Dackel Princess

The Friday Five

The leaves are starting to change here in my part of the world. I love it. At first the green leaves look just slightly off, and then the trees start to get tipped with yellows, red, orange and coral colors. The apples are ripening on our trees and that is beautiful as well! Autumn truly is, my favorite time of year!

It’s been a rather busy week for me, although most of my week was spent at home. Here’s what’s happening in my world.

The week started with me having a touch of Vertigo. I’ve had it before, but not in a long time. The first day was the worst, but as the week wore on, I found I got progressively better. Here we are on Friday and I am fine!
I made two stir fry’s this week. A Chicken and a Beef stir fry. Both were so easy to make, tasted great, and we both really enjoyed them. I am finding that we like lighter fare more than we used to. Anything super heavy and neither one of us feels well after.
Jack hates the new flip phone I got him when his old flip phone died last summer when he was in the hospital. Frankly, so do I. I cannot hear in it and find it difficult to open. So, I was playing with his old dead phone, and I cleaned all the contacts and I actually got it running again. Not only that, but I switched the number from the bad flip phone back to his much loved flip phone, by following Verizon’s instruction page. My hope it that I can teach Jack to use my Samsung Galaxy S5 so I can get the new Galaxy phone for my birthday!
Jack is doing okay, although he does have two places on one of his toes that are concerning me. I have doctored them and kept infection from setting in. We go to the Podiatrist today, and we will see what he says. Hopefully, we have done everything right.
I met the two new Veterinarians that are taking over the Practice of my much loved Vet. Now she will work for them part time, but they not only bought her Practice, but her big old farmhouse and farm as well. They seem very nice and it’s my hope they will care for my pack of hounds with the same love as Julie always did. Especially my Greta.

So that wraps up a rather crazy week. But in the end, it was all good. Enjoy your weekend, folks!

New Glasses!

My new glasses arrived today. After a year and a half with pink metal frames (what was I thinking?), my new glasses came. They are gold on the top with no bottom frame. I think they pretty much melt into my face.

I did wear contact lenses when I was younger, but after the retina surgeries, I can no longer do that. So….I will continue to find frames that I like, or at least try.

On the left are the old pink metal frames. On the right are the new golden ones, with just a touch of bling! I thought I liked the pink frames. Something different. But I found that it only drew attention to the glasses. I really like me in gold.

Honestly, I am just thankful that I can see perfectly with my glasses and my vision for reading is 20/20 too! I am so grateful to Dr. Chapman, my Retinal Surgeon for repairing both of my retinas and restoring my vision!

With my glasses I can see my beautiful daughter and grandchildren, my husband, our dogs, and the glorious world around me! In fact today as we drove to pick up our glasses (Jack was with me, as he got new glasses too!) I could see the leaves that were just starting to turn color, the brightest, cloudless blue sky, and the apples growing on our trees.

So much beauty! Life is good!

Remembering September 11, 2001

I think we all can tell you where we were, and what we were doing on that fateful day, ten years ago.

September 11, 2001

It was a beautiful day here in New Hampshire. Sunny, bright, clear with blue skies. I was taking a shower getting ready for a dental appointment, while Hubby was working on shingling the house. It was a day like any other here.
Hubby had the TV in our bedroom pointed out the window so he could listen to the morning news.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my arm and Hubby told me I had to get out of the shower now, something was happening. I was a little dazed and confused. I shut the water in the shower off and grabbed my towel.

Hubby and I sat in our family room watching Fox News, ABC, and CNN. A plane had hit one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in downtown New York City.

While we watched, suddenly another plane came in and hit the other Tower!
We were both in shock. We listened to reports. No one was saying terrorism, not at first. But both Hubby and I knew.

I look at this picture, and I know that none of those innocent people got out alive. That thought brings me to tears each time.

We watched the Tower’s come down, one and then the other. We knew people had died. We just didn’t know how many.

At 12:30 I drove to my dental appointment. There was not another car on the road. Not one. I got to my dental appointment and found that I was the only patient that hadn’t cancelled that day.

When I got home we watched the TV all day. I called my family and my close friends. Just to hear their voices.

It doesn’t matter your political affiliations, or how you feel about the war. What matters is on September 11, 2001 innocent people died in New York City, In Washington, DC and in Shanksville, PA.

People like you and like me. Just because they were Americans.
That was the day I learned that we are no longer safe here at home.

I also learned that when our country is attacked in such a manner, we pull together and unify.

God Bless all who lost their lives that day, to their families, who will never be the same, and all who serve this country each and every day to protect and defend us.

