Life's Journey: College Days

This morning as I was driving to work, I heard "Rock Lobster" by the B52s. And boy did it ever take me back to my days at Mary Washington! Such great memories,such great friends and let's not forget The BeeHive!!. I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about my college days! Oh to be able to go back for just a day....
I remember that  August day in 1980 (ok so I am old...LOL) when my Mom, Dad and my little brother Kevin packed me up and moved me to Mary Washington College which would be my home for the next 4 years. I was scared to death. A strange place, new people and I would have to live with someone I had never met. Not to mention my classes or the fact that I would have to study!
My roommate Carole was from New Jersey and we had talked over the summer so we weren't complete strangers. I remember all those trips back and forth to the car to get all my stuff. We unpacked and set up our room (which was way cool). Our 2 families went out to lunch together and I will always remember Carole's boyfriend (now her hubby) Eric teaching my little brother how to unscrew the salt shaker top just enough so that the next person to use it would have a plate full of salt!! We came back to Mason Dorm, room 206, hugged our parents, brother and boyfriend and then they left. It was a bittersweet good-bye (oh to have freedom to make our own choices but still needing our parents).... I was only an hour from home but as I watched my family leave, I did shed a few tears!! Then it was off to the  freshman mixer ..... that was the day Carole and I met Paul & Pete, our very first college friends.
Over the next 4 years, the move to and from college became easier. We met some very special people who would forever be our dear friends! There was boyfriend drama, suite mate disagreements and some not-so-good grades.  Of course there was sadness too ... in January of 1983, Carole's mom passed away. Mrs. Comely had become a big part of my life as I had spent 2 weeks with their family every summer since Carole and I  had become rommmates. Carole would go home alot that semester and in May, decided she would not return for her senior year. I was devastated as she and I had been together for 3 years. Teresa was my roomie my senior year and although it was a hard transistion, she is still one of my dearest friends! I did meet Marye who lived right across the hall. She and her roomie Cindy were seniors also so we had alot in common. I would later be Marye's maid of honor and she mine. In May 1984,I received my BS in biology! Carole was right there to watch me receive my diploma as was Trish!!  After graduation, the move back home was the hard one!! I had learned so much over those 4 years and now I was supposed to go conquer the world.
Over the next few years, Carole married as did many other of my friends. And so did I. Marriage, jobs, homes, kids and distance would make it difficult to keep in touch as much as we had planned. But somehow we managed. Facebook has brought many of us back together  and it's funny how even though years have passed, it's still like we are all those same college friends from 27 years ago!
Did I conquer the world? No but what I learned in college will always be a part of my life. I met wonderful friends, had great professors and learned so much. It was a time in my life that I absolutely loved!! Even through the good times, sad times and difficult classes, Mary Wash is a journey I will always remember!!
I have since taken 2 of my own children to college. I hope that they both learn and grow as I did. And I hope one day when they write their own blogs, they will reflect on their college experience as well.
I visit the campus often and have attended several reunions and even though changes have occured (including the name .... it's now the University of Mary Washington) it will always be a place I call home.
So here's to Carole, Marye, Trish, Lorraine, Cheryl, Beth, Cindy and Teresa....thanks for the memories.
Denise and Joanne....it's been great re-connecting and remembering good times at MWC!!
And remember, as you go on your own life's journey, turn on the radio....you will be surprised at what a song can do :)

Life's Journey: Shake, Rattle & Roll

I never thought I would experience an earthquake living in central Virginia but on Tuesday 08.23.2011 I did!! It's hard to express exactly how I felt except that it was probably the scariest thing I have ever experienced in my life. I was alone at work in my office when the walls and windows began to shake and stuff just starting falling to the floor. WOW.... I ran outside only to see everyone else running outside too. My whole body was shaking and a feeling of nausea hit!  At first I was not sure what it was...maybe an act of  terrorism (of which I remember all to well on 09.11.01 and I might have been just as scared then as I was on Tuesday). The first thing I did was try and call my family ... NO PHONE SERVICE...so I began to text!! Everyone was ok (My Mom, Dad, daughters Abby and Bailey never even felt it because they were driving and My Sweetie was on a tractor moving hay and never felt it either). I was getting texts from friends from other states too, some had even felt it there. WOW... the outpouring of concern!! Offices and schools closed, buildings evacuated and some buildings will be demolished as they are unsafe. As I rushed through the office trying to clean up the mess the earthquake had left, I began to worry about my house. So I headed home, worried about my house,my chocolate lab Bella who was home alone and the aftershocks every news station was talking about. When I got home, there were a few pictures that had fallen but all else looked well...until I saw the bricks scattered in my front yard!! The chimney on my circa 1880 farmhouse had suffered some damage.(Well a bit more than expected after My Sweetie got on the roof and it affected 2 of my chimneys).  I have felt a few aftershocks but nothing compares to what I felt Tuesday although the last one did scare me enough that I really never went back to sleep. But overall we were all lucky as there were no serious injuries or deaths.
Now they are saying "Irene" is going to "whip" us with her wind gusts and rain. So to everyone out there: Be safe!!! Stock up, board up and suck it up because I think we will be getting some of "Irene" this weekend.
So in life's journey, I would not recommend experiencing an earthquake or hurricane BUT if one comes your way, just remember you can say you were shaken, rattled & rolled!! Oh and by the way, don't think I will be going to see Foreignor, Journey and Nite Ranger this weekend!! Instead I will be singing at home "I've been waiting for a hurricane like you..."
Be safe my friends!! Love to you all

