Tag, you're it!!!

Okay, I've been tagged by my friend Donita to write 6 quirky things about myself, then tag 5 other bloggers. I guess I will do it since Donita did help me get my blog up and running. (You'll understand why I added photos of my dogs at the end of the blog.)

1. I never drink the last sip out of a can, bottle or glass. I have heard too much about 'backwash'. There is nothing good that can come of drinking the last sip... Ha!
2. Until I started dating Don, I never would eat or drink after anyone. I'm not sure how come I got over it, but it doesn't bother me anymore. EXCEPT double dipping. I still cannot stand double dipping! If I go with a group of people to a Mexican restaurant and someone is double dipping the salsa I either ask for another bowl or just don't eat chips and salsa.
3. I get cold really easy and sometimes the only way for me to warm up is to take a hot bath. Ridiculous, huh? I guess it's a good thing I like taking long hot baths...
4. Everything in my closet is organized by color. I organize the single colored items first, then the multi-colored items. By color, I organize my sleeveless shirts, then short sleeves, then long sleeves, and then t-shirts. Ditto with my shorts, pants, skirts, suits and shoes.
5. I guess I like organization. Everything has a specific place in my refrigerator. If someone puts something back in the 'wrong' place, I move it to the right place...without even giving it a thought. I also keep my canned goods organized by 'type'. I also have 3 different colors of dishes and I put them up in the cabinet in a specific way. Yellow, orange, and then blue. I keep the colors the same for all sizes of plates and bowls. It really does look nice...
6. I love my dogs. I can't stand the thought of boarding them. Which I might add is often a problem when I travel. I also let them go with me in the car. They LOVE going in the car!
   

Now I'm off to find out if I have other friends with a blog...

Timing is Important

What is it about timing? Why is it so important? Timing is important for...

Relationships - There is a lot to be said about 'love', 'friendship', 'loyalty', 'compatibility' and even 'lifestyle'. But, without regard, so many of us forget how important 'timing' is as well. I mean, you could fall in love with someone that either (a) is already/still in love with someone else, (b) is focused on his/her career, (c) is afraid/unwilling to have a relationship, or even (d) has to leave (due to career opportunity, sickness, or even death). Timing. It's important. So, the question remains. If timing is so important, is there anything we can do to effect it? Let's look at it more closely. Come on, we have time... (in case you missed it, yes, that was a joke).

If you fall in love with someone that:

(a) Is already/still in love with someone else
Things don't always work out the way you want them to when your timing is off. If someone has already given away their heart, regardless if the recipient wanted it, there isn't a lot to be done. People can't help who they fall in love with. Let's face it, the heart wants what the heart wants and there's not much we can do to change it. Sorry, but that's life as we know it. Falling in love with someone is easy. The more difficult (and yes rewarding) idea is falling in love with someone that is also falling in love with you. Timing. It's always better together than separate.

(b) Is focused on his/her career
There are often going to be times in most people's life when his/her career is very important. It could be when they are young and want to make their mark on the world, close to receiving a promotion, feel the need/desire to earn more money, or even just have a strong competitive spirit. It's important to remember that if you fall in love with someone that is focused on their career, they will not be focused on you. That may be okay for some people, but for others it may be the kiss of death to their relationship. Speaking from the other perspective, the person focused on his/her career may not even know their focus is out-of-wack until it's too late. Unfortunately for him/her, they missed aspects of their lives that they just can't get back. Again, timing is important for you...and for them.

(c) Is afraid/unwilling to have a relationship
If someone doesn't want a relationship, it won't matter how much you may want one with them. It could be because they have been hurt and don't want to risk being hurt again, or maybe they are still holding on to the possibility that their 'old love' will come back to them. Or it could just be that they simply aren't interested in you. (I know, it's a hard one to swallow.) Regardless of the reason, you are not going to change the mind of someone that already has made up their mind. It takes time to make a decision, and for some, once it's made...it's made. Timing is not always your friend.

(d) Has to leave (due to career opportunity, sickness or even death)
Sometimes people have responsibilities that require them to move or even just travel so much that it is almost like they don't live in the same city anymore. It's hard to have a relationship with someone that 'just isn't there'. It may be by choice, necessity or even bad luck. But, if someone isn't there for the small things, they certainly aren't going to be there for the big things. Now, I'm not sure why I added sickness or death. They are both unfortunate realities, but are just too sad to talk about. But, life is short and as a friend of mine says 'Times a wasting!' So, again, it goes back to timing. Nobody knows how much time they have on this earth or with the one they love. Timing, whether good or bad, does have an impact on our lives.

To wrap it up...
We can't always control it and often can't change it. But, timing does play a large role in our lives... whether we like it or not. It's a reality and time we admit it. Timing, it's important.

The Young & The Restless

Well, I'm not sure how I want to start my blog. I guess I will talk about how much fun I had last night. My friend Donita (we have been friends since elementary school) came over last night with letters I had written her our first year in college. Now, if my memory serves me correctly, that was 27 years ago! We laughed so much at reading those letters. I was so scattered in my letter writing and I had a LOT of growing up yet to do.

LETTERS FROM MY FRESHMAN YEAR IN COLLEGE

Question/Comment as a teenager
I was in love with a guy I wanted to marry, but yet I wanted to date other guys BEFORE I got married (okay, at least I was smart enough to know I wouldn't be dating other guys AFTER I got married). But some of the things I said/asked were just down right stupid. I wrote things like "I do love Don! I just feel I should date other guys. I have a blast with Don and I depend a lot on him. I don't want to lose him, but I also don't want to regret not dating other people after we are married and have kids. I know if I date others it will hurt him a lot and either he will hate me or say it's okay and date others just to hurt me. I know if I date others he will too. But he wouldn't have to rub it in. You see, I will go crazy every time I see him with a girl. (Also, I am afraid he will love someone more than he loves me.) Do you think it is possible for Don to love me while we date others? I know I will still love him but I want to experience life while I have a chance. I think if Don and I are meant for each other it will work out. But, I hate the chance of losing him for good. It is hard to imagine meeting Don and his date when I'm with a date. Especially if he gets serious with her. Do you think he could get serious with someone else?"

Answer as an Adult
Was I serious? Of course he was going to date other girls if I dated other guys! Hello, what was I thinking? Did I really think he would sit around staying true to me while I got dating other guys out of my system? Where's the logic there? Too bad I didn't know you couldn't have your cake and eat it too. I guess that's why 18 year olds are called teenagers and not adults. There was no adult logic in my thinking. I hadn't experienced enough of life to know there are risks worth taking, but if you love someone, there is no risk worth loosing that person.

Question/Comment as a Teenager
Going to college opened up a whole new world to me. I remember thinking I couldn't believe how many people I had never met. I liked meeting new people, but I still wanted the security of the ones I loved. I wrote, "I guess I like the flattery of someone else. Don takes me for granted. (Just like I do him). He thinks I will rearrange my schedule to be with him (I do). But, I don't mind because I know he loves me and I love him."

Answer as an Adult
At least there was some intelligence that was trying to come through my brain. I knew enough to recognize that taking someone for granted is risky business. There are always going to be new people you meet. But, it's the ones you love that should be priority.

Although I was pretty stupid when I was young, I am hopeful that I have matured a bit in the last 27 years...