And the Circle of Life Continues...

On March 10, 2010 I had received a text from Alaina's Best friend Andrea. She had just given birth to a set of twins, both male and one of them now carries Alaina's Last name as his middle name. This date is my first acknowledgment that the Circle of Life indeed does exist.
Today I was given another example.

Alaina's boyfriend had texted me early this afternoon and he still used the 'Aunt' reference which made me smile and greatly warmed me.  His sister, who was very close to Alaina too, had just given birth to a little girl today.  Just about 9 months after Alaina's death.
And just like one of Andrea's sons, her middle name also honors my niece.  Though this one bears her first name, while Andrea's son bears her last name.

Alaina would be proud.



© 2010 Greeneyezz

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Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreen

This was posted on facebook. I remember it making it's rounds around the internet last year. I think Ex had sent this to me once and I didn't save it then.
I'm not making that same mistake this time.

The words are below.

Ponder them a bit.

Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen!
By Mary Schmich (Chicago Tribune) - Baz Luhrmann




Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97

Wear Sunscreen!

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, "sunscreen" would be it.

The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists,

whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice NOW!

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.

Oh, never mind.

You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded.

But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now

how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future.
Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.

The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind,

The kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts.
Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don't waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind.

The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive.

Forget the insults.

If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters.

Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives.
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees.

You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.
Maybe you'll divorce at 40.

Maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.

Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much,

or berate yourself either.

Your choices are half chance.

So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body.
Use it every way you can.

Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it.

It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance

Even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines.

They will only make you feel ugly.

"Brother and sister together we'll make it through,
Someday a spirit will take you and guide you there
I know that you're hurting but I've been waiting there for you
and I'll be there just helping you out
whenever I can..."

Get to know your parents.

You never know when they'll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings.

They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,

but with a precious few you should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get,

the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in "New York City" once, but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in "Northern California" once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel

Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise.

Politicians will philander.

You, too, will get old.

And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young,

prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.

Maybe you have a trust fund.

Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse.

But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy,

but be patient with those who supply it.

Advice is a form of nostalgia.

Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,

wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

"Brother and sister together we'll make it through,
Someday a spirit will take you and guide you there
I know that you're hurting but I've been waiting there for you
and I'll be there just helping you out
whenever I can..."


© 2010 Greeneyezz

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"...a little louder than someone my age should!"

Breaking Through Denial....
... is a Beauty to behold!

Especially when the one in denial took such immense pleasure to tease, razz or otherwise let it be know that *my* eyesight was no longer as pristine. 

Upon reading that, I giggled to myself... a little louder than someone my age should!


© 2010 Greeneyezz

***Edit** 4/3/10
I was away from Twitter all day and when I come back, Shetakesthecake had posted this:  

And she hadn't read this blog post before posting that!
Perfect!!


P.S.S.  For a rather comical look at me getting older: Denial ain't a river in Egypt!

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