Wrapped In Love....

Life takes so many twists and turns.   One day your up,  the next your down.   My month has been like that.   I know that life brings changes and that “there is a season for everything” so I have learned to roll with the punches for the most part.

Sometimes though,  it is good and necessary to stop for a second and realize the big picture.   What your life really means and what you hold to be most important and valuable.   I had a moment like that this past week as two major events collided in my life.

On August 9th I lost one of the best friends that I had.   It was sad and I knew that life had changed for me with Jeannette’s loss.   I knew that I would miss her always but I also knew the gifts she had given me were lasting.

On August 18th,  43 years ago I gained another friend.   We are still together, him and I and as these two events in my life presented themselves to me within a week of each other I was forced to take a deeper look at what this mystery of life is all about.

On March 2,  1962  Jim and I declared our “puppy love” by announcing we were going “steady”.   Seems so funny now.  I don’t believe anyone uses that term anymore.   Going steady at 15 years old and dating for a few months while I was just 14.   Today I think of that as being a baby.   Back then I thought I was all grown up.   I had a lot to learn about life and love.   

Over the years we dated,  broke up,  got back together and then in 1968 we decided to get married.   So young back then,  so naive, so sure we could conquer the world.   We grew into adults together,  learning about life and love from each other as we traveled a rough and rocky road sometimes.   Even in the tough times,  as I look back now,  I know what got us through was that we liked each other,  way before we ever loved each other.   I don’t even think back then we really knew what love was.   Passion maybe,  but not love.   Love grows....just like families and friends and pets.   You have to do the time to get the results.   And you have to do the work...Not saying it was always easy.

From that friendship we grew a family...we had pets we took care of parents,  we lost my brother at a young age and now we have lost two very close friends.   

The good news is that we have wonderful and loving children.   Jenna and Chris are kind and sensitive and caring.  They treat us with great respect and continue to include us in their lives on a regular basis.   When I think of them and how they conduct their lives I am so proud of both of them. A few years back we were lucky enough to adopt another “son”.   Luke came to us through Jenna and he is so easy to love and just fits right into our life like he’s been here forever.  Now we have Liam.....the gift of a lifetime of learning how to love.   There is no learning with him though.   It oozes from him.   He brings sunshine and laughter every time we are with him.   I often ask myself how one tiny little person can breath so much joy day after day.   I don’t have an answer but I do thank God each night for the gift of him.

Jim and I are now in a place in our lives where we are free to choose how to live and where to go. We own two homes, travel whenever we want,  where we want and I must say we have seen some wonderful sights,  mostly though Maine is what draws us and our family.   It is a haven in a beautiful space.   I always say as the years pass,  we live a charmed life.   I wouldn’t want to be anyone else but me.   A friendship that started almost 50 years ago has grown into a love affair of a lifetime.   Not many people get to share what we have.   I will tell you it has not always been a party,   there were several “don’t let the door hit you in ass on the way out” days,  but we always managed to work through those.   In the end,  the friendship won out.

So last Thursday as we celebrated our anniversary in Portsmouth,  New Hampshire at a beautiful hotel that Jenna gave us as a gift for Christmas and with both of the kids driving up to meet us for dinner,  I knew that I was wrapped in love.   Love is the greatest gift.   I have been wrapped in it by Jim for all these many years.   My children continue to wrap me in their arms each time we meet and part.   Now Liam puts out his little arms when he feels the need and says “hug” and I bend down to him and he squeezes me tightly.   My dog and my friends let me know each day that I am also wrapped in love with them.   Jeannette will be with me each time I see a white butterfly.   I have learned a lot about love with Jim....and we have moved forward together to hopefully share our love with all who are a part of our world.

Wrapped in Love....it feels good and warm and snuggly, like

the new winter coat,   wrapped in a great big box,  on the bed of the hotel room, a surprise. Once again a reminder of Jim’s love for me.   And then I wrapped him in a hug.

August 21, 2011:

3 Comments :

Anonymous

Getting to know you throug this journey of your life, makes me so happy for both of you and for your family. You have been blessed and the best part is that you know and appreciate it each day. I wish you all long, happy and healthy trails for many more years.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 - 06:23 PM:

Chris Dunham

Oh, that's from me....

