Out of the blue

It's amazing when you think about it. Somehow you always get what you need every single day. This week I received the Trifecta of telephone calls.

Three wonderful old friends called me in the last two days ~ out of the blue. I didn't connect the dots until the last one phoned. I recognized the long ago number on caller ID. Wow, I thought, what was happening in their lives for them to call me? Then it hit me after today's call was done. Nothing. They didn't call to get something from me. They called to give me something... they called to give me peace.

When I asked about each of their lives and families it was all the same answers. "Fine." "Doing well." "Great!" they responded short and sweet before redirecting the conversation back to the purpose of their call. Their core told them to pick up the phone and check in. They listened faithfully.

It feels wonderful to be thought of and cared for and loved. Some days that is all we need! It is comforting to know that when you are a bit sad over a loss, there is someone somewhere who will listen to his heart, pick up the phone and call to lift you up, without even knowing why they felt that lead.

I have the best friends both from my past and from my present. I am rich indeed!

Thank you for calling me, you three.
There was a purpose and you fulfilled it.
The sadness has been replaced by the joy of hearing your voice.
There is no higher reward than knowing you did the right thing.
You did. Trust me.

I will pay-it-forward, this peace you gave me.
Love you all!!!
May you be blessed continually ~ just as you have blessed me.

missing my sister today...

Some days it just hits you. You have a negative event cross your path. Or you lose a friend or two and are sad. Or you have a feeling of longing. Wanting. Needing someone to talk to and it just hits you. One of your best friends is gone for forever.

You can't call them and hear their voice. You can't listen to them crack jokes to make things lighter. You can't listen to them tell you about the news, the weather, what's happening on their favorite tv show or what movie they're watching that day. You can't listen to them brag about their children and grandchildren and the funny things that happened yesterday or the day before or what's going to happen today or tomorrow. You can't hear them say how much they love them and you and all the others in their life.

There are no more of those tomorrow's for them... or for us.

You can't listen to them sob as their tears tell their story. Of loss. Of loneliness. Of sadness. Of pain, and grief and hurt. You are always in awe of how fast the tears dry up though, and how joyfully they move on after sharing their core. One thing you know, they don't ever pity themselves. The sadness doesn't last. They don't have a victim mentality. They are probably the strongest person you know and you admire them greatly for who they are and how they have survived what life has thrown them.

You can't touch them through the phone or in person anymore. You can't lean on them and have them lean on you. The emptiness they leave in a life is tremendous. The ache forever there. The tears flow as you wish you could hold them and tell them how loved they are and how missed they will always be... always.

It never goes away.
We simply have to honor them by living our lives every day.

I miss you Stacy.
I love you always.
I wish you were here.

for my friend ~~~ you know who you are...

Do you know why I love butterflies? Their struggle parallels our struggles in life.
Think about it...

There they are in the dark. Warm and comforted by the protection and safety of their cocoon. Sleeping really. Waiting. Content for the most part. Not realizing what is to come. Existing. Sometimes happily.

Then they change and start growing. Transforming during this time. Becoming something new and shedding the old. They are not what they once were but they are not yet what they are meant to be.

I imagine the growth time is somewhat painful for the fragile creatures. Their wings are tight and restricted. They hurt inside the womb. They push against the walls in the darkness and cry for release. Their growth has come to the point that it cannot be denied and they must become something else to survive. Nothing else matters but that their painful struggle end and they be set free.

Our painful times are like that... we have wings but they're bound. We can't move but we are growing, even though we don't realize it is growth. We can't breathe. We can't see anything but the darkness. There is no more and no less in our minds than this excruciating existence and our very real need for it to end.

The butterfly has to go through the struggle so that their wings are strong enough to carry them to flight once they break free. Our struggles are the same. Through the pain we gain an inner strength so that when we've broken through what was once safety but now has turned into a tomb, we can finally fly and be all that we were meant to be.
It is our destiny.

Whatever your darkness, know this one thing. It is temporary. When you are strong enough to crack open that shell ~ you will be stronger than you ever thought you were previously. Gaining strength takes time and is not a comfortable process. You will be transformed. Trust me.

The view from the sky is amazing!
Nothing like it... flying free......... {{{{{hugs}}}}}

you are what you do

"Having great thoughts is wonderful but if you don't do it ~ it really doesn't matter."
~Bill Booth


Crossing off skydiving on my "I want to do EVERYTHING" Bucket List has been a wonderful growth experience. Listening to a man I consider to be a genius this morning has been awe inspiring! He found solutions to problems instead of complaining about them. THAT is key to living life. Don't complain - DO.

The video about the legendary Bill Booth is linked below and about 26 minutes long. This Growing Bolder documentary is well worth your time.

Conversation @ approximately 10:38 minutes in the video:

Discussion between Bill Booth and famed aerial photographer, Norman Kent as they were reviewing the very real dangers of parachuting the North Pole.

