The Yardsticks Of Life

“Our lives are not measured by birthdays but by the events that fall between them”

Birthdays seem to be fun when we are little and then as people get older they do not want to celebrate signs to them that they are aging. I love birthdays…even now…for they mean I made it another year in spite of my health. And I have another year of memories in my memory banks that sustain me when I am feeling the worst.

Birthdays do not mean as much as we tend to think they do. They are not the true milestones. It is the event between each birthday that are the milestones. From the time we are born…all the milestones the first 12 months include things like more hair, new teeth, learning new skills, crawling, walking….lots of events to remember. Each year between birthdays are more and more events. Until we have a life time of them.

One of the things I did when my sons were born was I started them each a diary. I started each post “my dear son” and I told them of their growing up, of things that made me laugh that they did, of special things they accomplished and all about their growing up. Going back and reading it was amazing after they go grown. I have a granddaughter now and this diary thing is great for grandparents and grandchildren. It leaves them memories and records all those events between the birthdays.

I always have said you know how fast time goes when you have children. I think having grandchildren is no different.What I do know is I would not have missed a minute of all the things with my sons and with my granddaughter. And I do not want to miss any of the ones coming up. My memory bank stays full with joyous memories.

Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.
Democritus

Someone asked me did I still dream. My reply was that of course I do. I dream of more years and more memories to fill my heart and head. I dream of peace on earth and love abound. I dream of seeing my granddaughter one day have children of her own. I dream of walking in my mountains unrestrained. I dream. I dream of quiet streams and the sounds of nature. I dream of good lives for my sons and granddaughter. I dream of a world where there is no pain. Oh yes, I dream. I dream for me and I dream for you.

I have spread my dreams beneath your feet. Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
W.B. Yeats

6 Comments »

very well said. As the old saying goes, “Life isn’t about the number of breaths you take, it’s the moments that take your breath away.” Enjoy your day|! Stay happy as you are amidst the storms in life.

Comment by silverlining09 | July 5, 2012 | Reply
- oh that is one of my favorite quotes. Thanks. I do my best to find enjoyment in life and to smile a lot.
  
  Comment by danLrene ©2011 | July 6, 2012 | Reply
I was never one to understand why people placed so much importance on the number of years they’d lived. I love your way of thinking! I think the journal idea is really great! I’m glad you still dream, most would say that anyone in your position doesn’t have anything to dream about. They’re so wrong and you’re a great example of that! I’m glad you have the courage to dream.

Comment by Daphne Shadows | July 5, 2012 | Reply
- thank you Daphne. I could not make it without dreaming. Yes, I am probably naive with some dreams like dreams of peace in this world but I have other dreams and bucket lists too that keep me working towards holding tight to life. I think life is what we make it and to me making it is focusing on the important stuff. You have really good thoughts daphne.
  
  Comment by danLrene ©2011 | July 6, 2012 | Reply
Wonderful post Deb. People tend to forget that what’s most important is the years between the “dash” of our lives. I’m not ready to see that end number yet. I have many years to go. So do you my friend. Keep positive, keep living and most of all keep dreaming.
Hugz,
Lee

Comment by Cdn Stormlover | July 6, 2012 | Reply
Love the thoughts and great that you posted the boys lives for them to reflect, laugh, and grow from their experiences so often forgotten about along the yard sticks, the miles and the memories… time, miles, yard sticks of moments shared… wishes, dreams, mountains to move… blessings dear and treasured friend!

Comment by SHERRY E SHOWALTER | July 6, 2012 | Reply

About Me

NOTE: Subscribe box is down below the mountain picture.

Those that know me know that this red sparkly headband is symbolic. When they see the headband on me, they know I am fighting hard physically. It is my symbolic Samson’s hair. It is getting my mojo on and geared up for robo mom to once more fight a battle. And the headband is on now and will be on for a long time. I live with my son who is my caretaker and I am so blessed.

Me with mojo on.

And when things are toughest, I will resort to my dreams to keep me going.

I am 63 and will soon be 64. Life has been a journey of health issues since I was 32 and got sprayed by a crop duster. I have warrior attitude. Being a warrior does not mean you always win. It means you never quit trying. Life is what you make it and I choose to make mine as happy as possible no matter where I am in life.

I spend a lot of time on this hospital bed due to constant pain but I am just thankful I have the hospital bed to lay on. I am disabled but I don’t let that stop me from living life and enjoying it. Life is what we make it and I choose to make mine happy.

Meet Daisy..that we call Miss Daisy. Thanks to Jill, a very special friend who is also has a Rescue for pets called Three Sisters and a Brother in NC, Daisy was transported to us and what a delight she is. About ten pounds and full of energy and love and kisses.

My baby

photo0779

Son and Daisy

My world from my hospital bed-it is filled with warmth and love from so many.

I still dream of going back to Italy, of us having one of those mini buses with a lift for my chair that son can convert into a travel home for us to make it easier when I have to go to Denver for surgeries and stuff. I still dream of learning how to tap dance…yes even on these crutches just so I can say I did. All I need are a pair of size 11 tap shoes.

image from facebookemoticons123.blogspot.com

I draw, I paint, I write, I do photography…my latest love is the clouds for I see faces in the clouds all the time and have a blog at the top of the page entitled “Faces in the Clouds” I sit on a stool and help son cook…yes, often with him leaning over me to help me pour or stir but I get to do it. My philosophy is if you can’t do it one way…then create a new way. Son says I am the only person he knows that used their all terrain power chair like a back hoe…using a grain shovel and rake to move dirt or mulch in the garden. I would hold the handle between my legs and rake up the stuff on the two foot wide shovel and then go backwards dragging the shovel to where I wanted to dump it.

Ever since I was a little girl, I was told I was a dreamer. I can remember report cards with “day dreams” written on it. I think dreams are what keep us going. Without dreams…we have no hope.

Follow Your Dreams, The Siren Called Out To Me

As I closed my eyes and fell deep into lovely sleep.
The dream siren called me with a promise to keep

I closed my eyes and looked deep in my soul
I could feel the wind blowing…it was so very cold

My dreams I had carried through year after year
They will never come true was my biggest fear

Wandering up one lane and down another
Remembering my dream since I became a mother

Land, open land and a place to be free
A small house to live in with a big evergreen tree

We mounted the buckboard with all we owned inside
And started over the mountain on this crazy dream ride

We felt like pioneers racing to the finish line for land
And the whole time we knew -The Lord had our hand

So don’t be afraid to dream your dreams and try
Life is too short…open your wings up and fly

Dream I say and work the dream hard as you can
For it will be the best race that you ever ran.

We all have dreams of what we want out of life. I remember Laverne on Laverne and Laverne saying her dream was to have a purple cashmere sweater. Well, our dream is to own land in the country and have a simple life style unencumbered by so much of what is in the world today.

I love to write and have written for years. And hopefully will continue to write for many more years. My real name is Deb.

This blog is about our journey to get there, our life after we reached the promised land and different middle of the night ramblings. Dreams are like cooking…we might get our grandparents old recipes, but we tend to alter them to suit ourselves. But, dream we must…for as long as we have hope in life…we have dreams. And even plain ole everyday people get dreams that come true.

I hope you enjoy and will subscribe and share my journey. Come join us at the foothills of the mountains where we have found a life of simplicity and serenity, in spite of all the health trials of one disabled woman and the courage of a son that chose to take care of her.