He sat in the most uncomfortable chair- a horrific maize leaf pattern, filled with batting that was in all the wrong places that you knew that it was a really old chair, sat upon by all types of body shapes and heights. For him the best padding was under where the bend of the knees reaches the edge of the frame so he sat with his knees higher than naturally appropriate. His butt sat on the flattest section, as if he was sitting on a log in a forest for hours. He hated waiting and this chair made it worse.
So, he decided to move, “maybe if I walked around the office the people at the counter will actually pay attention to me,” he thought to himself.
Thus far, they hadn’t even looked his way as if he didn’t exist.
Maybe he didn’t. I mean after all, he might have already died. His body was numb. He couldn’t draw in any air, he felt like he was stuck under water with no way to clear his lungs. He needed a doctor and needed one NOW.
Suddenly he screamed at the top of his lungs, 2020!!! What the hell have you done to all of us? How many of us have to die? Are you torturing us because we didn’t vote a certain way? Did we piss you off so much because we suck at taking care of the planet? Did you get your feelings hurt because the family unit was collapsing and people were being pulled too many ways and you decided to fix it in the most horrific way imaginable?!!! Why??? Why so many deaths? Mother Nature is really having her way with us and that is the least of our worries right now. What can we do to fix all of this? Will 2021 actually make everything better?!
He needed to do something, anything, to get them to pay attention to him, those workers behind the counter glass, sitting in their comfortable chairs, just going about their business, talking to each other and sometimes laughing at a silent joke someone told.
Pulling a William Wallace, he went running straight towards the counter yelling, 2020!!! and crashed through the counter glass.
“There’s no time for us There’s no place for us What is this thing that builds our dreams Yet slips away from us?
Who wants to live forever?…
There’s no chance for us It’s all decided for us This world has only one Sweet moment set aside for us……
Who Wants to Live Forever anyway?“
“Who wants to Live Forever?” Brian May — Highlander Soundtrack
Queen’s music is like a timeline of life. It starts with Keep Yourself Alive
“I was told a million times Of all the troubles in my way Mind you grow a little wiser Little better every day…… Do you think you’re better every day? No, I just think I’m two steps nearer to my grave”
“Keep Yourself Alive” — Brian May — Queen album
Isn’t that how life is: just trying to stay alive?? All the while filling the space with joy, heartache, love, pain, boredom, play, work, and then the realization that if you reach old age that death will come because it can’t be avoided.
You’re a child enjoying playing with friends, riding your bike through the neighborhood, feet stretched out to the sides, arms in the air feeling like you are floating, because as a kid your core is the best it might ever be, and that bike can sit under you going forward and your balance is superb! Wheee…
“…On your marks, get set, go
Bicycle race, bicycle race, bicycle race Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle, bicycle (I want a) bicycle race”
“Bicycle Race” — Freddy Mercury — double A Side Single with Fat Bottomed Girls
Moving into your teen years and at night you have a friend, an object, something that has brought you the meaning of love, heartbreak, and upbeat righteous tunes… this is where Radio Ga Ga comes in…
“I’d sit alone and watch your light My only friend through teenage nights And everything I had to know I heard it on my radio
You gave them all those old time stars Through wars of worlds invaded by Mars You made ’em laugh, you made ’em cry You made us feel like we could fly (radio) …Radio, what’s new? Someone still loves you”
“Radio Ga Ga” — Roger Taylor/ Queen – A Side Single & The Works album
Ah, those teen years, those days of wanting a relationship with someone, the thrill of experimenting with independence and freedom, sneaking out of the house, hanging with that group of friends that keeps you sane, keeps you pumped, keeps you entertained and yes, they are there when you need them the most.
“It’s not easy love, but you’ve got friends you can trust Friends will be friends When you’re in need of love they give you care and attention Friends will be friends When you’re through with life and all hope is lost Hold out your hand ’cause friends will be friends Right till the end”
“Friends will be Friends” — John Deacon/ Freddy Mercury — A Kind of Music
Just like you will be there for them. Lifting their spirits in a way that only you know how they need to be lifted.
“So dear friends your love is gone Only tears to dwell upon I dare not say as the wind must blow So a love is lost, a love is won Go to sleep and dream again Soon your hopes will rise and then From all this gloom life can start anew And there’ll be no crying soon”
“Dear Friend” — Brian May — Sheer Heart Attack
However, all this is superseded by your true first love — something you spend all your time, money, and energy on– your car.
“The machine of a dream, such a clean machine With the pistons a pumpin’, and the hubcaps all gleam When I’m holding your wheel All I hear is your gear…”
“I’m in Love with my Car” — Roger Taylor / Queen — A Night at the Opera
Your next love, that person who revs your motor might not always be the right one, but you’re figuring out life, learning about what makes for a good relationship which leads up to potential heartbreak…
“The way you love me Is the sweetest love around But after all this time The more I’m trying The more I seem to let you down, yes baby
Now you tell me you’re leaving And I just can’t believe it’s true Oh, you know that I can love you Though I know I can’t be true Oh, you made me love you Don’t tell me that we’re through”
“It’s Late” — Brian May — News of the World
You’re in your late twenties working your fingers to the bone and for what? Are you working for yourself or are you working for “The Man”… would this grinding work be worth it if you could share it? If you had someone to love?
“I work hard (he works hard) every day of my life I work ’til I ache in my bones At the end (at the end of the day) I take home my hard earned pay all on my own
I get down (down) on my knees (knees) And I start to pray ‘Til the tears run down from my eyes Lord, somebody (somebody), ooh somebody(Please) can anybody find me somebody to love?”
“Somebody to Love” — Freddy Mercury — A Day at the Races
and finally, you find the one!
“Love of my Life” is the most beautiful song Freddy has ever written. This version in the video is pure perfection. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the most creatively stylized rock suite ever written. It’s my favorite! I mean who sets up their own pee break with the operatic section of the song? This song breaks my heart when Queen plays it at Live AID because it’s fitting Freddy’s life at the end.
You’re in the midst of adulthood; you realize that the world you have lived in for 35 years or so is starting to look pretty messed up “Pressure pushing down on me Pressing down on you, no man ask for,” and your vision of the fairy tale disappears.
“Ah, then came man to savage in the night To run like thieves and to kill like knives To take away the power from the magic hand To bring about the ruin to the promised land, aah, aah”
“MY FAIRY KING” — FREDDY MERCURY — QUEEN
And Life is Real.
