham Dr. , Allen Park MI - 1969

For me, I find magic in revisiting the past -reconnecting. Last week I was in Detroit for work. On the way home I drove through Allen Park where we lived in the late 60s for about 4 years. Our old neighbors that were good friends of our family still live there in the same house where they raised 5 children. I dropped in on them and they remembered me and were glad to see me! They are in their 70s now and have several great-grandchildren!

Since I was no older than 5 when I lived there, most of my memories are just vague snapshots in my mind. But I saw a lot of the things I remembered - the place where our swingset was, the bookcase under the stairs in the neighbor's house, the place where their in-ground trampoline used to be that I loved to play on, the railroad tracks behind the house, the old Farmer Jack grocery store, Telegraph Rd., . . . I was surprised at how much I remembered. Our old house was so small. It didn't seem like it at the time!

Back in the car on the way to Columbus, a DJ on the radio was talking about a song Gonzo sang in the Muppet Movie . . ."I'm Going to Go Back There Someday." It seemed a coincidence to hear this when I did - just leaving a place where I lived so long ago. The first line is, "This looks familiar, vaguely familiar, Almost unreal, yet, it's too soon to feel yet."

Another line in the Muppet song that doesn't have anything to do with this subject really caught my attention. The line is, "There's not a word yet for old friends who've just met." Have you ever met someone for the first time but felt like you've known them forever? I have and it's one of the most magical things I have ever experienced. But that's another topic . . .

Doo Dah, Doo Dah, Blah

Fourth of July week - here is how is was supposed to be - three days off, both kids gone, Dwight and I going on a trip somewhere. Here's how it was - three days off, a bad cold, slept most of two of the days, no trip, a brief outing to the Doo Dah parade (in the rain) and then home and back to the couch. Blah! Kind of disappointing. But, the magic is, I guess, that sometimes your body takes over and says, "You have been working too much you need to rest." At first I felt like I wasted SO much time sleeping and laying on the couch when there were SO many things to do. But, maybe there is some magic in just slowing down and doing nothing.

Music - The Great Time Machine

If you want some instant magic - do this. Think of a year that you want to go back to. Go to iTunes and type in that year in the Search field. You will probably see a collection of songs from that year. Then, sit back and relive the year in 30 second snippets. I just took a tour of the early 1980s - back to high school and first years of college. It's amazing how music can take you right back to moments you had buried deep in your mind.

• Summer concerts at Blossom - Pat Benatar, Loverboy, Michael Stanley Band . . .
• Dancing to "Rock Lobster" and "What I Like About You"
• Feeling "alternative" - Adam Ant, Yaz, Oingo Boingo, The Clash, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Modern English,
• Nursing a broken heart - Total Eclipe of the Heart, Waiting for a Girl Like You, Open Arms
• Crushes - Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
• Cruisin around Medina in Shelly or Jana's car rocking to "The Cars," AC/DC (Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap!), My Sharona
• Depression Songs
• Freshman year of college - Rock the Casbah, Beat It, Billy Jean (or anything by white-gloved Michael Jackson), anything by the Police - Synchronicity . . .
• Going to see Footloose with Amy and Mary and playing the songs over and over and over again
• Anything from 1984 reminds me of Spain - Wham!- Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Careless Whisper, Carribean Queen, I Just Called to Say I Love You . . .

It's amazing the happy and not-so-happy memories just 30 seconds of music can evoke. It seems like every sense of the moment comes flooding back. Music is the ultimate time machine! Where do you want to go?

Different Sports for Different Folks

I can't believe June is over. The summer is passing me by, it seems. I haven't been paying too much attention to anything but work. I need to get refocused on looking for the good and the magic every day. I can tell the difference when I don't.

