National Bubba Day

Yes, June 2, 2014 is National Bubba Day. This day honors anyone named or called Bubba. To qualify to be honored today, your name can be formally, or informally "Bubba". You can even take on the name "Bubba" for just the day. That way everyone can celebrate this day.

There's a lot of ways to celebrate National Bubba Day. Acting like a "Bubba" is your starting point. Cards, parties and other celebrations are definitely in order. Gift giving is optional.  . I have been Bubba to my sister for years and love every time she calls me Bubba...

On Friday, June 4th it is Hug Your Cat Day. Go ahead and give your cat a big, furry hug.

Cat lovers can really get into this day. If you're a cat lover, you can really appreciate the warm, cozy feeling you get when you curl up on a couch or chair, and hug your cat. The only problem is, your cat will most likely only allow a brief hug before sauntering away. If your cat is a true hugger, count your blessings.

Dog lovers...sorry, giving hugs to our kids will not suffice.  If you are going to be "into" this day, you simply must hug a cat...your cat.  Don't have a cat, don't fret, June is "Adopt a Cat Month".

Also on the first Friday of June, June 6, 2014 is National Doughnut Day. This day honors the Salvation Army "Lassies" of WWI. It is also used as a fund raiser for needy causes of the Salvation Army.

The original Salvation Army Doughnut was first served by Salvation Army in 1917. During WWI, Salvation Army "lassies" were sent to the front lines of Europe. These brave volunteers made home cooked foods, and provided a morale boost to the troops. Often, the doughnuts were cooked in oil inside of the metal helmet of an American soldier. The American infantrymen were commonly called doughboys. Salvation Army lassies were the only women outside of military personnel allowed to visit the front lines. Lt. Colonel Helen Purviance is considered the Salvation Army's "first doughnut girl".

On National Doughnut Day, look to see if your local doughnut shop, or other organizations, are offering free donuts to solicit donations for the Salvation Army or for another needy cause. If you find them, please be generous.

The term "Doughboy" was popular in referring to U.S. Army infantryman during World War I. American foot soldiers were occasionally called doughboys during the Civil War. The earliest references to the term, comes from the U.S-Mexican war.

I close this entry with one of my favorite days... June 8 is Best Friends Day. Best Friend Day is a time to enjoy and appreciate your best friend. It's a day to honor and cherish the relationship.

If you're lucky, you have a best friend. If you are real lucky, you have a number of best friends. Best friends are very, very special people. You spend countless hours with your best friend going to events and activities, or just hanging out. You share secrets, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and disappointments with your best friend.

Some folks say you can only have one best friend. This author disagrees. You can have a couple at the same time, or several over time. Friends come and go for a variety of reasons. It's the result of many things, including moving, changing schools or jobs, and more. We hope that you are lucky enough to have a number of best friends over the years.

I know I will be thinking of one Very Special Best Friend this year and wishing he was still here to celebrate with me...

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

 

Passage of Time

I sit in my living room listening to 30 clocks ticking the time away. I look at ornaments on the Christmas tree and see passage of time.  As the clocks tick, the lights shining on the ornaments, I see all the memories represented on the tree. Each ornament places me at a different time and place in my life, childhood through present. All representing the passing of time.

I realize that I don't do this reminiscing often enough, it was a cleansing mentally to wander through the memories. I also know we let time pass without making note of the people in our life's and events that occur every day. Before we realize it all we have are memories.

Each of us get so wrapped up in our daily grind, just trying to make it to the end of our work day, the week, the month, the year. Everyone is entrenched in making ends meet and not taking the time to actually live in the moment. It is always tomorrow I will get to it. Then tomorrow becomes next week, next month and then it's too late.

I am just as guilty as the next person in getting into this entrenchment. What I learned this year is to take life and live it to the fullest. Take time for yourself, family and friends. Step out of your comfort zone and experience life. As I sat wandering through the memories on the tree, I can say I have been doing better at stepping out of my comfort zone and making time for family and friends.

