The Best EVER!

I can't remember many, many times I have said after leaving a restaurant, "Well, we won't be going back there, the food was awful!"  But on the flip side, the "best evers" are usually few and far between - making them even more special.  Here are a few I count as "the best ever."

1.  The very, very best pizza I ever ate in my life (no snickering, cause I do eat lots of pizza), was in a tiny little restaurant on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.  My daughter wanted pizza, so we let her choose.  This restaurant wasn't much bigger than a small McDonalds.  The pizza ...... I can't even describe it.  It made such an impression, every other pizza as paled in comparison.  Probably isn't even there anymore!

2.  French fries - hmmm, I can take them or leave them.  Some are absolutely hideous, some are so so, and some you can tell were dumped right out of the bag, frozen.  And of all places - again - the best we ever ate was on the Riverwalk in New Orleans.  The Riverwalk was built when New Orleans hosted the World's Fair.  It is a really, really long, narrow mall of eating spots, that all overlook the river.  Those french fries came in a sort of drink type cup, stacked vertically.  They were absolutely amazing.  We went back every day while we were there to get more!

3.  Before I delve into the next best, let me just say that I have eaten thousands of Mexican meals.  With little exception for the bad restaurants, the ordinary ones are pretty much the same.  We ate at a Mexican Restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas.  It was crammed - literally space to edge sideways between tables. The tables were covered in white tablecloths. We ordered and it was heaven on a table.  They used blue cornmeal and made their own tortillas - both corn and flour.  It was the best I had eaten to that point, and nothing else has matched it even now.  I'd love to go back and feast again!

4.  To move away from food (cause my stomach is growling), the best,  most spectacular sights come next.  The first one is the very first time we saw the Grand Teton Mountains going into Yellowstone National Park.  We pulled over to the side of the road, and we all stood there with our mouths open.  Absolutely majestic spires disappearing into the clouds, covered with thick forests, and patches of snow here and there.  I think I nearly stopped breathing.

5.  Best place number 2 - New York City.  We drove in on the bus from New Jersey where we were camped.  As we got close enough to see the Twin Towers, the Empire State Building and other skyline buildings, my daughter and I about fell out of the bus looking.  This trip has so many highlights - it is hard to pick a favorite.  We climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty and looked out the windows in her crown - all of New York and the harbor was laid out below us.  We got to ride the Police Elevator to the top of the Twin Towers - made the trip up in about a minute.  Fabulous.  Central Park - beautiful, and we didn't even begin to see 1/100 of it. China Town with open air fish markets - eew!  Seeing all the ships in the harbor.  Watching lots of street musicians and dancers. Street food (actually the best we had al the time we were there). Riding our first subway to the Bronx Zoo - that was an experience I wouldn't want to repeat!  I would live in NYC in a heartbeat if I had the finances!

6.  The best ever of any of the above was being able to be in the delivery room when my daughter gave birth to my three granddaughters.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, can compare.  I also got to see my other two granddaughters within hours of their birth.  Precious, wonderful memories.

I know we all have "best evers" in our life.  These are just a few of mine.  I hope to have many more "best evers" sometime during the rest of my life.

I miss this!

I guess in some ways, I am truly a writer.  Not necessarily a brilliant one, or one who has written books that land on the best sellers list.  But in the sense that true writers can no more shut off the urge to write that comes pouring into their heads, than dear old Oklahoma can shut off the wind!  :)

I truly wanted to nap before my evening walk - really, I did!  Last day of school, kids gone, most of my room cleaned, and one more work day before summer begins.  But the nap wasn't within my grasp because the urge to write came flooding over me, and I thought I'd better get up and write before I drowned!

I've heard so many people say that certain events or items or people remind them of something wonderful that they miss.  Most of those events can't be recreated, but are still tucked into our hearts and souls.

Things I miss is where I am going with this post.   I'm not sure why, but lately, I've been missing things from my childhood or early married life.   Here they are in no particular order!

