This & That

Thank you for all your posts!  I can't believe I got my daughter-in-law's school loyalty wrong!!  Big faux paus.  I don't know about the before & after pictures of my forehead cysts.  Y'all are just going to have to take my word for it.  They are there & the surgery is for me, no one else. 

Don't tell anyone, but I've signed up for the Colonial Harley-Davidson's motorcycle 3-day instructional class.  I'm taking it April 8 to 10th.  If I can actually learn how to ride it, I may then take the DMV's 2-day class & get my license.  HOWEVER, if I decide that the class was enough for me, then that will be the end of it.  So to my loved ones, I know y'all are looking out for me, but it's just something I have to do. 

I'm looking forward to going to Ocracoke Easter weekend.  I'm driving down Saturday & will drive back on Sunday.  I am hoping it won't take more than 4 hours to drive down.  But I haven't driven there before by myself so we'll see.  I keep forgetting to make my hotel reservation at the Little Pony motel (that's not the real name of it, but I can never remember the real name-it's my CRS disease).  My brother's band - Island Time - is playing Saturday & Sunday nights, but I can only see them on Saturday.  I was going to take Monday off, but the vacation calendar at work is full, so short road trip.

Let me preface this little tidbit with the fact that this section of Ms. Wannabe's blog does NOT in any way shape or form, relate to my closest friendships with my dear cousin, sisters or daughters.  (Yes, I know that daughters is plural & it is not a typo)  This is strictly about non-related people.  So, with that in mind, I don't actually have a lot of friends, not real true blue friends.  Not the kind I see all the time & hang out with to go shopping or watch movies with or go to lunch/dinner with.  Not the kind you talk to about guys in or not in your life.  For me it's usually the lack thereof, or say things that make you both crack up even if it really isn't that funny, but you laugh together because you just get silly.  It bothered me for a long, long time especially since I know so many people here.  But when it comes right down to it, there isn't anyone I connect to & can just hang with.  Then tonight I had dinner with my friend from work.  I realized she is my friend.  YAY!  I have a friend!!  She is having back surgery next week & I felt scared for her, nervous & worried.  She's had a liver transplant & I am very concerned about any kind of surgery for her. But she really needs this done because she's been in a lot of pain & the back surgery will relieve it.  So it has to be done.  I'm sure all will be well, but I realized that we have been friends since we worked together downtown.  And we do hang out when we plan it since she lives an hour away. Well, not to get all gooey, but when I realized how we make a point to have dinner once a month (we don't work together any more) & when I got all worried about her surgery & we still managed to laugh at dinner & get silly, that's when I realized we are "buds".  So here's to my friend.  Please say a little prayer for her surgery on the 5th. 

So I went to see Picasso Saturday, right?  I had the best time but I also realized (apparently I should have titled this realizations) the friend I went with was a big part of why I had such a good time.  We laughed at silly things, mostly the New York sarcasm kind of humor that everyone does not get & he let me take as much time as I needed which was very generous. It was very comfortable & fun.  I think since this is really a new friendship, even though we've known each a long time, it will grow.  I like being friends with him.

So this & that is done for today.  I think these thoughts are examples of how I will get to be the person I wanna be.

Picasso

Picasso's art is not for everyone. It is in your face, demanding art.  It's out there. Honestly, I have never understood his art.  I'm not an art expert by any means, but I have always been an art "appreciator".  I love to go to museums.  I find it stimulating, entertaining & most of the time relaxing.  I never thought of Picasso's art as particularly relaxing though.  Bottom line, I didn't take the time to understand it. I just didn't care much about it because it didn't appeal to me visually & I didn't realize how really important Picasso's art is.  So I didn't learn, grow or even try to make attempt at.  I simply disregarded it.

