Happy Mothers Day

On one of my first blogs, I wrote about memorable movie moms.  And to commemorate Mothers Day, I decided to write about another memorable mom.  She may not be known world wide, but she's a super star in my eyes.  Yes, I am talking about my mom.  One of the strongest women I know, she still to this day has me guessing how she was able to raise us brats and not go (completely) insane ;-) As I try to unravel this mystery, I am brought back to great memories of when it was just us kids and the head honcho, Mom.  Although growing up was a bit hard to do, especially when you're forced to do it so quickly like my older sister and I were, there were still some great things to think back on.  Some of my best/hardest memories for me to think back on was living in Orange on Fashion Park Ave.

We didn't have much money growing up.  In fact, that's an understatement. But one of the reasons why, and I am very greatful for, is because my mom wanted us to grow up in the nice part of town.  This, unfortunately, came with a big monthly price tag.  Rent was super high back then in the part of Orange I spent most of my childhood.  In fact, I'm sure that if Vince and I were to try to move back to the same exact spot (never happening) the place would easily be in the $1400s right now.  But my mom insisted that we live there because it was one of the nicer areas.  I'm sure she could have saved three to four hundred dollars a month if we grew up in the bad parts of Santa Ana, but she didn't want us surrounded by gangs or violence.  I loved growing up on Fashion Park Ave.  Yes, some of the hardest memories for me, but also great ones!  My Aunt Yollie lived next to us, so we always had other kids to play with.  Not to mention the ones I made when I was 6 and had up until I was 17.  My little sister Kat has a vague memory of this place.  She was only 2 or 3 when we moved there but did make a great friend.  And although we did make childhood friendships there, we also saw our mom pick herself up every morning and give what she could of herself to us.  Although I had great memories here, I know those years were the most try of times for my mom.  On the verge of an over due divorce and pregnant with our lovable baby sister, Sally, I can remeber being an 8 year old wondering how she was able to peel herself from the fragile bed every morning and brush my hair.  I didn't know what depression was at 8 years old, but I was introduced to it.  And I have to believe that she didn't want my sister and I to see her that way, but did the best she could with what little energy she had.  And at 9, shortly after Sally was born, we left the city of Orange and embarked on a new journey.

When I was ten, my mom met my dad (I'll elaborate on their story in a different blog) and things very slowly but surely got better.  As a young girl, it's very important to have a strong female role model in your life.  And thankfully I had my mom.  When she met my dad things got better.  Maybe not so much money wise, but happiness, hope, and love.  At ten I was able to take the traits that my mom was showing me (although I'm not sure she even knew she was) and use them going into my adolesence years.  She carried herself much higher now.  And I think a lot of it had to do with her divorcing my father.  She no longer had to peel herself out of bed, but rather was making us get up by singing Disney songs.  It was quit horrible waking up at 6:00 am to a mother singing out loud, but a refreshing memory; because now when I look back, she was trying to get us in the same mood she was in at the time.  No one wants to wake up early, but if we must, it may as well be in a chipper mood.  And as the years went on, things progressively got better.

Now that we're all grown up (and I use this term loosely) my mom has a new house (that she chooses to share with my pop, haha) and a new beautiful grandson, I like to reflect back and think about all we've been through as a family and how we were able to get through them.  Had it not been for this wonderful lady that we call mom showing us every step we needed to take even at times she herself was confused about life, who knows where we would have ended up.  And although I don't like to think about where we might be without the strength of this one woman pushing and fighting for us,  I still think about it once in a while and thank god for giving us such a strong, vivacious, and caring mother, for whom without, we'd still be scratching our heads wondering how in the he'll we got on this earth. 
I love you Mom!  Happy Mothers Day!! 

Birthday

Who knows your birthday
Who knows your number
Who knows your color
Who knows your hands
Who knows the sum
The sum of all your parts

Who knows your limit
Who knows your highest
Who knows your lowest
Who knows your in
Who knows that bottom
The bottom of your heart

Hold on hold on
Keep holding on to me
I will love you from the bottom
No one holds you better than me
Hold on hold on
Doing the best we can
I will love you on your birthday
I will love you better than them

Who knows the reason
Who knows the cure
Who knows the answer
Who knows the cause
Who knows the pain
The pain when we're apart

Hold on hold on
Keep holding on to me
I will love you from the bottom
No one holds you better than me
Hold on hold on
Doing the best we can
I will love you on your birthday
I will love you better than them

To My Love

Today, is one of the best days ever.  Specifically because this is the day that Lucy gave birth to the love of my life, Vince.  *"What a wonderful world" playing in the background*
This isn't just another day for me.  Yes, it is vinces bday. But Its also the day in which I thank his mom for giving birth to and raising such a wonderful man.  
The first time we met, Vince opened my door.  I was so flabergasted by this.  No man had ever opened the door for 
me before.  And he still does to this day.  He also makes sure that when we are walking, that he's closest to the street.  And he helps me over puddles.  Still a fine gentlemen and the personification of chivalry.  He makes my heart go Thump Thump. I get butterflies when he goes in for a kiss and i still get excited when he gets home from work.  He knows me better then I know myself, and he calls me out on my bullshit.  Without Vince, I wouldn't know what the true meaning of what love is.  One of my favorite traits of his is his selflessness.  Constantly putting others before himself. I'm so lucky to have someone like him in my life, and I thank god everyday for him.  This wonderful man who helps me cope with sorrow and loss.  Who helps me celebrate good times.  Who never let's me win games.  And who is constantly by my side.  I love Vince.  Happy Birthhday.

"Everybody wants to rule the world" playing.

Beautiful day outside.  And I'm stuck at work.  Although it could be worse and I could be stuck in jury duty (haha Sheree). Just kidding!  When I was stuck in Jury duty last month it actually wasn't too bad!  At the Santa Ana court house, the jury room was right next to the cafeteria.  So as long as you bring your debit card or cash, your set for the day.  And the court house is two blocks away from Downtown, so during lunch you have many GREAT options for comida.  As long as you manage to NOT get your group # picked, jury duty is a breeze.  
They have TVs that play ch2 all day.  So you start your day off with "Lets make a deal", which I had no idea they still effin played (poor Wayne Brady).
Then "The price is right", some news and top it off with Americas Funniest Home Videos (one of my favorite shows).  And by the time AFV starts, and you still haven't been picked yet, the room is pretty empty enough for you to laugh like a hyena at all of the crotch shots the kids make on that show.  I know I did.  It may not be as fun for Sheree right now, but my experience wasn't too bad.  Binge eating all day, reading the latest in Sandra Bullocks quandaries (thanks gossip mags) and watching tv...AND GETTING PAID FOR IT!!!  Would I like to do it all of the time?  No.  But once a month ain't to bad. :-)~
Until next time, here's hoping that you're not bored at work.