50 sense

I do manual labor and get paid hourly . My coworkers and I get paid the same whether we are male or female, thank God. I don't understand employees who call in sick weekly. I am troubled by the coworkers who spend each and every day doing as little as possible and getting paid the same as those of us who work our asses off all day. I am sure this occurs in all jobs. I don't understand this though. How does one deal with this? Their lack of dedication to the job adversely affects the rest of us by creating more work for the ones already working hard. I don't understand people who care so little for their job, their coworkers, their customers.

I just don't understand.

After being so moved by Jill's "This I Believe" audioblog, I have been consumed by wrongs that need to be righted in my life. Most of those involve forgiveness.

I am ready to just throw out a blanket of forgiveness and do a mass mailout of requests for forgiveness. I am from this day forward not accepting any enemies in my life. I want to enter my fifties encased in a love bubble.

Today I realize how wonderful it is to have a family , in fact two families, the nature one and the nurture one. I am ready to acknowlege that we can all love each other whether we understand each other or not. I celebrate my families.

My cousin Jill's blog yesterday is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. I am inspired to be a better person from this day forward. Thank you Jill for your gift to the blog world!

This is one of my favorite bloggers and a great article for the over 40 crowd.

success n.1. The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted 2. The gaining of fame or prosperity.

How do you measure success? In a recent conversation with my cousin, my nephew, and my uncle, I made the statement that I had not been that successful. My cousin asked in so many words, why I thought that. I didn't have an instant answer to that thought provoking question. I have pondered that for weeks and realize that I am in fact very successful.

I survived my young adulthood, in spite of many mistakes. I graduated from high school and college. I have only spent one night in jail in almost 50 years and that was in 1975. I have been blessed with very good friends and hopefully few enemies. The mortgage company and I have a wonderful home full of great pets. I have been at a job I love since I was 27 years old.I have a loving extended family and a partner that is a perfect match. I have many more good days than bad and am happy most of the time. I am not wealthy, but I get my bills paid. I don't have a large nest egg, but I want for nothing.

I have few regrets as I look back on my life.

Was it luck???

I think not.

Dog bowl. 

Puppy in my pocket. 

I am in my 23rd year of working for the USPS. Yes, a postal worker, so save the jokes and comments. I've heard them all, I hope. The weird thing about this is that I actually love my job. I am pretty sure that I may be the only postal worker that does or at least is brave enough to admit it. I have met so many wonderful people over the years that I otherwise would have probably never encountered had I not delivered their mail. I also have made some very good friends within the post office. I am grateful for the living that this job has provided me over the years. I am grateful that I have not had to interview for a job in 23 years. I am grateful for the security of this job. I am also grateful for the generous vacation package. I celebrate being a mail person.

I have been on vacation for the past two weeks. As I face the inevitable return to work in 37 hours, suddenly the job does not seem as desirable. The thought of spending 5-7 hours outside in the Dallas heat without the availability of a/c or a swimming pool slays me.


Please don't make me go back.

Seven works best for us. Dogs that is. Enter Gidget. 

No matter how many times you go through it letting go is never easy. Today I put down my beloved Valentino. He was plagued by many health problems in his relatively short life . I made the decision yesterday that he should not suffer anymore, so today he died in my arms. I am grateful to George W. and Jeb for not trying to intervene in this very difficult and personal decision.

Valentino 12/6/96-07/07/05 

me... 

Another holiday to throw caution to the wind and reward ourselves.

I have:
eaten migas for breakfast.
made a chocolate cake.
laid in the pool for awhile.
had a s'more.
made homemade vanilla ice cream.
had a cheap beer with a lime.

I shall now:
have a barbeque sandwich.
finish this blog.
take a nap.

I love my life. I love holidays. I love America!