Stace’s Neighborhood

Today, I enjoyed a beautiful drive through the Virginia country gliding over winding roads that opened up to fields of cotton, herd of cattle, or horse farms. One of the very tough things about driving alone is that I am not able to take pictures. It was pretty scenery but I wasn't awestricken enough by anything to actually pull over.... so I motored on. Afterward, a few times actually, I wondered if I had become too complacent with my travels to make the time to photograph the beautiful sites along the way. Have I begun to take God's handiwork for granted? Note to self: try harder to document my travels with photography. But I digress...

I was excited about reaching my destination in Kegley, WV. I had plans to spend the evening with the Mother (Judy) of a dear, life-long friend (Shelly). Sadly, Shelly recently lost her courageous battle with cancer. Shelly and I had known each other since third grade - sooo...since we were about nine years old. I'll be 46 in January  - do the math - that's a very long time. I have such fond memories of my childhood and many of those memories include Shelly, Judy, and Al. They were a second family to me... the way they interacted together was beautiful. Shelly and I took to one another right from the start and I am blessed that her family graciously shared themselves with me.

Shelly was a kind, loving soul and only God knows why her time here on Earth was so, so short. I will forever remember the morning my own Mother called to tell me that Shelly died. It had been years since I talked to Shelly... and, yet, I shamelessly mourned her. I wasn't able to attend Shelly's services but have been told that more than 300 people attended. I'm not surprised at all. If you met Shell - in any capacity, no matter how briefly - she made an impact on your life.

Tonight, I confessed to Judy that I was undecided about visiting her and that I had struggled to make a decision all week. Shelly passed only a few short months ago. I wanted to believe that popping in on Judy would make Judy smile but was that a selfish thought? With some time to think about it, I began to second guess my intentions.  Would my visit, in fact, cause Judy's heart pain? That would be selfish and unkind... so NOT what I was going for. But today, when Judy showed up at my hotel, I wondered how I could have ever doubted making this trip. It was as if not a moment in time had passed and I was, once again, a thirteen year old wrapped in her warm embrace. We held onto one another for a few minutes.... then smiled ... and laughed. We joked about aging... and she lied about how I hadn't changed a bit! Did I mention that we laughed?!

We arrived at the restaurant and warned the waitress (Is that what they're called in a Japanese restaurant?!) that we were going to be there awhile. By the time the young lady made her third trip to the table, we decided we should really order something if for no other reason except to make her go away. Dinner was tasty (...do all my blogs involve eating...?!) and we spent hours telling stories, laughing, and sharing memories. Those few hours were simply delightful. There were no tears.... instead we focused on rejoicing in the life Shelly lived, her beloved Brandon, her hero, Lanny, and, the oh-so-beautiful, Miss Sara. Judy shared the photos from her wallet - one for each of them - and she smiled as she told me when each photo had been taken. Judy isn't 'good' yet but she's getting there. Her focus is on Shelly's life, family, faith, accomplishments, and the memories surrounding each of those...and that's a good thing. Judy looked great! Her eyes still sparkle just the way I remembered - especially when she spoke of Al and Michelle. I am so glad that my heart led me here today; it was good for both of us. We took a few pictures we'll always have them to remember this night. And, I promised her, it won't be so many years before we see each other again.

It's so nice to know that friendships can withstand the true test of time - no matter how many calendar pages have been ripped away. So, my challenge to you is this: phone an old friend or drop them a note in the mail... you won't believe how amazing it can make you feel and, the feeling just might be mutual... BONUS!