 I still find myself slipping at times, letting work and daily life demands control me. This time of year can be even more demanding on our psyche and finding that balance is difficult. So what can one do to find that balance, one way I have found that works is to go old school. Old school is placing all electronic devices in the off position and out of sight.  Granted that first hour is very nerve racking being totally disconnected from the electronic governors in our live. Then I realize how free it feels and I can spend quality time with family, friends, pets and most of myself.

Look for community activities that are interesting for you or for you significant other, then get out there and participate. Plan special time with friends and family, like the night we have planned tonight with Brian/Melissa. It takes an effort form oneself to break the cycle of becoming entrenched in the every day grind. The benefits of time with family, friends, pets and oneself is priceless.

So as the multiple chiming clocks alert me of another hour that has past, I take a deep breath knowing I am on track to not let any more time pass without taking time for myself and the special ones in my life.

Keep dancin' Larry B.

For My Best Friend, Luke Henry-Words of Remembrance

Luke asked me several months ago to speak for him at his funeral. I asked him if he was sure because he had others in his life that had known him longer if not his whole life. He gave me that typical Luke cockeyed expression and said “You are my Best Friend, You take care of me and I asked you—Yes or No!"

So I stood before those there to celebrate my Best Friend’s Life, honored to have had the privilege of knowing such a remarkable young man. Blessed to have had him in my life and  to call him my true Best Friend.

I struggled from that day to the day of the funeral on how to make Luke proud that he asked me to speak. How do you summarize a person’s life and really get across just who that person was. Each of us had our own unique perspective of who Luke Allen Henry was and what he meant to each one of us.

Luke was a son to Sarah and Butch.  A brother to Brian, a brother in law to Melissa, husband to Joyce, brother in law to Rob, son in law to William and Levena. He was an uncle, he was a colleague, and he was a friend.  The number one thing that Luke Henry was and I got to see this first hand so many times was he was a DAD to Michael and Katelyn.

Luke was a kid from Paducah, who was afraid of storms and took refuge till Sarah came in from work at Marilyn Stewart’s home.

Luke was a member of the Boys’ Choir; he had a beautiful voice from a young age. He befriended and showed kindness to a young boy named Glen. He toured Europe with the choir and even brought small gifts back for so many including his teachers at the church.

As young professional designing books at Turner Publishing, he was  brilliant at problem solving, and tormented Ina Morse with practical jokes at her expense. She told me that the one great memory she had of Luke was when he came to work one day and quietly told her he had met a girl... He told Ina how sweet and nice she was and how much he liked being with her. Ina said just by the tone of his voice and facial expressions, she knew he was already hooked on this girl named Joyce.

Luke had a quick wit and quirky sense of humor. This was one of the first things that I realized and from talking to his longtime friends he had this from an early age. Ina, Michelle, Joellyn and Glen, just to name a few all said when you were with Luke you were sure to laugh and sometimes at your own expense but always in a good natured way. I can attest to that as well.

Luke had a way with people although he described himself to me as a loner. He said that was why he went into computers and IT so he could work alone and at his pace.

After his Diagnosis, I saw all this support for him on his Facebook page, I told him you may see yourself as a loner but you are one loner that has touched a lot of souls. You have this vast support system whether you realize it or not.

Let me explain how Luke and I met and you will see what type of person he was. I teach line dancing as a way for me to exercise and relax. I had been trying get a contract with City of Clarksville. I decided I was going to canvas the Parks and Rec department till I got the right person. I thought okay anyone one with city id badge was my target this one day. Luke was coming out of the Parks and Rec building. I spotted ID and swooped in. Introduced myself, gave him my card and started my spill. He was very polite said he was in IT department and was not sure who I should speak too...

I thought okay, nice man but waste of my time. I got nothing but I told him you have my card with my phone and email, if you think of a name let me know. So I went into the P and R and was told the Lady I needed to see was on vacation to come back. The following week, I was back at city and the first person I saw as I got out of my van was Luke Henry.