“Sleeping is my leisure Waking up in a minefield Dream in just a pleasure dome Love is a roulette wheel Life is real, life is real Life is real, oh yeah
Success is my breathing space I brought it on myself I will price it, I will cash it I can take it or leave it
Loneliness is my hiding place Breast feeding myself What more can I say? I have swallowed the bitter pill I can taste it I can taste it Life is real, life is real Life is real”
“LIFE IS REAL” — FREDDY MERCURY/ QUEEN — HOT SPACE
and that life is moving fast and you decide you truly want to live and do all the things you didn’t do those first 35 years.
“Tonight, I’m gonna have myself a real good time I feel alive and the world I’ll turn it inside out, yeah And floating around in ecstasy So don’t stop me now don’t stop me ‘Cause I’m having a good time, having a good time… Don’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time I’m having a ball Don’t stop me now If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call Don’t stop me now (’cause I’m having a good time) Don’t stop me now (yes, I’m havin’ a good time) I don’t want to stop at all”
“DON’T STOP ME NOW” — FREDDY MERCURY — JAZZ
Seriously, you had better “have yourself a real good time,” because we all know that the “Hammer will Fall” eventually.
“Here we stand or here we fall History won’t care at all Make the bed, light the light Lady Mercy won’t be home tonight
You don’t waste no time at all Don’t hear the bell but you answer the call It comes to you as to us all Yeah, we’re just waiting for the hammer to fall, yeah…
Tow the line and play their game Yeah, let the anesthetic cover it all ‘Til one day they call your name You know it’s time for the hammer to fall”
“HAMMER TO FALL” — BRIAN MAY — THE WORKS
And then like my favorite song in all the world, we realize in disbelief that we’re at the end of our timeline,
“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, No escape from reality.
Too late, my time has come Sends shivers down my spine Body’s aching all the time Goodbye everybody, I’ve got to go Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth Mama, oohI don’t want to die..”
“BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” — FREDDY MERCURY — A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
“I’ve paid my dues Time after time I’ve done my sentence But committed no crime And bad mistakes I’ve made a few I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face But I’ve come through”
“WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS” — FREDDY MERCURY — NEWS OF THE WORLD
and at the end of all that when the curtain (and the hammer) falls, I hope that we can all sing that beloved anthem, “We are the champions, my friends. And we [‘ll] ke[e]pt on fighting ’til the end…”
**** I truly recommend listening from the first single to each subsequent album in order to get the biggest bang for your buck of appreciation for the growth Queen takes over the decades. It’s truly awe-inspiring. Find the albums, Sit back, close your eyes and absorb the music. Enjoy!
btw- there are so many songs that fit into this life timeline idea. I love Queen’s more obscure songs and most people love the more popular stuff so I tried to mix it up and include both. However, if I included it all, Roger and Brian might kick my butt for sharing all their lyrics when you should be checking them out yourself. Again, sit back, relax and enjoy!
“If you’re in relationship, I invite you to ask yourself this question: “Why am I choosing my partner today?” Bryan Reeves
I was asked the other day (and a few weeks back by two different people) how as passionate people with extremely different personalities Matt and I have made it to (almost) year 31 of our marriage, and year 33 of being together without killing each other. My snarky remark would be, “why in the world would I want to retrain someone?”
My honest answer is, it’s not always easy. Communication is key. This is what the experts say and I completely agree. Yup, I run off creativity. He runs off of plans. I’m good with picking a spot on the map and saying let’s go there. This is where I might want to rest my head, and then a few hours from where I might want to land is when I make a hotel reservation. He wants it all scheduled hour by hour; nope, doesn’t always work for me. He’s had to learn to stop and smell the roses on the way, because I won’t let him just move from spot A to B without a few sniffs of those gorgeous roses. I mean, how can you learn to appreciate nature if you are moving from A to B without using your senses and stopping to enjoy those senses? He’s taught me how to develop work ethic. I had never in my life met someone who cleaned, as if they were spring cleaning every single day. This was a 2 times a year ritual for our family, in his it was a way of life. He taught me how to clean, not the other way around. I am thankful for that. Like I said, he fills my gaps.
As I mentioned above my friend and the other two people (one of them was my dentist — we also talked about raising children, but that’s a different post topic) who asked me what the magic of our longevity caught me off guard. I really had no clue how to answer. I had to think about it for a minute. Here is my answer to my dentist: There is no secret formula. I figured it all comes down to choosing. I chose Matt each and every day and he chooses me. We just push along from that choice. My choice comes mostly with a smile, some fun and staring at him, realizing how lucky I am to have met this gorgeous man in the first place. Ultimately, the answer is that I choose to fall in love with him, as if it is the first time I saw him working at the electronics counter in Fred Meyer. I will continue to chose him every single day for the rest of my life, because I want to grow old with him. Him sitting next to me on the back deck porch swing looking out over our favorite view wherever that might be and me holding a book on my lap and one hand in his…
After all, we are complete opposites. He is the yin, I am the yang… I talk a lot, he listens. Our love languages don’t always blend well together, I am a communicative and physically demonstrative person; he is a service giving person. We’ve had to learn through trial and error how to make those two languages blend tightly together. We’ve learned to let things go, we’ve learned to go to different corners of the house, to think over our responses before we say something we might regret. We’ve learned to continue on and push through the difficulties because, we choose everyday. Let me repeat that: we choose every; single; day; to be together.
You might have noticed my use of the semicolon to stop and pause those words. It’s intentional. Sometimes you have to stop, pause, and think about what you want to accomplish, move on with those steps in mind, or stagnate and let a relationship die. This is what happens the majority of the time when a marriage (or any relationship) gets beyond the honeymoon period and you haven’t figured out how to blend you’re different upbringings together.
Some people chose to get divorced, others choose to coexist and revolve around each other. The more successful marriages, I think, might coexist for a bit, then plug on through to relearning to love each other.
In other words, chose to find qualities they love about their spouse and focus solely on that, until they can overlook the things that bother them and rediscover the other things they loved about their spouse from the start. Longevity is about give and take. Sometimes you give and other times you take, but you can NEVER, EVER, be the only one giving, or be selfish enough to only be taking, or you become unresponsive to the other spouse’s feelings and the connection can severe and die away permanently.
