I did survive my 60th birthday much to my confusion and disbelief.
Looking back at my childhood, my teen years, and my adult years have helped me figure out where much of the time was used and helped me decide what to do with the next 47 years. Yes, 107!
I have discovered that we are all basically yummy "Milk Shakes". Take 1 part childhood, 1 part teenager, and 1 part adult. Shake (do not stir) well in order to combine all the ingredients, and voila! It's YOU! No one else with similar backgrounds. JUST YOU!
Another thing I've seen is those children and teenagers are still alive and well inside all of us. I have a new acquaintance. I know he was a genius when he was younger. Now I read or hear things that he is planning and I think, "how old and what year does he think this is?" Then it hit me, and I looked at him with new eyes. I thought of both pictures of him. The one when he was 20 years old smiling excitedly, and of the one of him now. The 20 year old is still there. He just looks a little different! Now, I get it. MILKSHAKES! All parts are mixed together, but each part is still there in it's original form.
My plans for the next 47 years? Not to waste one minute or idea. I'm a big girl now, and only have myself to answer to. I am really tired of the expression "bucket list", but whatever you want to call it make one and stick to it. First thing on my list is a trip to Florida for one of the last 3 space launches. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was in the 3rd grade, but I soon figured a right brained girl would never make it. Now the closest I can get is to see and feel the power as it takes off.
I wish all my fellow classmates of 1968 a very healthy and happy 60th birthday. My best advise to all of you is...Do not sit down or still!
Cheers,
Claudia
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Adult Years
First, a post script to my last blog. Dave Browne reminded me of one more crazy thing we did for fun as teens. Remember this one...We would go to Bachman Lake, climb the back side to the runway at Love Field, lay down just in front of the run-way and stay there while the planes came in just over us for a landing!
22 days and counting. Revelation...I think I am starting to see where most of my life went.
Two weeks before I turned 21 I got married. Had my first of 3 daughters three years later, and pretty much the rest is history. I spent the next 33 years dedicating all my time to my children and husbands. Yes, I said husbands. I've married and divorced 3 times. Sure did not expect that when I was growing up and making plans for my life.
I have driven gillions of miles to school, ballet lessons, ball games, music lessons, cheer leading practices, pageants, swimming lessons, doctor's appointments, etc. I have been PTA President, Cheer Club President, Cheer publicity, T-Ball coach, dress designer, stage designer, cook, maid, gardener, chauffeur, nurse, hand holder, adviser, psychiatrist, etc. I worked outside of the home some, but very little compared to the time taking care of my family.
Now let's see. Hum....I don't see me in there for 33 years. I am honestly not complaining. I loved being a mom! I loved my time with my 3 daughters, and miss them being little and at home. However, I did not do one thing during those years for my personal growth. It's a blur...a whirl wind of time. It was wonderful, but now for some "me" time.
I've been working full time and more for 8 years. Have loved most of it, but my real love is my art and design. I started making memory crosses which I love. I get to use my imagination on every one I make. I began painting again. I can spend hours on both and never get bored. They even sell which is a added bonus. I am loving my freedom and "me" time!
I guess the moral of the story is enjoy ever single minute of life that your have. Most importantly do not lose yourself in there. Time goes faster than our little minds can imagine, so we had better make the most of every day. Give of yourself with joy, but save some for you, too.
Cheers,
Claudia
22 days and counting. Revelation...I think I am starting to see where most of my life went.
Two weeks before I turned 21 I got married. Had my first of 3 daughters three years later, and pretty much the rest is history. I spent the next 33 years dedicating all my time to my children and husbands. Yes, I said husbands. I've married and divorced 3 times. Sure did not expect that when I was growing up and making plans for my life.
I have driven gillions of miles to school, ballet lessons, ball games, music lessons, cheer leading practices, pageants, swimming lessons, doctor's appointments, etc. I have been PTA President, Cheer Club President, Cheer publicity, T-Ball coach, dress designer, stage designer, cook, maid, gardener, chauffeur, nurse, hand holder, adviser, psychiatrist, etc. I worked outside of the home some, but very little compared to the time taking care of my family.
Now let's see. Hum....I don't see me in there for 33 years. I am honestly not complaining. I loved being a mom! I loved my time with my 3 daughters, and miss them being little and at home. However, I did not do one thing during those years for my personal growth. It's a blur...a whirl wind of time. It was wonderful, but now for some "me" time.
I've been working full time and more for 8 years. Have loved most of it, but my real love is my art and design. I started making memory crosses which I love. I get to use my imagination on every one I make. I began painting again. I can spend hours on both and never get bored. They even sell which is a added bonus. I am loving my freedom and "me" time!
I guess the moral of the story is enjoy ever single minute of life that your have. Most importantly do not lose yourself in there. Time goes faster than our little minds can imagine, so we had better make the most of every day. Give of yourself with joy, but save some for you, too.
