london bound…?

10 / 9 / 13

Many of you already know that the hubbie and I lived in London for two years… back in the dark ages. Actually, it was 1986-1988. Same thing. I had a friend who recently went to London with her family and she asked if I had any suggestions as to what to do, where to go… Wow. That’s a big question. There is just SO MUCH to see and do… and everyone has a different “wish list” for what they hope to get out of their trip. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I made a list of suggestions – and although it was random, she said that it helped. (To see my friend, Dawn’s “recap” of her London trip, click here… A Glimpse of London)

Someone else asked me about London just the other day. They were, also, thinking of heading over to see the queen in the near future. I’m sure it’s quite challenging to work around her schedule. No. I’m kidding. I don’t know anyone who personally rubs shoulders with the queen. But I’m 99% sure that I was standing right next to David Cassidy in a London post office once. This highly engaging fact, however, only has relevance if you read my previous post – “music memories”. Anyway – It made me think that there might be others who might actually benefit from my infinite wisdom and extraordinary insight when it comes to playing the part of a London tourist… Ya. Right. OK – perhaps you know someone who is leaving tomorrow and they need to be punished for procrastinating. Regardless of the circumstances, here it is… in all it’s glory. “The List“. Hope it helps. Someone; somewhere…

Double decker buses (top level… great wind factor!! Ha!) Best way to take an initial overall tour of the city!!
“The Tube” – For day-to-day travel, the underground (“the tube”) is super easy to navigate and the best way to get from point A to point B. At some point, tho, a taxi ride in one of the old fashioned taxis is a must!!
Afternoon Tea – My #1 fav thing to do in England… SO many options, from super, duper fancy (think “The Ritz”) to comfy casual (Think a “bed & bath” somewhere in the English countryside). I’m pretty sure that my” last meal” would include scones with clotted cream & jam…
Leicester Square – Great place to buy ½ price theatre tickets for that day
Speakers Corner (@ Marble Arch) – People go here to speak publicly about anything & everything. Have anything you wanna get off your chest??
Indian Food – a “must try”; They are every corner!! A few good things to try for your first experience (very mild) – “Chicken Korma”, “Chicken Tikka Masala”, “Nan”. In a word… Yum.
“Harrods” (Knightsbridge)– a must see!! An entire city block in one store. Don’t miss the food halls downstairs!
“Fortnum & Mason” – Another taste of British life is that is like a grocery store on steroids!! (Piccadilly Circus or Green Park) An easy walk from Piccadilly Circus.
Piccadilly Circus – As close to “Times Square” in NY as you’re gonna get here… Very crazy & crowded but lots of people like to photograph
Trafalgar Square – Another big tourist stop for photos… Feeding the pigeons (yuck!) Walking distance from Buckingham Palace!
Covent Garden – An old fruit & veggie market… now full of shops, open air market, street entertainers… Check online to see if there is a schedule or anything. Cute unique little shops in the surrounding area as well. This is a good place for pics & gifts to take home.
Hyde Park – huge & beautiful!
“Kings Road”/Sloane Square (Clelsea area) – Used to be very young, trendy area (shops) & your best chance to get a punk rocker photo!
“Boots” – This is the store you need to look for if you need any “stuff”… Like a Walgreens or CVS on steroids! They call a drugstore a “chemist”; just in case you have to ask for one!
“the loo” – Ask for this if you need a “potty”!!!
Pics… Big Ben, St. Pauls, Tower of London (they do a gross tour that might appeal to the men/boys… lots of gory stuff!), Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey (You will go past all of these on double decker tour, which gives you a feel for the layout of the city & let’s you make notes of areas to go back to!)

Enjoy – and give that beautiful city a great big juicy hug from a “not so secret” admirer… xoxo

live happy

musical memories

10 / 3 / 13

I’m so excited…!! The hubbie and I are headed for the Blake Shelton concert tonight – WooHoo!!!! For those of you who are all, like, “Blake WHO??” Country singer. Also on the TV show, “The Voice”. Anyway – I am ready to break in my new “cowgirl boots”, y’all! OK… wait. I’m not from the south, am I? Nope. Born and raised in St. Louis. We never said y’all. And, by the way, it’s “soda“… not “pop“. Never mind. Point of the story – I like country music…!! It is, in fact, my current favorite style of music; my “go to“. Now it wasn’t always this way ~~y‘all.~~ Honestly, I have to say that I really enjoy almost all types of music, really. There are, however, exceptions…!