So why all this about Picasso?  A good friend of mine invited me to go to the Virginia Fine Arts Museum in Richmond where they presented the only east coast exhibit of Picasso's personal collection.  It was fabulous!!  I cannot remember when I have ever been intellectually challenged through art.  This was really a long needed experience to get back to my true interests. I never knew how angry Picasso was as he depicted artistically the wars he lived through.  I knew he had many lovers & wives, but didn't know what their personalities & relationships truly meant in his art.  I could never figure out the 3 faces!  Well, as we know women have many hats to wear but also many faces to go with them.  These women influenced his art just as the wars did.  We saw sketches, paintings, sculptures, quotations & photographs.  How amazing it all was!  My friend didn't rush me through & I could take my time to read everything which is a significant act of friendship since I am a V E R Y  S L O O O W  reader.  Many if not all of the times I've been to any kind of museum,  I have felt intimated about taking my time to read everything I wanted to because I seemed to always hold up everyone.  This was so different & enjoyable. It was an awesome experience.

Now, a quick shout-out to Kentucky & UVA for making the final 4 in March Madness!!!  Kentucky for my daughter-in-law & UVA for my son who did his 1st year of college there as an art student...and for me since I work in Richmond.

Also sympathies to my BYU family in Utah. 

So, my experience this past weekend has definitely contributed to my search for who I wannabe!!

Barnacles

Interesting title, yes?  I've been feeling more & more self-conscious about something, more than usual anyway.  I've got these two hard bumps on my forehead that have appeared in the last 10 years maybe.  I had no idea of what they were or why they just appeared.  So I asked my doctor about them, finally, a couple of years ago.  She didn't think all that much about it, but did a CAT scan which apparently didn't show anything or at least anything serious.  Well I had my yearly physical this month and I brought it up again.  She said she would refer me to a plastic surgeon.  So today was the big day. I go & a very nice doctor comes in, pushes my forehead bumps & says sure I can get rid of those.  He says they are ... just fill in any big, long, unpronounsable medical term here ... and he can cut along my hair line & take them out.  He said they are like barnacles on the bottom of a boat.  Sometimes you just have to take the boat out of the water & blast the barnacles off.  So this very nice doctor likens me to a boat..with barnacles...n i c e.......  Basically, they are nodes or cysts that grow on your skull.

Long story short, sometime in May the barnacles are blasting off into the sunset.  It's outpatient surgery. Nothing too extreme, but still surgery. 

And that is why the BLOG title is barnacles and one more thing off my list so I can concentrate on who I wannabe!

The 13th

I'm not really superstitious. Friday the 13th has no meaning to me. I usually don't even remember when the day arrives.  It's just like any other day.  So why title this entry the 13th?  Well, read on.

Sunday, the 13th, was a bad day.  I don't know why or what happened, but I fell into the darkness again.  It was not the deep, deep kind, but still something wasn't quite right. Honestly it's gone now. It passed.  I don't have a clue as to what or why. Still I was so sad. I was sobbing really.  Then out of the blue my daughter called me. I tried to talk but at some point in the conversation I said I couldn't talk anymore & I tried to hang up.  My daughter stepped right up to the plate & hit a home run.  She said not to go, that I didn't have to talk, just listen. What a gift she gave me. I stayed on the phone & listened trying not to cry but not really.  But as she talked gradually she engaged me into the conversation. She didn't panic or seem nervous. She just talked as we might normally do.   I was trying to stay with her, her voice was calm yet deliberate not like she was just running on about nothing.  She was talking to me & before you know it, we were actually talking to each other & if I remember correctly we may have had a couple of chuckles there at the end.  I felt so much better.  One, because she didn't let me go, she didn't give up on me, she wouldn't let me give up on myself, she wouldn't allow me to be alone.  I don't know if she intuitively knew what to do or she's been reading up on depression, but what ever caused her to keep me on the phone it was the right thing to do.  I think I would have just gone on my bed & had a really good cry, but afterward I didn't need to.  I felt better.

