I don't have a bucket list.  As the people closest to me know I want to see everyplace and meet everyone so that wouldn't be likely. They point out that for every dream or hope to see or do that I accomplish I add several.  If I had a list it would be perpetual and spontaneously changing.

There are however, two adventures I want that remain at the top of my list. Doubt that they would be combinable however that is a fun thought.

1. I look forward to the opportunity to share time having fun with my sons Tom and Jim and their families. It would be terrific if we could all be together someplace laughing and creating memories.

2.  I would love to see a Moose in person; not in a zoo but in its natual habitat. One of the happiest surprises I recieved as a result of writing my book and asking my dear friends the Genges to read it was discovering that Judy also wants the same thing. It would be awesome if we went on the adventure together.

  Look-out Moose here we come.   

Hope where ever you are today, that you take time out to daydream. What would be on the top of your "want to experience" list?

I am not one that likes to remember the day a loved one died however I enjoy celebrating their lives on their birthday.  Today is the anniversary of when my dad was born.

He was a great dad. He worked hard and still took the time to take us on adventures. I really love Fridays. Of course, I like them because it was the end of the school or work week and beginning of the weekend BUT for me I feel in love with them because many times growing up my dad would come home on a Friday and he and my Mom would pack us all up and we would go on an adventure.  I would love it when that adventure took us to New York to visit our grand parents because when we drove there the lights on the oil tanks in Delaware and Jersey looked magical. In the daytime, not so much (smile). Weekend adventures were so much fun and most spontaneous.  I still enjoy these spontaneous adventures and love that my sons go on adventures with my grandchildren and their beautiful wives.

Like all parents my dad wasn't perfect but he was extraordinary. He had a fascinating life before getting married and created a wonderful life for us. It is fun the things I remember and treasure. My dad was a gentleman.  

It is with great pride that I see many of the qualities I admired in my dad now in my sons. Tom and Jim are each gentlemen. They are hard workers who care about the people they work with. They are devoted to their wives and are positive role models for their children. They have a strong faith, integrity and a good worth ethic. They truly love their families and are devoted to their happiness. These are the qualities I saw in my dad. Plus they know how to laugh and have fun. I can't help but smile when I think of my dad's laugh. He had a fun "ornery" streak too. I shall always remember him squirting some lemon juice into my Mom's coffee while we were at the Elm's Restaurant in Erwin, Tennessee. She didn't see him and thought the cream had gone bad. He tried to act innocent but ended up giggling and then laughing out loud. I am blessed to have lots and lots of happy memories.

It is a great movie about wanting a good education for your child. It showcases that by taking action a difference can be made.

Judy Genge is a dear forever friend. She inspired me to take an interest and take action to improve the options available for children having trouble learning to read. I learned so much from her and together we worked to make change. Her inspiration was the reason that when I was given the opportunity to work in Evans in Tennessee I wanted to make a contribution and make a positive difference.

I was and am forever grateful to my sons, Tom and Jim for opening the door to my volunteering at Evans by talking to Ms. Buckner and Ms. McKeithan about how I wanted to work at the school. Mr. Stultz the principal surprised me when he offered to pay me to turn my volunteering into a full-time aide position.

I learned so very much from all the teachers.  I learned from the students.

It was a great experience. I was given the opportunity to do everything from decorating, making "best resters," teaching art, working with beginning sounds (D is for donuts - which we made in the classroom). I was even given the opportunity to coach track. Not that I knew what I was doing however I loved every minute. I even was given the oppportunity to substitute.

I will forever remember that Mr. Stultz came to my defense when some of the local pastors thought I shouldn't have held a black light art show and never should have allowed students to draw pictures of the group Kiss.

The movie also stirred up the emotions that come from being a Mom. I wish I hadn't made mistakes. I wish I had done better, known better.  I wish I had always made my sons feel totally safe and secure. I am sincerely sorry.

Life is an adventure. I have been truly blessed to have wonderful opportunities and to have had a wealth of people come into my life and inspire me to be a better person. This is a great movie and a reminder that if we don't like the way things are we need to take action to make a change. One person can make a difference however if we harness the power of many change can be made.