Each year after my mom passed life had gotten easier. This year for some reason is just so hard. It may have to do with the death of my husband’s boss (of nine years) Felipe Calderon Saturday. He was away on business on his way out to catch the plane home when his young life came to an end. He leaves behind a Loving Wife and 2 Wonderful kids. I guess I feel for all of them while I relive my mom’s death this past week.

The pictures are complements of my step mom (M2). I am blessed to have her in my life. She helps me reach for peace in whatever life dishes me. Today I needed pictures of my mom. She posted three (I am adding to them). One I had never seen (tear) and two of me with my mom and dad. Family is great! I have a great family; some by blood, some by marriage, and some by choice. I am glad I have them all on days like today. Thank you….

This is my favorite hero!!! My father. This picture was taken November 17, 1963.

Thank you to all the Veterans out there for supporting my right to freedom then and now.

Yesterday being a good employee I notified my boss my plans to vote in the morning and may cause me to be late. He gave me a look that I never want to see again. He told me that we cannot have the whole office coming in around 11. That I should go after work and as long as I am in line before 7 o’clock in the evening I could vote. He told me I should have taken advantage of the early voting like he did. He stopped on his way home one night. It took him about an hour. Well not everyone was going in the morning. In fact out of six women in my department only two of us where voting. MP, who was planning to go after work, you guessed it ME! I looked at him and wanted to scream. I did stop a couple of times by the early voting offices and the lines where so long. The people in the middle of one of the lines had been waiting for over an hour when I had asked. I cannot do the evening because I have to get my school age children ready for bed. Standing in line to vote all night just won’t get it done.

With my right to vote I took the chance of being docked pay along with a possible write up in my file. I was up at 5:15 am. Made it to our clubhouse just after 6 o’clock where voting would begin at 7 am like everywhere else. Being a responsible person (along with not wanting to be late) I counted the people in line. Found I was fiftieth in line. So I did some math to get an idea how long it may take me. Praying it took an average of less than 10 minutes per person. I might get out of here around 8 o’clock. That would give me time to get to work and not be late.

What I did not except was the next set of lines I was directed to. We had to line up alphabetical of sorts (A-G, H-O, & P-Z). I laughed and grabbed hubby’s hand heading to our line thinking this should be a piece of cake. I thought we have a white name, not a Hispanic name like Perez or Rodriguez (remember I live in Miami, FL). Boy was I wrong. We were not only in the longest it was the slowest. As the other two lines emptied and filled again we patiently waited our turn. Watching people who arrive walk right in and we did not even move.

Finally it became A-G turns. They came to take the next ten. Would you know I was 10 and hubby was 11. Thank GOD. They let us go together. When we walked thru the door we saw even more lines.

I still stand by the slowest line. We had two sweet older women processing this line. The one looking up names could not see. The one verifying the addresses could not hear. DUH!! The reason our line was so long and slow. Wait they cannot find my name but my husbands. “Ok, do his now. Since you found his name take care of him”. It was almost too much for them to handle. While there were two other lines with one young efficient person processing quickly.
Mine name was as I thought under my maiden name. I swear I had fixed that the last two major elections. I pray the third time is the charm. At least now I know why so much mail came in that name. I was fearful of identity fraud.

It turns out we had to stand in six lines to complete our voting procedure. Plus a bonus for me to address the name issue.

Two and a half hours. I was a bearly 15 minutes late. In my department that might be thought of as on time if I had been anyone but me.

Today is a very important day in our history. I made my mark in it. I hope you took the chance to enjoy your freedom of choice. What will tomorrow and the future bring only GOD knows. I pray it is a safe and free county, not at war and growing in wealth for everyone. Especially the families like yours and mine.

Kaytlin

Wow! The first of two events has FINALLY arrived. Thank you for your patience while I have been preparing for my daughter’s birthday. Kayltin turns 8 today. Her party is tomorrow. She wanted a sleep over so bad. So we came to a compromise. A half sleep over. The kids come in PJ’s and bring pillow. They will do all the fun stuff but go home after to sleep. We are having pizza delivered and playing games like twister. We can’t forget dress up since the theme is princess. But last and not least a pillow fight. With the economy the way it is I had to budget very carefully. I made pretty much everything from my overflow of craft stuff. Her whole party was for 12 girls came in under one hundred dollars (Yes I had that much overflow and did not even make a dent).

I made flower head pieces and wands. I got the idea from the wedding I have been working on (the other event). For the goody basket I made dangle bracelets and matching necklaces (I believe they are pretty cool since my son even wanted one, but not in a girly color). Plus I put together a mini princess coloring book. I had bought boxes of crayons during the great back to school sales for 19 cents. I even decorated small bottles of bubbles with ribbon and flowers like the head pieces.
I will update you about how the party went and will post pictures of the beautiful princess I except to see.

Next week is the Wedding. Look for more on that. Have a great weekend.

Double Rainbow

Welcome to my WORDLESS WEDNESDAY. My Pen Pal Tiffany Tindle who travels the seven seas took this picture of a double rainbow over Moorea.

Go Wordless!