Not everyone knows what to do.  I think because it's awkward. I think fear has a part in there too.  And ignorance about the illness.  The people who love you don't want to make it worse or they think they can't help or don't know what to do.  But doing nothing is not a good idea.  Sometimes I don't even know what will help.  But my daughter knew.  Maybe the bond is still there.  I thought maybe I had lost it completely-the bond between us.  Now I think differently.  Maybe she was just inspired to call me which grew into a prompting to not let me go.  Maybe a combination of things.  Whatever it was, I am grateful.

No reporting on stretching my comfort zone tonight. Although I think about it every day.  One major theme with those that read Ms. Wannabe seems to be don't do the motorcycle thing.  It's too dangerous.  Just so no one worries too much, I just want to try it for one day.  I'm not planning on becoming a biker chick or something.  Not joining any motorcycle gangs. Not buying a motorcycle. So relax everyone.  At this point the motorcycle is on the back burner & has been replaced with the wind surfing courtesy of my brother. 

So rest easy, no worries, just dreams of who I wannabe.............

The Invisable Disease

I'm taking a risk here but it does fit my focus this year.  I suffer with depression. I talk the talk about how no one wants to admit they have it but yet if we don't, we may never conquer the prejudices that are facing us every day.  I keep saying this country doesn't talk about it, it's the invisible disease which isn't getting the funding or attention it needs. But am I talking about it myself?  Well hello, no I'm not.  I am just as afraid of those prejudices as every one else.  So I guess this is step #1.  Talking about it where I feel safe with my family.  Who knows who else by read this?  But that's okay too.  I know there is a stigma that's probably not going away any time soon, but if I am going to face my fears I guess this is as good a place as any to start.

Depression runs in my family.  I think at least 5 generations that I'm aware of.  Genetics is part of the puzzle.  So I guess it makes a lot of sense that I have it.  I don't know when it started but looking back, I may have had it since I was in high school.  Not severely, but I think it was there.  I'm sure it was there from my 30's on, but did not recognize it until around 1998 or 1999.  I didn't take it very seriously though. I took a very, very low dosage of medication & I thought that was enough. It was just enough to, as they say, take the edge off.  It fought off the dark cloud over head & kept me in reality...pretty much.   I didn't realize that it could progress and/or get worse. But it did & now I'm taking it seriously.  I'm really taking care of myself much more seriously in general these days.  So it's a learning process.  I have tortured my family with the affects of my disease. I certainly didn't do any of it intentionally & they know that.  In fact, they have all shown me compassion & love.  It made a great deal of difference. For me my depression alienated me to the point where I could not see what was important & I couldn't remember that my family loves me.  Depression is so hard to explain.  I was thinking about that this week.  How would I describe it?

This is what I came up with....

Imagine you're in a big box, like when you were a kid & some big appliance was bought & so the kids all played in the empty box.  So at first the flap is open & you see outside the box, but your sight is limited. Then your younger sibling comes by & closes the flap so you can't out. You get scared & start screaming & eventually he/she opens the flap for you.  So you kind of go in & out of the box because it's still there & hasn't fallen apart yet so you go back in from time to time. Then you start feeling comfortable in there, but suddenly the flap closes, just a little but not like when your sibling wouldn't let you out.  You feel okay because you know you still can go out. You can still see the light.  But every day the flap closes a little more & a little more.  You feel something is wrong, but you don't know what it is...and your sibling is not around so you can't figure out why the flap continues to close.  But your eyes start adjusting to the increasing darkness so it's okay.  I mean afterall you can still see, right?  Then the flap closes completely & you panic. You start having anxiety attacks because you can't get out & you know something is wrong, but you can't figure out what's wrong.  Remember your eyes have adjusted to not being able to see the light. You are in the dark. It's very dark. You feel scared. You feel troubled. You feel something's not right, but you start getting use to it.  Now the darkness in the box is your home. You don't fight it anymore. That's just the way it is.  But every so often you think you can see something, maybe a little light is coming through the cracks of the box flaps.  You feel a moment of clarity & you try to fight the darkness & get out. You start screaming & fighting the darkness, just like when you were a kid, but you just can't do it so you go back to letting your eyes adjust to the darkness. You are there & that's where you are going to stay until you absolutely cannot stand it anymore.  You just hate the darkness. You hate not being able to figure anything out. You feel like a failure. You feel desolate. You feel alone. You feel confused. You feel lost. So many negative feelings. You think that really there is no hope of ever getting out of the box. So you don't want or really you can't take it anymore.  So you do things to yourself that are so unthinkable & destructive they are unspeakable.

