My Grandma is older than Einstein's Theories

Last week my grandma had a birthday.
For most people, after they reach the big milestones birthdays,
birthdays blend together.
But if you're lucky to live long enough,
you get to hit NEW milestones, like 100.
And if you're SUPER lucky, you can hit a milestone birthday every year after a 100.
That is my grandma.
Last Wednesday my grandma turned 104.

Yep.
One hundred and four years old.
It's hard to comprehend, even for me!
Though she's always been older than the average grandma,
she's always seemed young to me.
When I look at all of the things that she's seen,
experiences, witnesses, or occurred during her lifetime,
it becomes clear how long of amazing her lifetime has been.
Of course, she's been alive through all of the World Wars and 1900's American History events,
that in itself is hard to imagine...
But here are a few more things that occurred during her life.


Things that my grandma is older than:

- Albert Einstein's Theory of Gravity- 
           Seriously?!  She's older than the Theory of Gravity?!  It's shocking, but true.  

- Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity- (1915)
           Wow! I wonder what her science books?  I guess it would stop at Newton's theories...

- New York Public Library- (1911)

- Girl Scouts- they were founded in 1912

- Titanic- She was born the year before it sank.

- Fenway Park- April 20, 1912
        "The Red Sox defeated the New York Highlanders, later known as the Yankees"

- Wrigley Field- Opened April 23, 1914

- Mother's Day-  I thought that it was something that was around forever, well, I guess "forever" is really my grandma's lifetime.

- National Park Service (1916)- Founded- How in the world did they know where everything was without signs like this?

Happy 104th Birthday Grandma Mary!

Your life has been amazing and all the events in history prove it.

Cheers!

I'm freaking out!

Really?!?!
What?!?
Seriously...I'm going to lose it.
Not only can it not be true,
but I'm questioning the legitimacy of the time tables that we govern the world with!

Breathe Lori, breathe.
Okay, I might be overreacting...
I have been known to do that on occasion,
but this one is really unbelievable.
Ready?!
Seriously, sit down.
That's better.
Breathe.



My oldest niece is turning 16.
TODAY!


I know?!?!
How did that happen?!?
I'm starting to understand old people...
Wait, does that mean I'm old?
Nah...not at all.
But as a kid I really didn't get why adults were always talking
as if time literally was flying by them at supersonic speed.
I remember rolling my eyes(in the dramatic teenage way)
and thinking that they were becoming senile.
I get it now.

As a teen, time inch by.

There were long stretches of endless drudgery...
school, homework, chores, after school job
(shhh...don't tell people but I loved each and every one of those things
...except chores, no one likes those!)
But anyway...
I would think, "Couldn't I just be an adult already?! Then everything would be just what I want!"

Oh man, how I wish for those days...back in the old days before computers...
(See I'm using those old people phrases again.)

But, seriously.
I try to remind teens to not wish their childhood away.
It's so fleeting.
A blink really.
And then what?
You're an adult forever.
Literally...forever.
And, here's the kicker...
You're expected to be, act, and live AS an adult.
It's a lot of pressure.

Sure, there are bonuses to adulthood,
but at 16 years old, you have so many fun milestones to hit.
 At 36, what is my milestone? 40?
That's not happening!
At least not yet.
It will, but that's okay.
I love seeing my nieces and nephew grow up.
They're becoming amazing people.
My only wish is that time would slowly take them into adulthood
That they will cherish the moments that make them kids.
To use the time to make memories that they will remember fondly.

If that doesn't work,
if I can't make them slow down,
I'll just squish 'em...with love.
And hug them tight.

Happy Birthday Leanna!
You're fabulous in every way.
You'll probably never know how much I love you,
but that's alright.
I love you to the moon and back again.
And above all else...
Seriously, stop growing.
You're getting too tall and I can't purchase much higher heels. :0)
They don't make them that tall.

Celebrating Joe

There always comes a time when kids are too busy...

thank goodness that my nephew isn't there yet.

He's busy, but still willing to hang out with his silly aunt.
One of the things that I love about January is that
I can plan a special birthday "Day of Fun" for Joe.
He a cool kid.
So what would help make this cool kid a cool birthday?
Hockey!!
(Yep, I went there.  It's cheesy, but I'm cheesy. It works)

Joe and I love Hockey.

Okay, we don't know much about the game really.

All we care about are the fights.

There's something really thrilling about chanting,

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

with thousands of people...

And it's encouraged!

Bonus.

We like that...A LOT!

Thankfully, this game gave us plenty of times to chant 

for someone to punch the other out.

Not our usual chanting, 

but it's fun.

After the game, it over to my house...

and The Murph.

As soon as Murphy sees Joe,

I don't exist anymore...

He LOVES Joe.

And who wouldn't blame him?

He's a pretty awesome kid.

After a little slumber, we off early to breakfast at one of my favorite spots...Genie's

If you live in Portland and you don't head here often...well, you should.

It's delicious!

With our tummies full,

we head over to Pacific Pie Company for slices to go.

