Just what I needed.

Last night while enjoying a quiet dinner with Bill on 2nd St. (by the way, what a wonderful evening by the shoreline last night....wowza-doodle)

My summer must have.

Live music.  Warm winds.

Little ones dancing....

yummy dinner, and big cuddles.

At Tilly's, we spy......

This fine sign.

I receive a text from my sister.
It's a picture of me.  As a child.
Something I will always cherish.
I do not have many.
So when and where I can scrap them together, I certainly will.
Thank you my sweet sister for sending them to me last night.

Now what you must do is embrace yourself for some crazy hair, and crazy....well....a slice of the 70's and a taste of the 80's.  Minus flat irons and makeup. 

Little Nuggets.  How cute are these little outfits?!  I love them-

Wooommp there it is. 

 Lisa and a cat....that's weird. 

I can't get over how much my body and physique is my Mom.   Crazy. 

 You beautiful lady you. And a cook to light up a festival of food. 

The couple that endured it all.  

And held on through thick and thin.


That truck in the background?  Yea, it was a mixture of sheer embarrassment , slash child harrasement while getting dropped off at school.  Middle school to be exact. 
Every major body part was a different color.  The rumble would make people open their curtains to see what was passing by.  It mattered to me in the 7th grade.

These days, I get it.  It doesn't matter.
We camped in that truck.  We went fishing in that truck.  We had picnics in the back of that truck.
My Dad took me prospecting for gold....in that truck.  
That truck.
That man. 


So many changes in the outlook of life as you grow.

I know these two parents of mine have walked many o' miles together, through thick and thin.

Married 45 years. 
Together since middle school.
They did it.


I love and miss you Mom and Dad.

Count down til' Friday friends-

Did you make some plans?

Chasing dreams, or chasing your pillow.....just enjoy yourself.

And be kind to others.

Surprise someone with an act of unexpected kindness.
Even a smile.  It helps.


Happy head to the FAIR Thursday.....


This Mama Lisa

Words.

The last couple of days have been every bit full.
Full of words.
Full of sadness.
Full of happiness.
Full of words.


Yesterday we attended Kevin's Funeral.  It was everything I expected and more.
More words stung my soul.  In a good way.
Yes, tears fell.  And words filled my ears that needed to.
I could hardly look at Joe and Anna.  Only because I am a coward, and cannot imagine the grief and pain they are enduring.
But this is where the Priest (Retired) that drove there from Seal Beach filled my ears.
Joe and the Priest delivered words that will forever embed in me.
The day was filled with uniformed officers of all sorts.
The respect, and the love shown was and is unexplainable. 
As we pulled into the church parking lot, under an enormous American flag flown above us, attached to two ladder trucks, I just knew.

On the way home, every over pass was lined with Fire Trucks, and their brave men standing with pride to show respect.  Every.  Single. Over pass.   Amazing.  

Kevin, you sweet little birdie, you moved this Earth.  You moved our Ocean.
I can see you will be missed.  Forever.  You will be.
May you catch all the lobsters in Heaven that one man can.

Today was Senior portrait day.
It was beautiful too.
So beautiful that I sat in my chair in that dark room very still.
Very quiet.
Very overwhelmed with emotion.  The photographer draped the cap and gown on Chapter Seventeen, and turned her around to me.....and said "How proud you must be Mom"-

I could only smile.
That's all that made it out.  Was a smile.

And tears filled my eyes.  As they always do.  And she started to chuckle at me as she always does.

I chuckled back, and said..."Yes I am"-   oh, yes I am. 
And wiped my tears.

This week has been strange.
Full.  Happy.  Peaceful.  Sad.  Sweet, and proud.

I will be back soon kids.

Enjoy this week, and go live your Eulogy.  It's worth it.

Cry if you want to, and laugh hard when you can.
Just try to practice random acts of kindness.  


This life is flying.

You think I'm kidding......




boom.



ps. my ol' friend Kristine sent an email today.  Couldn't have come at a better time.
Her words.  Her thoughts.  The timing.  all too good girl, all too good.  love you.

pss.  Happy Birthday sweet Andrea-  Love you lots too.  

Scrambled Plans.

Those moments where the plans I've set get scrambled.
I tend to get my undies in a bunch.
I just do.
All week we planned a bonfire.  Our family. Along with their extended loves, and friends.

After not sleeping real well all week, my Saturday arrival into this world was after 8am.  Actually closer to 9.  Which is rare.  For both of us.
Kali and I headed down to get "our bonfire pit"-  to see this....

