Miss Ann Says

Tag: little things

• “Happy” Mother’s Day

  Posted at 12:56 pm by missannsays, on May 10, 2013

  This past week the “ads” for Mother’s Day have been relentless. Every time I heard or saw an ad for teddy bears, flowers and jewelry, I thought of the women who this Mother’s Day will be hard. I thought of my cousins who are experiencing the first Mother’s Day without their mom. I thought of my friends who have lost their mothers this past year. I thought of the mommies of the children killed in Newtown and Boston. I thought of the moms of those who have died while serving our country. I thought of the young women trying to have children and it isn’t “happening.” I thought of the moms of children with serious illnesses. I thought of the children with moms with serious illnesses. And then I said a prayer. A prayer that they would find peace. A prayer that they could remember the hugs and love without too much pain. A prayer that they would know that there is a Heavenly Father that loves them, their children and their moms.

  Yesterday I had a lovely day out with friends. We are women who became friends because of our September 11 connection. One of my friends lost her only child on September 11. Another lost her youngest son on September 11. Still another lost her mom very recently. I was struck by it isn’t as simple as “making it through the first Mother’s Day since…” Mother’s Day will always be hard. So I pray that the good memories will outweigh the bad. That the loss will not overwhelm them. That there is someone around them to give a hug, a smile or an ear to listen. I pray that I can be that person to those I know.

  I am blessed and stressed that both my mum and mother-in-law are still alive. It is a challenge walking through these days but I wouldn’t trade it. Happy Mother’s Day to Mum Clark and Mom Van Hine. I love you 🙂

  Since I have aways worked with children, my daughters were accustom to “sharing me” whether it was at the studio, church or summer camp. There were times it was difficult for them to wait for me to be just their mom. They would even say “Miss Ann” when I didn’t respond to “MOM”. I would tell my girls that there are many children who call me “Miss Ann” but there are only two children in the whole world who call me “Mom”. I am very blessed.

  Posted in daily life, faith, memories, relationships | 4 Comments | Tagged following Jesus, friendship, kid stuff, little things, prayer, September 11

• Traveling Tuesdays – S1E6 – try something new

  Posted at 7:30 am by missannsays, on May 7, 2013

  In 2005, when my youngest daughter, Meghan, was graduating from high school, I wanted to do something special for her graduation and maybe incorporate that something special into “our family vacation.” We (Emily, Meghan and I) had tried to establish a “new kind” of family vacation after Bruce’s death. Our family vacations with Bruce had always been very special times. We didn’t have a lot of money but we did some great trips on the cheap. We had wonderful experiences and made priceless memories.

  So I asked my soon to be high school graduate “what would be your dream vacation?”. Meghan thought about and said “a dude ranch”. So I started planning a family vacation to a dude ranch. I investigated on-line and found the perfect place in Shell, Wyoming. In further discussion we decided to invite my very good friend, Carol, and her daughter, Jenna. The reasoning was that “mom needed someone to hang out with.” I asked Carol if she and Jenna would like to join us. I would finance the place, she would just have to pay their airfare and she said “yes”. Meghan was in shock. She never thought her “Auntie Carol” would say “yes”. I never doubted that Carol would say yes.

  We purchased our cowboy boots, our cowboy hats, our long sleeve shirts and our gloves. We purchased our airline tickets and packed our bags. We flew into Billings, Montana. I checked Montana off of my states to visit list. We spent the night in Billings and on Sunday drove to Shell, WY. The scenery was beautiful – wide open spaces, nothing, I mean nothing for miles and miles. Town signs announcing population 12 or 26. Amazing. The ranch was beautiful. The accommodations were great, the food was gourmet and the people who ran it were so gracious and kind. And I would visit there again but not to ride horses.