That's what depression is like for me.  It's not everything, but it's as good as I can give you today.  I googled the word depression & found some information.  I have put it at the end of the blog.  I'm trying to learn about my disease.  I thought some others would find it interesting.

Depression is a serious biologic disease that affects millions of people each year. An estimated 33 to 35 million U.S. adults are likely to experience depression at some point during their lifetime. The disease affects men and women of all ages, races, and economic levels. However, women are at a significantly greater risk than men to develop major depression. Studies show that episodes of depression occur twice as frequently in women as in men. (can't find the source, I think it's from a pharmacutical company)

More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness, nor is it something that you can simply "snap out" of. Depression is a chronic illness that usually requires long-term treatment, like diabetes or high blood pressure. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or other treatment.  By Mayo Clinic staff

From:  NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

What Is Depression?

Everyone occasionally feels blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her. Depression is a common but serious illness, and most who experience it need treatment to get better. 



There's a lot more to these articles, but you can find them if you are really interested.  I think everyone in our family should familiarize themselves with the symptons.  Knowledge is power after all.

I love my family.  I am glad we are all looking after each other just a little more. It really helps me figure out who I wannabe.


There is no single known cause of depression. Rather, it likely results from a combination of genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological factors.

Good Times

If you ask different people what the term good times conjures up, I'll bet you get many different answers. And if you ask the same person at different times of her life what that terms means you'll get different answers.  Right now, last night & today would be defined as good times. 

Last night I met one of my three beautiful children at the local Target with her family.  The occasion was her youngest's birthday.  The little guy was 5! and of course I am speaking of MY grandson.  This year we or I rather, decided to let him pick out his own gift.  I wasn't sure how this would work out, but it was great seeing him going back & forth between aisles of toys. It was funny to watch, but he took it very seriously.  His Dad was with in the aisles with him trying to guide him with fatherly wisdom.  Sometimes he would pick up something that wouldn't be quite the toy the little guy thought it would be, so Dad was there to point him in the right direction & appropriate age section. After much thought he finally picked his gifts & lucky for Grandma, he picked something on sale & something I would have picked anyway.  It was fun being with them in the store.

Then the best part was going back to the house for cake, ice cream & presents.  He may not have unwrapped them, but he sure did enjoy the heck out of ripping the box apart.  So fun.  My daughter made a delicious cake & some more family join us.  It was really good times.

It didn't end with last night either.  We have 4 family birthdays in March.  My daughter & son-in-law (parents of the 5 year old) also have birthdays. So I was able to give them their presents as well.  Then today I took MY big girl to lunch.  We had a wonderful afternoon.  We had wonderful weather warm & breezy. The sun was actually shining!!  Love it.  Our waiter looked like Sam Elliott. Who could complain about that?! The food was out of this world. And of course the company was fabulous!!

I was also able to get the birthday package in the mail to the special little girl who lives far away from Grandma. She's the 4th March birthday we celebrate. The package also has a little something else in there.  Grandma always likes to put a couple of surprises in her packages.

So even though the weekend is not over, good times so far.  Good times for Ms. Wannabe.

