So Happy, So Sad...all in the same day

The emotions of today have been great.

A childhood, lifelong friend was to deliver her twins today. She did. Twins, a boy and a girl, everyone healthy and doing well. A new world for her. She will be a great mother, he will be a fantastic dad. Those kids will be well cared for and much love will be shared because they have the family they have always wanted. I woke up thinking of them and their plans for today. As we worked this morning, we discussed what a day they must be having. I thanked God for taking such good care of them and showing us all the miracles He can give.

Then, there was tonight. My mom called, but it was an odd call. She called on his cell phone, from her cell phone. She would not tell me what she wanted, she said she'd call back later and talk to him. I was on the phone with a friend I don't talk to enough, so I let it go. I even forgot to tell him I answered her call on his cell phone. When he called her back, I didn't realize what was going on. He let me finish my call, then asked about the friend I was talking to. Then he told me why my mom called.

Another childhood, lifelong friend, a sad story. We grew up together -- from the time we were probably only 3 years old. Of all of my friends, she's no doubt known me longer than any other. Her dad died today. I cannot even put into words how great of a person he was, or how much he had to offer, or how much he will be missed. I am trying to be thankful for the time he had here, but it's just not easy, not even for me, a friend of this family.

How can this be, all within the same day, 2 new little blessings come in, and someone slips out, just like that? Feeling like life is so unfair tonight. I will have both families in my thoughts and prayers. The next few days, weeks, even months will bring upon many unexpected moments for each of them.

Bragging!!

I had to include this in my "memory" book. I was a band geek in high school. While it was a public school, we had a really good program. Our director truly cared about the education and well-being of his students. Undoubtedly, he has provided many of today's middle school and high school bands with great directors. I cannot remember the count, but I can just about name 8 members of his band that have gone on to be band directors across the state, and country!

Fortunately, I made some life-long friends in band. Brenda was one of them. She's a couple of years younger than I am, but who'se counting??? Brenda worked hard, and despite a few obstacles, she went to college. I believe she completed more college than I did! I cannot remember if she got her masters or PhD. Currently, she is a band director at a local high school in our hometown. Brenda was recently awarded a very high honor, the Mr. Holland's Opus Award. As a result, the school she is at received funding for instruments and instruction that they would not have otherwise ever been able to come up with. The Opus award is one of the highest awards imaginable. She has done some UNBELIEVABLE things for that school and those kids.

To see a brief video, click here. This is soooo awesome!! Go Brenda!!


I'm so proud to know her. She is doing such fantastic things for those students. She has more than tripled the number of students. This school has never had a reputable band program. Now, they are nearing 100 members -- I think they may have been around 20ish when she started. (I realize that 100 is relatively small depending on where you come from, but we're talking an innercity, public school.) This past fall, we even saw her band perform at a football game. WOW -- they really looked and sounded good. I cannot wait to see her group perform again!

Good times, old pals

Have you ever had one of those pals, always in your life, but maybe just not every day? Someone you always laugh with, but never make enough time with? I have too many of those to count! Shame on me for not making more time to spend with those few special people. They make me feel good about who I am, and, well, just good, even when life's looking gloomy.

I had lunch with an old pal today. We have been a constant part of each other's lives for, gosh, I guess well over 15 years! I just realized how long we've really known each other. Time has just zoomed past us.

We went to high school together. So, during those days, we saw each other very often. There were classes together, social events together, and we even attended each other's family functions! Then, after a little chance entered the picture, ended up going to the same college. We even lived on the same side of campus in student housing. Throughout college we would "hang out", sometimes a lot, sometimes not.

This has always been unique relationship. I'm not sure why, other than we're both weird in our own ways. We'd ride home from college together; we'd complain about school and relationships; and we'd hang out at weird times walking around campus just talking about life. Then we may not see each other for an extended time, but like any other friendship, once we'd spend a little time together, it was as nothing had changed.

We each moved back to our hometown after college. Nothing changed, we were still each our own weird selves. Once we were out of school, we'd even ride back to college together for events. Time passed, and now, we're in that next phase of life. We spend our day to day lives working, being married (not to each other, obviously), spending time with family, and whatever else 30-somethings "do". Of course, we don't see each other often, but when we do, it almost always starts with a hug, there's time spent laughing, a few complaints, and ends with, "We should do this more often".

It's really comforting sharing a "past" with someone and knowing that no matter what, a "future" with them is just as likely...even if we drive each other crazy sometimes! ;)