Jazz On A Sunday Afternoon

Enjoyed a Sunday afternoon with family as we celebrated each other, dined on brunch at its best, and listened to a live band play jazz.  The restaurant was booming with happy patrons as the walls and ceilings were filled with fun and excitement.  Where:  Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint; located in Downtown Atlanta at 200 Peachtree Street.  The Juke Joint is all about music, food, drink, and old fashion socializing and appreciating life in the slower and sweeter lane.  While in the midst of family and friends, you find yourself thinking and reveling at how “life is good.”  Historically, African Americans brought this type of gathering to the Old South and created “juke houses” – places for merriment and relaxation.  Suggest you check it out.  You’ll be glad you did!

The Love of Family

Back-to-back weekends in North Carolina were fun and fun filled.  They both were centered on family togetherness; in Fayetteville family and friends gathered to celebrate a couple who “tied the knot” while family and friends gathered in Charlotte to celebrate a loved one turning 50.  Just slightly over 130 driving miles between Fayetteville and the Queen City, the similarities we experienced were joyful.  Both weekends were packed with happiness and delightfulness.  Regardless of how busy your schedules might be or the responsibilities most generally hold, it is always gratifying when our schedules and responsibilities include hanging out with loved ones…just because.

The Power of the Family

Sitting here reminiscing about two very special family reunions that my family and I attended.  We are still deliriously happy and joyous from our “love fest” with those we care so much about.  One was held during a weekend in June and another during a weekend in August.  As I remember the love and the bonding, it becomes abundantly clear that not much can match those moments in time we shared with family.  Whether it has been multiple years or just a few since you connected with family members, it is still all too precious when you meet for some face time – chatting, hugging, smiling, giggling, hugging some more, and all the other fun things family do when they get together.  If you have never experienced a family reunion, now is the time to initiate one.  If you do, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.  I oftentimes am told from friends how they attempted to coordinate a reunion but either fell short or failed to keep it going.  My advice:  try and try again.  It is well worth it.  The planning and all that goes into hosting a reunion is so worth the effort.  It is done with love and care.  One was a small gathering with slightly over 20 and another totaling over 180.  Nonetheless, small or large, they were ultra special and so very precious.  We left the reunions with one thing on our minds – marking our calendars for next year; putting everything aside for those particular weekends because none of us can think of anything else we’d rather be doing than “hanging out” with our family.  It’s all about love.  Try it on for size; it will fit every time!

Joy In The Morning

Just finished taking down the Christmas decorations.  I will soon be putting the music DVDs back into their envelopes. Later, I’ll replace the table trimmings of poinsettias and holiday place settings with the custom silk arrangement. The house is quiet and I am spending the morning reflecting on the surprises, madness, and loveliness. This is when I pause to read each and every holiday greeting card again.  I will take another look at all the gifts that I received from family and friends; appreciating their love during this time of giving and caring.  I am truly grateful that others included me in their thoughts (and even their shopping list) during this holiday season.  These generous deeds spell l-o-v-e.  It is so joyous and festive; filled with happiness, laughter in the air, parties to attend, lots of shopping, and so many acts of kindness.  Church bells ring often, people worship and rejoice in the birth of Christ, and all is well in the land.  Furthermore, it seems that our celebrations are so numerous and frenzied that we hardly have time to catch our breath before it’s time to sing “Auld Lang Syne.”  How wonderful the new year will be if we hold fast to our feelings of benevolence and goodwill towards others.   

 

 

A Need to Belong

We have a basic instinct to belong.  The late William Glasser, an American psychiatrist, once said, “We are driven by five genetic needs:  survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun.”  When we have a sense of belonging, we are at peace with all that matters.  Whether we belong to a family unit, a sorority, a fraternity, a church congregation, a circle of friends, a workforce…our lives are impacted in a positive way.  These units give us strength; they help to address a fundamental need to give and receive love, to feel appreciated and accepted – the basic fibers of our essence.  So, if/when we are faced with a diatribe, we can rely on our support systems to provide a coping mechanism.

During this holy season, the best of who we are is manifested in our deeds.  For example, this morning my family and I attended an orientation session at a church we recently joined.  When we moved to the area and started worshipping with the congregation, we knew almost immediately that we wanted to be a part of this body of believers.  We wanted to belong.  Being new to the community and wanting to worship closer to home, we saw uniting with this church family as a way forward for us.  Sometimes we are faced with having to make decisions that could change the way we live; perhaps a need to placate our souls to a higher calling.

For our family, every day is a celebration.  Today we celebrated our connection to a new church family.  Tomorrow we celebrate my husband’s birthday.  Next week we’ll celebrate with our son…whatever he puts on the family agenda.  Later, we’ll simply celebrate life and all the things that are important to us – especially at Christmas.  We want to always keep that feeling of belonging.

It’s All About The Team

Having played a game recently with family and friends called Scattergories, I was reminded of the power of a team.  I thought about a corporate retreat that I attended at Glen-Ella Springs Inn, located in the North Georgia Mountains in a small town called Clarkesville, where the focus was on team-building.  It was quite an experience – motivating and invigorating.  While the outdoor wall climbing exercise was fun, primarily it taught a valuable lesson; the strength of the team is each individual member.  Our group left with a renewed sense of what it means to work together for a common vision.

The importance of team work is quite evident when a football team, for example, loses key players to injury.  While the game losses could perhaps be compounded, replacement players are still relevant to playing the game – win or lose.  The roles of player substitutes are escalated – all playing together for the greater good of the game.

