In This Life

 

Just the Facts #29

 

 

“If Friday were a rainbow, it would be a double one.” (Keith Wynn)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 This week, we're diving back into my high school journey. Last week, we covered the freshman and sophomore years, which were a blast. But this time around, things get a little darker. My junior and senior years were a struggle, with more downs than ups. So, let’s get into it.

 

1.  Junior year was a major turning point for me. Up until then, I was putting up a facade of being the "perfect" person I thought everyone expected me to be, but it was all a lie. All that pressure to be something I wasn't made me miserable and depressed. I became so unhappy that it started to affect my schoolwork. I went from being a straight-A student to skipping classes and not caring about anything at all.

 

2.  By the time my senior year of high school started, I was really struggling. My parents eventually found out I was skipping school and not doing well in my classes. My drinking and drug use had gotten out of control, and I knew I needed to get help. The week of Halloween, I checked into a teen rehab facility and ended up staying there until about two weeks before Christmas. That was the turning point for me—the moment I decided to change my life for the better.

 

3.  While I was in rehab, my world was shaken up by some tragic news. A few of my friends were in a bad car accident. There were some serious injuries, but there was also one death—a sweet little girl named Megan who was about five. I used to watch her sometimes; she was my little shadow, always following me around. My parents and the doctor came to my rehab to tell me what happened, and I was given a 24-hour pass to go to her funeral. Being there broke my heart. It made me realize just how fragile life is, especially because there was a very real chance I could've been in that car, too. A part of me will always wonder if things would have been different if I had been there with her.

 

4. When I got out of rehab, I didn't have much of a say in where I'd finish high school. My parents lived right across the street from my old one, and they really wanted me to go back there. I felt totally different.

The first week back was a nightmare. Everyone treated me like I was made of glass and could shatter at any moment. I hated it and, after a month, I just stopped going and dropped out entirely.

 

5.  My high school journey was a little unconventional. I actually dropped out for a bit, but I went back to a cool program downtown that was designed for people like me who needed a different path. It was all self-paced, and I ended up finishing in less than a year!

 

6.  I have to end on a high note! I was talking about going to a concert every month, and I can't forget the time Def Leppard came through with their incredible "in the round" tour. They even filmed the show for two music videos, "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Armageddon It." The whole concert is on DVD, and I swear I caught a glimpse of myself in the crowd!

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Always Remember, Never Forget

 

 

 Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

Every year I post this poem in honor of September 11, 2001. This is a day that we should always remember and never forget.

If I Knew
By Unknown

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
and certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Just Be You

 

In an Autumn Mood

 "Rest but never quit. Even the sun has a sinking spell each evening. But it always rises the next morning. At sunrise, every soul is born again." (Anonymous)

 

Hello my lovely friends!  

 

     I'm totally ready for fall! The moment September 1st hit, I was all in on the autumn vibes. Even though it's still warm out and we're getting a second dose of summer heat, last week gave us a beautiful sneak peek of what's to come. The cool, crisp air was a perfect preview of the season, and I'm ready to cozy up for good.

 

    The autumn air is getting crisp, and my brain is already buzzing with fresh blog ideas! I've decided to kick off my holiday blogging on the first day of fall, which is right around the corner. We've even started watching spooky season movies to get in the spirit. I'm finally excited about the holidays again, and I can't wait to share all the fun with you!

 

     You might have noticed my page got a little cozy—I just couldn't resist swapping my summer look for some autumn vibes. There's just something about the crisp air, warm colors, and all things pumpkin spice that makes me feel right at home. It's getting so good, I'm starting to wonder if autumn might be taking over as my favorite season. Could it finally be time to dethrone winter?

 

 While the crisp autumn air is calling my name, I'm still getting some strong summer vibes! The heat is back with a vengeance, and my yard is definitely showing its exhaustion after a long, hot season.

 

 As the days grow shorter and the air gets crisp, my garden is bursting with vibrant autumn colors. I love this time of year, but I'm ready to embrace the coming season. I’m putting the garden to bed for the winter, and I’m so excited for a break to enjoy some lazy days.

 

    This autumn is extra special because my friend Mike is coming to visit for a week! We're already making plans to get the house ready with all the cozy, spooky feels. He's had a really rough time lately, taking on a lot with his parents’ health issues and the unexpected loss of his stepdad, Greg. It’s been a lot for him to handle, so I'm hoping this trip will be a much-needed escape from all that stress. We both want him to have the perfect, relaxing getaway.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again.

Just the Facts #28

 

“However enjoyable the holidays may have been, there is always a pleasurable excitement about going back to school.” ~A. Q. Carter

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

 

    The week has flown by, and it’s already Friday Funday! Today we’re diving into the rollercoaster that is high school. It was one of the best—and worst—times of my life, but it absolutely molded me into who I am today. Let's get into it.

 

1.  My sister and I are four years apart, which meant we never spent a day in the same school. I'm actually grateful for the gap, because we're total opposites—she's an extrovert, and I'm an introvert. Our personalities would have certainly clashed. She graduated high school in June 1986, and I started my freshman year that August.

 

2.  My school stopped offering special programs like Gifted and Talented or Club 34, but I was placed in AP English and AP Math. I also made a plan to finish all my core classes during my freshman and sophomore years. My goal was to have my final two years free to take electives and more interesting classes, and it mostly worked out as I had hoped.

