'For What It's Worth'

Words of Wisdom from Benjamin Button: "F-or what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."

Vintage French Postcard 'Flower Girl' Freebie 4

Vintage French Postcard 'Blooming Baby's' Freebie 3

My Father's Eyes

Yesterday was Father's Day, so today I would like to take the time to remember a few of the many gifts my Father has given me throughout my life. Some are simple, tender memories from childhood, others life changing trips to amazing places, but the ones I treasure most are the gifts from his soul, the ones he's probably not even aware he's given me. I was born in Long Beach, CA because my Father joined the Marines right out of his High School in Illinois & was stationed in Oceanside. With the VA Bill he was able to go to college & buy our 1st house, but he worked 2 jobs to support his family & we never went without, a gift. One of his jobs was working at Disneyland as a janitor back when Disneyland & the idea of amusement parks was brand new. My brother & I kept empty mayonnaise jars on our dresser. Every morning when we woke up the jars would be filled to the brim with shiny pennies, nickles & dimes. I would find a Disneyland pen light in my jar, while John might find a pop gun or giant pencil in his & of course we would always get TICKETS! Long after the rides had closed for the night & the smiling, sleepy children & worn out parents left the park, my Father swept Main Street. He cleaned the bathrooms & the shops & arcade that lined the street. He worked through the early morning hours while we were home asleep in our beds & at the end of his shift the work crew would divide up the remnants of abandoned toys & lost change & take them home to their children. Every morning when we awoke it was like Christmas, another gift. In 2003 my Father decided he was going to take my daughter & me on a trip to Italy to see Rome & the Sistine Chapel, Florence, the Arno River & the Duomo, a life changing gift. Everything he does for us everyday with his concern & support are gifts, but I do have one favorite gift. This one comes without thought, it is born from DNA or osmosis, this one forever keeps me hopeful & striving for something better. My Dad is a dreamer. His dreams can be little or big, they can be practical or completely irrational, but all my life my Father has dreamed! I am a dreamer too, creating this blogsite is a dream. A dream that I have something to say that might be of value & that I might find an artful way in which to say it. I dream of my tiny shop being a huge success in an economy where no one has any business trying to start a new 'business'. I dream of far off lands filled with surprise & magic just like Max does in "Where the Wild Things Are". Through my Father's eye's, I see all things as possible. So, thank you for the dreams Dad & I hope one day you find a hidden vein of gold in a northern creek some crisp & sparkling morning!