What did you pray for?

I'm not a religious woman, I'm a spiritual woman.  I don't know a lot about Christianity, but I consider myself a Christian. 

And TODAY, for the first time, I felt Christianity was abused.  All religions are abused.  For heaven's sake, why do you think we are at war?

I'm SICK of Tim Tebow and the arguments to follow.  He is a good leader.  Period.  He is use to winning.  And somehow, he has a team, a city and a nation behind him.

HOWEVER,  I was always taught it was wrong to pray for something we wanted.  Isn't that selfish?  Isn't that greed? Does the word "covet" sound familiar?

Last week, Tim Tebow tossed a passed (sorry, we know he can't throw) and we won the game - he knelt down.  What was he saying thank you for?  AND, why was it televised?  What if:

• he was praying to Allah?
• sending thanks to Buddha?

I'm sure there are great players out there, thanking God, Allah, Buddha, heck probably even thanking their mom.  What the sudden interest?

A connection between someone and their God is very personal.  I was taught it was wrong to ask for something personal. So, when Tim Tebow said "Thank you".  What do you think he was thankful for??

The completion of a pass?
Winning the game?
Playing to the best of his ability?

Unless it was the last thing, we will never know.  Actually, we will never know any of it.  In fact, what does it matter.  That is Tim's decision to make.   And we are not here to judge.

I do have to say THANK  YOU - for standing up and saying out loud what and whom you believe in.  It's a cruel world out there, and we should all be proud we live in a country where you can stand and tell the rest of the world how you believe.

Just don't want me to jump on the band-wagon to support you.  Yes, you Mr. Tebow.  I will support you.  You play for "several" of my teams.  And if, your beliefs help others, yes, that is great.  In this instance though, I was here to watch some football.

The TOP 10 Things you won't ever hear me say....

We've all read those lists  "Top 10 things you won't hear a "redneck', 'southerner', 'northerner' say".  I think we should all have lists like that.  In fact, I think it should be a prerequisite in life to have one.  Then no chance of offending someone.  They won't ask you to do something that's not on your list.

SO, here goes:

"The Top 10 Things you won't hear Leasa say":

• Let's go to the mall, instead of on a bike ride
• I was thinking of not going anywhere this year.
• I'm sorry, I can't do that
• Oh, that race is too far
• You've poured me too much wine
• I want to start another remodeling project in my house
• I'll never finish that book
• My career comes first
• He's WAY too old/young for me

And the number ONE thing you won't hear me say

• I haven't watched enough hockey this weekend.

What's on your list?

Spreading the love

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  Especially, if you have ever met me or Carolyn TOGETHER - especially, if you have met us in Vail, CO. :-)

Truth be told, you would be proud to have us as friends.  The scary part of having us as friends, well, is the fact, that well, we DON'T go away.  Good thing/bad thing.  Glad you had you the experience/Not sure you want the daily reminder.  We aren't THAT bad.  We aren't DAILY reminders.  We just pop up when you least expect it.

We SO were the FB of our times - only we thought WE had to keep in touch with everyone.  And not all the time (there is NO time for THAT).  Not some computer program.  MUCH, much easier now.  Just an "update" here and there

Really, we didn't think we were going to stalk you.  It goes back to collecting.  We weren't collecting seashells, we were collecting people.

Any why not?  The more people in the world whom make the world a better place.......Why wouldn't we want to be friends with them.  Or more importantly, why wouldn't they want to be friends with us??

You may think it was a casual encounter.  And you may continue to think, "it was really nice to meet them".  But then somehow you look into our blue eyes.  You have just checked into the Hotel California.  There is no going back.

Backstory:     Carolyn got divorced in 2001. Her divorce was final on THE 9 11.  It puts it all into perspective.  (I'm talking the divorce, not this story).

And you REALLY shouldn't be jealous when your best friend (shouldn't that be in capitals like a title:  Best Friend) gets divorced.  Sorry for the ADD there.

I moved out of my house (the house with the husband and kids) in Jan 2002.

Carolyn met a wonderful guy in 2004.  That's another story.

The POINT OF THE STORY is:  from Jan 2002 - Spring 2004.   Those are what we refer to as "THE FOUND YEARS".

Not the "Lost years", but those we found.  While looking for ourselves out there......