Probably the most "magical" thing I've experienced lately was over the weekend when I saw three sporting events I have never seen before. One was fencing. Luanne's son was attending a fencing camp at OSU. I'd never seen a fencing match(?) before. It's strange watching something that you have no clue about the strategy or how it is scored. But, it was very interesting -- and interesting to know that a lot of kids are interested in this ancient sport. While looking for the place where the fencing camp was being held, I went into the wrong building and came upon the Special Olympics girls gymnastics competition. I had never seen a Special Olympics event. I was amazed at the determination and sheer joy exhibited by the girls as they competed in front of hundreds of people. It was also moving to see the pride on the faces of their families. Then, leaving the OSU campus I drove past a competitive tree climbing competition! I didn't know there was such a sport! Even though I'm not fond of heights I love climbing trees! I used to spend my days climbing the many fruit trees in my yard in Copley and sit for hours high up in the boughs eating apples and cherries! Seeing that competition brought back some great tree climbing memories!

Thanks, Delilah!

This was a really long week. I think worked 60+ hours to get this project done -- and that's just this week. The last few have been pretty similar. I'm pretty close to being done -- finally! My shoulder hurts so bad I can hardly type this but I wanted to get it down! I got in the car tonight after another 12 hour day. I flipped through stations and found a song I liked. When the DJ came on it was Delilah. She said, "Happy Friday! What did you accomplish this week? Did you finish a big project? Did you make it through to the other side? If so, brag a little. Pat yourself on the back. Good job!" Wow! How did she know? Thanks, Delilah! I needed that!

Summer Breeze

I experienced magic today before I even got out of bed! OK - not THAT - get your mind out of the gutter! What I'm talking about ranks right up there in the simple pleasures of life - right behind falling asleep to the sound of rain on the roof. I'm talking about waking up with the windows wide open and a cool breeze blowing through the window. It's warm enough to have the windows open but cool enough to need a bunch of covers - not that hot, sweaty feeling that summer is usually about. It's for this simple pleasure that I would never want a first floor master bedroom because I would hate to not be able to sleep with the windows wide open on a summer night with a cool summer breeze.

Lucky?

I haven't found too much magic in my days lately. There's just too much "adultness" going on. Work, work, work. My hands ache, my shoulders ache, my hips ache from sitting for 12 hours at at time . . . but enought whining. This too will pass (maybe??).

I did see something today that really made me laugh. A flatbed tow truck passed me with a wrecked car on the back. The vanity license plate read - LUCKY. Lucky? The car certainly wasn't. Hopefully the driver and passengers were.

Sweater Connections

I usually go through my day rushing to get things done and not making making many connections with people. The idea of this blog and looking for "every day magic" was to force me to notice things more - things that make you smile or stop to think. A side effect, it turns out, is making more connections. Yesterday AM on my way to work I stopped a Target for a few things. As I was checking out, I noticed the lady behind me was buying a really pretty lime green sweater with white dots. I really liked it and kept thinking I needed to come back later to get one. A while later, I was at Jo Ann. While waiting in the checkout line at Jo Ann, I noticed a lady in front of me with the same sweater! Turns out it was the same lady! We started talking and I asked her if she just bought the sweater at Target. She thought I asked because she left the tag on! I assured her that she didn't -- I just had noticed the sweater as she was buying it and really liked it. We had a nice conversation and then we both moved on -- but instead of rushing through my day, a connection was made!

Phoenix Rose

There is a huge rosebush outside the front door that must have at least 40 roses or soon-t0-bloom roses! It's really beautiful and even more so to me because the rose bush was a mother's day present to me a few years ago. The thing is . . . it shouldn't be here blooming like it is. Last fall the bush looked really dead. It was very small and mainly brown - brown, hard stem, brown leaves. I decided that I needed to dig up what remained and throw it away. But, somehow, I never got around to it. Winter came and then spring. In April I noticed some growth earlier so decided to spare its life. Mainly again I was just too busy to do anything with it. I got busy and didn't really look at it until a few days ago. Now, you can't miss it as you come up the front walk! It's at least 4 ft tall and weighted down by all the blooms and buds! I have never seen a rose bush with so many blossoms! Like a Phoenix it rose from the ashes and a close call with the trash can! When I look at it, it's more than a beautiful rose bush, it's evidence of the magic that come spring, we can bloom and grow again no matter how down we've been.