They agreed, "You know, we could get killed doing this."
"Bill, it's worth it, isn't it?" asked Norman Kent.
"Absolutely!"

LIVING is worth dying for ya'll!

A few words of wisdom from the show:

1. Find a way to make your passion your job.
2. Think outside the box.
3. Create something of value.
4. Don't be afraid to live life as BIG as you want ~ no matter what it is!

IT'S ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE!!!

And, of course:

It's never too late to have a second childhood... :)
Enjoy your life by living it!


Bill Booth Documentary

http://www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=176&Itemid=

people 101

Christy had an excellent quote today also... I love FB!!! :)

"People usually show you who they are. Believe them."
~Maya Angelou

you have your own power

Thank you for today's quote Meosha... :)

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."
~Alice Walker Peace & Many Blessings!

flying free - the video

After downloading and updating and converting and uploading (for three days!) ~ the video is finally able to be posted. For those seeing this as a Note in Facebook, you won't see the video until you click on the link to see the Original Post at the bottom of this post.

About the video: I never once thought to check my altitude. Scooter checked hers over and over and there I was, oblivious to it all! LOL! It was not for lack of her trying to make me look either. I thought she wanted me to put my hands up higher!!! That still makes me giggle. To think, I didn't have a care in the world while up there in the air... it was all good. I'm still smiling... :)

Once my group was all down, the others asked if I pulled the cord. I didn't even remember when it happened let alone if I did it. The video tells the whole story though. I talked to Scooter afterwards apologizing for forgetting my "tasks" and she asked, "Did you enjoy it?" to which I responded with an emphatic, "YES!!!" She said, "Then what does it matter who pulled the cord?"

I had the best instructor. And by this video as well as the pics posted earlier, the best photographer too! Thank you again Scooter and Erika!!!

As an aside, we were the last group to go up that day. The next group was taxi-ing on the runway when the lightening started and the plane returned without going up. Our group jump was simply 'meant to be'. Thank you to all who jumped with me. Our final count was 23 which enabled me to fly free... you ALL are the greatest! It's been fun talking about my "I want to do EVERYTHING" Bucket List with you and what we're going to do next. So many things yet to try and so little time to do them!

Let me tell ya'll, there is nothing in the world like flying.
Live like you'll never live twice... :)

Turn up your volume!
And yes, I felt like the song goes... SUPERMAN! w00t!!!!!!!!

Kelley's first jump video

Still haven't been able to get my video to upload without some darn dolby decoder.
Until it can be done, enjoy Kelley's jump!!! w00t!

REMINDER:
If you're reading this in Facebook, the Blog Update App doesn't upload videos or pics. You can click on the "Show Original Link" to be directed to my blog and see Kelley's video. It is totally AWESOME!!!

Murdocks is being rebuilt!!!

I am probably the LAST to know this but I took my friend Kelley (who flew in from Atlanta just for our jump on Saturday! w00t!!!) to Galveston Friday night and while driving down the seawall, there she was!!! The 'ole gal is being built all brand new in the same exact spot right over the water!!!

I almost jumped out of the car I was so excited (and I was driving!)! LOL

We had a great evening with my friend Cathy doing what we used to always do every Friday night ~~~ Salsa's for dinner and ritas then over to the Holiday Inn (BJiggers for those who don't want to admit that fact! lmao) for live music and dancing all night. It was our first time to do our "old" routine since Ike changed both of our lives that last Friday, September 12th, 2008.

It was all good... I love my friends! They are awesome!!!
I am so relieved to see Galveston coming back again.
So very very glad to see progress and hope.
I can't wait to move home.

i finally got to fly...

... and there are no words adequate to describe the feeling... None.

Working on the video and will post it tonight or tomorrow depending on some codec thing I have to figure out. In the meantime, enjoy the view from these pics!

Thank you Scooter and Erika!!!
I couldn't have had a better instructor to fly with nor a better photographer to capture it all... ya'll are truly amazing.

Happy Birthday Apollo 11 !!!

Wechoosethemoon.org is an interactive experience recreating the historic Apollo 11 mission to the Moon in real time. Once where only three men made the trip, now millions can. Live event begins 9:32 AM EDT July 16, 2009.

Exactly 40 years after Apollo 11 lifted off.

http://wechoosethemoon.org/#

FOUND ~ Pass the word!

This little guy followed me this morning during my sunrise run at the park on the water between San Leon and Bacliff. He was all alone and howling when I first arrived. He needs his owners found or a new home. He has stitches (or an old wound) on his left side and favors one leg. He is playful, affectionate and loving. A wonderful little boy!!!

He is very good with other dogs and has been playing with my two goldens. I just don't have the money for a 3rd dog. Please help get the word out around town wherever you go... thank you!!!

E-mail me through my blog for more info.

what will make you happy

"The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for."
~Allan K. Chalmers

good friends, good food, good times...

And in West, Texas at that... lol
What more could one want? A great weekend was had by all!

Congrats Scoot!!! :)