Ask our children, it wasn’t always sunshine and flowers. There were tears, yelling, silent treatments and trying to push the other person to be like ourselves. Trying to get him to think the way I did. Him trying to get me to be as active as he was. When an extremely active, wilderness loving person marries a bookworm who is content to soak up the rays at the beach, compromise is needed. This makes for growing pains from each person in the relationship. Growth is a good thing. Not always when you don’t want to and especially not on someone else timetable. Tears I tell you, lots and lots of tears…
Moving often didn’t help. I would just get settled into my herd of friends, the house decorated the way I like, the kids doing great in school and after school programs batted up and flowing daintily, and bam! off we’d go to another town in another state. I thrive on socializing with people, I don’t thrive on change per se. I would pray a lot that our move was what was best for each of us and like Ruth, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay,” my place was with my husband whom I loved.
I tend to want to communicate through a problem, “If there’s a problem, Yo, I’ll solve it.” sorry, certain words always shoot off a song in my head… I’m sure it drives my “think before you speak husband” absolutely batty when I push to get him to face my way of slamming through the problem, from the second I see there is a problem.
I also, going to be straight up blunt and honest here, have a personality that doesn’t handle criticism well. I blame being a Gemini and an Extroversion Intuitive (and Sensory: I equal out on that and intuitive. I think it depends on my mood on the day I’ve taken the Myer-Briggs test) Feeling Perception. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. This makes communication hard when talking to me. Luckily I married a man, who over the years, has learned how to “handle” me when I need refocusing. I don’t like the word correction, it sounds like a parent is disciplining a child. He is not my parent, I am not his child, even if I act like one sometimes.
Like I said, he is the Yin, I am the Yang, or as Rocky Balboa says, “I dunno, she’s got gaps, I got gaps, together we fill gaps.” Matt fills my gaps. He is steady, strong, sincere, and stalwart. I am mind blazing, full steam ahead, all over the place. I tend to have a hard time focusing on any one thing. He has helped me to learn to focus and complete tasks before starting on something new when it comes to serious ambitions, say like work or school; besides that, I am all about playing and having fun.
I’m a “jack of trades and a master of none”. Luckily for me, I tend to pick things up easily. Unluckily, I want to try everything, so I tend to move on to step 1050 when I should really be on step 2: Come on people, The big picture is visualized, let’s not have to plan it to death, let’s just get It done, before I lose interest!! That is my thinking, why waste time when you know what you want to accomplish. As Nike’s logo says, “Just do it!”. This drives my husband, the planner, nuts. He sees the big picture but wants to make sure all the steps aren’t missed or it might not turn out right. I’ve always believed if you miss a step whatever comes from what you have done might turn out even more amazing than what you envisioned. Let it grow and breath in the direction it wants to…
Q: If someone doesn’t fill your gaps, how can you continue a relationship with them? I am honestly curious about this, anyone have an answer? Let me know in the comments below.
I met my husband Matt, when I was a Sr. in high school. His younger brother and I had attended school together since 8th grade. I didn’t meet Matt at school, however, but at our place of employment, good ole’ Fred Meyer.
I had been dating a guy from work, *”Steve”; a tall blond who unfortunately knew he was gorgeous, and dated a lot of girls. I found this out when my friend Amber and I went to his school to surprise him and his buddy with lunch. He had a long term High School sweetheart, supposedly he planned on marrying her after graduation. Just a few days later a co-worker, “Natalie”, informed me while we were in the break room, that she had been dating him too. Boy, were we all naïve of this Casanova.
Speaking of mismatched relationships, my friend Susie, mentioned she wanted to ask a new employee out on a date who worked in Electronics. I hadn’t seen the “new” guy yet. I was all for her getting out and having fun because her life was pretty boring, so I told her she should go for it.
I was working in the children’s clothing department on a Tuesday when I saw out of the corner of my eye one of the guys in electronics talking to a handsome, squared-jawed blond. Seeing only his profile, I was intrigued. He looked foreign (he still gets that a lot.)
I didn’t see him for another few weeks. I was getting ready for inventory, and worked the “death” shift (11pm. to 5am) to make sure all the stock was accounted for and out on the floor if possible, before the store opened later in the morning. Fred Meyer had a large stockroom that was split into 3 bays. The farthest away from mine was the Home Improvement Dept., then a small cubby hole where the electronics were stocked. The main section held all the hard line items: toilet paper, shampoos, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, books, toys etc…, The back of the main section also held the trash compactor, and forklift bay. Our section held all the soft side items: all the clothing, shoes, towels, and other domestic supplies. My work responsibility was to either work in the stockroom hanging clothes; work on the sales floor putting the clothes out on the racks, or manning the various dressing rooms. I despised the dressing rooms. People were slobs and the clothes built up to a record number of re-buttons, zips, re-buckling, and hanging them back on hangers. I already did that before the clothes hit the sales floor. It was like Deja vu.
I loved working the Children’s Department, not only because the head of the department, Inga, was a hoot, but because it was the farthest away from my boss, Christine. She was mean! To be honest, I got in a lot of trouble while working in the women’s clothing department. It was too close to the shoe department where Susie work and we talked way too much.
Besides being far away from my boss, the other perk of the Children’s Department was the people watching. I love people watching! There was just more activity to observe from my racks at the front of the store instead of in the Women’s Department which was located in the middle of the store. I was just happier working and being entertained at the same time.
The Children’s Department is where a rubber band zinged from across the store and hit me in the head. I looked around and saw not an inking of a hand that would’ve shot it. The cashiers were packed with lines of customers waiting to check out. The service desk girls were running back and forth between the cashiers who needed money and customers returning unwanted items. It never occurred to me to look over at Electronics. So the rubber band shooter was a mystery that went unsolved. I went home and forgot about it.
The next night another rubber band. Another mystery. I looked in the opposite direction thinking maybe “Steve” was shooting them, then remembered he wasn’t even working. I went home, and again forgot about it.
A couple of days of being off work, and I went back on the late shift. This time I get hit in the shoulder. No one is caught guilty.
I go on a break.
When I came off break I was supposed to hang some women’s clothes, yet still man the Children’s Department. I decided I was going to set up my portable hanging bar face forward towards the registers so that I could catch the shooter of those rubber bands. A buzzing sound and a rubber band flew over my head. My eyes went searching… A glimpse of strong, shoulders shaking, caught my eye. There was the new guy acting like he was pricing cameras and trying not to give himself away. Finally, I’d caught the culprit! Just to make sure though, I didn’t react. I go back to unwrapping, un-pinning and putting white dress shirts on hangers, then placing them on the hanging bar; ever slightly glancing over at the new guy.
