Guiseppi's

One of our goals is to try a  new restaurant each widows trip.  It's funny how we have so many people offering us ideas.  This time it was my Mom's CNA who suggested Giuseppe's Old Depot.  Our family had been there a few times when the kids were small.  We traveled a lot with Jim when he had business trips.
 It's right by the railroad tracks so it tied in with our tour the next day.  It's Italian food and good.  A nice atmosphere and our waitress just added to our fun.  When asked if they had a bathroom she answered "No. You have to go out behind the train."  Our kind of fun.

Wild Wild Widows?

Lamie & Bernice

Mary & Connie

Helen & Bina

After Giuseppe's it was off to our hotel but not before we had our much anticipated "McDonald's small ice cream cone.  The only problem was finding a McDonald's. Isn't there usually one on every corner.  We had to go an extra 3  miles to find one but our Widow's informed me they had only asked "Are we there yet?" hum........ well, not that many times.

By the time we got to our hotel is was 9:30 way past my bedtime.  Our much anticipated discussion time  was not going to happen.  Boy was I wrong.  You get 6 women together, let alone these 6 women and there is going to be discussion.  Politics are always a part of our fun.  We all have our opinions and political affiliations. Sometimes they are quite opposite.  We finally have all come to the agreement O J Simpson did it!

 Discussion then went to the bible and our beliefs.  Our ideas are sometimes so different.  We grew up different times, different generations.  Our discussions sometimes get a little heated but in the end it comes down to respect for one and other.   We are always grateful that we end up all friends.  

 Our visiting times always seem take on the silly end.  Guess we're just like little kids, the tireder (is that a word?) we get, the sillier we become.  And by 1:30 in the morning we can be pretty silly. One widow asked me "Are you not afraid to do anything?"

You know my life has turned in so many different directions since becoming a widow that one thing is for sure,"Life is short" and of course "Laughter is the best medicine". And if you could only see and hear these widows laugh...... Best medicine I've have in a while. (Grandbabies excluded)

Eli & Eden

 I would like to tell you what our laughter is about but we all know "WHAT HAPPENS ON THE WIDOWS TRIP STAY ON THE WIDOWS TRIP!"

To the Castle We Went

Tea and a Tour.  Doesn't that sound like a fine thing to do on a most beautiful Friday afternoon?  We did it. Such a facinating and interesting tour.Glenn Eyrie in Colorado Springs. The Castle was built in the late 1800's  by a gentleman who worked for the railroad. 

 Actually started the Denver Rio Grande.  He bought over 20,000 acres in that area for $1.25 an acre.  It later became Colorado Springs.  The tea was fun, even if some of us can't hold our pinky up in the correct position and don't know if we are supposed to pick up the scone or cut with the fork & knife. Proper etiquite you know! It was all yummy no matter how we did it.  Plus it is always fun to start up conversations with people when they ask about our group. 

Six ladies with lavender boas and visors. Quite a sight.  I know the reason we wear them. It is to show those people who are are grieving that it is OK to live.  There was a lady there who had a tumor on her spine.  She had to wear a brace to be able to walk. Her bones can just break so she was afraid to be around a crowds but she was having a good day and decided to get out and enjoy. 

The old saying "Stop and smell the roses".   We all need to do that.  Things happen in our lives every day but if we look there is always a "silver lining". 

Guilty as Charged

I don't know about the rest of the widows but when I wasn't a widow sometimes it would come to my mind "I wish I could just do what I want, make decisions for myself blah blah blah"  Sometimes you just want someone to tell you what to do.  Today was one of those.  A month ago one morning on the way to work I was pulled over by s sheriff.  Now there was a day lead foot describe me.  Always in a hurry.  Those days are mostly behind me.  I try to stay at the speed limit.  Soon this morning I couldn't figure what I had done wrong. It seems they had posted a new sign. 

He proceeded to give me a ticket with a $110 fine and 2 point defective vehicle violation if it was paid right away.  Well in my mind it wasn't fair to not let me off with just a warning.  The sign had only been up there not quite a month.  You can imagine what went through my mind.  The defective vehicle violation bothered me the most because in my mind whenever you see that it means "Speeding" and I wasn't.  The decision to pay or fight took a lot of my time and energy.  When I finally checked to see when it had to be paid it was already too late.  I prayed for GOD to help me with the ticket.  I rehearsed my dialogue with the DA or Judge whichever I would face. My biggest defense? It wasn't fair.  They should have given me a second chance.  Now after years of turning right on red do you know how hard it is to change?

Well today was court day.  I continued to practice my defense but then decided I had asked GOD for help, and had to let him be my defense attorney.  Showing up 45 minutes early was a wise choice. Sitting there enjoying the peace. Well my name was a called and I was given the opportunity to plead guilty or schedule a court date where they would call the officer.  I stood there looking at the page.  What do I do?  Who can I ask? I can't make this decision on my own.  To schedule a court date would mean more time off work let alone the mental stress of remembering when the next court date would be.  But in the back of my mind was "It wasn't fair.  You need to prove a point."  Well I went back to my chair trying to make that decision.  Finally after much prayer I heard that still small voice I had been ignoring.  "Are you guilty? Did you do it?"  My attorney (a.k.a. my Lord) reminded me I was guilty.  I signed the paper, initialed where directed and headed down to pay the fine.  I serve a mighty God and he walks with me every day.  He lets me make my own choices and is there to forgive me when the choices are wrong.  Well this day he rewarded me.  No I didn't get out of the ticket but the fine instead of being higher for not paying it right away was lower. $72.50 instead of $110.  His way of telling me I had listened and made the right choice. 

We're off to see the Wizard?

I woke up with that song in my mind, have no idea why. Maybe the excitement of another trip.  Hearing the excitement in my widows voices. Who knows? 

 BUT we are off on another Widows trip.  Thursday we head off not to see the wizard but to see Glenn Eyrie. The castle we drove by on our last trip. 

 We are actually going for the tour and tea.  Won't that be fun for us Wild Widows?  We will turn that castle upside down. NOT!  (Can you guess I used to have teenagers?  Oh yeah ,and do you remember talk to the hand? Oh my I am getting old.)

The asignment for our widows is to bring family pictures to share so everyone knows everyone.  So what if we already do. It will be fun to share our hearts.  Our hotel will be The Springhill Suites by Mariott.  They say their rooms are 25% bigger.  Sounds good to me!

Our Wild Widows in waiting.

As we age

Tonight I have to tell you about my Moma.  She has a neurological condition in the parkinsons strain, one doctor called in supraneuclearpalsy or another called it corticobasaldegeneration.  Our matriarch widow has lost most of the use of her right side and has begun to loose the left side too.   After my Dad died a part of her did too and so this illness has taken away her independence and let me tell you she was INDEPENDENT.  I know cause I am my Moma.  Sometmes she says she is so done with the world but there   

is still a partof her that loves life, even if she can't do what she used to.

She loves to spend time with her children, grandchildren and; great-children. She likes to go for drives and to movies.

Well the other day we decided to join my daughter Jen and her baby Eli at the pool. Getting in the pool for a basically wheelchair bound person is a trick but with careful movements we made it. The first couple of minutes were questionable. But a few minutes later she was off and walking. With aid of some foam barbells she had the ability to walk forward and back for over 30 minutes.

  Quite an accomplishment for her and such a blessing of freedom and independence.  For that time she forgot she couldn't walk without the aid of a walker and someone beside her..........

     We have to always look at the gifts God gives us and the different packages they come in.  Life may not be what we thought it would be 10 years ago but if we look at the gifts he has given us, we will see what a truly beautiful thing it is to walk with him in grace and love.