My 5 Hour Flashback

We are still alive and well here in Houston, the new Venice of the south.  Even though you have not heard from me in weeks, it isn't because I have been busy building an ark, filling sandbags to put around the house or crying my eyes out at night because I'm still distraught over the loss of sweet, crazy Sadie.  It's because I have two posts I've been working on and haven't posted because my inner critic has been in overdrive.  Well, it's your lucky day!  I've sent her to perfectionists anonymous for the day and I will do my best to make two posts into one!
 Abracadabra!

I have always thought it would be great to, one day,  go on a trip and if the urge hit me... just "stay on".  There have been many times I wished I could have done this but there were carpools to be driven, homework to monitor, dogs to walk, classes to teach or take... all demanding my presence back home.   "Staying on" was not an option, time wise or wallet wise...until a few weeks ago.  No, I didn't win the lottery but I did come to a realization.  For the first time in 36 years... I didn't have to go home.  TJ was out of town all week and with no dog at home praying on my guilty conscience for leaving her alone too long, I was free to roam the planet.  I went to Baton Rouge for a weekend and stayed an extra day, because I could.  We went to Austin and spontaneously added another day.  It was a weather related extra day but no arrangements had to be made for anyone or anything back home.  The ability to "stay on" is suddenly a reality.  I kind of like it and in a way I don't.

Driving to and from Baton Rouge over the years has provided me with many opportunities to reminisce...5 hours... each way.  As I approach Baton Rouge, I tune into the local classic rock station and inevitably they are playing tunes from my high school or college days.  The memories start to flood back and I find myself geographically and mentally transported to my youth.  Two of my favorite things.... youth and music!  Listening to Fleetwood Mac or the Eagles on the radio makes the final approach (while sitting in Mississippi River bridge traffic) almost bearable.  At least my mind is somewhere else having a great time with high school friends or in college at a bar... not studying accounting.

Now that I have my new car, equipped with SiriusXM radio, I am no longer limited to local radio stations that fade in and out over the roadways.  I found Comedy USA keeps me awake when the monotony of I-10 starts to bore me to sleep.  Most importantly, I found The Bridge (no pun intended) and anyone who was in high school or college in the 70's needs to give it a listen.  I had a flashback to the spring of 1975 and my senior trip when they played Sister Golden Hair, Tin Man or anything by America .  We were driving home to Baton Rouge in a van with shag carpet, wearing sunburns and smiles all the way home.  I remembered awkward middle school slow dancing when Color My World was played.  The Doobie Brothers' China Grove or Oh Black Water brought me back to riding around in the family station wagon (sorry Mom and Dad) with my friends getting into all sorts of mischief.  Emerson, Lake and Palmer's Lucky Man was "make out" music back in the day.  Any song by Fleetwood Mac sends me to an outdoor concert dancing barefoot in the grass or to that bar I spent way too many hours not studying.  Every song brings back a different memory!  It's like a 5 hour flashback!

One of the thoughts that floated through my mind during my flashback was that in my writing class I had so much trouble retrieving childhood memories, when all I needed to do was listen to the music.  One thought lead to another, that happens sometimes, and since I didn't need to get home for anything... I took a little side trip to my childhood on my way home.  We lived in Beaumont, Texas from the time I was 4 until I turned 13.  Impressionable years that are a blur.  I drove past the two houses we lived in over those 9 years.  Thanks to my very smart phone and the maps app I was able to find my way to each.  The environs have changed quite a bit in 45 years.  The houses look great!  It would have been so sad to see them neglected.  My childhood has been preserved.  And yes, driving down the old streets brought the memories flooding back!

I slept here...right next to the window on the left.

I'm sure the neighbors were wondering
who the stalker was taking pictures of this house.

Maybe I've become a sentimental old fool but every time I go back to Baton Rouge lately I am more and more reminiscent.  Is that what happens when you get old?  Don't answer that question!

Stuck in a "Moment"

Have you ever caught yourself in a "moment" and thought... "This is something very special, I will remember this forever!"?  It is like you are looking down and seeing something extraordinary.  I am not talking about just good times but times when there is a force bigger than the sum of it's parts.  It is almost a spiritual experience.  I know...this sounds a little wacko and normally I'm not a wacko (hush!) but stick with me here and I'll try to ramble my way to a point.

