Brian, soon you will graduate from Middle School and move on into the High School arena. You are in for a big surprise and I hope you do your best work in High School, like you've done all along! You will be with your friends, and it's easy to get caught up in tom-foolerie in HS but I hope you have enough character to be true to who you are and get those A's. I also want you to have fun and do all sorts of things. Get involved. Be a part of the social activities as well, but remember you are there to learn and to grow and to become an adult. You will graduate in 4 short years, but those years are some of the most important years you will face. It is the foundation for a good future. Don't sluff off because your friends lure you into being a cut-up in class and get yourself a reputation for being a wise guy and a distraction to other students. I was in high school at one point in my life too, and I haven't forgotten what it was like. I was really lucky, I got to go to a brand new school with kids from 3 other schools that were overcrowded. I was a member of the first graduation class of Castle Park High School in Chula Vista. I had a great 12th year there. We had a senior lawn that only seniors could sit on, we had a cylinder full of our predictions for 10 years in the future that was put in the ground of the senior lawn to be opened on the 10th reunion of our class. We had great teachers that were interested in the students and in school spirit and we had one of the greatest school counselors ever. I loved every minute of it. We had a cafeteria of course, but we also had 2 windows where you could buy hot dogs, chilli burgers, pizza, cupcakes, milk and other quick fixes. They made the best chocolate cupcakes ever with about 2 inches of icing on top. They were the bomb! I graduated in 1964. It was one of the best days of my life. After graduation, my Mom, brother and sister and me went with my best friends family and we went to Chinaland which use to be a fantastic restaurant and miniature golf course over in Point Loma. It was great food and we played miniature golf afterwards. Then I got the disappointing news a couple of weeks later, that we were leaving San Diego and moving to Minnesota. I had plans to attend Southwestern College, but that just wasn't in the cards for me. We moved and I spent a year being miserable until I was 18 and flew back to San Diego alone. I lived with my best friend and her family. It wasn't long afterwards that my family moved back to California and I moved back home. I spent a long time being ill, but I finally got better and got a good job with the Federal Government. That's where I met your grandfather and the rest is history. I've covered it in previous postings in this blog. Someday you may be interested enough to read it, but if not, know that you don't always have control of the things that happen in your life. Make the most of your education and persevere in your chosen field. You will never be sorry if you make every effort in high school to be a good student and do your work. Put your best foot forward. You are a smart young man, good looking, and you have a lot going for you. I am here if you need me, and so is Nine and Jack. We all love all of you and will help you in any way we can. I want to wish you luck here and hope that you read this so you will have a heads up about your next embarking into uncharted waters. (The future awaits! Be bold and make a name for yourself!)
Love You,
Grandma Bonnie
Venus, you will be graduating from elementary school and going into middle school. I will give you the same advice I gave your brother. Make a name for yourself as a diligent student who always does her best. You will make new friends and have many new experiences. Middle school is where you lay a foundation for all you will learn in High School. I myself had a ball in my senior year here in California. My other 3 years of High School were spent in Kodiak Alaska and I was miserable all 3 years. I hated it. The kids were nice enough, but the school was small, they had nothing extra curicular to offer other than basket ball and cheerleading and I wasn't into that, so I just ate myself to death and became very fat and unhappy. Then I met someone I fell in "puppy love" with and I started losing weight, and then found out we were moving to California and he was from California too. We moved at the end of my junior year to Chula Vista and later in the year I got in contact with the guy I thought I was in love with, and he wrote back! So we wrote for 3 years. At the end of my senior year, my Dad moved us to Minnesota because he was in the Navy and that was his new duty station. I hated Minnesota, but I found something great there! I found God. I came to know Him in a great way and He has helped me all my life. I flew back to San Diego at 18, by myself, and lived with my best friends family. If I hadn't come back, I'd have never met Jack. If that had happened, none of you would be here and neither would your Dad or Uncle Alex or Sidra. Everything has a purpose and everything happens as it should. Life is an adventure. I hope you have fun in middle school and study hard and make it count. It could be one of the best experiences you ever have! I am here for you if you need me. You are my sweet baby and you are very special! I wish you the best in your future years in school, and forever!
