Kenny Chesney While He Still Knows Who I Am

I love Kenny Chesney and his music.  He does sad songs, happy songs, deep songs, etc.   I listen to a lot of his music when I am getting my "steps" in every day.   I have my iPod on shuffle and today this song came up.  I hadn't heard it in quite sometime.   To me it is so poignant for what we are dealing with right now with my dear Aunt Teresa.   She has started to slip mentally so much.  I saw it in the year before we left Douglas.   However in the past few months, she has really declined.  There are some days where she is really good.   She is also very good when she is around family and friends for a short time.   Our family has always been so important to her.   She loves all of us and always talks about her brothers and sisters kids.   For many years she sent birthday cards with a $1 in it to all of the kids (nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, etc.).   Now she doesn't always know who people are.   It is so sad to watch this decline.    The doctor has diagnosed her with Alzheimer's and she takes medication for it.   At 93 almost 94 years old, I wonder if it is really Alzheimer's or just her age.   As I sit here and write this post, I can't help but get a little teary.    I feel so blessed to have her in my life.  The five years that I spent with her in Douglas were worth every minute of it despite some of the garbage I dealt with.    We had a great five years as roommates!!   I will always cherish our time together.   Now she is at Judy's, but I have her a lot.    We try to keep her mind stimulated as much as possible.   But it gets harder and harder to have some conversations with her.    She doesn't remember going places that we have gone to recently, but she does remember that she wants to go to the Family Reunion in Virginia in July.   We are planning on taking her to it.   And of course, she always remembers when it is time to go to Mass!!!   If you listen to the words in this song, I think you will understand why I put on my blog.  What a blessing she is to our large extended family!    So if you read this, please every now and then give her a call.    If you get her on a good day, she will remember who you are.   If not, she will act like she remembers you.   I know how much it still means to her!

You may have to click it and go to YouTube.  It was on here for awhile, but now it is gone.  However, you can get to it by just clicking it on.

No Posts?????????

I am finding it hard to believe that I haven't written anything in 2016.    Things have been great and I am usually wanting to write when everything is in order.  Not sure what has happened.   

I didn't realize how much I was going to enjoy  being retired.  It has been amazing.   I truly thought I wouldn't be able to go from the MANY hours that I worked for the past 27 years that I was an administrator to nothing.  But it has been absolutely fine.   I have been busy, but not sure what I do.

Helping Judy with my Aunt Teresa takes a lot of time.  Judy has her most of the time, but she is here often.  I take her to doctor appointments and family events as much as possible.

Then there is my FitBit "addiction" that I have been dealing with.   I have tried to get my steps in regularly for the last many months.  A few months ago, my good friend, Debbie, got me involved in the Workweek Hustle.  I didn't know that I was competitive but I am and I am out trying to get the most steps in during the week so that I can WIN!   I have won most of the weeks, but there have been a few where I didn't quite make it.  I actually enjoy my walks and have been getting a minimum of 10,000 steps a day in.   Listening to audio books makes the walking easy.   I have been listening to historical fiction--books that I read in the 70's and 80's.  It is great to hear them again.  I love authors like Herman Wouk and John Jakes.   

In January, I started doing some principal subbing in Gilbert.  I am helping out a wonderful young man who has colon cancer when he has to undergo chemo.   It has mostly been every other week for three days, but there was one period of time that I was there for a week and a half.  It has been an honor and a privilege for me to be able to do this for him.   He has a wonderful school and I love the kids and the staff.    I am hoping that the last time I have to be there is a week from Wednesday.   Not that I don't love going there, but that will mean that he has finished his chemo and now will prepare for surgery this summer.   I hope and pray that it works out for him and I am so thankful that I have been able to help him.

I love being back home in Gilbert.  It has been wonderful to reconnect with so many people and to have the respect that I earned here for so many years valued.   It has been reaffirming in so many ways.

I have been approached by many people, including the teacher's association, to run for the school board.  I am giving it serious consideration.  I can't do anything until I am done with my sub job, but that still leaves plenty of time.  I think I would be able to be of service to the District that I love so much in this capacity.   

I am going to make it a goal to write more as I truly do enjoy it.  

Life is good!!!

Family Holiday Traditions

As I have written before, this holiday season isn't one of my favorites for a variety of reasons.   I think it is all of expectations, etc. that go along with the season.    However, we do have some family traditions that mean a lot to me.    Every Christmas Eve we spend with our Phoenix cousins at Yaya's house.   Every year there are more kids as the families grow.   Yaya makes her incredible enchiladas and I have always brought tamales from Douglas and I didn't this year.   Will make sure that changes for next year!  