Hat Day

I know you thought today was St. Patrick's Day, right?  Well, it is of course & I did wear my green shirt, Irish shamrock earrings with the perfect St. Paddy's Day socks today.  Just about everyone had green on at work.  It was kinda fun walking in a sea of green everywhere.  So I gave them my best top of the morning greetings & waited for the big event.  Yes, it was HAT DAY at work.  I know you are all jealous that my department had fun team building, morale boosting & eating green foods day all while wearing a hat.  The big competition was for the team with the most spirit, creativity & team participation all wearing hats hence Hat Day.  We had leprechauns, hats from around the globe, silly hats, career day hats, & so much more.  Yes, what a glorious day it was.  My team had career day hats.  We had African Safari Hunter, Cowgirl, pirate, fireman, "King" of industry (Burger King would be so proud), Redskins Coach (maybe that's why they lose so much), Sunday school teacher & the financial planner money hat.  Oh, & I was the Hawaiian Beach Bum.  I wore my Myrtle Beach hat, lei, Hawaiian shirt & looked the part believe me.  I wish I could tell you who won, but they will announce it tomorrow.  The winning team gets 2 hours off the floor to watch a movie of their choosing, must be PG-13 or PG, & eat popcorn.  The 2nd prize is the "spirit stick".  Yes, you heard that right ladies & gentleman.  The coveted spirit stick.  Ooooh, who will win that??  You'll just have to come back tomorrow to find out.

How can I top Hat Day?  I don't think I can.  Maybe I really wanna be an Hawaiian Beach Bum??!!

End of an Era

Those who know Ms. Wannabe will understand why this is an end of an era.  I will no longer subscribe to People magazine.  Yes, I know this is shocking but I don't think I can stand one more article on the number of plastic surgeries Heidi whoever has had in one day or how many times she's married the same man. Nor am I interested in the current fab recipes of the stars. Stars? Are they kidding?  The famous people who have no talent but make lots of money by allowing the public into their lives with cameras rolling 24/7. Who cares? Well I guess someone does since they keep making more housewives shows.  Will we have a show in every city across America? Gee I can't wait!!  Or how about more rantings from the depraved Charlie Sheen...now that's a piece of work right there.  But what I am saying, he's not a "winner".  No I think that should be wiener.  He's a wiener.  I guess I may be too old for this pop culture boring sensationalized journalism.  Maybe journalism is giving them too much credit.  I still like doing the crossword puzzle though.  The cost of the subscription just doesn't justify getting that magazine for just the crossword.

You know I noticed that I have several crossword puzzle books around here.  Have I ever told you the story of the how the crossword puzzle interest came about?  Well boys & girls, get comfortable because you are in for a treat!

Once upon a time, there was pretty princess who had three beautiful children.  She loved her children very, very much. She loved spending time with them, reading to them, dressing them, teaching them how to organize their toys...okay you didn't need to know that.  One day the grumpy ogre who lived in the castle with the pretty princess & her three beautiful children said, "You must go out & find gold coins to support my bad spending habits".  Well, the poor, pretty princess was surprised to hear such things from the grumpy ogre. That was not the plan. She had no idea how to go off & find the gold coins since she had no college degree & had not been in the search for gold coins for many, many years.  What was the poor, pretty princess to do?  It made her too sad to leave her three beautiful children.  They were so young only 2 years old and 4 years old and 6 years old. Who would teach them how to organize all those GI Joe's & Strawberry Shortcake toys?  Who would teach them how to make lists and wear turtlenecks?  The poor, pretty princess could not leave these important lessons to anyone else.  So she thought & thought. Then a brilliant idea came to her in a dream.  The poor, plucky, pretty princess would have the gold coins come to her!!  She opened her own business in the castle so she could stay home with her three beautiful children.  If you build it they will come. And so they did.  The poor, plucky, pretty princess soon had more children to care for then she ever thought possible. With all her pluck, she read articles about how to take care of these children and organized a plan.  She became very successful but really thought she would lose her mind if she didn't find someway to think of something other than potty training & how to make really good mac & cheese.  One day the poor, plucky, pretty princess sat down to read the Washington Post, the local towne crier, when all the children were taking their required afternoon naps. Lo and behold there was a daily crossword puzzle.  A grown up activity.  Something to stimulate the brain. My, my thought the poor, plucky, pretty princess, why not try this. After all, how hard could it be?  Do you know what happened next?  The poor, plucky, pretty princess could not find the words to all the clues.  She was so perplexed.  So the perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess did what she always had done.  She found a way to figure out the words she didn't know.  Yes that's right boys & girls she dug through her old books & found her dictionary!!  Every day the perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess looked up new words to increase her vocabulary and soon the puzzles became easier.  She did them in pen & was quite proud of herself.  The proud, perplexed, poor, plucky, pretty princess was no longer perplexed.  And her love of crossword puzzles continued to this very day! 