When my husband and I moved to a larger residence, there were more household duties.  In our other home, much smaller in size, the chores could be completed in one day and by one person.  It now takes our coordinated team effort and two or more days to complete chores.  Another example is when a family’s matriarch needed a new house, the siblings pooled their resources and purchased a new one for their mother.

These are just a few examples of why, as Helen Keller quotes, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”  Teams are made up of many factions:  husband and wife, families, sororities, fraternities, siblings, etc.  Our teams help determine our strengths and successes in life.  If your team is strong, you can soar!  How strong is your team?

When the Food is Put Away

Only a day after my family and I participated in a tradition where we stood around the dinner table just before the food was served and each member expressed what they were most thankful for, (there were a myriad of expressions but collectively they all spelled thankfulness) my husband and I are riding down the highway chatting about the lovely holiday we had experienced.

In the midst of our chatting, my mind lingered to earlier times when my mom and grandma were in our midst.  They were the center of our celebrations.  They were most responsible for the coming together of our family.  Now there is a void that can never be filled.  Their empty chairs weigh heavily on our hearts but somehow we find strength to persevere.

The day after the Thanksgiving Holiday, my husband and I spent time with other family members at Chestnut Bay Resort, located in Northeast Alabama.  Our drive from Atlanta was less than two hours and well worth it.  It was very relaxing as we walked along Weiss Lake, the central point of the resort, relishing in the beauty of the flocks of seagulls and the site of the white pelicans floating around on the water.  The property was amazing, peaceful, and beautiful.  We had fun, laughter and more food.

As we pulled into the driveway, ending our getaway to Chestnut Bay, our chatting gave way to silence as we both, almost simultaneously, thought how perfect the last two days had been – enjoying family and friends.  Now the food has been put away; it is a perfect time to say once again, thank you God!

HAPPYLAND

Remember the terrible news coverage about upsetting and distressing cruises?  The information gave us reason to pause.  Even the cruise aficionados were cautiously concerned.  Afterall, the news was heartbreaking; putting one of our favorite pastimes in an unfavorable way.

I recently returned from a cruise, and happily enjoyed a few amazing days on the water.  While I could not help but remember with concern and sensitivity the tragic stories of those who were so greatly challenged on some of the so called, “cruises from hell,” I was thankful that my husband and I had a very enjoyable vacation.  There will be some who will give the cruise industry a second chance; there will also be those who have thrown up their hands in disgust that they’ve had enough – understandably so.  Those of us who enjoy cruising want to believe that steps have been taken to eradicate those things that create reasonable concern.  Afterall, we love the way our cruise destinations provide incredible escapes – both in the physical and the spiritual.

If you enjoy the cruise experience, you’re probably considering your next vacation.  If you have not had the opportunity, you could do yourself a favor by “trying it on for size.”  Most likely, you’ll wear it well.  On my recent cruise, I noticed several individuals booking their next cruise while onboard.  Afterall, you’re captivated!  Cruising has a very high satisfaction rate for families, couples, groups and the like.  The value is in the package:  visiting multiple locations, the entertainment onboard, siteseeing opportunities, relaxation and rejuvenation, friendly atmosphere, delicious food, and so much more – all in one convenient location.

Stay tuned for future posts about this remarkable journey.  It’s the stuff that “happyland” is made of.  It’s the smiling face, the satisfied spirit, and the incredibly healthy mind – free of worry and concern – if only for a short time until your next voyage – your next cruise to happyland!

TO WORDPRESS BLOGGERS: TRAVEL TIME: YOUR FAVORITE TRIP

Note to WordPress.com bloggers:  Please indicate below in the comments section your advice on where I should take my next vacation.  I am in the process of planning it for next May and would like to hear from you.  Please also take the time to tell me about your favorite trip.  Your comments will be published collectively in an upcoming post.  Could serve as inspiration and information to all.  Look forward  to hearing from fellow bloggers.

Two Lives! Two Deaths!

As I was reading a quote by George Eliot’s character, Adam Bede, “Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them,” I became determined to tell you about two adorable people who lived…

The couple dated in high school and eventually married.  They were very much in love and it appeared that they would navigate through life together until at death when they would depart.  However, life happened!  Its challenges, its stresses, its disappointments.  So, eventually they went their separate ways:  He set off for service to his Country and she went back home to her parents.  Through the years they lived good lives – separately.  However, they always remained friends and would keep in touch.  Afterall, they were from the same hometown and were bound to run into each other from time to time.  Due to comments they made about each other, it seemed to some that they secretly wondered, “what if?”  What if we stayed married?  What if we experienced life’s challenges and disappointments together?  What if?

Life is all about making choices.  It’s about making decisions that often affect us for a lifetime.  So it was for this couple.  In later years, even as they both battled physical ailments, they managed to talk to each other from time to time; keeping each other uplifted and often reminiscing about their life together.  Unfortunately, good things sometimes end – especially this love story that never had enough time to blossom efficaciously.

So, on March 27, 2012, she passed away.  Four days later, on March 31, 2012, he passed away.   Only four days apart – a driving distance of 962 miles, 1,259 kilometers, or 679 nautical miles apart, these two wonderful, loving, and caring individuals – my parents – transitioned from this life.  The pain of losing them is still very intense and my love for them is for a lifetime.  So, to quote George Eliot’s character, Adam Bede, “Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them,” my parents will live forever because I will never forget them!