May 29, 2006
It seems like forever since I've made an entry here, probably because it has been since the end of last year! To me it does seem forever since I very rarely get a chance to do something for myself.
My last entry told about me working swing shift from 4:00 p.m to Midnight at the Juvenile Detention Center and at the Primary School from 7:50 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Well, I am happy to say that I am still working both jobs but currently I am back on the dreaded graveyard shift from Midnight to 8:00 a.m. and then also at the Primary School from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. I am hoping that in another week or so when we have another shift change at the Detention Center, that I will be back on a more normal shift, say 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., but most likely I will be back to 4:00 p.m. to Midnight. School however, will be out next week for the summer and I will take a much needed break for a week or two before looking for a part time job to supplement what I won't be getting from the school. I have also just finished up with two classes of my own, Criminal Justice (Police in America) and Pre-Algebra. I can say that I did very well in Criminal Justice but in Math I did not do so well, another lesson learned!! I've been told that if I am going to take a math course, then I should only take that class alone and no others. In thinking about it, that's true! I do not like math and never really have! I suppose if I understood it more, then I would be able to like it just a little.
I have decided that I need to take more time for myself because as I have said in the past, life has a way of passing us by in the blink of an eye. I've been told by my doctor that if I don't start taking care of myself, that I may not be here in two years, another reason to stop and smell the roses! My children are growing older and have become wonderful adults. My son Sammy who is a Deputy Sheriff just completed classes for a Drug Task Force and in June he will be attending classes to become the new D.A.R.E. Officer. His wife Danielle is still with the Hospital as a C.N.A. and currently is working towards her Nursing Degree. Their son Landon is no baby anymore! He turned three years old and is quite the independent little man! My son Chris is no longer a Prep Cook but is a Line Cook and doing very well, that is until an accident at work put him at rest for awhile until he heals. It was first thought that he had refractured his back from when he was in the 7th grade, but it turns out to be just a very bad sprain. His girlfriend Kayla is still with us and has been doing very well for herself also as a waitress but has given her two weeks notice and will be looking elsewhere.
Today is a holiday to honor all of the fallen soldiers and all of those who fight day to day to keep our country free and to give us a better life. Silently this morning I prayed that God bless all of those who have fought to give us the freedom we have. Our little town is America's Patriotic Home and I am blessed to be a part of it and I thank God for my life and the country I live in.
This weekend was one to relax and reflect and just enjoy yourself if you were able to and that is what my son Sammy and his wife Danielle and her family did. They went camping and had a good time but did have a slight accident during their weekend. They were rafting down the river when they were sucked into the brush and it caused their raft to flip over. With Sammy under the raft and Danielle on top, he was forced to push her off in order to be able to get out from under the raft. They were pulled under a few times received cuts and bruises from the brush and they floated quite a ways before they were able to swim to shore. We are very thankful that it was only cuts and bruises that they received and the fact that they were wearing life jackets and with their son looking on, he didn't know they were in danger and just said, "mommy and daddy in the water". All in all they said they had a good time and there were people looking on in case things got real tough. This again tells us how precious life is and how life may change in an instant. Tell those you love, just how much you do love them!!
June 7, 2006
Wow, if normal is what I am living right now, then I like it! I am finally on days instead of swing or graveyard and I'm liking it! Although it's a little weird, it's nice to come home and be able to sit before dinner for a little bit and then sit after the dishes are done and actually be able to watch t/v.
August 22, 2006
Well, I started to write on June 7th to say how much I was enjoying being on days and actually having a life once again but as usual, I was distracted by something or someone. So, I am here today to continue on about what's been going on this summer.
October 19, 2006
Empty nest syndrome, graveyard shift at work, rare times spent with Sam, school and maybe a few other things, but life is good! I'm at a point in my life where I couldn't be happier and it's been one heck of a roller coaster ride. My sons are all grown up and living on their own, my house is quiet, sometimes too quiet, and Sam and I almost see each other only in passing when he relieves me at work at 6:00 a.m. and I'm saying good night to the world and he's saying good morning and the only time we see each other is when I get up for a couple of hours and fix dinner and then I'm back to dream land or rather trying to get there and then he's going to bed and I'm getting up. I've more or less reached a peaceful state in my life, one that I've been waiting for, for a very long time. I feel like I did many years ago as a teenager when I used to go to the beach and sit on the rocks and just stare out at the ocean and I felt safe and that's how I feel now. Life is an ocean just waiting to be seen and felt, a peaceful calm!
January 9, 2007
It's hard to believe that another year has passed and that it has been almost three months since I wrote an entry here.