Now I remembered his name because he was the first Luke I had ever truly met. I struck up another conversation, expressed my frustration with trying to get into see the right person with City. He might have thought I was stalking him because he was walking to his car and I just kept walking with him and chatting. Into the P & R building this time lady was in budget meeting.

A Week later I got a call to come in to discuss possibility of a class. The week after that I signed a contract, as I was signing the contract and Melissa stated that Luke Henry from IT had put in a good word on my behalf.

I got back to my office and sent Luke an email thanking him for putting a good word in for me.  That it was greatly appreciated especially since he really only met me a couple times. His response, "I figured you were a nice guy and was trying hard to get yourself established. No big deal."

Luke did not know just how big a deal this contract was to me... we kept in touch via email and our friendship just grew from that point on.

Luke became more than a friend to me. I called him my Little Bro. He was funny, a great sense of humor and a big heart. We simply clicked in so many ways.

Luke was a man of faith and he renewed my faith, just watching how he handled his diagnosis. He was at peace with the diagnosis and eventual outcome from the beginning.

Now I have been a nurse for over 31 years, I have worked in Hospice, long term disability and many other arenas. I never met a young man so at peace.  To tell you the truth it frustrated me to no end.  I wanted to scream, be angry, cry and yet Luke simply said God had told him as he sat at his favorite place on earth (Morton's overlook in the Smokey Mountains) “to Prepare” and that was what he planned to do.

He started calling me His Bulldog because if he mentioned something he needed or wanted to do for the kids or himself, I made it happen.

I organized his FB supporters into Luke’s Angels so as a group we could assist Luke with whatever he wanted to do with the kids or for himself.

Luke wanted to take Michael on his first airplane ride and he did

Luke wanted to take Katelyn to have an American Girl Experience and He did

Luke wanted a tattoo, he designed it and he got it with my encouragement. That night I almost lost Best Friend Status, I got two tattoos that night and he said I made it look so easy and not painful. I got the Luke Look for couple hours while he was getting his done.

Luke wanted to go tandem Hang gliding and I agreed to do it with him. I found the perfect place near Chattanooga, you could go 1500 feet or 3000 feet. I told Luke if we were doing it and I was being attached to a Big Kite then it was the 3000 foot flight.  It was the most amazing experience and a fantastic weekend for us to share.

He started living by a quote that he had put in his tattoo design.  He later learned it was from Mohammed Ali. “Don’t Count the Days Make the Days Count”. Luke did just that he made every day count especially for Katelyn and Michael.

Luke Henry 5/14/69-I have quoted that statement what seems like a hundred times for Luke over the past few months. That name and date are for every ingrained in my soul.  So much so that I recently went to an appointment for myself on the medical form for date of birth I instantly wrote 5/14/69. I had to really think hard to remember my own DOB.

Luke A Henry, man of faith, son, brother, husband, Dad, Best Friend. We will always have you in our hearts and know you will always be watching over us here. We will miss you and Love you my friend...

 

keep dancin' Larry B

 

 

 

A Man and His Word!

A repost in honor of my Best Friend Luke Henry.  Little Bro. I kept my word as I said I would. Miss you..

I am always amazed when I tell someone I will do something and when I do it; how surprised they seem to be that I am a person that keeps his word.  I suppose we all become jaded toward our fellow man that we expect nothing. So we are surprised when someone actually does what they say they will do.

I was reared in the Midwest and it was instilled into me as a young child that you do whatever you state you will do.  Be that for the family, friends or strangers.   I was taught that you treat others as you wish to be treated. You state you will do something you do it and that everyone was the same in God’s eye and you should treat everyone the same.

I strive to be a good man and to do whatever I can to help others in need. I see so much hate, so much distrust and so much of the “ME” attitude around me. I can understand at times because of the economy, stress of job and family that one can become this way easily.  I can say that I have seen less of this since moving back to the Midwest and it is very refreshing to actually have others even say “hello”,” thank you” and “How may I help you”.