Love You,
Grandma Bonnie
Angel, you aren't graduating yet, but I want you to know you are in the process of preparing yourself for new adventures in a couple of years. You have 2 years to go and you will be graduating and moving on to middle school. You are smart, a good student, and you have good study habits. You always do your homework right away and that's great! I am proud of you. I love you so much little flighty bird. You are always having fun and laughing and you don't seem to worry too much about anything. I want you to know I am always here for you and will always give you the best advice I can concerning your life and the many stages you go through while you are in the process of growing up. I loved school and was learning a lot until we started moving around to different states. Some schools were harder than others and I missed the 8th grade altogether because the school I went to after 7th grade, just repeated everything I had already learned, and I missed out on all you learn in 8th grade. Then we moved to Kodiak Alaska where the schools were really hard, and I did very poorly in 9th, 10th and then finally in 11th, I made the honor roll, and won an award in an International Spelling Contest with other countries. I had to spell 100 words correctly and I did it. Words I'd never heard before. I had to sound them out and I didn't make one mistake. I got awards in the Shorthand class I took and the Business classes I took, but if I hadn't missed 8th grade, I could have taken the Academic Classes and been able to take foreign languages and Algebra and Geometry and all the things the "smart" kids were taking. I have a very high IQ, which you have already been tested on, but without the foundation of all my classes, I missed out. Don't put anything ahead of your education. It is one of the most important aspects of your life. I am here with knowledge to guide you and to be of help to you always, and if you ever need me, rest assured I am here for you!
Love You Always,
Grandma Bonnie
Kris, you are too little to read yet, but I want you to know I am crazy about you and will never forget rolling dice with you and playing basketball with you. You are only 5, and you are so little and yet you are so athletic and like to run and play and play football and you are a really good basketball player! You and I roll dice and if we get doubles we get to roll again! You are great fun, and you have a great future ahead of you. Your school is so important and you are already learning a lot about the world around you. I know you will love school and will learn a lot. You love you teacher, Mr. Joe, and he seems to have made a really good impression on you. You will know someday, how much we all love you and the depth of our love. I wish you the best little one, and I will see you later! Be good and pay attention to the world around you! There is a lot to learn!
Love You,
Grandma Bonnie
Annalilia, I miss you honey and I don't know much about your school life because you don't live where we do. I am sorry you live so far away. We all love you and miss you and wish we could be a part of your life. A bigger part anyway. I know you are in private school and you like it. Do your best in school because there you will learn the things you need to know to be a success in all your future endeavors. Pay attention in class and learn all you can. I can't imagine that you are anything less than your best. You are sweet, and you have the direct approach when you make your mind up about something. I hope to see you this year and I hope to make a trip to where you live and see your pretty home and where you live. No one knows the future, and I can't say for sure we will make it to see all of you, but I am hoping for the best. I love you, wish you the best in all you want to do in life. You have a lot of adventures ahead of you. Make the most of your life. You won't regret it!
Love You tons,
Grandma Bonnie
Alex Jr., I can't say I really know you honey! You were only 5 months old when you left, and you have been gone for 7 years. I have seen you a couple of times and I know you are sweet and smart. I miss you and wish I had been able to be a more active part of your life. I want to wish you the best in school and in all you do in life. I want to come and see all of you, but only God knows the future. I know you are smart, I know you are a good boy for your parents, and I want you to take good care of your sisters. I will try to do more to be more involved with all of you.
Love YOU,
Grandma Bonnie
Maddy, you are so little and cute and so sharp! You are one smart cookie! You are precious. I am glad I got to see you when you were just a baby. I got to hold you and kiss you and I love you so much. I know you can't read yet, but this will be here for you when you can. I hope you do well in school and enjoy your life sweetheart. I wish you all the best always and I hope to get to come and see you this year. I miss you and love talking to you on the phone! Be good, and I will keep in touch with you as you grow up. Remember always that Grandma, Grandpa and Sidra and Uncle Brian and your 4 cousins down here in California love you and miss you and want to see you soon! I love you Maddy. God bless you honey!
