Throw Back Thursday And Birthday Wishes

I decided to share a picture and short story about the picture for ThrowBack Thursday.

First, I want to say it is my birthday. I feel it is a miracle in itself that I made it this far. 

I have an "uncle" and friend that shares my birthday. Different year but same day. I write uncle in quotation because I could never call him Uncle Robert as I am older than him. We used to play together. He used to tell me I needed to call him Uncle.  But I refused and still don't call him Uncle Robert. We laugh about it. Don't know if he reads my blog. I already wished him Happy Birthday on his FB page. But for in case he does HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE ROBERT! I'm saying Uncle just because it is our special day HA!

There is another person who shares my birthday although she is not with us anymore. She is an angel in heaven. She was a year younger than me and we grew up together on The Island. I remember one year her mother gave both of us a birthday party which I still remember to this day. She was a kind loving person. I miss her and think about her, especially on our Birthday.  Happy Birthday Gwen!

Now onto the subject of my post.

I don't remember who took the picture. I assume it was a staff member. I assume their focus was my legs hence that's why part of our heads are cut off.

This is a picture of me at 9 years old. Every few months I would go the Crippled Children's clinic. (Gawd I hate that word "crippled") When they closed a few years ago I was able to obtain my records and this photo was one of a few included.

I suspect they took pictures to see my progress. 

I loved that shirt! It fit my personality at that time.

The person that was with me was my orthopedic doctor/surgeon. His name was Dr Brown. He lived in New Orleans and flew done to see a few of us then he would fly back the same day. When I needed surgery which were quite a few we would travel to New Orleans to him.

He will always be an inspiration and my hero. 

He went to heaven several years back.

You see, he had polio. He understood what us kids went through with surgery. He was caring and loving.  He was awesome at what he did.

He used to call me his Sunshine because I was always smiling even though I had tears coming down my face in pain after surgery or when he moved my legs a certain way.

I remember I did what most thought was impossible, learn to ride a two wheel bike. He was surprised but so happy and proud of me. That look on his face of delight will always be in my memory.

I hope he knew how much he helped his patients and how much we loved him.

Do you have someone that impacted your life? Who is your hero?

My Best Friend, Jeff--Happy Birthday!

Today I want to dedicate this post to an awesome person. It is his birthday today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!

Jeff, I can just picture you reading this blushing royally! YEA! You know I LOVE YOU! It's been so long that I made you blush, I think this is a great time. Happy Happy Birthday My Handsome BFF!!

Jeff and I never met face to face. But he has been my best friend for years. I wonder if he remembers just how long. Geez its been a while for sure!

We met several years back as we were in a game room on POGO He was respectful, charming, kind, friendly, flirtatious and funny.

We eventually took our chatting to YAHOO messenger. I saw him on Video chat a couple of times and talked on the phone with him so I know he is not a psycho.

We spent countless hours on Yahoo Messenger Chat. You can't ever imagine.

A treasured friendship grew.

I won't lie. After my divorce I saw in him as a potential husband.  However, it just wasn't going to happen. Here are a few reasons among many.  

We live 877 miles apart, he in Illinois and I in Louisiana. We both had kids and neither one of us was capable of moving. And I don't think he was into me that way as I was into him.

As I look back now,  I think that was just what God wanted. God put Jeff and I together to be friends. I really wasn't ready to jump into another marriage anyway.

God knew I needed a friend like Jeff.

Jeff makes me laugh. Oh My! How he has made me laugh in the middle of blubbering! He had that knack with me. We had so many times we laughed I almost peed in my pants.

Jeff is my confidant and I trust him wholeheartedly. He saw me go through many dark moments and he was there for me. 

Jeff is a loving and caring man. He is an excellent father. He is an extraordinary human being.

Jeff never judges me. He accepts me for who I am.

He is honest (sometimes brutally but always with compassion) even when I do not want to hear it. I am sure sometimes he had no clue what the hell I was doing or thinking (I realize now, I didn't know either). I'm sure there were times he wanted to say, "I told you so" or wanted to reach into his computer screen and shake sense into me.

But he didn't. He listened. Never judging. He helped me pick myself up, brush off and move on. Sometimes only to go through the nonsense all over again. But he never left me. And he could have just pressed that disconnect button so easily.