To which Kali proceeded to spout rude remarks to her Mom about "my poor planning"- 
Yes, I did get to sleep in.  And NO, I didn't plan to ruin the plans for us. 
But it happened. 
We all expected this..

But sometimes things don't work out.
I try my best.
Planning is in my blood.
I tried to remind her very calmly about ALL the gatherings I've planned for us.
We drove on in silence.
But it's ok. 
This life is still ours.
WE will get back there.  This bonfire will happen before summer ends.
I ventured back, with many quiet meditated prayer to this...

To which I laid there still frustrated.  About a few things.  But it was glorious out. 

And so it really felt like this.

My phone jingled at me.....

It was my Mom.
With a picture of this fine man.

Building their spa.  Dad you still make me beam with pride.  You strong wise feller.

 Because they are lovers and best friends.  They have each other, and their land. 

And that made my entire day.

Bonfires will wait.

My attitude adjustment needed adjusted.  I did so on my own. 
It felt as though the tide was pushing hard against me.
Sometimes that happens.
I see it and feel it.
Sometimes it hurts.  Sometimes it really pisses me off.
It's always good to see it leave. 

The rest of the day was spent paddleboarding.  Chatting with my girl.
Soon, we shared the rest with my cousins.  One more gathering before she split back up to the tip top of Cali. Meanwhile, the others drove back into the hot desert to Havasu.  Such a cool night with Jaz and Trev.
Yesterday I woke to an amazing breakfast.  Always my favorite by Bill.

We boated, chatted, and prepared for another week, which will in fact, be a full one again.

Go get after what makes you happy friends.

I sure will.

L

Mankind

Love is a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning....




The Saints that walk THIS Earth.


I am a lover of all animals.  Big and small.

I will rescue.
I will nurture.
And I will fight for these little ones.


Happy weekend to you....

Feeling pitiful in this life?

Look around just a little. 

Life is hard, but it's good.  Go live it.

Eat well, and put your feet up.



Hug tighter today,

P.S. If you check on "Fiona's" latest update (Youtube), she's quite the happy and well taken care of little sweet girl.


L

Lucky Seven

Lucky to gather.
Lucky to be surrounded by young laughter.
Lucky to shove our feet into the sand.

Lucky enough to have the healthy bodies, and perfect feet to walk these steps. 

And steps they were.  Mama's have the lunches, babies have their towels.

 Teens have their phones

Mama's remain in "eyes wide open" mode.

 Soon a teen cousin joins in the fun. 

 And you know a little meditation while he makes sand angels.  The sweet tender Chapter Nine.

 It wasn't a sunny day....

It was a glorious day.   

Together with family. 

 Blending 800 miles together. 

Was worth every single step.

 Soon the request for pictures.

 Turns into silly mode. 

 And the "don't touch me, you're too sandy!"

And silly continues. 

Between second cousins. 

And first cousins. 

I babysat my cousin Mindi when I was 12.  Crazy to sit and share the same stories as parents and life now.

Her Mama was a second Mama to me.  

We couldn't have been more blessed to spend the day together. 

A break from my work day. 

 With my feet in the sand.   Where they always yearn to belong.

It's quite the walk to this beach.  From steps to tall streets. 

 But it's what makes the day worth it to spend it with them.

 Soon we'd be home to unwind on the dock, and slip off onto the salty water...

 To watch Mama Bear race her baby cub.  Broc you rock!

 Auntie Lisa and Tori Lynn

 There were dock jumps

 And Mom and Dad paddling...

 Water so calm, in between tide shifts...

 "Summer"  enjoying that sweet slice of summer.  Watermelon never tastes better...

Dinner was calling our name.  Taco Surf Bound- with our now, lucky eight. 

We spy a sunset that shouts over the houses at us.  

The resistance couldn't be held.  And soon we'd shoot just a few more pictures...

Together.  Family.  

 Lovers.

 The night was warm and calm.  My favorite kind.

Crue, such the kind dude.

It was a great day with us lucky seven.  It just was.  Laughter.  Good talk.  Yummy munchies.  Sand in our toes, and eyes-  water on our legs...
Spending just a day with my cousin and her little baby duckies was one of those moments in summer that you look forward to.  Soon, she'll pack it all back up, and head north.  It was good.  It was real.  It will be missed.

Because soon, as in the very next bright early morning, Chapter Seventeen girl had a court appearance for her ticket.   No problem though.  Just paid that three hundred bucks, watched freaks at the freak show, and signed up for traffic school. Lessons in life. 


Oh, this life. 


Have a beautiful weekend friends, you deserve it.



Leese