Even BB Gets the Blues

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!!  Sorry I skipped Saturday's post- I really didn't feel like posting.  And since this baile and BB are all about following our hearts... actually, it wasn't my heart not being into it - it was more like being too into it.  I'm overwhelmed. Quee? JU SO FONII!!! Ok si, the overwhelmer had met her match.  So I did what any self respecting go getter would do. I had a piece of chocolate and went to bed.  Whaatt??  I didn't want to wake up groggy!

So what started this un BB like spin?  Well, first of all I lost my iPod touch on the bus. With all my pics of the grandbabies. Then once I got back Up North in The South I entered to find my place in need of... oh so many things.  You know the saying "There's no place like home."? They ain't just whistlin' La Guantanamera with that one. Hopefully there's no place like Babushka's. This is what was waiting at Babushka's home.

I know Babushka's not the only one who's kitchen table looks like this... right?

Actually the kitchen sink wasn't that bad when I arrived, but due to some unforseen leaky- shower -faucet- repair- gone- wrong- now- leaking -behind tub -walls -and -into- the -bedroom, we've had to shut the water off.  The picture is 3 days accumulation.  And speaking of bedroom-

Office side, bed side, walk in (more like tiptoe in- only 3 ft) closet

Hace tiempo, it's been awhile since it went from Eclectic to Eek!

Site of my future home office. For now, it's just a sight!

::sigh::

So how do YOU chase away the blues?

Babushka finds solace in song, in finding stories of inner strength, of dreams not yet diminished.  

In other words, I spent hours on YouTube.

Queen Emily David- ya gotta be grovin' with this one!

Listening to your inner voice,being true to yourself and having the courage to say "this is me- ALL of me".   Andrew de Leon

Alice Tan Ridley, 58 and still following her dreams after 20 years.

You're feeling better now too verdad?

It also helps to know you're not alone; the angels made sure I saw posts sharing my current blah sentiments.  Two of the best were Mami Holistica's   marvelous list of blues breakers (it's in Spanish, but sooo worth the translating effort) and my dear friend Carrie's article on the TikiTiki Blog.  Carrie's another fluent Spanglish Speaker, baby boomer who wrote about this in December.  P.S.  So sorry mujer that I'm getting to it Cubantime, but I guess it's true what they say.  "The teacher will appear when the student is ready." Maybe for us self taught people it's "posts will appear when the baile is the blues."  But you know what also will appear for sure when the Cuban Conundrum of the Moco Caido aka sad/sadness/blues appears?  What else, but

COMIDA!!!

I see you- don't deny it.  You're smiling and salivating at this very moment.

My weapon of choice this day is a sundae of banana split ice cream with nutella, sprinkles, and strawberries.  

This is Babushka's plate of perkiness and it's even good for me too. 

 Calcium and fruit requirement met for the day. 

Vitamin packed.

ESO!!!

Gracias for bailando Babushka's Blues. 

BB's feeling much better now that you've danced with me.

Pero porsea- but just to make sure of no relapses, I think I'm gonna go double up on my vitamins.

; )

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

What I Did This Summer

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls! BB's feeling a bit nostalgic today and I'm remembering the times I had to write about summer vacation during my school days. Queee? JU SO FONII!!! Yes, I remember back that far.  Besides, I'm currently in Miami, land of the perpetual summer so it's still very valid around here.

Now in between the "big" eventos- the American Latino Heritage Fund Roadtrip, the Oogieloves film debut, the Ford Fusion contest, were the everyday ordinary living life happenings.  Things like -

Birthdays

Rinquincaya turned 4,  El Dr. is now 6

La Tata... either 90 or 92.

Graduations

El Dr. from Kinder, PicaPica from VPK

DIL Early Childhood Education

Fairs

La Tata enjoying herself immensely.

Ana Margarita Menendez  

Ok si, not a blood relative of mine, but it sure feels like it!  She played Carmencita on the PBS series Que Pasa USA- a much loved program that was filmed here in Miami.  My friend Carrie described perfectly the way I felt when I met her. Go check out the Tiki Tiki post -   it has videos and everything.

First Day of School

Shopping, Sleepovers and Silliness

La Princesa & El Dr doing groceries w/BB

Cousins playing in Ft. BB and of course pirates HAVE to have mustaches and beards!

Spending a glorious Memorial Day at beautiful Jungle Island thanks to Hispanicize.

.

PicaPica on his first audition, Rinquincaya and his Babushka.

Si, it's been a busy summer for BB.  A summer full of special moments, sacred milestones and precious memories;the "little" things in life that bring us smiles.  But looking back, these are the binding ties of families, and for me that makes them in reality, the true Biggies of our lives.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.



P.S.  Before anyone asks why there are so few pics of my granddaughter

please notice the two I do have are while she's in a stroller/cart. 

It's very hard to take a picture of a lightning bolt.

; )

New Year's- Resolution?

Last week on Facebook, the Tiki Tiki Blog asked what our New Year's Resolution was.  My answer?  To get older.  JU SO FONII !!!  Ok, si, but I sincerely hope this is one resolution I'll be able to keep!

Let me share with you a passage I got from Lord knows where, but I believe whole heartedly in it's message.  To the author I apologize omitting your unknown name, but I embrace and share the wisdom of your words.

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world, too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it, if I choose to read, or play, on the computer, until 4 AM, or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50, 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach, in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves, with abandon, if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But, broken hearts are what give us strength, and understanding, and compassion. A heart never broken, is pristine, and sterile, and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

Think about it- a resolution I don't have to think about.  Woah- no stress, and that's DEFINITELY what I'm hoping 2012 will be. A stress free year, a stress free life; just doing what comes naturally- no expectations, just excitation.  Come on now, I'm Cuban- gotta have some blood pressure raising somehow!  So I will continue my Spanglish soliloquies, sashaying in heels, blabbing and bailando all the way.

2012-Start the music y dimelo cantando !!! 

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.