Eating Lunch At The U.N.

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My elementary school lunch table consisted of kids, my friends, with last names like Polignone, Kavalish, Slobodnik, Modi, and Jurf. Italians and Poles, Hungarians and Indians,  those of us with European ancestry and Kuwaitis. We all sat together. We were friends.

I got to thinking about this the other day. I've had the privilege over the years to get to know a lot of people from diverse backgrounds, races, and religions. It's been pretty interesting.

When I was in elementary school, my best friend had the last name, Modi. She was Indian. (Eastern Indian as opposed to Native American) I remember as a young child going to visit at her house. We played ping pong down in the basement. Her mother wore the most beautiful saris. I remember thinking how I liked the bright colors. I also found the "red dot" on her forehead to be interesting. It wasn't until I was much older that I realized it was a bindi that she had on her skin, and it was red because she was married.

Throughout my school years I continued to have friendships with kids who didn't all look like me.....

When I got to college I met up with Sofia. A hall mate from Memphis, Tennessee. Now, I have to paint you a picture of this girl. She had skin the color of dark chocolate and a smile that she flashed at everyone she met. She had a crazy personality that invited everyone in for a visit. One morning I met up with Sofia in the bathroom. (oh, the joys of community bathrooms in college dorms) She was griping about her "nappy hair". Now, me being the inquisitive person that I am said to her, " What exactly does that mean when someone says their hair is nappy? Just curious." In a flash she grabbed my hand and shoved it in her hair. She said, "You feel that? My hair is all kinked up next to my scalp, and it's straighter on the ends. THAT IS SOME NAPPY HAIR, GIRL!"  She gave me my hand back, and my lesson on black hair was done for the day. She smiled at me. I laughed.

I taught with a black woman who was happily married to a white, Jewish man. She told me they married in the 1970's, in the south. It wasn't accepted by a lot of people, but they didn't look to others for approval. She converted to Judaism.  Her in-laws survived the concentration camps of WW II. I saw pictures of them in a traveling Holocaust museum that my kids and I visited.  I had a new understanding.

When my husband, kids and I moved to Ohio we befriended some of the Amish that helped to build our house. My husband and I have formed as especially close friendship with one young couple. I enjoy visiting their home, where no matter what the young woman is doing (besides maintaining the home, they have 4 children, 4 years and under) she always makes time to talk to me. She told me early on that she had questions about the "Englishers" and if I answered her questions she would gladly answer mine about the Amish. As much as the English are different from the Amish, there are so many things we have in common. I know that her life is not filled with the same conveniences as mine, but I certainly can appreciate the simplicity and strong ties that are found in the Amish community.

People.... interesting and diverse. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to get to know all types of people. I'm glad I was brought up to believe that all people are special because God created them and that I shouldn't let differences scare me. My life is better because of it.

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The Beauty Of Your Smile

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It doesn't matter if you have straight teeth, or if you ever even wore braces.  Movie star whitened teeth are not mandatory.

A smile is one of the easiest things a person can wear. It doesn't cost any money. Anyone can do it.

A genuine smile is a beautiful thing. A smile is the outward expression of a happy heart. That is what makes it so beautiful.

*The smiles of the young couple on their first date. The promise of what the future might hold.

*The smile of new parents who see their precious baby for the first time.

*The smile of a wife that makes her husband feel secure.

*The smile of a husband that makes his wife feel loved.

*The smile of a friend. So much to catch up on!

*The smile of a parent that sees their military child disembark from the plane, safe and sound.

*The smile of a child as he pets his new puppy.

The smile says so much, without saying a word...and that is what makes it so beautiful.

Will you share a smile today?

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Life Is Beautiful

I'm beginning a new, week long series at my blog. One I hope you will enjoy reading.

My blog entry from yesterday was very true. Life IS unfair. There are difficult times that we all go through in this journey, called life.

BUT......this series will be different. This series will be about the beauty found in everyday life. The special moments-- that transcend the hard times. My hope is that  we can all take a moment to appreciate the things in each of our lives, that make life beautiful.

Beginning this series will force me to take the time to observe and appreciate the beauty in the every day. I will be more aware of the little things (or not so little things) that cause me to smile. I'm excited about it. I'm ready. Life really is beautiful...and I want to share it with you.

 

The sun was just creeping up over the horizon as I walked into the kitchen this morning. The blue, early morning  light made the kitchen glow. It is a beautiful, quiet time.  Soon the sky was filled with pinks, purples, blues, and reds. The sun never lets me down, as it shares it's painted colors, boldly splashed across a dark blue sky. At my house the sun comes up over the vast expanse of  a farm field that is busily "sleeping" this winter. I like looking at the space that surrounds me. It makes me happy that I escaped the close quarters of city life.  Even though the fields are brown right now, I know that there will be life in those rows of dirt in a few short months. It reminds me that life goes on.

The field across the road from me, and directly in my view from the kitchen window...are my neighbor's llamas. Life is new in that field. I see the small, baby llama with it's mama. He (or she) looks like a brown cotton ball with teeny stick-like legs.  There is something that mesmerizes me about the llamas. I could sit and just watch them all day. It is my little section of the animal kingdom to quietly observe. I hope my neighbors decide to keep llamas forever. I'd be so sad if they left.

