Assigned Seats! The risk that we would not go through life as family, friends was always there. Small risk as family and friends, we learn, are the “everything” destination.We count on one hand the people we can really count on. When actions thunder louder than words we pick up our Barbie Dolls and go home. We threw the spaghetti against the wall. Some pieces stuck, as were the odds, the rest fell to the floor. Hold on to the pieces that stuck- make a sauce and spread it over the pieces we can claim as ours. We learn who our friends are quickly through joy and more so through tragedy. We get confused when people behave differently than we have when the tables were turned. Expectations get us into trouble. Reality is a hard pill to swallow. So we lick our hopefully not too deep wounds and find a seat that is always waiting at the right table.

We hold no grudges as it takes away from our pleasure. The “so be it’s” and the “let’s move on’s” enter the forefront. We hurt through the hard lesson of lose, in places where winning was our imagined close given. Embracing knowledge is no easier through harder lessons learned just more precious. We are apt not to make the same mistake again. Adage strong- “Don’t go to the Butcher if you want flowers.”

Connected by threads of laughter, endured thru distance and shredded by hardships. We are still together as our paths have divided, multiplied and been challenged. As a precious jewel-worn on tender occasions, displayed in a special place; polished and refurbished as needed. Forgiving, generous and embraced, as its value cannot be overestimated. A responsiblity unlike any other, for it is not obliged through birth. It continues, endures-we hold on and question how, sometimes why? Yet to loose it would mean a huge piece of us would perish amongst the rubble of disaster.

The three’s in life. Three on a match. The I love you’s. See you later. Wait 3 weeks, 3 months, heard that last night. Three friends, 3 couples awkward combo. “Would you Rather?”- shout out to David G. The could be betters, the not right nows and the you never knows- add them to the list. One more time. Bad news comes in three’s- oy. Let it be. How are you? Omg- says so much. Away we go- can you believe, and not right now, use them often. Just one minute, you’re kidding me, one more day, one more hour, one more second. 

Alexei, he’s just 8 years old said to me, and I quote- let’s have fun before it’s World War “3.” You know Judy bad things are going to happen to our country. You heard right he’s 8. They get their homework done, he had to read a chapter book and write a report. They get up early Sunday for basketball, and they worry about war. Short of the days where we had drills and going under your desk was the “drill”-we face the music. The late Leonard Cohen’s, Hallelujah, sung by Kate McKinnon is only the beginning. 

Andy Borowitz and I quote “the majority of Americans hope this decade turns out to be a dream sequence from which they will soon awake.” Shout out to Caren for the introduction. And so Bettie Ann what song do we play after we listen to “Turn it off” over and over? Perhaps we just say “Stop it” – as so many of us wish we could. Just in case we are not on the same page of the constitution – we can agree to disagree.

We set the tables- one for a game of play the other for lunch. Check with Sonos, our unwavering music pal, fill the coffee table with treats, unlatch the door and wait with anticipation for the women to arrive. The day is analogous to moments of enjoyable pleasures we have gathered along our journeys. We aim for cheerful friendliness. With zero ambiguity and the absence of pushy tactics we roll the dice. Celebrating our time together is optimum. Yes we compete but know that ultimately “Everyone Wins.” After our day of play a friend and I debriefed our time together. Her mother, who also played the game, gave her a sound piece of advice. She told her above all to make sure you really enjoy the ladies you sit down with. This is ultimately how I live my life now. Weeding out disappointments, striving for better fits. Merely overlooking much more. We bask in treasured certainty- pleased, proud… Amazed at how good it can be- astonished by it’s capacity for sudden bursts of brilliance. “Fill my heart with song and let me sing forevermore.” Let’s make it a great day!

Post by judyam1@aol.com

Source: Putting All Your Eggs In One Basket

When you like someone you focus on the good – not on the back tooth that is shadowed by an old silver filling. We give slack, benefit of doubts and leeway on demand, with myopic vision, when the chemistry is right. We live in an imperfect world and mea culpa’s for bad “email” decisions have redemption levels. 

Through no obligation or scales tipped we pump up, support and yes-Forgive- even that Mrs. Doubtfire. 

Donald Trump has a bar set lower in limbo like fashion in spite of himself. 

Please Halloween candy be one day old. So then we will be one day closer to getting through this charade of all time injustice. It no longer matters whether the facts are checked through every sniffle, all those grunts. Winner takes all as we live with the consequences of malpractice. And sometimes through grave error “We the People will have to cataclysmically live with the results of “We the People.” 

Dream Big! Dreams really do come true. Adages galore. When your realizations are far fetched and unlikely fill in the lines with the “l’ll take it, why not, close enough, that could work too.” First choices realized are sometimes design and luck or some metric of that equation. In the meantime, Dream Big, Huge. The songs run through us encouraging us not to give up our daydreams. In 1937 Irving Kahal penned the song “I can dream can’t I?” It sticks in our heads when the going gets tough. Often when our wishes and hopes are remote possibilities try replacing the words, ” you’re dreaming” with the “let’s do it’s.” Far fetched, out of reach and inappropriate? – Just go for it! “Let’s do it” serves as fuel for converting tangibles into realities. Gypsy had a dream, a dream about you baby, and you know what- Everything Came up Roses. How about how Gary Wright got through night by closing his eyes again and climbing aboard the dream weaver train. He left tomorrow behind, crossed the highways of fantasy. He believed the dream weaver could get him through the night. Oh yeah! I like it- let’s keep going. 

I recently ran into two friends I haven’t seen in quite awhile. Disappointing connections lost. I had a dream about one of them afterwards. It focused on a familiar scene and a shared good time. I thought about calling and just saying hi. Being proactive is a way of turning the only if’s into the perhaps and wishful thinkings. 

Give someone you love your time and plan a special day. The things you haven’t worn in years donate to a charity and make someone else’s dream come true. Flip the energy by taking your grandchild on a scary ride or through a haunted house experience. Watch them jump up and down in place with excitement and listen to the chant of the haunted house repeated all day long. Watch other’s dreams unfold and then know dreams and fairytales make the world of fun go round. As we creep closer to the big, oh so well rounded age number, let’s get it close to right. Change acronyms like AARP to “another age reaping pleasure. Sounds like a dream come true to me. We can’t go back and start a new beginning, but we can start today and have a different ending.

Bella Sophia was born- she was named for you. “A blessing on your head, Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov.” Jackie got married to a wonderful man who adores her. His name is Frank. He’s that nice, loving, family guy you prayed for us all to meet. She looks at him today as she did when they first met 5 plus years ago. Roberta Mae got lucky in love when this happened. This Ba-bee doll is their progeny. She’s a hoot, a beauty and an old soul. Thanks for the feathers- we get excited by each and every one. All your girls share them with one another and it adds to the connection you so hoped would continue. Bella is the conduit that helped bring your family to a good place.Fyi- I always pick up the talon, count 7’s and keep my eye on picking the deck. Ira and I play with your sister G and brother-in- law H. It’s a great day. I look at her face and I see you. I sit on her lap, we take a picture together, and all the way home I glow from the aftermath of our time together. On these day’s I think of you more. Missing you is the constant in my life, the intensity never changes. It feels safe knowing the feather’s will always come. Our love stays palpable, strong. When I implement the lessons you imparted it breathes life into our connection. I renew my vow to you today on your yahrzeit. I will walk into the room, hold my head up and carry my own concept of myself. Rest well mama- Baruch HaShem.