Joe has a busy day planning basketball, 

but no birthday can be complete in our family 

without a little birthday pie. Yum!

There are so many choices, 

but somehow, 

we managed to find a few treats for the afternoon.

So there it is, a complete birthday celebration.

Hockey, fights, delicious breakfast, and local pie...

Happy Birthday Joe!!

Happy Birthday Murph

Dear Murphy,

From the day I saw your picture, I knew that you had to be with me. I probably should of asked questions about your background your life, but you didn't ask about mine, so it didn't matter. You needed a home, I needed you. 

Driving to pick you up I was nervous. Would you like me? Would you want to be my friend? What kind of shelter was I going to anyway? We're you still sick?

Pulling up to the home-shelter, I knew that I was leaving with a dog. There was no way that my heart could walk away without one. Too many dogs with one sweet lady doing everything she could to help a struggling community deal with mistreatment. I still don't know how she did it all, but I'm eternally grateful because she saved my Murph.  She didn't have to pour all that money into your treatment, but she must have seen me, needing you.

I knew that you had Parvo, recently well, but life had been traumatic for you already...You were so little, but it had been rough on your little paws. That was just fine with me, my life had been rough on me too. I figured that we could just travel this rough, crazy world together...A weird, scared, dysfunctional, silly, but awesome team. 

I might have picked you online, but you picked me on that day in that yard. In theory, I don't believe in "love at first sight," but in my life, well, you are the epitome of that. Love, pure and simple...and needy. :) but we both had a hole to fill. My heart had a big one, but your paws were the perfect filler. 

When life was rough and I struggled to go into the world, you were eager and determined to get me out in it. When I felt like sobbing, you just snuggled in and let me. But thankfully, you always found a way to get me out of my sadness. It must have been that goofy face. Or crazy antics. Or boundless energy. Or...it was just you.

It is said that everything happens for a reason. I'm not sure what all of the reasons are or if everything is really needed...But if I had to endure all of it to get a best friend like you Murph, then I'd do it again. You're it. And so worth it. 

So thank you Murphy for letting me be your human.  People may call you my dog, but we both know the truth. You're the healer of my heart and you made me sparkle again. 
Thanks buddy...I needed that.

Happy 4th Birthday! 

All my heart, 

Your Girl 

I didn't see this coming...

Happy Birthday Joe...Part Two.
This is the second part of Joe's Day o' Fun and fights...

many, many fights.Not with me or Joe,

but with Hockey.

I didn't see this coming...Hockey.


I had forgotten how fun it was to anticipate
the players wailing on each other!
Now, this is where the first line fits in...
I really liked it.
A lot.
I didn't see that coming.

Especially since I really don't like violence.
I spend everyday trying to keep fights from erupting,
but there I was encouraging...
hoping...egging the guys to hit each other.
Mad at the refs when they pulled them apart!
I shake my head at myself,
a bit ashamed.

But, it was super fun.

And, oh this is bad...super bad...should I say it?
Yeah, we're friends.
I really wanted more fights and a bloody nose poring onto the ice.
(Ashamed.)
I really liked hockey.
See, I really didn't see this coming.
I had been to hockey games before, but I don't remember it being so fabulous.
They really go after each other
AND it's encouraged!
Expected.
Seeming required to have a complete game!





Plus, after they hit each other...the players seem fine with it.
Frustration?
Totally dealt with.
Problem?
Solved...with their fist. Eek!

Now the real lesson here and the only why that I can feel okay about it is this...
Time & Place.
These things are really important.
It's not okay to punch a dude walking down the street
or when they steal your parking spot.
Not okay people.
It's not okay to yank on someones clothes when you want them
to move out of your way so you can get your can of soup.
See, still not okay.
And, it's not okay to take a stick and place it in front of someone else while they're moving swiftly. Then continue to hit them with the stick while kicking them as they slide into a wall.
Tisk-tisk...that's really not okay.

But do you know where it's totally fine?

Encouraged and expected?

You guessed it!

Hockey.

Gloriously fabulous hockey.

Where you feel better by just watching them hit each other violently.

Somehow, the world is a bit calmer.

It's more in place. In check.

Yep...checked, but slamming a player into the wall.

I don't know about you, but I feel better.

I really didn't see this coming...

Hockey was relaxing to me.

Huh.

It sure surprised me.

Who would've thought that?!

Sometimes things do that.

You know what else?!

I want to go again...soon.

And this time there better be a nose bleed!

Come on guys! (Throwing my hands up!)

Yikes...I didn't see that coming...

It must be the cold, dry air on January getting to my brain.

Wait. I need to think if another excuse for February....ice.

I'm blaming it on the ice. It's cold and icy around the rink.

Yep...that's it.

With an excuse on hand, I'm going to plan another hockey adventure.

Who knows, maybe I'll surprise myself again!

Friends, please promise me that if I start thinking

crazy crocked or missing teeth is hot, get me help!

Hmmm...though...thinking about it...it kinda is.

Oh no...Eek!!