Tomorrow Is Not Promised

“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”

Pope Paul VI quotes (Italian Pope. 1897-1978)

I’ve had too many encounters with death in the past few months. We started with a good friend’s father, then my dad and now more.

After church yesterday, I logged into my computer and started up Facebook. While scanning the silly games and quick updates of friends and friends of friends, I came across the saddest entry:

Eternal rest grant unto Patrick, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. Patrick J**** W******. July 16, 1985 - October 24, 2010.

I completely broke down. After the Saturday I had, it was hard to take the news. This was a friend of mine from college, someone with whom I had acted, with whom I had built sets and someone who really WAS the SLU community.

I was amazed by all the people on my Facebook page who have been posting on his page, remembering moments they had with Patrick and offering up prayers for him and his family. He was truly loved by so many people.

Apparently, he was diagnosed with lung cancer (we think) a few weeks ago. As in, September. His dad posted a few days ago about him in the ICU and what all was going on.

And then yesterday morning around 11 am, his dad posted that entry above. I was speechless. I had no idea what to write on his page or say to our friends. How can someone who is 25 years old die…cease to be with us on this Earth.. be taken to Heaven so soon?

It’s so hard to understand the will of God.

I have to keep remembering what my mother told me when I called her for some clarity after I found out. She said that if truly believe what we do – that there is an Eternal Reward after death, that Heaven awaits us – then we must not grieve for the dead, but grieve for ourselves, because we are not in Heaven yet. We are here on Earth, yet they are in Paradise and peace.

Patrick has no more pain from that cancer, he will hurt no more.

Bless him and his family and may he rest in peace.

Photo Source

Rangers and Tigers, oh my!

Dad and I at the 2009 Border Wars in Arrowhead Stadium

Yesterday, while getting ready for dinner with friends, I was listening to NPR and heard that the Texas Rangers had clinched their division and were going to the World Series for the first time in the history of the team.

And I burst into tears, mid-make up application.

I had to redo my whole face because of it.

Later on in the evening, we were at the bar and watching the final minutes of the Missouri-Oklahoma game. When the seconds ticket down to zero and number 11 had beaten number 1, I didn’t cry again but I almost did.

Dad would have loved that Saturday. To know his second favorite team in the MLB had broken through a ceiling and achieved something that they had never done before would have been awesome. He wouldn’t have stopped talking about it for weeks – and probably would have had to stand in line to see if he could get World Series tickets.

But to add to that his beloved Tigers had done the impossible and beaten Oklahoma (a team we’re always happy to root against), I don’t know what he would have said. He just would have loved it, that’s all I know.

I know Dad is up there in Heaven, watching all of this happen down here on Earth, and he’s just smiling away. I wish he was here to see it with us.

Thankful Thursdays

I'm thankful for my job - work has been crazy but I've realized just how much I love planning events. My boss even sent me these flowers yesterday as a thanks because I didn't get a centerpiece from last week's luncheon. Isn't that sweet? So yes, thankful I have some place to go every day that really lets me make a difference in our region.

My Front Door Needs Help

So I can't remember if I showed you another one of my find from a garage sale a few weeks ago. This is the new wreath on the front door. But there's just something missing. I saw mums at Home Depot last week and was thinking maybe some flowers might make it look nicer. There's about three more feet of concrete in front of the mat that you can't see, and bare flower beds beyond that and also to the right. We share a front porch area with the neighbor, so I can't do a lot, and frankly, I tend to kill anything green, so it has to be easy. Anyone have any ideas? I need a cute something to come home to!

Tagged – 8 Questions

Melissa at Duoly Noted recently tagged me and I’m just getting around to answering her questions! :)

1. If you could have an unlimited shoe budget or purse budget which one would you pick?

I know that Melissa would pick purse, but I would have to go with shoes. When we organized the guest bedroom where my clothes live, I counted over 50 distinct pairs. Some of them really need to go away, but most I wear on a semi-frequent basis. I love shoes. :)

2. If you could change lives with one person for a day who would it be?

Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the work of the First Lady. I know she’s incredibly busy and her day is planned down to the second, but to impact so man lives in one day, I think I might like that.

3. What is the one place you haven't been that you want to visit before you die?

There are so many of them! If I had to pick one, I would say the Great Pyramids. I’m fascinated by their construction and it just seems like an amazing place to visit.

4. What is your most unrealistic fear?

I have the unrealistic fear of an elevator dropping out from underneath me and me plunging to my death below. I hate elevators. I was trapped in one as a child. 

5. If you could compete in one Olympic sport, which one would you pick?

I always wanted to be a gymnast. But not the rhythmic kind – the Kerri Strug and Dominique Moceanu kind.

6. What was the last book you read and did you like it?

I just finished The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. I feel silly reading books meant for kids, but I read it in less than a week! I loved it. :) It’s about Disney after dark.

7. What song best describes how you are feeling this moment?

The past few weeks, I’ve been crazy busy at work, and haven’t had a lot of free time to listen to music. But I think it might be a song about life and to enjoy every minute of it, because you don’t know how many of those moments you have. Or something like that.

8. Who is your rolemodel?

Right now, my role model is my mother. The past few months have been very difficult for all of us. I can’t even imagine how she has been dealing with all of it. The way she has picked up the pieces and moved on is incredibly inspiring to me. And since I know she reads this blog, she should know that. And that I love her even more than she knows.

Any Excuse To Get Dressed Up…

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to volunteer at the Midwestern Regional Emmy Awards held in our city. Your local news stations and other local shows are nominated for Emmys in regions across the country and not the larger Emmy awards ceremony you see on TV every year.