He is so patient.

I had not met many men with such a kind compassionate heart. Any special lady would be so very lucky to have him as a husband. (But as I have told him, they have to go through my screening first HA!). Yes he is still searching for that special someone. 

He gave me advice I sometimes did not take. (If I had I might now have gone through so much heartache!) But no matter what he was ALWAYS there when I fell. He was there through cyberspace to read my pain and then to console and comfort me.

At times he knew me more than I knew myself. It could be frightening. He was able to penetrate through the false tough exterior I showed.  

He was with me going through the dating game. He gave me advice on what I shared with him, which was almost everything.

Typically, when a girl meets a man for the first time, they always tell (or should anyway) a friend or family member for in case something happens. Jeff was that person for me and boy did I drive him crazy. I am sorry my friend "SMILING"

He shares my joys. He was so happy for me when I found my Hubby. He said I deserved a good man.

I can go on and on about his positive traits but you get the idea. He will always be in my heart and I feel so blessed to have him in my life.

We don't chat like we used to. Life changes sometimes but never the love, thankfulness and joy i have for him. THANK YOU JEFF.

I have said I will travel and meet him one of these days. That still stands. One of these days he will hear a knock on the door and when he opens it there I will stand.  Hubby and I had it planned out once but it never panned out. But as soon as our finances ever stabilize or just if we get a few pennies, I am determined to meet my Handsome BEST FRIEND FOREVER!

In the meantime, Jeff, I wished you had that special someone to celebrate your birthday with you. I wish I could be there to celebrate it with you. I hope someone helps you celebrate.

I know! You say Birthdays are just another day. But you know how I am. :)

I miss you. I really do. We need to set up a chat date.

I hope you enjoy this special day the way you want to. You know I wish you all the love and happiness in the world. Always remember you are a very special friend to me!

I love you bunches my Handsome BFF!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!!

Love, Hug and kisses!

21 Years Ago...

God blessed me with BabyGirl who turns legal today. She has been my pride and joy. She has been my  reason to keep living.  She has been a daughter I would never have dreamed of having.

I look back through the years and see how she has grown and matured. 21 years ago, when I held her for the first time I remembered thinking I hope I can be a great mom.  

I had so many worries. Worried if I can be the mom she needed. Worried if she would hate me because I wasn't like other moms. I worried I wouldn't be alive to see her grow up to be an independent woman.   There were so many worries. Some I still worry to this day, about different things. But that's what MOMS do. I guess it is part of our job.

God has blessed me with this awesome, accepting, loving, compassionate beautiful daughter and I thank him DAILY.

I wanted to do something special. After all, she reached a milestone. She is now a legal adult who can drink alcohol. At first, I just planned to take her out with Hubby and I.  And she was okay with that. We were going to go to Olive Garden.

Then I started to think.  This is a special moment in her life. A milestone.  I know being with us would be totally fine with her but then an idea started to form.

What if I could give her a surprise party with both her families?? Not too big, just parents, grandparents and her step siblings and Nanny and Parain and a few friends. Her friends weren't able to make it as they had to work but I have to give it to her BFF/roommate, "K'. Because she kept the secret. She was awesome and has earned my trust!

Her father and I cannot have a conversation. It is what it is. But what if we can put our differences aside and join together to make OUR daughter a special day for her this year.

So I contacted her stepmother. Her stepmother and I communicate better than my ex and I. I love her. I know that is weird but she is a genuine good person. I don't know how they ended up together but she has to deal with him and she has been like another mother to my daughter.

I attempted to make reservations at Olive Garden but after a long discussion, they said they don't take reservations. It's first come, first serve. That is for another post.

So I went to Plan B. I called Johnny Carino's and they took reservations for 20 people. So we were set.

I made BabyGirl believe we were going to Olive Garden. I promised her I would buy her glass of wine but we had to drive her there and back. When Hubby and I picked her up, I told her that I had called Olive Garden but they wouldn't take reservations and it would be 1-1/2 hour wait so we decided to go to Johnny Carino's  She said okay.

When we got there everyone was waiting for her. When she walked in she was surprised! She said, "Holy Sh-t".  Her stepmother reprimanded her about the language but I GOT HER GOOD with the surprise!