Cheers,
Claudia
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Teen Years
33 days and counting until I turn 60 years old. Last blog I was recounting a tiny part of my childhood in Greenville.
Big "D"...the land of milk and honey. This was exactly what I thought just one week after moving to Dallas. I thought my parents had destroyed my life moving me from Greenville to Dallas just as I was about to start the 9th grade. I got to Dallas, looked at all the beautiful homes, grand cars, huge buildings, and super cute boys (not that there weren't cute boys in Greenville) and BAM! Within the first few months of 1964 in Dallas Georgiana and I went to see the Beatles!
Ursuline Academy...all girls Catholic College Prep school. Oh, my goodness. WHERE AM I? Could not wear make-up. Could not dye my hair (it was actually dyed when I got there). Skirts had to touch the floor when you knelt. Classes harder than I could imagine. Latin? What was I going to use that for? All the teachers were Nuns, but I really liked all of them. I made it through Freshman year, but begged my parents to go back to public school.
W.T. White High School. Now this was more like it! Back to being a normal girl.
High school was so much fun for me. I loved every minute of it. Cruising Forest Lane, cruising White Rock Lake, Brookhaven Country Club, Green Valley Raceway, The Studio Club, Lou Ann's, Sump'N Else ( Dallas' version of American Band Stand), Goff's Hamburgers, Jack N The Box, the Gemini Drive-In, Jefferson Hotel Ballroom parties, Market Hall, Turner Falls, Jesuit boys, W.T. White boys, T.J. boys, Hillcrest boys, Dougherty's, Cobb's, riding the bus to Texas A&M with Julie, being one of the few girls to jump off the RR tressle at Lake Dallas, The Novas, The Sensations, Junior Symphony Ball, Groovy, black light posters, psychedelic music, tons and tons of concerts, mini skirts, the Gator & the Dead Rat, Bat Man, protesting the Viet Nam War, and taking my SAT with a hang over (ok, not so smart). I had a care free blast in high school and am glad I did. Adulthood can be REALLY long, and it's not like you can go back and be totally care free again!
I'm trying to divide my life into 4 parts. Childhood, teen years, adulthood, and middle age. Maybe if I do this when April 10th gets here I'll be ready. It has gone by so fast I feel I need to go back and add everything up to figure out where it went.
Those of you who have already turned 60 how did you deal, or did you just slide right into it with out any back look or problem?
Cheers,
Claudia
Big "D"...the land of milk and honey. This was exactly what I thought just one week after moving to Dallas. I thought my parents had destroyed my life moving me from Greenville to Dallas just as I was about to start the 9th grade. I got to Dallas, looked at all the beautiful homes, grand cars, huge buildings, and super cute boys (not that there weren't cute boys in Greenville) and BAM! Within the first few months of 1964 in Dallas Georgiana and I went to see the Beatles!
Ursuline Academy...all girls Catholic College Prep school. Oh, my goodness. WHERE AM I? Could not wear make-up. Could not dye my hair (it was actually dyed when I got there). Skirts had to touch the floor when you knelt. Classes harder than I could imagine. Latin? What was I going to use that for? All the teachers were Nuns, but I really liked all of them. I made it through Freshman year, but begged my parents to go back to public school.
W.T. White High School. Now this was more like it! Back to being a normal girl.
High school was so much fun for me. I loved every minute of it. Cruising Forest Lane, cruising White Rock Lake, Brookhaven Country Club, Green Valley Raceway, The Studio Club, Lou Ann's, Sump'N Else ( Dallas' version of American Band Stand), Goff's Hamburgers, Jack N The Box, the Gemini Drive-In, Jefferson Hotel Ballroom parties, Market Hall, Turner Falls, Jesuit boys, W.T. White boys, T.J. boys, Hillcrest boys, Dougherty's, Cobb's, riding the bus to Texas A&M with Julie, being one of the few girls to jump off the RR tressle at Lake Dallas, The Novas, The Sensations, Junior Symphony Ball, Groovy, black light posters, psychedelic music, tons and tons of concerts, mini skirts, the Gator & the Dead Rat, Bat Man, protesting the Viet Nam War, and taking my SAT with a hang over (ok, not so smart). I had a care free blast in high school and am glad I did. Adulthood can be REALLY long, and it's not like you can go back and be totally care free again!
I'm trying to divide my life into 4 parts. Childhood, teen years, adulthood, and middle age. Maybe if I do this when April 10th gets here I'll be ready. It has gone by so fast I feel I need to go back and add everything up to figure out where it went.
Those of you who have already turned 60 how did you deal, or did you just slide right into it with out any back look or problem?
Cheers,
Claudia
Friday, February 5, 2010
My Childhood
Well here I am, and how did I get here? Is anyone other than me having trouble trying to figuring how it's possible to be turning 60 this year? It is not until April, so I am trying to prepare myself.