Is it that in the larger metropolitan areas that everyone is just too busy trying to survive?  They have forgotten that the only way to truly survive is to reach out to others, to accept the differences that God has created and to treat each other with respect and dignity.  I don’t have the answers and probably never will.

I know that who I am I cannot change. I know I will always look after my family, my friends and try to help complete strangers. It is what I do and hopefully it is enough.  I may not be rich in terms of wealth but I am rich beyond believe with love, understanding and compassion for those in my life and those that I encounter along the way in this life.

I recently told a  friend that is dealing with a health crisis that no matter what I was going to be there to assist him and his family. I was not going anywhere. It is who I was, that once you become a friend you become part of my family. I am like an old grizzly bear protective to my last breath.  I think at first he was skeptical that I would be there for him and his family.  I think he has come to realize that I am a man of my word. 

I honor my word, with action and not just speech. I honor my family and my beliefs by doing the best I can each and every day.  It is who I am, it is what I am.  Who among you can say the same?

Friendship

This is a repost of an article that was published back in January and inspired by my Friend Luke Henry.

Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say.

Friendship is a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the other's sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy. As such, friendship is undoubtedly central to our lives, in part because the special concern we have for our friends must have a place within a broader set of concerns, including moral concerns, and in part because our friends can help shape who we are as persons.

Developing friendships can be difficult in today’s society. Who can you trust with the intimate details of your life?  Who is not just out there to use you and then discard you once they achieve their goal? We face this every day and moving to a new location only emphasizes the difficulty of meeting and making new friends.

Yet there are times in your life that you happen to talk to a person for short time, then by chance meet them again. You talk and in only a few moments of conversation you know in your heart that this is a good person and worthy of exploring a friendship. I have had this awesome experience a few times in my life that only after a brief conversation knew that person and I would become long lasting friends.

This recently occurred and I know my life has been enriched by meeting this person.  This new found friend is someone that I instantly felt comfortable to open my life too and have developed a close connection within just a short time.  They say the Good Lord places people in our lives at certain times for a reason and I believe this to be the case.

For there is no other reason I can think of that we would meet; start developing such a great friendship and then he is diagnosed with Cancer.  I felt cheated, upset, and simply royally pissed off. I mean why him and why now.  God knows I don’t make friends easily; this hillbilly can be a difficult person to deal with to say the least.  So yes, I was a little ticked off.

Since my Mom’s passing, I call upon her for guidance; she after all is one of my guardian angels. As I was talking to her the other night, this beautiful white tail Doe walks out of the woods and comes within 20 feet of me. She did not run off but simply stood there and stare directly at me. For me that was the sign I needed, I knew I was on the right path at this juncture in my life.

I knew in my heart what I had to do, first I had to come to terms with the fact that my friend was in a crisis.  The next thing was simple; to have friends you have to be one and I am determined to be the best friend this individual has ever had in his life. 

Of course, I have teased him because you know laughter is the best medicine; He now has to deal with the stubborn Hillbilly who will badger him to stay motivated, positive and to take every day by the horns.  

The following are two quotes that really hit home for me when it comes to friendship. The first is just one I think is cute yet true, the last one is one that is close to my heart and the way I feel about my friends.

“If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them; I'd be at the bottom to catch them.”

A friend is someone who, upon seeing another friend in immense pain, would rather be the one experiencing the pain, than to have to watch their friend suffer.
-- Amanda Gier

So yes, as always WE will Keep Dancin’ Larry B

Our Ms. Katelyn

Not ever being a parent myself, dealing with a 6 year old girl has been a wonderful experience. Seeing the world from her point of view is refreshing and challenging for she is one tough negotiator. Katelyn is the daughter of my friends, Joyce and Luke.

Since Luke's diagnosis of gastric cancer, Paul and I have become a fixture in their home. We see them nearly every day and have been included in Katelyn's bedtime ritual. So now Paul and I are requested by Ms. Katelyn to put her to bed which includes her reading to you and for me a Minimum 20 question inquiry before I can get her down to sleep.