I’m a sucker for blondes, and this one has the hair of Ren McCormack.
My mind is reeling – how do I react appropriately, when this guy is GORGEOUS? How do I let him know that I’m interested? Do I smile, wink or just walk over and talk to him? What does a gal that looks like she’s 12 years old do to catch a guy’s attention even though she already has it, but doesn’t think she does? Was he just bored and being obnoxious; was he really interested? That is what I needed to find out.
On to the hunt, for information.
This guy had already gone on a date with my good friend, Suzie, so heading in the direction of the Shoe Dept. I went. Who was he? What type of personality did he have? I found out his name was Matt. He was shy. He was straight-laced and he was incredibly built. That is all she could tell me .So… he’s a guy of little words? That works. I mean, I am a girl full of words, this really could be the one!
Three weeks of flirting, three weeks of wondering why he didn’t get the fact that I was interested. What the heck was going on? It was driving me crazy that he didn’t make a move.
My 18th birthday was coming. My parents bought me a VCR for my present, and little do they know because of it, they also got me a guy! The Day after my birthday, I went into the store to purchase blank VCR tapes. The gorgeous guy was working. I said hi. I asked him for advice on what the best blank tape would be and he showed me my options. He didn’t chit chat so, to make things less uncomfortable, I talked, I asked questions, his answers were bulleted so, I talked some more. He seemed to want to ask me something, but never did. I left the store and went home.
As I walked into the house, my mom was talking on the phone to my best friend, Amber. She wanted me to go swimming, so I changed into a sea foam green Hawaiian floral bikini, under a sea foam sweater tank, and peach shorty, short shorts. There was this nagging feeling going on as I changed. I felt like I was missing something, what was it that I was missing? I had one of those moments where you really want to slap yourself in the head, The aha moment — I had never made my purchase!! Seriously? I decided I needed those tapes something awful and was going to go back to the store before heading to Amber’s house. (I lived 2 blocks away, but it took 20 minutes to walk.)
What had I been thinking? Not about purchasing anything with money, that was for sure. I was distracted, was all I could tell my folks as I walked right back out the door. The sidewalk I traveled seemed like it a constant conveyor belt aimlessly moving forward, but not heading anywhere fast. I wanted to run, I needed those tapes! Let’s be honest, it wasn’t the tapes I needed but to be in the same vicinity as that gorgeous guy. My perceived knowledge that he wanted to ask me something was driving me to want to spend more time with him…
Sometimes when you aren’t feeling well you start to think like Eeyore. You feel like your grey, your tail pin is crooked, no one likes you, but you still plug along, just like he does. He’s a perfect example of life. When Life gets crazy, you either stick to yourself or show your strength and move among the masses. I mean Eeyore is super strong. Did you ever notice that he is always carrying stuff for his friends? He is loyal and selective about his friends. I tend to do that when I am not feeling well. My favorite quote from Eeyore is about friends, It’s from Winnie-the- Pooh by A.A. Milne, “I might have known,” said Eeyore. “After all, one can’t complain. I have my friends.”
And When I am feeling really down and feeling friendless, I go to my reminder quote from my favorite Winnie-the-pooh book, “House at Pooh Corner” which comes from Rabbit: “It’s your fault, Eeyore. You’ve never been to see any of us. You just stay here in this one corner of the Forest waiting for the others to come to you. Why don’t you go to THEM sometimes?” after I start feeling better you might see me standing at your door knocking away just to say “hi” and see how you are doing. 😀
What does it mean to have friends? Is it someone you can count on? Someone you go and do things with, someone who shares with you their deepest darkest secrets? Then couldn’t you just need your spouse/boyfriend, your parents, your siblings or your kids? Why do you need outside influences, say a girlfriend to hang out with and talk to?
I find that having outside friendships helps enrich your life to more than what your inner influences are – say, your family the ones that know you the best, the ones that have struggled through life with you, the ones that maybe you feel so comfortable, you don’t need to extend yourself with and that leads to a lack of growth. Outside influences help you to see, feel, and experience things you might not have without them. Without Matt, I wouldn’t have learned to ski, fly in weird and huge planes, tasted different foods or lived in so many other cities. However, I also feel as if when you are so close to someone you don’t always take their advice, especially, when it is your spouse and you don’t always think they are going for your growth but their own. This means you are stubborn to their suggestions sometimes and that also doesn’t help you grow and become a deeper version of yourself.
I don’t have many close friends and the ones I do have don’t live near me… They live in Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Salt Lake, and Santa Clara, Utah. I talk to them, interact with them on social media and are reminded every day how much they mean to me, however, as I write this, I realize that I need to cultivate a close girlfriend relationship, here… I need to have someone who I can go to lunch with, someone to go shopping with that loves to goof around while doing so and maybe, just maybe, go hiking, biking or kayaking during the week with me when Matt is at work.
Don’t get me wrong, I love, love, love my life. I love what I do. I don’t need a job, I have one, one that I love! Yes, it doesn’t pay conventionally; I get paid in books, but It saves us hundreds of dollars each year and I get to read all the new stuff and connect with the authors of those books. Who can argue with that? I sure don’t!! Still, I need a companion to goof around with, even outside community events to me don’t count as people just go, it’s not a plan to meet up, hang out and talk… All work and solitude make for a very dull Sandi. (yes, that was me using cliche sentences and referring to myself in the third person. who does that?)
Now, how do you go about becoming friendly and close to people? I know, I know, some would say that it is by being a friend yourself, just as Rabbit did to Eeyore. Except that isn’t the easiest thing to do when you are not working or out and about every single day of your life. So, volunteering would help that, wouldn’t it? Yes, and no. When you are volunteering you are yes, building a relationship with other people, young and old, thin and thick, male and female. You have a common bond with them, you cultivate plans, build experiences, and then leave the office, building, common area and go back to your own life. These volunteers are usually retired, or work during the day and build into their schedule time to attend these meetings because they are super excited to help make life better for the community. They aren’t looking to extend their outer circles any more than they already have. When I was younger, it was easier, the kids were involved in things, sometimes mothers are thrown together into an activity, running kids back and forth to after school activities and need help with that and develop a connection to other mothers who are also trying to fit it all in.
Let me tell you how I met my Santa Clara best friend… even though most people know who she is, I will still protect her identity by calling her “friend” 😉: When Mckenna was in kindergarten, she met two sweet girls. One loved to play soccer, the other just loved to have fun. Mckenna needed these two girls in her life as she danced and did theater and needed a different way to interact with other kids besides the same kids she always did. Besides, everyone needs friends in school, it makes more fun, right?
