Tag: Margber

How popular are you?

On By Peggy BereIn Musings9 Comments

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My life has recently taken a 360 degree about-face.  It went from spending every spare moment I could squeeze out of my day on writing, to journaling 24/7.  Some might say that those are the same thing.  I’m here to tell you that they are very, very different.

Think of  journaling as the reader’s digest version of writing.  It focuses strictly on the peaks and valley’s of your day, month or  year.  I stumbled upon this creative art form while lurking and posting on Instagram – (one of the very many addictions and time soaks of my day.)

In last month’s post I touched on this new fascination of mine.  I mentioned that I had started an Etsy Shop at this address – Journal Creations –  where you could view and purchase my lovely planners and journal books. <— another shameless plug.

I did not, however, mention at that time that some people consider it a place of online popularity as well as very competitive and highly lucrative business opportunities.  I ignorantly neglected to mention this fact because until recently, I was not aware of it.  I mean, c’mon!  How was I to know that there were people out there looking to get rich off of the idea of planning and journaling those very special moments of your life.  I was clueless to the fact that there were women slinkinkg around the dark corners of the internet, keeping their ever watchful eye on the total number of their competitor’s “Instagram likes & views” and growing online presence.  Apparently, it’s a cardinal sin to rise above someone else’s popularity who happens to be peddling the same wares as you.  Once someone rises to top spot of queen bee on IG,  they plan on settling in and staying there come hell or high water.  (Sheeeeesh – I had a lot to learn.)

I became personally aware of this nasty side of the competitive nature of Etsy Shop owners last month.  I was logging into my account feed to see if anyone had noticed anything that I had posted since late the night before when my eyes about popped out of my head.  I could not believe what I was seeing on my ever so virginal feed.  Someone had not only posted rude comments directly under one of my journal photo’s, but also, viciously abusive remarks as well.   I sat dazed and a little offended and surprised.  Did this kind of stuff seriously exist?  Was it an acceptable and normal practice for an online community to speak to each other in this fashion?

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I got a creepy feeling.  I looked over my shoulder as if  I was being watched.  I could feel my heart start to race a bit.  Looking back at the screen, I reread the vicious words again hoping that I had misunderstood their meaning the first time.

Nope.  I had not misunderstood.  There they were staring me in the face.  And, if that wasn’t bad enough, they were big and bold because just that morning I had changed my usual discreet font to the more popular Comic Sans Size 12 Bold Font.

What in the world?   I again looked over my shoulder.  Then quickly up at the small dot of a campeephole1era on my laptop screen.  I wondered if I should cover it up with some thick masking tape in case the culprit was somehow spying on me.  (And, if they were, did I look all skewed and bow faced like you see on TV when someone is peeping at someone through a peephole in a door??)

My first instinct was to quickly log out of my account, turn off my pc and hide it under something heavy… ( like my hubby’s fully lined arctic suit which he keeps in the back of the basement closet in case we ever get stuck in a blizzard and can’t get out of the house and he has to trudge slowly across the neighborhood through the chest high snow for milk and bread…..)

Oh this was ridiculous.  This new journaling interest of mine was just a little hobby I had become interested in doing during my free time.  The last thing on my mind was that I’d  suddenly become rich and famous and the bread-winner of our humble household because of my popular online presence and business talents.  Sheesh!

I was no online newbie with my head in the sand.  I had heard all about online confrontations and these kind of unpleasant things happening.  I wanted no part of some foul-mouthed, super scary cyber world, popular wanna-be.  I didn’t want some online tough guy (or, in this case, tough girl) finding out where I lived.  Or worse yet, muddying up my good online fake name to all of my online virtual fake named friends whom I’ve never seen or met or talked to and probably never would!

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So, I ended up doing what most middle-aged women would do who found themselves in this unsettling situation.  I called my hubs.

Me: sounding a little sulky – “…hi clark….”

Hubs: loud, hectic noises in the background – “Hey, honey bunny!!”

(Hurray! That salutation was a sure sign that he was in a good mood.   Otherwise I would have gotten a distracted grunt.)