Love, Grandma Bonnie
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Just to Reach Out to You Grandkids
Hi Kids! Grandma has been amiss of late in writing to you here on Across the Years, and I have been observing all of you in the ways you carry yourselves and the things you say and do. I know that having your parents in 2 different places is difficult, and you may have conflicting opinions and feelings about what's happening. Your parents may talk to you and yet not confide in you as to what exactly is happening. People grow apart sometimes and it's no one's fault really. Your Mom and Dad just approach life in different ways and they don't seem to be able to reconcile the differences and continue on this particular pathway. You always have a place here in my home and we can talk about things anytime you want. I don't know your Mom's and Dad's hearts and I can't give you information if I don't have any myself. Just know that your Mom and Dad both love you, Nana and Nano love you, Diego loves you, and last but certainly not least, Nine and Grandpa and Grandma love you more than you can imagine. I don't like to see you have to carry on your daily lives when inside you may be churning and unhappy. I want to see you laugh and smile like you did before all this happened.
This happened at a very difficult time for all of you. Your become teenagers and going through puberty and that's hard enough when everything is going fine at home. I can just imagine how difficult concentrating on your schoolwork must be when you may be angry and frustrated at your parent's situation. Just know that your Mom and Dad are 2 very different people and no matter how often they talk, nothing seems to get resolved. It's a difficult time for all of us.
BUT! There is a God who loves you, all of you, even Mom and Dad and He wants to see things work out for all of you. Even if you don't think so right now, if you ask God to help you and your parents, things will get better. I pray for them, and you need to pray too. Let them know how you feel. If they knew how you feel inside and the struggles you are facing every day, and the anger you must feel, maybe they would explain things to you in a way that will help you understand both of them. If you want to talk about your feelings and you can't confront your parents, you can talk with your grandparents and Nine and we will try to help you with it. I don't want to go on and on over the same thing, I just want you to know that you can confide in us and we will try to help you. I don't know what goes on in your mind. You can express whatever you feel and we will listen and try to be of help to you.
We love you so much and that's the bottom line!
Love You All,
Grandma
This happened at a very difficult time for all of you. Your become teenagers and going through puberty and that's hard enough when everything is going fine at home. I can just imagine how difficult concentrating on your schoolwork must be when you may be angry and frustrated at your parent's situation. Just know that your Mom and Dad are 2 very different people and no matter how often they talk, nothing seems to get resolved. It's a difficult time for all of us.
BUT! There is a God who loves you, all of you, even Mom and Dad and He wants to see things work out for all of you. Even if you don't think so right now, if you ask God to help you and your parents, things will get better. I pray for them, and you need to pray too. Let them know how you feel. If they knew how you feel inside and the struggles you are facing every day, and the anger you must feel, maybe they would explain things to you in a way that will help you understand both of them. If you want to talk about your feelings and you can't confront your parents, you can talk with your grandparents and Nine and we will try to help you with it. I don't want to go on and on over the same thing, I just want you to know that you can confide in us and we will try to help you. I don't know what goes on in your mind. You can express whatever you feel and we will listen and try to be of help to you.
We love you so much and that's the bottom line!
Love You All,
Grandma
Thursday, March 1, 2012
A New Design
Today my daughter Sidra and I began a new design for our lives. She made up a calendar listing of things we are going to attempt to do on a daily basis, and yet have some time for ourselves to do some creative play and get things accomplished at the same time. It's hard for me to chill and just do something fun, but this year is going to be a turning point for both of us. I have a scrap book that was a Christmas gift and all the things I will need in order to decorate it and make it mine. There will be draawings from Brian Junior, pictures of Jack when he was little, pictures of all the kids, grandkids, and grandma and grandpa dating back to early days all the way through to the present. It will be so great to decorate and make things clean too. I am thankful for the help because I am getting older. I hurt in many places I've never hurt before and yet when I put on music that Jack and I use to listen to when we first got together, it makes me feel young and I can get a lot done. You don't have time to mope either when you're listening to Led Zepplin or Aerosmith, or any of a dozen groups. I can't bring myself to listen to slow music when I have things that need to get done. I'll sample the slow relaxing strains of Jazz after the work is done and I want to rest and get into something fun.