It all started with “The Partridge Family” and (xoxoxo) David Cassidy. Ya. DEFINITELY love. The teen years were all about REO Speedwagon and Styx. Oh ya – And “Stairway to Heaven”… right??? The “slow dance” at the end of every high school event. Ha! College was all over the board – a little of this, a little of that. What can I say – It was the 70’s/80’s. Then when we lived in London, I got hooked on classical music as well as the soundtracks from “The Phantom of the Opera” (including Michael Crawford) and “Les Miserables“.

For as long as I can remember, I have always been a fan of what I lovingly call, “cocktail music“; my “go to” on a Friday night with a glass of wine… Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Nora Jones… I love Christmas music and “spa” music; Nat King Cole and Josh Groban. I love “Kermit the Frog” singing “It’s Not Easy Being Green” and “The Rainbow Connection”. Might also add that the “John Denver & the Muppets Christmas CD”… it rocks.

Some of my current favorite country artists are Zac Brown Band (Oh my gosh – AMAZING concert!!!), Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker and, of course, Blake Shelton. And here’s a little trivia for ya – my sweet hubbie, in a cowboy hat… when he doesn’t shave and gets kinda scruffy… looks an awful lot like Tim McGraw. Yep. Not too shabby. Just sayin’… I will try to get a pic one of these days. We will do a split screen. In the meantime, a little music from my buddy, Blake. It’s one of his songs that you may not have heard much, but one of my favs – Hoping to hear it tonight… “Do You Remember“

my “lovely” friend; alice

4 / 2 / 134 / 2 / 15

(A repost from exactly two years ago… With love. To you, Alice. I miss you today xoxo)

Today would have been my lovely friend, Alice’s, birthday. April 2. My birthday falls on May 2. We celebrated our birthdays together in 1987 and 1988.

Unfortunately, that was all the time we were blessed with…

We moved to London in the fall of 1986 for a (short… way too short) two year adventure with my husband’s accounting firm. Knowing that I only had a very limited period of time, I decided that the best way to do things was to jump in feet first; and ask questions later. So that’s exactly what I did. “Getting cozy” with the Brits, however, was a rather daunting task. It was much easier to develop friendships with the New Zealanders, Aussies and the other Americans. The British are, overall, a bit more distant and hard to get to know. And I am the first to admit that my personality might be a bit “over the top” for them. Regardless, I decided to venture out of the old “comfort zone”. We had been attending mass in a massive English cathedral… cold and dark and full of gold and stained glass. “Cozy” is not exactly the word that I am going for here. I decided to pursue some volunteer work through the church. I made some contacts, and before I knew it, I had a slip of paper in my hand with two names, addresses and telephone numbers. They were “older women” who might welcome a visit or two. One of the names scribbled on that piece of paper….was Alice.

I phoned her “straightaway” and made arrangements to stop by for tea. Her flat was down a quiet little cobblestone street near “Marble Arch” in the heart of London. I knocked, the door opened… and, in that very moment, a friendship began. Yes; Really. Just like that. We started out setting specific times and dates for my visits. But as the friendship deepened, we started having “impromptu” visits between visits! I would phone her to see if perhaps I might stop by for a quick visit. “That would be lovely”, she would say. She loved the word “lovely”. Not once did she turn me away. And they were not usually quick visits, either – ha! We would just sit and talk for hours. Alice had lost her husband many years prior and had no children. Her closest relative was a niece (and her family) who lived outside of London, but she didn’t really get together with them very often. I knew that my visits meant the world to her. Truth is, they meant the world to me, as well.

Alice would leave the front door open when she knew that I was on the way. I would let myself in, and from the moment that I stepped inside that tiny, dimly lit, cozy little flat – it was like my heart coming home. If I close my eyes I can still remember everything like it was yesterday… the sound of the teacups and saucers clanking against the tray as she made her way

to the tiny little kitchen table… the scent of freshly brewed tea and something warm from the oven… sometimes the soft little purr of a kitty that also called Alice “home”. Alice had a frail little body, crooked fingers, soft golden white hair and a tiny little voice. Her eyes would sparkle when I entered the room with a love that was, indeed, mutual; and shared between the two of us. We were separated by many, many years; it’s true. But we were kindred spirits; friends of the heart. It was a gift, and I think that we both knew that we were blessed in the moment. We treasured those moments up until the very, very end. Leaving Alice felt like I was ripping out a piece of my heart and leaving it there in London… Indeed I was.

