Ah, Normalcy

It's a crazy time I'm living in - the Boyfriend survived his first Griswold holiday...work remains constant chaos. So, its good that somethings never change.

Take this conversation with my mother...after she insists my dad stop talking to me regarding my future.

G: Mom, what's up?
Mom: I'm in the shampoo aisle, what shampoo do I need to buy for your father?
G: what? Ummmm. TresSemme? Pantene?
Mom: are you sure - what does his hair need?
G: don't most mothers call to say they love and miss their kids?
Mom: ok, Pantene. Now what did you want?
G: um, nothing because the Metro is coming...I'll call you back in 10 minutes.
Mom: well, we won't be answering because we're off to the mall.
G: thank you for your honesty.
Mom: you're welcome...love you byeeeee.

Yep, family still the same.

Miss y'all.

Smooches,
G

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Blue October - Inner Glow

I'm like a storm cloud eager when you go out
Calm again
I'll ask permission for the wrong to win
Drop the bomb and get your story out and get it on
In a haze the beginning of your days
Gonna fall down
Got to get back up but at your own pace
Got to fill your cup and find the way
Out of your own maze
Yeah boy what you said now

And hide the rule book throw it in the waste
Look strong
Like you belong cause you do belong
Whether right or wrong you belong

I'm on your side if you fail at least you tried
To keep your aching celebrating wonder making heart alive
Yeah and pride don't keep it all inside
Don't keep your aching celebrating wonder making heart alone
Write you own song

Whatever happened to our inner glow
Whatever happened to the song the soul the me i used to know
Whatever happened to my radio
Whatever happened to my song
It is my song

So here's a preview shove it under old-new
Or call it rock or pop or bach or f**k
Goddamn where did we go wrong
Now there's a category for every song

Yeah we only want to sing when we want to
Yeah we only want a dream we can flaunt to
Yeah we only want to fly by the side making love to the rhythm be a Jekyll and a Hyde
Yeah we only want a field we can run through
Yeah we only want a beat we can drum to
Yeah we only want to fly by the side making love to the rhythm be a Jekyll and a Hyde

So stride if you fail at least you tried
To keep your aching celebrating wonder making heart alive
And pride don't keep it all inside
Don't keep your aching celebrating wonder making heart alone
Write your own song

Whatever happened to our inner glow
Whatever happened to the song the soul the me i used to know
Whatever happened to my radio
Whatever happened to the song

Gonna wake up strong ya we're all gonna wake up strong...

April Showers

I dislike April because almost everyone I've known passes away in April. I lost my aunt on Friday. She was my godmother. She's the "Marie" from "GinaMarie", which for those of you who don't know, is my real first name.

My aunt was a pint-sized powerhouse at around 5 feet tall...directly opposite of her 6' 5" husband. She was a calm, quiet force which was always the perfect counterbalance to my energetic and exuberant uncle. A nurse by trade, she was among the most caring people I've ever met. 

She never wanted people to make a fuss about her.  She always let the spotlight shine down those around her.

One of the best attributes I learned from her was how to be a calm, quiet force. It is a discipline she perfected throughout her life, and one I can only hope to emulate someday.

She proved that even today when a major storm hit as we were driving to her grave site. We were unable to bury her, which in turn, spared her grandkids the pain of watching her go into the ground. You'd be hard pressed to convince me that she didn't make that a request of hers.

For years, I've always wondered why my parents would give me two first names, especially when paired with a 12 letter last name.

I realize that it went beyond their quirky humor to see how many letters I could learn at a young age, and beyond just giving me the name of my godmother. 

I think my parents maybe thought I'd need something to balance me out. And I think that by naming me GinaMarie, they knew that it would be the perfect blend of the boisterous Gina and the calm that is and will always be my Aunt Marie.

Everyone who passes, goes too soon. This is why I'm such a stickler for trying to appreciate the limited time I have with people. And why, I care more about having time with people then anything else I ever receive. Spending time with the people you love is the most valuable gift you can receive in life.

I think we all forget that sometimes, but its something we should strive to actively remember. You never know when that gift will be gone...but you do realize, sometimes too late, that when it is gone it is all you ever ultimately wanted.

We all have limited time. But nothing will ever be more important than taking the time to say I love you.

As the priest said today, "Saying I love you is the way we say that you will live eternally as I carry you as part of my heart."

I can say with certainty that I love all of you and nothing makes my heart feel stronger than carrying you all, whether you are here or beyond, in my heart.

Smooches,
G

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Extraordinary People

Everyone is a superhero. You've heard me say that before. And here's more proof. The sister of one of my bestest girls was recently diagnosed with cancer. When I was told by my friend, I looked at her like she had 3 heads, because this girl is the picture of health and has a beautiful family. Yet this sweet, young girl was hit with this awful disease. It seems impossible. Does she give in and cower? No, like so many of the people around me… she stands and she fights. She wins, thank god… and now instead of moving on with her already busy life of being a mother of 2 beautiful kids but goes on to build awareness of something that can protect us all.

Please give a read to her story below. Spread the word to your loved ones too. And my heartfelt love to her for being so courageous on this mission.

I am a 31 year old, otherwise healthy female who was just diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. I recently underwent a Total Thyroidectomy and am now on lifelong medication to replace my thyroid function. The small cancerous nodule was only discovered after my primary care physician ordered a precautionary ultrasound after I complained of throat discomfort. There is no history of cancer in my family, nor have I had exposure to an abnormal amount of radiation that I know of. However, since then, I've done some research and heard the opinion of some doctors and have found something very alarming. There has been a large increase in Thyroid Cancers, especially in women, and many doctors are contributing this rise to the failure to protect the thyroid from harmful radiation during routine dental x-rays and mammograms. I have found that many dentists have a special "thyroid guard" to use during x-rays but ONLY use it if the patient requests it! Otherwise, the neck area is left exposed to harmful radiation. One patient told me that when she requested the thyroid guard be used during dental x-rays, the technician was "surprised" and "impressed" that she asked for it and said it is only used at the request of a patient. WHY is the use of this guard not mandatory? Please consider addressing this issue on your Health Check segment. We need everyone to request the use of this guard, and make people more aware of this cancer and how it can be avoided.