Today was a cold, rainy miserable day...and as each hour passed, the day got worse. Ken and I spent the morning talking while he finished packing. Then we drove to Chinell's to say goodbye. Everything was ...well, fine seems like such a total lie. The clock hands defied my will and refused to slow down and soon, too soon, it was time to go to the airport. On the way, Ken drove while holding my hand. Even though not one word was spoken, our hearts were communicating non-stop. As we approached the airport, I noticed Ken stayed in the 'departing flights' lane. I pointed out that we needed to change lanes to get to the parking garage. It was that very moment that my heart cracked. He calmly told me that he wanted me to drop him off curbside because he had to go directly to the security checkpoint and there was no time,... blah, blah, blah... I don't remember much after 'curbside'. I do, however, distinctly remember pulling on my big-girl panties this morning which is the only reason I half-heartedly agreed. We hugged, kissed, and said our goodbyes...I held on like a child who refused to unhand her favorite toy or (as was in my case) her security blanket. For him, I smiled... under the weight of my breaking heart, I smiled. I waved and watched him disappear... As I sat in my car, I felt shock and disbelief. It was almost as if I had dared this day, this hour, this moment not to come - and I lost. As I sat there...curbside... waiting for - I don't know what for - just waiting, I shut off the radio because every sad song seemed to play what I was thinking...and I wept. Time passed. I'm not sure how long. But the nice police officer who patrols the 'No Parking' lane pointed out that it was time to move on. Hmmm.... time to move on... yea, bite me...he had no idea that I was capable of hurting him. Instead, I put the car in drive and pressed the accelerator. Destination unknown. Just drive.  Anywhere but here.  Drive. Go.  Now. I guess somehow I thought I could outrun the sadness - I was wrong. Tonight, my heart aches. Even as I spend the remaining hours of this cold, rainy day with my Grandson, I find that every moment, no matter how brief, is consumed with thoughts of Ken and how very much I miss him...already.

We spent a wonderful evening tonight with friends... close friends... good friends. I take the time to distinguish the difference because there are distinct differences. These friends, Chuck and Rhonda, were neighbors of ours. They were the first neighbors we met when we transferred to Virginia in 2001. They are the kind of friends that have seen us at our lowest. They have celebrated our joys and successes. We know each others' parents. We have seen each other's children graduate, marry, and start families. We have shared vacations, parties, and impromptu backyard barbecues. We have cried with each other over lifes tragedies and we have laughed until the tears flowed. These people are our friends; good, close friends. We are blessed and we are better for knowing them. That may sound like alot of rhetoric for some of you. Some of my friends are living in the homes they grew up in; many are living in the towns they grew up in; and some - many - see childhood friends everyday. But, many of my blog followers are military friends who can appreciate the value I place on this friendship with Chuck and Rhonda. Throughout a military career, one gets accustomed to packing up and moving every few years. Many times... too many... friends are lost in the shuffle. It certainly doesn't mean that we care any less about them, it just means that our lives have continued on in different directions. (Mind you, I'm referring to pre-MySpace and pre-FaceBook days...)

I have been fortunate to have many high-school friends 'friend' me through FaceBook! I am really excited about being back in touch with them. In fact, several are making time to meet up with me as I continue my trip across country. I will treasure the moments they share with me... in most cases, I haven't seen these friends in almost 30 years! I know, right...?!  And, yet, they are willing to stop their lives for a friend from their past. I can't imagine that it will be too different to sit and talk with these ladies. I mean I'm still me and they are still them... we're only better versions of ourselves, now, right? I can't wait to spend hours with the friends I hung out with during my sophomore and junior years of high school. Back then our conversations revolved around who would ask us to the dance, who was going to the football game on Friday, or who was 'going steady' or 'broke up' with whom. And, now, our conversations will be consumed by stories of our spouses, careers, children and, yes, in some cases (mine) grandchildren! I am so looking forward to being with them... these scheduled 'dates' are the highlight of my next few weeks on the road.  

These days, I'm trying hard to focus on the good things. Most of you are aware that this whole 'cross country journey I'm on is a result of my husband's upcoming overseas, boots-in-sand deployment.... he leaves this Saturday, to be exact. Many people ask how I handle it. How I am so pulled together. I find that peculiar. I wonder how Ken must is handling it... how he must feel knowing that he is going to be so far away from his family and how he can be so calm and collected. I keep telling myself that Ken has a job to do and worrying about me worryng about him will not keep his head in the game. But  - honestly - sometimes, just sometimes, on the inside I wanna scream, "I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO"... "STAY HERE. STAY WITH ME. I WANT YOU HERE WITH ME." And when my little internal hissy fit is over, I put on my big-girl panties and hold my head up and say, "...it's just another deployment..."  and  "...we've been through so many, what's one more?" And, life goes on.

