My life has had its up and downs raising 2 wonderful sons on my own. The above sayings really sum up what I could say of my years of having my sons at home with me.

Since my youngest has taken flight from the nest, my life has rebounded to the time before their appearance in my walk here, a new time of learning and growing. Would you believe that I can't really remember a time that I haven't been learning! Guess that comes with growing up in the woods. Stop learning and you start to die.... I've always believed that.

I have known a few people over the years who thought they knew just everything... and were not afraid of letting people know it too!! It was truly hard to hold a conversation with thoes folks... seemed to this woodsie they were busy figerin' out what they were gonna say... never seemed to hear anything I might have to say... needless to say, I started this with "I have known"... they are in my past. EH!

My greatest gift in this life, just behind my sons, is my firends! Having someone to listen to, or visit with makes my life so blessed. The more the difference in our beliefs, and lifestyles, the more I tend to learn, and grow! I feel so sad when I see someone ruling our a new person as a potential friend because of a difference in opinions. It is just so wonderful to delve into a person, and fully understand what has shapped their decisions. The variation in our backgrounds, education, and surroundings has such an effect upon the way we react to any given subject!

Way back when I was driving an ambulance I learned quickly that if 20 people watch the same event, each person has a variation on that event... dependent upon where they were at the moment. Have you ever noticed that socio-economic differences will cause anyone to see the same thing from a different perspective? Think of your neighbor, are they so different? How rich would you be if you took the time to better understand the simple differences of a persons cultural background from yours?

All the things that we pretend don't exist when we visit with other follks, they are the very factors that could enrich your life so very much. I had a room mate almost 30 years ago who still enriches my life with her Mexican-national heritage. We were two young women trying to survive in Dallas, Tx. Working at a factory, we were on sewing machines just one row apart, then one day we happened to bump into each other in the break room. Gina could hardly speak broken English, and was struggling with the postings on the bullitin board... searching for a place to live. I was searching for a room mate, funny how we might have never spoken, but me... I ask her if I could help..." Yes, Yes, YES!... I need home! These are home no?" I couldn't believe walking into a potential roomy!!! I had a posting up there myself, and was checking to see if anyone had ripped off a number to reach me!