Coming Soon to a Fern near you

Coming Soon to a Fern near you by onlyfern featuring bangles jewelry

BLESSINGS

(From somewhere on Pinterest).

I found the above "poster" on Pinterest awhile back.  This morning, I don't know if it was the cool morning or the prospect of a good weekend that put pep in my step and a fullness, yet lightness, in my heart, but as the dog licked my had I realized that I have more than plenty to be thankful for, to be grateful for, to treasure.  I am blessed.

Not only do I have food in my fridge, clothes on my back, and a warm bed to sleep in at night...my cup over flows with family and friends (although not near) and experiences that I wouldn't trade. 

I may never see the castles in Ireland, but I've seen...

• the St. Louis Arch (even went to the top in the tiny elevator)
• the Golden Gate bridge (been across it in a 15 passenger rental van, can you say that??)
• the "Faces" a.k.a. Mt. Rushmore
• the Alamo
• both the Atlantic and the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico (and the North Platte River, but who's counting?)...I've dipped my toes in the Atlantic and the Gulf
• the Most Southern Point of the U.S.
• the National Championship football game (the Orange Bowl to be exact, Tom Osborne's last game as head coach of the Cornhuskers to be more specific, and they won...take that Payton Manning and Tennessee)

I had all four of my grandparents until I was a freshman in college.

I was fortunate to go to college and onto graduate school.

I am the proud owner of the best dog ever, who happens to be my best pal and completely ruined.  I ask myself often how that happened.  I have no good explanation, other than supporting evidence that most of my show cattle and hogs were very much the same way. OOPS.

I am also very proud and extremely fortunate to say that my family has helped (and continues) to contribute to our Nation's (and our World's) food supply for 4 generations.

Although, I...

• cannot swim
• did not learn to ride a bike without training wheels until I was 8
• made a near perfect lay-up at the wrong basket during a Jr. High basketball game
• have never shot a golf game under 100 on 18
• have lived in Texas for 10+ years and do not prefer Pecan Pie
• do not like white gravy.

 Someday I will..

• make it to Yellowstone
• see the Northern Lights
• visit Alaska
• tour the lighthouses in Maine
• see the castles in Ireland.

'80s Ladies

I apologize for my absence, but we'll cover that later.

On a recent road trip (day trip), for work, I made a little list in my head, let's see if I can recall the jist of it all. I worked up a list of things that we should all have in our memory books, and on my list, thanks to my iPod, I have the '80s ladies. No, not the great friends from the dorm and I that re-worked the K.T. Oslin's hit from the '80s. That is definitely another story for another time.

As I was cruising across the Lone Star State in my Gold Lincoln Town Car on Friday of last week, I spent a lot of time being thankful that it was a solo mission---I did a lot of singing and dancing in that car that day. Some of the favorite stops made by my iPod were on the Ladies of the 80s. Let me just share with you right now that my musical stylings were utterly amazing and a force to be reckoned with, not to mention the moves that accompanied them.

Tell me, who doesn't know their way through "My Arms Stay Open All Night" and "Just Another Love"...

Likewise, raise your hand if you are unfamiliar with "18 Wheels and A Dozen Roses".

Notice, I tried hard to find images that represent the era...yes I did.

Although I don't remember any "Chains" or "Timber I'm Falling in Love" from my little escape, it doesn't mean that it didn't happen.

I may have put "Heart Over Mind" on the journey, although I don't recall.

And there were others. Look up Lacy J. Dalton. She and I shared "Black Coffee" on "16th Avenue". Do it.

I do recall some timeless classics.

I was at work from "9 to 5" (and maybe an hour or two either side of that) and maybe I did a little "Hard Candy Christmas" shopping...I was definitely no where near "Islands in the Stream", no water for miles around.

Questions such as "What am I Going to Do About You?" may have crossed my mind.  I didn't exactly declare that "I'm a New Fool at an Old Game", although "You're the First Time I've Thought About Leaving" and "You Lift Me Up".

Maybe, just maybe I should have stuck with the original plan of sharing things like

• Catching fireflies in beer bottles
• Wading in the mud
• Eating sugar cereal at Grandma's house
• Not learning how to ride a bike until the first grade due to the lack of sidewalks until then...sand and training wheels do not mesh well, FYI

I wish this was today's ensamble in real life...

I wish this was today's ensamble in real life... by onlyfern featuring brown boots