Tag Inspire

Memories of my Italian grandmother…

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I enjoy knitting. I go through phases though, sometimes no knitting and other times I find knitting therapeutic. Not long ago, I was in a buy yarn, knit scarfs mode. Scarfs are easy. I wanted a pattern where I didn’t have to think about the pattern.

This scarf was easy and I loved the blue color. My Italian grandmother taught me how to knit. It was interesting, because she didn’t speak English, so I had to watch, try and look to her expressions for approval. I either got the “Si, bene (YES, GOOD) or “NO, guarda (NO, LOOK).”

I still have the small mustard colored ball of yarn she taught me with. It’s packed in my treasure chest of memories. Over the years, my treasure chest of memories has gotten smaller and smaller. Old letters thrown out, report cards (do we really need to keep those), old year books, photos (of no real importance)… you get the idea.

So, today, this post is in memory of my Italian grandmother (Nonina). I miss YOU!

In fact, for lunch I will make pastina in brodo. I loved when she made that for me!

MEMORIES — I look forward to traveling to Florence soon.

Birthday Surprise: Beer & Goats

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Who says birthdays are boring?

My daughter surprised her boyfriend with a Brews n “Baahhs” birthday celebration. For an hour they visited with the goats, then they were rewarded with craft beer.

She enjoyed the goats, he enjoyed the beer.

Life is about finding new adventures!

Merry Christmas — It’s all in the photo…

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This has been an interesting Christmas. My family does not exchange gifts, but every once in a while, if we see something that we KNOW the other person would like —> WE SEND IT!

My sister surprised me with some pretty cups/dishes. I was taking a picture to show her they arrived. Look what happened in the photo. Somehow, the lighting turned into a smiley face.

So funny. It was EXACTLY how I was feeling, SUPER HAPPY!

Life is far from perfect for any of us right now. We are all suffering in some way or another. These little surprises, when we least expect them, they LIFT our spirits.

We are inspired to pay it forward. Now, it is our turn to send a card, gift or flowers to someone in our lives to lift their spirits too. This process works! It feels good to receive and to give.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Holidays too!

Father’s Day (not easy)…

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It’s Father’s Day this weekend. I was excited to find “just the RIGHT card.”

It was harder than I thought. Some cards start out nice, like the first one, “Sophisticated, Dignified, Cultured…,” this one had potential, until I opened the card and read the message. What a let down. I mean, it’s sort of funny, but definitely NOT what any of us would want to read.

The spin on a Dr. Seuss book made me chuckle, but I am grown up. I mean REALLY GROWN UP, so my Dad would raise his eyebrows if I sent that card. He would wonder if I had had a stiff drink or if I was just going a bit wacky in the brain.

Now, this last card was HYSTERICAL, not appropriate for me to give to Dad, but for sure my brothers could pull it off. Many of us have father’s who would use that expression, “Don’t be a Smart Ass.” I never use these bad words, I can see my younger brother joking and telling me to wash my mouth out with soap. A good phrase that our grandparents used to use.

As you can see, this is tough, but there is still time.

I deserve an “A+” for effort!

I read A LOT of cards!

Great show… Oprah’s, “SuperSoul Sunday”

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Have you ever watched, “SuperSoul Sunday?” Oprah Winfrey created this show, it is meant to touch the soul, make us think about life, how we treat others, encourage us to make a difference in this world of ours.

118952A6-80E2-4B7B-BA6F-73109584A9F5This Sunday she interviewed Bryan Stevenson. He’s a public interest lawyer dedicated to helping the poor, the condemned and incarcerated. He’s especially focused on saving the lives of children who are convicted.

He’s written a book called, “Just Mercy: The Story of Justice and Redemption,” which was turned into a film (2019). It’s a true story, I can’t tell you much about it, because I haven’t read it yet, but I just requested it from the library.

 

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Every Sunday, Oprah interviews someone for about 30-40 minutes. Last Sunday (5/31/20), Shaka Senghor was her guest.

Shaka Senghor spoke to us about his life in prison (19 years), his road to redemption and how reading books and writing helped him through solitary confinement. He’s an incredible motivational speaker, very well spoken and well read. It’s hard not to feel sad and think, if his childhood had been different, his path in life would have been different.

So, if you feel a bit low and need some inspiration, visit Oprah’s SuperSoul Facebook page, I promise — you won’t be disappointed. Every Sunday a new thought provoking interview.

Writing inspiration during a THUNDERSTORM

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Thunderstorm - ManI awoke to a thunderstorm and the crackling sound of lightening. What is it about this “roar” that makes a writer jump out of bed, quickly find his/her journal, head to the window and start furiously writing?

The lightening thrilled and scared him. He was on the mountain top. He should be taking cover. Instead, he stood tall in “defiance” to God!” The thunder howling, the rain pounding down on his face, he didn’t care.

Arms raised to the sky, he was saying, “Go ahead God, strike me if you dare.”

Where did this strength and courage come from. Why did he think he could TEST God like this? Was he INSANE? He was ANGRY, God had let him down. He was alone, he was READY TO FIGHT and TODAY… God would not win!

If he made it out of this alive, his enemies beware, he was coming after them!

The thunder has died down, I’m waiting for the next round, so I can create ANOTHER amazing scene for my book.

What inspires YOU to write?

Mother’s Day – Quarantine, there is still time…

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00AF6AC0-2226-4DC8-A929-6FB0706AD71CYikes — Have you all remembered it is Mother’s Day this weekend?

Armed with my mask on, I headed to the grocery store HOPING to find something  small and cute. I came out victorious.

I smiled at the card, it’s vintage, but then my Mom is 80 years old. Those are the phones we used back then. Now that we are in quarantine, all we do is talk on the phone. It’s PERFECT!

So, no time to waste. Got to wrap this up and get it in the mail.

If you ALMOST FORGOT, this is your quick reminder.

LADIES — Happy Mother’s Day!

Quarantine – Search for your inner Ninja

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If you are in quarantine, are you focusing on your inner Ninja?

What does that mean? It means, you are not letting quarantine get you down. You have dreams/goals that have been dormant due to life, work, family, no time. While you have “thought” about your dreams, you did not focus on them.

It’s the start of May, a new month, a new day, a new week.

I had a lovely inspirational post written for you. I was about to post it, but WordPress DECIDED it was not worthy of your viewing! When I went to “preview” the post, ALL of my “good writing,” which I had written, reviewed, rewritten — WAS GONE!

As a writer, you can imagine my disappointment. I had worked on this post, crafting the words JUST RIGHT!

ONLY the first two paragraphs remained. I am FURIOUS, but at the same time, I think it is a message from the Universe that while I work on my children’s book, I BETTER remember to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE my work!

So, you are getting the “short version” of my inner Ninja message!

Now, go to it! Accomplish BIG THINGS this week… I plan to!