And what happened to the grumpy ogre?  Well, that boys & girls will have to be saved for another day.  In the mean time I continue to on my search to find out who I wannabe.

I was thinking......

Yes, I do that occasionally.  I have always loved music.  I've never been out of my comfort zone with music since I like just about everything.  Saturday I bought two CD's, Kid Rock's new one & Cindy Lauper's Memphis Blues.  How's that for eclectic taste.  I saw Kid Rock being interviewed by Piers Morgan & I was actually impressed.  Don't tell but this is my 2nd Kid Rock CD.  He's growing on me.  Now Cyndy Lauper the queen of Queens, NY, she's really something else.  I loved her voice with the old time blues & she definitely did them justice.  I'm a fan.  I was thinking about the first time I heard Andrea Bocelli.  It was a duet with Celine D.... singing "The Prayer".  What a voice he has.  So naturally I bought his CD that was out at the time.  Have you ever cried listening to someone sing in a language you don't understand?  That is what happened when I heard this CD.  I can't explain the feeling but it seemed like he touched my soul or something. It was like I knew what emotion he was trying to convey but didn't actually know what the emotion was except it was touching, moving & very eloquent. How can anyone have that good a voice?  I wish I could really be more descriptive since it was & still is an amazing thing that happens to me when he sings.  I guess or I hope that is what happens when you go to the opera.  I think going to the opera is on my bucket list somewhere.  I'm adding learn Italian now.  Not that I need to understand the words he sings, since it so emotional just to hear the voice & music, but because I'm Italian.  More about that another day.

I have so many lists these days.  One for groceries, errands, things I have to do around the house, who I should call or email, lists for presents & March has a lot of birthdays in our family, then of course doing the things that are out of my comfort zone, the bucket list, lists for work believe it or not.  This week I'm bringing in some dessert for the SPCA bake sale and NO it won't be home-made for those of you that thought I still cook & bake. And of course the list includes "hat day" don't ask, but I need to put it on my list so I don't forget the hat!! And I signed up to bring paper plates for the PotLuck breakfast we are having on hat day.  So you see, I need lists, lots & lots of lists.

I've been thinking about this new phone I bought a few weeks ago....  This is so embarrassing but I could not figure out how to answer it. Yes, you read that correctly.  Did I mention that I am technically challenged?    I didn't realize that the little puzzle piece with the phone receiver on it, had to go into the empty space.  But I did figure out & get addicted to Angry Birds!!  You can see where my priorities are.  I'm hoping my friends & my youngest son can give me some pointers.  I love the phone, but it really would be advantageous if I knew how to answer it.  My Droid, ah yes I'm out of my comfort zone, definitely.

I have this charm bracelet my daughter-in-law gave me with all 7 of my grandchildren's names on separate "charms".  I love the tinkling sound it makes.  I was thinking it reminds me of the Jimmy Stewart movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".  The Angel says everytime you hear the tinkling of a bell, an angel gets his/her wings.  I've always loved that movie & that thought.  I think of it when I hear my bracelet making a sweet little tinkling noise, but with a twist.  I hear the sound & think of my 7 grandchildren  who are all little angels in my heart.  It's a sweet thought & makes me happy throughout the day.

Enough thinking for now.  I'm ever pondering if I can get this life right & discover who I wannabe.

1st Edition

Today my son suggested I start a Blog & of course I had no idea how to do that.  His instructions seem easy enough but time will tell.  My 2011 theme is to try things that bring me out of my comfort zone.  I hope to take you along on my journey although it's hard to believe anyone would be interested in the life of a 58 year old divorced empty-nester such as me.   So I'll give you a little background & if you can relate, great!  Please come along on my adventures.

