THIS and........

THAT with Random Thoughts!

Fun Friday's have been happening!

4th of July celebration

I have enough experience now to write a book on Fun Friday's and some day I just may do that. Not only the physical part of creating the event each week but the human part as people share their feelings on this. Last week one of the front end supervisors said to me: "THANK YOU, for always doing this and when I see you come in Friday mornings with FF I get excited to take my break and see what you have created"! People love to feel they are treated "special" no matter the age!

NEXT THOUGH:

The most EXCITING thing that has happened to me in awhile was an event we had at work for United Way fund raiser. You could buy $5. ticket and have a chance to win getting "BLACK FRIDAY" off. I took part in it but dared not to dream it could really happen......but it did. Two tickets were going to be drawn and the FIRST ONE that came out was.........

BARB ZINN

I cannot tell you how EXCITED I was to hear my name and for the rest of the day I dreamed what it would be like not working on the day after thanksgiving. Black Friday is a day NO ONE GETS OFF......no matter what and for the FIRST time in 18 years I will get a chance to REMEMBER life before Retail. I will not go on and on about this but it is more than challenging to work during the holiday season and black friday is the worse! I am still imagining my day....

but chances are I will be sitting at our Thanksgiving table very THANKFUL I do not have to get up at 3:00 AM and go to work and deal with people who are often "out of control"!

ANOTHER MOMENT to THINK ABOUT:

4th of July

I can go down memory lane and remember the fun times I had as we celebrated the great event of the 4th of July and our Independence and the birth of this great country. Growing up it meant going to Lake Bracken and being at my grandparents cottage. It was cook out, home made ice cream, a ride on their pontoon boat and watching the fire works and lighting our own sparklers. FOND MEMORIES! There were fun times as my children were growing up..... picnics, visiting family, fire works.....even setting my dining room tablecloth afire with a "sparkling dessert". A few years ago some of the family took a trip to Columbus OH to visit Amanda and Ben over the 4th of July weekend. This picture was taken and it is one that always brings back fond memories for me!

What "strength" there is in FAMILIES! What "heights" can be we can obtain as families!

The next thing on my mind goes along with the family thoughts I just expressed. My friend of many years, Jerry Boucher's husband passed away a week ago today. I have spent much time at her home and the feelings run deep. I was always impressed with Bob. He only had a grade school education, he grew up in a very poor home with lots of brothers and sisters and a single mom but he had one ingredient and that was he was not afraid of work and he worked hard all of his life. He left his family financially secure but more importantly a "legacy" as he raised his children, then his grandson and was in the process of raising his great grand daughter, Gabi. He is so missed by everyone but his life was well lived.

I am grateful for my family, for this country we live in and all the blessings that are ours.

EIGHT plus is ENOUGH to FILL OUR HEARTSWITH LOVE!