Tag: life

Posted in Whimsical Wednesday

High School Reunion

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

When Luann visited the other day, she asked if I was going to the upcoming reunion.

There’s a Reunion? When? Why wasn’t I invited? I have to giggle at that, because I have no desire to go to a class reunion, but not being given the opportunity to spurn an invite felt insulting.

She explained that she was in a FB group and it dawned on me pretty quickly that I, too, belong to that group. I don’t use fb much at all, just to post this blog and say happy birthday. I do occasionally check up on relatives that I haven’t seen, but I don’t hit the “like” button enough to have much more than a lot of ads on my timeline.

Anyway, apparently the get-together has been in the works since June or so? I had to wade through some obituaries to find the announcement, and just in time! Today is the last day to respond and send my $40 for “heavy hors d’oeuvres” and cash bar at a nearby golf club on 10/10.

My high school years were brutal. My parents had moved me back from California and separated in the middle of freshman year. Mom was abusive and Dad was negligent. As a result, I was a really messed-up kid. My core group of friends from that time (including Luann) were all from grade school and I’m not exaggerating when I say I made no lasting friendships in high school. Several years back, I met up with a couple of acquaintances from those days, and it became clear we had markedly different memories which didn’t include each other.

On the other hand, the folks who plan these things stayed in touch with each other over the years. Many, if not most, still live here in Eville and get together on a regular basis. That is so cool,but I don’t actually know them, and doubt we have much in common. I did attend the 20-year event, even helped on the planning committee, and that was enough for me. Back then, we still had to mail letters and use landlines, and it was cool to see where people ended up; nowadays, a quick search of facebook will serve up photos of nearly everyone.

I’m an introvert whose persona is friendly, even perky, and I can speak in front of groups, run meetings and such, but I’m feeling panic right now thinking about going to this convention of strangers interspersed with a couple of people that I knew once, maybe. I haven’t been missed in 35 years now, so I’ll wager you’ll be fine without me.

Still, there are some folks from those high school days whose company I would enjoy (I think) one-on-one. Are you in town for the party? Send me a message and let’s go to lunch! Do you live here in the tri-state? Send me a message and let’s go to lunch!

I’m looking forward to the pictures of the HHS Class of 1971 55-year Reunion, and you can bet I’ll be zooming in, so use the filters. Y’all are so lucky to have life-long friends. Have a great time!

Peace

Posted in Special Edition

Everything’s going to be okay…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

As I tumbled out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen, I felt the grief hit me again. I was gutted all day yesterday, crying and listening to her songs, crying and reading the copious tributes to her Life, crying for all of us who know there never was and never will be another Dolly Parton Dean.

I was about 14 when Dolly started showing up on my TV, singing with Porter Wagoner, a show I often saw, but seldom watched. She was a fascinating figure with that hair and those boobs, and she became part of our culture. After 9-5 and Steel Magnolias, we realized she was way smarter than anybody in the business, but way more humble than any other human on the planet.

The outpouring of Respect from across the Universe speaks for itself as we mourn her passing. Many have written eulogies better than I can, but as I head out to the dentist I want to share this think…

Dolly’s songs were her babies, and it’s estimated that she gave birth to nearly 3,000 of them. I can’t pick favorites, but this is among my top 5; someone, somewhere, everywhere, needs to hear it today.

Dolly talked about how it was written, just after her bitter parting with Wagoner (who sued her for 3million – she always said he got the first million dollars she made)…

As I left his office and began to drive toward my home out in Brentwood, it began to rain.

So did I. I cried. Not so much out of a sense of loss, but from the pain that almost always comes with change. It has a sad kind of freedom.

Then, I began to sing a song to myself: ‘it’s been a long dark night and I’ve been a-waiting for the morning. It’s been a long hard fight, but I see a brand new day dawning. I’ve been looking for the sunshine; you know I ain’t seen it in so long. But everything’s gonna work out just fine. And everything’s gonna be all right that’s been all wrong. I can see the light of a clear blue morning.’