September 11, 2001: Basic Facts

Chronology
8:46 AM Plane crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
9:03 AM Plane crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
9:17 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shuts down all New York City area airports.
9:21 AM The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halts all flights at U.S. airports. It is the first
time in history that air traffic has been halted nationwide.
9:38 AM Plane crashes into the Pentagon. Evacuation begins immediately.
9:45 AM The White House evacuates.
10:05 AM The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
10:10 AM A portion of the Pentagon collapses.
10:10 AM Plane crashes in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
10:22 AM The State and Justice Departments, as well as the World Bank are evacuated.
10:28 AM The World Trade Center’s north tower collapses.
10:45 AM All federal office buildings in Washington, D.C. are evacuated.
1:44 PM Five warships and two aircraft carriers are ordered to leave the U.S. Naval Station
in Norfolk, Virginia to protect the East Coast.
4:10 PM Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses.

The Flights
American Airlines Flight 11
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 92 people on board
Crashed into North Tower of World Trade Center at 8:46 AM

United Airlines Flight 175
From: Boston, Massachusetts (Logan Airport)
To: Los Angeles, California
Lives: 65 people on board
Crashed into South Tower of World Trade Center at 9:03 AM

American Airlines Flight 77
From: Washington, D.C. (Dulles Airport)
To: Los Angeles, CA
Lives: 64 people on board
Crashed into the Pentagon at 9:38 AM

United Airlines Flight 93
From: Newark, New Jersey
To: San Francisco, California
Lives: 44 people on board
Crashed into rural Pennsylvania (southeast of Pittsburgh)

Victims
Victims came from more than 90 countries around the world.
The following are the number of people who died at each site:

World Trade Center 2,823 (includes airline passengers)
Pentagon 125 (not including plane victims)
Flight 11 – 92 people on board
Flight 175 – 64 people on board
Flight 77 – 64 people on board
Flight 93 – 44 people on board

The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m, the times the Towers were hit. Time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. Time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out.

Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC
August 15, 2002

Mandy

Recently, I scanned a few pictures I had of a very young Mandy. Back then, there were no digital cameras, where you keep shooting until you got the picture you wanted. But somehow, I did get a few good ones back then.

So here we go. My daughter, Amanda way back when…

I can see so much of Savannah, when I look at Mandy’s pictures. The same little round face, and chin, and happy, easy going smiles. Mandy has grown into a beautiful woman, with a lovely family of her own.

Mandy and Savannah

Mandy and Quinn

Mandy, Matt and their beautiful children.

The Friday Five

Another week has come and gone, although this one seemed to go by much faster. Perhaps it is because of Labor Day having been on Monday, and thus shortening the week. Despite that, here are the five things on my mind, as the week closes.

Jack was in to see his foot doctor on Wednesday. The infection has pretty much cleared up, (thanks to my excellent nursing care!) and the ulcer is almost healed and gone. This is such good news! The flip side of this is that the toe is a hammer toe, and eventually will have to come off. But just not yet, and that is a very good thing!
I got a letter on Tuesday telling us that our much loved Veterinarian is retiring and selling her practice to a young, married couple. They are both Veterinarians who graduated from Tuft’s Veterinarian School. On Saturday there is a party to celebrate her retirement and to meet the new Veterinarians. I am so sad to see Dr. Julie retire. She has been with us through so many tough times. And she has also been with us through those really happy times too. Pets are such a blessing!
I finally got down to making my tomato sauce. I got my 15 pounds of tomatoes at the Farm Stand, and also my vegetables, and then picked up my ground beef and Italian sausage.
While the tomatoes were cooking down, I sat down an started chopping vegetables. I chopped and chopped and chopped. Then began sauteing the vegetables, and in another pan, sauteing the meat, and eventually putting it all together to simmer. You can get the recipe HERE.
We’ve really been enjoying the corn this summer. We eat corn two or three times a week. Our local corn has simply been the best! YUM!
Yesterday we got home after a long day. I’d quite literally run through the grocery store, so I could get Jack back home and off his feet. In any case, when we finally got the groceries put away, I went into the bedroom and put on my pajamas. When I was done I slipped my clogs back on and went out to make dinner. I did that, and the dishes and then finally, sat down. Then, as I sat there Jack looked at my feet and said, “Look at your feet.” Which I did, and then burst out laughing! I had one gray clog on and one black clog. And I had for almost 2 hours, without even noticing it! It’s still making me smile and laugh just a little today!

Have a great weekend Everyone!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When you think about your future what do you fear most? Hope for the most?

I fear being separated from my family. But my greatest hope, is that my family will enjoy good health and long, happy lives!

2. September is National Chicken Month. How often is chicken on the menu at your house? What’s a favorite dish made with chicken? What’s something you’re a ‘chicken’ about doing or trying?

We eat chicken a couple times each week. I love chicken, really! So good!

My favorite chicken meal is “Julia’s Roasted Chicken”. You can get the recipe HERE. What am I a chicken about? Not too much, probably going into crowded places.

3. What are three things you don’t own but wish you did?

About the only thing I wish I had would be a fenced in yard. I have wanted that since we built the house, but it’s one thing that Jack and I could never agree on.

4. Would you rather be a jack of all trades or a master of one? Elaborate. If you answered one, which one?

Well, since I am, sort of, a “Jack of All Trades” I will simply have to stick to that answer.

5. Ketchup or mustard? On what?

I like ketchup but not on too much. I used to eat it on everything. But got away from that. Now I use it, on fries, but just a little. Mustard? Great on hotdogs and Reuben Sandwiches!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I woke in the night and noticed our automatic outside lights were on. I looked out the window and saw some small critter eating an apple in our driveway. I think it was a ground hog or larger possum. But they certainly were enjoying the apple.

This & That

Monday was a beautiful day. I had prepared the kitchen so I could make a large quantity of spaghetti sauce, and went to the farm stand to pick up my tomatoes, only to find the farmer didn’t have my 10 pounds of tomatoes ready for me. I was pleased, actually. I picked up some freshly baked baguettes, and the rest of the vegetables I would need, and came home. Best of all, because I wasn’t cooking, I could enjoy this warm, sun filled, day!

Our apples are starting to size and we will be picking the Gala Apples in two or three days. I tasted one today, and to me it was perfect! But then, I like my apples nice and tart!

Tomorrow Jack and I go to get our eyes examined. It dawned on us, that it may have been a while, when we were sitting in our chairs watching the tennis on the TV and I said, “Jack, what is that players name?” I was squinting and could not read it at all! “I don’t know” said a squinting Jack! So we laughed, called each other old and made appointments with our eye doctor!

I’m looking forward to new glasses. Last time I got glasses, I purchased pink metal frames. What was I thinking? I have really not been happy with them. So, I think it’s back to plain gold frames for me. Since I wear them all the time, I want to make sure they are something I really like. Jack always gets the same frame. Gold aviator frames. If he ever got anything else I would not recognize him!

I’ll close with my happiness that The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child! I think it is simply marvelous that they are adding another baby to their little family. Congratulations to Will & Kate!

The Light

Recently, Jack and I were discussing a sports figure, who was assaulted during a sporting event. This person, though not badly injured, recovered fairly quickly from her injuries, but emotionally, never recovered at all. Although she returned to play once again, she retired very early on, and has become somewhat of a recluse. So very sad to see, as she was amazingly talented, and gifted, with a bright future.

21105990_10154808257397371_1274673397861397439_n

This got me thinking about my own life. I have not always been Maribeth Sunshine. In fact I have fought living in the darkness for many years. And for me to have found my way to where I am, right now, surprises even me. Let me explain.

I’m Bipolar. Okay, there I have said it. Whew! After years and years, of keeping my illness, hush-hushed, I decided to come out of the closet and share with all of you, not only the struggles of this illness, but the joy one can have when they are regulated on their medication.

If I am honest, I can say that I knew as far back as 5th grade, that something was very different inside of me.

I married early and had my children. I loved being a Mom, but even then, as they grew I found myself fighting the demons of depression. Anorexia set in and my doctor told me that this was the cause of my depression.

I was in the terrible car accident and my daughter was killed, and the depression became debilitating. It was as if I was in molasses. I could hardly move. I could not think.

Divorce was next in my life and it wasn’t a great thing to go through. I found a small apartment, a job at a local grocery store, and I started to try to learn how to live. But the depression was there. And getting worse every day.

I had known Jack for many years as a friend. He saw me pretty much abandoned by everyone and I think he also saw that emotionally I was not doing well at all. In fact I felt like I was drowning.

Our courtship was short and we married pretty quickly after our divorces came through. Jack saw that I needed to get away, and he provided many opportunities, as a pilot for Pan American World Airways.

We flew all over the world. If there was an empty seat on his plane, I was in it.

I saw people and places I had only dreamed of. We had a sailboat and sailed the Intracoastal Waterway from Miami to Maine and back again. We lived on Jack’s apple farm in New Hampshire, with his dog, Rex and a kitten I’d gotten, Tigger and his cat, Dottie.

Most of the time, I was doing okay, but there would be the dark moods, which came, before the high mood returned. During this time, I learned to run, and the running helped me to control the darkness.

We moved five years after we married to Florida. We’d found a beautiful home, in a lovely town and everything seemed idealic. I found a Psychiatrist that I felt comfortable with. He diagnosed me with Bipolar Illness. This was the first mention of this disease affecting me. Reading up on it, I knew that this was me. Finally I knew what was wrong. This was 1996.

In 1998 Jack retired from flying and one day I sat down with Jack and said, “I want to go home to New Hampshire”.