Somehow, and I remember how, but it was random (imagine that!) we ended up in Vail for the weekend.  Superbowl weekend 2003???  must have been.  We had only been to Vail to ski one other time.  We had never stayed and never gone out.  Wait a minute, we had gone out, but not in Vail.

We are in Vail and we are standing outside of a restaurant and we hear live music.  (Note to others:  We ALWAYS stop for good live music).  We should go in.

And that's a whole other story.  A good one at that.

Fast forward:  October 2011

What, 8 years later?  We text 2 of the people we met that weekend.  "On our way to Vail.  Drinking Mojita's and remembering the good times"

We got two texts back.

Thanks for making us smile.  You are welcome for your smile (And to the general public, yes we kept in touch, well, for a while).

And it was all good.  Then you need to send the one final e-mail.  The one to find out about the one who got away.....  "Whatever happened to Fisher?"   "Haven't heard from him in a LONG time, but I had a Dr pepper/diet coke mix today and thought of you.  And yes, the Diet Coke was on top".

So here we are - Eight YEARS later.  Still spreading the love.  And all we wanted to do was, well, be the FUN PEOPLE.


UPDATE:

As a recruiter (AKA a stalker) for a living - we found Fisher.  He got married last year.  And truly, my very first thought was "should we send him a wedding present??"

I e-mailed Carolyn.  And her first response was "Did you send him something??"

"Could you imagine the look on his face?"

And we wish him the best.  And we don't want anything.  Anything other than him to know:  We were thinking of him.  WOW!!!!

How great would that be if everyone we cared about knew.  Just for a moment.  We were thinking of them.....

Spreading the love......

Volunteers

Unbeknownst to me, there are different definitions of volunteers. 

When we say the word "Volunteer" - we, or at least me, think of people contributing something (time, money, etc) to a cause.  Any cause, a thing one believes in.  Political, schools, kids, cancer - you name it and there are incredible people out there whom help others.

There is also another definition of the word. 

And until a few years ago I had never heard the word used in this text.  Volunteer - something that grows unexpectedly.

This year, I discovered volunteers.  And the best type of volunteers at that!  In my back yard, I have TWO blooming tomato plants. 

We didn't plant plants this year.  There is nothing growing in the garden but weeds and grass.  And oh yeah, two tomato plants.

In general, don't volunteers make other people happy.  And aren't the best things in life - well, not things???? 

Cherry tomatoes - free tomatoes, unexpected pleasure in life that surprises you at your own door-step - without even asking for it.  THAT would be a volunteer.  And once again, life delivers you something when you least expect it.  This is the universe telling you to go look.

After all, there are only two things money can't buy........

Mork calling Orson

About to show my age here.  "Mork calling Orson, come in Orson".  Still not sure why I remember this series - unless it was foreshadowing in my life.  I'm not a big "TV person" - usually light years behind in what is popular.  In fact, whole seasons, and series can go by, and I catch up YEARS later.  (Please don't tell anyone I have never seen an episode of "The Office" or "Housewives from where ever". :-) 

Mork and Mindy.  Circa - what, 75?  I have no idea.  All I remember is Mork was from Ork.  Pam someone played Mindy and he lived in the attic in Boulder, Colorado.  AND, Saturday, September 17, 2011 I stood in front of the house. 

The first time I went to Boulder, I remember asking, "hey, is the Mork and Mindy house around here". While I'm not a big "star searcher", love it when you can be silly in life.  (After all, I have seen the LARGEST BALL OF YARN......) 

Saturday, I'm in Boulder with a friend whom has never been to Boulder.  We are talking about the "Mork & Mindy" house.  Previously this has been a pipe dream - or a "I know it's somewhere here in Boulder, this is the older section, but ok, let's find it next time kind of dream". 

It's all changed now.  We have Internet on our phones.  Let's google "Mork & Mindy address".  1619 Pearl Street.  We are standing between 16th and 17th on Spruce Street.  One street over..... 

On Spruce Street, before the "Oh, we need to go by the Mork & Mindy house moment" - we were standing in front of a used bookstore.  "Catcher in the Rye" was on the sale stand outside.   So,you are telling me "we have a chance"........

Yes.  Is the answer to all your questions.  Poor lady whom still lives in the house.