And, I swear to you on my life as I said that the sky cleared up, it stopped raining, the sun came out. And before I got home, I had completely written the song called ‘Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”

Released in 1977, it’s typical of Dolly’s uncanny ability to make us all feel better.

“Cause I am strong and I can prove it
And I got my dreams to see me through
It’s just a mountain, I can move it
And with faith enough, there’s nothin’ I can’t do“

Everything’s gonna be all right, it’s gonna be okay…

Crying again…Sending Love to y’all…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Hope y’all have had a Peaceful, Loving Mothers’ Day

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I hope you have enjoyed your day as much as I have! The Edible Garden is nearly all planted! We have planted 6 cucumber plants, 8 cantaloupe, 4 butternut squash, 6 zucchini, 6 yellow squash, 2 pineapple sage, 2 bee balm, 6 basil, 1 lemon verbena, 2 chive, 6 tomatoes, and 3 blanket flower. I’m waiting a bit longer to put in my bell peppers, and I have yet to buy my green beans. I have marigolds and nasturtium ready to be tucked in here and there.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Mothers’ Day than in the garden, mothering the earth. Both of the progeny called to chat. Melissa sent me a 50mm lens for my Nikon and I’m going to start a new photography project soon. I’m dirty and tired and the day has been gorgeous.

Here’s a bit of mushy Mothers’ Day message from 2020…

Posted on  •Edit”Wishing you All a Peaceful, Loving Mothers’ Day”

I read an article the other day:  10 Unforgettable Literary Moms.  I came away with one quote that resonated my heart.

It’s a quote from Toni Morrisson’s deeply haunting book “Beloved”.  I confess, I didn’t get very far into the book before I set it down.  It was a glimpse into a world that is so disturbing and painful that it caused me pain, too.  I’ve always said I’ll get back to it when the Time is right because there is something to learn about suffering from it.  At any rate, here’s the quote from Sethe, whose tragic past has complicated her relationship with her daughter, 18-year-old Denver.  Despite all of Sethe’s problems, she is a Mother.

Grown don’t mean a thing to a mother.  A child is a child.  They get bigger, older, but grown?  What’s that supposed to mean?  In my heart, it don’t mean a thing.

She’s not talking about “raising” a child here.  She’s talking about the ineffeable feeling of Being a Mother.  There are no words, though I’ve just spent an hour trying to write some.  It is Mystical Spiritual Love that is instinctively protective and nurturing.  It doesn’t change  just because your children reach a certain age.

It’s not about the Love you receive from your children.  It’s not about what a Good Mother you are or aren’t.  It’s about that Spirit that enters you when you give birth, committing you to a Lifetime of Support to your creation.

I know that some mothers don’t feel it and I’m sad for them and their children.  Most of us, though, have been Blessed by that Love.  Now that my kids are parents, they, too, know that Ever-Present Love and Caring for their kids.

It doesn’t change, no matter how much anger or sadness has found its way into your lives.  It is Forever and Always.

It isn’t easy, this mothering thing.  We try our best to keep sight of that inexpressible Love when times are trying, but ain’t nobody perfect.  The Perfect Mother is one who has done her Best…and that’s all of us…and that’s Good Enough.

They are still my children, my babies.  In my heart, they never are Grown, but I sure do respect them as Adults. They are Good People.  I love being their Mom and am so grateful.  (I really like those grandkids, too, but that’s yet another Indescribable Love!)

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Weekly Wrap-up

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

There’s nothing like a trip to Rural King to get you in the Spring planting mood. Monday morning I bought an excessive amount of seeds for both early starts and my countertop garden, and grabbed up a houseplant.

Casey got his pressure washer delivered and my back porch has been transformed.

Check out my new raised beds. He’s tilling them today and we’ll get a load of soil next week.

