Greece . . .

 In two days I leave for Greece!  The trip was sort of a fluke in that is was not planned out over a really long time or even expected.  It started out with my step mother asking my niece Lyndsey if she would go with her to Greece . . . she has always wanted to show her the country where she grew up and lived a good part of her life. Lyndsey then asked my sister and I to join them and of course the other special ladies in our lives, my two cousins and niece decided they wanted to come too.  So 7 ladies, (the New York group + one) 3 generations taking off to Greece!  My sister and I visited Greece over 40 years ago so we are really excited to see how things have changed.  We will be going to 4 islands and of course seeing the sites in Athens.  I am so thankful to be making these memories . . . and so thankful my hubby says “go have a great time . . . happy birthday!”  I won’t be slicing next week, but will be creating memorable slices to share when I get back.

My Birthday Reflections

Today I celebrate my 59th birthday . . . just saying 59 seems . . . well  . . . unbelievable to me . . . wasn’t I just 40?!?  For some reason this year I’m very reflective . . . maybe because a lot has happened over the last few years and there will be quite a few changes coming in the near future. . .

Three years ago to the day, I was hooked up to chemo . . . I told myself that this would be the last crappy birthday I would have . . . and so far I’ve kept that promise to myself.  A year later I spent my birthday under the stars at Ravinia, a beautiful outside music venue with family and friends, the next year I went to Cancun Mexico and this year I am going to Greece! 

The year ahead is bringing many changes . . .   I’m entering into my last year of teaching and I will be moving to New Mexico to begin a new life . . . there will be 7 of us embarking on this new adventure! As exciting as this is . . . I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little sad too. Saying good-by to step-sons, daughter-in-laws, grandchildren and some of the best friends a person can be blessed to have will be very, very tough.  Hopefully they all know that there will always be a cozy bed and a nice glass of wine waiting for them!

Birthdays . . . they come quickly and that’s why it’s important to live life . . . make memories that are embedded into your heart forever . . . and always remember it’s the people in our lives that count not the things!

An Evening With Tim . . . Tim McGraw!

The setting . . . was oh so right
A perfect . . . warm . . . summer night
Thousands waiting to hear and see
My favorite country boy from Nashville Tennessee
As darkness fell across the sky
A helicopter appeared and swooped on by
Then he appeared to face the crowd
It was like electricity  just bursting out loud
2 hours of rocking with my boy Tim
That gorgeous face under the black rim!

New Mexico . . .

It’s called “Land of Enchantment” for a reason
A calming . . .  Zen feeling comes over you
Big blue sky that seems to go on forever . . .
The sun which is almost always present . . .
Surrounded by majestic mountains . . .
Soon enough . . . will be my new home . . .