Here's to Life

Life IS Good!

"My mama always said, Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

This quote from the movie, Forrest Gump gave me the idea for this blog. You never know what is around the corner and there are so many unexpected pleasures and surprises yet to come, at every turn in the road of life. We should try and be positive, not sweat the small stuff and rejoice because every day we open our eyes is a blessing.

I recently heard this song, sung by Barbra Streisand. The lyrics are by Victor Lee.

"No complaints and no regrets
I still believe in chasing dreams and placing bets
For I have learned that all you give is all you get
So give it all you’ve got

I had my share, I drank my fill And even though I’m satisfied, I’m hungry still
To see what’s down another road beyond the hill And do it all again
So here’s to life, And all the joy it brings.
Yes, here’s to life And dreamers and their dreams

Funny how the time just flies, How love can turn from warm hellos to sad goodbyes
And leave you with the memories you’ve memorized, To keep your winters warm
There’s no yes in yesterday And who knows what tomorrow brings or takes away
As long as I’m still in the game, I want to play For laughs, for life, for love

So here’s to life and all the joy it brings
Yes, here’s to life And dreamers and their dreams
May all your storms be weathered And all that’s good get better
Here’s to life, here’s to love, here’s to you."

So get out there and enjoy every minute of every day and as my dear father used to say, "Think positive and good things will happen." What we anticipate seldom occurs and what we least expect, usually happens!!

In Loving Memory of Doris

Something happened today that I just have to share.

 

Prelude to my story: In 1985, I met a woman named Doris through a neighbor of mine. Doris was very down to earth and soft-spoken and she sold Mary Kay. The 3 of us became friendly and got together at each other's houses for coffee and I started using Mary Kay lipstick and foundation and Doris became "MY" Mary Kay lady.

In 1986, Doris had a little girl and named her Melanie - I always loved that name. When my son was in grade school, he played soccer or baseball with one of Doris' older sons. Through the years, we kept in touch and I would stop by her house to pick up my Mary Kay and we would chat or have coffee. The last time I saw Doris, I remember her youngest son playing in the family room while we visited. He was about 5 or 6 at that time.

 

I lost touch with Doris because I moved out of the area but about 3 years ago, a mutual friend told me that she had passed away from a brain tumor. Her youngest son was only 18 at the time.

Here is my story: This morning I was at the YMCA working out in the gym. I was ready to leave when a young man working in the gym came over to talk to my friend and I. I know most of the staff as I have worked there for 7 years but I did not recognize him. I don't know what prompted our conversation but he was saying that he was 21 and soon pushing 30. We laughed and told him that he had plenty of time and that we would be more than happy to be pushing 30, 40, even 50!!!!!

He made a comment and used his full name. I stopped him in mid-sentence and with tears in my eyes, asked him if he was the son of Doris. Of course, he said, "Yes." I then proceeded to tell him how I knew his mother. I told him that I remembered him playing when he was 6 years old while his mom and I drank coffee. I asked him how Melanie and his brothers were doing.

 

I expressed my sympathy to him on the loss of his mother and he told me that he was recently in a car accident, went into a coma, had his head cut open and is lucky to be alive.

It was such an emotional morning for me, meeting Doris' son after 15 years. From my short conversation with him, I could tell that he is a fine young man, very smart and sensitive and way too young to have lost his mother but I'm sure Doris was up above smiling and is most definitely watching over her precious children.

Peace of Pizza

There is a pizza shop called "Peace of Pizza" and the sign in their window reads: "Sorry We Are Open!" Very clever indeed but the store has little to do with my story. I just thought I would throw it in because it is cute and clever!!! However.....pizza has lots to do with my story!!!!

6 years ago, a pizza shop opened up about 3 blocks from my house. I would go at least once a week for pizza and became friends with the 2 owners. One was in his 40's and the other was in his mid 20's. I knew them on a first name basis as they also knew me in the same manner.

One day, I was telling my son about this pizza place and mentioned the owner's name who was his age. As it turned out, my son worked at a company in North Jersey with the owner's best friend. My son also became roommates with the owner's best friend for a year or so until my son moved to VA. They have kept in touch for the past 3 years and my son just got together with him this past weekend to watch the Phillies game!!!

They have since sold the pizza shop but the memory lives on...oh, and another weird coincidence......the best friend/roommate of my son's name is my son's father's name!!!

"Maybe So, Maybe Not" - Ancient Taoist Proverb

Since my blog is about FATE, I wanted to share this story that I found on Jonathan Lockwood Huie's website. You can find more inspirational stories and quotes at http://www.dreamthisday.com

"One day, a farmer's horse ran away. His neighbors expressed sympathy, "What terrible luck that you lost your horse!" The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

A few days later, the horse returned, leading several wild horses. The neighbors shouted, "Your horse has returned, and brought more with him. What great fortune!" The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

Later that week, the farmer's son was trying to break one of the wild horses and got thrown to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, "Your son broke his leg, what a calamity!" The farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, conscripting all the able-bodied young men for the army. They did not take the farmer's son because of his broken leg. Friends shouted, "Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!" To which the farmer replied, "Maybe so, maybe not."

