The Image Maker

First and foremost, I hope that everyone is safe and healthy! I'm very grateful that my family is doing well and all together under one roof.
At the beginning of March, my fam was on an all time high!  We'd been receiving a lot of great news and big wins!  Kelsie had done a fantastic job in her school's production of "Mulan" the musical, Nicky was offered a summer research position at Duke University, and Lyndzi was accepted into all 5 of the schools that she applied to, was awarded scholarships for full tuition and fees at California College of the Arts and won a $2000 leadership scholarship from our school district.  Luis had been excelling at his job! He was top in sales for his region and was being monetarily rewarded (FINALLY!)  Then Nicky came home for his spring break and life as the U.S. knew it, started to change.  We first started feeling the effects when The UA extended Spring Break for a few days. Then they announced that classes would temporarily be online only. It seems like it was just a minute later, that they announced that classes would be online only for the rest of the semester and that anyone that was living on campus, should move out if they had a place to go. Resident Assistants were given the option to return and they were advised that it would not be held against them for next year, if they decided not to come back; but Nicky felt that he had an obligation to fulfill and he returned to school. After a week and a half they started consolidating the dorms and Nicky's community manager told him that he had more than completed his commitment; so we picked him up on Saturday and he'll finish the semester at home.
Despite all of the changes, quarantines, cancellations and lack of toilet paper, I've tried to remain optimistic and provide encouragement and comfort to others. It crossed my mind that writing my blog might be a good way to do this, but I wasn't ready to get started.  Then I saw a Facebook post from our friends at the Sun City Thrift shop, asking for good vibes and positive thoughts. They're so used to helping the community and interacting with people, that closing down was really bumming them out and I wanted to give them what they needed and show them how much I appreciate all that they do.  I've been creating a lot images with photos and fonts for our DJ gigs, thank you and birthday messages, so I made an image "Sending Good Vibes & Positive Thoughts" and left it as a comment for them.  I designed a slightly different version of this image for my amazing friend Rachel, because

I thought she needed a little lift and as I care so much about (say it with me) "The greater good", I decided  to share it on Instagram because I thought that others might like to see it too. I wrote "For everyone who needs it...xo" and I added some hashtags. Now I am absolutely not the Queen of Instagram, in any way shape or form. In fact, even after being on it for a few years I still barely know how to use it. My posts typically receive 5-30 "likes"; but yet I persist, because I want to share my positivity, especially during these unprecedented and uncertain times.
I found it cathartic to look for photos and produce messages so I continued.

For my second Instagram post I wanted to find a beautiful picture of nature. A breathtaking photo that transported you outdoors, where you were able to revel in the beauty and take the most cleansing breaths imaginable. I shared "Just Breathe" and wrote "Sometimes this is all we can do... Sending positive vibes, love and prayers for all who need it. xo" and added some hashtags.
The next day I heard from some more friends who were feeling anxious and down, so I posted "Believe" with the  message "For those who need a little uplifting today..." and, you guessed it, added some hashtags.

I felt like I was on the right track, even though my messages weren't reaching the masses and I felt like I wanted to dig a little deeper with my next post. I looked for a photo of a lotus blossom and shared " Because You Can."

I wrote " Even when its roots are in the dirtiest waters, the lotus produces the most beautiful flowers." I added some hashtags (of
course), and actually got an encouraging comment from someone
that I don't know; so I kept going.

A few days later, I decided to look for a photo that would connect
me with my other senses. I shared "Stress Relief" and wrote "I love
the scent of Orange Blossoms. Their intoxicating fragrance makes me smile and thoroughly relaxes me. While we're all at our homes

I  hope that you can find a scent that will uplift your spirits when you need it."  Still hoping to connect with more people, I added some hashtags.

Next came "Strength."  I wrote "I think it's delightful that the delicate Gladiolus is a symbol of strength and overcoming difficulties in life.
I'm sharing this image today as both Lyndzi and Nicky received some disappointing news this afternoon and I just felt terrible for both of them. I know that there is nothing that I can do to change either situation as both cancellations that effect them are COVID-19 related; so I looked for some beautiful images of strength to lift my spirits. If you need it, I hope this image encourages you too. xo" and some hashtags.