This week's inquiries consisted of the following from Ms. Katelyn; are veins in leaves like veins in your hand, why couldn't I just stay at her house all the time, why couldn't I just sleep in her house every night, who was older than me in the house, why couldn't she have a boyfriend now. Now on the last one I told her no boyfriends till 18 and I was promptly told that God said 15.  Now how could I argue with God. Score one for Katelyn..

A few weeks ago, it was Michael's birthday, Katelyn's older brother, he was having a party and friends over for a sleep over. Ms. K did not want to be in the house so she asked Paul and I if she could spend the night. I told her if she could earn 10 points in a week she could stay. My rules, no trouble at school, no fighting with Michael, no tantrums, and staying in her own bed all night.  I even let her start out with 4 points.  Ms. K made her 6 points without any problem, although Michael even begged his parents to pay me off to take her. Needless to say, if I ever thought of adopting,  keeping track of a 6 year old for 24 hours was enough to change my mind.

The best comment from Ms. K this week was one to her Dad. She told him that Mr. Paul was the oldest in Our family. When Luke tried to explain that her grand parents were older; she immediately said no Mr. Paul was the oldest in "Our family" and she formed her hands into a closing globe shape. She meant in her immediate world her family was Mom, Dad, Michael, Mr. Larry and our oldest Mr. Paul.

Looking at the world from a 6 year old view is refreshing, to see the world as an innocent child with the only decision is which adult in "Her Family" will put her to bed.  Oh and how many points she needs before Mr. Larry and Ms. Katelyn go shopping! If only we adults could take a moment each day to see the world from the view point of a 6 year old..it just might make it a better less stressful place.

Keep Dancin  Larry B

A True Best Friend

Many people, not all, go through different best friends throughout life. I believe you can have several Best Friends at one time. However, usually a person only has one real, True Best Friend. Someone with whom one shares the strongest possible kind of friendship. I have been blessed to have found my True Best Friend here in Tennessee. 

This is a person that just in a matter of months there is such a deep bond that it seems that we have known each other for our whole life. In fact, I even over heard someone ask this friend if we had known each other since childhood. I realized then that our friendship was so strong that others assumed we had known each other for a lot longer than actually was the case.

This person knows what I’m thinking just by the look on my face. The connection is so strong that one word is complete sentences between us. We have such a connection; we know when the other is in distress or in need.  This is a person I love, have nicknames for each other, inside jokes and have pointless text-a-thons with everyday.

This friend is family and gives the opinion I care most about. A true best friend is the one who tells you the things you absolutely need to hear regardless of whether you want to hear it or not.  It is this friend that you can be around always and never get sick of.  This is the person you are grateful to have as a friend and confidant.

This true best friend is not only someone you have a good time with, it is also someone you know you can trust your life with. Someone you can totally be yourself around and not give a care in the world about your actions or feelings because they won't judge you for the stupid things you may do or say.

Yes, I have found my True Best Friend. It is said that God puts people in your life at specific times and you may not know the reason. I know this is true for God placed me with this remarkable individual to experience this ultimate friendship. For you see, my True Best Friend was diagnosed with stage four cancer not long after we met.  I questioned why God would place the two of us together at this time only to eventually take this wonderful relationship away. I realized it was not for me to question his reason but to make the most out of this fantastic friendship.

As a friend, as a care giver, I pledged to this True Best Friend that I was going to see him through this fight. I am there for him and his wonderful family to provide support, care and love. God placed us together at this time for this journey and I would not want to be anywhere else doing anything else but to be here with him.   I know I have a True Best Friend that I will always remember no matter what comes about. I may lose the only true best friend I will ever have, and even when I  get new "best friends" .. this old, real True Best Friend will always be on my mind and forever in my heart.

 For my True Best Friend. Luke A Henry. From the heart of your True Best Friend, the Bulldog!

