Forgiveness

 

My grandmother told me one time that forgiveness wasn’t for the person being forgiven; it was for the person forgiving so the one who hurt you doesn’t live rent free in your head.  I have lived by that for many years.  However, this time I am asking forgiveness from a dear friend.  I will explain

We were at a birthday event for my wife.  Wine was involved and as conversations do they got a little racy.  At these events the guys sit at one table and the ladies at their own table.  It always seems to work because guys talk guy things and lord only knows what they talk about.

As the night waned I slid over to the ladies and somehow the conversations turn to breasts!  Anyone who knows me knows I’m a boob man!  Well I said something about wanting to see every set on earth and everyone laughed.  Well here is the forgiveness part.  I was sitting next to one of the sweetest people on the planet that has just recently beat breast cancer!  What an inconsiderate comment. 

Now allow me to tell you a bit about the lady I’m talking about.  She is one of the best people I know. Beautiful, kind, loving, selfless, and a true friend, a fighter of the highest regard. She has a zest for life that is rarely seen.  She is a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother.  She is a great cook and she is my friend.

The comment has haunted me since I got home that night.  I have to apologize to her. The very thought that I might have hurt her feelings makes me sick to my stomach. I will email her this post once it finished so she will know how badly I feel.  I can already hear her reply.  I didn’t even hear it or I have no memory of that. That is just how special she is. 

I promise to do better.

So yes sometimes Grandmother the forgiveness is needed for the infractor as well as the person forgiving. 

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Makenna Noelle Morse aka. Cricket

 

Well I am thinking the old Blessed man is getting even older!!  As you make know I have written about many additions to our families, today is very very special you see last week my Great Granddaughter was born.  Can you believe that?  Great Granddaughter!!!

I was there when both of our Grand Children were born and have wonderful memories of those births.  But to think now one of those children has had a child is very eye opening. 

I am calling here Cricket.  I feel like ever Great Granddaughter needs a special name from her Great Granddad.  She is beautiful so cute and small. 

He mother has always held my heart.  She is very special, her Dad is a great guy, and wonderful provider for his new family.  I believe they will make wonderful parents.  The only trouble is you can’t explain to them what lies ahead.  You can try but they always look at you and say that will never happen to our little treasure. However, it is going to.  Nothing can hurt you more than a child.  Nothing can make you happier or more proud than a child.  I know because if you have read any of the first couple of years posts in this lowly blog you walked that road with me. 

Parenting is the most difficult job on the planet.  It is also the most rewarding job on the planet.   I am so blessed that my son met and married a young lady that absolutely turned his life and our relationship totally around.

Cricket, I wish you enough. Enough love to keep you on the right track. Enough joy to recognize how special life can be.  Enough strength to carry her through the hard times.  Enough fortitude and courage to endure and make her mark on this crazy world. Enough passion to sing like no one is listening and dance like no one is watching. Enough kindness to give grace and offer help and guidance to those less fortunate.  Enough sense to know when to hold‘em and when to fold’em.  I stole this and made it mine.  So I will attach the original so you know what I was shooting at.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

Well I guess that about it.  Know that I’ll always have your back my precious one.  We will disagree but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.  In fact it means I love you a lot!  And always remember I’m your favorite!!!

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Allie

You know the old blessed man has been silent for a long time now.  However, something happened to me last weekend that rekindled the fire in me. 

You see my youngest Granddaughter got married.  I know all the grand dads out there can relate if you have shared that moment with your special child.  However, my experience was a bit more in depth, thanks to my granddaughter.  I got to be a part of the ceremony and walk her down the aisle.  Why this happened is not important but to my good fortune it did. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know my son and I have had a very difficult relationship for his entire life.  It is getting better now but we still have our moments but they are fewer and further between.

I always knew I loved Allie.  She has always been a part of my life.  I treat her exactly as I would if she were my daughter.  Something that has meant a few teary times, as we have had differences of opinion. However, we always seemed to agree somewhere in the middle.

