WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #557

Thank you Joyce.

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1. What do you think has remained the same about you your whole life? How has your perception of yourself changed over time? 

I've never had confidence in myself. Well at some point you have to let that go, especially when you are 72.

2. What was the first thing you learned how to cook? Do you prefer to cook or bake? 

Honestly I don't remember. I don't prefer to cook much anymore but I probably would choose baking. 

3. What are some of your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate. 

Family - My Health

Look at this cutie pie. He is on a beach in St. Thomas!

4. How much time do you spend on your hair each day or, put another way, what's your hair care routine? Do you get it cut regularly or just whenever the mood strikes? Do you go to the same stylist every time? Do you tell your stylist everything? Any other beauty treatments you indulge in throughout the year? 

That depends if I am leaving the house. If I am going out I would say that my hair takes about a 20 minutes to a half hour to fix. Yes, I do get regular haircuts. 

Yes I go to the same stylist. The woman I see is someone Gabby referred me to. Actually when I went for my haircut 2 weeks ago Gabby was in her chair. My regular guy moved out of town a few years ago. I tried a few other places but didn't like them at all. I guess I do tell her things. 

I get a pedicure about every six weeks or so. 

5. What is the most awe-inspiring place you've visited? 

There are several places I have been that were awe-inspiring. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier National Park, the Tetons, Custer State Park, and the Grand Canyon. However, my favorite awe-inspiring place was our trip to Europe. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We celebrated our anniversary on June 24th. This first photo is from our engagement in 1971.

Married in 1972

Me and my dad. My dad's birthday was on June 25th. He passed away in 2020 right after the pandemic started. He was a few months shy of his 97th birthday. 

For those of you that don't know this, we were divorced for 6 years when the kids were pretty young. We got remarried in Vega. 

Sorry about the long post. I know I should have done a separate post for our anniversary but I just wasn't up to it. 

FIFTY YEARS AGO TODAY

Engaged....August 1971

.......................................................................................

It really amazes me that 50 years have passed since this day in 1972. We are not celebrating 50 years because we had a six year break on our marriage back in the early 80's. 

We had a simple wedding at the Presbyterian Church I grew up in and we had a catered dinner in the basement of the church. We decided to stay within a budget that my parents gave us because we had bought a new quadminium house to live in. "quadminium ' - a cluster of four living units that are sold separately " Yes, they were popular 50 years ago. 

June 24, 1972

Happy Anniversary Mark....Love Always, Debby

We had a party outside at my parents house. People stayed until 3 am is what we were told. 

Here we are in our Quadminium....

I got my hair cut after we got home from our honeymoon at Machinac Island, MI

We got back together and remarried at the Riviera in Las Vegas. The kids were with us and my Aunt and Uncle were there too. 

June 24, 1989

Here we are with James in November 2021.

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #425

Thank you Joyce.

If you want to join in click HERE.

1. It's been said the best things in life are free...are they? What are some of those things? 

The sky, the moon, the stars and the clouds. Kisses are free too! 

2. Stars or stripes? Red, white, or blue? Apple pie or home made ice cream? Do you like hot dogs? If so, what do you like on yours? 

Stars in the sky for sure! I think I will go with blue. I'm going to say apple pie but if I ever had homemade ice cream I'm sure that would be my choice. Yes I like hot dogs. Mustard for sure. Maybe some relish and chopped onion. 

3. One thing on your summer bucket list? Any plans to make it happen soon? 

At this time I have nothing on my summer bucket list. We did plan on going to Disneyland on July 8th but we are rethinking that because of the heat and it is extremely crowded. Lines for a mile waiting to get in!

4. What's your summer anthem? Yes, you need to have one. 

First thing that came to mind would be DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince "Summertime" which I can't seem to put here for you to listen too.  

  

5. What's something you love about America? If you live outside of America, tell us something you love about the place you call home. 

I'm not sure I can answer that at this time but I proud to be an American! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

~ Happy 4th of July ~ 

Today is Adam and Gabby's Anniversary and we are going to babysit tonight. This is something we haven't done in 15 months! (They have two anniversary's. The day they legally got married in California which is today and then the day family celebrated their ceremony in Cancun which is in November)

AN ANNIVERSARY AND A BIRTHDAY

Yesterday Mark and I celebrated our anniversary. We do not keep count since we were divorced, separated and remarried. The consistent thing is that it is June 24th! Sorry I couldn't resist this joke.....

I love him with all my heart....