 

3.  I never quite fit into any one group in school because I was friends with everyone. Our class was a diverse mix of backgrounds, with most of us growing up together from kindergarten to high school. The majority of students were Black and Mexican, with only a small number of white kids. We were briefly separated in middle school, but we all came back together for high school.

 

4.  I took French for a number of years, starting in middle school and continuing all the way through high school. While I still remember the fundamentals and can read and pronounce the language, my conversational skills have gotten rusty. I'm hoping to refresh my memory and regain some fluency by taking a few lessons.

 

5.  I was on the Speech and drama teams. I competed in debate, and placed in a few meets on the weekends. I took drama all four years, but only tried out for one play, "Dracula." I got the part of the maid, and had to learn an English accent. I learned my lines and the accent by watching wrestling and copying the British Bulldogs.

 

6.  Back in the late '80s, I was a total metalhead. I lived for the hair bands: Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, and Guns N' Roses. They were the biggest thing around, and my friends and I would go to a concert almost every month. We'd pack into one car and sleep in the parking lot just to snag tickets. There was a core group of about 20 of us who were at every show, and we all became good friends.

My mom was cool with it and always wrote a note for me to excuse my absence from school the next day. One time, the school office tried to deny the excuse, but I told them to call my mom at work. They did, and she set them straight—I got my excuse note.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

It's All For You

 

Sunday Chat

 "Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you, and always be true to yourself." (Maya Angelou)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 It's hard to believe we're already heading into the final stretch of August. It feels like 2025 just began, and now we're staring down the last few months of the year. The good news is the holiday season is just around the corner, and I'm really looking forward to it. There are a few surprises planned, which makes it even more exciting.

    It's been an emotional week. Wednesday, my mom had a biopsy on her back. While her main doctor was hoping to rule out TB, that test came back negative, so now we're waiting for the next round of results to come in. It's frustrating to be in a holding pattern, but it's a relief to know that the doctors are actively working on finding a solution. We're hoping for some answers soon. My mom is feeling better, but the pain is a persistent part of her journey. Still, she's focused on what's next and is ready to embrace a new, less painful chapter. She's a real trooper.

 

    Mike's still coming for Halloween, which is a relief. I was concerned he might have to cancel since his stepdad passed away peacefully last Saturday.

 

    His stepdad was so young, just 62, and had been struggling with his health all year. After a gallbladder removal, he developed a severe infection, and sadly, they discovered he had pancreatic cancer that was already spreading. The infection prevented him from receiving chemo, and he'd been in and out of the hospital since February. It's been an emotional and draining time for his mom and sisters, but they've all rallied together as a family to be by his side every day.

 

     Mike's been in a similar situation to mine, taking care of his mom who has a disability while also working. I told him we could wait until next year, but his family is pushing him to take a week off. After all his hard work, he deserves a break.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

 

 

 

 

 

Just the Facts #27

 

 

"The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back." (Abigail Van Buren)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 It’s Friday Funday again, they sure come fast don’t they?

 This week, we're taking a trip back to the land of braces and awkward dances: junior high. I was in 7th and 8th grade, right in that weird in-between phase of no longer being a kid but not yet a high schooler. Share what your junior high experience was like!

 

1.  I was tested for the Gifted and Talented program and made it in once again! It felt like a sequel to the Club 34 and Club 56 adventures I had in grade school. Every week, we’d gather to dive into special projects and activities. The highlight came in eighth grade when we took a week-long trip to New Mexico. I was completely captivated by the landscape and culture. It made such an impression that my family made it our annual summer vacation spot, a tradition we even got my grandparents in on.

 

2.  Growing up, our town didn't have a junior high, so my classmates and I were bused to four different schools across Denver. I was sent to a school on the opposite side of the city, conveniently just ten minutes from where my dad worked. On days he had a late start, he'd give me a ride to school and pick me up afterwards.

 

3.  A blanket of fresh snow in the morning meant a day off from school. My mom knew the long bus ride on the highway was too risky. It wasn't just me, either; most of the neighborhood kids got to stay home and play in the snow.

The days we did go to school, every bus was late. It felt like an eternity getting there, crawling along the slushy roads.

 

4. Watching the Space Shuttle Challenger launch in 7th grade was supposed to be a moment of awe, but it became a moment I'll never forget. Our class, like many others, had gathered around the TV, buzzing with excitement to see the shuttle ascend. That excitement quickly turned into silence and then profound sadness as we watched the explosion. I can still remember my teacher's quiet explanation of the tragedy, helping us process what had just happened. It was a sobering moment for us all, a vivid memory of a joyous occasion turning into a national tragedy.

 

5.  Writing a report on Martin Luther King Jr. was a requirement in 7th grade, but it turned into something much bigger for me. My teacher was so impressed with my work that she entered it into a Denver Public Schools contest. My report won for my school, and I got to go to an event at a local high school with all the other school winners. I was so proud to walk away with a ribbon for placing in the top ten!

 

6.  The Gifted and Talented program was a whole new world. I was one of maybe five kids from my neighborhood, and my days were spent in special classes, mostly separated from my childhood friends. It was a tough lesson in who my real friends were. The ones I'd known forever stuck by me, while some of the new kids I met didn't. Some days, I wished I could just be a regular kid again, in class with my friends. The program did bring a few good new friends, but we lost touch after junior high.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

It's All About Life