IT WAS THIS WAY---
(First written February 18, 2010)
There comes a time when we have to recognize our limitations, be it from physical or mental abilities or more commonly, aging. My colorful old Daddy once said, "By God, there are some things in this life you just can't do". This, only in his fifties, when he and Mother had tried to learn to water ski. Daddy had to be heaved back into the boat with a great amount of grunting, groaning and moaning. And that was us, the ones trying to get him back in the boat! Neither he nor Mother could ever get up on the skis although Mother tried until she cried the next day from being so sore.
I first went snow skiing in my early 40's. For several years, I went once a year and could shush with the best of them. For the last 10 years, I have gone with my son and family, including my great granddaughter, Kaci-Marie. I had made it my goal to go until I could ski FREE which is at 69 years old. The last two years, I have skied FREE. There is a reason they allow 69 year olds to ski free. It's because not too many wise old folks subject themselves to the high altitude, the brutal physical challenge and the sheer total exhaustion at the end of the day. I'm not one of those wise old people because I enjoyed it so much, I could't resist the punishment. Some say, "too soon old, too late wise". That would be me. So, it is with a bit of regret, disappointment (not in my abilities, but my age) that I have to hang up my ski boots. I totally understand Brett Farve's desire to continue doing something he loves even though in the football world, he is considered too old. In the ski world, I am considered old. I am leaving on a high note. I skied down the mountain several times, can still do it and still love it.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
BCS BOWL GAME 2012 FROM AN OKLAHOMA STATE FAN
In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, "We don't get no respect" referring to Oklahoma State University Cowboys. Why! would the BCS pick two teams from the same conference to play in the Championship Bowl when they had both already played each other. Granted, this time, Alabama was the clear winner but I've always said, "When it goes bad, it just goes bad". It usually happens to every team at least once a year. Refer to previous LSU/ALABAMA game. That is what happened to LSU last night. Not that we OSU fans are huge fans of Les Miles! Last night's game was actually a win/win situation for us. Had LSU won, many would wonder, "Could OSU have beaten them?" Since Alabama won, WHO IS THE CHAMPION? Several teams now have the exact same records, including the Cowboys. Who, in the BCS, are now wondering if OSU would have been a better opponent for Alabama or for LSU? IF OSU had annihilated Stanford (and that didn't happen), clearly, we should have wound up as co champions. Since LSU lost so pitifully, why is OSU not in 2nd place. Why not have a playoff similar to the NFL playoffs that leave absolutely no doubt WHO THE CHAMPIONS ARE! Should Alabama and LSU have a playoff game since they are both one and one against each other? Could OSU have defeated either team? Maybe. Maybe not. We will never know. I'm sure the sports ranking experts know more than I do. Perhaps the best two teams played. Then again, maybe not. BCS conundrum. When will they get it right?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Christmas Letter or Not???
Yes, Christmas 2012 is past and I sent no Christmas cards nor did I do my annual Christmas letter. I waffled back and forth, "Should I do the letter or not"? I cut my list down sharply last year and not one person said, "Hey, I missed your Christmas letter". As if they sit by their mailboxes during the busy Christmas season waiting to get my yearly greetings. Some folks never read Christmas letters and write Ann Landers to say how much they hate them. Me. I love my Christmas letter and others', too. I always say (maybe just to myself) that I only do them for me. They are a great record of the year and I have a copy of every one I've ever written. So here goes:
Dear Self,
We can dispense with the courtesies since the Day is past. I will get right to the meat of the matter.
Highlights of the year that I don't want to forget include:
1. Appearing live on national TV with Al Roker through the miracle of Skype. Probably a miracle only to me. Most 10 year olds know how it works. I just know it does. It was during a week of being snowed in , (February) literally, and I wrote and recorded a little song about being snowed in. I thought my kids and grandkids would get a kick out of it so posted it on facebook. I was not prepared for the response from so many folks. And that is how I came to appear live with WAKE UP WITH AL.
2. Watching my grandsons, Brandon and Josh, jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Yes! they both decided they wanted to skydive. Now, there are some odd things on my bucket list, but skydiving is NOT one of them. However, I was excited and happy to watch them. They have great videos. I have a couple of pre flight videos.
3. Not one, but two trips to the beach. One, to Panama City, where Matt, Tori, Johnny, Trudy, Kaci, Olivia and Trace joined Doug, me, Jan, Lori, Cade and Cole. We did some touristy things like the upside down house, Ripley's believe it or not, minature golf and driving go carts. Doug and I also went to a very small greyhound race track and had loads of fun trying to pick a winning dog. Of course, the usual basking in the sun and playing in the surf. Second trip, to Fort Morgan where Josh joined us in our drive and our condo. We joined Janice's entire family, plus David, Angie, Jake and a friend of Olivia's at the beach house. Much seafood of all kinds, caught or trapped by us, were enjoyed by all.
4. Enjoying an unprecedented OSU Cowboy season with our team winning the Big 12 Championship for the first time in OSU history. Finally, the 25 year payoff as we prepare to play in the Fiesta Bowl. Our bags are packed and ready.
5. Becoming instant grandparents to 4 year old Jordan Timothy Cato weighing in at about 30 pounds! Adoption was pronounced FINAL on December 20!
6. Dove hunting for the first time that I can ever remember. Wow! those doves are hard to hit. I shot a box of shells and bagged 3 dove. This was in addition to the annual cattle roundup at Doug's sister's in Western Oklahoma. Always fun.
7. Watching the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl with authentic cheesehead, Brandon, who has been a Green Bay fan since he was old enough to know what football is.