Facebook Friends

The big thing with teenagers right now is Facebook, a social networking site. Teenagers consider it their social domain and are appalled that parents and even grandparents are infiltrating their territory. I know my daughter is very put off by us adults being on Facebook. But, like it or not, we are invading. I signed up awhile ago, asked my kids to be my friends and was politely(?) declined! I have to admit that I really haven't gone onto it very much and really didn't see much use for it -- until today. Well, really yesterday. Yesterday's magic was that a friend of mine from high school, Heather, found me on Facebook and got back in touch! It was so great to hear from her! I love being in touch with old friends. I think about my high school friends a lot lately. Maybe it's because having a daughter in high school takes me back. If I only knew then what I know now . . . Some of this wisdom I share with my daughter, some of it I don't because some things you have to learn for yourself! Anyhow, thanks Facebook for providing another way to experience everyday magic -reconnections with old friends.

Giving Back To Your "Roots"

This example of "everyday magic" didn't happen to me directly - but relates to my "roots." My brother, Kenny, is the head boys lacrosse coach at Medina Senior High. One of his players actually lives in the house on Red Oak Circle where Kenny and I grew up in Medina. My parents lived there for about 25 years but moved to a new house about 10 years ago. The boy's father has leukemia and has been in the hospital for most of the spring. The boy's mother has been unable to keep up with yardwork, etc. so Kenny and the rest of the team went over to his house - our old house - last Saturday to plant flowers, cut grass, and spread mulch. Kenny said it was weird to be doing all those things for another family at the house he lived in for most of his growing up years! I wonder what memories were going through his head as he was making "new" an "old" part of his life?!

Da Da Da Dum

I just noticed that the bird chirping outside the door is chirping the opening bars to Beethoven's 5th! --- Da Da Da Dum! Da Da Da Dum!

Cloud Burst

Yesterday Alex had a soccer game in Hilliard. It was a beautiful day - blue skies and big white clouds. As we left and got on 270 we drove from beautiful blue sky right under one dark cloud. All of sudden the cloud burst and it starting pouring-big fat rain drops.Ther was still saw blue sky all around us but we were directly under the rain cloud. I even looked for a rainbow - there had to be one - but there wasn't. As we drove back to Westerville the cloud seemed to chase us. I'd get out from under it and the rain would stop. The pavement was dry and cars we passed didn't have a spot of wet. Then, a minute or two later - it started back up again. Start, stop, start, stop, we played cat and mouse with the cloud all the way back to Westerville. Finally, the cloud had enough of this game and decided to let me have it. It gathered more dark cloud friends and they let loose with about 10 minutes of torrential rain -- just when I reached the restaurant for the team lunch!

Priceless

Today's Everyday Magic posting isn't about weird coincidences that happened over Memorial Day weekend - although there were several. It's about true everyday magic - enjoying the little moments of life with your children. Alex got invited to guest play with a soccer team at a tournament that lasted all weekend. Just he and I went. Even though I spent my birthday and entire Memorial Day weekend on the soccer fields, I really enjoyed the time I spent with my son. I got to experience first had how pleasant he is to be with, how funny he can be and how kind and mature he's turning out to be. I enjoyed watching him play well and make new friends. I enjoyed the compliments about him from other parents. Throughout the weekend the dollar signs of what we were spending kept popping into my head but I wouldn't have traded this weekend for anything.

• Two nights in a hotel - $200
• Food - $100
• Gas - $4 a gallon
• Wonderful weekend with my son watching him grow up - Priceless.

