Most Commented Family Blogs (545)

But the topic is a sensitive one for me and I'm not ready to spill my blood and guts on these pages just yet so here's a little something I whipped up in the meantime.

It was against the odds.

She was 46 and already had 4 adult children and 1 still at home. A new relationship, after a scandalous affair had ripped her first marriage to shreds, brought her love she had thought she'd never have again.

I was a surprise that relatives told her, in polite terms, would not be "normal" and that should be "terminated".

What was she thinking? Women her age are usually starting to enjoy being grandparents, which she already was....

My dad was on the road far away as a long distance truck driver. He would arrive the next day. The pictures showed his exhilarating joy - a baby girl!

My birthday, close on the heels of Valentine's Day, would come to exemplify how Love can be found deep inside each of us.

My mom had made mistakes in raising her first brood. She was more diligent about her next set. She saw the importance of passing on to the next generation the knowledge and skills she possessed.

Life is one constant lesson.
She was ever learning, too. We taught her how to ride a bike when she was in her 50's - not an easy feat on bumpy gravel roads! But she always compared it to riding a horse - even when she fell down!

She could understand animals and what they were thinking. I would laugh at the stories of horses thinking that huge rocks were bears and cats competing over mice in a barn.

Her eyesight had diminished before I was even born. Colors and shapes gradually almost completely faded. Yet, when she braved the transatlantic flight to come see me, she commented about how friendly and smiley the locals were when we walked to the market.

It was because she radiated Love wherever she was.

She didn't let her handicap prevent her from experiencing Life to its fullest.

And when my own world fell apart and I tried to hide it from her, she called crying and simply said, "My daughter, you are Loved."

On this day, the day I was born, I remember my mom and all the wonderful gifts she gave me.

My Life is a Tribute to her greatness.
Thank you, Mom!

I'm living my dream. I retired from my job of 20 years in Orlando in April to move to Tampa just 2 miles from my folks. I wanted to be a helping hand but before the accident they didn't need me too much, now they do.

Mom fell last week at a doctor's office during a stress test. She was sent to hospital by ambulance ($$). Turns out she dislocated her should which they had to pop back in, a giant hemotoma the size of a grapefruit on her hip and a huge gash on her leg.

I'm upset that someone didn't assist an 82 yr old woman with Parkinson's off the x-ray chair and into the other room they were sending her. Without assistance she fell and has been in horrible agony since. I contacted the most advertsied "slip & fall" attorney, Morgan & Morgan only to find out they don't want the case. I called the FL State Bar for another referral and will deal with that Monday. Mom may not want to sue because she is afraid she won't be able to see her beloved doctor.

As luck would have it my 28 yr old nephew, their grandson is staying with the folks temporarily so between the both of us it's good.

However after 9 days of hardly any sleep I have brain fog and have come home to spend one night in my own bed. With Dad's wandering mind, the challenges are interesting in what he does and doesn't remember but he is still good at barking orders. I'm still bad at getting frustrated instead of just agreeing and letting it go.

Since I'm so blessed to still have my folks. I tried hard to get from Orlando to Tampa but was more loyal to my job. Luckily my bossed pushed the issue of me retiring and let me go slowly by taking duties away over the last two years. I made it to Tampa 8 months ago and as hard as this job is, caring for one's parents, I'm still thankful to have them.

I'm not the best care taker because I'm clueless but I'm open to new experiences. Wish me luck.

"Paint me a picture, Mommy" she demanded. And so I painted one. A huge mural that stretched forever - a mural of words. Words that spun tales like my foot on the pedal of the spinning wheel as it gobbled raw chunks and twirled them into long continuous strings of oily wool.

Words that exported us into the universe as we floated on the backs of unicorns, sailing through galaxies and sipping from the stars of the Milky Way. Words that bounced and soared, skipped and tickled.

Words that crept quietly, rustling in underbrush. Creeks of words that gurgled and slid, bubbled and sang along riverbanks of imagination. Words that flew and darted amongst tall cedars and scrambled lightly over soft, spongy, needle-laden ground.

Words that crouched in trepidation, hiding in long fingers of dusky shadows before bursting into the bloom of golden sunshine and sparkling with prisms of dew.

Words that danced, played, tumbled and somersaulted. A mural of love.

"Imagical Mom"

I will take
your small hand
and lead you softly
through lush forests
pause to lay
on spongy beds
of fallen needles
squint at blue sky
blonde sun peeks
through cedar boughs
dappling earth
woodsy fragrance
bites your nostrils
make animal
cloud shapes
touch gently
petals of wild flowers
play peek-a-boo
through fern fronds
hide and seek
in roots of
hollow trees
whisper secrets
to giggling streams
picnic behind drapes
of willow trees.