  This was a real working cattle ranch. They weren’t moving cattle around to give you something to do. They were moving cattle because that’s what they do. We had to help get the horses ready, then ride all day and truly move cattle. And I never laughed so hard in my entire laugh. It makes me laugh to think about it. The first day the wrangler had us ride around the ring so he could determine our riding skills. Meghan and Emily had taken riding lessons when they were younger. Carol had ridden as a child. Jenna was very athletic. So they all did well. And my riding skills were zero or lower. Did I mention I am afraid of horses? Well, maybe not afraid but definitely not comfortable with them. Horses are big and they can run fast and I am a chicken. As I rode around the ring, the wrangler commented “you wait and see by the end of the week, she will be good at this.” And my “family” commented “probably not!!!” The wrangler tried me on a new horse everyday. My first horse’s name was Cheetah but I kept calling him Cheyenne. Cheetah didn’t sound like a horse to me. Meghan would just shake her head. When I would see the baby cattle, I would think they are so cute I am never eating beef again. But when the bull would stand across the path and the cattle won’t move pass him, I would think give me a steak. Cattle are not very bright. They are noisy and it is hard to move them around.

  By mid afternoon on our first full day of riding, I asked the wranglers if they could just throw my body across the horse like you see the movies. The head wrangler said “remember I told you not to believe anything cowboys do in movies.” Oh, my!!! I hurt in places, I didn’t know you could hurt. I was really, really bad at horseback riding and herding cattle. But you know what I did it and I will never do it again but I tried. And I have used parts of this story to encourage many a child to “try something new” because you have nothing to lose. You may have a great experience and find something new you enjoy doing or you may never do that again but at least you tried. Or you may just get to spend time with people you love and laugh harder than you had laughed in a long time.

  http://thehideout.com this is where we went. They have a very professionally done video.

  Posted in memories, relationships | 0 Comments | Tagged friendship, little things, travel thoughts

• a duh??? email from National September 11 Memorial

  Posted at 6:38 pm by missannsays, on May 5, 2013

  Today I received the following email from the National September 11 Memorial:

  “Thank you for visiting the National September 11 Memorial and helping to keep our collective promise to honor, remember, and reunite.

  You can support the continued care of the Memorial by making a donation. Please visit our online Museum shop to explore a variety of unique and special keepsakes, books, and accessories. All net proceeds from our sales support sustaining and developing the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

  Please visit our website, 911memorial.org, to subscribe to our e-newsletter for news and information on upcoming events, including the opening of the 9/11 Memorial Museum.

  Thank you for helping to build a lasting place for remembrance, reflection, and learning for years to come.”

  Too be honest I am confused. I have requested passes many times and never received the fore mentioned email. I am truly hoping that this was some kind of computer email error. Because I am going to be very disappointed if the National September 11 Memorial meant to send me this email. Really!?! Did you send a family member an email saying “thank you for helping to build a lasting place for remembrance, reflection and learning for years to come.” I guess I helped to build it when my husband dies in the line of duty there. And not for nothing but asking me to purchase something from your online store is just tacky. The whole email screams lack of respect for the fact I am a family member.

  This email reminds me of the letter I received from the medical examiner’s office in January 2002 asking for additional DNA samples for Bruce. And informing me that “chewed gum” was a good source of DNA. Really, after 4 months you think I have a piece of gum my deceased husband chewed lying around. Long story short, they had DNA samples but the right hand didn’t know where the left hand had put them. And they did apologize for sending a form letter.

  What I find upsetting in the email from the National September 11 Memorial and the letter of medical examiner so many years ago is the lack of respect for who is receiving the email or the letter. National September 11 Memorial is a beautiful and fitting memorial and I appreciate that is cost money to maintain but just maybe asking me to contribute within days of visiting is “bad timing” on your part. Maybe I should pay the $2.00 processing fee for public entrance.

  May I just add that if you would like to visit the Memorial I would love to take you to it.

  Posted in daily life, memories, respect in the real world, September 11 | 0 Comments | Tagged little things, respect, September 11

• two words

  Posted at 6:44 pm by missannsays, on April 25, 2013

  

  While driving in Manhattan a couple of weeks ago, I saw this truck. The name of the company made me smile -“Shleppers”. A perfect name for a moving company. I like the word “shlep”. I feel it as I say it. It is very descriptive. I used it many times when my daughters were young. I remember shlepping the kids from one place to another. The image that comes to mind is holding little hands, carrying many bags – diaper, school, grocery and walking at a speed that was a little too slow for my long legs and probably a little too fast for their little legs. The word is in dictionary. It is slang and it means to carry, take, haul, drag, to go or move with effort. Schlep can be spelled with or without a “c”. WordPress kept wanting to add the c.