Jack flew up, stayed with friends, and eventually found the land we built our house on. Our Florida house sold in three weeks, and we packed up and were in New Hampshire in April of 1999. Work began on the house, while we lived in our camper. With two dogs, Max and Shubi, and one cat, Tigger. It was a long process, but by Christmas of 1999, we were living in the house.

I was still rather unstable with my Bipolar Illness. But moving back to New Hampshire was the best thing I ever did. I found a Psychiatrist whose specialty was medications. Within six months, I was finally stable on Depakote.

It’s strange when you are stable. You never reach those wild highs and the lows are also tempered. It’s not perfect. But it is so much better than being off the medication.

Then one day recently, after Jack was home from the hospital, my cousin mentioned that I was dwelling in the dark again. Not looking at the happiness around me.

At first her words hurt me, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that she was right. So I decided to start thinking differently.

I start each day thinking positively. I look around me and see the good things in life. Not just the things that happened today, but over my lifetime. For all the difficult things I have lived through in my life, there have been a hundred times as many, that fill me with sheer joy. I have to concentrate of living in the light. I want to hold tight to the good memories, while creating new wonderful ones. As I do this, life becomes better and better.

I do not want people to say, “Poor Maribeth, she lost her child, and then lost her mind”. I want them to say, “Wow! Look at Maribeth! She had so many challenges, and yet she chooses to live in the light!”

The Friday Five

Life is full of things to do and things that will make your life better. Here are five things I am thinking of this week.

I’ve decided I need to get out more. I tend to hibernate and become somewhat of a Hermit when I’ve faced challenges in life. After my neck surgeries this year, I sort of shut myself off. Well, not any more. Life is full of great things to do!
I found a beautiful pattern for an Afghan. It’s made with a simple crochet stitch and chunky yarn. On Thursdays, at my Library, they have a group called “The Knotty Knitters”, where people doing needle work can come, work on their projects, talk a little, and get help by more experienced knitters and crocheters.
My friend and I were talking yesterday about taking a Senior Yoga Class. Technically, I am a year short of meeting the requirement of being a Senior, but….I think I can get into the class due to my physical challenges. I just feel that Yoga will help me get some core strength back.
I’ve decided to continue with Weight Watchers and after Labor Day, actually get back to following the plan. Weight Watchers Class has always been so helpful to me for the support of my weight problem, but also an emotional support group.
One day per week, I plan to go room by room and then the basement and attic, so that throughout the winter, I will lighten my load. I want to get things organized. I want to get rid of the crap.

So these are all positive things, that I plan to do over the next year. I’m excited about the opportunities these things will provide.

Princess Diana, 20 Years Ago

Twenty years ago I was still living in Punta Gorda, Florida. Jack was off flying and I was alone with Max and Shubi our dogs. As was usual, they got me up at 5 AM, and as was usual, living in a community with strict leash laws, I pulled on my jogging clothes (still running back then) and took the two of them for a short walk.

When I got back I turned on the Satellite TV and heard the terrible news. Princess Diana had been in a horrible car crash and at first they suspected she was badly injured and then they came back telling the audience that she was dead.

I was shocked. I remember sitting there, thinking that it had to be a mistake! Certainly young, beautiful, Diana, finally free of the Royal Family, was fine and not….

But as I watched BBC News, and I saw the News Broadcasters struggling to control their own anguish, I knew it was true. Beautiful Diana, Francis Spencer, Princess of Wales was gone.

I called my Aunt in Framfield, East Sussex England and spoke to her and her sisters. They were all shocked and saddened by her passing.

The funeral overwhelmed me, and so many people. I recall crying and feeling so saddened for her sons. How would they cope without her loving, ways?

********************

Over the years I wondered about the Princess. I’d read the Book “Diana, Her True Story” back when it came out and at the time I remember thinking that the girl had been used. Like a lamb to slaughter. The Royals needed a virgin, to procreate and get an heir. Diana was chosen, at 19 years old for that. I was ashamed that anyone would do that.

The years passed again, and both Princes William and Harry grew up, William married the lovely Kate, and two children were born.

Then in the last two months the Princes released a loving portrait of their mother.

Recordings of Diana from Andrew Morton, her Biographer, and video tapes made with her voice coach Peter Settelen.

I watched and I listened to what Diana had to say, in her own voice. I watched her as she spoke. My heart broke for this lovely woman, who wanted only love in her life and never found it.

********************

Yes, I loved Princess Diana all along. I tried to mimic every new hair style she had, and even attempted the make up. I loved all the charitable work she did. And I loved how she loved her children. They were her everything. Although her life was very sad, Diana always put on a brave face, tended to her duties and gave her all.

I wish her life had been longer. I wish she had found true joy in her life. Today, on the 20th anniversary of her passing, I pray that she is finally at peace and I thank her for all she did in her short life.