Anyway… One day Mckenna asked if she could go play with her new friend “M” at her home. I said absolutely, talked to the mother after school to let her know I had a meeting at church and that Mckenna’s dad would pick Mckenna up after he was off of work, around 6 p.m. “friend” said that was great and I went on my way. We didn’t have cell phones back then so, if there was an emergency, “friend” had Matt’s work number and our home number and I wasn’t worried about anything happening to Mckenna anyway, she was pretty self-contained. I go home, make dinner, help the boys with homework, send them off to play with friends, and go off to church to work with girls 12 – 18 years old. I remember we were getting ready for Young Women in Excellence. The girls were going to be presenting their Young Woman’s projects to their parents and peers and so, we were working on their projects and following up on other things they were working on.
Anyhoo, I headed home afterward and walked into the house, started checking in with the kids and Mckenna wasn’t home. I found Matt in the backyard and was like, “where’s Mckenna?” he said, “you were supposed to get her…” um, no” that was his job, what we had talked about, what he had agreed to. Over the course of the day, he got so busy at work that he totally forgot, and had just arrived home about 10 minutes before I did. It was 10 o’clock at night. It was late. I jumped in the car and headed to “friend’s” house and nervously knocked at the door. She answered the door I apologized profusely again and again, and she said, “I was trying to figure out what kind of parents would leave their 6-year-old at a stranger’s house for so long. She and “M” are already asleep in “M’s” room.” She said, “let her stay and I’ll bring her home in the morning.” I checked in on them and they looked so sweet that I couldn’t pick Mckenna up and take her home even though I felt I should… “Friend” did bring her home in the morning after she was well fed and content having made a new friend.
We were thick as thieves after that day. We spent more time with each other than sometimes with our husbands all because of the activities the girls had in common. I loved “Friend” more than any other friend I’ve ever had. I moved away, she moved away, and the girls became disconnected as they grew older, however, I can honestly say even though we don’t connect often when we do it’s like we were never away from each other. That is the kind of friend I am looking for now, someone who is there to jump into the deep end kicking and screaming and come up with me laughing our heads off.
Eeyore realizes that he has the best friends in the whole wide world, “A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference,” that is what Winnie the Pooh, Rabbit, Tigger, Owl and Piglet give to Eeyore. That is what I need in this new world of mine.
I once had a friend who said, “these aren’t my people” as we sat in a huge group at a winery for our husband’s work. I said, “how would you know if you don’t get to know anyone here?”
It’s up to us to step out of our comfort zone, step into the shoes of others, smile, say hello so we can get to know them and build a relationship if you are lucky to make a connection. This is my philosophy- anyone can be your friend as long as you take the first step. So, here’s to taking my own advice, and Rabbit’s, and stepping out, reaching out and making that connection.
I’ve been watching 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. I have wanted to read the book for a really long time, but it’s always reserved at the library. The other day I almost bought it at Barnes and Noble just so I could have it. As a parent, my heart is breaking for the aftermath Hannah’s parents are going through. The not knowing why your child would feel so lonely, so unable to escape from whatever they were feeling, that death was the final option. I can’t imagine how they are dealing with it all. I would totally lose it.
What I really want to touch on is the teen’s side of it though. Nothing is worse than being the new girl at a school. Being the new girl shouldn’t be that big of a deal, but being a new girl and a little less outgoing than the “populars” makes it worse. I’ve been there. I’ve had to deal with it. Navigating through trying to fit in, looking as if you really are the age you are when you look 5 years younger than anyone else and not allowed to participate in the things the other kids are like late-night movies, parties and going beyond, or not having a curfew so that you can attempt to be perceived as “cool” or “with it” as the other kids.
Me at Rockin’ R Ranch in Utah; Age 16
Boys can be cruel, girls can be vindictive. Rumors can hurt mentally and harm other people’s self-esteem, but it can also hurt you physically. Rumors can get you into fights over things you didn’t even say or wouldn’t even think of saying. This happened to me in 8th grade. I had a boy, let’s call him Robby, who told a girl, we will call her Sheri, that I called her something that I wouldn’t even say about her because I didn’t even know Sheri. Even if I did know Sheri I still wouldn’t call her what Robby had said I had. I wasn’t that type of girl. I tried to be friends with everyone, not swear and tear people down. Actually, I tend to put people up on a pedestal even when they didn’t deserve it. Everyone was better than I was. I had been at my new school for maybe a month before Robby started the rumor. I sat in a class with him during 3rd-period science. We never talked, I didn’t even know him except that he was popular and was surrounded by a ton of kids who idolized him. I guess the vibe came off that I didn’t idolize him. I wasn’t into that kind of thing until I hit the age of 16 then I craved popularity. I think I would’ve been better off doing my own thing as I had in my old school: art, writing, performing in plays and feeling confident in my ability in those things, instead of trying so hard to fit in by trying out for cheer which was ridiculous in and of itself as I had no tumbling ability at all! Had I not cared so much about boys, oh, who’s kidding, If I hadn’t cared so much about what CD or JE thought, and what my friends thought of me I would’ve been a lot happier. Looking back, I’m not even sure they were my friends; maybe they just put up with me as a project per se, as I was the “awkward girl” and they were the “it” girls. I truly think that they just felt sorry for me and let me stick around.
My need to “fit in” was just something I felt teenage kids did: caring too much about other people’s perceptions of them. Not “fitting in” was cause for me to second guess myself. Sometimes we grow from these trials of not fitting in other times it’s detrimental to self-esteem and that is what happened to me. I never ever felt good enough. My parents did everything they could to give me a foundation of who I was and that I was more than good enough, but at that age what my parents said came second to how I felt my peers felt about me.