You know I have never had a father daughter thing.  All my friends tell me it’s very different than a Father Son thing.  With the boys you want to make men.  With the girls they say you always want to protect and keep safe. 

OK I have established that I am not a girl’s dad.  Now for the reason for this post.

The firat moment came when I was asked to take a picture with her as a “First Look” picture.  So I go over to this door that was closed.  They opened the door we were back to back.  I reached out held her hand and they counted to three.  We both turned and I saw her.  Something happened in my heart I have never ever felt.  It almost exploded!  She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  She was an angel I had always called her.  I was simply blown away.  As we hugged she was crying and hugging me I was in another world I had never been in.  Hugging her and totally understanding what all my friends say about having girls.  It was a wonderful moment for me.

Then came the wow moment.  I walked her down the aisle and gave her away.  We were standing outside the chapel as they closed the doors awaiting our entrance.  We stood on the porch of the chapel and I realized how much I loved this little girl.  I realized she was much more to me than I was allowing myself to feel. 

Then the fun moment because at this moment I was embracing this new place in my heart this small wonderful little child has opened up.  We got to do our first dance.  We didn’t dance much we just moved around in a slow circle looking at each other.  Both knowing it was different now. She had unlocked a place that belonged to her all along and that I never knew existed.  She now holds a place that is only hers in my heart.  I’ll never be the same guy after this wedding.  I believe I will always go to wedding with a different view.

I told Allie at the wedding I had always loved her but tonight I realized exactly how much.

 

The old blessed man has had many experiences in his life but nothing like this. The range of emotions was nothing like I have ever.

Well I guess that’s about it.  I feel so much better now that I have shared this with all of you.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Holidays 2021

Well its been a long time my friends.  However, I'm back.  Be looking for a post very soon.

Peace

The Blessed Man

Thanksgiving 2017

As I reflect on my yesterday it was full of many emotions,   from great sadness to great joy.  I ran the gambit yesterday all while enjoying family and friends. 

As we sat at our last stop last night my wife raised her glass and told things she was thankful for her family her friends her health and other numerous things.  I was hoping others would follow her lead and give me a minute to think of my list.  Well as crowed tables often do we lost a great moment to share our felling.  So I am blessed I have this place.  So here we go.

The top of the list has to go to my wife.  I am so blessed with each passing day we become closer and closer.  I now understand the feelings my Father would often try to share with me about how he felt about my Mother.  He was the best example to me for how to love someone.  And Dad I’m thankful for that as well.

This year there is a very special thankfulness.  You see my dear friend George from Boston fell dead on the sidewalk in the northeast this year.  But for the efforts of a group of recently trained CPR by standers my friend would not have been with his family yesterday being thankful for his life.  I am thankful for those who jumped in and saved my friend.  I’m thankful for him for being a fighter and not letting go.  I’m thankful for his wife for being at his side the entire way.  His children and Grand Child for being there and letting George see all the reasons to keep up the good fight.  I love my friend and can’t wait to see him early next year if things continue to improve.

I am thankful I didn’t spend my day like my young son.  He prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner for he and his wife using money that was maybe better used in other places.  Only to be met with her news she was leaving him and didn’t want to be married anymore,   Very sad.  He was very upset and we were talking no stop during my lunch stop yesterday.  I fear sometimes I appeared rude answering his heart felt texts trying to be the Dad that if you read this Blog much know I have no faith in my ability to be.  We got him through it and hopefully they will be able to find common ground and save the relationship.

I am thankful for my health.  I have really tried this year to be better losing weight and be a better keeper of the Blessed Man.  I have lost a few pounds numerous more to go.  I have started working out again and have an appointment to get my knee looked at next week.  So I’m being better now.

I’m thankful I got to see many members of the Memphis Family last night as well as the kids and Grand Kids.  All are doing so well The Grand Kids are really growing and the new baby could be the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Love those people…

So as you see I have many things to be thankful for this and every year.  But this year was a banner year for the Blessed Man.  And I have to believe that 2018 might be my best year ever.  I know I am blessed to be looking forward with great health and great companionship in every area of my life.

So I ask you to call that friend you love.  I almost lost mine this year.  I ask you to hug your wife.  I ask you to try to be a good parent, which is the toughest job of all I am sure.  I ask you to be thankful for the small things and see the beauty in all things good and bad.  And I ask you to be happy.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Movement

I guess there is and always be movement.  I am thinking that is what makes the world go round, pun intended. 

As I look back over the last couple of years there has been lots of movement in my life.  My son has gotten married and is experiencing an entire different kind of trouble and stress.  His marriage has seemed to bring us a little bit closer together.  Or should I say we have more telephone conversations that start out “how do you do it?”, “what the hell?” or, “Where is the girl I married?”  To which I always smile just a little bit of a welcome to the real world smile. 

We have had great friends and family members take leave from our lives.  This brings me great sadness , but as I said above movement.  We have met new friends and are enjoying them.  We have learned that an evening alone is something far more special than we ever remember in our hectic working lives.  We have learned that a day off adventure is the way to keep the new in your life. I believe my wife and I are closer than we have ever been in the 22 years we have been together.

We have seen the Memphis family mature and move on.  We are expecting more Memphis family to join us here in paradise, shortly.  As I look back and reflect, that group has always been in some sort of movement.  It is the first time however it seems to be moving away from me.  I have learned to just enjoy the moments together and treasure them even more.  Maybe, sometimes in the past I have been complacent about them, and the very special times we have all shared.  I now treasure those times together like the ones with my wonderful wife and partner.  If I am blessed the movement will be an orbit which means they all will move back to me as they make their own journeys around whatever it is we are all orbiting. 

So movement at the end of the day is something I guess we all need to continue to grow and be better people.  If we all just stayed in our comfortable place maybe it wouldn’t be as great as I was thinking it might be.  So let’s move.  One thing that will never move is my love for all of those people I consider my peeps.  That will remain no matter where I, or they move. 

Well I better get moving time for a day off adventure.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

The Daughter I never had

Wow where has the time gone?  It only seems like yesterday her and her mother were standing the kitchen, her in her school uniform, and her mother in full blown mother mode giving each other the exact same stare.  It was the first time I realized they were exactly alike.  I told them, and they both almost killed me! That, my dear friends, was twenty years ago or close to it at least.

I have always been told that there is a very special bond between a Father and a daughter.  I have been very blessed to watch this one for many years.  I watched as he fretted over her as she finished school and planned to move to Oxford.  I have watched each graduation and the pride on his face.  I watched as he walked her down the aisle the night he decided to share her but never give her away.  I am watching  as she is bringing up two wonderful dynamos she calls sons into this world and witness on occasion her being that special Mom her Mother was to all of her siblings.  I have watched as her father, always the doting Dad, making sure she had the best car, the best clothes, the best education, simply just the best of anything he could provide.  What a wonderful example of a father he was and still is to this day.

I have been so blessed to be able to cheat my way into this family.  And I have adopted all of the kids as the crazy uncle I guess.  I love them much more than any of them will ever know.  I will never forget her twenty first birthday.  I was so honored to cook for her and her friends as they welcomed themselves into the legal age to have a glass of wine.  And I have been so blessed to have shared many with her since.  Like her Mother she has great taste, bless her husband’s heart! 

Well today that little girl turns thirty and that doesn’t seem possible.  What a young lady, wife, partner, mother, nurse, and general all-round great person she is.  There is no question if I ever had a daughter I would want her to be exactly like Mac, or Sis as she is known to her loving Mother.  Can’t think of two women I love more than these two.  I thank the good lord every day I share a live with these beautiful people.

Love you Mac.  Thank you for always including this hanger on in your life.  I couldn’t be prouder unless I  was you Father and we both know I could never fill those shoes. 

Peace,

The Blessed Man