This past weekend we were in Baton Rouge for the Baptism of our newest family member.  As expected, there were aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents in town for this event.  Any time we all get together can be considered a special experience.  We laugh, we eat, we drink, we reminisce, we cry (usually through laughter) and we always have a great time.  This weekend was no different. 

Happy Baptism! 

gratuitous blue sky and spring flower picture....because it was a beautiful weekend!

Every once in a while though, there are extraordinary moments.  We end up somewhere we never expected and we are taken over by the minutia.  Not everyone in that moment will realize just how special it is, we all have our own perspective and my "moment" is not necessarily your "moment".  It all happened when we were in the kitchen. We were talking and people were coming in and out and the conversation was jumping from one topic to another.  There was plenty of laughter and we were all talking at once....because that's what happens when we are all together, who has time to listen when we all have so much to say!?  Then one person told a story and there was a hush in the room.  It was poignant and we were all brought to tears at the love in the story.  A room full of rowdy people was hushed and awed.  It takes a lot to hush this crowd!  I can only assume that is when the Holy Spirit entered the room and we were all filled. 

These moments don't just happen.  It is not that there aren't lots of special events or family get-togethers but "that feeling" only happens every once in a while.  Not sure what makes a "moment" but I know you have all felt it at one time or another.  Sometimes we are too busy or caught up in our own heads to pay attention enough to realize just how special some times are.  We need to stop, soak it all in and look at our lives from above and then maybe we will realize we are truly blessed to be who we are and where we are, right in that "moment". 

Enough preaching.... now for a few more pictures from the weekend.  Baton Rouge was in full Mardi Gras mode.  We ate crawfish and boudin balls and king cake!  We went to a Mardi Gras parade too.  It was a beautiful sunny day but a bit chilly and very windy.  Everyone still managed to catch their share of beads and we all enjoyed the sunshine.

"Throw us something mister!"

They had to wear all those beads so they did not blow away in the wind!

Hope everyone enjoys the last few days before Lent begins.  Happy Pancake Day to all of my Canadian friends, wipe that syrup off your chin!  Happy Mardi Gras!  I am considering a few Lenten options for the blog so we shall see what happens. 
Forty days of ????  Suggestions?

Beautiful Exhaustion

Happy New Year everyone!

If the true judge of whether a holiday was a success is your total lack of energy at the end of the holiday, I can say that the Mahoney Christmas holidays were a huge success.  I think every family member is going to crawl up and collapse tomorrow in a state of beautiful exhaustion!

When I think back a couple of weeks, I realize how much we have done!  No wonder we are tired.  We were doing just fine until Christmas day and then it all went a bit haywire.  Kelly got the stomach flu that hit hard and fast and kept her up all night long.  No one was safe from that moment on, in quick succession the flu hit TJ and me and then sister Katie, only Michael and Jehnna were spared.  Rachel's family had the bug the week before Christmas and we all thought it was dead and gone...no such luck. That flu took the wind out of all of us, we were a crew of hurting cowboys, cowboys who had to saddle up and ride to Baton Rouge to visit all of our family there.  We bring you tidings of comfort and joy....oh and a nasty stomach bug.  Merry Christmas!  Still hoping the beast does not rare it's ugly head to any of our family there, so far so good.

Katie and Kelly, pre-flu happiness

Still feeling good, reading to Christopher and Daniel

Our major source of beauty and exhaustion are sitting in Kelly's lap here.  Daniel and Christopher, our grandsons, are in perpetual motion when they are awake.... and they wake up early!  Is it just me or is 5:30 a little early to start your day?  I guess when you go to bed at 7 or 8 p.m., 5:30 or 6 a.m. isn't an unreasonable time.  I never got to bed before midnight and that meant morning came early, I admit, I was not on the wee hours of the morning shift but I did listen to the chaos outside my room for a while and then roll over for another hour before I entered life for another day.



Daniel at Christmas dinner wearing his crown and playing with his treasures from the popper

Michael and Jehnna enjoying the Christmas dinner festivities



More crowned Christmas dinner guests

Christmas dinner was a lot of fun.  The food was delicious, we had a few Lithuanian traditional dishes compliments of brother-in-law Andrius, popped the fun English poppers and wore our crowns and read our cheesy jokes.   We were all smiling and festive....then it hit.  Man down!  The next two and a half days were spent getting the flu, having the flu, or getting over the flu.  O Tidings of Comfort and Joy! 

