Archive for April, 2010

Apr
19
Posted by Lisa M.

A Me Me (All about ME)

Oh Me Oh My Oh.

FIRST NAME? Lisa

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Rumor has it, my name was suggested by my half sisters, at the urging of their step father, who is really not a very nice man. Apparently my parent’s didn’t know exactly where the suggestion comes from. BUT ugg. That man, will rot in the bowels of hell.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? In third grade, my handwriting was deplorable, so my teacher, Mrs. Paritea, had me copy a dictionary in order to improve my penmenship. Now, I am fairly content with my handwriting, and there is a part of me, that enjoys writing things out. I doddle constantly, and you can often figure out what my phone conversation is about, just by looking at my doodle sheet.

LUNCHMEAT? I don’t love lunchmeat. Unless it is really really good lunch meat, and that is hard to come by. So usually you can count on me, for a grilled cheese. I am not all that keen on sandwiches.

KIDS? I have a bunch? Am I supposed to keep track of these things?

COULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF? I certainly hope so.

DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Um ya.. one for the WHOLE entire world to see.

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Uh.. Maybe?

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Nope, I wonder what happened to them though?

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Hell no. Not even just a no, but a hell no. I just will never *get* it, either.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Not a huge cereal fan. My favorite though, is corn flakes, with a touch of powdered sugar, dried cranberries and sliced bananas. Also coconut if I have it.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES BEFORE TAKING THEM OFF? I don’t usually wear shoes that have laces, but when I do, I usually, just slip them off. I prefer to be barefoot and usually am.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I used to think I was invincible. Then, I learned I was a weakling. Then I found some strength, and then a little bit more. NOW, I think I am strong for the most part, but I am quite aware of my weaknesses.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? I have three. Mint, Capachino & Black Cherry, chip.

SHOE SIZE? I wear a size 6, but a 7, feels so good, I buy a size 8.

RED or PINK? Red, red, red.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Do I have to choose just one? I really dislike that I can be explosive. I get mad, not really fast, but sometimes with out a lot of warning. I hate my teeth, and can’t wait to get dentures. I really dislike that I am not inherently the fly lady. I have never really cared much if my house is spotless, and when I go into others houses that are, I feel very uncomfortable.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?  I could never choose just one. I’ve said goodbye to so many.

LAST THING YOU ATE? Taco’s and a Diet Cola

WHAT COLOR PANTS & SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Jean’s and my sneakers. (Thanks Melissa, I still love these Nike’s that you gave me)

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TOO RIGHT NOW? The fan in my room, buzzing.

WHAT COLOR OF CRAYON WOULD YOU BE? Indigo

FAVORITE SMELL? Lilacs, Tea Roses, Pomegranate Candle (Salt City), Blueberry Candle (Yankee), Pineapple (Scentsy)

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON THAT YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Victoria Jo

THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO? Their countenance. I almost instantly love the people I am going to end up loving. I have found that people generally glow, from the inside out.

DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS ? Oh, VERY much so. Someday when I grow up, I am going to be JUST like her!

FAVORITE DRINK? Diet Cola, iced with lime.

FAVORITE SPORT? Water Polo (of course), and College  Basketball.

HAT SIZE? Um. I am REALLY not a hat person.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Sometimes, but more often than not, I am a glasses girl.

FAVORITE FOOD? Do I have to choose just ONE? Goodness, food is my FORTE. I love Italian, I love Mexican and I really love Ribs & Steak, and I like all of the above, with a REALLY good salad.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings. I am not someone who enjoys being scared. I do like a little bit of suspense, but I will never love scary movies. I just don’t *get* it. I also get annoyed when the good guy DIES at the end. WHAT in the SMACK OF BUDDA IS THAT?

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE THEATER? “The Last Song”, sappy, but I love movies with Kenner.

COLOR SHIRT YOU ARE WEARING? A grey sweatshirt, which is my most favorite and beloved of all shirts. I have had it for ever, and when I put it on, I feel like I am home.

SUMMER OR WINTER? I would be a FALL girl. THIS IS MY SEASON PEOPLE!

HUGS OR KISSES? Slow, Long, Wet, Deep Kisses that last three days.

FAVORITE DESSERT? Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with Chocolate cookie crust.

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? “Cortical Visual Impairment, a Guide for Intervention” as well as “The Axis of the Brain”, and “The Summer Chronicles”

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? A really odd episode of “Ghost Whisperer” which is not my favorite show in the least!

FAVORITE SOUND? My children’s laughter. When it rains all night, and the sound of my bedroom fan!

ROLLING STONE OR THE BEATLES? Beatles. Abby Road is my most favorite album, followed by The White Album. I feel in LOVE with the Beatles, first in 1973, and then again, for life in 1988. I will always remember the Beatles, and the way I felt when I really listened to their music for the first time.

FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN AWAY FROM HOME?  The UK? I would have to measure it, for certain.

WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? Goodness, do I have to pick just one (I wonder if sarcasm could be a talent?)

WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Payson, UT, July 22.

This is a very long MeMe, thanks for listening. I would LOVE to hear more about you!

Apr
16
Posted by Lisa M.

It sucks, being an orphan.

The GirlsMy Dad passed away first, and that was hard and life altering.  It was a swift death with hardly any warning.  We were completely taken aback by the swooping pain of that experience.

It doesn’t seem like much time went by before Mom started to get ill.  This was a much longer, drawn out event that was filled with a different basket of sorrows. When she finally left her earthy body for good, I foolishly felt prepared having been able to say our goodbyes this time.

Yet with her passing came other set of heartaches and the real sense of not having an anchor or a place to fall back on.  The rippling effects of which are still fresh and forefront on our minds, almost two years later.

One of the hardest things is that my children, nieces and nephews pretty much do not have any grandparents.  Jay, Hans and Victoria were lucky.  They will have memories for a lifetime of both their Maternal Grandparents.  Their influence, their spirit the values and principles they expressed will Mom and Menever be questioned or forgotten.  Kaden and Morgan will remember Grandma pretty well and the stories, life histories and family dialog will help keep those recollections tucked away in their hearts, life long.  I hope.

The rest of the kids? Hailey, Kambo, Eth and Brin.  Not so much.  You can share your memories with them, but they will never have their own.

And that sucks.

My Mom was remarkable in so many ways.  Never a birthday passed, a holiday or even a Tuesday for that matter that went unnoticed.  There as celebration in all things, and she was good at it.  My Dad, loved his grandkids.  They made his world go round.  He used to talk about them playing high school sports and how excited he was to watch that.

My folks being gone has left a gulf of emptiness and is indescribable.  As a parent there is great heartache in the lack of the support that came with their attitude and the way they lived their lives.

My Dad never got to see Victoria play water polo, though her Grandma did.  My Dad nor Mom, never got to see Kaden play high school basketball or baseball. They did not get to see Morgan preform dance routines, or attend their music recitals.  The younger kids, nothing at all.

Here’s the clincher though.  The real heart ache. We do have other grandparents.  Jay and Hans have a Grandmother and Step-Grandfather that are about an hour away.  Kade, Morgan, Hailey and Kambo have grandparents that live pretty much around the corner.

Every single one of those adults have made the choice to not be involved in their grandchildren’s lives.   The stifling reminder of that, is often on my mind when I sit at a game or a concert alone.  It is a huge reminder of the loss. A keen, heartbreaking loneliness.

Holiday’s, birthdays, or even a Tuesday… they just are not the same.