Music

I can't recall if I've posted this video before, but this song is one of my favorites! :-)

An unsettling week & revisiting old feelings

Last week was not a great week for me and my family. Last Monday was my brother's birthday and I'm grateful he's been on the road to recovery since April. He went back to work in May and seems to be doing fine. I just continue to pray that he takes good care of his health and that he doesn't have to go through another setback.

My parents 53rd wedding anniversary was last Thursday and it was overshadowed by my (first) cousin's death, which occurred the day before. :( I still can't believe that my cousin "T" is gone and that I won't ever get to see or talk to her ever again. She had a major presence within her family. Whenever she'd get riled up, she would talk very loud, but she was awesome! "T" and her older sister (by four years) "C"were always inseperable! They used to pretty much do everything together. "C" is the mother of three daughters and "T" was the mother of three sons. Many years ago, my brother started teasing our cousins "C" and "T" because they were born with very curly hair---thanks in part to their mother (my aunt). If you didn't know them, you might think they wore wigs. Anyway, my brother used to tease them--mostly "T"--and would refer to the sisters as "Las Pelucas" (which translates to "The Wigs" in English). Whenever my brother would say this to "T," she would start to badmouth my brother, but in a joking and loving way. I'm going to MISS my cousin. My family and I, minus my brother and nephew, will be attending my cousin's funeral this week. It will be nice to see my cousins, uncles, etc. again, but I wish it was under better circumstances. :-(

On Saturday, I met up with an old friend, "J," from high school to attend a local beer festival. She was two grades ahead of me and we used to constantly hang out together when she moved back to the area we grew up (she actually grew up in neighboring town) in about 10 years ago. Probably within the last 2 or 3 years, "J" and I hadn't been hanging out as much because I've been super busy with school and work, and she's been busy with work and church-related functions.

My friend "J" and I met up with her cousin, her cousin's hubby and one of "J's" high school classmates. Within 20 minutes of going in to the festival, I ran into my Zumba instructor, who was there with her hubby. We talked for a little bit and I found out my instructor's mother-in-law is from the same town as my parents. Small world! Just before I started chatting with my instructor and before "J" started talking to someone she knew who was just a few feet away, "J" and I spotted "Mr. Cutie," who I used to have a crush on around 3 years ago. "J" remembered who he was and admitted to me that he was kind of cute! The last three years that I've been attending this festival, he has been there with friends. This time around I saw him with a male friend, and they would part ways every now and then.

I'll be honest, when I caught a glimpse of "Mr. Cutie" at Saturday's event, my heart raced a beat per second! Is it possible to still have feelings for someone you've never talked to? Ugh!! At the moment that I was talking to my Zumba instructor, I nonchalantly looked over "Mr. Cutie's" way and I know he looked over my way once or twice and probably thought, "She looks familiar." Anyway, whenever I caught myself in a conversation with someone at the festival, my radar always seemed to be on the lookout for him. At one point, "J" and I were walking to get some more beer, and I was within arm's reach of "Mr. Cutie." I could've accidentally bumped in to him at that point, but I believe he was talking to some short-haired, tall blonde woman. Bleh! ;-) From what I gather, "Mr. Cutie" is (still) single, but I'm sure he has a type.

Living in a small town you'd think I'd run into "Mr. Cutie." Well, I haven't...well, not prior to Saturday. The last time I actually "saw" him was when I was driving north through town a few weeks ago and he was driving south. We normally don't run in the same circles or we don't ever cross paths unless it's some sort of function in town. Maybe I'll run into him again at another local function or at one of the restaurants.

After attending the beer festival, I can honestly say that whenever I feel in the mood to drink another alcoholic beverage, my drinks of choice will either be water, wine or a mixed beverage--preferably with vodka! ;-)

Sad day :-(

Last night as I was getting ready to go to bed, I started crying again. I knew something was wrong with my 51-year-old cousin "T," who had been suffering with liver cancer for about a year or less. I had spoken to my mom about my cousin and she said that she had spoken with "T's" older sister, who said that "T" was saying her good-byes to her closest family members and was talking about her deceased mother and deceased younger brother. "T's" older sister took that as a sign that her life was coming to an end.

I didn't have class today, but I was scheduled to go to school to meet with my math tutor for the first time. I got up early so that I could get a good parking spot at school. I was in the library waiting to meet with my tutor when I saw that I missed a call from one of my younger cousins, "A." I tried calling her back and when she didn't answer, I left her a voicemail letting her know that I'm pretty sure I knew what her call was about. I then texted her. About an hour or so later, "A" confirmed my assumption: her great-aunt "T," my (1st) cousin, passed away this morning.

I'm still numb at the fact that within a year's time, I've lost a 3rd family member. :-( I'm also saddened that this is the 4th relative of mine to be stricken with cancer; of those 4, only 1 has survived. At this point in my life, I don't ever want to say or hear the word "cancer" ever again!

A word of advice: don't ever take your health for granted. If you're feeling symptoms or noticing something different concerning your health, make an appointment with your doctor and have yourself checked immediately...before it's too late.