One Day... at a time.

; )

It's been a long... day,

but a good one.

; )

Grateful.

One Day... at a time.

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Indeed.

 

'Light'

Keep tryin'... to 

keep things 'light' here, on the blog.

Best... I can, anyway.

There's so much happening in the world, today...

minute by minute...

Do my best... to stay away from it, here.

 Struggled about writing this... post,

yesterday, and... all day, today.

Somehow... believe I should put it out there.

Believe... many, many... have been directly, and indirectly touched, by this subject.

If you're like me...  can't read, or think about another ounce of sadness, here's your sign, to skip this post.

Yesterday morning, Grandson, Justin... popped in, to visit.

He, often does.

<3

We... share the same Love... of Old Diesel Fords, Horses... and Funny Redneck Videos.

: )

We were having Fun conversations... for quite a while, then...

his phone started pinging.

Justin, ignored the 'pings' at first, then... he looked a little concerned.

He said...

"Hang on Grandma, I've got to see what this is about."

Justin, walked upstairs, to the dining room, I... started working on the lap top.

Justin returned, after a few minutes, sat down... on the Settee, across from me.

Justin had a look on his face, look... in his eyes, I'd... never seen him have, before.

 asked...

 Justin, if everything was ok.

He... looked at me, and said... "You know... my Friend, '....' "

Yes....

: )

{They've been Pal's for a long time.}

"That was his Son... on the phone. He said, he wanted to let me know first.

When his Dad... got to work, this morning, he started his job, 

then pulled out a gun, and killed himself."

Not what I'd expected to hear from my 16 year old Grandson, or see in his eyes.

My mind... scrambled, to find 'words'.

All... I could muster, was...

"I'm so... so... sorry."

: (

We just sat here, in silence, for what seemed like a long, long... time, 

tho...

probably wasn't.

: (

Tried to gently... gently, explain to Justin, that... we never truly know, what's going on in someone else's mind.

and...

sadly, it seems, too often, Men have a very difficult time talking about their feelings.

Many have been raised to be 'strong', never complain, or talk about 'hurt', because some...

see that as a sign of weakness.

Often, they, themselves... see things that way.

: (

So... not true.

<3

but...

convincing them, of that... 

: (

Shared some of my Pals, stories... with Justin, yesterday.

I've lost six Friends, over the decades to suicide.

Five... were Men.

One, Woman.

: (

that... sadly, seems to be the average.

: (

Each... were fighting their own, very... different, and difficult 'battles'.

Money... Heartbreak, Cancer... but, mostly, in my opinion...

the lack of

 'Hope'.

: (

'Hope'... is something we must find, and keep...

 within ourselves, in my opinion.

Nobody... can give it to you.

to, some... 

sadly, so... very sadly,

 they can't find it, reach it... in their grasps.

: (

I know... how very much, Grandson, Justin... meant to his Pal.

: )

Those two shared many phone conversations in my presence.

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

That's the only way I knew Justin's 'Pal'.

<3

Justin... brought 'Light', to his Pal's Life.

: )

{Priceless}

That's all... any of us can do, for each other.

<3

That's All.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers...

for

All.

Barb C.

 

2009.

Can't post images, or even screenshots, to the blog, 

until...

 I can get my God Forsaken new Android, 'on board'.

; )

Can't send, or retrieve email.

One... would think, 'these days'... that would be 'big problems'.

In the short term, it's been a little difficult.

Not as 'difficult' as some... would imagine.

; )

It's been a Blessing, in so many ways.

; )

I've actually 'talked' to people.

 'Heard' their voices, and the 'tone' of their 'voices'.

; )

to me,

That's a 'Big Deal'.

'Real'.

'The Real Deal'.

<3

Stumbled through blogger posts, today.

Landed on many, from 2009.

; )

I screenshot, many of those posts... 

<3

can't share them, yet.

If... ya have a moment, or Hours, : ) take a look at those old posts.

<3

Guessing, if you're reading this, and not a 'bot'...

 You're Included, somehow... in those posts.

<3

What a Ride.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Gentle... on my mind.

 

The Back-roads.

Pal... Allyson picked me up yesterday morning.

We spent a lot of miles...

 on 

Iowa Back-roads.

Covered Linn, Delaware, Buchanan, Tama, and Benton Counties.

{Some of The Very Best Counties... in The State, in my opinion.}

Enjoyed a wonderful breakfast, at Edith Lucielle's... then, hit some Amish Country Stores.

On the way 'Home'... asked Allyson to jump off the major Hi-way, and hit some of the 

'Back-roads'.

Iowa 'County' Roads, and Gravel.

Visit some of my old... 'Stomping Grounds'.

<3

I know those old... Iowa Back-roads, like the back of my hand.

Believe... I could almost... drive them blindfolded.

; )

Allyson and I... visited about many, many... things, on our 'Travels'.

{was in rare form... when she picked me up, after I'd been watching the 'news' from about 4 a.m. 

I'd predicted what 'unfolded' night before last, a week ago. Was hoping, to be mistaken.}

Had some personal 'news'... to share with Allyson, as well.