I know it was just yesterday my daddy was picking me up from Mrs. Mackelree and Harrison's Kindergarten in his red convertible Studebaker. Daddy would put the top down. Cathlene Barlow and I would sit on the back and drive away waving at everyone playing like we were beauty queens in a parade.
I loved my childhood in Greenville... stunt flying with my dad and spending time with him at the private airport, Sand Oaks Country Club, Lamar Elementary and my "Ponytail" zipper notebook, the Golden Gloves every year with my dad starting in kindergarten, the skating rink, the YMCA, Queen Ann's, The Texan Theater, playing Cowboys and Indians with my cousin Harry, Star Dusters, Woolsworth 5 and 10, Limeaides at the drug store, the antique store by the rail road tracks, Saint William's and Vacation Bible School, Betty Hogue's Dance Studio, El Sombrero's, Sabine Valley, Club Lake, the Park with the big slide and gorilla, trying to catch ground squirrels in the cemetery, trick or treating on Park Street and all the old spooky houses, and the wonderful Christmas Parades with Santa at the end throwing candy!
My neighborhood...Mrs. Phafel in her wonderful Victorian Home, Park Street, the Ramsey's basement, Mrs. Brook's gold fish pond, Mrs. Decker, Mrs. Baker, climbing trees and fences with Billy Ray Hoff, Jr., Mr. Terry and piano lessons, The Henley's, Cathlene Webster, Forrest Parker, the lady across from Lamar Elem. with the monkeys, the Lockheart's and their Indian performances, Mr. Green's corner store and fudge cycles, the National Guard driving down Park Street in their military vehicles, rolling down the hill in a barrel at DeDe and Carol McClain's, riding my bike and roller skating round and round the block, and my going away party at Brenda Reeves' home.
It would take a book to tell all the stories behind the names and places of my childhood, but they all have one!
Enough for now...Next blog I will hit some highlights of my time in Dallas starting in 1964.
Cheers,
Claudia
I know it was just yesterday my daddy was picking me up from Mrs. Mackelree and Harrison's Kindergarten in his red convertible Studebaker. Daddy would put the top down. Cathlene Barlow and I would sit on the back and drive away waving at everyone playing like we were beauty queens in a parade.
I loved my childhood in Greenville... stunt flying with my dad and spending time with him at the private airport, Sand Oaks Country Club, Lamar Elementary and my "Ponytail" zipper notebook, the Golden Gloves every year with my dad starting in kindergarten, the skating rink, the YMCA, Queen Ann's, The Texan Theater, playing Cowboys and Indians with my cousin Harry, Star Dusters, Woolsworth 5 and 10, Limeaides at the drug store, the antique store by the rail road tracks, Saint William's and Vacation Bible School, Betty Hogue's Dance Studio, El Sombrero's, Sabine Valley, Club Lake, the Park with the big slide and gorilla, trying to catch ground squirrels in the cemetery, trick or treating on Park Street and all the old spooky houses, and the wonderful Christmas Parades with Santa at the end throwing candy!
My neighborhood...Mrs. Phafel in her wonderful Victorian Home, Park Street, the Ramsey's basement, Mrs. Brook's gold fish pond, Mrs. Decker, Mrs. Baker, climbing trees and fences with Billy Ray Hoff, Jr., Mr. Terry and piano lessons, The Henley's, Cathlene Webster, Forrest Parker, the lady across from Lamar Elem. with the monkeys, the Lockheart's and their Indian performances, Mr. Green's corner store and fudge cycles, the National Guard driving down Park Street in their military vehicles, rolling down the hill in a barrel at DeDe and Carol McClain's, riding my bike and roller skating round and round the block, and my going away party at Brenda Reeves' home.
It would take a book to tell all the stories behind the names and places of my childhood, but they all have one!
Enough for now...Next blog I will hit some highlights of my time in Dallas starting in 1964.
Cheers,
Claudia
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Merry Christmas,
It is hard to believe we are hurdling toward another Christmas. Ah, the time of year for "Peace on Earth, Good Will To Men". I hope that during this season we all take the time to remind ourselves of this small verse. If we keep our sites on the true meaning of Christmas it will truly be a merry one!
I have such wonderful memories of Christmas. My sisters and I in matching pajamas. The year I sneaked down the stairs and saw my big baby doll under the tree. The year I found my cousin, Harry C, and my bicycles in the attic (and showed them to him!). The year we got our titter-totter!! Christmas Eves at my grand mother Rossie's house. Yucky mince meat pies, and all the adults drinking lots of eggnog . All the wonderful smells, excitement, and pure joy. What are some of your memories?
My sincere prayer is that all of you, my friends and family, experience the love and peace of this Christmas Season.
