My Little Blue Book

The little black book. That iconic symbol of little secrets and juicy personal histories. What wondrous revelations and private details one could discover scribbled on the pages between the covers, if one had the opportunity...or motive.

I don't own a little black book. I, on the other hand, have a little blue book (ever the individualist). I started mine over 10 years ago. Is it filled with names and dates and gossip tidbits to make your brain spin out of control from the shock of it all?????

Oh, that I wish it would. But, no. Mine is filled with the lists of my life. I can't carry my computer with me ( Sorry, I don't own an iPhone or a Blackberry. Well...actually I'm not sorry at all. I'm perfectly happy with my little 'ole plain cell.) But I have a very portable collection of plethora (don't you just LOVE that word) which serves me as well as any memory stick.

Let's see. Oh! There's the listing of new items we have purchased from cars to appliances to furniture. And what to pack when traveling depending on the mode of transportation. Destinations I want to visit. Can't forget the charities I'm going to donate some of my as-yet-to-be-made fortune (or lottery winnings) to when the time comes. Restaurants I want to dine in sometime. Friends I want to have lunch with--and I am actually making inroads with that goal!! You should see the eight pages of books I want to read. There's a list of movies to watch as well.

I believe it is the Marines that have a dictate something like "Live by the code". Interpret that for my life and it becomes "Live by the list". Maybe some day my little blue book will grow up to morph to that black connotation.

Nah. Probably not. Which means my existence won't be fraught with gossip rag junk and stuff that gets leaked and lies and ugliness. Hey! How cool is that!!?!

My Favorites in Honor of Oprah

Every year Oprah has one show dedicated to her "favorites". This year's episode is to be broadcast today. That inspired me to compile my own TOP TEN list that I would be televising if I were indeed her. So here we go!

Julie's Top Ten Favorites List for 2008

Enough hot water for six extra long relaxing showers
$100 Gift certificate to a book store of your choice.
One pound handmade Triple Mints from Wittich's Fine Candies
(a family owned confectionery in Circleville, OH, since 1840)
Two Graeters White Tower Sundaes-that's all I can handle in a year!
One dozen Great Harvest Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip cookies
One weekend for two at the Greenbriar Resort
One weekend for yourself on Sanibel Island, Florida
One box (200 pieces) of beautifully monogrammed stationery
Three paid vacation days -- what you do is your choice!
A spa weekend for you & 5 friends at Landoll Castle, Loudonville,OH

"Tune in" here next year for ten more of life's little pleasures. Now pretend you're Oprah --what would you choose? Mmmmm. Think about it...

Giving Thanks

I'm sure all of you have some type of Thanksgiving tradition where you and your family share what you are most thankful for during the past year or in your daily lives. Reflecting on those blessings is rewarding because you remind yourself consciously and audibly of someone or something that has touched your life and made a difference.

Here is my list for 2008:

1. Having the ability to forgive
2. Being able to walk anytime day or night in my neighborhood
without the sound of gunfire
3. Older ladies who have been incredible mentors to me --I
have had that rare gift since I was four years old
4. The ability to read
5. Having an older sister who is wise beyond her years
6. Watching the process of my son growing into himself
7. Still reaping the benefits of a college education
8. That I live in a state where destructive weather is rare

I wish for you a holiday that allows you to recognize the blessings in your heart and the privilege to send a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord above for what you hold dear. He listens no matter how simple the praise. He hears the pure sincerity in your voice.

I WON THE LOTTERY!!!!! WOO-WOO!!!!!!!!!

This is the one single statement my husband was absolutely eye-squinting-face-puckered-up dreading ever having me shrilly scream into his ear. You see each of us used to buy a $1.00 ticket for the big Wednesday night state lottery drawing. We would watch the short television spot as the ping pong balls were air blown around the lucite cage and wait holding our breath hoping this was our lucky week. Our chance to grab the brass ring. The lure of a 25 Million dollar prize by spending such a little amount was worth our individual investments. We did it for a couple of months but then we just kind of stopped.

My husband was relieved when I didn't win with my ticket because he said I would probably have wanted to give most of it away. We both laughed when he confessed his concern because we both knew he was absolutely right!! I would love to be in the position to have enough money to share. How fantastic would that be to make living conditions better, medical treatments affordable, help those less fortunate, provide college scholarships, erase retirement worries, grant holiday wishes?

Guess that's why the current spotlight on the very small percentage of disgustingly paid executives or outrageously contracted sports figures make me so very angry. No one "needs" all the millions they are grabbing. We all only have to have just so much to live comfortably. If someone has a skill or intelligence and is given more for it I believe we all appreciate and accept that pay scale. But Heavens Sakes -- fleecing a company by pure greed while so many could use just a tiny portion to simply survive another day is not only something just this side of evil....it is just plain sad.

Knowing that all across this country there are thousands of families and working folks and children and community groups who with all sincerity work tirelessly to extend monetary and emotion support to their neighbors is heart-warming and a tribute to the innate goodness that does exist. That's why I hope someday I do win.

Why? Because one of my biggest dreams is to be a real life fairy godmother. Wouldn't that be life changing? And liberating? And refreshing? And just way too much fun! To put more smiles on peoples' faces when relief comes their way, to hear big relieved sighs when cares are erased, to share happy tears with those who will be given new opportunities and fresh beginnings. Whoops!!? There goes that crazy "make dreams come true" wand again!! I cannot wait for that to happen. Watch out, World, when it does!!!

Collecting Friends

I sent an email to a friend this week and told her how blessed I was to have her in my life. I met her about a year and a half ago at an industry gathering. Oh, my! She just "sparkled". Funny, talented, polished, fresh, well traveled, well read. Found later that she is an author, an actress (yes, you just might recognize her), columnist. She is very special.