BabyGirl walking in with Hubby. I was behind them. See her face? LOL!

We all had a good time. She told me later we don't know how much it meant to her that we all got together for her! And that was my goal, to make her see how special she is. SO special that everyone came to help celebrate!

The food was great and our waitress was awesome! 

Here are some more photos I have selected from her birthday.

BabyGirl, Hubby and I! (I hate pics with me in them)

Babygirl holding her stepneice Peyton, my sister (Her Nanny) and my brother-in-law Ted.

So as not to give her suspicious, we gave her gift at her apartment. The funny thing is her father and I gave her the SAME card! That was all too weird.

BabyGirl and her Granny and PaPa (My parents)

BabyGirl and her dad and awesome Stepmom

I am so thankful that it all came together as it did.  I am thankful that I actually pulled it off because that smile on her face was all worth it!

Happy 21st Birthday BabyGirl!

I am Half a Century

It is my birthday! The Big Half Century! The Big 50!

By the grace of God I have reached the ripe age of 50!  Hopefully many more to come.

As I reflect on my life, I have to say I have lived a fairly good life. Life has not been a bed of roses. It has thrown obstacles I've had to jump over, or trudge through but here I am.

I am blessed.

My life is good.

My hubby and I have had many talks about where we are. If someone had told me 20 years ago, I would be alive and this happy, I would have laughed in their face.

But here I am. I feel great. I have a wonderful family. I have awesome friends such as yourself.

Overthinking Mama wrote a blog post mentioning goals. It got me to thinking what my goals have been. How many of you have actually written down goals and tried seeing them through.

In my life the most important goals I remember having were:

I don't recall having any goals as a child until my teen years.

During my teen years my goal was to trudge through school to graduation, get a job and work making lots of money. Accomplished.  I have to give my parents credit for  graduating because I hated school (except my Senior Year because I knew I was getting the hell out of there!), That was one thing my parents pushed us to do and there was no ifs, ands or buts.  I have failed to make lots of money but with the world we live in, who does?

I wanted to be a nurse since when I can remember. Accomplished. I went to nursing school, earned my Nursing license and worked as a nurse. 

My goal was to work until I retired as a nurse. God had other plans and I became disabled but I think that goal was partially accomplished because I did work and helped people.

Another goal was to travel. Well that sorta went out the window although I have been traveling more lately so I guess it is a goal in progress.

If you follow my blog at all, you know one of my reasons for living is BabyGirl. I have accomplished the goal of living until she graduated high school and PLUS some thus far. Out of all my goals I think this the one I wanted to accomplish the most. I faltered some along the way but I think she is a well-adjusted (sorta! HA!) young lady who will be successful in whatever she decides to do.

I think every one's goal is to be happy and I have to say I am HAPPY! ACCOMPLISHED

How can I not be with awesome friends like you, my loving awesome hubby, my wonderful adorable daughter and my fabulous family!

Happy Birthday To My BFF

Today is a very special friend's birthday so I want to dedicate this post to HIM and the friendship I cherish with him.

He and I have never met face to face but yet we feel we know each other. I pray and hope that one day we WILL meet. I will probably be the more capable one to venture the 900 miles some day.
We have talked on the telephone and spent thousands of hours on chat as well as emails.

We met on Pogo several years ago. We were flirtatious and continue to be, in honest fun. Mostly with our pet names, Handsome and Beautiful. We chatted and played games against each other. We gravitated to Yahoo Messenger and email.

He has become a friend I love and adore.

He has made me laugh when I wanted cry.

He has been an awesome confidante and supporter.  He has been an advisor.  He has been a true friend. He acted like a parent waiting for my email or chat to let him know I made it safely after meeting a potential new love interest.

He is always there for me. He has made me laugh when I wanted to cry.

We have accepted one another unconditionally. Our friendship has never had any stipulations.

We can always depend on each other to be honest. We never sugar coat anything. Sometimes, it was brutal for the other but we knew it was what we needed. We knew what we said to the other was  not out of malice.  And at the same time, we knew the other was there to comfort after the blows we encountered.

He and I have a special bond that we refused to let anything or anyone break.