Cheers,
Claudia
Saturday, November 28, 2009
MY FIRST GALLERY SHOW
I am really excited! My first gallery show of my paintings will be this Thursday, Dec. 3 from 7:00-10:00 at Charley Mitcherson's Studio located at 405 N. Bishop Ave. in the Bishop Arts District. The show will run Dec. 3 to Dec. 27. I will only be present on the 3rd.
If you can come please do. There will be wine, drinks, and some really good local art. This is also "Jingle Bells" in Bishop Arts which is always a festive weekend and party in all the stores. Hope to see you there.
Cheers,
Claudia
If you can come please do. There will be wine, drinks, and some really good local art. This is also "Jingle Bells" in Bishop Arts which is always a festive weekend and party in all the stores. Hope to see you there.
Cheers,
Claudia
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Woodstock 40th Anniversary
I spent one of the most exciting days of my life on Oct. 25. It was the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock West-Fest in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I have never been to anything like it before, and will never see anything like it again. I went with my old high school friend, Matt Culmore.
The music was indescribable. Each group went on, played 3 songs, then the next group came on. You would have thought that each and every one of them was getting paid big money to put on the best performance possible. In reality this celebration was free to the public, and the performers played for free.
You name it I saw it. Great cooperation, organization, love, high energy, almost necked women thinking they were still 16, crazy outfits, super stoned people, people from infants to 70ish, a crowd of close to 100,000, and not a single fight or disturbance. It was amazing!!!! The entire 42 acts went off without a hitch on an incredibly decorated stage.
We had a large number of people show up to play "Purple Haze" in honor of Jimi Hendrix who was the head liner at the Woodstock 1969, but we did not break the Guinness World Record. It did not seem to matter to anyone. We had such a fantastic time with everyone playing with the band that consisted of Vernon "Ice" Black, Leon Hendrix, Riki Hendrix, and some other kicking guitarist that I do not have the names of. There were many families that came out together to play. It was great!!! Yes, I did it! Ok, not like most of the guitarists there, but I played as hard as I could go and laughed my head off.
The highlight of the day for me was meeting Artie Kornfield. He was the organizer of the original Woodstock of 1969. I was star struck! He is a music god. If you get the chance "google" his name and read about his career.
Please look to right side of this blog, and you will see the links to the pictures on my flickr.com account from the day. I wish you could have all been there. It was an EXPERIENCE!!!
Just a few of the bands: Edwin Hawkins Singers (Oh Happy Day), Country Joe and The Fish, Ray Manzarek of The Doors, El Chicano, The Chambers Brothers, Jefferson Starship, Gregg Allman Band, Denny Lane of Wings & The Moody Blue, David Denny of Steve Miller Band,Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Diana Mangano of The Jefferson Starship, Narada Michael Walden (drummer), The Family Stone (minus Sly), Vernon "Ice" Black, John York of The Birds, The original cast of Hair, etc.......
Cheers,
Claudia
The music was indescribable. Each group went on, played 3 songs, then the next group came on. You would have thought that each and every one of them was getting paid big money to put on the best performance possible. In reality this celebration was free to the public, and the performers played for free.
You name it I saw it. Great cooperation, organization, love, high energy, almost necked women thinking they were still 16, crazy outfits, super stoned people, people from infants to 70ish, a crowd of close to 100,000, and not a single fight or disturbance. It was amazing!!!! The entire 42 acts went off without a hitch on an incredibly decorated stage.
We had a large number of people show up to play "Purple Haze" in honor of Jimi Hendrix who was the head liner at the Woodstock 1969, but we did not break the Guinness World Record. It did not seem to matter to anyone. We had such a fantastic time with everyone playing with the band that consisted of Vernon "Ice" Black, Leon Hendrix, Riki Hendrix, and some other kicking guitarist that I do not have the names of. There were many families that came out together to play. It was great!!! Yes, I did it! Ok, not like most of the guitarists there, but I played as hard as I could go and laughed my head off.
The highlight of the day for me was meeting Artie Kornfield. He was the organizer of the original Woodstock of 1969. I was star struck! He is a music god. If you get the chance "google" his name and read about his career.
Please look to right side of this blog, and you will see the links to the pictures on my flickr.com account from the day. I wish you could have all been there. It was an EXPERIENCE!!!
Just a few of the bands: Edwin Hawkins Singers (Oh Happy Day), Country Joe and The Fish, Ray Manzarek of The Doors, El Chicano, The Chambers Brothers, Jefferson Starship, Gregg Allman Band, Denny Lane of Wings & The Moody Blue, David Denny of Steve Miller Band,Prairie Prince of The Tubes, Diana Mangano of The Jefferson Starship, Narada Michael Walden (drummer), The Family Stone (minus Sly), Vernon "Ice" Black, John York of The Birds, The original cast of Hair, etc.......
Cheers,
Claudia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