I will sprinkle stardust
tickling on your eyelids
and take you
on journeys
where unicorns fly
catch tails of
shooting stars
slide down
rainbow bannisters
bounce on trampolines
of clouds
tumble with trolls
dance with fairies
laugh with elves.

Some day you will
look behind
and know
that I have taught you
- magic.

© AJC

My husband was a man, that I may say, every woman would want. We met during college days. He is my only BF and me as his only GF. We did broke up coulpe of times, as me, as the most dearest daughter in the family, parents wanted the best for me. My mother wanted a man wearing a necktie for me. Which is very opposite to my BF which is a rugged type man. After graduation in college, took the licensure exam and immediately I started to work. Without preparing for a couple's life, me and my BF lived in without marriage as my parents never want me to marry him. I got pregnant and got married two months after I delivered our first baby. We really was like love birds . His job, was sailing and sailing for 9 months and went home for 3 months. Everytime he's home I used to organized his suitcase. We were on our 3rd year, when I found a letter from a woman, the heading...Dearest....at the bottom I love you ". My tears started to drop and profusely flowing. I cried because when I tried to assessed myself, I could be counted as the best wife. All I did was loved him, became stubhorn , fighting for our love.
When he came home and saw me crying, he asked what's wrong. I replied nothing, I just felt like crying...

In myself, if I would asked whose that woman, and he would reply, that he loved her, and she is beautiful than me.. I would lost him. And I loved him that much and could not afford to lose him. He got mad telling me, to shout at him, or anything I would do, just to tell him what was wrong. But I just hugged him. I kept that pain the whole time of our marriage. I told myself, I will never allow no one to take away my husband from me. And yes i kept that promise ...
So I guess, keeping the pain, works to keep the relationship in place...

Met two of my kids few yrs ago after twenty yrs girl friend I'm guessing had them taken from her not long after we separated 1993 and wasn't told then in 1995 all three were adopted two to one family and the other to another family and then the g friend continued to live on there support from my disabilites until 2003 family services knew as well as a visiting homemaker but they kept silent and nobody told me till my daughter did few yrs ago.and my family if they contacted them they probably lied saying they had no idea where I was and that's my family for you
Tired of everything wrong happening as recently two years ago my landlord wouldn't repair the furnace during beginning of spring still cold at pm hours and I ended up in a hospital for five weeks /pneumia the basturd did nothing but lie after I filed Complaints another long story..

I've accelerated my home shopping this month.
Last week, I went to see some single story townhouses. 1 and 2 bedroom 4-plex units in a 55+ community. I like the idea that parking is near each unit and some separation between buildings. Easy in and out of the development, but no gate or security guard.

There are some negative aspects... low ceilings, small bedrooms, baths & closets. The place is dreary and depressing to me, inside and out. The buildings are old and some appear that repairs aren't as timely as they should be. Coin operated laundry shared by each 4-plex. We met one guy who has been flipping units there, that could be something viable since I'm in the remodeling business. My daughter has flipped a few units over the years and mentioned she would partner with me on such a venture. For what they offer, the asking prices seemed high. Yes... negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.

I learned some important shopping tips from shopping with women. Men are different. A guy will buy the first thing that looks good. Women won't see a first choice... everything is a second or third choice. If a woman finds something that meets ALL of her search criteria, she will continue to shop for something better!

This week, I've been getting links from an agent featured in a different place. 3 and 4 story condos in a gated community. The development is easily ten times larger than the place with townhouses. Priced better, the 2 bedroom units are in the same price range as the 1 bedroom townhouses and the HOA is also less. There are more restrictions in the condos, including no pets (good) coin laundry shared by many. Some buildings must be primary residences... renters are not allowed. Personally, I think that would make the units hold their value.

Getting in and out of gated communities has it's delays. All the listings talk about the amenities. Pool, spa, exercise room, golf, theater... all the things I have no interest in. I'm really not looking forward to condo life. Stairs, assigned parking 50 yards away, laundry at the end of the wing.

The community is predominately Jewish. I worry we would be considered as outsiders. My wife has no religion and I worship internet. I mentioned to a friend about acceptance there and he said "Put that out of your mind." I'm also concerned if the community would be prejudice toward my Chinese wife. Again, he said "No worries mate, she's friendly and outgoing, they'd be drawn to her in an instant."

We are meeting the agent to look at some units tomorrow. Hopefully, everything goes well and we'll see something we like.

Whatever happen in anything it all starts from the values of family Love

And greatly missed.



I do not stand alone. What's always standing behind me to be strong, and do the right thing is the honour and love of my father. I try never to fail you. Even when I did, you were behind me.


To all the fathers on this special day. But always in our hearts.