So, as our days turn into hours and as those hours wind down, I worry. I wonder. I pray. Alot. I know he does, too. We have discussed everything; things most couples don't have to speak of more than once. Then...we regroup. We smile, We laugh. And, we fill these last few days with family, friends, food, and fun. So when we leave Norfolk this weekend with two very different destinations, we will have these fun-filled days full of memories to hold close to our hearts. But for now... it's NOT Saturday and we'll continue to enjoy every passing second vowing to each other not to take one of them for granted. We know... better than most... that tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Well, we made it to Virginia. Thanks be to God. Anxiously awaiting our arrival was Christopher - he was not happy that he had to go to school but we were there when he got off the bus. Of course, he RAN home hollering, "Poppa's here", "Poppa's here", "Poppa's here". It was too cute!  I think I actually felt my heart melt and that smile... well, it washed away the past 2400 miles. I've sat here and tried to put this feeling I'm feeling into words but everytime I put 'pen to paper' (so to speak) the words escape me. I just start smiling and thinking of how perfect this afternoon was and how blissful this evening went. Content and relaxed... my heart is happy. So, please just enjoy the photos for now; I'll write again...later... for now, I'll just replay the night in my head and heart. Excuse me while I go to my happy place!

Until later, Kat

I realize that I haven't written in a couple of days... thank you for noticing! As most of you are aware by following us on FaceBook (FB), Ken and I are enroute to Virginia. We left Arizona on Friday morning and the day went as planned. Our first night was spent in Abilene, Texas. Saturday's plan included making it all the way to Birmingham, Alabama but we fell short by about 90 miles... must.stop.can't.go.on... :)

Today we were supposed to actually get to Little Creek, Virginia but we really fell short of that goal. Traffic (I use the term loosely) on I-85 was a parking lot by the time we got to Charlotte, North Carolina. We inched along a few more miles and finally stopped to eat in Salisbury, North Carolina. As you well know, stopping forward movement is a killer of progress. Once we were comfy... and full, we decided to seek shelter for the night... right here... not another mile. So, tomorrow we have about five hours (piece of cake, right?) to complete this portion of the journey. Thanks for traveling with us (albeit, virtually)... it's been alot of fun chatting with friends on FB as we travel.

Speaking of FB...how wonderful is that application?! Thanks to FB, I have reconnected with friends I went to high school with, friends I went to boot camp with, friends I went to 'A' and 'C' schools with, and countless others that I served with during my career.  It is amazing to me, incomprehensible actually, how far we have come technologically. Seriously, did you ever think that we would live in a world where we could see into the lives and hear the thoughts of friends and family scattered across the Nation... the world, even! I love that people make the time to share quips, dreams, sadnesses, goals, prayers, etc. FB closed the gap in so many friendships that existed almost solely because of distance. We fell out of touch with people that we once cared about only because life happened... phone numbers changed... people moved. And, in one fell swoop, in comes FB and we are reconnected with the masses. It boggles my mind... but I am thankful.

That's all for tonight, my friends. It's time to cuddle with my Honey (minus the front-seat console separating us) and watch a little Sunday Night Football. Good night.

'Talk' to y'all tomorrow!

Kat

PS: Tomorrow, we get to see our Daughter and Grandson (insert happy dance here) - pictures to be posted tomorrow night!

