The Magic Room

I previously posted about the author Jeffrey Zaslow after I read an inspiring eulogy by Bob Greene. What really stuck out for me was his work ethic which was such an integral part of his character. The article mentioned several of his books, including The Magic Room; sadly he was killed in a car accident while travelling to promote it.

Jeff Zaslow 1958-2012

Before reading that, I had not actually remembered hearing about him specifically but do remember seeing a segment on NBC Nightly News about the book, and Becker's Bridal where it was set. After putting 2 & 2 together, I am assuming that what I saw was produced after his death. It was after reading the article that I ended up putting it on my wish list, and ordered it from Amazon last summer.

The Magic Room by Jeff Zaslow

When I first got it I started to read it, then put it away for awhile because I wasn't emotionally/mentally ready to read it at that time. I admit that it is strange, even to me, because I had no preconceived notion of what it would be like. I still felt like I was not in the right mental place to read it.

I finally picked it up again this month after finishing another book, and just finished it yesterday. It turned out to be very good and it is more than just about brides and brides to be, it's about the stories of the lives of these women, young and old and their families. It's hard for me to describe, but it is well worth reading no matter what your personal situation in life.

 He featured the story of Becker's Bridal in Fowler Michigan and the different generations of family that have run it. He also featured several brides whose stories were compelling to him in how they illustrated the journeys that lead people to the altar and love in all it's facets.

One story in particular really hit home for me, about Danielle whose mother Kris died when Danielle was 14 years old. Kris collapsed and died at the age of 33, with no warning. It is presumed that she had heart issues, but it was never confirmed.

He wrote that Danielle knew her life would be forever divided into "before" and "after". He also noted that for many who lose a parent when they are young; they have two milestone birthdays. The birthday when you have lived more of your life without your parent than you did with them alive. The other birthday is when you have lived longer than that parent.

Edith Johnston McDougal

I was reading this chapter on the bus ride home from work, and started crying, but tried to contain it -  it was as if I was reading about myself. I was not as young as Danielle when my mother died from a heart attack; I was 2 months shy of my 23rd birthday, my mom was 51. But reading that she felt this way was such a release, because I knew I was not alone.


Going back further, my siblings and I never knew our grandmother Edith, because she died in her 40's when my mom was between 13 & 14 years old. When mom died young as well, I just assumed that I was fated to die young too. When I turned 50 it didn't bother me at all, but when I got close to 51, it scared me because what seemed so far away when I was 22 was staring me in the face.

Mom at 12 years of age

I realize now that I got kind of fatalistic about life after mom died, but not always in a good way. I tried to not sweat the small stuff, but I also see that I indulged myself when it came to food. Because I had such a low self image anyways, the fatalistic part of me said it didn't matter that I was overweight. Approaching my 51st birthday last fall made me realize that I don't want to die anytime soon.

I am trying to get on a path to wellness both physically and emotionally. I'm also trying not to beat myself up for feeling like I have essentially wasted half my life. I just want to go forward with a new attitude and understand that change doesn't happen over night.

The Huge Box

My step mom Susan shipped Mom & Dad's old drafting table to me via FedEx and it arrived at 10 this morning.

Mom used it to draw out the design for the house that we were building in Lawton Michigan.  Unfortunately because of their divorce the property was sold and someone else presumably finished it.

I'm not sure how Dad came about to have the table, but I'm glad she saved it for me. It looks like it will be my next refinishing project. ..

Susan was right, this was a huge box, but light. There was a lot of bubble wrap and packing paper as you can see. Boo & Munchkin were having a lot of fun playing in that paper!  The living room was a disaster area for about 2 hours.

Woody

Munchkin, Boo & The Birds

Boo and Munchkin will often jump up to the top of the armoire right inside the front door and watch me when I am feeding the birds and squirrels on the front porch. It's fun to walk back inside and have them right there to greet me face to face.

Doc Martin Series 6

Doc Martin

Doc Martin Series 6 started on KCTS 9 last night, and it was definitely worth the wait. At the end of Series 5 I wasn't sure if there was going to be another season or not, and I was actually going to be okay if that was the ending, because it was so good. But the new season kicked off in grand style with the wedding and honeymoon of Doc and Louisa. And true to form for the show it mixed in hilarity, poignant moments and blood and guts all to great effect. I had to turn away during the blood and guts because, oh man, there was a lot of it. But thank goodness the episode ended with sweet hilarity! I loved the scene with Aunt Ruth trying to get little James Henry to eat - good stuff.

