My blog spot "counter" I guess you could call it - has clocked me in at 110 postings...well of course I have written way more than 110 - and not sure why it doesn't keep accurate count. That bothers me because I do count and I am competitive. I compete against myself constantly. Wonder if that makes me a freak? I am looking for a volunteer to count the posts??

Anway, I checked out for comments today - as you lovely friends of mine so seldom share you comments...I was pleasantly surprised to see that Dani, Gina and TIM had commented...I also noted that the long hard writing of Sunday's blog that I thought I lost - actually somehow ended up on the site, which is weird as when I checked it out earlier, I didn't see it. Hmm.

Tonight I went to see Randy Bachmann - yes of the famous Guess Who and BTO. Do you know how Guess Who got their name? I do. What a rocking happening concert tonight. I had an incredible time. I do have to share that it was not just the music that allowed me to slip back into time that was so great tonight, it was the inspiration Randy was for me this evening. He shared the ups and downs and laughs of his career with a refreshing, humble nature. Seemingly an almost shy person, he personifies intelligence, perceiverance, and a down to earth country boy heart, with a rock and roll spirit. He shared that when he has a thought or a lyric, for a potential song - he immediately writes it down - or he will certainly forget it. He has shelves in his heart where he lays things down - only often to come back to later and historically write that winning song.

We all need shelves to put those things on until we have the wisdom or the strength to come back and pick it up - whether to toss it away or to dust it off and begin to appreciate it.

Off to bed to dust some of those things I put on a shelf...like my pillow...
Oh, Happy Birthday Chanel!

Night.............

There is a piece of chocolate cake sitting in my car, it is 12:11 a.m. and I am starving....yet too lazy to go get it. Oh well, it will be good for breakfast. I wrote a thought yesterday (a good one in fact - or so I presumed) but the system failed to let me post it. I surmise there was a reason that particular thought of mine was to be kept out of print.

Today I was thinking about how we sometimes may miss the opportunity to really get to know someone and of course the flip side of how some people are open enough to reach out and open the doors to new friendships. I began to be curious about the new friends I have met in the past year. I wonder as they get to know me, what do they see? Can they see though the wax paper and see the real me? Am I transparent or do I resemble the glass we see in the bathrooms of older homes... you know the frosted type with diced looking chunks in it? I tend to think that many people can't see the real me because of that dicy glass. I think there are few people who are inquisitive enough to recognize that if they open up that window so they can see into the room I inhabit, they might find this very unique being................Hmmm..........

Do you ever wonder? I do constantly, wonder this, wonder that and question so much.

Wonder - what people think when they enter relationships with others? I say that because I was at a social function on the weekend where I was watching a younger couple interact with each other. This couple on the outset to a few of us, appear to be totally mismatched. I reiterate the word "totally". There seems to be so many couples who are together and they probably wonder how they managed to be a couple. What was the attraction - the draw to become a couple is a question I ask (and so should they). I wonder what chances of success and happiness a couple has, if their relationship is so obviously out of wack to others. Can it be that when others manage to see this, that the couple have no clue?.

It seems very clear to me that many couples get into relationships out of physical attraction and desire, lonliness or simply "fall into it" and they put friendship and human psychological bonding at the bottom of the list. (been there - done that!)

I am relieved to be 50 (yikes!!!) and having learned the lesson of making friends first... it's a long road to finding a potential partner, but I know that it will be worth it in the end. It is not an easy route as it's a constant battle to resist the temptation of human physical desires. I have learned the key to what I hope is a more solid foundation in love. I do not have it together (far from it) but at least I have managed to get the concept down! Now for the rest of the formula.

Those reading this who were at the function will be scratching their heads and wondering who inspired these thoughts. Who knows, maybe what I perceived wasn't what is in actuality.

Night once again!

Do you ever wonder? I do constantly, wonder this, wonder that and question so much.

Wonder - what people think when they enter relationships with others? I say that because I was at a social function on the weekend where I was watching a younger couple interact with each other. This couple on the outset to a few of us, appear to be totally mismatched. I reiterate the word "totally". There seems to be so many couples who are together and they probably wonder how they managed to be a couple. What was the attraction - the draw to become a couple is a question I ask (and so should they). I wonder what chances of success and happiness a couple has, if their relationship is so obviously out of wack to others. Can it be that when others manage to see this, that the couple have no clue?.

It seems very clear to me that many couples get into relationships out of physical attraction and desire, lonliness or simply "fall into it" and they put friendship and human psychological bonding at the bottom of the list. (been there - done that!)

I am relieved to be 50 (yikes!!!) and having learned the lesson of making friends first... it's a long road to finding a potential partner, but I know that it will be worth it in the end. It is not an easy route as it's a constant battle to resist the temptation of human physical desires. I have learned the key to what I hope is a more solid foundation in love. I do not have it together (far from it) but at least I have managed to get the concept down! Now for the rest of the formula.

Those reading this who were at the function will be scratching their heads and wondering who inspired these thoughts. Who knows, maybe what I perceived wasn't what is in actuality.

Night once again!

Do you ever wonder? I do constantly, wonder this, wonder that and question so much.

Wonder - what people think when they enter relationships with others? I say that because I was at a social function on the weekend where I was watching a younger couple interact with each other. This couple on the outset to a few of us, appear to be totally mismatched. I reiterate the word "totally". There seems to be so many couples who are together and they probably wonder how they managed to be a couple. What was the attraction - the draw to become a couple is a question I ask (and so should they). I wonder what chances of success and happiness a couple has, if their relationship is so obviously out of wack to others. Can it be that when others manage to see this, that the couple have no clue?.

It seems very clear to me that many couples get into relationships out of physical attraction and desire, lonliness or simply "fall into it" and they put friendship and human psychological bonding at the bottom of the list. (been there - done that!)

I am relieved to be 50 (yikes!!!) and having learned the lesson of making friends first... it's a long road to finding a potential partner, but I know that it will be worth it in the end. It is not an easy route as it's a constant battle to resist the temptation of human physical desires. I have learned the key to what I hope is a more solid foundation in love. I do not have it together (far from it) but at least I have managed to get the concept down! Now for the rest of the formula.

Those reading this who were at the function will be scratching their heads and wondering who inspired these thoughts. Who knows, maybe what I perceived wasn't what is in actuality.

Night once again!

Boy and Girl....continued.....

"Then came the girl. She was silken. She was a summer breeze.
He craved her softness, her scent.

Greater than science or magic. His clumsy hands could touch her like a whisper! Dare he use the word! No, never! Why invite the fultures to tear it open? To leave a smearing gash oozing, rotting entrails stinking on the floor. To be made a fool. To break a heart.

But it was too late. He needed her form, her laughter. When the lights were out, every fear, every hate disolved. Every moment she was away became an hour. Ever hour stretched into eternity. He needed her. Without her he was naked. Would she wait for him? Perhaps not, but he had to find out. He came back......

The boy became a man.

Yes, I know the story well, for I know the boy well.

He is me, and she is you. Boy and Girl.

Boy Loves Girl..."

Toujours.......

This poem written by an unknown writer has sat in my journal for some time now....I often think of this man, wondering who he is and who she was...... He pours his heart out on this very special paper - for a very special woman who's very existance reminds me of the very finest satin. I see her swaying ever so gently as she walks through the warm sand digging her toes in deep just as dusk settles in. The wind ever so softly caressing the long strands of her hair flinging wildly into the evening breeze.... She is beautiful, and it's him that sees her beauty that lies deep inside her heart......

Night..........

June 11, 1988 ......... Boy and Girl

Two summers ago I was given a book by a neighbour. I can't even remember what the book was titled. The only thing I can remember is the piece of linen paper lined with hand writing formed neatly in fountain pen blue ink, captioned "Boy and Girl"that fell out of the inside cover as I opened it.

There contained a story so captivating that I feel compelled to share it with you tonight as I have once again picked it up and laid in the clouds as I read it. Let your imagination run wild and place faces to this boy and girl we are about to meet.

"He do not want to face it. Even when he knew it was there in front, staring at him, daring him to deny, he turned away. He tried to run. He wanted to hide from it, to forget...... but when the music is loud......

What sort of man could become trapped, would be enslaved by foolish emotion? Not I, he cried triumphantly. He nearly believed it.

Let me tell you about the boy. He trod the hardpath. He learned one hundred lessons, but only through making one thousand mistakes. Never, he swore to himself, was he to let his heart rule his head.

He knew what he wanted..... or did he?

He had ambition but not reason and he was bitter.

Pride misconstrued for arrogance made him cynical.

The honesty he craved so badly was nowhere to be found.

The evasiveness made him misanthropic.

He had two strong arms but they were empty.

Something was missing.

Then came the girl.

She was silken.

She was a summer breeze......."

To be continued.......

The Package..... Have you ever been in a room and locked eyes with someone as you immediately formed an opinion on who this person is and what they are like? Recently, I was at a conference that drew many women. During the break, I headed to the refreshment table and as I was filling my tea cup, a woman joined me, who's stature took me back a bit, initially making me feel a bit uncomfortable. She was a tall woman, very strong looking and almost tough around the edges. I hesitated to write this article for fear that my description of this woman may be perceived as harsh, as it certainly isn't meant to. We ended up in an interesting conversation and I was surprised to listen to a voice that was so gentle, unlike her outward appearance. As we filled our cups and plates with warm drinks and delicious desserts, I listened with fasination as her humble, soft nature unfolded throughout the conversation.