Married three times does not define me, but it is part of my life.  I have three remarkable children who are all married & thriving.  You'll probably hear a lot of bragging about them & I'm not the least bit ashamed to say all the great & wonderful things I can think of about each one.   My oldest son with his fabulous bride have given me three grandchildren.  My daughter & her amazing husband have even given me four grandchildren.  My youngest son is finishing college with the support of his beautiful wife & I suspect one day there will be more grandchildren!  There may also be a bit of bragging about them from time to time.  My cup runneth over.

I grew up in New York State not too far from Brooklyn where I started this crazy life.  I didn't stay too long in NY though having moved to Boston, New London, Panama City, Groton, Silver Spring & finally the place I've lived the longest & enjoyed the most Williamsburg.  I raised my children with their father until we divorced in 2000.  If you are looking for the juicy, gory details you will be disappointed.  This will be about my new adventures & not about going on with self-pitying stories.  Beside my children were really my world anyway.  I did work outside the home & managed to create a pretty good career while raising three of the best kids ever!!  (There’s that bragging thing I was talking about)  It's nice when you not only love them but like them too.

Now I'm still working at my career with the same company for the last 22 years, but can't seem to get use to the empty nest.  The kids have been out & on their own for many years, but I still miss them.  And so the reason for the 2011 theme & this new blog.  I want to share my adventures with anyone who might feel the same way...plus it will give me something to do!!

Over my Christmas vacation, I decided the first thing I should attempt is firing a gun.  That might not seem like a big deal to you, but let me say it is the last thing I ever thought I'd do.  I've always been afraid of guns.  I grew up without a father so I didn't know about the "manly" side of life.  Guns were never part of my world.  When my kids were younger, they actually went to a firing range with trusted friends to get a short lesson.  It seems the boys still have interest in this sort of activity & I asked one of them to teach me.  Yes, I who has always been afraid & honestly quite anti-gun went to a firing range to see what it was like.  Could I overcome my fear?  That was the real question.  At this tender young-at-heart age, could I change my mind about guns or at least touch one?  It really surprised me when my son so carefully went over gun safety, parts of the gun, how it worked & was very sensitive to not push me into the next step of actually holding & firing the gun, unless I was ready.  He really looked out for me both physically & mentally because he knew this would be difficult for me.  So I felt I was in good & trusted hands which enabled me to take the next steps.  I watched.  Okay, then I held the gun & even took some shots at the targets.  My son was so wonderful & was a great teacher.  It was a different feeling after raising him & teaching him, now the table was turned.  Here I was being taught by my son.  I hope I was as gentle & caring with him as he was with me.  He's a very good son. 

So, what happened?  He said I was a natural!!  Was that just some buttering up hoping to get Mom to buy him lunch?  Nope.  I actually shot a hole inside the previous hole I made. The whole thing was sooo exhilarating & empowering.  The adrenalin was flowing through every part of my body.  I couldn't get enough of it & probably would have stayed much longer if it had been possible. WOWEE! I actually shot a gun & liked it!  I tried two different sized Glocks & a small Sig.  All I can say is unbelievable.  Who knew?!!  That was not enough so when I got home, I went to a local firing range & took an all day class.  It was excellent & other than getting my index finger caught in the slide, I did pretty darn good.  Don't worry, it only bled for two days. So now I have a certificate of completion & I can apply for a concealed pistol permit if I so desire.  I don't think I'll really be doing that, but I may go back on Tuesday night's since it is "Lady's Night". 

My first adventure completed. Check. But still on the list to continue.  I'll let you know how that works.

Some other things on the list..........learn to wind surf, learn to ride a motorcycle, learn how to use this hi-tech Droid Fascinate phone I just got, travel by myself, explore different religions and I may attempt more or change my list at any time.  No rules.  Just whatever strikes my fance on any given day.  Afterall, I'm young at heart and still trying to figure out who I wannabe!!