This is the season to be thankful and I am, really, I am. I am blessed with more love and friendship than I deserve. I try to be a good person ...I was raised that way. I try hard to slow my pace these days as I go through life. I want to be that person who stops long enough to help the lady with more small children than she can handle get into the Target. I enjoy being the person who will stop and ask if I can assist someone without offending them by assuming that they can not do it themselves. I enjoy reaching for something on the top shelf that someone else might not be able to reach. I like walking up to strangers and offering to help them get their packages out of their trunk and into the post office. I like telling total strangers that, "...that is a really great color on you..." or "...you rock that hair style (etc)..." just to see them smile - afterall I have no idea how their day has gone up to that point and maybe, just maybe, that moment in time will be the highlight of their day. I like to acknowledge it when I see someone go out of their way to kindly help another. I pray that my actions make others feel good and I hope that it, in some small way, might renew their faith that good people exist these days in a world of despair. I pray that my small efforts foster an attitude of 'pay it forward' that, somehow, encourage others to do the same. I am this way solely because of my upbringing... and I am truly thankful to have the love and guidance of the two kindest, most-loving parents who have consistently been the compass in my life and continue to be honest with me and share their laughs, love, and tears with me. 

I totally believe that the woman I am today is a direct reflection of the decisions (good and bad) that I've made in my life and that the people I've chosen to love (right or wrong) in my past contribute to who I am. That the path I've walked (sometimes running too fast and sometimes crawling too slowly) brought me here...to this place, this moment...where I am today. I am forever grateful that those choices, those people, that path led me to my husband, Ken. He is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest, unselfish, devoted, and hard-working man I know. His heart and his love know no boundaries. Before meeting Ken, I tried to make my life my own, on my own terms, and I made mistakes. The good news: I learned from them; probably a little slower than I should have and, yet, God continued to bless me even when I was undeserving. He continued to shower me with respect even when I was acting less than respectable. He continued to love me even though at times I was unlovable. I have always believed in God but for many years I didn't turn my heart over to Him. I was reluctant and resistant to allow my life to go down the path He chose for me. If I had only realized it sooner...  well, I still wouldn't change a thing...but that's just me. I could've chosen an easier path but I would've missed the scenery. I believe we are who we are because of where we've been, who we've known, and who we've loved...and lost.

I am grateful for having brothers who taught me through tough love that it's okay to be a little bit tomboy without compromising who I am as a lady. I love that I have a reputation for being a 'hybrid' because I am handy around the house/car but can still 'clean up nice' ... and that I am as comfortable in combat boots as I am in an evening gown.

I was blessed by God with a daughter as tough and independent as she is loving and nurturing; who knows more heartache than most young ladies her age and yet continues to share her love and laughter with the world. She is the greatest gift in my life. I am thankful, grateful, and humbled that God blessed me with two grandchildren. One that He has graciously allowed me to love here on earth and one whom He chose to play on the golden streets of Heaven. My beliefs ensure me that one day I will walk with Gracie, hold her hand again, and shower her with hugs and kisses... until then, she is entrusted into His care. 

I wouldn't trade a minute of my life. Not the love, not one heartbreak, not one smile, or one tear. My life is what it is ... and I am thankful. If you are a part of the tapestry that was woven into my life, thank you. Good or bad, thank you.

Until next time,

Kat

Hellllloooo Readers! Thank you for joining us as we travel from San Diego, CA to Gold Canyon, AZ via (ready for this?) Abilene, TX; Birmingham, AL, Chesapeake, VA; Kegley, WV; Centreville, VA; Moncks Corner, SC; Jacksonville, FL; Port Orange, FL; Orange City, FL; Cocoa Beach, FL; Deland, FL; Eglin AFB; Pensacola, FL; New Orleans, LA; Austin, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Eureka Springs, AR; Dallas, TX; Carlsbad, New Mexico; and Tombstone, AZ. So, buckle up and enjoy the ride (virtually) as we (well...I... Ken deploys early in the trip) criss-cross the country visitng family, friends, and former Shipmates along the way. I am very fortunate to have different girlfriends join me on 'legs' of the trip to keep me company. Some are riding along for seven or eight hours and others are spending a day or two. What a blessing to share some "Thelma and Louise" (minus the tragic ending) girlie time... just two friends on the open road, talking, laughing, and reminiscing!  Stay tuned... let's see where the crazy journey leads!