Me: still sulking – “….are you busy?”

Hubs: “Nope, I was just thinking about what to have for lunch”

(It was only 9:30am)

Me: silence & a little annoyed that he did not notice the distress in my voice.

Me: continued silence and a big sigh

Hubs: “Is everything ok?”

(Ding ding ding!!!  OK, that was better.  Now we were getting somewhere.)

I went into every gory detail of what had turned my usual happy morning coffee and online lurking time into an unpleasant experience.  I told him about how nervous the entire incident had made me.  I told him that I was going to give up painting and journaling forever because there was an online bully that was after me!

He listened intently and gave a audible sigh of relief realizing that this time it was not him that I was perturbed with this time.

After I finished relaying all the gruesome facts to him, he scoffed.  He told me that the entire thing was uncalled for.  He said that the online browbeater was out of line!  And then, for good measure, he tossed in that if he found out who it was, he was going to kick their ass for upsetting me!  (My hero!!)

I felt better about the situation after emptying my troubled soul to Clark.  He called me frequently in the next few hours to make sure I was ok.  I think he was so relieved that he was not the subject of my dismay (this time)…that he went full on caveman.

That evening when he got home, we looked into it together.  And, together we found out that the source of the online intimidation was a loud mouthed, 20-year-old punk who was trying to get me to walk away from what was sure to be heavy competition for her.

Good Grief!!  I was being bullied by a snot nosed 20-year-old?  It was laughable!   After getting my nerve up and wiping the moisture from my sweaty, nervous palms, I fired back a mildly mature, rather annoyed reply to her through a private message.  (After-all, I didn’t want to scare off any of my possible future customers.) I told her to watch her language and attitude.   I  also told her that I was very sorry if she felt she was the only Etsy shop owner that had the right to sell this type of product, but that I fully intended to continue to sell mine.

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Then I cowardly put her on ignore and blocked her from my account.  And, wallah!.. just like that, my world was all roses and sunshine again.

I’ve not had any trouble since.  My business has grown and the ideas are flying out of my head at a pace faster than I can keep up with.

I think about that bully every now and then.  I feel sorry for the youth today.  I feel badly about how the virtual world plays such a significant role in their lives.  It’s disturbing how caught up in all of this online stuff people get.  How they keep track of their “likes”…and how many followers they have…and how well-known they have become to the swarms of people that they don’t even know in real life.  It’s sad and disheartening.

Ok, and if I were to be honest with all of you and confess full disclosure, I’d admit that I peek at her account from time to time………..just to make sure I’m more popular than her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25 Things All Women Should Be Able To Do Before The Age Of 25

On By Peggy BereIn Musings10 Comments

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As the Month of November leaves us and December lands on our doorstep, chaos ensues.  Busy and hectic days are upon us.  It’s hard to find time to sit down for a moment and think, let alone, find the time to pound out a well written blog post.

As is my usual habit, December posts tend to fall by the wayside.  This year, rather than taking a small holiday hiatus, I’m going to concentrate on writing just a few original posts. In between those posts, I’ll be sharing articles and essays and interesting tidbits that I run across from a variety of venues.

So, Enjoy!! Take time to savor the month of December. Slow down when you can, look around, open your eyes and really see all that this magical month has to offer.

25 Things Every Woman Should Be Able To Do By Age 25

via

 

Here are 25 things you should aim to learn how to do by age 25 — or whenever you get around to it.

1. Negotiate a raise. Women –especially women of color — earn less than their male counterparts If you don’t think you are being paid what you are worth, know how to ask.

2. Whip up a signature drink. Bees Knees, anyone?

3. Give unwelcome news with tact and compassion. There are times when brutal honesty is OK — and times when it is not. Learn the difference, and practice being an effective communicator.

4. Put together furniture. You’ll feel so proud every time you sit on that IKEA sofa that took you three hours, two beers and one private temper tantrum to assemble.

 

5. Read and think critically. Don’t believe everything you are told. Know how to read between the lines and analyze something for yourself, whether it’s the morning news or someone’s convoluted Facebook post.