When we had a love interest enter our lives, we made it known that our friendship was not up for negotiation. I know a few times I've had to tell the potential love interest at that time to not even try because they would lose.  I can see when someone has not experienced a friendship like ours could be skeptical. It is one of those things you don't understand until you are in it.

I am blessed to have a wonderful, handsome, funny compassionate friend like Jeff.


Although we don't talk or email as much we know that we are here if we ever need the other.

I hope and pray his birthday is as special as he is because he deserves all the joy, love and happiness in the world!

Happy Birthday to My BFF, Jeff!

Happy Birthday to MY Sister!

Today is my sister's birthday! I won't tell her age for in case she reads this. She is the best sister in the world. You can argue with me about that with your own sister but I stand by that statement. SHE IS THE BEST SISTER IN THE WORLD!  Her name is Melanie.

God blessed me with one sibling and how awesome he chose her to be my sister! How special is that?!

She is a very strong independent woman I so admire. She has a heart of gold and like myself, wears her heart on her sleeve. She is a very loving and nurturing person.

She is also a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, nanny, aunt, daughter and friend. There only a few adjectives I can think of at this time. But every positive adjective, that is her!

I love you so much and remember, continue to be the wonderful person you are. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELANIE

(I have no idea who is hugging her or whispering in her ear. But I love this pic of her laughing!)

Reflection

Birthdays are celebration! I wish my (Uncle) Robert and a very dear friend, who is now in the heavens looking upon us a very Happy Birthday and more. I share their birthday with my own. I thought it is time to reflect on my blessed 49 years.

People tend to believe I had a horrid childhood because of illnesses, surgery, doctors and hospitals. I won't lie and say it was a piece of cake but I survived. I have proved doctors wrong.

Instead of being "Mentally retarded and repeating grades", I passed every grade pretty well and graduated on time. I EARNED my LPN license with flying colors. I worked and enjoyed it!

At 30 God gave me a precious gift. She was my lifeline. She is the reason for me struggling through. 

Everyone who has passed through my life has taught me something about myself or life. I wish I could thank each and every one of them.

I look back and try to think of something I would absolutely change if I had a chance.  I can't say I do.

People often ask me if I could start over without my CP, would I? No, I would not. Yes, at one time or another I wished I could run, keep up with others, wiggle my toes or spread my legs wider (NOT what you are thinking)but I wouldn't have ever met people if I didn't have it

I can't say with a certainty that I wished I hadn't married because if I hadn't I would not have the gift previously mentioned.

Yesterday, my whole family (except one who was at work) got together and had a delicious stew my Godchild and his wife cooked. We also had strawberry cake which was totally awesome.I received  beautiful cards (really have to get those organized!). I attempted not to cry and succeeded but last night I reread them and cried.. It is all good though!

 I can look back and say overall that I am happy how I've led my life. I am indeed blessed!

My Sister's Birthday

Today is my only sister's birthday. She is 52. She probably wouldn't appreciate I said this but she doesn't read my blog anyway. I don't think anyway LOL.

She is my only sibling and God has blessed me! She has put up with me for 48 years. She sat on the back burner when my parents were dealing with me. She had to go without a mom when mom was with me in hospitals.

She was always there for me and I never felt an ounce of resentment towards me. As a matter of fact I remember when I was the typical pesky sister when I was mobile. When I was bedbound after surgeries, I remember mom opening the window so I could see the neighborhood kids and she alot of times stayed near where I could watch with her friends.

I remember every day anticipating as I watched through the window waiting for her to come up the hill after school. I knew she had a bag of potato chips for me. A couple of times, the machine was out. But I could count on her.

When I had to have major surgery right after Layla was born she stepped up, and took care of my child while Mom took care of me at the hospital. She would drop her off with her child at the babysitter, pick her up in the afternoon, fed her, changed diapers, everything for her then after a long day's work she would bring my baby to the hospital so I could see her every day. She gave me a peace of mind that my child was taken care of.

I remember all the times we spent on the telephone with our problems, she was there for me every time. She heard me cry, laugh, worry etc.

I know at the drop of a hat she is there for me when I need her. I think she is the best sister God could ever give to me.

Happy Birthday Mel!