We always do a white elephant exchange with the adults and it is fun!!   The little kids even enjoy it and the laughter.  I love spending time with my cousins as they are not only family, but friends!    I have a special bond with Cecilia and always have.  She is like my sister.

As Teresa continues to decline both physically and mentally, I wonder if this could be here last Christmas.   She is such a trouper and would never miss anything.  She works so hard to be "alert' at family get togethers.   It usually exhausts her.   I hate watching this decline, but I am so thankful to have her in my life still.    What a blessing for all of us!!!

Today we will be having prime rib here at my house with Judy and her family.  I just finished making beer bread--one red and one green!  I have been experimenting with using different kinds of beer and it is amazing the differences depending on the beer.  

This year baby Colton will be joining us.   Of course, I will miss Patrick, but he will be here in a few days.

I love fixing the prime rib dinner.  It has always been one of my favorites and it will be nice to spend quality time with just our families and one very close friend!

The best part for me is that I have now officially written more blog posts in 2015 than in any previous year.  My writer's block is gone!!!   And I am so happy to be back home in Gilbert with family and friends!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

December Doings

December has been a busy month for "fun" with good friends and wonderful family.  I didn't realize how much I missed my many friends while I was gone the past five years.  And I am blessed to have another wonderful circle of friends that I made while I was in Douglas.   I miss many of them, too.

My administrators friends, who were so incredible while I was in Douglas, are truly amazing.   We get together often for a movie, lunch, or an overnight and out of town time.   We had lunch recently to celebrate Jill's birthday.  Had a great lunch at the Biltmore.  It is such a beautiful hotel and is always decorated so well for the holidays.

Later that same day, I went to another birthday celebration for my friend (and former teacher for me).   There was a very nice happy hour in her honor and it is always fun to get together with this group of friends.

A tradition that was started while I was gone with some of the Gilbert El friends was "Breakfast in the Barn" at Shannon U's barn.   Everyone brought a breakfast dish and a gift to exchanged.  It was really fun and I am so glad to be a part of this tradition now!!   

At one of the earlier times together, several people suggested I have a party.  I have a great party house with my bar, Shenanigan's, in the basement with a pool table and karaoke.   My outside has a great patio with a bar to sit and a fire pit to keep the whole outside warm.  And the pool always looks so nice with the lights on.  We can regulate the color of the lights so we had red and green for my BAH HUMBUG party.   I have never really enjoyed the holiday season--not sure why.  I think it is all of the expectations and I don't particularly like to decorate.  So at my BH party, I told everyone that the only thing that they would see that was red and green was my red and green chili meat.   I invited former teachers and staff from Gilbert El, people I taught with over 26 years ago and former administrators.  What a great turn out!!!  We had red and green chili meat, fresh beans, and homemade salsa.    Everything was a hit and there were so many people here and I know they had a great time as I got a lot of positive responses.  As a matter of fact, I was "told" that this was going to have to be a new tradition!!!!

Then we had Kerri's traditional bean burro party for her fourth graders. I made beans and salsa and a lot of her parents showed up.   The best part--I think every student she had who is now in 5th and 6th grades came for bean burros.   And of course a lot of staff members were there.  There was some green chili meat left so I took it for the adults.  It was a hit!

Today I am going with some friends for a "pub crawl" in downtown Gilbert.  Should be interesting!!!

Have I mentioned how much I am enjoying being back in Gilbert and being retired????????????????????????????

Memories Brought on by Senses

I wrote in a previous post about how the sense of smelling flowers triggered memories of my grandmother's funeral in 1957.  It is amazing how different senses can trigger memories.

I have a FitBit and have been doing a lot of walking and stepping.  I have incredible Bose headphones that I wear and have 2300 plus songs on my iPod that I listen to when exercising.   I have it on shuffle so different songs come up and I never know which one will come up next.

This morning several songs brought back memories of people who have meant a lot to me.  "Abilene" reminds me of my friend, Jane Campbell.   We were teachers together at Patterson and she was my son's first grade teacher.   She was a great lady and  a great teacher and was a very good friend to me through the years.  We also had so much fun over the years.   Jane passed away several years ago and I miss her friendship.  But that song always brings back memories of her as she was born in Abilene, Texas.

"I Hope You Dance" brings back memories of my dear friend, Ellen Widmer.   This song was sung at her funeral when she died in 2003.   I have written previous blog posts about Ellen.  She was one of my best friends ever and I miss her.  There are other songs that remind me of her and the years we had together, but this one is especially poignant.  I will never forget the day that Ellen called me at Gilbert El and asked me to do the eulogy at her funeral.  I was honored and saddened at the same time, but I did it.   Was that ever hard!