Later on in life, the one thing I decided I learned from these “popular” kids was how to be a friend to others. I didn’t want to be like some of them picking people apart, driving others to think they weren’t good enough or had to have a certain look to fit in. I wanted others to feel loved, and feel they were “enough” when they were around me. Maybe that is because I never felt that way myself growing up. Anyway, back to the Jr. High story- When Sheri heard what I had supposedly said, she got angry. I don’t know how she decided what she was going to do, I don’t know how long she had planned what she was going to do or how long she had been following me. We didn’t live in the same neighborhood, actually as I later found out she lived close to the school and I lived at least a mile away. Eventually, as I was walking home, minding my own business, chatting with a girl who walked the same way I did for most of my route home Sheri jumped in front of me and started throwing the “F” word around. “Who the “F” did I think I was calling her a “b”? I was a nobody, a “shit” on the road, no one could stand me.” I stared at her trying to figure out what the heck she was going on about when she grabbed my hair and flung me down on the ground. pushing me into the sidewalk, scraps, and burns, all the while she was knee-ing me, trying to keep me down. Now, I had two older brothers and although they had fought with each other they had never taught me how to fight. I’m a short person, back then I was tiny, more timid and childlike. She didn’t really care. Mid-punch someone grabbed her arm and stopped her from hitting me and pulled her off of me. Other’s helped me up, brushed me off and tried to calm me down. I was crying hysterically, I had never in my life been treated like an animal. I didn’t even know people could act that way. Like I said, I was a pretty naive girl. Yes, I had seen mean girls before at my old school, always from afar. I had my friends and we pretty much stayed blended in, comfortable with our small group of girls and guys, happy to be who we were. This was as foreign to me as if E.T. had come to visit my room.
I went home, pretended nothing happened and tried going on with my life. Returning to school the next day, the halls were abuzz with how Sheri had kicked my “A” and how like a little woose I cried myself home. Laughter and pretend crying mocked my way into classrooms. People rubbing their eyes as if wiping off tears behind teacher’s backs as lessons were taught. I started riding my bike to school so I wouldn’t get hijacked again from behind. My bike had a bike rack that I attached my clarinet case to so that I was not off-kilter with it hanging on the handlebars. Then the name-calling started, “Hey truck, where’s the fire? Hey Truck, don’t you need pimped up tires? Hey Truck, blah, blah, blah…” It hurt, it was like a never-ending situation that I couldn’t see a way around. If I walked I was at risk of being beaten up, if I rode my bike I was called “Truck”. After a bit, I decided not to let the name phase me (or pretend not to let it phase me.) I went along, laughing and joking it off. Kids backed off for like a minute, then these dang kids decided to start making fun of my crooked front teeth. I kept wondering when was I going to catch a break. What could I do to get them to back off?! I never came up with a solution. I spent half of 8th grade being picked on until a few sweet guys- Let’s call them Scott and Ed started sticking up for me. They were popular 9th graders. They were like superheroes to me: the protectors of my self-esteem. They would come help me out at the bike rack where the other kids who teased me were waiting. When I walked home, they walked with me and dropping me off at the intersection of my neighborhood where they would turn left and I would go straight home. Always acting like my personal bodyguards. These boys had girlfriends and those girls became great friends of mine. Because of these girls, I became friends with other girls my age who to this day I still talk to. The teasing didn’t stop altogether, it didn’t even fade until I turned 18 and graduated, but it curbed back after my parents bought me braces at the age of 16. I am not sure if the braces took away some of the teasing because my teeth were no longer a cause to make fun of, or because I was starting to act a little more mature, a little more self-assured, or kids just lost interest in those childish games. I am not 100% sure.
I never ever considered ending my life because during that time a guy at school committed suicide in a way that the whole community was affected. I think seeing what his parents and baby sister were going through prevented me from ever coming close to considering ending the teasing, by ending my life. Also, it was because I was terrified my whole life of my 2nd oldest brother dying from a drug overdose that death was not an out.
What saved me was that I could escape the world of teasing, the world of having to wear certain clothes, have a certain look, and talk a certain way by entering into the pages of whatever book I was reading, by losing myself in whatever Snoopy pose I was sketching or writing in my journal all the crazy stories that I came up with. This escape was my saving grace.
Bullying is something that NO ONE should have to put up with. I appreciate that Jay Asher wrote a story that can start a conversation with our children. Can start a conversation between teens, and that Selena Gomez and her Mother advocated for the book to be put in series-form on television so that different perspectives and situations can be seen and emotionally felt then discussed between people in all formats: Social Media, boards, text messages, etc… All this conversation is a good thing for kids and adults to become aware of when you treat others badly, there is always a reaction and that bullying is a choice. Suicide is not glorified in this instance and is something that is seen from the effect of the families left behind and the kids that she leaves taped messages for. I appreciate this series. I pray that it will help people to stop the bullying and stop the hurt. I pray that it helps others to also see that suicide is not a viable option. That your loved ones can be talked to and help is available.
Attitude. We’ve already talked about the “social butterfly effect” of some employees on your business, but what about the always disgruntled, never-can-be-made-happy ones?
In Remember the Titan’s the captain of the football team, Gerry has a really poor attitude after his mother tells him that he has to go to church with her and not go play basketball with his new BFF Julius. For the week before the big game, he can’t face Julius after leaving him hanging at the court. This attitude rolls over into the big game and the Titan’s playing the worst game of their season so far. They play as individuals and not cohesively as a team. Julius snidely remarks to Gary that “attitude reflects leadership” Do you believe that to be true? I do.
I truly believe that your employees will be willing to make the work environment uplifting if they are treated fairly and feel respected. Having said that, what if you are a fair leader, create a team that can bounce ideas off each other and mediates problems with understanding & tact and still your employees have a poor attitude: pure dysfunctional, straight up pissy outlook on life and carries that into the work environment poisoning others with their negative attitude/words? There are avenues that you can take to help: surveying your employees, then having a meeting where you can discuss the survey outcome and solutions to fix the problems is sometimes helpful. Hiring work job counselors to run retreats with food and games is a great idea too. Acknowledging the good that your employees do for the company and advertising those deeds for other employees to see reinforces good job performance and helps other to see they might be recognized themselves in the future.
If you have a handful of employees or one employee who still doesn’t change how do you prevent yourself from being sucked up into their pissy outlook so that you, the boss doesn’t sink to the same level as your employees? This can be hard. Hopefully, you have a good support system at home, someone you can talk to, bounce ideas off of and practice a positive outlook no matter what is thrown at you. Problem-solving is not easy, it’s not enjoyable and it definitely isn’t always rewarding owing to the fact that it isn’t always something anyone else sees you doing. It helps also to have a career counselor or consultant that has been in your career and can give you tools to help you deal with the problems you might face.
I feel that you can only do so much to make a business environment successful, part of that success has to do with the type of employees you hire. Let’s say you have John, a man who always comes to work in a foul mood because his marriage is failing, his kids are disrespectful or a half a number of other situations happening in his life. That foul mood might be aimed at your customers or is rubbing off on John’s peers. Is that cause for firing or should there be some kind of mediation offered to help John deal with his problems?