I would love it, if my readers would take a moment to write down something that makes life beautiful for them...the comment doesn't have to be long....or it can be. It is up to you.  Help me to see life's beauty through your eyes.

 

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Take It Off!

 

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I'm wanting to take it off. Just be done with it. Who needs it anyway? That's right. I'm talking about my hair. I'm ready for a new look. Something different, daring, and fun. I've grown my hair out long enough. First of all my hair takes FOREVER to grow...and by the time I get it long enough, it starts to get dry and frizzy and I can't stand it. So, I'm taking the plunge.

I've been a fan of Meg Ryan for years. Her medium length, choppy bobs are a favorite. The picture above is one of my absolute favorite of her hair styles. I'm thinking that I will try for this look. I realize that I will not look as cute as she does (I wish!) but, hey it could still work for me. The hair is still long enough to pull back if I feel like it, yet still looks cute if I wear it down straight. Yep. This is the one.

Now, that I'm T-tapping on a near daily basis, eating better, and making sure to take my multi-vitamins/supplements...I feel like I should put some "zip" back into my look. And for those of you out there, that doubt me, a woman in her early 40's can still have "zip". Get back with me in a few more months and I'll prove it!

1. Getting a good hair cut, might not be life changing...but, it can feel like it!

2. Hair is a big deal.

3. That is why women are grumpy if they are having a bad hair day.

4. A woman's hair is her crowning glory.

5. A good stylist is worth every penny.

6. Even if a hair cut is not exactly what you wanted, or even down right bad, hair DOES grow back. Lesson learned.

7. A secret...I've cut my own hair before. Not often. But, I have done it.

8. I let my husband cut my hair before, too. He actually did a pretty good job.

9. I love being a blond.

10. Mousse and hair spray can be a girls best friend. As can barrettes and hair clips. Just sayin'.

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Feeling Beautiful

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It's interesting that last week I read not one, but two blogs about female beauty. The blogs weren't written by women. Both blogs were written by men, and they were both very thoughtful...and in my opinion very insightful. It got me to thinking....

1. What is true beauty?

2. Is it only the physical?

3. Or is that just what we are taught?

4. The truth is those women that are physically beautiful, don't really have to work at it.

5. I remember a quote from a famous model.

6. She said something like, "Please don't love me because I'm beautiful. My beauty isn't something I earned, or am good at. I was born this way."

7. She used her physical beauty for a living, to make money, but it isn't the only thing she wanted to be remembered for. She understood that her physical beauty would one day fade, she wanted more than that.

8. I just thought that was interesting.

9. Women are beautiful...it's just that many women don't see it.

10. They have been trained to see only the flaws, not the beauty.

11. A beautiful smile that lights up her whole face...and is contagious to those around her.

12. A beautiful mind that questions and debates.

13.  Beautiful hands that reach out to help others... and arms that give hugs.

14. Laughter that is contagious.

15. Strong legs that can walk for miles.

16. Eyes that seem to look into the soul, or twinkle with mischief.

17. Witty banter.

18. Goofy grins.

19. Ponytails.

20 and Pixie cuts.

21. Short, Tall, or inbetween.

22. Mothers, sisters, daughters, friends.

23. There is a lot more to beauty than the latest styles or expensive "lotions and potions"...

24. And I think most men would agree.

25. True beauty can't be bought.

26. A truly beautiful woman will have people drawn to her.

27. Not because of her hair color.

28. Or because she is ultra thin.

29. But because she emanates confidence and her own personal style.

30. Her beauty shines.

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Gray, Gray Go Away

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Yes. I color my hair. I have no trouble admitting that. I think that there are a lot of women that color, high light, or color wash their hair. Whether they admit it or not.

It's hard when you are blond as a child, and then your hair "turns on you" as you get older. I didn't want hair that was sort of light brown, sort of dark blond. So, I helped my hair out, with the blond...and have never looked back. I have left instructions with my children. If I should pass away, and there is an open casket (which should happen, in lieu of some catastrophic accident) they better make sure that my hair is colored! If not, I promised I would come back to haunt them. Gray hairs and all. I think I sufficiently scared them.

1. I do not like seeing gray hairs.

2. I blame my kids for those.

3. I know it is time to color when those gray hairs start popping out.

4. I have a deep, philosophical question...

5. Is a gray hair still a gray hair if it is covered with blond, and no one knows the difference?

6. I used to color my own hair. By myself. In secret.

7. It's cheaper that way.

8. I still sort of color my own hair.

9. The past few times I've asked my hubby for some help.

10. It's easier than trying to do the back of my head by myself.

11. It's hard to see the back of one's head.

12. Go figure.

13. I'm assuming he is doing a good job of it.

14. Because no one has said anything to me

15. Like, "what's with the freaky hair?" or

16. "Are stripes a new look for you?"

17. I must appear normal.

18. Whatever THAT means.

19. 'Cause those that know me

20. Can really find the humor in that.

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