6. Spell properly. If you don’t know something, look it up.

7. Be a good houseguest. And for the love of god, write a thank-you note.

8. Understand your finances. No, your student loans won’t magically go away. Yes, you should put money into your 401(k), especially if your company matches it. And so on. Financial literacy isn’t something you learn in school, so you’ll have to take matters into your own hands. It’s worth it.

 

9. Have fun on your own. Not everyone is built for traveling the world solo, but being able to entertain yourself is a seriously underrated skill.

10. Make at least one simple, nutritious meal. 

11. Trust your instincts. Constantly second-guessing yourself is exhausting.

12. Walk away. From a friendship, a job, a relationship, an argument, and anything else that you know in your heart just isn’t right.

13. Advocate for yourself.  Ask your doctor for a second opinion if you really think something is wrong. Ask that manspreader to move over so you can sit down. And don’t let anyone steamroll you into making a decision until you’re ready to make it.

14. Perform simple repairs. YouTube will teach you how to sew that button back on or use a power drill to re-hang that badass feminist print.

15. Say “no.” It’s a complete sentence.

16. Cut yourself off when you’ve had enough to drink. Enough said.

17. Stick to a budget. Apps like Mint and You Need A Budget make this easier than ever.

18. Take rejection well. This one is easier said that done, but as Aaliyah famously said: “If at first you don’t succeed, pick yourself up and try again (you can dust it off and try again, try again).”

19. Use the items in your toolbox. Because the days of paying your friends down the hall in beer to hang your pictures are over.

20. Argue without losing your cool. If you can stay logical when you are angry, any conversations you have in the midst of conflict will be far more effective.

21. Speak passably in public. Be prepared for that future work presentation, maid of honor speech or casual toast at a party.

 

22. Tell a totally inoffensive, hilarious joke. Bonus points for clever puns.

23. Apologize with sincerity. No matter how old you are, you’ll mess up and get things wrong sometimes. But how you react after the fact is up to you.

24. Go a full day without complaining. You’d be surprised at what you learn.

25. Make a new friend. The squad goal of #NoNewFriends can’t last forever. You can do it! After all, you’re a grown-ass woman.

 

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A thought for Monday…

On By Peggy BereIn Musings13 Comments

 

Faith – Isn’t it comforting to know that somehow, someone is always in control of what lies ahead for us each day ~ that things work out exactly the way they are supposed to work out.  Faith does not always lead us where we want to be, but always where we are supposed to be.

Faith is having the courage to let God have the control.

 

 

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Margaret

12 ways to spend your time and money at Target

On By Peggy BereIn Musings19 Comments

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I’m sure by now you have all heard about the massive security breach of credit and debit cards used at Target stores across America.  During the 2013 Holiday season no less.  Now, this week, we hear of another cyber attack and data breach at Home Depots from coast to coast.

I was having coffee with Clark when the story hit the news last week.  I could not believe my ears.  How can this happen twice in the span of a year, I asked him.  And, how do these cyber thief’s pull off these big scale heists?

It’s that cloud!  That cyber cloud that we’re all up in.  That’s the culprit and the source of these leaks.

 

Me: I don’t understand all of this cloud stuff.

 Clark:  *…turns to me *blank stare*

 Me: Well, do you?

 Clark:  *continued blank stare, followed by incredulous look*  pfffft, of course I do….. (insulted)

 Me:  Well, then what do they mean by “you’re info is stored up in the cloud?”  What cloud?  Where’s this mysterious cloud at? Is it an actual, literal, tangible location?

 Clark:   *Well, they don’t tell you thattt. 

Me:   Oh, so you don’t know either. 

 

 

I thought about this for a long time.  I don’t like the fact that I don’t feel safe using my credit card at Target anymore.   Target!!   It’s my home away from home.   I’m there a lot.  It’s not the same Target from my youth.  It’s got snappy advertising now.  And, fun products.  I can get lost in there for hours.  Not to mention, it’s a great place to spend money.  What was once a store for purchasing your cleaning supplies, is now an oasis for wasting hours of time and hard earned cash.