Upon returning to the states, we kept our promise to each other to write often. Those letters meant the world to me. Sometimes I would even call her just to say a quick “hi” and hear her voice. I still remember calling to tell her that I was pregnant with twins and she was going to be a “grandma”… xo! She was SO excited and just kept saying how “lovely” that was… her favorite word!! She started making plans to come to the United States after they were born. “Nothing would make me happier”, I told her.

I still remember the day the letter came.

It was from her niece. I sat down. I started crying before I even opened it. “Auntie Alice” had passed away peacefully in her sleep. She knew that I would want to know. She had found my letters, along with my address, there next to her bed. She thanked me for being such a special person in her “auntie’s” life. Wow. “Ever had a memory that sneaks out of your eye, and rolls down your cheek…?”

If a yellow rose is the symbol of friendship, perhaps those are the tears of missing a friend…

So today, Alice, I am thinking about you with my whole heart… I brewed a pot of tea, selected my favorite little floral teacup and saucer and put some quiet music on to help me write this post. So many memories are running through my mind. It truly feels like you are right here with me. I know you are. There were tears in my eyes as I wrote this entire blog post, but they flowed uncontrollably as I attempted to type that last paragraph… I still miss you so much. I always will. I realize, however, that I am so very, very lucky to have been blessed with such love. “Missing someone isn’t about how long it’s been since you’ve seen them or the amount of time since you’ve talked. It’s about that very moment when you’re doing something and wishing they were right there with you.” Oh, Alice; If only heaven weren’t so far away…. Happy Birthday, my dear friend.

love in london

8 / 1 / 12

So indulge me for a moment or two. The summer Olympic games have got me a little homesick for London. Again.

I know, I know. You might be thinking, “Been there; done that”. Yes – During the “Queen’s Jubilee” I did a post entitled “big ben”. And, yes; Big Ben is in London. But you have to understand that this was a special time in our lives. Very special. Two years and a lot of memories. So you were thinking just one blog post would cover it? Oh, gracious me. I think not.

So I begin with the reminder that we had only been married for two short years. We were moving away from friends, family and familiarity. We were entering the unknown… just the two of us. A team. We brought very little with us. Found a furnished “flat” (apartment) to live in; filled with someone else’s “stuff” – dishes, furniture, bedding… and started making our memories.

We lived a “hop, skip and a jump” (walking distance) from The Victoria & Albert Museuem, The Natural History Museum, Hyde Park and Kensington Palace/Gardens (where Prince Charles & Princess Diana lived.) Used to do my morning walks in the gardens surrounding Kensington Palace. Never once, however, did I see Princess Diana in her bathrobe out picking up the morning paper. Hmmm… Go figure.

The truth is, and the point of this blog is that the two of us learned how to survive, day-to-day, alone together, as a couple. When you only have each other – it is such an incredible bonding experience. We were there for each other during the sad and lonely times; when something would happen back home and suddenly we felt like we were painfully separated and distant from those we loved… because we were. But we focused on the fact that we had each other; and we got through it. We shared all of the adventures, the “kodak moments”… the experiences that formed treasured memories for the rest of our lives. We made wonderful friends, traveled to incredible locations and lived every single day with gratitude for the many gifts that we had been given. What we didn’t realize, at the time, was that the true gifts weren’t palaces, princesses or exotic destinations. The true gift was the strong bond that formed between us over those two years that gave our fresh new marriage a solid foundation on which to move forward. Through thick & thin; sun & rain. Twenty eight years of marriage (so far!) and we’re still going strong. I am grateful. Always.

live happy… laugh, love, dream, create

this little piggy went to market…

6 / 20 / 12

I always wanted to be a buyer.