These two did not get the flu...they continued to find interesting places to play, like the pantry!  Here Grampy is hearding them to safer grounds.

Christopher on safer grounds!

On Wednesday after Christmas we decided to brave it and continue with our plan to infect, I mean visit, Baton Rouge.  Most of our family there have never met "Christopher of the beautiful blue eyes" so a trip was needed. We loaded up two vehicles with almost everything in our house and eight of us drove five hours in the constant pouring rain to Baton Rouge.  Can I just say one word about the weather?  Ick! The first stop was dinner at Aunt Meg's house where Nan met her great grandsons for the first time!


Nan meeting Christopher for the first time.  I just love Rachel and Dave's expressions in the background, priceless.

The next day, we needed a plan.  How can we entertain the boys while sticking to their eating, sleeping, playing schedule, visit five different families, eat some great Cajun food, include as many people as possible in our plans and be home for dinner at six ....and still be sane?  No problem....


All you need is a Tiger! 



Daniel and I up close and personal with Mike the Tiger at LSU!

At first sight Daniel said, "I want to go in there with him!"



Rachel and Daniel



We managed to see all the sights, visit all the relatives AND get home in time for dinner! There might have been a point during the course of the day that we either cried (Daniel and Christopher) or wanted to cry (Rachel and I, out of sheer exhaustion) but hey, no one is perfect.  It was beautiful exhaustion! 

On Friday the holiday visiting was over and it was time to say goodbye.  Our ten days of family togetherness came to an end.  I venture to say that we all had a great time together and we are all glad to be in our own homes once again. 

A few more pictures, because they are just so darn cute!



Who knew the dog bed would provide such entertainment?!



Toy construction, it takes a village!

Daniel reading The Night Before Christmas to Sadie....too cute!





Being "still" for the camera!



Matt checks out his new book and Sadie's head got very heavy







Hey Mommy, my Happy Meal came with a hat!



Bumping Along

I think the post vacation blues have hit me. It always happens. I should know to expect this. Like I said, "re-entry can be bumpy." I have gone from a rural existence and being around familiar faces everywhere I go to a life of urban sprawl and anonymity. Sure it's going to take a little time. I did my best to prolong the vacation and acclimate to city life by spending 4 days in NYC with my sisters.

But you can't postpone the inevitable forever.... can you hear me kicking and screaming from where you are yet?

It is not like there has been nothing going on around here either. TJ and I had a quick weekend trip to Baton Rouge 4 days after I got home to celebrate his mother's 80th birthday and our brother-in-law's 40th birthday. It was wonderful to be able to participate in both. We were even blessed by an early cool (read, less than 90 degrees with only 40% humidity!)front for the weekend! Add a little LSU football and two sister-in-laws from California to the weekend and it was great! Then we had to go home, again.

The real reality started to set in. No afternoon cocktails with friends, no picking fresh produce from the garden for dinner, no long walks in the refreshing breeze, no fixing, painting, cleaning, working and visiting to fill my days. Just me and Sadie looking forlornly at each other and wondering why we are here in this heat and humidity and who invited all those mosquitos!

There is something to be said for living in a house that always needs something done to it, aka the farmhouse. We are never at a loss for things to do. Maybe I should have gotten a fixer upper here in Texas. I did get one thing fixed last week though. We did not have a light fixture in our dining room because the previous owner took hers, so now....let there be light!



We got the light up just in time for a houseful of company....yea, visitors, let's pretend we are still on vacation! Another big "0" birthday party was last weekend and we had a house full of family. Excellent! All the beds were used and the dust upstairs got stirred around a bit. Nice to have some company to justify this big house that we only use 1/3 of most days.

Slowly but surely life is getting back to normal. One day at a time I forget what it was like at the shore and engage in this life. There are still times when I walk outside (because come on...you gotta get out and excercise sometime) that I feel like I am walking in lead boots and wearing a wet towel in a steam room, and it infuriates me because I know there are places in this world where being outside at this time of year is an absolute treat. Once the frustration passes and I accept it for what it is I am fine...until the next time I go outside and my clothes instantly bond to my body because of the hot sticky air and am reminded I am not in Canada anymore. BUMP!