  Shlep made me think of another very descriptive word -hoopla. I like that word too but I use it in the context of no hoopla. Hoopla is a word I really see and feel. All that extra stuff you don’t really need, all the drama, the fluff, the over the top “ness” of events. Dance recitals, weddings, bridal and baby showers, parties can all fall victim to hoopla. By definition hoopla is 1. great excitement; bustle 2. showy publicity; ballyhoo. Now there is a word to investigate ballyhoo. I will leave that to you to do.

  As I have been pondering these two words, I realized it is difficult to live a simple life with all this shlepping and hoopla. 🙂

  Posted in daily life, memories | 0 Comments | Tagged kid stuff, little things

• in the meantime…

  Posted at 5:39 pm by missannsays, on April 25, 2013

  I completed a “light, little” blog post about a half hour ago and scheduled it to be published in an hour. In the meantime, I went on Face Book and saw that a friend had posted that her son-in-law was killed yesterday while serving in Afghanistan. So I pause and say a prayer for her daughter and children. My heart breaks. I say a prayer for my friend and her family. I grief that I never met this young man. I say a prayer for his family. I weep. I marvel that this young man is about the same age as my son-in-laws. I thank the Lord for my girls and their guys. I remember the wonderful times spent together with my friend and her family many years ago. I am grateful. I remember that this friend and her husband drove from SC to Bruce’s memorial service. I am humbled. I ponder all the sadness and sorrow of this world. And I say aloud “I know whom I have believed in and I am pursued that He is able to keep that I have entrusted unto Him against that day.”

  Posted in daily life, faith, memories, relationships, respect in the real world | 0 Comments | Tagged following Jesus, little things, respect

• Travel Tuesdays (S1E4) – National Parks

  Posted at 7:48 pm by missannsays, on April 23, 2013

  Did you know this is National Parks’ Week – April 20 – April 28? The weird thing is I had already decided to write about the National Parks before I was aware of that fact. I went to the website to investigate a couple of things and realized it is National Parks Week.

  According to the National Parks website, America’s National Parks’ include more than:
  •84 million acres of spectacular scenery, historic landmarks and cultural treasures
  •17,000 miles of trails
  •43,000 miles of shoreline
  •27,000 historic and prehistoric structures
  •100 million museum items
  •12,000 campsites

  In the summer of 1996, my husband, my two daughters, our dog and I did what we called “our National Park’s Tour”. We were away from June 23 – July 27. We traveled 6,264 miles. Bruce actually drove all those miles because the truck was not automatic and we were pulling a pop-up trailer. We drove through 15 states. Saw license plates from 49 states, 7 Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia and even a diplomatic plate. The only state license plate we never saw was Vermont.

  There are many stories to tell but since it is National Park Week I will mention two things about the National Parks that you may not be aware of. Our National Park Service offers a Junior Ranger Program for kids. And an organization called A Christian Ministry in the National Parks (ACMNP) offers Sunday church services from Memorial Day to Labor Day in 25 different National Parks.

  The Junior Ranger Program involves a booklet that suggests and includes activities that are designed to help children learn and enjoy the park. There are stickers, maps, wildlife facts, and fun ideas. When your child completes the booklet, they present it in the visitor center and receive their Junior Ranger badge or certificate from the park ranger. When my girls finished the program at Mount Rushmore, the park ranger asked them where they lived and had they ever been to the National Park in their own backyard. Thankfully they had been and they knew it was the Statue of Liberty. At Yellowstone National Park, the park ranger called the entire visitor center to attention so she could award the Junior Park Ranger badge to my daughters. Emily was cringing and Meghan was beaming and Mom was in trouble with Emily.