Keep Dancin' Larry B.

 

 

 

JUDGE BY DEEDS HONOR THY WORD

I am always amazed when I tell someone I will do something and when I do it; how surprised they seem to be that I am a person that keeps his word.  I suppose we all become jaded toward our fellow man that we expect nothing. So we are surprised when someone actually does what they say they will do.

I was reared in the Midwest and it was instilled into me as a young child that you do whatever you state you will do.  Be that for the family, friends or strangers.   I was taught that you treat others as you wish to be treated. You state you will do something you do it and that everyone was the same in God’s eye and you should treat everyone the same.

I strive to be a good man and to do whatever I can to help others in need. I see so much hate, so much distrust and so much of the “ME” attitude around me. I can understand at times because of the economy, stress of job and family that one can become this way easily.  I can say that I have seen less of this since moving back to the Midwest and it is very refreshing to actually have others even say “hello”,” thank you” and “How may I help you”.

Is it that in the larger metropolitan areas that everyone is just too busy trying to survive?  They have forgotten that the only way to truly survive is to reach out to others, to accept the differences that God has created and to treat each other with respect and dignity.  I don’t have the answers and probably never will.

I know that who I am I cannot change. I know I will always look after my family, my friends and try to help complete strangers. It is what I do and hopefully it is enough.  I may not be rich in terms of wealth but I am rich beyond believe with love, understanding and compassion for those in my life and those that I encounter along the way in this life.

I recently told a new friend that is dealing with a health crisis that no matter what I was going to be there to assist him and his family. I was not going anywhere. It is who I was, that once you become a friend you become part of my family. I am like an old grizzly bear protective to my last breath.  I think at first he was skeptical that I would be there for him and his family.  I think he has come to realize that I am a man of my word. 

I honor my word, with action and not just speech. I honor my family and my beliefs by doing the best I can each and every day.  It is who I am, it is what I am.  Who among you can say the same?

Ms. Honey's Great Adventure continues part 3

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.  After a hectic 2 weeks, it was time to slow down with Monday, October 29^th relaxing in.  Okay its getting colder so I enjoyed the toasty fireplace which I’m not able to do at home. Breakfast, lunch and a wonderful  dinner finished off a nice slow paced day.

On Tuesday, Paul took me shopping but I forgot my roller skates to keep up with him. Home in time for have a great steak dinner prepared by Chef Larry on the grill. I must say this was one of my best vacations ever.

We celebrated Larry’s Birthday on Wednesday with a dinner and cake, which is not on their diet.  It is still on my diet. I have dropped another 2 pounds and can’t believe it. No wonder all the celebrities can lose weight when they have great chefs cooking for them all the time.  I will surely miss that when I get back to reality.

We had Larry’s Birthday Dinner at the BlackHorse Pub in the downtown historical district of Clarksville.  Larry’s Sister, Cindy joined us in celebrating Larry’s Birthday. I was so pleased to see Larry order a martini, he sure needs it after working so hard. To heck with the diet on your Birthday, we all came back to the house for a piece of Sweet Potato Cake. Paul even relented and had a piece of cake.

Thursday, the deck awning was installed and another great feature to this already beautiful home. We did have some very sad news this morning from Florida, a very dear friend and neighbor passed after a long battle with cancer.  John Persico was a community Icon in Greenhaven 12^th.  Larry was the first person John met when he and his wonderful wife Irene moved to the community.   He will be dearly missed by the three of us here. I personally shared many wonderful times with John and Irene on several cruise and many parties. Rest well our dear friend.

Tomorrow is my last full day here in Tennessee and I already know I am going to miss being treated like the Queen and waited on by Paul and Larry .

Thank you for allowing me to share my wonderful vacation experience in Tennessee.

A lighter Ms. Honey.

Ms. Honey's Great Tennessee Adventure continues

Well week two started off nice and warm, Monday, October 22^nd, Larry cooked on the big new grill on their deck, Cindy, Larry’s sister joined us for a great steak dinner. Did I mention I am following Larry and Paul’s diet program?  It is really good and lots of food, I cheat a little; it is hard teaching an old dog new tricks.

