BUM? Yes or No?

Winter seems to be in our back doors these days.... I can look out my window at any point and I'll see the white mountains - it's very beautiful.... And I look out my window it seems like all the time now.... For me it's a time for reflecting on my past. A death has haunted our minds & hearts in my family. For me it's truly the end of my childhood. 98 years on this earth is what my GrandMum was granted - to watch and be a part of life as we know it. I've only known her for 40 ummmmm lol something years - ugggg. Was is wisdom I learned from her? No not really she had passed that on to my baby brother. Was it her good cooking? Nope something that was passed on to my other brother (RIP Pea). I got her mouth - lol... Not much holding back is what she taught me. And often enough it's gotten me into more trouble then I care to admit. Some how she always scrimp out of being in the dog house. Of course people would never hold an argument with her - she was the toughest women I've ever meet. But also the biggest heart. I did learn about charity through her and it's always been a part of our lives growing up.
A funny story to share... I was about 5 years old and I grew up on a farm - We lived off our crops and our animals. And my GrandMum was married to my Grandpa who was an instructor for the United States Coast Guard Academy and they lived in New London and so I got to go on a day trip to "The Big City" and that's where I had seen my first poverty person in which I at the time called a "Bum" and I was slapped in the mouth. I cried of course as I seen my GranMum shed tears for what she had done to me. My Grandpa pulled off to the side of the road knowing what was to become of me. Well, I got the lesson of my life. I learned that day I was no better then the man I just called a name too. I learned that his wife had been murdered long long long before I was born and that this man loved his wife and couldn't get pass what had happened to her. I also learned that "Bum" could of been Jesus in person seeing what good humans would help him. I learned that day it was so easy to judge a book by the cover but it was not easy to judge the heart by the cover, if I wasn't willing to learn and help this person. My Grandpa gave me a $5.00 bill and in that time was like a million dollars to a 5 year old and I went up to him with my Grandpa and gave it to him. I learned that day also that giving is suppose to be hard - if it where easy then it's not charity. I have never forgotten that.
I'll also remember her cooking my favorite meal and sleeping at her home on weekends or when my father was on patrol on holidays and such. I'll remember her millions of jig-saw puzzles and how she would watch me be a silly OCD child. She encourage me to believe in myself when others didn't. She understood all too well why I am the most guarded person in the world. She loved me for my rights and wrongs.
I've been sitting and thinking non-stop of my past-present-future. What do I do now? And then I remember what she said to me when Grandpa passed on - you make yourself better because now that spirit lives with-in you now and it's up to you to make sure you do better in all areas of your life. It's free help she'd say and so spend it well. And so I am taking some time to myself and re figure my life out and then start spending my free help. I have no living grandparent left and so now I have to grow up and I don't very much like that but it has to be done.
I've been know since the age of 8 to write Christmas Stories - the only present my father ever ask of me and expects. And so today I'll be starting this years story using my memories.
I hope those out there with a living Grandparent would give them a call or visit and honor there love. It's rare and short-lived you know. And you can grow from it -I know I have.

I am having a bad day...

I am a bit sad because I was told a whole bunch of gossip that was hurtful and about us.... So my husband and I had to ralley together and work this out for ourselves... My first thought was what? What did we do that was so bad... But then I had to step back and remind myself that sometime life will do this to you. You can do the best for people and it will never be enough or no matter what you do you are target for this kind of disrespect and disrespect is what this is... I am more senstive to this sort of thing while Jorge is an amazing person who just says well then I must be doing something right to begin with... But we rallied together and decided nope not going to play this game and said our prayers and asked for forgiveness for the ill we feel in our hearts and asked for help to do better in life.... And now I feel a little bit better....

Did I say this was about work? Or family? Or anything else? Nope and not going to either - so why blog about this? Well good question... Maybe the source will read this and get to feeling so bad because they "THEY" where caught and re-think this theory of there's and perhaps take it up with us and work out a solution and move on. It just breaks my heart because we look like fools for believing the falsehood of a friendship/SSSSSSSSSSSS.... I do wish THEM well no matter where life takes THEM.....

Other then that I've keeping busy with my work and have some more chapters down in my book and have to re-work the first couple. I am so blessed to have my job and love my boss. I will be renewing my contract this winter. I've decided it's too good of a situation for me not to continue. Working from my INET has made it easier to please and kept far from the office to have to deal with every day hardship of working with others - not that I can't. Jorge of course will continue to work his dream as this is also a dream for us to do the RV life. The thing with RV life is that nothing is for certain and that's ok. That's the joy of the adventure as long as we have each other. We've meet some great folks this year and you can always tell who likes you by the phone calls and emails you get - RIGHT? Already we have gotten emails from "some" host & campers from this year - today in fact I got a super friendly email from Jorge's host from Pine City... She still cracks me up - I had taken a picture a ways back well I'm still shocked she hasn't killed me - she has a good spirit that one.... If your reading this Pat - thank-you for your kind words..... They came at a good time,,,

My charity work is also taking a different direction.... We will be making blankets, caps, and booties for Inyo Hospital, Bishop, CA as private donation as well as our store sales will also help that same cause. We also signed up to help Handmade Especially for You owned by one Leslye Borden who is out of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and what she does is collect all the scarves she can from knitters like me and hands them to abused women while they are being counciled and helped. Women lose their identities and a simple scarf can bring a little smile/comfort to them. And of course there is the MS charity work that we will continue to work with - Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
706 Haddonfield Road Cherry Hill, NJ. So yes we are excited about the changes.... This will be done 100% by us during the winter with the wonderful donation that have come in to help us support our work - a major thank-you!

Oh and there is my birthday. It was to be a party but it looks like a party for two - in which I am use to. As a child my b-day was often just a plain day because my father and brothers where always out of town. My grandmum and I would celebrate alone - so as an adult I've dreamt of big parties - not this year... I'm excited to see what Jorge gets me and so this will be the highlight and getting to talk to my family and friends.... The one day I use my phone the most - lol.... I am so terrible with phones. Oh well!! Thank gosh for emails for the rest of the 365 days....

Wow it's almost time for us to hit the road and start our 5 month vacation (well half of us) but it will be so nice.... Back to reading, hiking, riding bikes, fishing, visiting our friends and such.... I am feeling better already and oh yeassss shopping for a newer travel trailer - we'll see....

I'm sorry this blog was a bit negative - this day took me by complete shock but then it something that can help us grow. Right or wrong we will do better... Life is so short and people have all kinds of stories to why they are the way they are - Ours is simple just ask.....