Celebration of Life

Moving beyond my pain and celebrating life.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

I couldn't believe it!



Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it for our joint winners of the day. Two gold trophies, two sets of applause and two bloggers on the winners' rostrum - San Merideth, for the post Mercury Retrograde: Don’t Buy Into The Superstition and Celebration of Life with the many-textured post One Year Ago Today

This came from David at: http://david-mcmahon.blogspot.com/
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Thank you David!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

What will you be when you grow up?

You Should Be a Doctor

You are practical, sharp, and very intuitive.
Optimistic and energetic, you are a problem solver who doesn't get discouraged easily.
You are also quite compassionate and caring. You make people feel hopeful.
You're highly adaptable and capable. You do well with almost any curve ball life throws at you.

You do best when you:

- Are always learning new subjects
- Use your knowledge to solve problems

You would also be a good therapist or detective.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

January 30, 2007...One year ago today...



You never know what the day will bring; life can change from moment to moment.

January 30, 2007 is one of those days bookmarked in my memory bank. Up until the second of impact I was happy. I was planning on getting married in the spring, moving and starting a new phase in my life.

My fiance' Lou and I were looking at country property and had just left the realtor. Lou was driving my car and we were discussing the possibilities of the property we just viewed. All of a sudden I noticed the STOP sign and was about to say something when we were hit by the cattle truck. The truck tried to stop but pushed us through the intersection and into the cement lined irrigation ditch. The truck's impact was right where I was sitting. Thankfully, no one was killed! My car was totaled. The two mile ride in the ambulance was the longest ride I had ever taken.

I was the only one that did not walk away from the emergency room. I was in the hospital for three weeks with a broken pelvis, a broken rib which punctured my right lung and a fractured bone in my lower back. I had to learn to walk again and after Lou took care of me for almost two months he took me home and dropped me off. I live about 300 miles away from where the crash happened.

So, there I was at home not being able to get around very well without a vehicle. A friend loaned me a car but I had to put air in the tires and get it jump started every time I needed to go somewhere. Lou was supposed to come back the next weekend to see me and take me to the grocery store, he never did come back.

Being the strong headed Wyoming Woman that I am, I managed to figure things out and get another vehicle. My insurance company did not pay all that I owed on my vehicle, (I did not know that "gap" insurance even existed)so I was strapped financially too.

For one reason or another, Lou could not come back to see me so I decided to go see him one weekend. I thought it would be a real cool surprise to show up and show him my new vehicle and spend the weekend with him, after all we were going to be married in just a couple of months.

When I got to his house, he wasn't there and my key didn't work. I called him on his cell phone and said, "Surprise! I am here and my key doesn't work." He made an excuse about changing the locks then told me to go get something to eat and he would meet me back there in an hour.

When I returned, I noticed all of my stuff was out on his porch and he was nowhere to be seen. So I called him and he didn't answer. So then, I text him, asking him what was going on? He text me back telling me that he had a motel room for me in his name and to go check in and he would be right there. I left my stuff on his porch and went to the motel thinking that something wonderful was in store.

When I checked into the motel, I called him to tell him I was there. That's when he broke up with me, on the phone. He didn't even have the nerve to tell me in person. He told me that he met someone else and that he did not want to be with me anymore. He had sold his house and moved right after he had dropped me off at my house.

He broke my heart. My mind whirled with the thoughts of what I might have done or said that would make him look else where. I blamed myself. I cried for days. He would not answer my phone calls but eventually answered my emails when I told him that I would wait forever for him to change his mind. It only took three weeks for the other woman to dump him. He called me crying and we talked for hours. I loved him so much it didn't matter that he was unfaithful to me because after all, my love for him was strong enough for both of us.

We talked about getting back together again and resuming where we left off.

During the three weeks when he was still with the other woman, my friends and family had counseled me. They told me that they had a bad feeling about him from the beginning and I was better off without him. I knew this in my head, but my heart was stronger.

To make a long story short, with an open mind and experience of recognizing when he was not telling me the truth, it took me a few months to break it off with him. I decided my heart could not survive another wreck with him. We have remained friendly, we exchange emails but we have not seen each other again.

My body is slowly healing and I still have some residual affects from the wreck, my finances are tight but, my heart has completely healed.

There is always a silver lining with every storm cloud and something to be thankful for in every wreck in our lives. Yes, I am truly thankful for this wreck because it kept me from marrying Lou and it taught me an important life lesson.

I am thankful that I survived the wreck that broke my body and I am also thankful for the wreck that broke my heart... I am a stronger person for it. I am also thankful for my family and friends who stood behind me and encouraged me through my healing process.

My life lesson learned: Forgiveness is a powerful force; much stronger than hate and bitterness.

Collections or Memories?