I spent a lot of last week following up on what I’d spent the week before thinking/stewing about. In the last decade, we’ve all seen families torn apart by politics/religion, and one of them was my birth family. You know, if you’ve been paying attention, that after the last election I turned it off, changed my habit of living in the internet world of “news”, but one can hardly avoid the fact that he’s started a war. I don’t know if that’s why, or is it something else, but many americans are beginning to see him in a different light.

So it was that a couple of the estranged-ers reached out to me (after 10 years!), a little embarrassed and even ashamed, kind of like they woke up… I have grieved losing these dearly-loved people, and once I was sure that they were sincere, my family and I opened our circle. We stepped back and made room for more Love. We are Family and we’ll do whatever it takes to hold each other up, to help us get through.

I hope we’ve reached a tipping point somehow and more and more of us come together to repair what has been so tragically broken in our country and in our hearts.

Looking ahead…

We’re expecting a hard freeze Monday and Tuesday, so we’re preparing some covers for our roses. We’ve lost the first buds for the last two years! But my lovely forsythia have got their blooming done…

I don’t care if the Irish like it or not, I’m having corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes on St. Paddy’s Day. This year, I’m adding a new dessert: Lucky Charms Treat Bars, which should be magically delicious.

Then there’s Ostara, the Vernal Equinox, the #1 day of Spring. That involves quiche, green salads, baked bread.

Hope Springs Eternal…I hope…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

Cake Pops…& birthdays

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Samantha came by yesterday to help me make cake pops. They turned out tasty, but not too pretty, and we had a lot of fun. My baby grandie will turn 11 next week! I’ll be out of town, so this was our Party…

Nova won 1st Place at her Speech Competition last week! Go, Nova!

My New Yorkers are in Ireland, competing in the All Ireland competition, so I’m sending Radiant Beams of Supportive Vibrations to them as they dance.

There’s a convergence of Holy Days this week – Tuesday is Mardi Gras, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan starts at sunset. Oh, I guess Ash Wednesday is the real Holy Day, and Ramadan goes on for a month, but New Year and Mardi Gras are serious Party Days. Bring on the Jambalaya and Hurricanes…and Spring Rolls.

On Thursday I’m meeting up with Dee to see the USI play, “Almost, Maine”. It looks like another good one.

On Friday morning, we’re setting out for Disney World, where I’ll be spending my Birthday #73 week. Arriving on the 22nd, we’ve got Lightning Lanes for TRON that evening, our first time to ride it with the lights on. It’s a great ride, a little short, but the lights should enhance the experience.

To celebrate my actual birthdate, 2/23, we’re spending our day at Epcot, browsing the Arts Festival activities, and riding the Best Ride Ever-Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. That evening I’d like to get over to Raglan Road so I can have some tribute songs and dances.

The next morning we’ll rope-drop Hollywood Studios and snag Slinky Dog, another of my favorites, and one that I missed riding last trip. We’ll be sure to visit the Tune-in Lounge and The Brown Derby Lounge later in the day, and to check the queue lines for Rise of the Resistance.

Our final day will be at Animal Kingdom, saying hello to the animals at the Safari, and riding Avatar: Flight of Passage. There’s a new “ride” there – Zootopia: Zoogether – under the Tree of Life, where A Bug’s Life used to show; we’ll be on hand for that. In the past, we’ve been able to snag a table at the Nomad Lounge overlooking the river to watch the character boats float by, waving and smiling, and we’ll try to do that again.

A couple of the days are predicted to barely reach 70, but that sounds Great! It’s been a while since I needed a jacket there, and I’m looking forward to it. All sun, no rain – who could ask for more?

I get a little carried away when I’m planning, but I’m flexible when there are unexpected diversions. We always have fun just being together, and if you know me at all, you know that I love celebrating my birthday. It comes at a time of year that needs light and laughter, and I always take advantage of it. I’ll take you along next week and we’ll celebrate together!

Peace