In this is ever-growing positive-reinforcement, empathetic culture of businesses today it is hard to know when you are spending too much money on the employee to out weigh the income you need to create growth. Playing psychiatrist to your employees keeps you from focusing on moving forward into the future seeing that you are focusing too much on internal problems. Hiring a psychiatrist or professional work counselor can mess up your bottom line, making it detrimental to the products you can offer to your customers since these types of programs cost money.
How can a small business afford to pay for a psychiatrist, a workforce coach or spend more time on creating a culture where a professional talks to your whole department when they should be focusing on giving the customer what they want? That my friends, is the question of the day…
Again, “Attitude reflects Leadership” and Leadership decisions trickles down to all your employees. Leaders must make the tough decisions with an eye to creating a positive work environment with the most cost effective steps without hurting the welfare of their employees. In other words, Leaders are the only ones that can make the right call for their company. Hopefully, they make the correct one.
“Who says you can’t go home?” Bon Jovie asks this question and I am asking it too ⏤ have you ever lived eons of time away from your hometown and then moved back and thought, “wow, can I really do this?” Yeah, that is what I am doing right now. We are headed back to the State of Utah. The place Matt and I met and fell in love. The place that foundationally formed us. I’m leary of this returning home. Luckily, we are not going to be going completely home ⏤ not to our same neighborhood or even cities. We will be thirty minutes to an hour away from where we both grew up though, so, not exactly the same, but still; close.
Our parents don’t live in Utah so we won’t be returning as “kids” to someone else. We will, however, be driving to and through places we roamed as teenagers. While looking for homes in Heber City, I drove down I-15 from my sister-in-law’s home, towards Park City, the music blasting from my car radio was 80’s rock and I had this overwhelming feeling of being a teenager again. This drive; the music; my freedom of roaming; it all smacked of nostalgia ⏤ the drives to Rockport for windsurfing, sledding down the Alpine Slide on Matt and I’s first date; crash landing on the off-ramp at Jeremy Ranch in a Hot Air Balloon. It’s gonna be like Deja Vu for a good long time. I think I might be looking forward to it. 😜 There will be so many experiences to re-live and chew on. What did I learn from those experiences, have I grown since I lived that life? Good Growth lessons are on the horizon. I can see it now!
Until then, packing, cleaning and saying goodbye to good friends are the things I am dreading. How do I leave this land of sunshine & coastal views and head towards a lush valley that part of the year white stuff falls from the heavens & sticks to the ground waiting for someone to shovel it from sidewalks & driveways? I am not a lover of cold, I actually despise it. Matt has had to promise me that I will be getting a home with a fireplace, a good many cute warm clothes,
4 trips or more to the beach, and possibly a snazzy 4 x 4 vehicle that represents my wacky and adventure-sensed personality. I’m, for now, seeing a Toyota FJ as a possible swag mobile but that could change at any given time knowing my whims. 😉
Moving to Heber City is going to be one more route on our adventurous road and I am going to live it up as much as I can. I mean, come on ⏤ family to love on, grand puppies to run with, rivers to fish, moutains to hike, bike, ATV, and snowmobile on, a new community to grow to love & help people in, and me all the while being with the man of my dreams for more memory-building experiences? How can it not be exciting???
I’m curious: Have you ever moved back to your home state? How did it go? Did you experience Deja Vu like I did?
Heber City Administration Building (Heber’s old LDS Tabernacle)
As some of you may have heard buzzing through the air in the last few hours, my amazing, patient, honorable, and hardworking husband has resigned from the City of Lincoln and has agreed to become the new city manager in Heber City, Utah.
I am so excited to be near our children as they grow their families and spend more time making memories with cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts & uncles and Matt’s siblings. This move will be bittersweet. It is with deepest love and sadness that we will be saying good bye to those in our Lincoln Community that have been so wonderfully loving and supportive to Matt (and I) in his role as Lincoln City manager. You’re an amazingly creative and fun people who work hard to create a cohesive community by caring for each other. Helping those who can’t help themselves and lifting those who are struggling to feel love and acceptance as any good, loving people should.
Matt and I have grown close to you our adopted small town. My first “feels” for Lincoln was the first day I arrived in town for Matt’s job interview when I happened to wander into a tiny store filled with repurposed and reused items for sale. I met owner, Nancy Telford, at her Gypsy Chic POP Up Event. She was such a kindred spirit; I knew I wanted to live in this town just by speaking to her and meeting Mayor Paul Joiner (at the time) and hearing his inspiring vision of the city’s future.
My second “feels” for Lincoln, which solidified my love for this town, was my first official day living here: July 4th, 2015. I walked down 5th street during the 4th of July Parade and thought, “holy cow,this town knows how to throw a party to celebrate Independence Day”. I hungrily snapped photo after photo of the floats, the bands, the cars and the people in their red, white and blue, all the while smiling and waving to each other. It was like I walked into a Rockwell painting. I KNEW this town would be the spot I wanted to live in for a good long time.
As I have volunteered and sweated with you all at so many events, I have seen the joy that is created for the community through the efforts of the social clubs, humanitarian clubs, the Down Town Business Association, The Chamber of Commerce and The City itself.
Please remember, you have created a city of community- people who work together and play together. There will always be some who will strive to create tension or throw that sense of community off-kilter, don’t let them. Stop them by building onto the amazing projects that I have seen over the last three years. The Downtown area is thriving with wonderful restaurants, delicious dessert stops, trendy clothing stores, the most amazing smelling leather bags, so many original vinyl music albums (for a music lover it’s a great shop), home decor, gun & ammo, picture framing needs, special gift shops, the cozy and mysterious Book Cellar (gosh I could live there!) and so much more. The culture coming out from the corners of the downtown area through the Lincoln Art League and the City’s Art through Public Spaces; Lincoln HS’s numerous plays, concerts and choirs; Sun City’s talented people and their events, and most of all from the near and dear to my heart Lincoln Civic Auditorium — the Lincoln Theater Company’s variety of plays and Choristers choir performances are a few of the things I will miss the most.
Baseball has always been a staple in my life, as our boys played all the way through High School, so celebrating the return of the Lincoln Potters and having William Jessup University’s Baseball team play at Mcbean Park has been a boon to my springs and summers. I mean, there’s nothing like the sound of a wooden bat hitting a baseball is there?I know those programs will continue to thrive and grow and will help Lincoln become a star on the Placer County Map. Enjoy them.
