My family came to the USA in 1631 - we feel very fortunate to be here, indeed...

I hope you enjoy your visit to Sixty-Five-Alive. I hope each that reads this 'blog' is healthy; happy, and as proud of their country, as I am of mine.

I wanted to leave the link to one of my favorite books; I feel so lucky, it's 'on-line' - and that I found it 45 years ago because I believe it made a great difference in how I saw life, and how I've lived it.

Thank you for coming by. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5484/Gibran.htm

This link is to my 'family' and some dear friends - a bit of my life....http://www.photoshow.com/watch/ts5nh4Ae

An artist's gift to me; his sugar bowl - before & after I polished it a bit....

In memory of my dear friend, Richard Volpe - he passed 12/19/1985....it was in the spring, when I first met him.....

If it hadn't been for a wonderful
66-year old man who lives in Delaware, I don't think it would have occurred to
me to now and again, put up a memory about someone that was special to me, and
no longer lives on this earth.

I felt the blog was finished with
the great picture of my children (a few entries below this one). Then my
son Thomas called; he sparked another memory of someone in our family who lived
over 150 years ago - someone that most of the world knows
about.

Well in Laguna Beach, California
most people know about Richard - his art-works were some of the best, and so
many flocked to get his latest pieces.

I met Richard at a coffee shop in
San Juan Capistrano; by accident - and was ever so grateful for that
spring day when I'd decided to visit the mission there. I had my rented
books on Father Serra, and while I later saw the sketch of Father Serra and
realized he didn't look like Richard, my first glance at Richard made me think
how much like a 'priest' he appeared ... slight of build - tanned, and soulful
eyes that looked so wise.

Over the next 9 months before he died, we spent days and evenings together - his wisdom was profound.

While having tea at his home near
the end of his life, he offered me a few of his paintings. While I knew I
wanted the one of his giraffe that hung by his entry-way, I also knew that his
only source of paying his high cost of medical bills, was going to be the
inventory of art that would be sold to pay that debt.

I told Richard we had to be
practical - we talked about his financial situation - suddenly, he got up from
the davenport, and walked to the sugar-bowl; he dumped the sugar into a glass,
and handed me the old bowl. He told me of his memories about the bowl -
said '...this won't be worth anything - take this,
then.'

As I sat by the fireplace, I rocked in Richard's beautiful rocker; a log was my foot-rest; Richard said he'd found that because he was so short, his feet never touched the floor when he rocked, and he needed something to 'push away' with.

How I wish Richard were still here; he was born the same year as my mother. If Richard were rocking and talking in that chair, I could fill a blog about his life - I could type for him; I could put some of his words of wisdom up on his behalf.

So, this blog might have new entries after all.....

Then as I was thinking of Richard
- putting up this photo of the sugar-bowl he gave me, an e-mail came in, and I
saw a series of photos of 'new life' - in Ten Watt!

I thought about Sandy - this is
her latest foal; she lost one of her precious horses to death in January of
2008. I thought about her words that she wrote in her 'story' titled 'She
Carried Me'.....

I thought about all that Sandy is
- an extra-ordinary artist; she manages a large office complex, and handles the
rigors of a large horse farm - tireless at her age, and
ever-caring.

Now we have 'new life' - we have
spring; all of us have had losses; hurts, and yet many
joys.

I think it's time to now introduce
this delightful foal - and for you to make a visit to Sandy's web-site to see
more of the glory of life and some of her memories as
well. After you take a peek at Ten Watt (below), visit the web-site; see where she romps with so many other beautiful horses....http://rollingsranch.com

Is this not the most beautiful? Sandy's newest foal - TEN-WATT!!

I'll make this entry short - you need to visit Sandy's website; her art is incredible - her horses are beautiful, and this marvelous woman is just the dearest person to me.....visit her web-site @ http://rollingsranch.com

I must confess something: I lived in Cincinnati for
7 years; I always thought of 'horses' being from Kentucky....but I
learned. In fact, I live in the state of Nevada where wild horses are
abundant - and run free...

Well, I've learned - and yet I
still enjoy the beautiful art of one man - who did live and paint, in that area of Kentucky & Ohio. Learning is wonderful, don't you think?

