Lessons Learned.

Silver Falls, Oregon ~ Father's Day 2011

1.  Be kind.

2.  Never let the sun set on your anger.

3.  Reach out.

4.  Forgive.

5.  Hug often.

6.  Stop saving that wine for a special occasion.  Pop that cork and celebrate now.

7.  Focus on those that love you.

8.  Celebrate.

9.  Giggle more. (Yes guys can giggle too)

10.  Be blessed.

Letter to a friend.

Eddie 1968 - 2011

Dearest Eds:

When I sent you a text to call me I didn't expect to receive a call from the ICU unit of the hospital.  You know I hate roller coasters and from the moment I answered that call it was as if I was being buckled in for a ride.

Eddie from the beginning of our friendship there were days you would make me laugh hysterically.  There were days you would make me angry that I wanted to put on the heels and get my ass on over there to bitch slap you.  Then there were the days you would make me smile or roll my eyes at your silly comments.   But you never made me cry until this week.

Thank you for being my friend.  Thank you for always having my back and taking on my battles.  Thank you for sending me a text last week telling me you loved me.  Thank you for now giving me the gift of a new friend, that through our grief we have discovered why you loved us both.

My voice was the last one you heard as you made your next journey to paradise and for that I will always be grateful.  Did you like what I said?  You must have, you moved your head and took your last breath.  Were you laughing?

Today I will celebrate our friendship and if I cry a little more please understand.

Always,
Nubian

You never know.

A few years ago I found Kiva.  For those of you that don't know what it is here is a quick summary.  You loan someone money that Kiva has determined needs help.  Over a period of time they pay you back and you are free to take your money and move on or reinvest.

Many months ago I loaned $25.00 to a gentleman in Lebanon to help with his business.  Kiva notified me that he had repaid the loan.  I chose to reinvest and I went through the list of people needing a loan for their various ventures.  I selected a woman in Africa and as I clicked to reinvest my $25.00 I was notified that this woman now had her complete loan and was able to move forward with her business.

Sometimes we don't always get to see what a difference we make in someone's life.  Thanks to Kiva I was able to.

Bloom where you are planted.

Considering the amount of manure currently in my life I think I will be doing quite nicely by next spring.

When in Rome...

I take care of five international students, boys, from a Middle Eastern country.  Their name for me is Ummu Esau, which translated means Mother of Jesus.  Yes I know, but what they are really saying is that I am their christian Mom.

I clean their homes and help them with day to day stuff like paying bills, setting up appointments, college etc, things that we all take for granted and know how to do.  I also am helping them assimilate into the American culture as I know first hand when I arrived in this country 21 years ago I was very intimidated.

Many conversations go like this.

Boys:  Why do we have to tip?

Me:  Because you're in America.

or


Boys:  Why do we have to have car insurance?

Me:  Because you're in America.

or


Boys:  Why can't we smoke Hooka in our apartment?

Me:  Because you're in America.

Yesterday I was at the home of my boys.  As I walked in this poster was front and center of the living room.

Me:  Why?

Boys:  Because we're in America.


Touché

Parking. Football. Friendship.

As many of you know I live in a college town.  We used to live a stone throw from the college amongst many college students, it was best for all that we moved.  Any how we also lived a 5 minute walk from the football stadium.  On game day 45,000 people fill the stands.  There is no parking, nada, zip, zilch, zero, okay maybe 100 parking spaces that are free.  I am a Facebook fan of our local college team and the husband and I purchased tickets to a game.  While on the fan page I noticed that a couple was driving up from down south and would be late to the game and her dilemma was parking.  I emailed her and offered her our driveway.  This is a part of the email.

45,000 seats and we end up next to each other.  We had a wonderful time at the game and even the woman puking behind us couldn't dampen our mood, plus our boys won.

I am blessed to have met Nan, who is very wise, very calm, tolerates my rants, see's the real Nubian and is an incredible baker.  If I lived closer I would be wheeling myself out of her home.

Sometimes being kind does work in your favor.  You have to love karma.