  I don’t remember how we discovered there was a church service at Mount Rushmore but I am so glad we did. My family and about 30 other people sat in the same amphitheater that would later hold hundreds of people at the evening lighting of Mount Rushmore. Both the morning service and the evening lighting were amazing and worthwhile experiences. ACMNP states: “Our volunteers come from over 100 college campuses and 30 seminaries, in 35 states, representing more than 30 Christian denominations.” The young people did a great job leading the music. The young man who spoke made me smile because someone must have told him to make sure you look at “all the people” when you speak. The amphitheater at Mount Rushmore is huge so in his attempt to look in all directions he kept his feet still and kind of pivoted around in a half circle and pivoted back the other way. He reminded me of a sprinkler. We also attended service at a campground at southern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. That service was on log benches along the Snake River. It was absolutely beautiful. Since it was outside our dog attended. After the service, we joked that we had supplied future sermon material. Some day that young preacher would tell the story of preaching at a campground and a dog howling/singing during “Amazing Grace” – too funny.

  Our National Parks are a treasure. Let’s support and visit them. http://www.nps.gov

  Afterthought: While on the trip, Bruce and I were sure that people thought we were drug dealers – New York license plates on a pick up truck with a cap, trailing a pop-up and a Rottie – those people must be trouble 🙂

  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged kid stuff, little things, travel thoughts

• Travel Tuesdays (S1E3) – Boston

  Posted at 8:30 am by missannsays, on April 16, 2013

  Tourist Tuesdays is now Travel Tuesdays and today is dedicated to Boston. As a new day dawns may I continue to pray for the runners, spectators, first responders, medical personnel, chaplains, visitors and residents who have been forever changed by the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Will you join me? Some physical injuries will take a long time to heal, some emotional injuries will take a long time to process and heal may I not grow weary in praying, listening for opportunities to help and caring for my neighbors near or far. Will you join me in praying, listening and caring in the days, and weeks ahead?

  For 2.5 years, my daughter attended college just outside of Boston. I became very familiar with the 4.5 hour journey from NY to almost Boston. I even drove there and back in the same day. Not recommended but it can be done. The first city I ever flew to “myself” was Boston. I was attending a dance convention and flew from NY to Boston. At the time, it was a big deal. As a child, my family visited Boston to do the “tourist stuff”. My dad made us including my British mother walk the Freedom Trail. My dad read every, single plaque or so it seemed to me. My mother’s favorite story to tell about that trip is me saying “I guess all those tea bags were ruined when they threw them in the river.”

  I have visited Boston as adult and I have found it to be an easy city to navigate especially when your college age daughter is your tour guide. The “T” is a convenient mode of travel. I would suggest the Freedom Trail for your dose of history, Faneuil Hall Market Place for shopping/eating and the Aquarium for kids. The swan boats are fun to see and a great opportunity to read Make Way For Ducklings. I love just wondering the streets and realizing how old so much of the city is. I am grateful for the people who shaped our nation on those streets.

  I pray that the events of yesterday will not cause us to be so fearful that we miss all Boston has to share with us. For now, may we continue to share our prayers and thoughts with Boston’s people.

  Posted in memories | 0 Comments | Tagged little things, prayer, travel thoughts

• Tourist Tuesdays (S1E2) – random

  Posted at 8:48 pm by missannsays, on April 9, 2013

  Things I have learned while traveling and other random travel thoughts:

  Looking at your surroundings may help more than staring at the map. Years ago, a friend and I were at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. We wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower so we were studying the map. A police officer asked us if we needed help. This conversation was in French on his part and very limited French/English on mine. We asked “where is the Eiffel Tower?” He smiled, pointed behind us, and said “un, deux, trois” meaning any of the roads would take us there. It was right behind us?!?

  Some airports close at night. In 2005, my daughters, the same friend as mentioned above, her daughter and I flew into Billings, Montana. As we walked away from the gate, they were turning off the lights behind us. Also always check that the rental car headlights are on or you will be stopped by the police in the first moments of your vacation.

  First class is a cool way to fly. Wide leather seats, real utensils, hot towel, cookies and milk. I have only flown first class twice but awesome.

  No matter where you take your kids, the hotel or campground pool is the most exciting part.

