Bob Marley's thoughts on love--and a few of mine thown in for good measure

Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life.”
― Bob Marley

Ok Marley, so we only have once to get it right? I'm sorry but that kind of sucks. With all the quotes I can find about love, the bar is set pretty high for what we should be experiencing. Sure, who didnt dream as a teenager (maybe more the girls than the boys) about finding that perfect partner...the one that makes you feel all those things they write about? But when life gets gritty and the shit hits the fan, is that really what love feels like? Maybe we do only have one shot at THAT kind of love but does that make all the rest less good? I think many relationships can be that if you actually put your heart into it but I know that some people should never have crossed hearts and paths and to tell anyone that they only have one person out there, maybe one chance to find the kind of soul warming love that we all deserve...wow. Who would try again after a bad relationship? A soured marriage? a cheating spouse? I don't know. This paragraph would have made twenty something Amy tear up and sigh with the romantic wish that I will find that man someday. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband, but he's not Mr. Romance. But is he there and supportive and a good father and a good husband? Yes. Do I find everything he does fascinating simply because it's important to him? No. However, I recently struggled and twitched my way through an NRA course complete with shooting range sobbing meltdown merely to be able to learn how to safely handle a gun since hubby works for a gun company and that maybe we could share this as a pastime in the future. So I guess Marley, maybe you have it part right ;)  and if that type of love is what you find, all the more love and power to you because we all deserve to have a partner in life that celebrates us.

mommy angst

Why is it that being a mother (what is supposed to be the most joyous job you'll ever have) also comes with the most worry, anxiety and angst? There's no rule book and advice and opinions vary as wide as the world. Everyone has a differing thought on how you should do this or that. Honestly, ive found that though my opinion is different than someone elses..their's is not necessarily wrong making it even MORE confusing. Add to this that every child is unique and a rule book would be useless. Well, maybe not completely....

Rule#1- Lots of love
Rule#2- no beatings
Rule#3- Keep your eye on them (because those little suckers are FAST and creative)
Rule#4-Feed them
Rule#5- Warm clothes
Rule#6- Behave as if they're always watching (because they are)
Rule#7- Refer to rule #1 & 2 when you're about to lose your last ounce of sanity

Any others anyone would like to share?

Tooth Fairy and inflation

My son just turned 7 yrs old-today. His 2 bottom front teeth started coming in a while back but those 2 little front baby teeth were stubborn. they started getting looser as the big ones came higher but they did not come out. Tonight at bedtime, my kidlet got a special 7th birthday present when his very 1st tooth ever fell out when he wiggled it. The excitement commenced! We had to brush it and make it very clean for the tooth fairy, he had to brush the rest of his teeth extra good again *just in case* and then of course get something to put it under his pillow. Good night, kisses, hugs, music and lights out...
Now the adults started talking.....
How much for the 1st tooth? Well, I guess I'm old--I remember getting a quarter for each tooth. Hubby argued inflation and started at $5.00---wha???? Seriously??? I thought a generous compromise of .50 for the 1st tooth was a good starting place...I even came up to a dollar!
Hubby came down to $2.00

  The inflation arguement just doesnt work on me. I could come up to $2 for the sake of it falling out ON his birthday but inflation? whats he buying?? He's 7...he isnt heading out to the stores to go on a spending spree with his tooth money. In fact, he rarely spends money he gets..Weve been saving everything down to his 1st dollar given to him ... he's even said he wants to save his money. First to buy a space ship <wink> but lately his reasons have changed to "a house or car"..and of course what mommy wouldnt say "college"? Have we jaded our kids to the value of earning money by making it too easy? I just dont want my son to look at money being given to him, ever, and say "what, thats it?" at 7 I think a quarter is a lot for the twenty or so teeth he'll lose...maybe even .50 as he gets older... and how long will he even buy into the tooth fairy idea? I'd hate to be buying teeth at $5 a pop!!
I only have 1 kidlet..what about the families with 2 or more?? Here is what I would like to do "Honey, so cool, the tooth fairy write you a note!!! She (because we all know its a she) said

     Dear Ray, I'm so excited that your tooth fell out! You're on your way to a full mouth of healthy grown up teeth! To remember this totally cool occasion each yr, I now give  $1 for the 1st tooth (because that one is super special) and for each tooth after that I give you a special magic seed to plant WITH that tooth. To make the world a prettier place, and for you to have a place to visit all those cool baby teeth that helped you grow big and strong, please plant each tooth and take just as good care pof it as you did when you chewed with it and you will have a beautiful garden full of childhood memories! Take good care of those new grown up teeth, I'll be checking in on them! Love, the Tooth Fairy :)

And a tradition is born!