Twenty-nine!

“29”

Wow it’s hot. I don’t think it was this hot in the tobacco fields back in 1977. I worked three weeks and had enough! Slimy worms, sappy racks, and people hollering at me drove me away. It just wasn’t a place for a young lady.

Now many of you will disagree with me. You are probably right. Young ladies can learn to be tough women in that environment. I guess I was a wimp. However, I did like those Pepsi and Moon Pies at 3 pm every day. Still $25 a day wasn’t enough to keep me in the job.

Oh well. Here I am 30 some and counting years later: married, grandma, graduate, and blogger. Who would have thought that would be me? And Sunday, I’ll be celebrating my 29th anniversary with my sweetheart. Last year on my 28th, I wrote a column about the 28 years I’d been married and what I had learned. I am going to revisit that column by reprinting the 28 items. And at the end, #29 will be waiting for you to read.

Oh if you haven’t hugged your loved one today, please do it!

Don't wait. 

___________

From "28":



Those of you who have been reading my columns regularly know that I like to reference songs, movies, speeches, etc, to make my points on things happening in our world today. Today is no different. As I was riding around town running errands Saturday morning, a favorite came on the radio: “My Next 30 Years” by Tim McGraw. It’s a ballad of what he did and what he hopes for.

I used that song in one of my favorite columns: “The Next 50 Years.” That was a column on my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. But it bears repeating and if you stay with me you’ll see why.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Next Thirty years

"I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age

The ending of an era and the turning of a page

Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here

Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun

Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done

Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears

And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores

Cry a little less, laugh a little more

Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear

Figure out just what I’m doing here

In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight

Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late

Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers

Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years

In my next thirty years"

The next 30? Wow. However, today I want to focus on “28”, and not 30. This number is significant to me because next Saturday, July 31, will be my 28th Wedding Anniversary. If someone had told me when I was 18 that I would be married by 19, mother by 23, and a grandma by 47, I would have told them “you’re crazy”, “Shut up”, “not this girl”, “ too much to do”, “life’s too short for that”, etc. etc, etc. You get the picture. Ha. And then what happens. Some long haired guy as clueless as me about where and what to do with his life walks in and I fall hopelessly in love.

I fix him a cake for his Valentine’s birthday, go on a date, and 6 months later become his wife. That’s really how it happened. I don’t think anyone gave us a chance. Yet here we are 28 years later.

Hmmm. Anyway, taking a cue from Rush Limbaugh and his “35 undeniable truths”, I have my own list except it’s “28”. So here is what I’ve learned the last 28 years. I suggest you grab a notebook and write down yours. Some of you will think I’m off my rocker, and I don’t care. I know, and God knows, my heart..and there are conservative ideas in my list..so keep reading.

 Marriage (Very conservative – one man, one woman)

1. Marriage is not easy. Actually there are times it just sucks. Bad times should be few for the most part. No doubt making up is fun! Hey, don’t get me because I’m telling the truth!

2. When Cinderella married Prince Charming, that is when I said I do, I also said, “For better, for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” That means forever.

I know what I have to lose if I ever left. I must admit though I’ve packed and unpacked my bags a few times.

3. Never believe anyone who tells you they’ve never had an argument or “harsh word” with their spouse. Life is not that blissful.

4. Number 4 but really should be #1: Make God the central part. He doesn’t always put us together because of our own will, but He will work wonders with what is given. Go ahead, Lord, just hit me on the head with a 2 x 4 and tell me to practice this one. I fail daily. Witnesses do not speak up!

5. Absolutely do not believe “Love is never having to say you’re sorry.” Actually, that’s what love is all about – knowing when you’ve done wrong and hurt the other person. This is advice for both genders.

6. I’m (you’re) not always right. I heard this at the training I went to in DC:

“Would you rather be right? Or would you rather be successful?”

Step back and walk away from strife. If not, you could alienate someone forever.

7. Listen, listen, listen and listen more. Talk less. God gave us 2 ears and only one mouth for a reason. I need to tattoo this on my arm so I see it every day.

 

8. When kids are little, they are a “little” version of us. When they are big, I have no idea who they are. Notice please I did not say “grown-up”. That means a great deal more.