Today a crew of tree people came and started cutting down the big eucalyptus trees up on the hill across from our house. They cut the tops off first because these trees have been there forever. I am glad because the hill is washing away and pretty soon the roots will be exposed and a good strong wind could produce a dangerous incident to take place, like trees falling on our house or our awning. There is a ficus tree that needs to come down in our yard, but I don't know if they will do that or even if it's scheduled to be taken down. We want to put avocado trees in the yard and I'd love to put in a magnolia tree. I want our yard to be really well done and I still want to put roses out front and just let the manager complain about things. That's what managers do I guess. It's our yard...I think we should have some say so in what the yard looks like.
I couldn't fall asleep last night until almost 1:00, and I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep, I feel great though, but I did take a 2 hour nap that rather rounded things out. I didn't have to take my meds right away because I got up around 2:00 last night and took 16 mg of Trilafon and that carried me quiet a ways today. I got a notice in the mail about the pre-diabetes clinic we have to go to later in the month. The 27th I believe. We will go to it together and I'll take notes if necessary. I will do whatever it takes to make Jack healthy and to help him lose weight. His doctor will want to see him too I imagine.
I won't make this very long because I want to work on my scrap book. I will make dinner and put those dishes in to soak and my day is finished. I'll go back and work some more on my scrap book after dinner. I don't think we'll watch TV tonight. I think Grandpa wants to play with Nine. I don't know if she wants to or not, but if he asks her I'm almost positive she won't turn him down. As long as we get to do some things we want to do, I think things will work out fine.
So for now, I will say goodbye and collect the pictures I want to use in the book. I know where the drawings are and this will be fun to do.
Happy reading.
Bonnie
Today a crew of tree people came and started cutting down the big eucalyptus trees up on the hill across from our house. They cut the tops off first because these trees have been there forever. I am glad because the hill is washing away and pretty soon the roots will be exposed and a good strong wind could produce a dangerous incident to take place, like trees falling on our house or our awning. There is a ficus tree that needs to come down in our yard, but I don't know if they will do that or even if it's scheduled to be taken down. We want to put avocado trees in the yard and I'd love to put in a magnolia tree. I want our yard to be really well done and I still want to put roses out front and just let the manager complain about things. That's what managers do I guess. It's our yard...I think we should have some say so in what the yard looks like.
I couldn't fall asleep last night until almost 1:00, and I woke up at 5:30 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep, I feel great though, but I did take a 2 hour nap that rather rounded things out. I didn't have to take my meds right away because I got up around 2:00 last night and took 16 mg of Trilafon and that carried me quiet a ways today. I got a notice in the mail about the pre-diabetes clinic we have to go to later in the month. The 27th I believe. We will go to it together and I'll take notes if necessary. I will do whatever it takes to make Jack healthy and to help him lose weight. His doctor will want to see him too I imagine.
I won't make this very long because I want to work on my scrap book. I will make dinner and put those dishes in to soak and my day is finished. I'll go back and work some more on my scrap book after dinner. I don't think we'll watch TV tonight. I think Grandpa wants to play with Nine. I don't know if she wants to or not, but if he asks her I'm almost positive she won't turn him down. As long as we get to do some things we want to do, I think things will work out fine.
So for now, I will say goodbye and collect the pictures I want to use in the book. I know where the drawings are and this will be fun to do.
Happy reading.
Bonnie
Monday, February 27, 2012
Cold Rainy Weather Here In San Diego
Today I woke up about an hour early, and got up to have coffee with my hubby. I was pleasantly surprised that a friend of his had been referred to one of my sites and had left a comment! I was so pleased. I need to spend more time visiting others and letting them know I like what they're doing as well and maybe I'd have more readers!