 

 

 

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 Twelve ways to spend your time and money at Target

 

 

1. Circle the parking lot for 15 minutes looking for the best parking space.  If you are there during a busy season, (holiday and school supply shopping) keep your eye on the front door of the store as you enter the parking lot.  As customers walk out, gun it over to the aisle they are headed for.  Then do the slow creep two feet behind them, stalking them all the way to their spot with your car.  Wait for them to load their stuff into trunk, pull out and then….Success!

 

2. Upon entering the store, go directly to the Starbucks that is conveniently located near the entrance.  Purchase an expensive latte with extra whip topping.  You’re going to be strolling the aisles for a while.  Go for the Venti.

 

3. Head straight to the cosmetic section.  Wander through these aisles for a long time.  Purchase new makeup, makeup remover, wrinkle creams, hair shampoos & conditioners, smoothing potions, frizz sprays, gloss sprays, tanning lotions, trendy colored nail polish.  Feel satisfied and move on.

 

4. On your way to the cleaning supplies, get diverted into the clothing section.  Buy a t-shirt in every color.  You can never have enough.  Set the Latte down and browse through the work out gear.  Toss some yoga pants into your cart.  They are comfy to wear while watching TV.  Notice the new PJ sets as you pass up the intimate apparel section.  Be strong.  You don’t need new PJ’s.

 

5. Take a leisurely stroll through the housewares section.   Decide you need some new picture frames for the digital photos on your phone that you won’t end up having printed.  Purchase two.  Also, put the star shaped candy dish that caught your eye into your cart.   Smell every candle on display.  Decide you can not live without the tropical scented one.  Toss it into your cart and move on.

 

6. Feel a bit of Guilt.  Decide that you don’t really need all of the items you have in your cart.  Dig the tropical scented candle back out.  Look around to see if anyone is watching you.  Stuff it in between the two stacks of Kitchen towels you are standing in front of.

 

7. Think about purchasing those kitchen towels.  Your kitchen could use an facelift.  Toss the new towels in your cart.

 

8. Notice the absence of cleaning supplies in your cart.  Circle back around to the household aisle.  Hurray!!  Toilet Paper is on sale.  Grab the large, awkward sized 20 roll package and place it under the cart.  Grab another one since it’s on sale.  Balance it on top of cart.

 

9. Look down at phone and notice Text From Hubby  Where are you??  Are you going to be home soon?  Ignore text. Turn off phone.

 

10. Wheel over to the magazine and book racks.  Flip through your favorite decorating magazine.  And cooking.  Buy both.  Toss in this weeks People for good measure.

 

11. Head to the Checkout.  Feel a bit shocked when the cashier rings up the grand total of $187.35.  Fret over purchasing with Credit Card for fear of data getting breached.  Shrug off the worry and hand over your Master Card.  Sign on dotted line and you’re on your way.

 

12. Head for parking lot.  Look for car.  Where’s my car?  Which aisle am I parked in????

A few things you should know about Breckenridge, Colorado

On By Peggy BereIn Travel19 Comments

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I’ve lost my heart to Colorado! Breckenridge, and all of Summit County, to be exact.

After spending nearly 2 weeks in this beautiful state, my loyalty to remaining a city girl is wavering.  If you have never been to this Rocky Mountain State for a visit, run.  You will not be disappointed.  There is an over-abundance of things to do.  It has earned its Pikes Peak or Bust” slogan for good reason.  It’s one of the few destinations I’ve traveled to that is a fantastic place to visit regardless of season.  Whether it’s Summer, Winter, Spring or Fall – you’ll not be able to claim boredom in this phenomenal outdoor recreational haven.

A few things I love about Breckenridge

Here Comes the Sun – Breckenridge brings glorious sunshine, breathtaking blue skies, beautiful greenery in the summer and lots of soft fluffy powder for skiing & Snowboarding in the winter.  Breck  (as the town is affectionately referred to by locals) enjoys 300 inches of snowfall and 300 days of sunshine per year, creating the perfect playground for people of all ages.  So leave your S.A.D at home, pack your sunglasses & sunscreen and enjoy some time in this phenomenal outdoor recreational haven.

