Cool...We're ALL Different...See?

Wait For 'He' That Calls You Beautiful Instead of Hot

Came across this beautiful quote this morning on FACEBOOK. It describes my relationship with Steve. Love you Sweetheart. One of my favorite authors, GREGG BRADEN had it posted.
Thanks Gregg Braden
This quote, author unknown, applies to both men and women.“Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep. Wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the ...world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you. The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”
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Photo of Steve and I a few years ago. .....it's so great for somone to see the real 'me', not my body, not what I do for a living, not my so-called mistakes or sucesses, not what I can do for them or income. Just plain Ol' ME.  Sigh...and I see the real HIM too...and it's all OK...Peace. Jan.

Ventalator Patients Helped By Music

Because, as a nurse I worked with several children on 'vents'. I observed this too. Music would relax a person's breathing. Music also, seemed to help south a person in pain and help children sleep. Cool. Interesting article from BBC News. Go HERE.
Photo by Wonderlane cc  

Adversity As Blessings...Let's Count Our Blessings....Shall We?

I was thinking about my life...what is it that I'm really thankful for? This may surprise you, but some of my greatest adversities have been my greatest teachers. I am so thankful for them all. I would not have missed them or any physical life, even though when going through them, I wasn't so sure. Here's a list of some of my most treasured learnings. I'll start with the most recent first. OK? 1. From WALTER's BIRTHDAY...I love that band that my hubby plays in. The guys are my true friends....and, I've known them for many years. I can trust that we can speak our truth without fear about being rejected. So, I learned acceptance...the understanding that everyone's different and allowed their truth. That's allowing or love. That it's not needed for everyone to think the same. Thank you WALTER's BIRTHDAY. I love you all very much.

2. From M.S.....that life is precious and worth it...even, if it's limited physically, or I'm misunderstood or isolated. I have learned to be by myself. To count on myself, to know who I am. That, I'm not the body or the personality or the programing of my brain...and neither are you. I'm a sovereign being and the hero in my world. I responsible for it all....my whole life. Thank you M.S. What a valued lesson.

3.From Close Family and Friends....I'm never going to be what you want and you will never be me either...AND, that's the way it's suppose to be.. Acceptance of our differences is the way to be. I'm now catching myself more and more when I'm being 'my old thinking'. You know, the beliefs we were taught as children...those, we accepted as totally as THE TRUTH. That this color of person was this, that sex of person was that, that age meant so-and-so. I am more open-minded now. It's getting easier and easier to pause and really decide if that idea is really so, or even helpful to my life now, or is just an very old opinion of my parents, family or society that is no longer useful. Please, forgive me if I forget sometimes.... I do examine my actions and beliefs, change and evolve. I take time daily to do just that. Thank you FRIENDS and FAMILY. God Bless you.

4. From my LIFE EXPERIENCES so far....mixed racial marriage, living outside the U.S.A., being homeless, getting a divorce, having a child die, loving someone dearly, who didn't  love me...and that being ok, being rejected by immediate family members, not being respected and/or not respecting others, learning where I end and you begin, choosing an unpopular spiritual view, have homosexial friends and close family members, being married more than once, living with a so-called incurable disease, having a parent die, having a close family member violently attacted and injured by respected authorities, having to stand up and speak out for what was the noble virtues of life all alone, being ignored when needing help, being old, being different physically, being poor, being wealthy. AND, There are even more.......'goody'. I bless them all, all my life experiences...Thank you Life. Jan
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Photo by unknown. cc. Thank you.
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Cool Quote:

When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton

Bob Dylan....'Isn't It About Time To Hang Up Your Harmonica?'

Well, I just got done reading..."Wall Street Jounal To Bob Dylan...Isn't It Time To Hang Up Your Harmonica?" by LA TIMES writer, Patrick Goldstein

Go HERE.  A very interesting read, by the way.

I [Jan] just have to put my two cents in....being the BIG Bob Dylan fan, that I am.