"De Colores" always reminds me of my dear friend, Emilie Rodger, and her dad.    When he died several years ago, this song was played at his funeral.  I am so grateful to have Emilie in my life and as a friend.   Her family meant the world to me as they are much like my own big family.

A song came up today that I hadn't heard for sometime.  It is by Connie Francis and is named "Stupid Cupid."   That brought back some great memories of high school when I was president of the club that sponsored foreign exchange students.  We had a talent show (I think it was called a Hootenanny then).   My little "sister" Judy danced to this song.  I think she was probably around eight years old.  She was so cute doing that dance and I remember she was introduced as "Sheila's little sister."

And then there is "Mack the Knife" which brings back so many memories of my wonderful Aunt Dot!  This was her favorite song and is always played at any family get together that we have.   Dot was one of a kind!   She was always so good to me and I loved her dearly.  She has been gone since 1981 and I still miss her.   But the good thing is that I am close to her incredible children (my Park cousins) and I am so thankful for that!!!

So as I get my steps in each day, I am also able to remember different people and events in my life that have meant a lot.   

It is amazing how the senses of smell and hearing can trigger memories and emotions!!! I am thankful that they do because I have so many wonderful memories!!!

So Many Things To Be Thankful For...........

As Thanksgiving weekend has come to a close, I have been able to reflect on so many things that I am thankful for in my life.   I don't like a lot of holidays for a variety of reasons, but Thanksgiving is okay.   Years ago I didn't like it because we always had to get out the "good China" but that has changed over the last many years.

First and foremost, I am thankful for the wonderful family that I was born into--The Scott Family!!!   What an incredible family it is for many reasons.    I am thankful for my own family--my kids, Kerri and Patrick, and my incredible grandson, Cameron.  I am thankful for the lives that they lead!!  Then there is the blessing of my wonderful Aunt Teresa.   The fact that she is 93 and still around is amazing!! Her decline is considerable, especially since leaving Douglas, but it is still such a blessing to have her in our lives!!

Judy and her family are so important to me.  My cousins play such a big part in my life.  My Phoenix cousins are my "sisters" and I so love being with them again!!!  However, our extended family s also amazing!!!!!   I love my cousins and the relationships that we have!!

I am also so fortunate to have so many wonderful friends!  Actually, I am blessed.  Some day I am going to write about these wonderful friends individually!!!  They mean so much to me!!!

My 44 years as an educator were incredible!!!!!!!!  Even the so called not so great times can't even be compared to what some people deal with.  I love the relationships that I have with former students and their families.   It means the world to me.

I am also thankful for the last five years spent in Douglas--my home town.  It gave Teresa more years down there and gave me opportunities to give back.  But I am so happy to be back home in Gilbert!!!  I love being retired and look forward to what the next few years might bring!!!!!

I love my life!!!!!!!

My Own Tiger Buddy

There are many things that I am very proud of over my 44 years as a public school educator!!!  I had so many wonderful experiences and was so fortunate to have worked alongside some of the very best educators anywhere.   

When I first became the principal at Gilbert Elementary, my boss, Leona Shreve, wrote a restructuring grant that was being funded by the Arizona State Legislature.  It was a significant grant and Gilbert El was fortunate to receive one of them because of Leona.  One of the many things that she wrote into the grant that was really at no cost was a mentoring program for our at-risk students.   We named it Tiger Buddies.   What it did was pair an adult with a student who just needed some extra attention, or who had issues at home, or for whatever reason the teacher felt that the student needed an adult's attention.

Because of our proximity to the District Office, we had the honor of having many of the DO employees who had worked in schools and missed kids and wanted to participate.   It was amazing.  We always had enough adults for the number of children who needed a Tiger Buddy.   Through the years, there were many times that I was doing some kind of discipline with a child and would find out something that was going on in their lives.   After I administered the discipline, I would often call the Tiger Buddy adult and let them know that maybe their buddy needed some extra attention.  And it always happened.  

This year since I am retired and back in Gilbert, I have my own TIGER BUDDY!!   I went to the kick-off breakfast a few weeks ago and met my fifth grader.  He is darling!!!  Last week I wanted to go have lunch with him with his class for their Tuesday Talk Club lunch.  I asked his teacher, Mrs. Dawn, if it was okay if I brought pizza to the whole class and it was.  So I was able to be around the whole class and I know that my Tiger Buddy felt special that I brought lunch to everyone.  A mom came and thanked me for bringing it!! 

It was a great day and I look forward to spending more time with him as the year goes on.  I love this program and I am very proud that 20 plus years later, it is still going strong!!!