'That'... 'news', kinda... set Allyson on her heels.

{I'll be filling everyone in, concerning 'That' 'news', in days to come.

To say it's been a little 'stressful'... lately, would be quite an understatement.}

It was Good, visiting old memories.

'Landmarks'.

; )

Seeing the areas, I so often ramble about... probably painted a clearer picture, for Allyson.

She... agreed, how Incredibly Beautiful those areas are.

Still.

: )

Allyson said... she's thinking we need to take another 'Big Trip', next year.

; )

She, thought... perhaps a cruise.

I, said... "That would require a passport.

 I'm not ready to leave 'The Country', just.... yet."

; )

Told her... They probably wouldn't let me back In...

 'these days'.

Passport, or no.

; )

Hahahahahaha!

{Not to be picky... but, ah... a 'cruise' has never intrigued me.

Prefer 'fewer people', and flyin' by the seat of my pants.

Guessin' ya can't 'fly' too far off of a cruise ship, unless... you're a mighty good swimmer.}

; )

then...

Allyson suggested... perhaps, another trip back to Savannah.

: )

'Savannah'....

Now... 

That...

 sounded very

 Appealing.

Very.

; )

Anywhere 'South'. 

<3

Anywhere...

 where there's

 Moss... 

hanging from

 The Trees,

 would be

 Perfect.

'Heaven'.

Allyson Loves 'The South', nearly... as much as I do.

; )

Big Changes... are coming, here... to The Rabbit Hole, and Beyond.

Stay Tuned.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

 

Escape.

 Everybody sings the blues... sometimes.

Life... can be a bit overwhelming, at times.

Guess... all we can do, is get back up, dust ourselves off...

and, take on another day.

: )

I've been numbing my brain... with something I never have.

: )

Been watching people build dugout cabins in the woods.

Somehow... it's fascinating to see.

Must be a 'Rabbit Hole' thing.

an...

'Escape'

thing.

Everyone, in my opinion...

needs a 'Rabbit Hole', to escape to,

now and then.

'Tequila' isn't always...

 the best option.

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Holy Cow!!!

'Holy Cow!!'

: )

<3

Above... is an an Old, Old... Cow Weathervane Directional.

: )

Found her Years ago.

<3

Was So Impressed by how Shot to 'Hell, and Back'...

 she was, yet...

somehow...

she

remained in

' One Piece'.

<3

She was mounted on a Beautiful Arrow.

So wanted to keep her, she kinda represented a few 

I've known, and Loved... throughout my life.

<3

but...

Business... is Business.

Took her to a 'Gold Rush' Show, Rochester, MN.

Before long a Man came through our Booth, and Snagged...

 'The Holy Cow'.

<3

As he held her in his hands, I said...

"Oh My!! : ) KNEW there'd be Someone like me, who'd Appreciate 'The Holy Cow'.

<3

Isn't She Incredible?!?! <3"

The Man looked at me, like I'd Lost My Mind!!!

: )

He said...

"I... don't want 'The Cow'... I need the Arrow for a 'Good' Cow, I have at Home. 

This one's junk... I'm just going to throw it away."

my heart... sank.

{almost... refused to sell 'The Holy Cow', to him.}

: (.....

 just stood there, sick... at heart.

: (......

Tried... and, Tried.... to help the Man... 'see' the 'Good' in 'The Holy Cow'.

; )

<3

It wasn't 'happenin'.

: (

Business... is business.

: (

sold....

 'The Holy Cow', to the Man.

: (

It bothered me over the entire show.

It bothered me... for Months.

: (

Kept thinking...

'The only thing that stood between The Holy Cow's demise, and the Man, was me.

: (

and,

I... caved'.

: (.....

Several months later, while setting up, again... at Gold Rush,

 a

 Man....

came walking up to me, holding a paper sack.

Knew I'd seen him before, but... couldn't quite place him.

As the Man... handed me the sack, he said...

"Here's a 'Present' for you."

???

Peeked inside the paper sack....

: )

about

Died!!

<3 <3 <3 

: ) : ) : )

It Was 'The Holy... Cow'!!

Oh My Lord!!!

: )

Priceless!!!

<3

Priceless!!!

: )

Asked the Man... how much I owed him.

<3

He, said... "Nothing. I know how Much... it means to you."

{oh... my Lord. <3}

: )..................

Was Beyond... Grateful, the Man... saved her, and... saved her, for me.

<3

: )

The Holy Cow... is one of my most 'Precious Gifts'.

I... think of The Kind Man, who Saved Her... for me, every single time my eyes rest upon her.

: )

<3

For The Love... 

of

'Old'.

<3

Pal, Bill... and I, met at the upcoming 'Estate Sale' today.

We did a 'walk through'.

Met with the 'Estate' holder.

: )

There's so much... that needs to be 'Finished' with the construction, yet.

; )

Assured The Estate, we'll be there for them, when it's completed, but... diving into it now, would be a mess.

One Day at a Time.