If you like soft; gentle art
pieces - the kind that 'speak to you' quietly, try
this link: http://www.frankfortblueprint.com/paul.html

"Over-soul" is understood as the collective indivisible Soul, of which all individual souls or identities are included...

In the words of Emerson: "We live in succession, in division, in parts, in particles. Meantime within man is the soul of the whole; the wise silence; the universal beauty, to which every part and particle is equally related, the eternal ONE. And this deep power in which we exist and whose beatitude is all accessible to us, is not only self-sufficing and perfect in every hour, but the act of seeing and the thing seen, the seer and the spectacle, the subject and the object, are one. We see the world piece by piece, as the sun, the moon, the animal, the tree; but the whole, of which these are shining parts, is the soul."

SIXTY-FIVE-ALIVE...a bit of my 'family tree' & other beautiful things...

One of my very favorite blogs - so much about 'everything'! Try it out - I think you'll make it one of your favorites too! http://tippinthescales.wordpress.com/

"Well, Reese - neither did you get my handsome nose..."

...and I beg to differ with you about those ears of yours...."

I was going through some of the Emerson letters - RWE was my great grandmother's uncle...

I thought 'no more posts' on this 'blog', until my son called me today, and told me all about enjoying SELF RELIANT by Ralph Waldo Emerson. He said: "Hey, mom - I said to myself...I'm related to this guy..."

Yes, that's true; we're fortunate to have a few of Emerson's letters - a few books, and photos that we all cherish.

My son, Thomas, reminded me that Emerson was the first
American author that really addressed all aspects of human life; life itself,
and his writings are held in high regard by many to this day.

Well, I figured I should 'bone up' on that book since I'd read portions of it years ago. To my delight, I found it right here - thanks to the I-net...what a joy!

You can check this out too: http://www.emersoncentral.com/selfreliance.htm

Having met Thomas Carylyle in his travels, Emerson began to explore the philosophical standpoint of Idealism, in which the natural world is one and the same as the mental world. Whether "Orion is up there in heaven, or some god paints the image in the firmament of the soul" does not affect the truth of nature. The mind arises from the same divine source as the natural world so religious opposition to science would be fallacious.

Note: What a nice surprise in the comment - wish the person would have not posted anonymously - might have found a 'shirt-tale' relative....

Anonymous said...
Emerson was a wise sage. Interestingly enough, although related through our mother's side, this writing has the insight that our father understood. The depth and vision....thanks be to the SOUL!
April 22, 2008 4:26 AM

Okay, so no mother who's '65-alive', can complete a blog, without bragging about her kids!

I promise, I won't do one of those 'brag endessly about the kids' entry; just look - this is what makes me so very much 'sixty-five-alive'...and what a wonderful bunch of children I have I think! ....now this blog is complete...

Sixty-Five-Alive wouldn't be a completed 'blog', if this wasn't placed here to honor my husband!

My husband served 20 years in the Marines - he did 2 tours of duty in Viet Nam. This is my husband; flying his plane - his 'buddies' gave it to him when he retired.

Among the many medals my husband
received, I think he might be most proud of the Distinguished Flying Cross
Award.

Let me write part of the words used in the newspaper article that features his photo as he receives his award - standing tall; saluting.....

Stevens was credited with saving
the lives of a helicopter crew on July 10, 1966, when its aircraft was downed
and under heavy Viet Cong fire.

Landing his helicopter in the
midst of the fire-swept area, Stevens maintained his position under heavy fire
until all members of the crew were safely aboard the
air-craft.

Despite being low on fuel after
the rescue, he volunteered for a medical evacuation
mission.

His citation read (in part):
Captain Stevens - superior aeronautical skill, initiative, and concern for the
welfare of his fellow Marines....

Proud to be an American indeed - just proud to be a brave and caring person - in any country, this man would have done the same thing for his comrades.

Fort Custer where my father trained for WWII

I was pretty little when I remember my father dressed in his Army uniform. Mom and I would travel to Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas to visit dad when he came home on leave.

A dear friend of mine sent me the greatest link today - it has pictures of
penny post-cards that my parents and grandparents used to send all those years
ago.