Life's Journey: Tears

As I watched my dear friend and her family say goodbye to her mother, I saw lots and lots of tears!
Tears come in all different sizes...big crocodile tears, fake tears, small tears that take forever to run down a cheek,tears that make your mouth twitch, tears of laughter and tears of sorrow. I also wonder if there are Tears in Heaven...Eric Clapton thinks not but I am not sure!!!
Some people hold back tears as though it's a sign of weakness and others seem to cry over the least little thing. I cry most of the time in private when no one can see me. Not sure if I don't want others to see me or if it's that I am alone with nothing but my own thoughts. Sometimes it has been a night time ritual only to wake up the next morning with swollen eyes and little black mascara "butterfly kisses" all over my pillow. My Sweetie used to think tears were only for the weak or a way to get pity...over the last year he has seen tears in a different light.
I cried this weekend as I moved my daughter to college for her senior year. I cried at my friend's Mother's funeral. I cried as I read The Help. I cried when I had to make a tough decision that affected my family.I cried watching a movie. So I think it's safe to say it was a weekend full of tears!! They were not all sad and I don't regret any of them. Sometimes we just need to have a good cry...just like we all need a weekend of rest.
Will I cry today? Not sure but if I do I am sure it's what I need.
So as we go through life's journey, do not be afraid to shed some tears ... Big Girls (and big boys) Do Cry!!!

Life's Journey: Choices

This morning as I was fixing breakfast for my family, I was thinking "what if I had made different choices in my life?" Where would I call home, what would my profession be, would I be alone, would I live in a big new house and would I have plenty of money?
31 American soldiers died this weekend fighting for our country....what if they had made different choices? Life is full of choices....some good and some not so good. Sometimes choosing poorly the first time makes you strong and allows you to make good choices in the future. Sometimes making a bad choice only spirals your life into turmoil forever.
There are choices that I wish I had not made and choices I wish I had made but like the hands on a clock, we only go forward...no do-overs from the past!
Without the choices I made, I would not have the wonderful family that I have, the friends that are always there when I need them or a job that I dearly love!! A big new house and lots of money???..... well maybe one day!!! I guess you could say that my big old farmhouse is a comfy home which is filled with all the riches I could ever ask for!!
Life is a journey, full of choices!!! There is no book or manual for making the right choice....remember each choice you make will forever effect your life!!!
Big choices set our direction and the little ones get us to our destination....our lives are the sum of all of our choices be it good or bad!!!

Life's Journey: Letting Go of "Ashes"

Yesterday I had a visit from a very dear of mine, Marye. We had not seen each other for 10 years but we picked up right where we left off as if no time had passed. Of course it had....each of our lives had been growing and changing!! I took her on a tour of my house and when we entered my bedroom, the first thing she noticed was a jar sitting on my mantle which read "Ashes of Ex-Husbands" (a gift from my attorney during my divorce...the only thing I got for all that money I spent but that's another blog topic) . She laughed but then ever so seriously said " Freda. you have to move that. That is the center of this whole room....it's negative feng shui!" And she was right...I removed it and put it way back in my closet! I did sleep better last night as a matter of fact.
It's never easy to let go, especially when  emotions run so deep, but we all must let go of that which we cannot change. Life dealt me that card for a reason....I learned, I grew and became stronger!! Marye reminded me that the people in my life who have caused me so much pain  have only made me stronger and that rather than resenting them, I should pray for them!!! (Some of the people I know need ALOT of prayer). By doing so, I can heal my heart!!!
So when life hands you a jar of "Ashes of Ex-Husband", let it go!!! Get right with your own heart!!

Life's Journey: Lunch

Most of us eat lunch everyday....different times and different places but we all need that little something to get us through the day!! Some eat alone, some eat in front of the tv, some eat while working and some eat with friends!! That's just what I did today!! My friends are either teachers (so they off in the summer months) or do not work outside the home so they decided to meet for lunch during my lunch hour near where I work ( they are just great like that). What a nice hour!! We chatted and enjoyed a nice meal, followed by some delightful frozen yogurt!! Not only was this nourishment for the body but for the soul as well. Our group gets together when we can but with all the different schedules, kids and other obligations, it is sometimes really hard. Therefore I cherish each minute with them. No matter what we do, no matter where we eat and no matter now short our time together, we always laugh and have fun!! Today we took some pictures too that I am sure will end up on Face Book :)
So no matter where life's journey takes you, you must stop and grab lunch with friends (dessert is always good too).

Life's Journey: MOJITOS!!

Today is National Mojito Day!! And I suppose this fits in with my life's journey as it ties right into my time with great friends!! It started off with a text from my friend Crystal  this morning which read "Thought of you today. It is National Mojito Day!" This was followed by an invitation from Anita to a poolside luncheon with the same great friends!!
Funny how a drink that originated in Cuba and was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway, brings up such fond friend memories. It all started last summer when 5 old (we are not old, just very mature) high school friends got together for dinner poolside...I was nominated to bring the mojitos since I had bartended in the past. So I mixed my sugar, lime juice, sparkling water and muddled mint leaves together, bringing the rum to add as needed. As I was getting ready to ring the doorbell, a wasp (probably sensing the mojito mixture) landed on my hand and stung me!! OUCH.... My friend grabbed some ice, I fixed a few mojitos (rum involved at this point) and all was well with the world! Great friends, good food and of course MOJITOS!!
I had not thought about this evening in a year until today and I must say it made me smile :) Alot has happened since that evening but I know each of my friends would smile too thinking about that night!! I hope to make some more MOJITO memories this week as well.
So I guess the morale of my story is this....along life's journey stop and sip a MOJITO... or two....