I went to college and majored in Fashion Merchandising with an (almost) minor in business. I pictured myself working for some well known chain of classy stores, traveling throughout the United States to various markets; wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of my crazy, exciting, cutting-edge career… OK. So maybe that’s not exactly how it all worked out. Upon graduating, I spent the next eight years in retail management; aside from the two (glorious) years that we lived in London. It was then that I entered into the career of a lifetime…(literally). The job was simply titled – “Mom”. The years to follow were, and continue to be, the best of my life. Nothing prepared me for the sheer magnitude of motherhood. Being the oldest of seven kids sure helped – but I had no idea how much I would really love being a mom to my two kids. It was, in all sincerity, the career of my dreams.

Kids have this terrible habit, however, of growing up. When my twins turned 12, I started my own little home business called “Creations (by cathy) so that I would have something for myself, especially when the (dreaded) moment came for them to leave for college. (In retrospect… one of the smartest things that I have ever done!) Back in 2002, we still had a Market in Kansas City. I can still remember the thrill and excitement of “going to market” for the very first time!!! I think that I probably just sat in my car and squealed like a little piglet before I went in. I was just SO excited!! That market has been gone for quite a while now, and I have had the opportunity to attend Market in Denver, Chicago (twice), Atlanta, and now, Dallas. Arrived in Dallas yesterday afternoon so that I could spend the evening chit-chatting over sushi with a niece who is currently living here in Dallas. We laughed and talked and wined and dined. Solved all the world’s problems… and then some (love ya, sweetie!)

The Dallas Market (click link) opened this AM – so when the wake-up call wrestled me out of a deep, dark sleep at about 6:45… I stumbled to the shower (Via the coffeemaker. Regular.) and began my day. Over the next 12 hours I would sit down exactly three times. Five minutes for breakfast and 10 minutes on the shuttle bus to Market and back. “Lunch” is defined as “food that the Reps often put out to entice you to stay in their showrooms”. It is free, it may (or may not) be something that sounds good and it does not involve sitting. Yep. This is what I love. It’s that crazy hustle, bustle “thrill of the hunt” feeling that I dreamed of right after college. (There was just an ever-so-slight “delay of game” getting here.) And the hunt is even more exciting and challenging this time around. I am truly “starting over” at this Market in a fresh, new direction – shabby chic, feminine,”cottagey”… and often with a French accent! Everything that I love!! Woo-Hoo!! I am truly like a little kid going to Disney World! Today was wonderful. Now it’s time for a little “beauty rest”. Still have another 2 1/2 days in “The Magic Kingdom”, and I certainly don’t want to have dark circles under my eyes if I run into Minnie Mouse!

big ben

6 / 6 / 12

I have to admit that watching the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration over the past couple of days has made me a bit nostalgic…

It seems like a hundred years ago, now; our life in London. It was 1986 when the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself to these two young, 20-something newlyweds. The next two years play out in my mind like a slideshow of beautiful memories, unforgettable friends and extraordinary experiences. Here we were, two young kids from the midwest. We were suddenly living in the heart of London, in a small flat (apartment), with a refrigerator that was not much bigger than a small “bar” refrigerator and a washer/dryer “combo”. (Yep. One contraption takes care of both. Go figure.) Two of the modes of transportation were a huge underground subway system (“the tube”), or a car (our little white Jetta) with the steering wheel on the right side of the car, that you were, somehow, expected to drive on the left side of the street! We learned that a “boot” is the trunk of your car, if you need an elevator, you ask for the “lift” and for goodness gracious, if you have to go potty, you need to find the “loo”!! We fell in love with Indian food, the theatre and the English countryside. I fell “head-over-heels in love” with “afternoon tea”… the finest tradition on earth, in my ever so humble opinion. I did not, however, fall in love with “pub food”. Just saying. We learned that drizzly rain is just that… drizzly rain; and it doesn’t stop anything. When the sun did make an appearance – it was a gift and a glorious celebration. We learned that no one there cares if it is Thanksgiving back home and that the holidays are a time that you really do miss your family… We made lots of friends, however. Good friends; with people from all over the US, Britain, Australia and New Zealand. Those friends, along with our many, many experiences, have proven to be truly unforgettable. There is so much more to share in future posts – but suffice it to say that our time in London was absolutely, positively “splendid”!! Cheers!

“From the top of the bus she could see the vast bowl of London spreading out to the horizon: splendid shops with mannequins in the window, interesting people and already a much bigger world.” – Julia Gregson