Now, just as the beginning of March brought the Ramos' an abundance of good news, the end of March kept beating us down.  Thus, I shared "Perspective"  and wrote "My mood today is not the best. I felt angry, frustrated and annoyed (not quarantine related.) I thought getting creative might make me feel better, and when I considered what type of image went along with these emotions, I immediately thought 'I'm seeing red!!' So follow my thought process here...I went from looking for a photo that had a red overlay, to an image of a red eye, and then I realized, I should look for red images that would make me feel happy. I started looking at flowers and I felt more relaxed. My mood lightened. Ultimately the image that I liked best was this Red Dhalia. When I researched further, I found that the Dhalia symbolizes elegance, inner strength, creativity, dignity and change. This convinced me that i'd found the right red image to change my mood. It's all about PERSPECTIVE! 
These days more than ever, I hope that you are able to be flexible with your perspective . Find ways to soothe yourself and keep your outlook positive. I hope this helps..." and some hashtags that only garnered 17 "likes"

As I was writing my post to accompany "Perspective", I knew that the place that I really should be sharing it was here on "The Bumpy Ride."  And while this introductory or catch up blog is much longer than those you may see in the future; I think the time and the cause have finally driven me back to where my insights might do the most good.  With that being said, the next image that i'll be sharing on Instagram, is "New Beginnings" (the first one featured in this post), but I'll be directing my traffic to "The Bumpy Ride" for the thoughts behind the images.  I hope you'll be joining me.

Till next time...
Paige

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I'd say, SURPRISE, but I probably don't have to.
I hope this post finds you all well and looking forward to what 2020 will bring.  I'm excited for this new decade, but a bit overwhelmed by where I find myself...  Nicky will be heading back to the University of Arizona on Jan.10 to have a mini RA training before the residents arrive on Jan.13th. He'll be starting the 2nd semester of his Junior year as an electrical and computer engineering major and will continue applying for summer internship opportunities and DJing his weekly radio show. Lyndzi just turned 18 a few weeks ago,and is finishing up her last college application as she prepares for the second semester of her senior year in High school. She's juggling being the Varsity Soccer goalie and one of the captains, along with finishing additional works for her portfolio, volunteering at the Sun City Thrift Shop, and mastering her classes. Kelsie turned Sweet 16 a week before Lyndzi turned 18. She is prepping for her upcoming role in "Mulan"at Peoria High School, as well as playing Varsity soccer, volunteering and taking honors classes.  I'm just dumbfounded at how quickly the years have passed, in addition to how long it's been since I actually pursued my own dream of becoming a writer. As a mom and wife, I prioritized everyone else's needs and goals before mine. I was a cheerleader, a chauffeur, a consultant, a collaborator, a DJ, an emcee, an event coordinator, and a fundraiser; and though I loved (almost) every minute of it; my dream took a backseat. PLEASE don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely NOT complaining, I'm just making an observation; because, ya know - THAT'S what I do.

Being a mom is the most satisfying, gratifying, and exciting experience that I've ever had and If I think about how old my kids were and what they were doing when I first started writing "The Bumpy Ride" and where we are now, it feels like it's all transpired in the blink of an eye. I wouldn't change a minute of the time I've spent helping them become who they are but I'm hoping that in this New Year, I will encourage (OK, push) myself the same way I do my kids.

As I sat home relaxing  today (something that I'm not really good at), I thought to myself that it would be a great day to take a stab at resurrecting my blog. I didn't really have anything witty or profound to share, so I re-read a few of my old posts. I wasn't surprised to find that I had mentioned my desire to get back to the gym, several times, and yes, that 100 plus pounds is still yearning to be lost; but just as I took a chance and tried to compose this post, I'm going to make my best effort to get back to the gym. For extra inspiration, I perused some quotes about getting started and because I'm all about the greater good, i'll share some of my favorites with you, just in case you need a lil New Year's encouragement as well.