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 - 06:24 PM:

Cheryl

Thanks Chris.   Such a lovely comment.   You have become such a good friend.   Wishing you the best always.   xoxo

Thursday, August 25, 2011 - 04:09 PM

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Goodbye My Funny Forever Friend

One of the greatest joys of living a full life is having terrific,  loving,  long time friends.   The flip side of that is there comes a day when we have to say goodbye.   This week I have experienced that for the first time,  with a Forever friend.   I will tell you honestly....it sucks.   She taught me to say it like that....

Each friend brings a different quality to your life.   Each friend is a gift in their own unique way.   The friendship grows and becomes so comfortable,  like a down quilt on a winter’s day.    Jeannette brought so many gifts to my life.

Strange because I would not have thought we would have become friends at all.   We came from similar backgrounds but over our lives we move forward in different directions.  That was never a problem for us.   We loved because we never saw our differences.   All we saw was the good times,  the caring and the sharing.   Mostly we shared laughter and a common goal of weight loss.   

I first meet Jeannette almost 30 years ago.   She became my inspiration as I struggled with my weight.   She had lost 190 pounds to become an International Queen in an organization called Tops.   I was new,  just starting my weight loss journey and she became my mentor.   Then I became a Queen with  my weight loss.   This is a unique group we were in.  Both losing over 100 pounds joined us at the hip and we never looked back.  Years later when Jeannette suffered health problems she lost her title of Queen in the Tops world but never in my World.   She never stopped encouraging me and she was my champion all these many years.   Never jealous or envious just always supportive and genuinely gleeful for every year that I kept my status.   A few years ago Jeannette started to fail and she became wheel chair bound and it was not only difficult for her to get out but very painful.  But as I received my 25th year Medallion for maintaining my weight loss....I looked out as I stood on that stage and their was my most loving friend sitting in front of me,  in her wheelchair,  beaming for me.   I know what it took her to get herself there.

That’s a big piece of my World with Jeannette.   It’s does not define her though.

If your lucky enough in your life time you will come across someone who is so genuine and  honest that they make you a better person just by being in their presence.  That was Jeannette.  I don’t know of another person who gave from the heart,  even though she had nothing,  told it like it was,  even when you didn’t want to hear it, and blessed you with kind and loving words so often that you believed they were true.   That also was a big piece of my world with Jeannette, but that did not define her.

For me,  what defined her,  what brought me to her in the beginning and what I will miss most is her laughter and her gift for teaching me how to get in trouble and get away with it.   No one on this planet has made me laugh until tears were streaming down our faces and we were both  holding on so we wouldn’t pee our pants (and sometimes we did).   This was not a rare occurrence,  it was a daily occurrence.   We have gotten in more trouble,  gotten away with more crap and people still shake their heads at what we would do.   It’s amazing we never got arrested although  we came close a few times.  We would set each other up and so as not to look bad in each other’s eyes....we would be off and running.   We were a team,  the two of us.   Funny though,  everybody wanted to be where we were.   That is what defines my friend.   That is what my World was with Jeannette.   I will miss her laughter most of all.   I think she is laughing now as I write this and I’m sure she has turned Heaven upside down.  Sweet Jesus,  I told you to get ready for her.

It’s at times like this and with a friend like this,  that I realize that life is never about the mundane or the social status one dwells in.   We were as different as could be in so many ways but in more ways, we were alike.   Each time we saw each other,  even on that very last day,  when I entered her hospital room,  she lifted her poor tired face for a kiss.   Even on that last day we shared stories,  made promises to each other, whispered I love you over and over and one last time we laughed.

Rest in peace my Funny Forever Friend.   No longer will I push you in your chair...but I will forever carry you in heart.

 

August 11, 2011

11 Comments :

Darlene

That is so sad and yet you both had such a great life as friends and loved each other so much. The kind of friendship you had is something a lot of people never ever have, and for that you were greatly blessed. I am so sorry for your loss.

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 04:41 PM

Anonymous

How blessed you both were to have each other as friends for such a long time, but that must make the parting that much more painful. I am so sorry to hear of Jeannette's passing GF; she will always be in your heart but how you will miss her. I love this pic of the two of you & your description of your relationship over the years - what a pair of hooligans... wonderful! I hope that the love of your other friends, family & grandchild will help ease the loss.