1.  I sure miss my daddy singing in his deep bass voice around the house.  When we woke up in the morning, there would be the sounds of the flapping of the blinds as he pulled them up, the slam, slam of the cabinet doors (who knew what he was looking for),  and above all else, him singing. 

2.  I miss the smell of the honey locust flowers in the spring.  They hung in huge white bunches which we kids would pick by climbing up on top of the chicken house so we could reach the blossoms.  The smell still stays with me to this day.

3.  I miss walking into my parent's house after I got married, and smelling mom's cooking. Fresh bread baking in the oven ---  Oh, I miss her homemade bread.

4.  I miss Sunday dinner with my daughter, son in law and granddaughters.  When they lived close, we ate with them almost every Sunday, gathered around the table, laughing, talking and cutting up.  When our son lived in the same town for awhile, he joined us also.  I miss that so very much.

5.  I miss the freedom of living in a small town and walking anywhere in town to do business in five minutes.  I loved being able to ride my bicycle anywhere in town without being afraid of being run over.  My favorite summer pasttime was to ride my bicycle miles into the country, finding a hill, getting up speed, and coasting down the hill with the wind in my face.

6.  I miss laying on the couch with a baby on my tummy, smelling their sweet baby smell.  Daughter, son, and granddaughters.  You never get enough!

7.  I miss the excitement of helping with harvest.  I know, I know - weird thing to miss!  When we were first married, my husband and his dad still farmed small parcels of land and cut the wheat from them.  That first cut to see if the wheat tested low enough in moisture.  The baby bunnies hubby would find and bring home for the kids.  Me driving to the elevator with a load of wheat on the truck (small truck with sideboards).  Even just riding around and around with my husband as he cut. 

There are so many more things I miss, but that will have to wait for installment #2.   I don't wish to turn back the clock to earlier years, I just love remembering the things I miss!


"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away..."

Author: Unknown

Surrounded by love

I was literally lying in bed, getting some extra sleep just a few minutes ago, and what has been in my heart for weeks propelled me up out of bed to write.

A couple of weeks ago, my granddaughter, DJ, and her mom were at DJ's doctor appointment with Dr. Miloh to discuss DJ's upcoming liver transplant.  After the medical checks etc., Dr. Miloh settled back in his chair and asked if they had any potential living donors for the liver transplant.

My daughter, April, said yes.  April told him that she intended to be the donor because she was the right blood type, and since it was her daughter, there was a very high chance they would be a match.  Dr. Miloh nodded, and then April said, "But that isn't all the list."  April began listing the friends or relatives who had come forward to donate, including her brother,  that were the right blood type and age.  Dr. Miloh's mouth began to drop open.  April then said, "But that is just the list of the people with the right blood type and right age."  Then she began listing the people who came forward who were not the right blood type or had a medical condition which prevented them from donating.  Dr. Miloh's mouth dropped open even more.  April finished by saying, "And here is the list of people who love DJ but who are too old and in too fragile of health to donate - although each of them have repeatedly asked if there was some way around the age limit.  Those include my dad, my mom, my aunt, and my uncle.  My brother is already on the first list with the right blood type, age and health." 

Dr. Miloh was speechless for a moment.  He turned to DJ and said, "DJ, you are a very, very lucky young lady to be loved by so many people who would give so much to you."  D.J. smiled and said, "I know."

Here is the kicker!   After a moment, Dr. Miloh began to tell them how he has had to watch children die because there was no donor for a transplant for them.  He said that some of them actually had relatives who could have donated but who refused.  Then he said, "After this transplant is over, I want you to do a favor for me. "  DJ and April nodded.  He said, "Would you talk the people on your list and ask them to seriously consider donating  to some other child or baby that needs a transplant so they can live too."  Of course, both DJ and April answered that they would.  So I am including myself in that favor and including his request in my blog.

 We will be very lucky and blessed because DJ has so many people to donate to her so she can get well, and graduate, go to college, fall in love and get married.  Some children will not be as lucky.   Powerful, heartbreaking, and though provoking request from Dr. Miloh. 

Thank you for reading my blog.

 "You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
Kahlil Gibran