9. No matter what you do, how you’ve raised them, nor the advice you give them, kids will do whatever they want to do. Realize it, deal with it and get over it.

10. Never give up on them, though. Eventually common sense will prevail. They are gifts from heaven according to the Word. It is incumbent upon us to do our best as parents to guide and teach them. Forever.

11. They do not understand the concept of a “room looks clean when the bed is made.” Just shut door. It’s a lost cause. Until they have kids. Ha….

On Grandkids

12. They make us all want to skip kids and go straight to “grandkids”. In reality, if we did that, then spoiling them and sending them home to mommy and daddy wouldn’t be so much fun. I will joyfully watch my daughter twitch when that happens after she graduates and moves out to her and Kayne’s own little house. I’m serious.

13. Wal-Mart was created for grandkids. Period.

14. They are perfect. At birth, 6 months, 2 years, and probably at 20.

That explains a lot…”Clean up on aisle 3 in Toys!”

On Me

15. Short hair is here to stay… Sorry, hubby, long hair will never work on me again. Besides, I don’t have that much time in the morning to fix it.

16. Be true to myself. I use wrinkle cream and hair color. Deal with it. You ain’t 16 anymore, Sheila. I love my highlights, White Mochas, cheesecake, chocolate, Founding Fathers, and those that serve so I can have freedom. I listen to Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Foxnews, Joyce Meyer, my brother, Bon Jovi, Skynyrd, Clapton, Tim McGraw and my hubby’s music. (I really do like his music.)

17. Make sure I “Walk the walk I talk”. If my country requires me to give my life for it and for others to be free, I’m ready.

18. Refer back to #4: Put God first. Every time I don’t, things fall apart. Trust me. I have experience in this area.

19. If I’m ever in a gunfight, I want Clint (Eastwood, that is) on my side. Note: Dirty Harry is not the reason for the 2nd Amendment. Dirty politics is.

On Education

20. They can take away my home, my job, my bank account, the way my life is today – but they can absolutely never take away my education. I might go down but I’ll get back up stronger and more determined to make it!

On Politics, Founding Fathers, and Socialism

21. Government is not the solution. It’s the problem. They cannot spend my money better than me.

22. The Founding Fathers were brilliant. They knew today’s perilous times would eventually come. But they did their ever loving best to help us avoid them. And they lost lives, fortunes and family because of their passion for our country. I can only hope I’ll have the guts to attempt to imitate them and stand up to take our country back.

23. A country has never taxed itself to prosperity. Only a ruling class taxes its citizens for its wealth and attempts to keep us poor forever. And we have our own version of a ruling class in America – the 111th Congress and the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. They rank right up there with Hitler, Stalin, Marxist, Chavez, Castro, etc.

24. I love the rich. Jobs are not created from the poor. The poor get jobs created by the rich. I have a job because of my CEO’s brilliant idea of starting and maintaining a successful company. I don’t care how much money he makes or what he does with it. For all of you who hate the rich, please go to South Africa, North Korea or better yet – your new favorite voting recruiting station – Mexico. Good riddance.

25. Clearly, the definition of socialism was said best by Margaret Thatcher, “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of everybody else’s money.”

26. Local politicians are just as crummy and corrupt as national ones. Time to dissolve relationships with those who do dirty tricks, promote assassinations of people’s character because they disagree with them, and those who are morally bankrupt. The boys next door are not so nice.

On Santa

27. I believe. Period. I’ll take a ride on the Polar Express and leave cookies and milk out every Christmas Eve. And don’t you try to convince me otherwise!

On God

28. Refer back to #4 and #18. I believe. I believe our country was built on Godly principles. I believe God should be in schools, public assemblies, and politics. I believe the great awakening has happened. And He will be in America again.

Summary:

 # 29:  I'm the lucky one.

Sure I’d like to have less fights and more peace. But who wouldn’t. I’d also like to have kept my figure all these years, but I didn’t. I’m trying to get that back now. I’d like to have good knees. But I don’t. I'd like to be one of those millionaires that Obama and Pelosi despise.  But I'm not. 

What I do have is a husband who is a pretty cool guy and who happens to love me for who I am.

Yea, #29 is definitely, "I’m the lucky one."

Love ya Mr. B.

Sheila