Comics

Here are some of my other favorite funny things from the last week or so online. 

There has also been some really amazing stuff over on Colossal.com, just to much to post here.

Patton Oswalt parody of True Detective

Patton Oswalt: Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time

Get More: Watch More Stand-Up.

Jason Bateman on The Daily Show

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,The Daily Show on Facebook

Yoda Kitty Says May the Milk be With You

I couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes when I saw this - totally made my day!

Between Two Ferns

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis

It's been interesting reading the comments online from people that either A. obviously hate Barack Obama or B. don't get Zach Galifianakis, because personally I think his latest edition of Between Two Ferns is hilarious. Check it out on Funny or Die -

Get Fuzzy - March 12, 2014

Who's The Boss?...by Connie Schultz - Parade Magazine

I really like the writer Connie Schultz, and she had another great article in today's issue of Parade magazine. It was kind of a continuation on the cover story about leadership and women. She had a great quote; "We can't let others define us. Figuring out who we are has to be an inside job". In her usual humorous and poignant style she relates her own defining moment of taking charge of her career.

Munchkin this morning before I got out of bed

Spring Flowers & Showers

When I went to the Barkley Haggen during the week these tulips immediately caught my eye as I was going in the main entrance. I love this color of flowers; this color combination is really pretty in parrot tulips also. It ended up raining pretty much all day today, but it does feel like the weather is shifting. We had day time highs in the mid to upper 50's this week, and tonight when I went to let Tom Cat in, I could hear a bunch of crickets chirping, that is a very good sign!

I just finished reading "Who Moved My Cheese" by Dr. Spencer Johnson a few days ago, and went through it again last night and today to write down the passages that stood out for me, and thoughts I had while reading it. I borrowed it from my supervisor Kelly. It is a book that she has recommended for all of us, because it has to do with change, which we are constantly going through.

At the strong urging of my friend Steve from Premier, I read "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" by Sean Covey last fall. Even though it is geared toward teens, it's still appropriate for adults. It was helpful in reinforcing what I was already doing, but also helped me become more focused as well. I'm in a better mindset for setting goals, big and small.

At work starting in November I think, each month we have been pairing up and doing a Power Point presentation on each of the 7 Habits during our team meeting. It has been good to get the perspective of others and see what their take-away's were after they read the chapter. 

For March, Peggy & Lindsey presented the Habit: the Public & Private Victory. It is mostly to do with our relationships with others, but also reinforces that we ourselves have to come from a healthy place to be successful in our relationships with others. I thanked them both, because it was very thought provoking, and fit in with a big part of what I have been working on for myself. 

During the Christmas break I read "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield and it was very helpful in helping me see how I was letting a lot of my emotional baggage and fears stop me from progressing. All of these books have been helpful in leading me forward.

Woody

Maria Avatar

At work we have a Blogger blog that is used to communicate information and various other things for the staff in the office. There are a lot of fun things that are on the blog as well, including a "Where's Brandy?" picture every once in a while that uses an avatar of our manager. I really didn't know what an avatar was, but found out that it is basically a "animated" version of yourself to use online for gaming or social media.

I'm not ready to replace the picture of me from when I was three, but if I do, this might be it...

The gal that created it told me about the website that she used, and I went on to create one for me and a new one for Brandy for the fun of it. This one is of me; now if I could have added gray streaks to my hair that would have been a lot more accurate!

Completely Lazy Sunday

For the first time in years I am staying home on a Sunday,  and it's kinda weird but I'm choosing not to feel guilty about it.

We got more snow yesterday and there was some still around from last weekend. I was doing a lot better as far as my cold and decided that I just didn't want to go out today. I always get a Sunday paper and share the ads at work but not this week!

I've been curled up here in the big chair in the living room for hours with Woody & Boo. Surfing the Web on my phone, snuck in a nap,  and now I'm posting these pictures!

CBS: On The Road

This was a little segment from Valentine's Day that I discovered online today. It was very touching, and in all of the crap that's happening in this world, it's nice to see stories like this to remind us of the good that people are capable of, and to not judge a book by it's cover.