The Return of Game Night

When my children were very young, we would have Family Funday Sunday. We would have a big breakfast, rent a movie, or play a game. It was a way to just be together and be silly. Life moves on, the kids have moved away some across state lines and I miss those days of being with them on a regular basis.
I have found a way to continue family game night.  Thank you, Steve Jobs!  For having the vision to open our worlds to new ways of communicating!

I happened to stumble upon this idea and it slowly developed into something I look forward to every Saturday night.  It started, when I  began watching a TV show on the BBC channel called The Graham Norton show.  I love this show.  It is very spirited.  All the guests come out and they are interview together.  I think this is a much better way to do the interviews.  It is more relaxed and the the language is more freer.

Graham Norton is an Irish comedian with a English talk show.  He asks outrageous questions and loves to be silly.  It is light hearted.  I was thrilled to find out that he was coming out with a game show.   It is called What Would You Rather Do?
 
The game show asks extreme questions such as "would you rather get shot in the knee or eat dog food for a year?"  Awful, sometimes cringe worthy, but mostly humorous scenarios. At least, my type of humor.  I laughed so much that I decided to text the questions to the kids. I did use judgement on some questions.  Moms do not need to know certain things.

I didn't realize I was starting something until they started to text back.  I just figured they would get a laugh for my ridiculousness. They had crazy answers which made me laugh even harder.  The 30 minutes flew by. I felt a little sad that it was over so quickly.  I wanted to keep it going.

I decided to do it the following weekend and so forth. Come to find out the kids also enjoy doing this as much as I do.   I found a way to keep a family game night courtesy of the technological advances we have in this day an age.  If only for a half hour, we are doing something together even though we are far way from each other to just be silly.

Thankful Abbie

Two Forces of Nature

Two people who couldn't be more different somehow got together and made me.  They are still a couple after 46 years.  I try to speak with them at least once a week.  Usually on Mondays around 11am.  I know my dad is up by then.  My mom is usually up around 5am.  Sometimes earlier, washing those damn dishes.


I say this because we always lived in a tiny place so you hear everything. Now that they live in a spacious place when I come for a visit, the pull out is right next to the kitchen and you hear the banging of the pots and pans.  My mom loves to put the faucet on full blast.  lol 


They are characters.  They are like watching a sitcom.  Everytime I visit them or have a phone conversation they always make me laugh.  He can push my mom's buttons to set her off and the comedy ensues.  We always have a great show.


I have learned a lot from them whether it was good or bad.  I think I could say I am a very good blend of both of them.  I get my "charming" personality from my dad.  My quick temper and joy of life from him.  His stubborness and his need to read and know everything.  Question question question!!! 


My mom - I got her depth to love, to protect her child at all cost and to cut people out of my life without hesitiation.  The ability to hold a grudge.  Making the latter easy to do :(


In the twilight of my parents' years,  they have mellowed and now have a more tranquil existence.  They go out to manhatten and eat out lots more. No more rushing out the door to go to work.  The worries have subsided. Its couple time.With everything they have been through, they deserve this time. It warms my heart that they have come thru the drama and are still standing together.


 They still have affection for one another.  They hold hands a sight I would rarely see, when I was younger.    I am still getting used to it.  They came from a time where affection was limited to children.  Its nice to know they feel comfortable now a days. 


I, on the other hand, have always been affectionate with Bill.  I wanted the kids to see affection was not limited to the kids.  That I love their father just as much as I loved them.  My kids still tease me when I dare give a kiss to their dad.  I, of course, start being silly to make the situation worse without really trying.  lol


Love them all very much <3

Angels of all sizes

I have three children.  They don't live at home but they are still my angels.
I have a daughter - Donna Marie . I have a two sons - Sean and Denis .


They have brought much joy and much heartache to my life.    If I could have put them in a plastic bubble, I would have done it in a heartbeat. lol


There is a movie called Bubble boy.  When at the end it was discovered that he was in the bubble as mom's way of protecting her son,  I applauded.  My kids were shocked and appalled.  Love that movie only saw it once.  It was enough for me.


Love them and always want the best for them.  Protect them for the cold cruel world out there.  They know I love them and have there backs in any situation.  I may have pushed hard sometimes unrelenting but was always with the intention of getting them prepared for what was out there if they were not ready.


It sucks to be a parent of an adult child. Hard to let go that I can't control the situation and solve their problems for them.   I have been there in many of the circumstances.  I don't know if they learned to do things the hard way from me. It sure looks like it.  They had to make their own way and forge their own road.

I guess they wanted to be forged in baptism by fire, blood, sweat, and tears.  I was their role model after all.  Though it has made them very strong and capable of standing harsh conditions. They can also appreciated and treasure things in life other people would take for granted.


I have not been in this journey alone.  I have an amazing partner, best friend and awesome man anyone can imagine.   I could have done it alone.  But Lord knows what that would have turned me into. 

One of those women, who have faces that look the world kicked the living shit out of with deep lines across forehead, permanent frowning mouth and eyes sunken. 


Was always taught to be strong.  Independent. Persistent or as my better half says stubborn :) He is my sounding board, my rock, and always by my side.   In another cliche, he was the tether to my kite.  No matter what direction I took, he came along for the ride.

He supported all my decisions whether he agreed or not.   Never thought that type of dedication was real or that I deserved that.   A true partner, which I am so honored to have, share my life.  Strong, silent, and loving.  On top of all his wonderful qualities, he is also extremely handsome :) That is a bonus.  Jackpot. Bingo. Winner!!


I see that my son is becoming a father like his dad.  That pleases me to no end.  His dad is a dad that everyone should have.  Sean says he did get something from me and that is the amount of love he gives his daughter Zoe.  He calls it overbearing  but whats wrong with giving oodles and oodles of kisses and hugs.


While I have my little angels, I think God sent me a Guardian Angel.  And his name is Bill.