Tuesday, I went shopping with Larry, who took the day off from his hectic work. It was nice to be able to take my time and wander up/down every aisle in the stores. Paul is good to shop with if you have roller skates. But I love him anyway.

Wednesday, Paul and I went to Kirkland’s where I did a little Christmas shopping. He even consented and took me to the Dollar store which he hates to do but endures it for my pleasure. Thursday, it was off to buy a lovely electric fire place, an early birthday gift from Larry to Paul. Great news, I have lost three pounds since arriving and following the boys diet program.  I think I will keep this up.

Friday was icy rain and cold. Larry’s Dad surprised him by showing up that afternoon with his sister for the weekend.  Larry took us all to the Catfish House again and I had the best Fried Oysters I have ever had. No weight watchers night for me.

Saturday, October 27^th, Larry took us to the Nashville Flea Market at the Tennessee Fair Grounds. This is one of the largest flea markets in the country and held the fourth weekend of every month.  It was cold and windy but we did make it through two of the buildings, I could have spent all three days there.  Larry took us to a great Sushi/Japanese restaurant on the way home. Everyone has seen the lovely photo of Paul and I passed out in the back of the van on the trip back to Clarksville. I still have to get Larry for that one.

Sunday, Paul made a wonderful breakfast for everyone. We visited with Larry’s Dad before he left to go back to Missouri. Larry prepped a casserole for dinner and then the three of us then did the Sunday Schmoozing to Sam’s and the boys bought another electric fireplace for the master bedroom. Then it was home to relax at home while Larry created a new flower bed on the west side of the house for the mums to take residence and mowed his lawn.  Chef Larry then finished up the casserole for dinner, a wonderful Butternut Squash Shepherd’s Pie. They are sure making it hard for me to go home. One more week to go and I have lost another 2 pounds.

Till next time

A Thinner “Old Southern Belle” Ms. Honey

More Unique Holidays!

I got into looking up these Unique days of the year, when I was operating Surprise Arrivals. For those that do not know what that is, we operated a Web based Unique Gift and Giftbasket site for several years.  Today June 8 is Best Friend Day. This day is a time to enjoy and appreciate your best friend. It's a day to honor and cherish the relationship.
If you're lucky, you have a best friend. If you are real lucky, you have a number of best friends. Best friends are very, very special people. You spend countless hours with your best friend going to events and activities, or just hanging out. You share secrets, hopes, dreams, aspirations, and disappointments with your best friend.

Some folks say you can only have one best friend. I totally disagree. You can have a couple at the same time, or several over time.  I am fortunate because I have several Best Friends, not only do I share my life with my number one best friend. I have friends that I consider family and have been in my life for more years that we really want to admit. These are friends that have share my ups and downs and probably know me better than my blood family.

I will say that I don’t miss Florida, I miss my friends. Friends come and go for a variety of reasons. It's the result of many things, including moving, changing schools or jobs, and more. I hope that you are lucky enough to have a number of best friends over the years.

With the official start of summer just a few days away, the timing is perfect for National Iced Tea Day on June 10th.

In 1904, English tea plantation owner Richard Blechynden set up a booth to sell hot tea at the St. Louis World Fair. It was a sizzler of a day, and fair visitors didn't want anything hot. Rather, they needed something to quench their thirst... something cold. He dumped some of his hot tea into ice and served it cold. It was an immediate hit. This was the first known use of iced tea.

Chances are, it is already hot in your area. Today may serve as a good reminder to make and enjoy your first (of many) Iced Tea drink of the season. Have it plain, add a little lemon, or sweeten it with sugar. Iced Tea is certainly a favorite summer cooler of millions of Americans.  

It takes no imagination to decide how to enjoy this great day: Grab an Iced Tea and head out to the hammock strung under a shady tree.

Till Next Time, LB