~~~PROUD~~~

         

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp8Az13Olws

Sometimes if you are lucky in there are moments in your life that simply take your breath away. And by take your breath away, I mean, knock your socks off, make your heart swell with pride, cause tears to just stream down your face until you just have to give in to the sobs of joy and finally you just realize that ,"THIS," is what you have worked so damn hard for.  Last Friday night was that moment in time for me.  Watching Brinkley stand in front of nearly 250 police officers, giving a speech on the impact of an impaired driver hitting her father while he was at work was one of the proudest moments of my life.  To see my little girl stand before these big tough men and women, watching this tiny little girl, bring them to tears, watching her bring her Daddy to tears, was awe inspiring.  She was tough.  She was brave.  She was knock down drag out strong to get up there and belt out her speech without as much as one, "um," or, "uh."

I knew my little girl was a good public speaker but little did I know just how great she would be under these circumstances.  I must have had 50 or more people come up to me to compliment just how eloquently my daughter speaks in public. The biggest surprise was when one of the Arizona State Representatives who is a member of the House of Representatives and the chairman of transportation appropriations banking and insurance asked if Brinkley would please come down to the State Capitol and present her speech to the house of Representatives.

Like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words..... the way Tommy is looking at his baby girl in these photos is worth more than a thousand words.... and completely priceless to me!!!  I am so proud of this little girl.  I sent an email to her teacher explaining how grateful I am for the gift of teachers and their constant teaching of public speaking in her school.  Today I got the chance to have a quick conversation with her before lunch about the email.  Brinkley's teacher told me that she cried when she read the email, which made me cry.  I showed her Brinkley's speech from the task force.  Miss Pekara had tears running down her cheeks.  I know how proud she is of Brinkley.   She plans to share my email with the staff just to make sure that they know that all their hard work does get noticed, by more than just the parents.

Miss Binky, we are so proud of you.  You can see it in the way your Daddy is looking at you in these photos. We all know that Daddy would never cry in public unless it was something that meant the world to him!!!! You did something that not many adult are capeable of doing and you should be so very proud of yourself young lady!!!!  We love you so very much!!!!!!  We can't wait to see you present this speech in front of the people at the State Capitol!!!!!        

REALITY~ OR SO THEY SAY

REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE AND YOU DREAMED OF THE BUTTERFLIES YOU WOULD FEEL WHEN THE PERFECT LOVE CAME AROUND?  HOW YOUR HEART WOULD SKIP A BEAT WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THAT LOVE? HOW YOU YOU WOULD BECOME BREATHLESS WHEN THAT LOVE CAME TOO CLOSE TO YOU?  WORSE YET, DARE THEY SPEAK TO YOU, ASK YOU OUT.....OR  KISS YOU LIKE TOMORROW'S WERE ONLY A DREAM AND YESTERDAY NEVER EXISTED?  WHAT THEN??

Fairytale?
Fiction or Non?
Fantasy?
Familiar?  

Which would it be? 

If you are a girl, most likely, your fantasy is the butterflies that last forever with passion that never fades.  The perfect mixture of interlaced fingers, racing hearts, simple whispers in candle lit rooms late into the night. The digital age brings on sweet texts that offer racy promises but handwritten cards or simple little love notes will still make ones heart skip a simple beat back to day one when you fell madly in love at first sight.

If you are a guy, maybe the same, with more hands on and visual attempts at racy raunch.  After all, you are human, and male right?  But who doesn't want a life of passion and love and laughter and happiness?

The problem begins when you realize you have started to grow apart in any way what so ever.  Work status, health, fitness level, at the point that the value of ones life begins to outweigh the value of the others life.  It happens day in and day out.  One week into a relationship or 10 years into a marriage.  One has to wonder, what makes the good ones good and the great ones even better????? or the simple ones just fade????

What does one do if they have been, ever so kindly,  invited to exit the so-called, fairytale, if it is not what they thought it was what they really signed up for in life?  What do you tell that princess or prince that grew up believing in that dream of passion and romance and everything  love....?  How do you even begin to teach the magic of long, slow, deep, wet kisses that last for days, when they no longer exsist because life has moved on and somehow, well, that is just everyones excuse in society today? 

What if you don't buy that excuse?  And you want to fight for that passion everyone keeps downplaying and has made you forget, even though you know so deep down, somewhere, it still simmers.    

What if the  invitation to exit the fairytale irrevocably crushes ones spirit and rips out another reason to believe in that fairytale.  In any fairytales?   What if that invitation is your own fault and you know that, you own it and you can feel your own guilt eating you alive?????

Tonight, the only advice I have is to hug the ones you love and remember what it was that really, really, brought you and those in your kingdom together!!  And cold towels on swollen, tear filled eyes.

To Be Continued........