November 24, 2009

So....no traditional Thanksgiving dinner for us this year. We'll be in our home (in AZ) but just hanging out and enjoying the last of the quiet couple time we'll have for awhile. Then on Friday morning, our journey begins. We'll head East to Virginia with a few stops along the way. It will be more of speed trip - three days - than we are used to. Ken and I enjoy being in the car (most of our friends already know that) and usually schedule our drive time in much shorter spurts. We don't like to 'pass by' the beautiful scenery, sites, and attractions along the way. But this trip is going to be a little different. Our goal is to get to Norfolk, VA so Ken can fly out on his overseas deployment. It's a bonus to us that our daughter and grandson live in nearby Chesapeake and we are so excited about seeing them again. I found out yesterday that Christopher, our grandson, is going to ride in the Chesapeake Christmas parade this year! The parade happens to fall on the evening Ken flies out so I am looking forward to a happy ending to an otherwise not-so-happy day.

Well, back to work for me...I'm up to my knees and elbows cleaning the RV, scrubbing floors, sinks, bathroom, etc. readying it for storage.

Again, nice to have you along for the ride! Check back for daily updates, photos and stories from the road!

Until later,

Kat

New Moon broke The Dark Knight's single day box office record. Are you planning on seeing this teenage vampire love story? If so: Team Edward or Team Jacob?

Team Jacob all the way! I'll wait till dvd though, like last time.

First, we're happy to announce that the team has identified and fixed the issue with the YouTube conduit; you can now find and add videos from YouTube to your library and posts. As always, thanks for your patience!

The other news we have today is about a new addition to the Six Apart family: TypePad Micro, a new free level of TypePad that is streamlined for microblogging. We see a new form of blogging emerging that lives between the quick status updates of Twitter and Facebook and the long-form posts of "classic" blogging; TypePad Micro is designed to meet that need. You can read more about TypePad Micro in Chris Alden's post on the Everything TypePad blog.

TypePad Micro

7 comments

A lot of the new capabilities we've added to TypePad this year were actually inspired by some of the best things about Vox: favoriting, member profiles, a dashboard to follow other bloggers, and easy ways to post content from other social media sites. But the things that make Vox different from TypePad are still there: Vox has always been -- and still is -- the best place for "friends and family" blogging, where you're in control over who sees what. TypePad, on the other hand, is built for the blogger who wants, no, craves, attention.

Do you have a passion or interest you want to share with people beyond your Vox neighborhood? If so, we'd love it if you tried out TypePad Micro. Maybe you've always wanted to start that obsessive blog that's just about waffle restaurants. Or want a place to share videos of your favorite band (Jonas Brothers, anyone? Anyone? ...). TypePad Micro's great for those topic-specific blogs. Take it for a spin and let us know what you think.

On the Vox front, our designers are working on some cool new themes (coming soon!). We'd also love to hear your thoughts about where we should take Vox in the coming year. What are the key things you'd like to see for Vox? If you've had a chance to use TypePad this year, what are the features there that we should bring over to Vox? And, if you're thinking big thoughts, how could we connect the Vox and TypePad communities in order to bring together bloggers and their shared passions? Your feedback is really important to us, so please leave a comment here, or shoot me a message.

And again, thanks for your patience as we found and fixed the YouTube bug!

~ daisy

As many of you have noticed, the YouTube Conduit is not working. I am so sorry about this; I know how frustrating it is.

The team is looking into how to get this fixed and I will update you as soon as I hear something. In the meantime, not all is lost... There is a work-around for posting videos.

When you're in the Compose Screen, just click on "embed." Ignore the fact that it says "Widget" before everything because you can definitely use this to embed videos as well. You'll just need to input the embed code from the video, enter a title (if you want) and hit OK.

It might not show up perfectly in your compose screen, but when you hit "Save," your video should appear just the way you wanted it to.

Hopefully this will allow you to keep posting videos while we figure out what's happening on our end.

As always, thanks for your patience.

~daisy