Mentor Wanted: Must be older, wiser & more fun than me...

I'm inspired by a lot of people. Everyone in my life brings something different to "my table"... But this morning, one of my Heroes made a reference to song lyrics on his blog. Lyrics that I didn't recognize. I looked through the comments for clues, but found none that rang my bell-of-remembrance...

Side note: I'm not one that likes to be left out of current events. It's why I will sit and watch an award show, waiting to be a first-hand observer of that one moment everyone will be talking about tomorrow... It's why I love Jimmy Fallon (he's so relevant). It's why I watch Idol, or The Voice. Or the Super Bowl, even if I don't have a dog in the hunt. I just don't like being left out.

But back to this morning...

I googled the piece-of-the-lyrics that my Hero mentioned and discovered it was a Prince song. I appreciate Prince. I watched and laughed when he was on New Girl (cause I'm relevant). But I didn't grow up listening to his music. In fact, he was popular when I was a young-mommy, and that's when I took an unintentional break from pop culture. No movies, no music. We did get a VCR during that time, and rented The Jewel of the Nile about 6 times cause we didn't want to accidently rent something racy... But I digress...

So, I've been thinking about Prince. I downloaded the song, Let's Go Crazy, by the way, and I've listened to it about a dozen times, as this is how I enjoy new music...put it on repeat for a few days. Anybody? 

Prince. Teachers. Friends. Artists. Business owners. Almost everyone in my circles (or, wannabe circles) is younger than me. And while I love and learn from all those around me, I'm longing for another perspective... The perspective that comes from having raised your children. The perspective that comes from being married to the same man for over three decades. The perspective of having grandchildren. The perspective that comes from having an empty-nest and missing your full-one. The perspective that comes from wondering "now what"? The perspective from enjoying newly-found freedom. The perspective that comes from enjoying new-things in new ways.

I'll continue to love and glean and learn from my people. And I'll like it. But, also, there's my new want-ad:

Wanted: Mentor. Must be at least 55 years old. Must be married at least 30 years. Must have grown children. Must have grandchildren. Must be fun. Must be lots of fun. Must have some problems or else I'll get discouraged as my problems are many. The pay and hours will be terrible. The rewards, however, will be outstanding as I am an excellent student.

Something like that. 

Hoping that you sound a bit like me. Hope you're surrounded by all types, shapes and kinds of people. Hope you love and are loved. Hope you, too, are earnestly and comically looking for more...

Happy Thoughts

Feeling a bit like writing this morning and thinking of my Happy Thoughts...thought I'd put them on "paper" and send them out into the Dear Void (You've Got Mail reference. A fave)...

I love my husband. I'm so grateful for him, for how he has accepted me and my weirdnesses. How he "loves" my dogs, even though he didn't grow up a dog-person. He indulges me in my sadness, in my silliness, in my times of epiphanies, yes, epiphanies. He's a good listener and I'm glad he didn't change the kind of man he was when I was younger and dumber and wanted him to be weaker. I love how "interested" he is in my projects. And my shopping-purchases. He's one of the hardest-working men I've ever known. And one of the most-intelligent. And one of the wittiest...

I love my sons. I always have. All I ever wanted to be was a mom. I wasn't, and still am not, the Best Mother in the World, but , I love those boys. I'm sort of obsessed with them, and used to tell them that if I wasn't their mother, I would've had crushes on them, to which they would reply, "Gross, Mom"... Now that they're grown, I love their wives. That sounds funny, but let me clarify, they each only have ONE wife. I love that there are women in the world who love my boys and watch out for them and want to create Good Lives with them. Which brings me to my next love...I love the children of my sons...

More than I ever thought possible, I love my GrandChildren... I love the way they talk and that they call me Munny-not all of them just yet, as my Girl is too young, but it's coming... I love the way my Grands smell. I love the curves of their respective noses... I love enjoying childhood with more time to enjoy and a different perspective with which to enjoy it. And, spoil them and then send them home for their parents to deal with? Not me. I wanna be a help to their parents, not someone who makes their job tougher. Plus, I'm ALWAYS sad when good-byes have to be said...

I love my friends. My closest friends are a treasure. They keep me going. They spur me on to good works. They're my cheerleaders and my coaches. My shoulder-to-cry-on and my-kick-in-the-butt when I need it. Oh, I often need that.

Good children's literature makes me happy. Books written with a classic-style, yet fun...

Good illustrations and font-choices can make or break. I have several books for kids-and their parents-that I've started writing & creating here and there...one day, I'll get serious about them...

Cute children's clothing is a Happy Thought. So are stuffed animals. And anything made by Maileg, but especially the Mice... 

Pieces of mismatched china. Old silverware. I love traveling...NYC and South America especially. But I also love coming home. Snuggling with my pups. Thoughtful people. Gift-giving. Walking in the sand. Walking in the snow. The early-morning sunlight. Watching my Little Brother and his sweet family. The example my mother was and is to me-she set a high bar for caring for people. My dad's laugh is one of my favorite sounds. And my GrandPup is a joy...

Talking about a few of my favorite things makes me happy. PS, I have LOTS of favorite things...