Moral: Everything is not what it appears to be."

Bubbie, Brett and Bri-Bri

When my son, Brett was 2 1/2 years old, I was working part-time in a supermarket in Delaware County where I had been working since I was in high school. Since I had a 40 minute commute, I wanted to find childcare for him close to the store so I could work a few days a week as opposed to nights when my husband would be home.

There was a woman who came through my checkout line every week with her baby granddaughter. She told me she babysat in her home but really didn't have room for another toddler. Week after week, I asked if she had any openings and finally she agreed to meet with us. She instantly took a liking to my "perfect little angel" and said she would watch him a couple of days a week. The best part was that she lived only 3 minutes from the supermarket!

I came to find that the distance was NOT the best part. Bubbie was like a grandmother to the children. She had toys galore, read to them, made them hot lunches and put them down for naps. She was so sweet and I was so fortunate to have found her.

Brett had been with Bubbie for a few months and on one particular day, my husband went to pick him up. As he stepped inside the house, another dad came in the door to pick up his 2 1/2 year old son, Bri-Bri. The two dad's looked at each other in amazement. As it turned out, we had all worked together at the same supermarket in high school. Also, Bri-Bri's dad, mom and I graduated from the same high school.

At the time, we were living in Chester County and we soon learned that Bri-Bri and his family lived only 10 minutes from us. A year or so later, I left my job but we all stayed in touch with our beloved Bubbie for years as the boys were growing up. The boys were in different schools and as they got into the pre-teens it was hard to get together. They both developed a love of ice hockey and when they were in high school their teams played against each other.

To this day, they have a special bond and a special memory of their days with Bubbie. 24 years have passed since they were with Bubbie and Brett and Bri-Bri recently ran into each other and had a nice visit. It is my hope that they will somehow find a way to make a surprise visit to Bubbie so she can see what wonderful men they have turned into. The last time I saw Bubbie was about 2 years ago and I know she would be thrilled to see her boys.

A Stroke of Luck

"Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold."

This story has nothing to do with fate or coincidence - just pure luck!

 

I just had to share this story because I had 2 incredible strokes of luck happen involving the same department store - Kohls.

About 6 months ago, I was shopping in Kohls. I went into a dressing room in the front of the store to try on a few outfits. As I went toward the back of the store, I found some other things I wanted to try and as I was ready to leave the 2nd dressing room, I noticed my pearl earring was missing from my left ear. I found the back post still stuck to my ear and looked around the room for the earring but to no avail.

I retraced my steps and my last stop was the first dressing room I had been in at the opposite end of the store. I entered the room and lo and behold, found my earring on the floor. I was so excited, not that the earrings were of any value but I'd had them since high school and knew I would never find another pair like them.

I completely forgot about this incident until today when my 2nd stroke of luck kicked in.....

I planned on running into Kohls real fast, before I headed to the Giant Supermarket. The stores were fairly close to each other so I parked near the Giant and walked over to Kohls. As I was walking, I put my grocery list in my left jean's pocket and did some shopping in Khols. I was probably in there for 1 hour and when I left I stopped to put my packages in my car.

As I left my car to run in the Giant, I put my hand in my pocket to get out my list. It was not there. I was certain I put it in my pocket. I double-checked my purse and I was wracking my brain as to the 10 items on my list. I could only remember 2 of them and it was useless shopping without my list. I walked towards the grocery store and looked over to the left, hoping against hope that I had dropped my list as I was putting it in my pocket. There was a white piece of paper laying on the ground and as I walked over and picked it up......Yes, it WAS my list!!!!!

How could I have been so lucky????? There is no explanation other than in both instances, my timing was perfect and I will leave it at that!!!

High School Comes Back to Haunt You

Like many of my stories, this one is a two-part coincidence; first one occurring 30+ years later and the second part, 37 years later.

In February of 2002, I was living in Chester County. I had dropped my teenager off at a party and rather than go home, I was invited to join friends at their neighbor's house until it was time to pick up my daughter.

It was nice to meet Emma and Walter and somewhere in the course of the conversation, I mentioned I was from Delaware County. Emma told me that she graduated from Haverford High School in 1972. I told her that my husband also graduated from the same high school - same year. All I had to say was his first name and she chimed in with his full name, declaring that she had been in school with him since 5th grade!! She remembered the color of his hair and that he had a crew-cut.

 

In April of 2009, I went to an event hosted by Widener Law School in Wilmington, Delaware.

There was an older man in his 80's, sitting at the end of the bar alone, eating some soup. We started talking and he told me about his recent heart operation and that he was a retired history teacher from Haverford High School. When he told me his name, I recognized it from stories my husband would tell. I asked the gentleman if he remembered my husband. I did not get the same reaction from him that Emma gave so I don't know if that was a good thing or not but I will leave it at that!!