Romeo and Juliet vs. Grandpa and Grandma

Mackinac Island and True Love!

While on vacation in 2009, my husband and I were on a ferry to a most wonderful island.  It is called Mackinac Island, in the northern Michigan area. 

We spent a few days here on our honeymoon way back in the day (1977).  

Mackinac Island a very romantic place. 

 In fact, part of the movie "Somewhere in Time" was filmed on Mackinac Island in 1980.

 Let me post pictures from our trip before I get to

my short and sweet love story. 

I love this place!

Island Transportation is by foot, horse or bike, no automobiles or trucks are allowed on the island, not even for servicing hotels or restaurants. 

People ride bikes everywhere.

Taxi is a horse drawn carraige.

The Grand Hotel is on this Island, although I have not included any pictures from the Grand Hotel.

The best place to stay in my opinion is

the Iroquois on the Beach

  

  

There are many cute and quaint shops on main street and flower boxes gallore!

 

 The hotels on the island are most charming,

 most with screened in porches allowing the breeze of the lake!

I just love all of the flowers and flags everywhere.

Note the ferry boat in the picture above - these boats leave from the mainland and transport people and products to the island.  Summer is a very busy season on the island with tourists by the thousands.  While I have never been to the island in Autumn, I am sure it is equally beautiful.  Fall color in Michigan is gorgeous.

If you want to plan a most romantic vacation, you should plan to head to Mackinac Island.

  

Fudge on Mackinaw Island is a big deal - it is everywhere. 

 This picture is taken through the window, thus the glare.  

NOW TO MY SHORT BUT SWEET STORY!

  

My husband and I boarded a ferry to Mackinac Island for a special anniversary trip.  We grabbed a beverage and sat down. Were we the usual bubbly upbeat vacationers, camera in hand, excited for our time together without work, stress and the usual day to day stuff.

Everyone was boarded and we were on the way to the island.

Across from us sat an elderly couple.  They had to be in their mid 80s. 

They sat there quiet, never speaking a word to each other the entire trip.

I realized that couple had been together for years.

They had no new stories to tell.

Their vacation was to a most romantic island.

Was it a return trip or their first time to the island?

I did not know and I never will.

But one thing I did know, they were surely in love.  It was easy to see.

They sat close together, shoulder to shoulder, and hand in hand.
Although their faces were wrinkled and bodies worn and likely stiff,

clearly their love was strong and alive.

They did not need to speak, the stories all told.

At first I thought it was sad,

 then I realized it was peace and contentment

and true love.

I sometimes wonder if that was a foreshadow

of a trip that my husband and I just may make one last time...

when we are in our 80s!

**********************************************************************

True Love

too rare these days!

I am blessed.

I love you James --- Always!

The end.

 

9-11 Forever Remember

Always Remember

9-11

Parent & Kids & Truth

I Love This Little Cartoon

BUT

I have to add

ASSUMING MY KID IS RIGHT!

Never just assume your kid is right but when he is and he has been wronged, bullied, etc...

ACT!

But maybe leave the gun home.

Look Back

There is always someone who has less than you, who'd love to be where you are in life.  It is a good idea to look backward sometimes at those behind you in life's place.

 Each Monday on my way to work I pass a place that provides government aid/assistance to the needy.  At 6:30 in the morning three are at least 10 people asleep on the sidewalk, lined up outside the building waiting for the the building to open. There are another 50 or more lined up amidst those asleep.

This is Houston, it is steamy here all summer long, nights rarely cool off to anything below 75 degrees and bugs are plentiful.  I feel for these people. They'd look forward hoping for better.  They'd consider themselves rich and blessed if they had a bed, a0 place to sleep that is out of the heat, the rain, the cold (yes we do get a few cold days in January and February).

It is in these moments of passing that I realize most vividly how truly blessed I am and I should want for nothing more as I have what so many do not and wish they did.

