"There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good." ~Edwin Denby

Lesson Two:


There's something about being in New York City for the day...just you & your daughter...no cares..no timeframes..

..that makes you a little ...um...cRaZy..



And another surprising message..well..not so surprising to me..New Yorkers are very friendly, courteous and just a little crazy too!

Remember Bear?  My trusty travel companion? Because I (used to) travel alone a lot, I felt I needed a subject for my pictures..or else they'd just look like picture postcards...

So, Bear travels with me and meets a lot of friendly people {read: good sports} who will take time out of their day and pose with Bear...and literally 100% of the time, Bear leaves them ..smiling :-)



Lesson here?  Don't be afraid to have fun..to be silly..to be a goof.  Life is waaaay to short to worry worry worry..

I'm just sayin'...

-me

oh..PS...another lesson? Don't wear your canera on your hip..like a bad fanny pack..

Life: The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Nelson Mandela

Hi and hello and howdy-doand boyhowdy, I missed you all...

I'm glad to be back safely and I realized traveling and spending time with a first grader is VERY enlightening..

I learned a lesson each and every day I was on vacation. 


First great lesson?  Trampoline!

 "I got on! Yay!"

 

 "Can you say 'ta-da' !"

 "You can't just pose Grammie...you gotta jump!"

"Wha...??"

 "OK...I jumped..now how do I get off this thing??"

 "YIKES!!"

 "Help!"

 "I've trampolined and I can't get up!"

 "I am looking at the ground..I feel earth!!"

 "Houston, we have touch-down..."

 "That's one small step for Grammie...one giant leap for Grammie-kind!"

"This "teaching Grammie" thing is exhausting!!"

More "lessons" to come...

-me

Just like Ahhhnold..."I'll be back..."

I'm on my way to see Ella and Co..and I'm not taking my lap top.  Well..I'm taking my lap..and I guess technically, my top..but not my computer.

However, I do have a fancy-schmancy phone that I can look at Facebook and check my emails..and maybe even take a sneak peek at some of your blogs..

But, I gotta be truthful..my attention and time will be with that little soul I love and miss so much.

So, all of you have a wonderful 10 days and be safe, be happy and just...BE!

-me

PS....Mr. B is staying home with Braxton, Lulu and Sushi..and Grandma Evelyn is having another heart procedure..so wish them all well..and I'll miss them too... :-(

Yes...I know..I've been quiet....

Well not really.  Just ask Mr. B.

But I haven't written much this week.  Getting ready to go to see Ella {!) in New Jersey next week..Wednesday to be exact!  And the new little pup, Mia ..and Chloe and Marley!

Oh and yes..I'll see Brandi & Johnny too..

It has been two l-o-n-g years  since I have hugged Ella..and my heart misses her..so I am extremely excited..there is a BIG huge difference from a 5 year old to a seven year old.

Not so much between a 60 year old and a 62 year old..

I'll be there from Wednesday until the 22 of April..so we have TONZZZZ of plans..

Having lunch with Ella at school

Going to the Cherry Blossom Festival

Spending 2 nights at a Bed & Breakfast in the Amish Country..Lancaster County

Going to the Brooklyn Flea!

The Flea's Fort Greene flagship location features 150 vendors every Saturday from April through November. The 40,000-square-foot schoolyard at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School is part vintage bazaar, part hipster hang, part old-fashioned town square, and part food bonanza.

 ......and just having such a great time with  the "ever-so-serious" Lopez family...

Can't wait.

I'm excited.

I'm anxious.

I wanna be there soon (er)

It's snowing again here :-(

seriously.  snowing.

It strikes me odd that I need to go to New Jersey to get warm.

Hmm..but I like odd.

-me

Good Mornin' Peeps!

I love me some Peeps...you know, those sugary-sweet-carb-loaded chickies for Easter?  Yeah...the only chicken I'll eat anymore...LOL..

Oh..and Cadburry Eggs...

Get out you diet Devil from my morning thoughts!!

OK..wanted to let you know on Sunday it was white again...

no, not the snow...my hair!  It came completely out..you know..the Grape Kool-Aid. 

And because I'm Watching my Weight {hahahha get it? Weight Watchers"??}...

I used use Sugar-Free Kool-Aid..maybe I should have used the fattening stuff..my hair could use some thickness...

Gotta quit getting up early, huh?

-me

So....any April's Fools out there??

I mean....besides me?

Yeah..well..I'm know to be impulsive...sometimes

And, those impulsive, early morning, "oh-this-is-gunna-be-soooo-funny" decisions..

..and...when I do those impulsive-like things..and no notices.. anything?

Two words...

Epic. Fail.

No..these are not photo-shopped..

I have lavender hair.

Lavender. Hair.

Kool-Aid.  Not dye..and hopefully it will wash out.

Ever try to be funny..and you're the only one?  Yeah..sort of like that.

Most of them looked at me like..'there's just another old lady with purple hair..'

Which, I was...but.... not seriously.

Seriously.

Oh well.  Next year I'll just have to go with the saran wrap over the toilet...

-me

PS...I smelled great!  Like grape cotton candy..

Hmmm...maybe pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month??

Hi Larry...it's me, Colleen...

Just thought I'd send up a little note with some great big news....

On Tuesday, in the wee hours of the morning..you became a Great-Grandfather!

Yeah, your beautiful first grandgirlie, Emily, gave birth to a little baby boy....well..not so little a baby boy..all 8lbs. 14oz of him...}

I know you are so proud of her and Cam..and didja know they named him Calvin Lawrence? Yeppers...your name will be carried on with little "Cal" just as your memory is carried with all of us.

This has been a wild year since we said good-bye to you and then found out the family was being blessed with a new life...

As as the spring approached, it brought a renewed excitement and love..more family feelings and thoughts..and of course, rememberies of you..and of Emily...as you danced with her when she was so young..

...and again at her wedding....still just a wisp of a girl.

Isn't she beautiful?  ...and I know you're smiling up there now..looking at your legacy of love..

Well, that's about it for now.  Say "Hello" to Daddy & Mother...Cal's GREAT-Great-grandparents!

..wait........what? That makes me a GREAT-grand-Auntie??!!  Are you sure??

Hey, it's a "great" promotion :-)

Love you brother!

XXOO

-me