-Loss and Regrets.-

I'd venture to guess most of us have regrets in life. 

This holiday weekend I received news of the passing of a dear Italian friend and, while not related by blood, extended family member. I knew of his illness and I took it in strides...knowing his days were numbered. Receiving the news of his death via email...it took some time to process it. Yes, he was in his upper 70's and had lived a good life. But death is death. Especially when I'd hoped to see him again. 

It was always "next year, next year." It's too expensive to go to Italy this year. I know I really want to see my friends that I haven't seen in two decades, I know some of my extended family members are getting older....but we have time.  I'll go next year. For sure. It's been six years, and I still haven't gone back to see my blood-related cousins in Palermo. It's been 22 years since I've been back to the Brindisi area in Italy to see my old friends in which I consider family. Time. Waits. For No One. 

Yes, I have regrets. And now I have to come to a peace within myself of knowing I didn't get to see him again...because as we say in Italy..."Domani. I'll go domani." 

Tomorrow came....and so did his last breaths. My heart aches for the family....we were all so very close. My heart hurts knowing I didn't get to say goodbye. I remember the good times, cooking in the kitchen, holidays spent together. A bond that cannot be explained. Cultures coming together, sharing their lives and families, learning from one another. 

Do what you can today. Don't keep putting it off. 

First Times.

There are first times for everything: first tooth, first words, first kiss, first job...this has been a weekend of "firsts" for not only myself, but my family as well. 

This weekend, we took "Lola" (our 1973 Volkswagen Bus) on her first 400 + mile road trip. Now, Lola is what's known in the VW world as a Westfalia, or a camper bus. My husband spent the past few weeks diligently preparing Lola for this weekend of a lifetime. In tip-top shape, we headed out to Port Orange, Florida for a huge VW show called No Dough Bus Show. 

Now, let me share with you, there is no better and more fun way to travel than in a VW Bus. The honks, the waves, the looks we get rolling down the interstate at our top speed of (gasp!) 65 miles per hour!! But we were doing it! Getting blown all over the lane by semis and huge tour buses, bouncing along on Georgia's ever-so-wonderful interstate roads! (I'd forgotten to make my "No Dough or Bust"sign for the back window in Lola!) It was a blast! Lola is loved by ALL! 

Upon arrival in Port Orange, we set up at No Dough Bus Show for a long, relaxing day with other VW Bus enthusiasts. Now, for another first, this was our first time driving her out of state to a car show as well. We took Lola on her (and our) first Navigational Rally as well, which is kind of like a scavenger hunt, only in a car!!!! We gave it a try for about 45 minutes and had an absolute blast, as well as a lot of laughs, before turning in our sorry looking answer sheet at the final check point. (I am certain others gave up before and shortly after us as well!) 

That evening, we camped in Lola...drum roll, please.....for the. first. time. And oh my goodness! We loved it! Lola sleeps four, there's a lovely fold out bed, and a child's cot that lies above the driver's and passenger's seat (my son loved it!) as well as a cot that is above in the pop up top area, my VW enthusiasts can picture this,  know most of you can't! Camping in her well, it. was. AWESOME!!!! We have set the tone for any and all of our future road trips. Who needs a hotel? We are driving in one! And let me tell you, camp sights are much cheaper than a decent hotel room any day! We had all we needed, right in Lola. A cooler, a grill, our radio, our dvd player, pillows, and a nice cool breeze....and well as fellow VW lovers right next door! What. a. Blast! I truly cannot wait to do it again!!!

To end the weekend of firsts, on Sunday No Dough had arranged a "No Cash Beach Bash" which was a gathering of VW's on the beach in Daytona Shores. One of the only beaches in the USA where you can actually drive ON the beach! And it was PHENOMENAL!! I am a beach girl, though and through, as well as a car lover! I can think of no better combination than this. It was like having your home right on the beach! During high tide, the water literally was probably 40 feet from the parking area! (Thankfully, it was low tide the majority of our nearly 6 hours on the beach!)

This weekend was an adventure of a lifetime......and marks the beginning of many more road trips like these, driving the backroads, making random stops to sightsee, camping in our VW Bus......and enjoying life together, as a family.

Oh - and one final first to mention: I got my first sunburn - behind my knees!! A painful first, but still....

Um, Yoga Anyone?

In my already crazy, hectic life, I've decided it's time to try something new....something I've been saying for years I've wanted to do. And since I have a goal not only to focus on my family and friends this year but also ME (which is honestly a challenge in itself, because I love to give to others,but have always tended to neglect myself) - I've decided to finally take up YOGA. 


Yes, I said it, Yoga. She who doesn't know how to sit still for a moment is going to take up some yoga....to learn to relax, and meditate, and get some exercise in my life. My life is hectic, as I mentioned.....always running from here to there.....mind constantly going, I need to learn to focus and relax. I'm excited as I will be doing this with a friend and her daughters and my six year old son (who did yoga when he was three, yes, three!!) are joining us as well.


I want to improve my life all around. I've never been much into fitness, though my son thinks I should take up running. (Yeah, like that will ever happen! I didn't like running in P.E. in school; there is NO WAY I will take up running now! And the ripe young age of 36!) 


So I am going to squeeze 15-30 minutes of yoga into my schedule (fingers crossed) daily! And maybe I will finally learn to meditate along the way as well (something else I have been saying for years I would love to do!) I have an active mind-like most women do! And a busy life! What with being a wife, and a mom, and working and going to school! 


I have gone out to gather most of the tools I will need to begin this Yoga venture! I'm not joining any class - way too embarrassing! I just simply want to do this on my own, with close friends. And what better way is there to bond with your child, than to exercise! 


It's NEVER too late to learn something new! And I can't wait to get this started! Yoga-expert here I come. (Ok, the "expert" part is really pushing it!)


More to come!








P.S. - So this morning, while on my way into work, I stopped by the Thrift Store (which I do on the rare occassion.) I had hopes of maybe finding an inexpensive yoga DVD, just in case my wonderful plans of sticking with this fall through, I won't have spent too much money! Well, I didn't find a DVD (yet!) but I did find a nice book educating one about yoga! All for the low price (wait, take a guess!) Ok....now I'll tell, $.49 - yes, 49 cents! And it was BRAND NEW! Nice!! I can't wait to get that DVD and get to Yoga-ing!