Way Back Machine

Yesterday I took the kids to Chuck E Cheese for an hour (they managed to redeem 50 tokens a piece in that time) after lunch. I ran in to someone from high school. This girl was not someone I was good friends with but probably one of the more popular girls. I didn't recognize her and it even took a few seconds after she said her name for me to make the connection. The years and pounds had changed her quite a lot. Her husband (also a classmate) looked more familiar but I'm not sure I could have placed him, either, without help. I live about 70 miles from my old high school and have had very few opportunites in the last 18 years to run into anyone. They still lived in the area and had a son who played ball. So she spent a few minutes telling me of various classmates who still resided in the area and what everyone was up to. It wasn't a large class (about 90 graduates) but most of her friends were not my friends and although the names were familiar they were people I hadn't given much thought to in a long time. It was kind of fun to talk for a few minutes and we talked about the possibilities for a reunion in another two years. I didn't hear about my 10 year reunion until after the fact and I think I would like to attend the 20 year if only to see some old friends. I am told by some friends of mine that at the 20 year reunion everyone is pretty much over themselves and the old bitterness and rivalries are long forgotten in the commonalities of growing old and having children. Now I am ready to dig out my senior year book and take a stroll down memory lane.

Dear Me - Part II

What a great idea that you can read about here.

Dear Me (1985),

I know that your life seems to be mostly over now. I am writing to tell you that all this will just be a bad memory someday. Those friends who you cherished and who let you down (and refuse to sit with you in the lunchroom) will only be remembered in the past. That group of girls who are so popular and make your life miserable (think Mean Girls) will marry too young, have babies, never finish college and grow very bitter.

That little foster sister that the state returned to her natural mother will grow up to be a beautiful young lady and you will see her again.

The trouble your brother caused your parents will be seen later as not as bad as it could have been. He will marry well and have 3 children for you to be an aunt to.

Quit trying to be so different. I know you want to fit in badly and your response is to stick out. None and I repeat none of this will matter in 20 years.

You will survive high school and will find college a whole lot more fun and enjoyable. You will meet someone who will love you and (gasp!) you will have children. Just hang on and try not to take everything so seriously.

Love Me (2007)

Dear Me - Part I

What a fun idea that you can read about here.

Dear Me (1992),

I know that Pharmacy School is hard and you are wondering if you will survive and if it will someday be worth it. The answer is yes! Someday, you will have the money to do many (probably not all) of the things you dream about. You will live in a nice house, drive a nice car, go on vacation, and keep your thermostat on 70' in the summer. I need to let you in on a secret, though. No one will care if you make a C. After you pass the boards no one will ever ask you how well you did in school. Those students on the front row making A's will not get better jobs or make better money. It is important to work hard but try not to take everything so seriously.

I know that you think you are in love with that boy. You believe that everything surrounding that love is the trajedy of your life. This is not true. He will marry someone else and you will get over him. You will meet a wonderful, successful man and he will be the love of your life. He will treat you well and share your goals and dreams. You will be happily married and have two beautiful children.

Someday, you are going to realize that life does not revolve around you. Please enjoy college and hang on to those friendships. Everything else will fall into place according to God's plan.

Love Me (2007),

Memories

I just returned after two days out of town. I was helping my mother and various other relatives sort through the lives of my grandparents. My grandfather passed away late November. The house he and my grandmother (deceased in July 2005) had lived in for over 40 years is being sold. Fortunately, someone in the family is purchasing the house.

The house is small - only two bedrooms but it is where they raised their 4 children. It originally had 3 bedrooms but a wall was removed to make a larger living room many years ago. It seems they hardly ever threw anything away. They had an outbuilding and a "shop" full of old memories and quite a bit of what must have been worth saving to them but now is merely trash.

We divided up the memories - or the sentimental trappings of a family first. There was very little of real value but everyone wants something to remember. We divided up the pictures, dishes, furniture and linen. I was fortunate enough to take home my Mama's Bible, my Papa's binoculars and many pictures.

Went through boxes and boxes of pictures. I do not know why they were never sorted into albums. One box chronicled the youth of my mother and her siblings, another box told of my growing up years with my cousins. Framed pictures of the grandchildren as adults as well as the great-grandchildren covered the walls.

It was a time of letting go but I could feel their presence everywhere. I could hear my Mama say, "Don't throw that away!" I could see my Papa working in his shop.

I miss them but I am glad I was able to keep these memories and the sentimental items I kept from the house.

Weather

I keep reading on blogs about this terrible weather that has attacked the country. People are without power and forced to leave their homes for shelters. Ice has school closed and people stuck at home. I'm sure any of them would trade their weather for mine.

On Sunday it was 70' here. Yesterday it did drop below freezing but today it is partly sunny. It has been years since we have seen any weather like the above. In fact, it snowed pretty hard on New Year's Eve 2000 and that is the last real snow we've had. My six year old daughter has yet to experience any real snow. When I was growing up (in this same area) we got out of school for snow or ice at least once yearly. Since I have lived in Huntsville we have had a few winter storms but nothing in the last 6 years. Is this the global warming I hear so much about? The last few years we have had very mild winters. I have a closet full of sweaters and sweatshirts and cute pull-overs that never see wear.

I'm not saying to send some of the bad weather my way. NO, that would be tempting things. I can't really handle school being out because I would still be expected to be at work. However, a few snow flurries would be welcome.