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The Great Divide – Breckenridge is divided into the North and South side. On the north side of the mountain you can find a more laid back crowd. This is where you’ll find more of the locals.  The South side of the mountain is made up of a more rowdy younger crowd.  The tourists flock here.  Between the North and South side of the mountain is where you can find the best shopping.

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Mustang Sally – Parking is free!!  Transportation between the small neighboring towns in the area is provided for free, also.  Whaaat??  It’s true!  If you want to get from point A to Point B in Breckenridge, don’t bring your wallet because the ride’s on them.  And if you are headed into town, it won’t cost you and arm and a leg to parallel park on the street or to leave your car in the nearest lot.  Again, Free!

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Rocky Mountain High – We all know that Denver is nicknamed the “Mile High City.” What you may not know is that Colorado is home to a total of 54 14ers! – (A mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet!!)  Folks from all walks of life travel to the beautiful, rocky mountain to challenge themselves physically by climbing to the top of those steep peaks. The elevation is high.  The air is thin and the weather can change quickly up there.  So if the idea of being on top of the world sounds good to you, plan ahead & be prepared to bag one of the Colorado 14ers.

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Sports and The City – Denver, which is a quick trip 81 miles East of Breck, is just one of a handful of U.S. cities that enjoys a representation of four major sports leagues of North America: Broncos (NFL), Nuggets (NBA), Rockies (MLB) and Avalanche (NHL) within the city limits.  Denver fans are fiercely loyal to their beloved teams!  So while in Denver,  grab a brew and a stool at one of the favorite local sports bars while visiting this diverse city and enjoy a day of cheering on one of these FAB teams!!

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If none of those facts grab you as good reasons to visit this Rocky Mountain state, then maybe a few of the reasons listed below will influence a visit  to this heavenly playground.

 

The Spa’s

The Altitude

The best jumps in the World

White Water Rafting

Biking

Skiing

Running

The Hiking

The Bars

The People

Hot-tubs

Shopping on Main Street

Historic District

Year Round Ice Skating

Golfing

Summer Music Scene

The Art District

The Wildlife

Fishing

Snowboarding

The Sheer Beauty and Majestic Scenery.

Our Trip

Goodbye Fliphone

On By Peggy BereIn Margber, Musings27 Comments

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Imagine my shock last week when my sweet sister emailed me to tell me that she had finally admitted that perhaps text’g is here to stay and that she went out and got a smart phone!!  Hurray – Goodbye Fliphone!!

Ok, truthfully, her Hubs gave her a brand new, shiny smart phone for her birthday.  Way to go Brother-In-Law!!  I was both excited to get her email telling me this Fab news – and also very confused at receiving an email rather than a catching wind of it through a text.  C’mon sis, get texting!! 

I thought back to when I first started texting.  It was awkward and slow.  It took some time for my colossal, mammoth fingers to get used to typing on the miniature keypad.  The only person I really had to text was my Hubs & Kids. Sorry, Fam!!  It took me some time to figure out my way around auto correct.  My texts were filled with typos (due to mammoth fingers) and I’m sure some people thought I had no idea how to spell or what I was even trying to say.

 

 

 

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Ok, so I will give her a break because she is new to this.  Before she knows it, she will be all wrapped up in social media and ignoring the real world just like the rest of us.  Happy birthday, Sister!!

 

 

 

Pitfalls of Texting

 

1 – Texts can be easily ignored

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2- Miscommunication

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3- Rudeness in some circumstances

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4- Used to avoid talking to People

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5 – Can’t be sure who you’re talking to

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6 – Could cause friction in friendships

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What was your first experience with smart phones and the world of txt’g?

 

Being Margaret

On By Peggy BereIn Margber, Musings49 Comments

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Hello People!  Finally, after months and months of trying to resolve the issue of losing my domain, (oopsie-daisey!) I’ve taken the plunge & registered a brand new, shiny domain!!  And no, you’re not seeing things.  I’ve also revamped my site a wee little bit with a new, updated, fresh title!!

I had been thinking about changing my site title for a very long time.  Changing it from ‘Twenty Thirteen’ to, well, anything else.

A few months ago I went through an exhausting ordeal while attempting to renew my domain.  It was stolen right out from under me!! – and is currently being held for some ridiculously large amount of ransom by an evil domain shark!! (I may or may not have felt forced to temporarily turn to the bottle during this ordeal – devastating!!) There’s an entire racket built around snatching expired domains from current owners and selling them back at exorbitant prices. (my previous domain is now valued at over $1000. – ridiculous!!)  It’s a sad situation that many unsuspecting people fall prey to out of laziness, procrastination or in my case, simply by being caught up in the system.  This article explains how the entire process works.  Bookmark it!  No, first set your domains and upgrades to Auto-renew (which I THOUGHT mine WERE set on) and then do yourself a favor and read this article. 

Fast forward 4 months.  Like so many devastating situations in life, there was a hidden, silver lining.  The loss of my domain forced me to step out of my old, familiar, blogging comfort zone and take a good, deep look at the branding of my blog and the direction in which I wanted to head towards in the future.  (I know, deep!!)

After much obsession thought and discussion with my friends, spouse, kids, neighbors, friendly checkout lady at the grocery store, – pretty much anyone I could corner – I realized a small revamp was in order.  I had put much thought into leaving my original title behind.  It was restricting and limiting.  It did not really point to the purpose behind my blog.  It did not give my readers a clear vision of what my blog was about.  In short, it had to go.  (whoa, I surprised myself!  Being as fickle as I am, who knew that a title change would be in order because I’d still be blogging a year after I began?!?!)

It was a decision that I did not take lightly.  I thought about it for months.  I weighed all of the pros and cons and finally decided that it was a step in the right direction.  I was moving away from my lost domain and taking control!  (Evil Domain Sharks!!)  Still, it’s a change.  And, a big one.  Anyone who knows me personally knows I am just a teeny tiny itsy bitty uncomfortable with change.  When it comes down to it, aren’t we all?

But I forged through my fear and today I introduce to you my new title – Being Margaret!! –  Hey! That’s me!..Hurray!!!  That’s right,  I’ve taken the leap – it’s goodbye to Twenty Thirteen and hello to Being Margaret.  I’m excited for this new chapter.  I’m thrilled that I was able to not only arrive at a solution that worked in my favor, but also, that I was able to outsmart the evil Domain Sharks!!  AHA!  Take that, you evil doers!

Change is inevitable.  It’s never easy.  Often it pulls on our heartstrings.  We try to stop it because we like our comfort zone.  But also, because it signifies the beginning of the end of something.  Of moving on.  We like staying put right where we are.  We are not ready to say goodbye.  Or to say so long for now.  We like keeping things just the way they are, comfortable and familiar.

So as you all mull over my new site title and become familiar with it, I will leave you with one of my VERY FAVORITE quotes about change and about endings.  As for me, I get a shiny new star for outsmarting the evil domain sharks.  Hmmmm, Being Margaret – I like it!!!

 

“There is a universal truth we all have to face, whether we want to or not, everything eventually ends. Last day of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable, Leaves fall, you close the book. You say goodbye. Today is one of those days for us. Today we say goodbye to everything that was familiar, everything that was comfortable. We’re moving on. But just because we’re leaving, and that hurts, there’s some people who are so much a part of us, they’ll be with us no matter what. They are our solid ground. Our North Star. And the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us … always.”

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Meet The Hawks

On By Peggy BereIn Chicago, Margber2 Comments

Wednesday Feature

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Whether you’re a seasoned, hardcore hockey fan or you’ve jumped on the playoff’s bandwagon, how could you not get caught up in the excitement of Playoff Hockey?  It’s one of my favorite times of the year.  Ranking right up there with Christmas.  And, summer vacations.  I Love this team!!