Later that evening when everyone was leaving, I could see her heading towards me, her facial expression not necessarily that of a gentle being and I again felt a bit leary as I saw her stretch out her arms to fold me in a hug. She was quite a big strong looking woman, and me being somewhat delicate, I worried slightly that she might hurt me as she hugged. I admit I took a deep breath as she brought her arms around me, yet she so gently hugged and thanked ME for taking the time to talk to her. She smiled and headed out the door. She had no idea her stature had evoked some nervousness in my heart. She had no idea the impact she had on my heart that night.

I have reflected often on how we so quickly allow our first impressions to form in our heads as to who someone is or is not. I formed a quick opinion that this woman was rough and harsh, yet in spending time with her, I was able to experience the splendor of who she was - a beautiful, humble, gentle woman just waiting for someone to be a friend.

I'm glad I was afforded the opportunity to have met this lady! I am priviledged to have met such a gentle humble spirit. Don't turn away from an opportunity to meet that person you might have initially turned away from - you never know who you might REALLY meet.

Well... just for an appetizer - I share that I have a beautiful
story to share over the next two days........ stay tuned.....
You won't be disappointed.... Night....

Tonight we were helping my daughter begin the move into the new apartment her and her husband are starting their married life in. Both daughters were on the counters in the kitchen ripping off old mack-tack from the shelves of the cupboards and my friend and I were watching them. As they were ripping, complaining and chatting I listened as my youngest asked my eldest, "what happened to the lady who lived here, did she die?" My eldest responded, "I'm not sure, she was in the hospital". "Oh, said the youngest," and they went on about their business. It struck me that in life we run our course whether it be 66 years or 96 years, but at the end of that journey we are just dust to others. We move out of a place in the journey and right behind us is someone else going forward from where we left off.

I couldn't help but wonder who the lady was, what did she look like, did she have family who cared about her, was she thin and frail, and on the day she moved into that apartment, did she have help settling in. I wondered if she is now in a nursing home or if God had called her home.
I hope she is happy in the place the journey has taken her to.

As for my daughters, I wonder either one of them thought about her beyond those few questions they shared.

Night..............

Just when I thought....the crowd of supporters might have jumped ship for a more interesting blogger, along she comes - comments and all... YES!! I am not alone in this cold, icy world...someone is still reading! Yippeee...thanks once again Danielle... I am glad that something I wrote caught the attention of someone out there.... It's a lonely world without supporters....haha...

My friend Sheryl sent me a birthday card last year,a pretty white card with a huge yellow smilie on the front... and on the inside a smaller smilie.... and the words read "Smile! You're loved"! I found the card on Monday evening and I have pinned it up on the wall in my office, right beside the computer screen. It reminds me that I am blessed with truly loving, amazing friends. Yes, I AM LOVED!

I hope one day that someone might look back and say, "she" (meaning me) made my day! I hope during my journey I shower as much love on each of you!

In the meantime, think of us my dear friends sitting all together by a quiet river bank, green grass tickling our toes as we sit on blankets, reaching into picnic baskets full of food, sharing stories and fun. As we sit in unity, may we hear rushing sounds of the running stream, beautiful birds flying gracefully overhead, the gentle whisper of the wind caressing wild flowers as the rays of the orange sun beam down on us, warming our hearts and souls as we share quiet times and lunch together.

This my friends is what God gives us - free, friendship - reach out grab it and cherish it.
LOVE YA
Cheri

People who talk in riddles really bore me. Actually, I am not sure if they bore me as much as they irritate me. Is it because I am "aging" or is it that I am so less tolerant of people who can't just be human? I think people who talk in riddles are covering up something - playing games something like dodge ball. The conversation that flows in riddles draws me to the vision of a masked bandit - looking for a target and already has the escape route mapped out.

That's all for tonight... from the serious chick...

Settling in.... Well the Christmas hustle is over and today marks the real beginning of progression of a new year. A new work week, a new year. Have you ever taken a walk down memory lane with your photo album? I think generally we take many pictures of our families, trips and events - if most of us are organized we promptly place them in a photo album and then file them away in a cabinet. Note I say "generally" this is a routine for most people. A couple of days ago I started yet one more attempt at organizing my office at home and I picked-up a box of "things". In it was a big wack of loose pictures - I started to sort through it, throwing out blurry pictures, doubles of pictures etc. Then I found a handful of old pictures with my grand mother in them, my aunt, myself, my cousin and brothers when we were very young. It was so awesome to look at these pictures, and I was reminded how quickly life runs past us. I am not quite sure we can run fast enough ahead of the aging process to really make the absolute most of every single day we are blessed with - but I encourage each one of you - ME INCLUDED - to try hard to keep up to the wonders of each day. Make the most out of our lives, what we want to do - or if we don't know - run fast to find out what it is we want to do!

Listen to that inner self that is prompting you - there's a reason.