Yes, we went to the house.  The house that still looks the same, only I don't quite remember what it looked like.  If I had to picture it, yes, this was the house.

Yes, I finished Catcher in the Rye.  - and if I didn't tell the story, please remind me too - it's a good story  (both Catcher in the Rye and the story I have to tell about the book that took me ten years to read).

Yes, sometimes you go to Hawaii.  Sometimes Hawaii comes to you.  Sometimes, you better be careful what you wish for..... it just might come true.

This is Mork signing off.  Good-night Orson.  Good-night Mork.

Sunday's are the worst

Several years ago I read a book about "recovering from a loss" - (I think that was the name) and it was an easy read and bullet points. One of the bullet points said: "Sunday's are the worst". That quote stuck in my head.

Sunday evenings are about routine. Getting ready for the week. Rituals. Wrapping up the weekend. When your routine changes and things are different, you get used to everything during the week, but Sunday's are the hardest to change.

And really, I love Sunday evenings - the house quiets down early, it's usually clean for a few hours, the laundry is done and put away. Ready for the week to begin.

One exception. And it's without fail.

When friends/family come to visit, Sunday's are the day they normally leave. A nice weekend visit - Wednesday to Sunday or Thursday to Sunday. Sometimes Monday afternoons, but like I said, Sunday evening.

And the drive home from the airport is ALWAYS the same. Quiet in the car. And I can't even call anyone - just spend the time listening to music having happy thoughts about glorious weekends. And then, I'm sad. Sad the weekend is over. Sad the person is leaving. And I'm not ever sad. I've been here 19 years, and EVERY TIME Carolyn leaves, it's the absolute same feeling. You would think we would be used to it. And it's not just Carolyn, but she's been coming to visit the longest.

So this Sunday evening feels the same distant sadness. The weekend was action packed - from touring Denver, to the Pro Cycle Challenge in Vail, to a hike, a 30 mile bike ride and sitting on the 18th row of the 30 yard line for a Broncos game. Thanks for coming and touring my state. Happy and sad all at the same moment.

This Sunday evening it's okay to just be content. Sunday's aren't the worst - maybe melancholy is a better word. Sunday's are melancholy.

And really, I just need to think: I have to do this again 3 weeks from tonight. When I drop him at the airport again.

Weddings

People still have weddings. Can you believe it? In this day in age? There are two people out there whom are willing to buck the odds and go for it?

You say you aren't a risk taker? Yes, you are going to not only get married, but have a wedding?? Yes, YOU, are a risk taker. Only we don't think of it that way. We think - "that, is what you are supposed to do". It's not really taking a risk. But, if you look at the odds - sorry, you are better off going to Vegas with $10,000.....

Weddings tell us - I still have hope. I still believe. I still believe, that I am different. And isn't that funny, the rest of our life, we want to be just like everyone else???? See, you are a risk taker.

I attended a wedding this weekend in Nathrop, CO - the back drop to the "collegiate mountains" - Mt Princeton. It's beautiful. No argument there. And in fact, it was an afternoon wedding. A risk in Colorado in the summer. Rain. And yes, it clouded up, and darkened, then sprinkled. Then, just as the ceremony starts, the sun comes out. Sometimes hope is enough.

That is the thing about weddings - it's all about hope. I never thought about it before, but really the wedding has only something to do with the bride and groom. It has TONS to do with parents saying "look what I accomplished" and TONS to do with people wanting to get together.

And truly...... My favorite people I met at the wedding????? And it's almost hard to admit, but anyone who knows me, knows this answer. The mother of the groom and her best friend.

Because truly it's funny, I just told you - I don't believe marriages last against all odds. BUT, the two best girlfriends know - they last. It doesn't matter, and weddings are great and we have all hope and I wish nothing but the best for Sharon and Ross.

However, I KNOW what will last until the end of time. I know Ross's mom will be standing next to her best friend at the moment she needs her. I'm NOT saying Sharon and Ross won't last, I'm just telling you what will.

You know why? Because we never had to, we just wanted too. And it's ok, we got left behind and separated, but we've always known, who'd we pick up in the rain, 2000 miles away.

Really, weddings have EVERYTHING to do with LOVE. EVERYTHING to do with gambling. AND EVERYTHING to do about best friends.

Sometimes in life, we understand, they greet us in a couple of different ways.....