8. An impromptu trip to visit Janice at Scott and Lori's where we enjoyed Cade's 3rd grade awards program. Cole gets all the awards that are offered. Lori treated us to Southern shopping and made us some killer stuffed peppers and homemade sausage breakfast with all the trimmings every morning. We had a really good time and have been invited back for Cole's birthday which just happens to coincide with Mardi Gras.
9. The decision to fill-in the swimming pool. It saved countless woman hours of skimming, pouring chemicals, brushing, pool services, cleaning, draining, cleaning again and on and on, not to mention the money saved.
10. The fact that I reached my walking goal of 517 miles. Why? you ask such an odd number. It is one more mile than I walked last year! Thank the Good Lord I can still do it. That means I've walked 1033 miles in the last two years!
11. Finally, actually doing a "get away" with Kathy and Jan. Kathy acted as our tour guide on a trip to Joplin (pre tornado), took us to the neatest restaurant and shopping. Always fun to giggle with good buddies. By the way, Kathy walked almost every mile of my goal with me.
Interesting facts about the year:
1. The hottest summer on record for Oklahoma. Many, many days of 100 plus temperatures. Not fun.
2. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma since records were kept. Also not fun.
My letters have always included the sadness and hardships our family have suffered. This year was one of the biggest shocks we've ever had as my brother in law of 50 plus years, Larry, was hit on his bicycle and killed in August. Our lives have changed forever and most especially, my sister's and her family. Many trips back and forth for both she and I as we try to ease her pain or comfort her in some small way. We will continue to be instantly available to each other and may God give us the health to continue to travel back and forth.
Seriously, if you are reading this, I wish you and yours the Best New Year ever. Thank the Good Lord for bringing us thus far.
Dear Self,
We can dispense with the courtesies since the Day is past. I will get right to the meat of the matter.
Highlights of the year that I don't want to forget include:
1. Appearing live on national TV with Al Roker through the miracle of Skype. Probably a miracle only to me. Most 10 year olds know how it works. I just know it does. It was during a week of being snowed in , (February) literally, and I wrote and recorded a little song about being snowed in. I thought my kids and grandkids would get a kick out of it so posted it on facebook. I was not prepared for the response from so many folks. And that is how I came to appear live with WAKE UP WITH AL.
2. Watching my grandsons, Brandon and Josh, jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Yes! they both decided they wanted to skydive. Now, there are some odd things on my bucket list, but skydiving is NOT one of them. However, I was excited and happy to watch them. They have great videos. I have a couple of pre flight videos.
3. Not one, but two trips to the beach. One, to Panama City, where Matt, Tori, Johnny, Trudy, Kaci, Olivia and Trace joined Doug, me, Jan, Lori, Cade and Cole. We did some touristy things like the upside down house, Ripley's believe it or not, minature golf and driving go carts. Doug and I also went to a very small greyhound race track and had loads of fun trying to pick a winning dog. Of course, the usual basking in the sun and playing in the surf. Second trip, to Fort Morgan where Josh joined us in our drive and our condo. We joined Janice's entire family, plus David, Angie, Jake and a friend of Olivia's at the beach house. Much seafood of all kinds, caught or trapped by us, were enjoyed by all.
4. Enjoying an unprecedented OSU Cowboy season with our team winning the Big 12 Championship for the first time in OSU history. Finally, the 25 year payoff as we prepare to play in the Fiesta Bowl. Our bags are packed and ready.
5. Becoming instant grandparents to 4 year old Jordan Timothy Cato weighing in at about 30 pounds! Adoption was pronounced FINAL on December 20!
6. Dove hunting for the first time that I can ever remember. Wow! those doves are hard to hit. I shot a box of shells and bagged 3 dove. This was in addition to the annual cattle roundup at Doug's sister's in Western Oklahoma. Always fun.
7. Watching the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl with authentic cheesehead, Brandon, who has been a Green Bay fan since he was old enough to know what football is.
8. An impromptu trip to visit Janice at Scott and Lori's where we enjoyed Cade's 3rd grade awards program. Cole gets all the awards that are offered. Lori treated us to Southern shopping and made us some killer stuffed peppers and homemade sausage breakfast with all the trimmings every morning. We had a really good time and have been invited back for Cole's birthday which just happens to coincide with Mardi Gras.
9. The decision to fill-in the swimming pool. It saved countless woman hours of skimming, pouring chemicals, brushing, pool services, cleaning, draining, cleaning again and on and on, not to mention the money saved.
10. The fact that I reached my walking goal of 517 miles. Why? you ask such an odd number. It is one more mile than I walked last year! Thank the Good Lord I can still do it. That means I've walked 1033 miles in the last two years!
11. Finally, actually doing a "get away" with Kathy and Jan. Kathy acted as our tour guide on a trip to Joplin (pre tornado), took us to the neatest restaurant and shopping. Always fun to giggle with good buddies. By the way, Kathy walked almost every mile of my goal with me.
Interesting facts about the year:
1. The hottest summer on record for Oklahoma. Many, many days of 100 plus temperatures. Not fun.
2. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Oklahoma since records were kept. Also not fun.
My letters have always included the sadness and hardships our family have suffered. This year was one of the biggest shocks we've ever had as my brother in law of 50 plus years, Larry, was hit on his bicycle and killed in August. Our lives have changed forever and most especially, my sister's and her family. Many trips back and forth for both she and I as we try to ease her pain or comfort her in some small way. We will continue to be instantly available to each other and may God give us the health to continue to travel back and forth.
Seriously, if you are reading this, I wish you and yours the Best New Year ever. Thank the Good Lord for bringing us thus far.
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