Don’t take them or the youth sports for granted. This is how a community stays connected.
I am proud I’ve been able to be a member of the Lincoln Community. Thank you and God Bless you for enriching our lives and always being so kind and loving.
Know this— I will cry, I will hug those who want the hugs and I will, of course, stay in touch even if I move 555 miles away. Because you have all become a piece of my California loving soul.❤️ Sandi
Do you ever wonder who you are meant to be? Should you be who are at this very minute or are you supposed to be more? How do we know?
I’ve been wondering about this a lot. Who am I? The Caterpillar asks Alice who she is and Alice doesn’t know how to answer the question… Neither do I. I’ve changed so many times over the years as Alice did in so many hours during her visit to Wonderland.
Isn’t that something that I should’ve asked myself when I was in my teens not in my late 40’s? It’s a conundrum. I’ve always thought that when someone reaches my age they’ve figured it all out. Have I wasted my life, or am I wasting my life not really knowing who I am? See the problem? If you don’t, then you aren’t where I am YET, OR maybe you’ve figured it all out and are flying by my station in life. Either way, maybe you can pass on some good advice to help me on my journey.
I know through a spiritual answer who I am — I’ve been teaching it over the years to my kids and other people’s kids. I am a child of God, I am a Field and a Brower. I am worthy of being all three and should make sure I keep those names and His image in a good light. The question should be really who does God want me to be? Does He care if I am more than kind, loving and giving to others as I have been taught? Does He care if I am successful, confident and proud of myself and others? I guess those questions only matter if spirituality is important to you or not. It’s sure important to me. I care about what will happen to me in the hereafter. I care about who I interact with, how I influence for good and who I am just being a jerk-face to. Maybe, I don’t care if they are a jerk-face or not, well, actually I do, but I sure don’t want to be. It’s not what I want people to remember me by. If you don’t care about the spiritual questions, that’s okay with me too. I’m not judgmental of other’s beliefs, that’s none of my business.
I’ve been told by wise, older friends that when you reach 50 no one cares about what others think about them. The closer I get to 50 the less sure I am of who I am or who I was SUPPOSED to be before reaching the age I am. I do care about what others think of me or maybe it’s not that I care about what they think, but what they Perceive of me.
The definition of Perception is:
*the ability to see, hear or become aware of something through the senses. *the state of being or process of becoming aware of something through the senses. *a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression. *intuitive understanding and insight.
So my curiosity is about the third definition of Perception. How do people regard or interpret me? Do they see me who they think I am because of my name, my husband’s job or are they using their “intuitive understanding and insight” as the last definition describes and actually seeing me as I really am? Like Alice, I don’t know which direction is the right way and I am curious. I still wonder what people think of me.
For example, I’m sitting in a meeting wearing a bright red dress (it looks, according to many voiced sources, amazing and beautiful on me- it’s the hair color and skin tone that makes it work.) I was sitting between two extremely sweet women. I had one, tell me that I was extremely intelligent and creative. We are Facebook friends and used to go to church together. I’m not sure if my posts show a glossed over version of myself or she just gets it from my questions and comments at church. I always try to be real with everyone that I interact with but other people’s perception of me is not in my control. As my dad always says, ” you don’t have a right to know what other people think of you…” I’m Alice, I want to know everything.
The other woman told me I had a beautiful voice after seeing me sing in a choir performance a few weeks before. I never know how to respond to comments like that. Do you say thank you; gush over how sweet the person is or give a compliment back? Maybe you can tell me because I haven’t got a clue what the proper response is. I tend to do all three. I was feeling pretty loved right then. However, I never know if at the time I come off cocky when I receive compliments and this is where the conundrum comes in. How to react so you are perceived as humble and not radiating so much happiness that you come off arrogant.
Another example: Have you ever been told you look like someone you don’t have respect for and don’t know how to respond to the obviously sincere compliment? That happened to me the other day. I was told I looked like Amy Schumer. I said thank you. Then the man said I was as smart in so many ways just like Amy. He didn’t continue on with what things make me smart. I sure wish he had. I am dying of curiosity. Yes, again, like Alice. I’ve never thought Amy was someone to look up to, so I don’t agree. Yes, she’s a Smartalek, witty as a comedian, but not, to me, funny or smart. I’m pretty sure I didn’t use any sense of humor around this person, so I know he’s not comparing me to the comedian in Amy Schumer. I will say though, I don’t personally know Amy Schumer, so maybe MY PERCEPTION of her is wrong. I am sure it is…
Perception is just that way, you can’t control what others view of you unless you always live you — the you who you are when no one is watching, the one that shows up in the shower, sitting on the couch chatting with your kids, the one that pours their heart out to their journal. Why is it so hard for some people to be real with themselves and others. I get this question all the time, “Are you for real?” Yes. As real as I can be when having to be guarded to not share too much information with people who might be using what you tell them against the people you love. Seriously, who asks those types of questions. “are you for real?” as if I am a cloned person, or a robot, or a Memorex cassette tape. I’m in front of them, aren’t I? Funny.
“Who says you can’t go home?” Bon Jovie asks this question and I am asking it too ⏤ have you ever lived eons of time away from your hometown and then moved back and thought, “wow, can I really do this?” Yeah, that is what I am doing right now. We are headed back to the State of Utah. The place Matt and I met and fell in love. The place that foundationally formed us. I’m leary of this returning home. Luckily, we are not going to be going completely home ⏤ not to our same neighborhood or even cities. We will be thirty minutes to an hour away from where we both grew up though, so, not exactly the same, but still; close.
Please remember, you have created a city of community- people who work together and play together. There will always be some who will strive to create tension or throw that sense of community off-kilter, don’t let them. Stop them by building onto the amazing projects that I have seen over the last three years. The Downtown area is thriving with wonderful restaurants, delicious dessert stops, trendy clothing stores, the most amazing smelling leather bags, so many original vinyl music albums (for a music lover it’s a great shop), home decor, gun & ammo, picture framing needs, special gift shops, the cozy and mysterious Book Cellar (gosh I could live there!) and so much more. The culture coming out from the corners of the downtown area through the Lincoln Art League and the City’s Art through Public Spaces; Lincoln HS’s numerous plays, concerts and choirs; Sun City’s talented people and their events, and most of all from the near and dear to my heart Lincoln Civic Auditorium — the Lincoln Theater Company’s variety of plays and Choristers choir performances are a few of the things I will miss the most.
Life is a Snap, isn't it? 