So, with these words of wisdom in hand, I welcome 2020 and all that it will bring. We have a lot of wonderful things to look forward to and I plan to enjoy them as my best me.  I wish the same for you as well.

Till next time...
Paige

(43-280) Winning The Battle

When I tell people who already know me, that I'm shy; they seem to have a difficult time believing it.  I know that's because once they know me, I'm very friendly and extremely talkative; BUT, if you personally know me, and you think back to how you met me, you'll probably realize that you met me through a friend, or in a class, or work, or for some reason you started talking to me first.  But (unless your Michelle M,) I don't think you'll recall me making the first move towards being friends.

I've told you many times that I am a very blessed woman and that I probably have more close friends than most.  The truth is that I'm very good at making friends, but I am prone to being shy and reserved AT FIRST.  This seems to be a contradiction in terms; I know.  I often refer to myself as the introverted extrovert or the extroverted introvert, take your pick. Either way, I'm a conundrum.  Despite my shyness, over time I've managed to run for a variety of school offices and win.  I've even mentioned previously, that during my senior year of college I was the President of the Student body.  I gave a welcome speech to the Freshman class, I MC'd shows, I conducted weekly student government meetings, I addressed the Board of trustees, our Provost, Chancellor and University President, and I managed to do it with great aptitude; or so I was told.  And yet; certain social situations still cause me to be shy and fearful.

When I wrote "Back In The Day," I told you that lately I've been spending a lot of time looking at old high school yearbooks and that I'd been to various school district offices and high schools; with several more to go. What I didn't tell you was that doing so, causes me GREAT anxiety. Don't ask me why, but it takes every ounce of courage that I have to find and follow directions to these schools that I've never been to before and then to make my way to their library, media center or Information Technology Center (which by the way I had never heard of before today;) but, I'm doing it. In the past two weeks I've gone to seven high schools and four of them were just today. Although today's schools were all in the same district, they were in an area that I was completely unfamiliar with; and yet, I managed to get it all done.
Each time I completed a school I was proud that I hadn't let my fear get the better of me.  I was able to face situations that I found uncomfortable and do what needed to be done, as I've done so many times before; and yet I know that it will continue to be a battle.  A battle that slowly but surely I'm winning.

I can't help but think that I must really be confusing you.  I mean I'm sure that you're wondering how a woman who claims to be so shy can share her innermost thoughts with the world.  I tell you about my hopes and dreams, fears and failures, and yet that's not scary to me.  Conundrum, I KNOW.  Maybe the reason that I do share so freely is because I want to teach my kids (and remind you) that as cliche as it sounds, you can't judge a book by it's cover; and most often times for better or worse, there is so much more to people than meets the eye.  No one is perfect.  We are all flawed; but we all need to be who we are.  And maybe by truly recognizing this, we can all be more accepting of ourselves and more tolerant of each others imperfections .
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-276) Food Tidings

There are numerous reasons that I consider myself to be a profoundly, blessed woman; and amongst them, I include each and every one of my phenomenal friends.  Since my parents passed away when I was a teen and I had little to no interaction with my extended family; my friends have always been extraordinarily important to me, and I cherish them all.

Although I've mentioned several of my friends in previous posts, you know that there are certain local friends of mine that you hear about more often than others; and one of them, is my amazing friend, Mari.   I've dedicated a number of blogs to extolling Mari's virtues and raving about her talents and trust me when I tell you that I've only addressed the tip of the iceberg.

I last mentioned Mari when I wrote "Oh Scrappy Day!!!" I explained that Mari couldn't join us at the scrapbook convention because her 18 year old daughter had to have surgery just two days prior and she was still in the hospital.  I wrote that post on April 16, and sadly, Mari's daughter has yet to leave the hospital.  Incredible mom that she is, Mari has barely left her side; but she does still have a husband and three other children at home.  I have extended myself to Mari and her family, as I would do anything to try and make things easier for them at this time; but to date Mari has asked for nothing other than her friend's prayers.