Getting to know the Chicago Blackhawks

Easter

On By Peggy BereIn Margber, Musings32 Comments

 

* reblogged from my own blog – One of my very early posts.  My style of writing has changed a bit, but the message is timeless.

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Happy Easter!!

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I sit in my kitchen early in the morning drinking coffee before anyone else in the household wakes up. It has always been my style. It has always been my favorite part of the day. The house is quiet. It is the calm before the storm. Raising three active boys, I knew it was only a matter of time before the storm came. Each day. And it usually did. Not in a bad way. But, in an active, chaotic way. I loved every part of it. Bring it on!

Today, tho the habit is deeply rooted and I still wake up early, the chaos is mostly gone. My children have grown. One married. One graduated from college and working. One living away from home at college. It’s mostly just Bruce and I these days. I think back on Easters past and how exciting this holiday used to be for our family.

Stay up late to fill Easter baskets. Hide them in the house. Get up early in the morning to three little boys racing from room to room trying to find their loot.

Then church. It was always a battle to try to calm everyone down. The prior weeks leading up to the big day, I would go out and shop for new outfits for each of them. When they were young, the outfits were always coordinating. They usually included suspenders and knee socks. Something they cringe at now. As they got older, they each developed their own sense of style. I still felt the maternal need to get them new duds for the holiday. So, I did.

Half the time on the way to church, a brawl would break out for some reason or another. There they would be in their new clothes, sitting strategically in our mini van to ensure the least damage to their appearance by the time we made our 10 minute drive to our destination. They knew how to push each others buttons. Inevitably, the buttons would be pushed. I would get stressed out. Clark would threaten to pull the car over.

We always made it to church in one piece. We would plant forced smiles on our faces so that nobody would know that 5 minutes earlier world war III was breaking out in our car. It was not until years later that I found out that most of our friends had that very similar experience on their ride to church. It was not unique to us. It was normal. It was the American way!

After church, the boys would find their friends in the church gym while the adults would gather and have coffee and talk for a little while. I loved this part of church. I still do. Time to catch up with everyone. This group of people end up being your church family. In a way, every Sunday after church felt like a mini family holiday or gathering. You are not born into each others lives. You find each other. Bonds form. A family by choice.

I was raised catholic. Irish catholic. That is a strong combo. Irish blood runs deep and loyal. Both of my parents worked at Notre Dame and because of this, we had the special perk of being able to attend Notre Dame at a deeply discounted price. You paid for room and board. The education was free. My friends think that for this reason, it was ironic that I ended up at a small, private, expensive protestant college.

I frequently tell my friends that I know it was not ironic, but rather, Divine Intervention. God knew exactly what he was doing when he plucked me out of my environment and plopped me down in the middle of Hope College. There, I met Bruce who I ended up marrying. There I found my true faith. A deep faith by today’s standards. Maybe it was the freedom that you experience while in College or maybe it was my age, but it was then that I realized that faith is a choice. You choose to be a believer or not. You realize that in the end, we are all worshiping the same God. We are just going down different roads and paths in our journeys.

Many Easter’s later, as a mom of three boys ~~ and now a beautiful daughter in law ~~ I think back fondly of all of those Easter mornings. The wild beginning, the chaos of trying to calm everyone to get ready for church, coming home to our big feast. I Love family holidays. I love being all together. It is my favorite thing in the world. We sit down for meals, sometimes for hours. I Look around my table and know how truly blessed I am. I have a beautiful, healthy family. My boys are the best of friends. They all love Bruce’s wife, Lauren. She fits in perfectly. They look up to their father with such respect and love. Today they might even admit that, yes, he did know what he was talking about most of the time when lecturing and giving advice.

So, however you choose to spend your day tomorrow, whether you choose to celebrate privately, with a family of choice or the family you were born into, on this day before Easter, may you all feel the special blessing that family brings to your life and of Easters past and present. And may you feel the deep meaning of the sacrifice given up for you through the cross. Happy Easter!!

happyEaster