I must remind myself to take a look backward sometimes, rather than forward.  No matter who you are or where you are at in life, it is good to realize there is someone who'd love to be in your place as they are worse off.

Giving to charities is good,  but I never see the impact of the donations.  I often think I should get involved in a soup kitchen, with the Red Cross, or any charitable organization, and one of these days I will.

inspiration!

Land of Opportunity and Freedom vs Land of Shared Prosperity

A Video Worth 10 Minutes

Our Lives and Experiences Make us Who we are Today

In 59 days we elect the next President of the United States.  These 2 candidates have stark differences in what they see for America's future.

Vision 1
President Obama wants shared prosperity, or in other words those who do little or nothing to help themselves should have as great a life as those who did everything to help themselves.

Vision 2
Candidate Romney wants all Americans to all have the same opportunity to be prosperous but he does not believe prosperity should be equalized by government handouts from taxpayer dollars collected from hard working people.. 

Opportunity exists in America for everyone, grab it and work hard you can be successful.  Sit back and say woe is me and you get no where and in my opinion you do not deserve any "shared prosperity". Yes disabled and other exceptions do exist and that is different.

I saw this video today of Mitt Romney (Vision 2).  It shows his life experiences, it shows who he is and yes HE IS A LEADER. He holds my vision for this great, but faltering country.

If you want to see a movie about Barack Obama's life experiences, go see the movie  "2016, Obama's America", it is 90 minutes of his life and it is in theatre's now.  You will definitely see why he has "Vision 1".

Now and Then

Life is a roller coaster of ups and downs.  When life is tough, know it will  get better. Pray.  When life is happy take note, and then pray again, in thanks! 

I LOVE FALL

I love Autumn.  I spent much of my life in the Great Lake State, Michigan.  The fall season there is awesome.  The trees turn beautiful colors, the kids jump in piles of leaves, the skies are a deeper blue, the air crisp.  Along with cooler temperatures comes the opening of Cider Mills serving warm apple cider and cinnamon sugar donuts.   

Football season starts, schools hold craft and art shows and carnivals.  Pumpkins start showing up by the truckload and Halloween is just around the corner.  I love fall.  

Now I live in Houston and fall is still quite warm and we do not have Cider Mills.  But we are excited to see the pumpkins in the stores and at the nurseries.  And sure we have school carnivals and craft fairs.  And football - boy do we have football.  Texas is BIG ON FOOTBALL!

I actually like football.  My favorite team is the Houston Texans. Next in line to the Texans are the Detroit Lions!  Both should have really good seasons, I think!  We sometimes go to the local high school football game.  My husband play football in high school. I think he likes the trip down memory lane that results for going to a high school football game. 

Below is my all time favorite Texan - Avery and two of his biggest fans, Amber and Allie (the grandkiddos 1, 2 and 3).

So I remember Michigan fall fondly and I should mention here that I really really really do not miss raking all the leaves!

Range!

No more delays get up to the range girl!  

Preview is Nice but ..

When I do a new post I like to use the "preview" button to see how it looks, but it seems like I cannot remember how to get out of "preview" mode.  So for now I will just post and publish.   Thus the title of my blog "The Novice Blogger".  And I have no idea how to add the cute little side stuff either.  So be it. 
Peace.

Yikes - I lost my stress relief blog site

I started a new blog as a therapy place.  I hear writing is a good way to reduce stress.  The political world of today does cause me stress.  AND not wanting to mix fun and not so fun in the same blog, I was going to keep two separate blogs. Enter the blunder.  I cannot seem to access my "not so happy" therapy blog.  I am giving up trying (as I only had 5 posts) and sorry to say - this blog will be some of both.  I will try to keep it short and snappy more fun than not.  

And blunder girl - don't mess this one up.

For the Moms (and dads) of 2 Year Olds

I stumbled upon this and had to post it for all the moms (and dads) of two year hold kids.

It made me smile and I think you may smile "two".