I did all the things I normally do, dishes, cooking, etc., but it was grey and looked like rain and it was a day to just be cozy around the ol' homestead and I just relaxed more and enjoyed it. The grandkids arrived around 3:45 or so, and I fixed them all hot tea and they did their homework. Kris, the 5 year old, played a game on the TV and played with his basketball, and he was pretty content with his tea as well. While they were doing their homework, I made them all some ramen and also made Jack's dinner to take to work. It was hectic for a little bit, but I got everything done, and Jack left for work at 5:00.
At 6:30 I decided to go ahead and make dinner for the ones who were here, and I made rotini with chicken and alfredo sauce, and warmed up some corn. Everyone ate and we watched TV for a little while. Then I got on the internet to post a new one on A Light In The Night, and sent an e-mail to my husband. Just as I got started, the lightning hit the empty lot next door and the thunder was so loud I signed off and decided I'd finish it later!
I made fresh coffee, had a cup, and after talking with my daughter Sidra for a little while, I got back on the internet, as the storm had passed, and finished my post. The children and their Mom left around 9:15 and the rest of the evening was peaceful. I have music to listen to, a book to read, and maybe some more writing in my journal. I had a very enjoyable day and just was at peace. I am happy in my mind and heart, and I love my family and have a little place to call me own. All in all, I have a very good life, and I am very thankful to God for all my many blessings, and for the people in my life that make my day's complete. I am very blessed, and I like telling others that no matter what your problems may be, if you have someone to love, you can make it through just about anything together. (Providing they love you in return!) God loves us, even when we don't deserve it, and I am so thankful that there is a God, and that He promised to always be with us.
For now, I am going to say goodnight, and I'll be back tomorrow providing nothing unforseen happens.
Goodnight,
Bonzo
I did all the things I normally do, dishes, cooking, etc., but it was grey and looked like rain and it was a day to just be cozy around the ol' homestead and I just relaxed more and enjoyed it. The grandkids arrived around 3:45 or so, and I fixed them all hot tea and they did their homework. Kris, the 5 year old, played a game on the TV and played with his basketball, and he was pretty content with his tea as well. While they were doing their homework, I made them all some ramen and also made Jack's dinner to take to work. It was hectic for a little bit, but I got everything done, and Jack left for work at 5:00.
At 6:30 I decided to go ahead and make dinner for the ones who were here, and I made rotini with chicken and alfredo sauce, and warmed up some corn. Everyone ate and we watched TV for a little while. Then I got on the internet to post a new one on A Light In The Night, and sent an e-mail to my husband. Just as I got started, the lightning hit the empty lot next door and the thunder was so loud I signed off and decided I'd finish it later!
I made fresh coffee, had a cup, and after talking with my daughter Sidra for a little while, I got back on the internet, as the storm had passed, and finished my post. The children and their Mom left around 9:15 and the rest of the evening was peaceful. I have music to listen to, a book to read, and maybe some more writing in my journal. I had a very enjoyable day and just was at peace. I am happy in my mind and heart, and I love my family and have a little place to call me own. All in all, I have a very good life, and I am very thankful to God for all my many blessings, and for the people in my life that make my day's complete. I am very blessed, and I like telling others that no matter what your problems may be, if you have someone to love, you can make it through just about anything together. (Providing they love you in return!) God loves us, even when we don't deserve it, and I am so thankful that there is a God, and that He promised to always be with us.
For now, I am going to say goodnight, and I'll be back tomorrow providing nothing unforseen happens.
Goodnight,
Bonzo
Friday, February 24, 2012
A Day of Rest and Peace
Today was unusual in that I woke up at 6:30 instead of having to be pried out of the sack at 7:30 which is usually when I get up to get Jack's lunch and coffee ready. I took my medicine last night, fell asleep around 1:00 and then woke up so early! It was nice because I felt so refreshed and at peace. I have reached a level of competency with my medications, and they work wonders when you get it right. I did a lot of posting and reading, listened to some meditation music and lit some candles and incense. It was so restful and peaceful that even our dog "Dude" fell asleep on the couch. My oldest granddaughter Venus, calls it my hypnosis music. I think they like it though because they all get really quiet and just listen while they work on their crafts or whatever my daughter Sidra finds for them to do. Sometimes they all go out to a local store and bring back things to do. My daughter was a pre-school teacher before all the problems with the economy. She also worked for Halmark and as a result has a ruptured disc in her lower back and can't pick up anything heavier than 20 lbs. She helps me here at home and is a God-send when it comes to going to the store and just general things at home. I would be so lost without my wonderful daughter. She has brought so much happiness to me, and is my best female friend. I love her to pieces.
