The Temecula Rod Run

I have always loved cars.  I drove a Maverick when I was seventeen.  It raced like a dream.  It wasn't as pretty as the cars we saw at the rod run, but it was fun.
My nieces and nephew went too.  My nephew loves cars!  But he was intimidated by the large size of the automobiles in comparison to his matchbox's.




MAVERICK!!!!

My niece's well they loved the sunglasses.  Actually so did my nephew.  All in all we did have a fun time of it. We saw lot's of cars.  And enjoyed each others company.

Cute Little Boys

Here he is... my son the rock star.  Then about nineteen, now he is twenty-five.  I can't hardly wrap around the fact that he is a quarter of a century old already.  It feels like of course only yesterday, that I labored those thirty-six hours to reap the rewards of a beautiful bouncy baby boy.
He was a good baby for the most part sleeping through the night at two months.  But a bit of a monster walking at eight months being a marker for the many things he would do in life.
He jumped on a two wheeler at four and took of like a pro but  later in life was stunt riding and did what is called a cross over and landed hard enough to break his shoulder needing surgery he was seventeen.
He also rode skateboards from the young age of four, but at the age of eighteen decided to do a trick including a inner tube and landed breaking his other shoulder but did not require surgery this time.

continuing to be a daredevil of sorts he decided to walk on crutches like stilts.  I don't recommend this, especially if the cork is missing from the end.  He slipped and he sliced his finger open needing stitches inside and outside if his finger.  around thirty-six. severing nerves and all.  He also cracked his head real hard and needed stitches one night while play fighting with a buddy, boys are fun.  All in all he has been hardy and full of life, fun to have and a real challenge. To make matters worse he decided well I guess he didn't decide but he did get an appendicitis when he was seventeen.  This to add to his collection of scars.  Yes he has been a boy through and through.  You would think he was done now that he is twenty-five, but he still rides bikes, rides skateboards and scooters.  And he rides them with a vengeance.  Yes he was a cute little boy.  But... look out for those cute little boys!

A Love for All Times

It all started when she was about twelve.  She read a book, then saw a movie.  It was called the Outsiders.  She loved Pony boy, but really loved Johnny played by Ralph Macchio.

  A love affair of devotion and admiration soon began.  As she watched the Outsiders repeatedly until she could recite the dialog verbatim.  She read the book over and over again as she loved the story as well,  She loved the message of the outsiders story, but she actually was wanting to see her Ralph in action over and over again.

After a bit of time there came another movie it was called The Karate Kid.  Now she had a whole new way to enjoy her favorite actor.  He did wax on wax off like no one else could.  and his stance in the eagle kick was one of a kind!  She watched Karate Kid one, two, and three, with me actually, and oddly enough I was about five months pregnant each time.  So I guess I was having a love affair of my own.  Lourie hung pictures of Ralph all over her room.  She found him most delicious.  His boyish looks and hero type rolls made him number one in her eyes.   

     For years a torch was carried and sincere adoration for this guy she didn't even know.  Now grown he showed up on Ugly Betty a show Lourie watches.  I am sure her heart fluttered and she felt a tug when she got to see her old friend.  The part seemed short lived.  But Ralph still played a hero, an honest, kind, person.  And he still has his boyish charm and good looks.

 Oh for the days of the Outsiders.  When Johnny saved the children from the burning fire.  The days of childhood crushes, of loves you thought where real and would last forever.  And if only you could actually meet this guy it would be magic.
    Oh how Ralph was her dream date.  But no more.  She still loves the Outsiders though and passed that love onto her daughter.  Now there is a love that has last forever.

Aunt Geoff and Uncle Phylis

Many years ago, as was this photo taken, however the picture is older than the names, my then little girl, Nicole, age about four called these two Aunt Geoff and Uncle Phylis.
The little guy in their arms is their first born Chris.  Anyway I bring up Aunt Geoff and Uncle Phylis on Valentine's Day becuase I learned a sweet story about them. 
It is almost as sweet as their names.
Uncle Geoff told me that when Phylis' Grandfather came home from ww1 it was on Valentine's day and they had a special celebration. 
They made fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and a special two layer heart shaped devils food cake with pudding filling. 
Well the tradition kept on with her parents on Valentine and I was speaking to "Aunt" Geoff this morning and he was looking for the heart shaped pan for the cake as they have carried out the tradition of Phylis' family as well all these years.  I didn't ask but I do wish I had I wonder if her daughter Joann keeps it up?

A Family Affair

 

This is a family portrait of my dad's family taken around Christmas time 1946.  It is complete minus the youngest child Shelley born late in life in 1951 as a complete surprise to her parents.  Now going from left to right we have Annie second born, A kind and loving mother of four she ended up having to move back home after a bitter divorce and so I got to know her and her two daughters well.  Her sons stayed in New York with their dad.  next in line is Ruby, oh how special she was fifth born but a twin to my father she never married and kind of adopted my brother, sister and I as her surrogate children and showered us with love and attention.  Sadly she died from cancer at the age of 40 we all missed her greatly.  Next comes Emery he was born sixth he was a showman.  He always seemed to be quoting Shakespeare but was actually just being eccentric in speech.  He showed his love, but was a quiet and private man.  Again we lost him to cancer as well only last year.  whose next?  My dad He is a twin, He is funny he has a great sense of humor.  He takes good care of his family.  He always makes sure their needs are met.  He was fourth born but only by minutes.  then My uncle Bud, His real name was Frank junior but we always called him Bud affectionately.  He was third born.  Now he was always ready with a joke, a corny one, but a joke.  He too never married, or had kids of his own and cared for my brother a sister and I with extra love and attention.  Believe it or not He died only three years ago from cancer.  we were all very sad at the loss.  Finally is Freda, first born, she died of cancer at the age of 27  and none of my siblings or I ever met her.  I was told she was very vibrant and full of life and very fun to be around.  The aunt not in the picture is my Aunt Shelley she gives great bear hugs and rode skate boards when they were new. she fell in love with a man who died in the Vietnam war.  she is currently marreid and living in Arizona with her husband and three greyhound dogs.  She rescues them.

 

I tell you this tale not to make you feel sad for those we have lost but to share with you all the love we have had.  this is a picture from 2003  when we gathered to celebrate the life of a super great lady my grandmother.  We weren't all there in fact two of my own children weren't able to come just my youngest Nicky came with me and my mom, also my brother and dad and mom came.  It was a day of honoring the memory and family that had been so special and the family ties that proved to be special still.  

The children, the grandchildren, the great grandchildren, and the great great grandchildren that were there all shared a common bond.  And yes my Grandma had lived to meet everyone who was in attendance that day.

It is amazing what happens when two people fall in love and join together to become one, they may become many.

Don't do this, Do do that

I'm new at this so I am giving Mama kat's writing Prompt a try.  I decided to write a list of do's and don'ts.  Now I am a fairly serious person although my family might say I more so am a person with a big sense of humor.  Which is true, I do like to joke around, but I like to look at life as though I could learn and teach from every thing in it.  So bearing this in mind here is my list.

Don't kick your sibling so hard you break your bones

don't be so afraid to fail that you don't try to succeed

don't be in a hurry and miss what is right in front of you

don't run in the rain you'll get wetter than just walking in it 

don't think one cookie spoils your whole diet

don't underestimate the power of a mother
don't back up your car without looking behind you
don't take the blame to cover up for someone else
don't marry someone you only met through the mail
don't throw rocks at people just in rivers
don't put yourself down
don't settle for less, you are always worth it         don't smoke if you do stop if you don't don't ever start!!!

Do love your Kids(family)                       do live life, don't just exist
do love yourself                                       do all you can to be all you can YOU CAN
do be brave                                             do be silly, or funny people will laugh with you not at you
do know you are not alone                       do exercise  the sooner the better
do play, laugh, and love everyday             do eat healthy and be strong in body
do read, watch t.v., relax                          do what you can to believe in yourself 
I think these are pretty good do's and don'ts  I hope to strive to live by them myself some I already do some I am working Towards.  As far as smoking I quit and it was the best thing I have done for myself in years.  

Trying to keep up... Wordless Wenesday tada!