3:11 AM

For the past three nights - or I guess I should say mornings - I have been waking up and lying awake for at least an hour. Very frustrating! So, what is the magic in this you may ask? Well, the weird thing is that two of the three mornings I have woken and looked at the clock to see that it's 3:11 AM! The third day it was 3:41 AM - exactly 30 minutes later. I wonder what will happen tonight . . . ??? Should I play the Pick Three lottery and bet on 311?

Second Generation

Whenever I run into people today that I knew in grade school, high school, or college I think that's pretty "magical." But what really "blows my mind" is when their children and my children end up together. Some situations are planned. For example, last fall Amy, April, and I went to the Capital reunion and left the kids at the hotel to hang out. I couldn't help but think, "who would've thought 20+ years ago that our kids would be hanging out someday!" Those situations are cool but not so unexpected. Other circumstances are really random and very unexpected! For example Saturday at Alex's soccer tournament in Troy his team played a team from Medina. I recognized two of the Moms on the sideline - we went to high school together. One Mom - Linda - was in my church youth group, too. Who would've thought 30 years ago that someday our 14 year-0ld sons (as old as we were then) would be facing each other on a soccer field!

Words Words

I don't have any really special magic to report today but one thing that seems to be happening a lot lately is that I will be reading something or typing and at the same time I read or type the word I hear it -- like someone says it or I hear it on the TV or radio. This seems to happen daily at work as I'm typing. Another variation is that I'll be talking about something and see something related. Like the other day we were walking through the parking lot at the mall and for some reason I was talking about penguins. Right at that moment I walked by a car with a Pittsburgh Penguins license plate holder!

Same Car, Different City

I love "coincidences" like this. We were driving to Dayton for Mac's game. On 270 in Columbus we had to slow suddenly to let a car in that was cutting in front of us. As we "cursed out" the driver for cutting us off, I noticed a soccer sticker in the window for a Hilliard team and some other sports sticker. It was a Nissan Quest and we commented on what a strange design of car it is. Later that day, as we were leaving the park outside of Dayton to drive downtown to visit the University of Dayton we got behind the same car on I-35. Now, the fact that they were in Dayton wasn't surprising since they had a soccer sticker on the car and State Cup semi-finals were going on in the same park. But, the fact that we got behind them again on a different highway in a different city 3 hours later and not even heading back to Columbus was everyday magic!

RK

Today's magic - Having lunch with RK at work. RK was one of my best friends in high school. We went to high school together, were in the same church youth group, and went to the same college. He even went to my senior prom with me. We haven't stayed in close touch through the years but amazingly he lives a few miles from me in Columbus -2 hours from our home town. Our kids go to the same school and have played soccer together. He just got a job with Chase and works in my building. To me, it's an amazing coincidence that 30 years later we would end up in the same town and our kids go to the same school even though there are 4 middle schools here and 3 high schools. It's not like we've tried to live in the same place or work for the same company. Who would've thought that 28 years ago when we were going through all the drama and craziness of high school that someday our kids would go to the same school and know each other!

P.S Found a penny today!

What is Everyday Magic

One of the things I miss most from my childhood is that sense of magic you had every day. You know - when you believed that elves lived in the roots of trees in mushroom houses, that Santa really flew around the world and came down your chimney, and that little tiny rock bands were inside your car's radio playing tunes. At least that's what was magic to me. Then, you grow up and the magic is gone. There's hardly any reason to use your imagination at all and if you do, people look at you pretty strangely. I decided that one way to bring back a sense of the magic of childhood in life is to look for "magic" every day. What I mean by "magic" at this time in my life (4th decade!) are those things that cause a laugh, sense of wonder, a sense of "coincidence" or serendipity. Just something that makes you look at the world in a different way. One thing I consider everyday magic is finding pennies. I've decided they are my "magic" symbols- a message to me from childhood - look for the magic, it's here in little special ways if you just look for it. So the purpose of this blog is to help me be aware of everyday magic and record what I find.