  Once isn’t enough – seven places I have visited and would like to visit again:
  1. Black Hills of South Dakota
  2. The Grand Tetons
  3. Prince Edward Island
  4. Vancouver Island
  5. Alaska – different places than first visit
  6. Edinburgh, Scotland
  7. Ireland

  Twice isn’t enough for:
  1. Paris
  2. London

  Bucket List for outside of the USA:
  1. Australia and New Zealand
  2. Italy
  3. Germany
  4. train trip across Canada

  There are 6 states I haven’t visited and would like to so I can say I have been to all 50 states. I haven’t been to: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, North Dakota, Idaho and Hawaii.

  Where would you like to travel to?

  Posted in daily life, memories | 0 Comments | Tagged friendship, little things, travel thoughts

• Totally Random Ramblings

  Posted at 10:29 pm by missannsays, on April 8, 2013

  1. Stick figures on rear windows: These seem to be very poplar on SVU’s and crossovers probably because children talk their parents into buying them. I have seen the Disney version, the alien version, 2 parents and 8 children version and the family with the pets version. They are cute and definitely better than the “my kid did_____” bumper stickers but the set that was disturbing was a little boy, a mom with no head and a dad holding the mother’s head. Obviously there is some issue but really does your child need to see that every time they get in the car and it makes me think you are an axe murderer.

  2. Temperature is relative: Hearing that the temperature is going to be in the sixties is exciting this time of year but a few years ago reading that it would be in the sixties when I was in Alaska had me packing my polar fleece and warm pajamas.

  3. Panera Bread serving pasta doesn’t seem like a good idea. Soup, salads, sandwiches and mac & cheese but pasta – not so much.

  4. Since my trip to Washington DC a few weeks ago, I have come to the realization that the people represented by statues didn’t set out to have a “statue of themselves”. They did the right thing, made difficult decisions, fought the good fight and sacrificed for the good of all. They may even think what they did is not worthy of a statue or memorial. Unfortunately I think in today’s world there are people whose goal is to have a “statue”.

  5. “If you don’t do you, You doesn’t get done and the world is incomplete… But when you do you, you inspire the world.” McNair Wilson

  Posted in daily life | 0 Comments | Tagged little things

• tourist tuesdays

  Posted at 4:57 pm by missannsays, on April 2, 2013

  I thought I would do a little something different with my blog. I am still rambling randomly but maybe with a little focus. On Tuesdays, I will be writing about travel, tourist things. Think of it as focused randomness. I am not sure you can have that but at the writer’s conference they said you should engage your readers (ask a question or for their opinion) so this is an attempt at engaging 🙂

  Over the past year I have taken advantage of being a tourist in my own city – New York City to be exact. I have found since I have been leading tours at the Tribute Center I am more apt to go on tours when I visit places. With friends from the Tribute Center I have toured Grand Central Station, the Waldrof Astoria and the Brooklyn Museum. It has really been great fun. I have learned some interesting things and had a great time exploring. Last July, Emily, my daughter, and I did a tour about space travel at the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. We were there within days of the Space Shuttle exhibit opening – amazing. Worth doing.

  Also I enjoy discovering local places to eat. One of my friends from the Tribute Center is excellent at finding restaurants for lunch. I so appreciate all the work she does coordinating our adventures. When Meghan, my daughter, and I were in Washington DC a few weeks ago, we asked at the front desk for a suggestion of a place to get a good burger but not a chain restaurant. The gentleman suggested a place that had the “best burgers in DC” and supplied us with directions. We arrived at said *restaurant and commented to each other that it was strange that they suggested a restaurant that was in a competitor’s hotel. We each ordered a burger which was really very tasty and not overly expensive. Success, we just had the best burger in DC. We continued on our way to meet up with the night tour we were taking and as we are crossing the street we see another establishment with the exact same name. Meghan and I burst out laughing. We are pretty sure we just had the best burger in DC at the wrong place. When the credit card bill arrived, it was confirmed we had the best burger in DC at the wrong place. Ah!! the power of suggestion.

  So my question to you is, where should I visit in “your city” and where can I get a “good burger” or a “nice cup of tea” in your part of the world?

  * In DC there is a Hamilton Crown Plaza Hotel which has a restaurant and a restaurant called The Hamilton.

  Posted in daily life | 1 Comment | Tagged little things, travel thoughts

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