I have a couple that are very dear to me. Met them when I was working in tandem with their interior decorator. We hit it off like three peas in a pod. We email, meet for lunch, share birthdays together. Two more friends. How lucky am I?!

A customer of mine has become a very special mentor and friend. Her mind is like a steel trap. Her memory is unparalleled. We share the same interests and tastes. I look forward to every visit. Totally unexpected. Another addition to the collection.

I could go on and on and on.......

With every person who crosses your path, be ever watchful for those you want to keep for your very personal, extra-special collection of friends. There is no greater treasure than those we surround ourselves with...and with no monetary payment what so ever. No museum to build, no curio cabinet to fill. Totally intangible, immensely more valuable. In fact: Priceless.

Grown Out of My Little Girl Voice

For years, we are talking into my forties, solicitors would ask "Is your mother there?" when I answered the phone. I took great delight in telling them that no, she was not and promptly hung up the phone. I just had one of those voices that sounded younger than my age....especially over the phone.

I have realized that number one: I don't get that response much these days and, number two: I want to be recognized as being a woman who has come to be her own person in spirit and resolve as well.

I am not a child anymore but find that for the generation above me, that concept doesn't hold much merit. I am still considered by many to be a "girl" who, though valued for her loyalty and faith and work ethic, still is sort of swept aside when it comes to being accepted as an adult.

I know I have shocked some of those same folks when I state my opinion. You can see it their slightly confused expression. It's as if there is one of those digital moving message signs plastered on their foreheads and their unspoken thoughts read like this: "whatever happened to the little gal we knew * this can't possibly be her* who did this to her * where did she get these ideas * who gave her permission to talk like this to us * we don't accept she has changed * this is not how she was raised ".

You get the picture. And I'm sure you have experienced something very similar once or twice or three times in your life. The frustration grows from your desperate need to be taken seriously. To be accepted for being an individual with your very own brain and your very own life path that although it can run parallel with some, weave in and out of others or cross a course of another's only once has it's own vitality and spunk and sweetness and laughter and perspective on life.

OK, so that was a very long run-on sentence that my eighth grade English teacher Mrs. Irma Leatherberry would have greatly frowned upon. I purposefully chose that form of construction to encompass an enormous amount of passionate personal emotion crunched in between the beginning capital letter to the concluding choice of punctuation.

As you have probably gathered I have experienced these bumps a few times lately so I am sporting sort of a seeping, open tender wound where this subject is concerned. It has been another life lesson that will be posted on my "Never Do This To Your Own Child List" that I brush off and update from time to time.

I leave you with this challenge: accept and receive those folks who cross your path with a respectful and open mind today....you just may be startled by what you let yourself discover.

I'll Bet You A Quarter That....

I'm going to share a personal secret with you: If I ever say that to you DO NOT take the bet. I will win. No doubt. No margin for error. It is carved in stone. As you know, the bragging rights and the pride of besting someone are so much more important than the bet itself so the quarter is a minor detail. But I don't lose my quarters no matter how insignificant they may seem to you.

I was ironing this weekend providing the perfect opportunity to let my mind wander. I began to review my life over the last five years. What was so startlingly evident was the about-face changes I had made....180's where,without question, I would have lost my quarters. Here are a few.

I would have called you *!*CRAZY*# if you would have bet me that I would attend the contemporary church service instead of the traditional. I have always loved the comfort of being led to-about-the-same-pew every Sunday morning by an usher you knew, following the predictable pattern of the service, listening to the sermon from the lectern, having the choirs share music, the congregation singing the wonderful old hymns. More often now I sit in a folding chair, listen to a band, read the words off a screen for the songs we sing. I have found for me it's good to shake the old cobwebs out of our spiritual life. (Psst! I will admit I do have to slip back into the sanctuary every once in a while to get my hymn-fix. Love those beautiful melodies.)

Me?? Exercise??? Let along join a gym!?? Now think. Remember me in gym class? I was the one who did not want to be there. Had no interest in jumping over the gymnastics horse or trying to stand on my head or getting sweaty and having (yes, it was enforced) to take that stupid shower before going to the next period. My hand put out to accept your quarter was a sure thing. Yet here I am three times a week (at least) riding the bike, doing the treadmill, going through my routine on the machines. And absolutely loving it. Very scary.

How many times I have scoffed at the colors of brown and green used for interior decoration. Couldn't even stand the thought. I grew up in the 60's and "Early American" was popular. Eagles, browns, oranges, greens and heavily napped carpeting. UGH. But forty years later I have discovered a rich, elegant tone of Taupe that is makes-my-teeth-hurt incredibly gorgeous to me and Sage Greens-quiet, calming shades that have poked a hole in that "Eck!! Green!" bubble I had erected.

Drink diet pop? I'd rather cut off my arm first. The after-taste was enough to make me forget my thirst. Now? Give me that Diet Dr.Pepper. I am not kidding you. Pure and simple: I am addicted.

Make my living in sales?? You are insane??!? Talk about make-my-skin-crawl-go-hide-in-my-closet-no-I-will-not-you-can't-make-me absolute abhorance. I hated selling Girl Scout cookies. Dreaded the community canvas Donut Sale for my high school band. Knocked on doors in my neighborhood selling annual subscriptions to our local paper. Every time I drug my feet to the houses on my street and posed the perverbial question in my own special way: "You don't want to buy (cookies, subscription or donuts), do you? Everyone always answered "Why yes!I've been expecting you!" in a most joyous manner. (gag) And here I am collecting a paycheck, looking forward to each day, interacting with my customers and the goals I set for myself.

Think about your own life changes. There have been a few, haven't there? Some shockers even. Ones you never thought would happen. Probably will be some more before your life is over. (Hmmm) I just betcha.....