1988

I saw this post on Thinking About... (http://jellyjules.com/) and thougth I would try it. I didn't quite follow the rules, though. The idea was to take the top 100 songs from the year you graduated high school, bold the ones you liked, strike-out the ones you hated and leave the rest blank. I graduated from high school in 1989 and when I looked at the list I could not remember over 60% of the songs. I'm not sure why unless I stopped listening to pop music that year which is probable. I decided to choose 1988 because more of those songs hold some meaning. Sorry, Jules. And then, I couldn't figure out how to 'strike-out' so I didn't do that either. The truth is a good many of these songs I don't remember but probably would if I went in search of a clip. But these were the songs that defined that time in my life that was at once both agonizing and exhilerating. Songs from the movies, Dirty Dancing and Cocktail. Songs by George Michael, Bon Jovi and Belinda Carlisle. I wouldn't live through it again for any amount of money but it's fun sometimes to remember.

Ok, Don't be shy. It's your turn.


1. Faith, George Michael
2. Need You Tonight, INXS
3. Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison
4. Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley
5. Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns N' Roses
6. So Emotional, Whitney Houston
7. Heaven Is A Place On Earth, Belinda Carlisle
8. Could've Been, Tiffany (you are supposed to be honest)
9. Hands To Heaven, Breathe
10. Roll With It, Steve Winwood
11. One More Try, George Michael
12. Wishing Well, Terence Trent d'Arby
13. Anything For You, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
14. The Flame, Cheap Trick
15. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Billy Ocean
16. Seasons Change, Expose
17. Is This Love, Whitesnake
18. Wild, Wild West, Escape Club
19. Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leppard
20. I'll Always Love You, Taylor Dayne
21. Man In The Mirror, Michael Jackson
22. Shake Your Love, Debbie Gibson
23. Simply Irresistible, Robert Palmer
24. Hold On To The Nights, Richard Marx
25. Hungry Eyes, Eric Carnen
26. Shattered Dreams, Johnny Hates Jazz
27. Father Figure, George Michael
28. Naught Girls (Need Love Too), Samantha Fox
29. A Groovy Kind Of Love, Phil Collins
30. Love Bites, Def Leppard
31. Endless Summer Nights, Richard Marx
32. Foolish Beat, Debbie Gibson
33. Where Do Broken Hearts Go, Whitney Houston
34. Angel, Aerosmith
35. Hazy Shade Of Winter, Bangles
36. The Way You Make Me Feel, Michael Jackson
37. Don't Worry, Be Happy, Bobby McFerrin
38. Make Me Lose Control, Eric Carnen
39. Red Red Wine, UB40
40. She's Like The Wind, Patric Swayze
41. Bad Medicine, Bon Jovi
42. Kokomo, Beach Boys
43. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That, Elton John
44. Together Forever, Rick Astley
45. Monkey, George Michael
46. Devil Inside, INXS
47. Should've Known Better, Richard Marx
48. I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love, Chicago 4
9. The Loco-Motion, Kylie Minogue
50. What Have I Done To Deserve This?, Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield
51. Make It Real, Jets
52. What's On Your Mind, Information Society
53. Tell It To My Heart, Taylor Dayne
54. Out Of The Blue, Debbie Gibson
55. Don't You Want Me, Jody Watley
56. Desire, U2
57. I Get Weak, Belinda Carlisle
58. Sign Your Name, Terence Trent d'Arby
59. I Want To Be Your Man, Roger
60. Girlfriend, Pebbles
61. Dirty Diana, Michael Jackson
62. 1-2-3, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
63. Mercedes Boy, Pebbles
64. Perfect World, Huey Lewis and the News
65. New Sensation, INXS
66. Catch Me (I'm Falling), Pretty Poison
67. If It Isn't Love, New Edition
68. Rocket 2 U, Jets
69. One Good Woman, Peter Cetera
70. Don't Be Cruel, Cheap Trick
71. Candle In The Wind, Elton John
72. Everything Your Heart Desires, Daryl Hall and John Oates
73. Say You Will , Foreigner
74. I Want Her, Keith Sweat
75. Pink Cadillac, Natalie Cole
76. Fast Car, Tracy Chapman
77. Electric Blue, Icehouse
78. The Valley Road, Bruce Hornsby and The Range
79. Don't Be Cruel, Bobby Brown
80. Always On My Mind, Pet Shop Boys
81. Piano In The Dark, Brenda Russell Featuring Joe Esposito
82. When It's Love, Van Halen
83. Don't Shed A Tear, Paul Carrack
84. We'll Be Together, Sting
85. I Hate Myself For Loving You, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts
86. I Don't Want To Live Without You, Foreigner
87. Nite And Day, Al B. Sure
88. Don't You Know What The Night Can Do, Steve Winwood
89. One Moment In Time, Whitney Houston
90. Can't Stay Away From You, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
91. Kissing A Fool, George Michael
92. Cherry Bomb, John Cougar Mellancamp
93. I Still Believe, Brenda K. Starr
94. I Found Someone, Cher
95. Never Tear Us Apart, INXS
96. Valerie, Steve Windwood
97. Just Like Paradise, David Lee Roth
98. Nothin' But A Good Time, Poison
99. Wait, White Lion
100. Prove Your Love, Taylor Dayne

Thanks to Hubby for explaining the strike-out thing.