Favorite Son

Today would have been Tommy's 33rd birthday. I'm thinking about how he would call the office, ask for me and when asked who was calling would say, "Her favorite son."

Dreaming of Tommy

I woke up early this morning, about 3:50 a.m. I had dreamed that I was in a large furniture superstore with the family and although I can only remember specifically seeing David and Travis, I sense that Warren, Steve, Connie and possibly Gavin & Gabriel were there too. It was very crowded, similar to a warehouse and had multiple floors of items accessible by elevators that more resembled cages and really wide moving escalators that looked more like conveyor belts. We looked at a desk and chair then a saleswoman took Travis by the hand and started to lead us to another area. She and Travis went towards one conveyor belt that was going downstairs and everyone else, I vaguely remember seeing Steven's head over the crowd, went the opposite way towards another downward belt. I stood and looked both ways and then hurried towards Travis and the saleswoman, telling her that Travis needed to be where his parents were at all times. When we got downstairs there were a lot of people and it was noisy. I looked around to find everyone and David walked by me. I called his name, but he didn't see or hear me and kept walking. I turned when I heard what I think was Steven's voice say, "Look who's here!" and I saw Tommy walking towards me. He was tall and slender and I could see his face above the crowd as he worked his way towards me. His hair was cut like it was at Todd and Casey's wedding, his eyes clear and bright and he had a broad, open smile on his face. I moved towards him and we "melted" together and sat down. The right side of my face was against his right chest and shoulder and I closed my eyes. I heard his voice say, "I know I moved," as I rested against him. I felt comforted and, for a moment, at peace.

Stop Counting Sheep

When at night you cannot sleep, talk to the shepherd and stop counting sheep.

He Lives

One of my favorite hymms ~

I serve a risen Saviour,
He's in the world today;
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him
He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
He lives within my heart.

Poppy Campbell

My grandfather's name was Dougald Alexander Campbell and he was born March 19, 1908 in Detroit, Michigan to Alexander D. Campbell and Therressa May Flora. Raised in Detroit and the youngest of seven children, he married my grandmother, Florence Pascarella, on November 9, 1929. He served as a Detroit Police Officer from January 1931 until March 1956, moved to California and then worked as a Security Officer for McDonnell-Douglas in Huntington Beach from December 1956 until 1970. I can remember running through their house, trying to find a place to hide if I was there and Poppy was due home from work. My favorite spot was the bottom shelf of the linen closet, towels piled in front of me, holding my breath and trying not to laugh or squeal as he walked around the house calling out, "Where's Susie? I thought she was here", always knowing exactly where I was. I was five years old when Gramma and Poppy gave me my first Bible in 1963 and Poppy always made sure I had a quarter for the offering plate on Sunday when I went to church with them. After church we would go home and play checkers out in the den, under the window on the bench seat. He passed away February 18, 1970 at the age of sixty-one and is buried at Westminster Memorial Park.

Waste Not, Want Not

Sometimes I wonder how we became such a "throw away" society. I remember my Gramma Paris saving leftover thread from sewing machine bobbins that were almost empty. She figured that she could use the shorter lenghts for sewing buttons on shirts or dresses. We had "button boxes" for saving buttons that had popped off, we repaired and patched clothing, hand-me-down's were common, leftover food never got thrown away. Everything was saved and re-used. Gramma was raised during the depression when things weren't so "aplenty" and harder to come by. I still have my button box, I repair ripped seams, I still save spare change and still roll pennies.

Eating the Elephant

Remember this when tackling a big project or you feel overwhelmed -

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.