Loveya! Gxx

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 05:10 PM

Chris AKA Broken Ankle (my native name;)

This is a tribute of a loveing friend. Sisters of the heart. I am not alone knowing you are among the BPOE. Now make your friend proud and go get in trouble. 

Love you girl.

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 05:51 PM

mary your friend

sweetie I am sure you were a light in her life as you are mine..don't know what I would do without you..you will miss her and she will be watching over you..memories are all we have sometime and they are what keeps us going and makes us smile,,and you will smile when ever you think of her...

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 07:33 PM

Ken Yuel

What a beautiful story Cheryl, I can't help but think of the joy and happiness you brought to Jeannette, yes she is now gone but the memories you have will last a lifetime.  It is always sad when you have to say goodbye to a loved one and cherished friend, but rest easy knowing Jeannette left you with a smile on her face, that is the effect you have on so many, I should know because you have always made me smile......

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 08:06 PM

A Shared Light

Cheryl,

I am so honored that you were a part of my mom's life. She was very fortunate to have such a wonderful friend. I know you meant the world to her and you personally told me that she was a bright light in yours and this picture and story is proof. 

She talked about you constantly and I have only heard a small number of stories and I am sure it was because I would say "Maaa you two are nuts" or " I am glad I wasn't there I would have been mortified"..and that would make her laugh even harder and louder. Probably because it was reassuring proof that she pulled off another one yet again, on the edge ever so close to crossing it and getting away with it. She would be proud of the two of you and what you did. 

I must admit I was crying my eyes out at the beginning when I started reading this wonderful tribute and ending up smiling. 

Thank you Cheryl for all your love and support and all that you did for her spirit, light and life.

Love you always,

Regina

Thursday, August 11, 2011 - 09:37 PM

Jeannette's neice

Hi Cheryl,

That is such a great write up - so real.  Remember YOU were a very big light in Auntie's world as well.  Thank you so much for this great rememberence.

Even though I could never love Fudruckers as much as you two - I did really enjoy going with Auntie because SHE enjoyed it so much.  All the while I was there she would talk about how you two loved this place.  Let's you and I go one of these days in memory of Auntie.

Love and appreciation,

Joyce

Monday, August 15, 2011 - 07:54 PM

Cheryl

You name the day Joyce and we will go.   Thanks for visiting and thanks for your wonderful comment.   She would have loved your "wonderful" true story.   It was "priceless".   xoxo

Monday, August 15, 2011 - 08:59 PM

Cheryl

To all of you,   my wonderful loving friends and contacts,  I send thanks for your kind words,  your understanding of my sadness and your ability to reach out when I needed you most.  

You all make the difficult times bearable and make the moving on easier.

I am blessed in the love of all of you and I return it to you fully.

Monday, August 15, 2011 - 09:01 PM

Esther

Cheryl, what a beautiful tribute to an obviously fabulous friend and person.  I wish I had known her but I'm very glad to have you for a friend.  You have a wonderful gift with words.  Keep it up.

Friday, August 19, 2011 - 08:39 PM

Cheryl

Thank you Esther for visiting and for your kind words   It's friends like you and Jeannette that make my life a joy everyday.

xoxo

Friday, August 19, 2011 - 09:45 PM

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Maine...Our favorite place to be. Peace and joy always

I sit in Maine with the sun shinning and the heat bug singing to me and I write.   I have been wanting to do this blog for some time and have just never stopped to learn how and then to post.   This year I said that I would learn several new things and now here I am working on my blog.   Maine seems like the right place to be doing this.   The sounds of summer are out my bedroom door yet it is quiet and peaceful.   A good place for learning and of executing the lessons.

I did start this last year.   It was at the end of Jenna’s pregnancy with Liam and as I started again I was going to erase that only entry.   Then I read it and it seemed right to leave it as I didn’t want to forget about that very special time so I’ve left it on the Blog.  After all,   a blog for me,  is about my history and about my life as I move forward.   They can be mixed together and so it’s not really a new start,  just the moving forward start.   I can actually use the time since that event to my advantage and say that this is just now evolving because I was so busy loving Liam to work on it.   Maybe that is partly true but not entirely.

So for me I will post to this when something really exciting happens or when nothing exciting at all is happening.   I will share whatever stirs me at the moment with all who want to read about my life.   I will also be posting photo's here to share and inspire,   I hope.   Inspire you to pick up a camera and look at the world a bit closer and with greater appreciation for what we are blessed to have in our world.   A world worth saving.   

Travel events will also show up here.   It will be so much easier to blog than to write a travel journal and I’ll be able to post those photo’s right away.   I’m excited about this part of my blog.   

And of course over the years I will blog and brag about Liam and hopefully those that come behind him.   Right now he has taken over our lives with love and happiness.   We are fortunate to have him 3 days a week and we have bonded into a nice trio, Liam, Papa and Nana.   Everyday he makes us smiles and sometimes outright giggle.   What a gift he is.

And maybe if Jenna and Chris don’t mind I’ll even share a bit of what they are up to.   I could not ask for better kids EVER.   The loves of my life.   I am never happier than when all my chicks are home.   We are unique in a way that we love each other and work for the common good of our family.   We know how precious this life is and we don’t take that for granted so for the most part we don’t do “petty”.   None of us are perfect but we are moving through this life together.   That is blessing.

So pull up a chair,  grab a cup of tea and come on over.   My house/blog is always open and if you hit it just right you might find something new here.   I’ll be posting all about my favorite things.

It is summer,  the best one in years.   I am in Maine with Jim and so I will leave you now in favor of lunch on the deck,  facing Mt.  Washington,  with my favorite girl on my lap.  I’m assuming you have all meet Gracie

Wishing you all the sights and sounds of summer as you travel 

through your day.

I sit in Maine with the sun shinning and the heat bug singing to me and I write.   I have been wanting to do this blog for some time and have just never stopped to learn how and then to post.   This year I said that I would learn several new things and now here I am working on my blog.   Maine seems like the right place to be doing this.   The sounds of summer are out my bedroom door yet it is quiet and peaceful.   A good place for learning and of executing the lessons.
I did start this last year.   It was at the end of Jenna’s pregnancy with Liam and as I started again I was going to erase that only entry.   Then I read it and it seemed right to leave it as I didn’t want to forget about that very special time so I’ve left it on the Blog.  After all,   a blog for me,  is about my history and about my life as I move forward.   They can be mixed together and so it’s not really a new start,  just the moving forward start.   I can actually use the time since that event to my advantage and say that this is just now evolving because I was so busy loving Liam to work on it.   Maybe that is partly true but not entirely.
So for me I will post to this when something really exciting happens or when nothing exciting at all is happening.   I will share whatever stirs me at the moment with all who want to read about my life.   I will also be posting photo's here to share and inspire,   I hope.   Inspire you to pick up a camera and look at the world a bit closer and with greater appreciation for what we are blessed to have in our world.   A world worth saving.   
Travel events will also show up here.   It will be so much easier to blog than to write a travel journal and I’ll be able to post those photo’s right away.   I’m excited about this part of my blog.   
And of course over the years I will blog and brag about Liam and hopefully those that come behind him.   Right now he has taken over our lives with love and happiness.   We are fortunate to have him 3 days a week and we have bonded into a nice trio, Liam, Papa and Nana.   Everyday he makes us smiles and sometimes outright giggle.   What a gift he is.
And maybe if Jenna and Chris don’t mind I’ll even share a bit of what they are up to.   I could not ask for better kids EVER.   The loves of my life.   I am never happier than when all my chicks are home.   We are unique in a way that we love each other and work for the common good of our family.   We know how precious this life is and we don’t take that for granted so for the most part we don’t do “petty”.   None of us are perfect but we are moving through this life together.   That is blessing.
So pull up a chair,  grab a cup of tea and come on over.   My house/blog is always open and if you hit it just right you might find something new here.   I’ll be posting all about my favorite things.
It is summer,  the best one in years.   I am in Maine with Jim and so I will leave you now in favor of lunch on the deck,  facing Mt.  Washington,  with my favorite girl on my lap.  I’m assuming you have all meet GracieWishing you all the sights and sounds of summer as you travel through your day.