This year, Ellie Kemper from The Office was the host and we had so much fun behind the scenes!

I kind of made a complete idiot of myself when I first met her early on the evening. Said some stupid things and just was so flustered – I love the show and seeing someone from that show was just so exciting! I’ve met a few famous people and never been so star struck. I mean, c’mon, she’s an actor like me! Why should I be nervous talking to her?

In any case, here’s a few pictures.

Me and Ellie!

Me and a fellow Emmy presenter

The organizer asked if I knew anyone who wanted to help out and owned a tux – these two gorgeous models fit the bill! I was in a show with the cutie on the left. :)

Aren’t we a good looking group of presenters? We weren’t called models that evening for nuthin’! It did a lot for my self-esteem to be called model all night long!

Can I mention how much I loved my dress? I found it for $30 at a local bridal shop while looking for dresses for last year’s event. It ended up being $30 to alter the hem and we were done! As much as I couldn’t breathe in the dress (I really should have lost a few pounds before the event), I loved the way the outfit turned out. :)

Silent Sundays – a day with friends and family

 

Five Question Friday

1. What is your favorite Halloween candy?

I love Babe Ruths and chocolate covered marshmellow pumpkins. MMM.

2. Do you fold your socks?

No, I kind of roll them together so they don't get lost from each other. My dad always did it that way, so I guess that's the way I do them too. :)

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?

I wish someone would have warned me that by saying yes to EVERYTHING, I'll be quite busy and not able to blog as much as I really want to.

4. What is the most significant difference between you and your significant other?
The most significant difference would be that he is the strong silent type and I love to talk and be loud. We go well together.

5. What are three words you would use to describe yourself?

Perky, loving, crazy.

Thankful Thursdays

1. My DVR - It lets me escape into the silly teenage dramas, wonderful reality TV and spiffy movies I missed in the theatres. I seriously spend WAY too much time with my U-Verse DVR. :)
2. My husband - He made me beef stew for dinner tonight. Although he warned me he wasn't sure how it was going to come out in the end - but I have faith! If not... we could always order pizza, right?
3. Theatre - I get to see a musical this evening and I have no idea what it's about! That's what I love about being involved in this business.
4. Friends - My good friend M has asked me if I was interested in helping coordinate her sister's wedding. It's just one more step down the road of building my own wedding planning business. So exciting - I even started looking at business cards!

What are you thankful for this Thursday afternoon?

Funny title, awesomely inspiring show

Did you watch Glee this week?

My friend, M, invited me over for an adult beverage and Glee-watching and some girl time. We hadn’t hung out in a while and it was good to see her.

When I started sobbing the minute Curt’s dad fell down, I was extra glad that she asked me to come over. Because if I had to watch that episode on my own, I know it would have pushed me over the edge into a true crying fit.

I knew it was inevitable to see a father’s heart attack shown in popular culture, and even though I knew it was coming from the previews the week before, it was still hard to watch.

M grabbed me a tissue and it was nice to have someone else cry with me.

I’m glad it had a somewhat happy ending, but Curt’s song, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, physically hurt my heart. That’s all I want – is to hold my dad’s hand. It’s very hard to realize that I can’t do that now.

The Best Garage Sale EVER

It was the annual Sunset City garage sale the Saturday before the family wedding. My friend M and I went this past spring (I think they hold it twice a year) with M’s mom and aunt. They are SERIOUS garage sale shoppers. They agreed to take me along and show me the ropes. M had been lots of times and thought it would be fun to have someone her own age (and someone with similar tastes as her) go along too.

This time, M asked me to come along with her sister and go on our own. The other ladies weren’t free for this one, but we figured we had learned a lot and were ready to strike out on our own.

I was up at 5:15 am and at M’s house by 6 am. Thank goodness for Starbucks, because we stopped there at 6:30 and hit up our first sale by 6:45 am. It was going to be a very successful sale day, we KNEW it.

I think it was the first or second stop where we found THE HOUSE. It was like the holy grail of garage sales.

I found a Coach bag.

Isn’t she pretty?

You won’t believe what I paid for her. $5. YES. I couldn’t even believe it. I didn’t bother bargaining (something M’s mom and aunt would be very disappointed in!) but it was such a good deal I couldn’t ask for less.

Every time I pick up the bag to head out to run an errand, I just grin from ear to ear. I lurve my new bag!!!

I crashed a wedding today

My mom’s cousin’s daughter got married this afternoon in my mom’s hometown. I drove to Kansas City last night after work and we went as a family (grandma, mom, aunt, cousin and his wife, and me) to the wedding today.

Mom was supposed to call her cousin and let him know that I was in town this weekend, and would it be ok if I could come to the reception.

Last night, sitting at my grandmother’s kitchen table, I asked what her cousin had said when she asked about the wedding. The table went silent. My mother looked at me sheepishly… and didn’t say anything.

“You didn’t call your cousin?!”

“Um, not exactly.”

“Oh mother…”

So an event planner went to a wedding and crashed it. The wedding of a woman who I’ve never met. Yes, it was the daughter of a family member, but still. I don’t think I’ve ever met her. Couldn’t even pick her out of a line up.

In any case, it was such a beautiful wedding! The ceremony took place in the same parish that my parents got married in 30 years ago. Granted, it’s a different building (the original church was remodeled and not used as the sanctuary anymore) but it was still pretty neat.

At the reception, the buffet line wound its way in front of the head table and we got to chat with the bride and groom. She actually DID know who I was, which was really nice. :) We must have met at some point, or at least she knew that my mom had a daughter and I must be her.

But still. I don’t recommend crashing a wedding. It was just kind of awkward.