Here are more pictures from Tonie's home. Tonie has a knack for taking ordinary objects, displaying them together and making them into a showcase. I love going to visit her and spotting new collections. Most of her collections are objects she has accumulated over the years and are memories of people and places and family.




The fishing lures and poles were from Ray's father and grandfather. I am not sure about the mitts but I bet they saw a lot of fun games!


I am glad that I didn't have to ever use these objects for cleaning!


Teapot collection.

This collection of memories are not mine but they have a special place in my memory bank!

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Cowboy hat lesson for Bob the Bear....








The smaller part of the hat goes towards the front and the tie is most often on the left, depending on the style of the hat. I hope this helps you while wearing your hat.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Going home again...


Star Valley, Wyoming looking east. This little valley is very close to the Idaho border and was originally settled by Mormon immigrants. When I lived there in the mid 80's the population was 95% Mormon. For those of us who did not share their beliefs, we gathered every Sunday in a small one room cabin church. We were a small crowd of not more than 20 including our children. We all became very close and my best friend to this day is still Tonie. I always feel like I am going home when I go to visit her. It doesn't matter how much time and distance there has been between us, we pick up right where we left off. Tonie's friendship is one that I cherish and always will.


Tonie and Ray's country home; my home away from home!


View from the kitchen window...you can't really tell it by this photo but it is snowing very hard. I gave Tonie that blue bottle and she would not let me have it back! LOL



Only in Wyoming do you see this kind of "Rush Hour" traffic! It was about minus 18 degrees when I took this picture. I am thankful that I don't make my living off the land! Thank you Tonie and Ray for your friendship and hospitality!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

What kind of friend are you?

I snagged this from A.Bannana's blog:

You Are A Good Friend

You're always willing to listen
Or lend a shoulder to cry on
You're there through thick and thin
Many people consider you their "best friend"!

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Two Peas in a Pod...



I decided to take a pleasure road trip this three day weekend and go see my best friend Tonie. Tonie and I have known each other for over 20 years. Tonie is one of those friends that will stick by you through thick and thin. Like myself, Tonie is a Wyoming Native who grew up in a small town. She is down to earth and has a big heart when it comes to helping people. Tonie always has something nice to say about people and is always on the positive side, looking for the good or the silver lining.

Tonie's friendship has carried me through many sorrows and heartaches. Her compassion and sensitivity exceeds everyone else's that I have ever known.

It has been over a year since we have seen each other but that doesn't matter because we always pick up right where we left off.

I foresee lots of Scrabble being played this weekend with lots of coffee and laughs.

I am not taking my computer so I won't be online but I will be home early enough Monday to check email and blogs. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Jo

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Windy, Wintery, Wyoming.....




Even after it snows, we don't get much accumulation of snow on the High Desert here in Southwestern Wyoming. The view from my window changes from hour to hour. I have meant to take photos, but I have been very busy! I will help Chuck later with his blog so please be patient!

W3
Jolene

Friday, January 11, 2008

Celebrate the "Sweetness of Life."



I snagged this picture from Lynetta's blog. (Sorry Myneeta, I just couldn't help myself!)

I have found that as I grow older, life affords us very few "sweet times." I don't mean I don't have them but it seems they get fewer and farther in-between. So when they do come along such as having the grand daughters overnight and witnessing a beautiful sunrise or seeing a bird sitting on your patio railing and looking in the window at you in the middle of winter you have to celebrate it, appreciate it and keep them close to your heart.

In Ms Creek's blog she had a picture of her and Monte at the campfire when we were all singing. We sang the songs that Dad taught us, the hymns that Mom taught us and all of the songs that brought back such sweet memories. I barely remember the cold wet rain as we all huddled together and sang, but I do remember snuggling with my nieces and our voices ringing in beautiful harmony. One niece who wasn't around us while she was growing up knew most songs that we were singing because her mother taught them to her and to have her sing the songs and her voice blend with our voices sounded so precious to me. Yes, we were all there for our Mother's funeral but the pain of that is minute compared to the sweet memory of all of us singing together.

Let's not just talk about it, let's really plan on getting together again this coming summer! Let's pick a date and a place and just do it! Let's celebrate the sweetness of our lives and set aside the pain and just be together!

I love you all dearly!
Jo

Thursday, January 10, 2008

My Personality Recipe:

The Recipe For Jolene

3 parts Creativity
2 parts Poise
1 part Prosperity

Splash of Shrewdness

Finish off with an olive

Friday, January 4, 2008

A day or two makes a difference...



I have been industrious and have accomplished a lot in the last couple of days!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Back to work!


After a week's vacation and over 1,100 miles on my car, I am back to work and this picture depicts how it feels, overwhelming! Chuck and I will be back on the road next week so I better hurry up and 'getter done'.