How Long a Lifetime?

As my 25th class reunion approaches, I was shocked to hear the news today that another classmate has passed away. That makes three classmates, all women, who have died in the past year at the young age of 42. One died of breast cancer, another in a car wreck and the most recent one died from complications due to pneumonia. All three were mothers. One was my brother-in-law's sister, an aunt to my young nieces and nephews.

It reminds me that a "Lifetime" isn't the same for everyone. Someone may have a lifetime of 90 years whereas another person may only get to enjoy their lifetime for 15 years. The truth is we really don't know how long our own lifetime is and that fact makes it very important that we live each day as if it were our last because it just may well be.

We need to remember to show love and kindness and to choose our words carefully...to make all we do count for something. We should never wait to wear that special pair of shoes or take that long-needed vacation. We shouldn't wait for a holiday or birthday to tell someone what they mean to us. We should not hold onto our grudges and guilt or withhold love and forgiveness. And we should never push aside our dreams of a lifetime...because we don't know just how long that lifetime will actually turn out to be.

I want my mommy!

Is it ridiculous to want your mommy when your 43 years old?I'm battling some tough cold/cough and it makes me wish my mom were here. When your an adult you have to take care of yourself and I don't think I'm very good at doing that when I'm sick.

If my mom were here she would make me hot tea and crackers with butter that I could push through the little cracker holes in order to amuse myself by. Instead, I'm eating cold pizza and drinking a diet Dr. Pepper. And I'm not amused at all.

If my mom were here she would have me resting comfortably with a soft blanket and she would rub my back until I fell asleep. Instead, I'm sitting at the computer, complaining in my blog and getting a backache in the process.

If my mom were here, she would bring me my grandma's famous Navy Bean soup for dinner and we would watch some grand English comedy.

Instead, I'll probably eat a can of Campell's Soup to Go and watch Reality TV all night.

And to think I couldn't wait to become an adult!

The Maple Leaf Rag

It's been a while since I have had a chance to even sit down and breathe, let alone write in my blog. Now that I have re-caught that dreaded cold I have no choice but to slow down.

So, I stopped and I sat at my piano today and played a quick "Memories". For some reason, it's one of the only songs I remember from all the ones I learned as a child.

I can still play a boogie or two but not much is in the old memory vault after that.

One of the activities on my list of "things to do in this life" is to learn the Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. It has always been my favorite ragtime ditty, ever since first hearing it played on the old piano player at The Long Branch Saloon in my home town of Dodge City. I still have the sheet music after all these years but never got around to learning it.

I can't play by ear, never have, never will. I have to read the music and therein lies the difficult part. How much about reading the music have I retained? I may have to actually hire a piano teacher again! My piano teacher was a "little people" with red hair and tons of freckles. I was always amazed that she could play the piano with those tiny, stubby little fingers of hers. I don't remember her name anymore, but I do remember she was nice to me and when your a little kid, that counts for something!!

My nephew Seth will be here to visit me in June and he loves to play the piano so maybe he will be the motivation I need to finally learn my favorite piano song.

How to Sight Read Music - wikiHow

Bonkers for Bunco!

I'm bonkers for Bunco! And here is the reason:
I played Bunco for the first time when I worked at Club Med in Scottsdale, Arizona. A group of our supervisors had a Bunco game every month and I was lucky enough to be a sub a few times. I fell in love with the fast-paced, exciting game and for the last 20 years have been waiting for a permanent seat in a Bunco Group.

Thanks to Meetup.com I finally got my wish when another Laura emailed me about joining her Bunco group. Of course I jumped on the chance and looked forward to my first game with gleeful anticipation.

Our group started two months ago and is comprised of 16 of the most interesting and fun women! Bunco gives us an excuse once a month to get away from all of our responsibilities and just enjoy great food, good wine, fabulous conversation and one heck of a rowdy, hilarious dice game.

All the women in our group are fascinating and beautiful with shining personalities. None of us take the game too seriously or competitive although we all would like to go home with one of the prizes! But, if we don't we still get to come away with a night full of laughs and laughing is what keeps us young. And that is why I'm bonkers for Bunco!