We find that life changes in the blink of an eye whether we like it or not. We lost a very special and wonderful young man in October, his name was Kenny Bostic and he called me "mom". We've known him and his family since we moved here in 1996 and he went to school with our youngest son Chris. We watched him grow into a fine young man and we watched him go off to this God forsaken war that's going on. We also watched him come home for good, but not in the way we would have liked. He was killed by a sniper in Iraq and our whole town mourned this wonderful young man. I would not be exaggerating when I say that almost the whole town turned out at his Memorial service. There were so many people that it had to be held in the High School gym. The procession to the Cemetery probably took at least a half hour because of all the vehicles. There was nothing that Kenny wouldn't do for someone! He would light up the room when he walked in and smiled and said, "Hi mom!" Kenny could melt even the hardest heart with just his smile. We will miss his smiling face because when he came home on leave, he never hesitated to come and spend time with us, telling us one of his jokes that would leave everyone laughing uncontrollably. There wasn't anyone that he didn't like and he was considered a brother to many of the other young adults here in town and an adopted son to many moms! He fought his battle well and with pride and we will always remember him and admire his courage and how he lived his life to the fullest! His family lost a wonderful young man that day and we lost a wonderful friend and adopted son. His memory will never die and his spirit will always be with us here in "America's Patriotic Home", Hawthorne, Nevada!! Rest in Peace Kenny Bostic, we love you!!
October 2, 2007
Time seems to fly by faster as one gets older, either that or I have slowed down way too far! Actually I have only slowed down a little because I am still one busy person but not as much as I was a year ago or two years ago. I am about to embark on a new adventure! Well, it's an old adventure with a new twist! After being out of school for the past year, one of which I probably badly needed, I have recently enrolled into Kaplan University online. I am going for my Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Juvenile Justice. I start on the 9th of this month and will be taking two classes, "Applied Criminal Justice Ethics" and "Organized Crime". I am very excited about starting school again and I'm sure there are some out there saying, "This woman must be off her rocker!" but that's okay, it's my rocker, right?
I am going to attempt a few things from now on which could probably be referred to as New Year's Resolutions, a little late but you know that saying, "Better late than never". I have neglected so many things this year, one of which is major and that is my house and the others things are keeping in contact by snail mail with several people who do not use computers and spending more time enjoying my life. It seems that all I do is sleep and work since I am on graveyard at the Juvenile Detention Center where I am employed. I have at least three more months of the graveyard shift and that will most likely put me at being on that same shift for about one year, could be longer since I have now lost track. Anyway, back to my house! I am going to try to take a day or two off here and there and combine them with my regular days off and get my house in order by doing some major deep cleaning and painting and also pulling up the carpet here in my computer room. My computer room alone will take me quite awhile to get back to normal because I have so much to move out in order to pull the carpet out, one floor to ceiling bookshelf filled with books, one floor to ceiling bookshelf filled with stuffed animals and collectibles, two small bookshelves filled with books, a floor to ceiling glass doll case, one fainting couch otherwise known as a chaise lounge, one filing cabinet and two desks. My house is not huge but it is five bedrooms, one bedroom of which is my computer room so that leaves four bedrooms, two bathrooms, livingroom, diningroom and kitchen, all of which could use a major overhaul. As far as taking time to enjoy my life, we have only one evening to really be able to do this and that is on Sunday when my oldest son Sammy, his wife Danielle and little boy Landon come over for dinner and to watch a movie. As far as spending time with my husband Sam, that too is mainly on Sunday evenings since he is on the day shift and Sunday is our only day off together. Now and then we will try to go out of town for dinner and a night away just to relax and enjoy each others company. Next month we will be married 29 years and that is a long time and we are planning on taking time off of work and going away for a couple of days if we can manage it. As far as keeping in contact with different people, I am trying to write more letters while I am at work since that seems to be the best time for me to be able to do that.
I have always been a juggler when it comes to work, school and family and it's important to me to keep working at all three. Sometimes I find myself neglecting one to complete the other so I am going to try my best to give each thing my undivided attention with family being the main thing. I have been so blessed with my husband and two wonderful sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law and a beautiful four year old grandson and they are the most important people in my life. I look at my grandson Landon and see how fast he is growing and that is where I see time flying by. He just started Pre-School and loves it and I get to take him to school on Mondays and Tuesdays. He is now 50 pounds and is three feet and nine inches tall and the sad thing is that he is taller than I was when I was in the fourth grade. Now that's sad!!! To say I was short in Elementary School is an understatement.
My youngest son Chris moved back into the house with his father and myself and we also have someone else that is staying with us so my house is a very busy place which makes privacy a rare commodity but we wouldn't have it any other way.