First, Mr. Goldstein brought up some very good  points, and when he said, "Dylan lives to confound his fans". Next: Jan's opinion...'yes he does AND he's suppose to sound like that...after all, he's Bob Dylan, ain't he? And, what's the matter with being 69 years old...anyway? Who says 'Being Old And Being Cool Don't Mix ?...Bob Dylan Will Always Be Cool. I agree with everything that Patrick Goldstein says too.' That is all... end of lecture. Thank you. Jan.
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Photo: Bob Dylan on the cover of a new box set featuring his first eight albums in their original monorual mixes. Credit: Sony / Legacy Recordings....from above link @ L.A. Times. Thank you. Jan
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BOB DYLAN 'Like A Rolling Stone' Video...Found on Youtube.
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The Drifters...I'M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS. 1954

Beauty and Old...Just Don't Mix? Says Who?

I just found a wonderful video about getting old, from OPRAH.COM. It's a video of a awesome, beautiful actress, LINDA EVANS and her discovery or realization that she was now over 65 and could get a discount for her movie tickets. Cool. Go HERE.
Photo from oprah.com above. Thanks.

Once Upon A Time...The Deaf Performing Arts Network And BARNEY

Once upon a time, before being diagnosed with M.S. [before 1999]. I was a full time nurse in a home care setting. I had never heard of THE DEAF PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK. Then, I was the primary nurse caring for for a 3 year old deaf child on a ventalator and trach in Olympia, WA.. Wish I had known about this then. XXXXX loved music. And, all those children, that I cared for over the years, seemed to love music, and they all became 'my' children after awhile. I still love them. 

I [Jan] have seen that children have a natural love of music and dancing AND XXXXX was no exception, he would love to 'dance' and 'sing' with his non-deaf twin sister. They both loved BARNEY...and would 'sing' and 'dance' along to the T.V. program, or with the BARNEY videos.... XXXXX  opening/closing his mouth copying his twin, no signing needed to express his joy. I watched both children jumping up and down...thrilled with the music! FUN. I just had to join in.
 It was hard to believe XXXXX couldn't hear..but, he'd been to CHILDREN's HOSPITAL in Seattle, his Mom and I had taken him. The doctors' and parents were sure. They also said that XXXXX would not walk as an adult because of a spinal birth defect. But,  for now we all 'danced' and 'sang'. with no hint of slowing down for him or for me.

Perhaps? I'd hope,..... the doctors can't know everything, could they?.....Especially, when Steve would come and bring his guitar. XXXXX sure looked like he was listening to 'jiggle my toes', and wanted to play the guitar too. Steve would help him hold hold the guitar and pretend. XXXXX would love Steve's attention and I remember HIS GREAT BIG SMILE. He'd be  over 15 now, a young man. Amazing how time flys.

We went to visit XXXXX after I had been diagnoised with M.S., I couldn't work anymore, XXXXX seemed very concerned with my difficulty walking, and he had a back brace on too...perhaps, he was remembering our fun jumping up and down, 'dancing' and 'singing' with BARNEY, or the times he had played the guitar with Steve?   I wonder....hummmm.

Even though time has marched on,.... XXXXX and I have not changed much, yes , I don't get out of the house anymore, but I still love you XXXXX, and in my head, I can now create BARNEY's music, whenever I want, and, dance or jump or sing or be with you  again..... AND,You're ALWAYS 3, ALWAYS smiling,.... and NEVER on a ventalator, you ALWAYS have perfect hearing. we know NOTHING about walkers or wheelchairs. AND,  We both sing and dance perfectly...... WOW!....Cool.
I remember, 'I love you , you love me...were one happy family'.   That's all. Jan

Photo by Fantaz cc

CHICO/HARPO Comedy Duet Video

THE PIANO...Beautiful Story/Music....Thanks Eric.

'Happy Birthday' To JACO PASTORIUS...One Of Our Heros

I found a great post about Bass Guitar Genus JACO PASTORIUS today on THEBLUESBLOGGER. Jaco was one of our heros. He would have been 59 today and lived with Bi-Polar Mental Illness the last years of his life. That's what got him killed at age 35. Very interesting life Jaco had, such awesome musical talent, murdered because of his odd behavier.
I'm [Jan] so thankful that today, society is more open-minded and understands better that mental illness is caused by a disease or injury to the brain, and is not a sign of a moral or character flaw of the frightened person that's acking 'oddly'. We're not  'goons'. There are now medications that let the mentally ill live normal lives. Go here for THEBLUESBLOGGER.
Photo from THEBLUESBLOGGER, link above.