I've felt useless.  I've wanted to find a way to help and thanks to Mari's friend Cheryl, I now know how to.  A few days ago I received an email from Cheryl (who I don't know,) and it was an invitation to sign up on Food Tidings so that we could provide meals to Mari's family in her absence.  Foodtidings.com is "a place to manage meals for your family & friends in need!"  It was "designed to help eliminate some of the time and confusion in coordinating a meal schedule;"  and I was so happy to receive an invitation to assist Mari, and her family; until I experienced the discombobulation that I referenced in "ROYALLY Messed Up..."

I was so eager to participate, that I signed up for the first available date, which happened to be the third date on the list.  I knew that my schedule for the next two weeks was going to be a lil busier than usual but I really thought that I would be able to provide dinner on Tuesday 5/3, so I signed up to bring roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and a vegetable.  A while later when I went to write this down on my refrigerator calendar, I was dismayed to discover that bringing a dinner on Tuesday would be an impossibility for me, because both Nicky and Lyndzi are scheduled for Orthodontist appointments at 330 and Lyndzi and Kelsie both have a school concert at 6.  I was very embarrassed about my error and I mustered up the courage to email Cheryl to see if she could switch days with me so that I could bring a meal on Monday (when she was scheduled to.)  Cheryl was very nice when she emailed me back, but she said that she was confused because the family had not requested a meal for Monday since they were going out to eat for Mari's other daughter's birthday.  I apologized profusely for my mistake and for coming off unbelievably flaky; and I told her that I would just schedule a different day.  Sure enough, when I checked the sign-up sheet again, I found that even though Cheryl had signed up for the first date, it wasn't May 2, it was April 28th.  AGHHH!  I'm not comfortable with being so inattentive.  And yes, I know that I'm trying to do a good thing and I didn't make a mistake on purpose, and I should cut my self some slack; but this is me we're talking about, and I just don't do that.  Anyway, I removed my May 3rd menu and selected another day, on which I'll bring Baked ziti with ground beef, salad and bread. 

In the big scheme of things, my little goof up isn't worth a second thought compared to what Mari and her family are going through.  I have such admiration for their strength, courage and love; and it will be my pleasure to bring them meals and lend my support any way that I can.

Although many of you only know Mari through my blog; I'm going to ask that you all say a prayer for her and her family, as there is great strength in numbers.  As always, in the interest of (say it with me,) "The Greater Good," I encourage you to visit Foodtidings.com if you know someone who is in need of the comfort of a meal.
Till next time..
Queen of EVERYTHING  

(43-136) And I Quote...

This past Thanksgiving, I wanted to post something in my Facebook status, that was a little more profound than a mere "Happy Thanksgiving;" so I looked for a quote that I could share and chose the following, by John Fitzgerald Kennedy; "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." I was very happy with the response to this quote; so the next time that I considered updating my status, I decided to look for a quote; rather than just state what I was thinking about or had done that day. I wanted to share ideas and thoughts that meant something to me, and might inspire others; because after all, I'm always looking out for (say it with me,) "The GREATER GOOD." I didn't have a particular quote in mind when I got started. I just Googled happiness, or strength or change; or whatever I was thinking about at the moment; and then chose a quote that I felt adequately represented what I was thinking and what I believed.

My next quote was by Helen Keller and it really spoke to me; so I shared "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." At the same time, I also found a quote by Ms. Keller that I haven't posted yet; but I haven't been able to get off my mind. "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." I thought of this quote several times today in particular, because I was worrying about a number of things having to do with Nicky. I actually told myself (in my mind, not out loud;) that by worrying I was wasting time looking at a closed door; and I could be missing out on something wonderful. And this philosophy allowed me to relax and have faith."He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."