Each state has a few shown; all are listed by
county. Maybe you'd like to look up a 'memory' from this
list.

Here's the link: http://www.usgwarchives.org/special/ppcs/ppcs.html

SIXTY-FIVE-ALIVE - I AM, AND I AM - AND I AM LOVING THIS 'BLESSING' PAINTING BY ROBIN

No need to say 'anything' - the magic of Robin's art speaks for itself!

Robin Urton - http://eyeconart.net

SIXTY-FIVE-ALIVE..I AM, AND I AM!

THIGS-BEAR LOVES THIS ROCK - NOW WE'RE OFF TO FIND IT AGAIN!

When I took this photo, we were scouting all over Arizona - darn, I doubt I'll ever find this again, but THIGS-BEAR wants me to try. I guess we'll add that to our vacation plans for the Grand Canyon - April is full of fun; as is May.

It's great when you
retire, and take care of your health so you
can truly enjoy those 'twilight
years'.

I think this rock looks
like a bear, and so does THIGS...

We spend a lot of time at the Grand
Canyon - about 3 hours from where we live. If you're thinking about a trip, use
this link as I've always done - it gives me the updated 'rules and regulations'
... helps you plan your trip safely if you've never been to the Canyon
before....

http://www.bobspixels.com/kaibab.org/planning.htm

We'll also be shooting photos on Saturday, April 26, 2008 right here! The map above my photo of the 'bear rock' (as I call it), shows where you can find thousands of beautiful rock formations, and the Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona.

You can see about 94,ooo photos - it's going to be hard for us to find one that's an 'original' - enjoy! http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&ie=UTF-8&q=ANTELOPE+CANYON&um=1

SIXTY-FIVE - ALIVE, AND LOVING WHERE WE LIVE. SMALL TOWN - EXCEPT FOR THE THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS....

Loving this 'blog' stuff - great way to take some of those favorite book-marks, and 'share' with others. My newest blog is a 'challenge' - I like challenges. I'll add to that one when I get time - too much 'blogging' takes me away from getting outside; traveling, and doing other things that don't involve sitting at a computer.

Another challenge? Trying to
cram as many photos as I can into one 'place'. This is me, my husband -
and my son; his wife - 2 of my many grand-children...squint,
please...

Another challenge - each TUESDAY
AFTERNOON - not really a 'challenge', I guess when I decided to feature a few of
Robin Urton's beautiful art pieces. It's definitely not hard
to:

http://makeitprettyplease.blogspot.com.

I'm reading how other people enjoy their retirement - here's a lady who's having fun:

http://retiredandlovingit-kaywag.blogspot.com/

"There's A Place For Us" - not the song from West-Side Story, but a site all ready for us 'older folk':

http://notoverthehill.com.

In fact, I'm heading 'over the hill' to read some of the 'bloggers' now.....

Oh yes - and I found another interesting link - it tells me about any incident (such as a fire in our state; any type of 'threat' that is helpful, at this link. You can enter your state; your location - and get the same information about your immediate area. Pretty nifty - makes me feel even better when I wonder about things such as the fire we missed by about 24 hours, in the Grand Canyon this past week.

http://www.inciweb.org/state/29/

Where I'm spending my time, now that this 'blog' is almost complete...

Today it seemed right to add this entry as I complete my 'blog', by putting the picture of my dad and mom right here!

I'm working on a 'mama memory' web-site that will let all of us kids write our memories about mother; dad, and other family member we love. Dad left us in May of 1993 - Mom overcame her recent bout of cancer, and is 'going strong'.

I hope you'll visit me - and more members of my family at: http://theycallherbreezy.blogspot.com.

Please see the rest of my family at the photo-show link I've listed on this page.

As you visit here, you'll find music; art, poetry - friends of mine that are extremely talented, and living life to the fullest.

I've enjoyed 65 terrific years - I wish the same, and more to anyone who comes by to say hello.

I've started another blog that I like a lot - it's focused on family & children - crafts and ways to enjoy your time with each other, and not spend way too much money doing it! http://allhappytalk.blogspot.com

The links I've left here, are the
ones I use to guide me through my daily life - health; inspiration, and keeping
current with what's happening in the world we all share.

Thank you for stopping
by.....