; )

Whipped up a kettle of Vegetable Barley Soup, when I returned Home.

It's Fragrance is Wafting Through The House, as I write.

: )

When I woke up this morning, it Finally... felt like Spring.

Sun... in The Early Morning.

Finally.

<3

Longer Days.

<3

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

'Shenanigans'... Indeed.

; )

Was going to write about something totally different, today.

but...

Last Night, had quite a Dream.

; )

Couldn't shake it... all day.

<3

: )

The Dream...

was

 Incredibly Vivid.

It was about Dad.

{Marion Conner Sr.}

; )

In the 'Dream'... 

Dad wanted to take me, and his Great Grandson for a ride in his plane.

{The Great 'Grandson', in my 'Dream'... was nameless, about 6 years old... he, was my Nephew, Billy's Son.

<3

Billy, has two College age Daughters. No Boys.}

??

Dad... taught himself how to 'Fly', back in the late 1940's when he bought/traded.... for a little two seater Plane. 

an

 'Aeronca Champ'.

<3

Never had the opportunity to fly with Dad. I was born in 1963. Dad... sadly, lost his Pilot's License when he flew The Champ between a Bridge, and The Iowa River, in Iowa City, in the 1950's.

; )

Dad... was givin' his 'Boss' a 'Ride'...

 his horrible 

'Boss'

 would

 Never Forget.

; )

That... Dad, did. : ) }

Hahahahaha!!!

<3

Back to 'The Dream'.

; )

oh my.

We all climbed into Dad's Plane... tried to get situated. It was tight.

; )

Finally... we did.

The Boy, and I... watched Dad do his Stuff.

<3

We started down the runway, 

of a tiny little Airport.

Felt the Plane... Lift Off!!

<3

Exciting!!

{Dad, and I... had flown together, in small planes when I was young.

He... just couldn't be the 'Pilot'.}

The 'Boy' and I... Truly were enjoying the Lift Off.

: )

then...

Dad lowered the plane, back onto the little runway.

??

I could see other planes, or what I thought were planes ahead of us... on the tiny runway.

No...

It wasn't a 'Runway'.... Dad... was landing on.

; )

Hahahahaha!!!

It... was an 'On-Ramp' onto I-380, that runs through Cedar Rapids.

: )

As we were Toolin' down I-380, well... 'The Champ' was rolling through a Messy Slushy Snow Covered 380.

Could barely see tracks from other vehicles, in the Deep Slush.

; )

Yeah...

Boy!!

: )

{uh... oh.}

I... asked Dad if it was 'legal' to 'drive' The Champ... on the highway.

He, said...

" Nope."

: )

Dad's 'Great Grandson'... was on my lap.

: )

Neither of us were a bit concerned.

<3

: )

I looked at 'The Boy', asked...

"You know... your Great Grandfather is 'Irish', right? 

; )

Just like your Grandma,...me,

your Dad... and You."

; )

<3

The Boy, smiled... and said...

"Yep."

: )

Reminded 'The Boy'... 'Life... to us 'Irish', isn't much without 'Adventure'.'

: )

then...

I asked The Boy, what another word for 

'Adventure'

is, to us...

'Conner's'.

The Boy Grinned, and said...

"Shenanigans"

: ) : ) : )

INDEED!!

<3 <3 <3 

I've abbreviated 'The Dream'... a bit.

; )

Lord, Lord...

<3

It Was Great!!

<3

{Red Lights... Green Lights... First Avenue... in Cedar Rapids.

'Brakes'

????

: )

Possibly having to remove The Champ's Wings to Get Through a Building!!!}

; )

yeah...

boy.

; )

<3

Loved hearing Dad's 'Voice', again.

: )

It was Incredibly Real.

<3

<3

; )

'Shenanigans'

; )

<3

 Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.

Way... Too Much.

Been going through Old Books, today.

The above, is Long Gone.

; )

The cover... made me smile, when I stumbled upon it.

: )

Still does.

Started on 'The Book'... I'll finally... be writing, yesterday.

It's going to take some time... and editing, but... just putting everything down in words, is...

 kind of therapeutic.

Liberating.

<3

It became very evident... while writing, yesterday....

'Not sure I can write 'One' Book'.

Hahahahaha!!!

; )

There's going to have to be a 'Book' from 'Before'... 

'IDOT, and Fairfax'...

  and, one...

dedicated to 2016, and after.

That... '2016', and 'after' is a 'Novel' all it's own.

oh my.

As I was writing yesterday... thought, perhaps... 2016, 'til today...

would take up a Chapter, or two.

Hahahahahaha!!!!

; )

Nope...

It'll have to be a 'Book'...

a

'Novel'...

 All Its Own.

There's way too much.

: (

Way... 'Too' Much.

{oh dear... That's Sayin' A Lot, in my humble opinion.}

Stay Tuned.

<3

I'm Workin' on It!!

; )

{Wish I would've paid more attention in the Typing Class, at Roosevelt Junior High.}

; )

{Who... Knew??? }

; )

Love to Ya...

Prayers for All.

Barb C.