The Beatles ~ There are places I remember...

...some are gone and some remain.  "In My Life" - a song that rips my heart and makes me ugly cry.  In My Life

I guess you could say I'm a "feeling" person.  I have a long memory for the people crossing my path in life.  Right, wrong, indifferent - I remember people.

Along my path of finding "Mr. Right" - my present husband - I found a lot of "not quite right but you touched my life" people.  Most parted ways because we weren't a good fit.  Of those that crossed my path - some have departed this earth way too early and some found the "right fit" that wasn't me.

When I met my present husband, we had long talks about songs/music/life.  I told him I was trying to find a song the Beatles had sung.  He found it for me, bought the cd for me as a gift and I sat in the silence of my bedroom - in the dark - and let the song flow over me - breaking me down - healing me.  I cried ugly tears as the song washed over me and I was so thankful for this man - my Bill - that provided this private healing time.

"Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments

With lovers and friends I still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers

There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new

Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I love you more"

...and I have for over 25 years.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Songs in My Life ~ I'm Already There

I'm going through a list of my favorite songs.  We're in a new normal with Bill's lung cancer/lung problems.  I'd forgotten about this song.  I'm reminded so often of why I fell in love with him and why I stay in love with him.  This song is one of the many reminders.

I'm Already There by Lonestar

Bill's work was in the Metal Cutting Industry.  If a machine cut metal, he's seen it.  He knew how to write the software to make the CNCs (I'm sure you know this but just in case - Computer Numerical Controllers) tell the machine to do what it was supposed to do (simplified version and probably not exactly correct).

He was often called into a plant as a troubleshooter when machines were down.  He was once told that if he didn't get a machine going soon he was going to "shut down the whole GM line".  You can imagine what he said to that comment.

Anyway - I'd drive him to the airport on Monday and pick him up on Friday only to do it again the next week.  After he'd hurt his back and was finally home, I heard this song and just fell apart.  I promised myself and him that I'd do anything legal and moral to keep him home with me.  It's been over 20 years and I've kept my promise so far.

Promises made - Promises kept.  Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Sweet Southern Comfort ~ I'm home

My growing up years were in Central Florida.

My young woman - raising a family years were in Northern Virginia.  The first time I glimpsed the view of DC - my breath was taken away.  What a magical place.

Photo by Casey Horner on Unsplash

Then it was Nashville - didn't think I'd like Nashville but I knew I could make it there as a single Mom.  (I did like Nashville and I met my Bill there.)

Photo by Tanner Boriack on Unsplash

A few other moves and we landed back in Northern Virginia.  Girls were grown and I kept feeling the call to get back to my "Deep South" roots.

Every time I heard Buddy Jewell sing "Sweet Southern Comfort" I wanted to get "home".

Sweet Southern Comfort

We've been back nearly 15 years and it feels like yesterday.  It's my "Happy Place".  I drive by and can say, "that's where Traci was born" and "that's where Ginger was born".  Yes, my "Happy Place".

Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

Small town - Magnolia trees - hot, hot, hot days - 6 weeks of winter - beach 90 minutes away - SEC - I'm home!

Thank you, Lord, for the many journeys I've had and all of the people I met to include my Bill.  Thank you even more for getting me back to my "Deep South"!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Books in My Life ~ Clutterfree with Kids

"Change your thinking - Discover new habits - Free your home"

Granted I don't have small kids any more but I'm a huge fan of Joshua Becker - the founder and editor of  Becoming Minimalist.  I see several posts in my future about this book.  Loads of good advice.

Clutterfree for Kids...for now I'll add this excerpt.  (P. 46 of my version.)  It discusses the importance of Significance over Success.  I hadn't thought of this until reading tonight.  I get it and quite frankly it does matter to me.

Significance

"Significance carries on.  Significance keeps on giving.  You positively change the life of another human being...that person changes the life of another...who impacts the life of another...who influences another..."

Focus

"Focus on people, not dollars.  Begin to transfer your life's focus from your banking account to the people around you."

Strive

"Strive to live a life worth copying.  Live with character, integrity, and morality.  Your life should look the same in private as it does in public."

I promise to add more in future posts.  Until then...I'll be pondering these thoughts.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Books in My Life ~ Voices of the American Revolution in the Carolinas

I read this book a little at a time.  There are short firsthand accounts from actual participants to help us experience what life was like during those eventful years.  I love how it's written in the vernacular of that time period.  I find this book fascinating.

Here's an excerpt (p. 200 of my version) from the chapter entitled "The Race to the Dan" - from Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States by General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee.

"General Greene having withdrawn his troops from Beatie's Ford, on his Lordship's passage below, Lieutenant Colonel Webster and his division crossed the Catawba without opposition and in the course of the day joined the British general.  Cornwallis had now gained one of the great roads leading to Salisbury and the pursuit our light troops was renewed with activity."

The book goes in chronological order and each account is interesting to me.  If you're looking for some history, these firsthand accounts will take you back in time and place you in the middle of it all.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Books in My Life ~ The Simple Truths of Service

What a helpful book!  I've always believed in great Customer Service.  I certainly look for it when I'm shopping and do my best to offer it to my clients.

"The Simple Truths of Service" is full of great Customer Service examples.

Probably the most touching example is the story of "Johnny the Bagger".  You can find an excerpt of the book and Johnny's story on YouTube.  Here's the link I liked best.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8-xtih-jaM

The stories are good and so are the quotes.  The sections are short so it's definitely my kind of book.

Two quotes that hit me were..."The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas."  Linus Pauling and "We do not remember days.  We remember moments in our lives."  Unknown

I'll leave you with this - it doesn't matter what we do - our careers, where we volunteer, the people we meet throughout our day - we're giving Customer Service.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

The Books in My Life ~ Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Christians commonly remember Brother Lawrence for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God as recorded in a book compiled after his death, the classic Christian text, The Practice of the Presence of God.   My version and the one I read as a teenager is "Practicing the Presence of God".

This book changed my life when I was a teenager.  I realized I could converse with God 24/7.  I didn't have to be at a specific place or wait until a specific time.  I've been conversing ever since.

The book is a collection of conversations, letters and writings of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691).  Brother Lawrence served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris.

An excerpt - p. 41 of my version.  "As for how things are with me now, I can't explain it sufficiently.  I have no suffering or worries about my spiritual state because I have no will of my own.  I only have the will of God.  I try to accomplish his will at all times and in all things."

For a book originally published in 1691 and 1694 it resonates today with me.  Join me in "Practicing the Presence of God" throughout your daily life.

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia