Just some random ramblings.

Greetings readers!

As I sit here, I have to start by commenting that although I am disappointed the Colts didn't pull it off tonight, I am THRILLED to hear the NFL song playing on my TV. Even greater to my ears were the voices of John Madden and Al Michaels....(she sighs) It makes my heart glad to know that football is back. (yes, yes, I know it's only pre-season. so what!? let a girl be happy!)

As I sat there watching the game and reading my book in the third quarter tonight, my phone rang. "Pappy", it said. I looked at the time and thought, "what are they doing up?" I answered.

"Hi Betisima", he says.
"Hi Pappy! Whatcha doin?"
He began to tell me how he and my mom were at an outdoor concert listening to music. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was thrilled to be sitting watching football. Knowing how much I absolutely LOVE the fall and winter, he says, "You know what that means? Fall is right around the corner!" For a moment my mind wonders. I get this overwhelming desire to be sitting right there with them, listening to the music under the El Paso stars. "How is Abby?", his voice brings me back.
I tell him how she is up in her room and although she is supposed to be sleeping she is up there singing songs and chatting to herself. This, of course is in between the times that she forgets she is supposed to be crying so I can feel bad about putting her to bed. We chat a bit and then he says my mom wants to speak to me. I am delighted! "Hi Beta!" "Hi, Nanny", I reply. We have brief conversation and I tell her I am reading and she asked me what book. I tell her and we talk a bit about it. (this book is what I am going to blog about tonight, but I am feeling nostalgic and missing my parents, so you'll have to read through my homesick ramblings)
My mom and I are close to wrapping up our conversation and she says," I love you, mija."
I pause. "I totally felt that", I think to myself. I reply with an I love you too and our conversation is closed shortly after.

Ever find yourself with someone and they say or do something that just hits you? Tonight, my mom's words hit me. I felt her love radiating through the phone and it makes me glad.

Ya, it might be because I am reading this book or it could be that I just miss them or the mexican food I had for lunch. But either way, I am grateful. So grateful that I am writing about it tonight! LOL! (the small things that make this lil girl happy!)

Anyway, I digress.

Brandon bought this book for me called "The Last Lecture". Since I received it, I haven't put it down. It is about a man who is given a few months to live. He is a professor, husband, and father of three young children. (He passed away a little less than a month ago on the 25th of July) The book is his account of his life and how, having but a few short breathes left on this earth, wants to be clear about how he is going to be remembered.
Some might say that he is arrogant because he boasts of the many great things he did in his life. He details how he had childhood dreams and has lived them all out. He writes about the many lessons he's learned through his few short years on earth. So, yes, I can see how some might take him as arrogant. However, I have been so fascinated by it because as I read, I couldn't help by think, "If I were given 2 or 3 months to live, would my last item of business on my little list of things to do be write a book about it?" The answer is no! I haven't even begun to hit my little list of things to do! I admire that he lived his life and pursued his childhood dreams just because.

If you are like me, there are things that you desperately would love to do. However, you don't do them because of this or that. Time or money. Too dangerous, too silly. What will people think? Etcetera, etcetera.
However, here is a man that didn't have to have the gun to his head. He lived these things out because he could. And very few of them just happened. He constantly refers to the brick walls he had to overcome to accomplish some of these dreams.

Reading this book has stirred things up in me like, "what is holding me back?", "Why am I so afraid?" "Just jump, Lizzie. Just do it!"

I know what you may be thinking. "Ya, Lizzie, that's great that you read an inspirational book. So what? Your excitement will wear down by week's end." Well, if you are saying that it is because you know me! LOL! You are right! I do get excited about a lot of things. But I'm not writing to say that I'm going to make my bucket list, throw my life in reckless abandon and do whatever suits me. HOWEVER, it has been like another log has been put on my fire.

For the past few months, I have been contemplating what is next for me. I have recently begun to take the steps towards that new direction. (of which I will divulge in a later blog) I am going to be taking my life and flipping it completely upside down and although I am a bit scared, nervous and worried, in the same breathe, I am excited, expectant and thrilled!

Anyway, there is no real point to tonight's ramblings...but I am grateful, optimistic and glad tonight.