On a totally different subject today my dad would have turned 98. Sometimes I still can't believe that he is gone. He had passed on April 2, 2020 shortly after the pandemic started. As you know I still don't have the closure I needed because we couldn't travel to Florida. 

This is the last time I saw my dad in person which was in June of 2019 when I spent a few weeks visiting with him. 

My sister and brother in law just moved into his place last week Thursday. They ended up buying it because they wanted to downsize. However moving from a lovely 4 bedroom home into a 1,000 sq ft home is something that seems impossible to me. They had all the rooms redone, new kitchen, appliances, flooring and bathrooms too. I can't wait to see it someday. 

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #374

* SORRY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS *

Google changed me today and I don't do change!

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1. This time last year where were you?

I was in Florida with my dad. Celebrated Father's Day with him and his birthday. I was there for 18 days. It's the first time in six years that I'm home to celebrate our anniversary. We are heading to Carlsbad, CA to see the ocean tomorrow. We will get take out from our favorite place in town. 

2. In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink?

Other than some pink salmon I can't come up with anything. No it was not on the menu yesterday. I don't mind wearing pink but I don't have much of it. You would find some pink in the dining room. I would have to say a blush pink would be my favorite shade of pink. 

3. Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn...which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain.

I'm trying very hard to "stop and smell the roses" but I'm feeling more like "not all moonlight and roses" these days. I'm getting more and more frustrated as time goes on. I can't stand what is happening in our world right now. I see no point to all of the destruction. It is literally breaking my heart. 

4. Are you a 'reader'? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two.

No but I want to be. I always read on our vacations up north to Mammoth Lakes each summer. We did that for 18 years. 

With blogging, Facebook and TV I can't seem to work it into my day but I desperately want to. I've been wanting to for years and but what I should be doing is cleaning out closets for a future move so I talk myself out of it. 

Right now is a good time for me to push forward and read because I'm just a mess going on Facebook with all the shit that's going on and all the political stuff too! 

I actually have about 500 books in my Kindle app. Got most of them free and some for 99 cents. I really need to push myself. 

5. Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend.

James was the rose of our weekend. 

We celebrated Father's Day on Saturday evening.

                            Deep in thought....

                   He had food in his mouth!

6. Insert your own random here. 

                           Engagement photo August '71

                           June 24, 1972

Since some of you don't know this. We were divorced

and separated for six years. Remarried June 24, 1989.

Tomorrow my dad would have turned 97! 

Happy Birthday Dad, love you and miss you. xoxo

FATHER'S DAY

Normally I would have flown to Florida this week. I've spent the last six years with my dad for Father's Day and his birthday which is on the 25th. He would be turning 97. (Mark and I have an anniversary on the 24th) I still can't believe he is gone. It was hard not being able to say goodbye. 

However, if he were here I couldn't be there with him today. So all I can do is remember the past and the awesome man that he was. To think that he lived alone up until earlier this year. He lost my mom 38 years ago and he just stopped driving 3 years ago. He was also very self efficient except for appointments that my sister took him to along with some other things. (Thank you Darcy and Bob)

But what I do know is that he would not have survived this. He had fallen a few times and was in rehab. Then his time was up and he couldn't go back home. So basically a week before he died he was moved to an assisted living facility. (He was tested for Covid-19 and didn't have it.) Now keep in mind my family in Florida could no longer visit. 

He was thrilled to be out of rehab. I talked with my dad daily, have been doing that for years and years. I'd say this was about 5 days before he passed away. He was so excited! "I've got my walker and I'm going out to the garden." I was so happy for him. 

Turns out he never made it to the garden. They were not allowed. They couldn't even go into the hallway. It crushed his spirit. He gave up. I think he would be alive today if it weren't for the shut down. He was a go getter. 

I miss you everyday....

 My Dad walking me down the isle 1972.....

Adam, James and Mark last year on Father's Day.

I was in Florida. Love them to pieces!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Mark and I are celebrating an anniversary today. Of course I'm in Florida with my dad since his birthday is tomorrow. It's been several years now since we have actually been together for an anniversary. 

I love you Mark with all my heart.....Love always, Debby

June-24-1972

Those of you who are new here may not know that Mark and I were separated and divorced for six years back in the early 80's. We remarried again back in 1989 in Las Vegas. 

Flowers from Mark....

I sent Mark brisket and rye bread from Katz's Deli in New York.  I also left him a card and his favorite dark chocolate caramels from See's candy before I left.