In the every day running of the house, there are always dishes to be done, trash to take out, cleaning up after the pet, organizing things, and just generally being very busy. I make iced tea by the gallons because everyone loves it and it isn't hard to do, just tedious. I cook everynight and I've been trying to help all of us get healthy by putting everyone on the DASH diet which is a wonderful way to bring down blood pressure and tryglicerides. It also is excellent for losing weight and we all need to do that except my oldest son Brian. He came back home to live about a year ago, and had a problem with drinking and being overweight. He has since lost 80 lbs, and stopped drinking and has turned himself around. I am very proud of all my children. They mean the world to me and I love them so much.
Today is a day of reflection and peaceful pursuits and I really enjoyed posting to my other site, A Light In The Night. I felt so led to really say what's on my mind and I am pleased with the results. It's time to think about other people in this world and the conditions they have to live with. If those of us who are overweight would think mindfully about what we are putting in our bodies and think about the children who eat ketchup in hot water to survive over the weekend because they're homeless and live on the streets, we'd all lose weight more easily. It's disgusting to think of all that we cram in hand over fist while little children are going hungry. I am going to fast I think and get my priorities straight. I have a home, food, clothes, a truck, I have all I need in every area of my life. It's time to look deeply into our motives and change the things that are wrong in our own lives and help the needy. I want to set a good example for my family members of which there are 14 now. My husband, our 3 kids, their wives, and the 7 grandchildren. I am the oldest member of the family and have always been the oldest child in my Mother and Father's family. I have always been a very strong person and said what's on my mind. I feel I owe it to my family to change my ways, and I began doing it this last Monday. I read a lot, meditate, pray and take care of my family. We are in a desperate situation here in America. It's time we all took a stand and be counted for what we are doing to help our fellow-man. It's past time.
In the every day running of the house, there are always dishes to be done, trash to take out, cleaning up after the pet, organizing things, and just generally being very busy. I make iced tea by the gallons because everyone loves it and it isn't hard to do, just tedious. I cook everynight and I've been trying to help all of us get healthy by putting everyone on the DASH diet which is a wonderful way to bring down blood pressure and tryglicerides. It also is excellent for losing weight and we all need to do that except my oldest son Brian. He came back home to live about a year ago, and had a problem with drinking and being overweight. He has since lost 80 lbs, and stopped drinking and has turned himself around. I am very proud of all my children. They mean the world to me and I love them so much.
Today is a day of reflection and peaceful pursuits and I really enjoyed posting to my other site, A Light In The Night. I felt so led to really say what's on my mind and I am pleased with the results. It's time to think about other people in this world and the conditions they have to live with. If those of us who are overweight would think mindfully about what we are putting in our bodies and think about the children who eat ketchup in hot water to survive over the weekend because they're homeless and live on the streets, we'd all lose weight more easily. It's disgusting to think of all that we cram in hand over fist while little children are going hungry. I am going to fast I think and get my priorities straight. I have a home, food, clothes, a truck, I have all I need in every area of my life. It's time to look deeply into our motives and change the things that are wrong in our own lives and help the needy. I want to set a good example for my family members of which there are 14 now. My husband, our 3 kids, their wives, and the 7 grandchildren. I am the oldest member of the family and have always been the oldest child in my Mother and Father's family. I have always been a very strong person and said what's on my mind. I feel I owe it to my family to change my ways, and I began doing it this last Monday. I read a lot, meditate, pray and take care of my family. We are in a desperate situation here in America. It's time we all took a stand and be counted for what we are doing to help our fellow-man. It's past time.
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