I'll tell you honestly that I don't know who Epictetus is; and of course I could look it up and find out; but for the sake of this post, it's not quite necessary at the moment; because whoever he was; I adored his quote

I quoted Henrik Ibsen ‎"A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed." And an unexpected source (at least at the time; to me," Reba McEntire. "To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone." Well at least according to Reba; I'll be a success.
I took a bold leap and quoted Confucius, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do." Only to have my friend Thom comment ‎"He who goes through turnstile sideways, is going to Bangkok." And what does one say to that? I replied only; "Oy Thom! LOL! xoxo"

I quoted Mahatma Gandhi, ‎‎"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." Only to receive the following comment "Happiness is when I look in my wallet and there is still money in there."---Thom the Brilliant Now although Thom is absolutely right; I don't think that he and Mahatma Gandhi were referring to the SAME type of happiness. I responded to Thom by writing "I've got one word for you Thom the brilliant and it ain't accolade. LOL" I said this, because one time in college, I used the word accolade when speaking to Thom and he has reminded me of it, EVERY chance he has gotten. He wrote back "but I'll bet it starts with an A!" Which in my opinion, WAS a brilliant statement. It wasn't the letter that I'd been thinking; because all I was going to say was "OY!" But his response was just SO much better. Nonetheless, given the nature of my quote; I chose not to banter back and forth about his comment because in doing so I would totally contradict the quote.

So last night I began looking at quotes again. I wanted to find something about the importance of being yourself and loving who you are. I never wound up posting anything; but if I had, it would have been this beauty by Dr. Seuss. "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You." And I mean that in the VERY best way!!
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-116) My Girl's Got COURAGE

We've been having a sensational soccer season.  At the risk of jinxing us; I'll tell you that all three of my kid's teams are undefeated thus far.  Lyndzi and Kelsie have each had one tie in addition to their victories; and Nicky's team has won every game.  Although all three kids have very different skill levels, each of the games have been nothing short of fantastic.

Today Lyndzi's coach wasn't at the game, because he went backpacking; so a couple of Dad's filled in coaching The T-N-T for him.  The coach had provided the Dad's with a lineup; that included Lyndzi playing forward or defender in the first half; and goalie (her preferred position,) in the second half.  We were playing a team that we've beaten before; but two seasons ago, this team was the team to beat; and our kids remember that.

The first half was a little tougher for us than usual, and by the time half time arrived we were losing one to two.  Lyndzi told me that she was a little nervous to play goalie, since the other team was playing so hard; and they were losing for the first time this season.   Lyndzi felt that if they lost, it would be her fault; so she wasn't sure that she wanted to take that chance.  The Dad's called the team together for a pep talk.  They asked Lyndzi if she was ready to be goalie; and I heard her tell them that she was a little nervous.  I "thought" that they were looking for a replacement; but the next thing I knew, my girl was putting her goalie jersey on.  I went over to the meeting and gave Lyndzi a BIG hug, and told her how very proud of her I was, for being afraid and trying anyway. 

As she took to the field, the Dad's were talking her up, telling her what a great goalie she was; and that she had nothing to fear.  They said that as long as she had a good time playing, everything would be OK.

T-N-T was back in true form by the second half and they scored early, scored again, and again and again.  The opposing team scored one goal on Lyndzi and one goal only; although they attempted four.  The game ended with T-N-T winning five to three.

EVERYONE was so proud of Lyndzi and told her what a terrific job she did; and just as we were about to walk away, one of the Dad's said "Lyndzi, how many goals did they score on you?"  And Lyndzi quietly said "one."  He then repeated his question, and with a bit more confidence and a big smile; Lyndzi answered "ONE."  He then went on to tell Lyndzi; "They scored one; and you were right where you were supposed to be.  You went for it, and it slipped; but it was a lucky goal; not one that had anything to do with your error."  He then said, "Lyndzi, win or lose; as long as you give it your all and have fun, that's all that any of us care about."  He told her that she did a great job; and I thanked him very much for talking to her.

John Wayne said " Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway;" and today Lyndzi did just that.  I think that she was very brave to face her fear; and I'm so glad that she was successful despite it.

You all know that my kids make me proud on a daily basis; but today is different.  Today I am proud FOR Lyndzi because she made her own difficult decision and showed everyone her strength of character and ability. ANYONE can agree to play goalie when they have a big lead or are playing a weaker team; but to know that you might lose and give it your all anyway; now THAT is courageous.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING