... enjoying "small world" moments

This is a story in three parts. 

The first part is known to many of you.  

The second part is known to some of you.  

The third part ... very few of you.

PART I

I have three brothers -- all older than me -- and the middle of the three is a school teacher in England. He teaches the children of military personnel at Lakenheath Air Base. Snook (not his real name, but we'll use it anyway to protect his real identity) is a math whiz and loves getting high school kids to understand his beloved math. Teaching is so natural to him.  He taught in Michigan before heading to Japan to teach at the base in Misawa and is now in England teaching at Lakenheath. There is a rumor that he may retire soon, so that has prompted me to purchase an airline ticket so I can go to England on the cheaps in April.

PART II

I have developed a fascination with cupcakes.  Really, what is better than a cake that you get to eat all by yourself. As a result, I spend hours browsing internet sites and blogs for cupcake recipes. Once a recipe sparks an interest, I'm off to the store and then I drag out Momma's old Sunbeam Mixmaster and we whip up cupcakes. Oh the yummy delights we've made together ... and the flops I've thrown in the trash (honestly, don't people try these recipes out before they post them). This pic is one where I did a mix and match with the cupcake (vanilla) and the frosting (caramel). I must admit, they are too good.  nom nom

The poor souls at work are all too willing to be my guinea pigs and, let's just say, the plate came home empty.

PART II (and 1/2)

As part of my fascination with cupcakes, I've found a little shop just off of Camp Bowie in Fort Worth that sells only cupcakes. Nothing too unusual about that. After all, there are entire television shows dealing with cupcake shops, cupcake contests, etc. While it is true that they were Fort Worth's first "cupcake only" bakery, that's not what makes them unique for me. No, what is special about this shop is that it is truly a "mom and pop" enterprise. And while I've never been there, there's a good reason for that. They open at 10:00 in the morning and leave when their morning batch of cupcakes (300-400) is gone. They post on Facebook when all cupcakes have left the building to alert people that they are closed for the day. Generally, that happens way before I could get there ... having to work at an office where they would probably get a little upset at my running out the door at 10:00 to go get a cupcake from The Cupcake Cottage. The Cupcake Cottage couple also have no qualms about closing for a few days when they have "life events" (which they describe as anything from visiting family and friends to yard work to rounding-up unsuspecting dust-bunnies at home). Their philosophy is "work to live" and not the other way around. Because of this, I have "liked" this cupcake bakery on Facebook and enjoy seeing their daily flavors which are posted every day (sometimes with mouth watering pictures).  

PART III 

(Finally, you didn't think I'd get here, did you?)

Somehow I find out that Sandra (that's the "mom" in The Cupcake Cottage duo) writes a blog. Well, I'm a blog-a-holic so of course, I had to start reading her blog (secretly hoping for a cupcake recipe or two).  While I was disappointed to find that there are no recipes there, the following discovery did delight me. I learned that she was a school teacher long ago (well, maybe not all that long ago). Nothing earth shaking here, except that her first teaching job was (... drumroll please ...) teaching students in England at (... you ready for this ...) Lakeheath Air Base. I felt a little crazy doing it, but I wrote her a little e-mail telling her of this "small world" connection. I shouldn't have been surprised when she didn't think it was too crazy and wrote me back and gave me stories of her time in England, places she liked and memories she had, things she longed to do again. With the philosophy they have for their business, I should have known that she would appreciate the connection. I love "small world" moments and thought this one was exceptional.

Now, before I go to England, I feel a great need to visit The Cupcake Cottage and meet this lady who humored my craziness.  

Remember, it is a small world.

... you never know who knows about you or about where you've been ...

SO BE NICE TO EVERYONE.

Until next time - 

Bunches!

Nona

Headed for 60 and thinking like a dog ...

Dogs are interesting ... and seem to have thought out this whole "dealing with life" thing.  They appear to  handle it quite well.  OK, maybe not all dogs, but mine do.

Please realize - I love my dog.  Actually, I have two dogs, but I really REALLY love one of them.  OK, now I feel bad.  I love them both BUT I enjoy the company of one a lot more.  You see, there is Abby, the pedigree Chihuahua that I really thought I had to have.  She is adorable ... lots of fun.  But, as her breed seems, to dictate, she is a little crazy (I lied about that, she is a lot crazy).  Plus, being a purebred, she thinks that we are all here to cater to her every whim.  If you doubt me, check out this photo.  Abby is the small dog lying on top of the larger one.

Now we all know people who have the Abby syndrome.  It's all about "me - me - me" and their concern isn't whether or not you will object to their behavior.  Their thoughts tend to be centered on whether they can get by with their behavior.  In this case, Abby does.

But then there is the other dog ... the one that I paid nothing for.  She's the Australian Shepherd mix that Abby uses for her cushion.  Girlfriend is such a great companion.  (Yes, Girlfriend is her name ... think about a dog's name before you name them.  Going down the street yelling "Girlfriend, Girlfriend" will get you strange looks.)  She and I chat (ok, I chat and she listens ... see why I like her) and I believe her spirit is one of thankfulness.  My wonderful husband, Dennis, found Girlfriend abandoned, starving and covered in fleas and mud. Along with her was one puppy (we searched and that is all we could find)  that was still nursing on her and Girlfriend literally looked like a skeleton with skin draped over it.  She was a very timid dog, but after some confidence building, she is fun, she is loving, and she seems truly grateful for her cushy life.

Heading toward 60, I plan to think more like my dogs.  After all, there are lessons to learn from each of them.  Abby could show me the advantages of looking out for myself.  Seriously, we do need to take care of ourselves and not depend on others to do that.  Example:  I am the only one who can be sure I eat right, get enough sleep, and make it to the Y on a somewhat regular basis.

From Girlfriend, I can learn the act of humility and kindness.  She really doesn't seem to mind being Abby's soft spot to sleep.  Giving a smile or a kind word to those I meet every day is thinking like Girlfriend does.  Girlfriend is thankful ... I love the brisk swishing of her tail when I come in the door from work.  From Girlfriend, I can learn to be thankful to God for a warm (or cool, after all this is Texas and the weather can change on a whim) home, a soft bed, a loving family, and the list could go on forever.

But what about this dog?

I don't know this dog ... but I think I'd like to.  Don't you think this dog has stress conquered?  It just makes me laugh.  When I saw this picture, I decided to think like a dog and never take myself too seriously, trust those around me, and accept the love that is available to me everyday.  This dog doesn't seem to have a care in the world and ... in dog years ... may be well past the age of 60.

You go dog ... you're my Rock Star!

"In order to really enjoy a dog, 

one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human.  

The point of it is to open oneself 

to the possibility of becoming partly a dog."

~Edward Hoagland

Patience Is Not My Virtue

Now mind you ... I may have some virtues.  I'm a nice person, really enjoy helping people, love my friends and really REALLY love my family.  But patience ... just ask any of those people I love and they'll tell you that patience is not my strong suit.

What ... you want proof???  Well, here we are still 11 days before my birthday and I'm posting.  Isn't this supposed to be a count down of the year leading up to my 60th birthday?  If so, then it really should NOT start until January 7th.  Let's face it.  I am a failure at waiting.  Oh friends, if you stick with me for the year, you will deserve a medal.  But I really hope you will.  I don't know where the path will take us, but I hope we will both learn and grow from the experience.  Those who have already decided to "follow" my blog, I love you especially because you have faith in me.