Good Riddance

“Good riddance to the past and all my bad decisions”.

This song lyric hit me hard recently. I am not even sure how I came to listen to this song as it is not my type of music, but that lyric stopped me and made me think. I heard it on a grueling day when I had to decide I hope I made the right decision. One decision can change your whole life. Is it for the best? Did I do the right thing?

One decision I made still haunts me and causes me to lose sleep. I hope I made the best decision as it not only affects me. No way to know if I made the right decision only time will tell.

Have you ever heard a song you needed at that moment, and you come to play it over and over? Today I needed to hear this lyric over and over and I sat staring at a message that ate at me. Why is this happening to me today?

The pissed-off version of me wanted to shoot back my real anger at this situation. I learned a long time ago I need to walk away and take time. I never want to say something I do not mean out of anger. I never want someone to overthink my angry words. You can’t take back what you sat in anger. I do not want to be an angry person.  I try to remain positive in every situation.

I learned I have a temper and I need to step away and calm down. The angry version of me is unkind. The calm version of me is kind. I will no longer allow others to make me feel this level of upset or anger. It is my choice who I allow in my life. I wake up every day with a full heart and nothing but gratitude for the amazing people surrounding me.

I am not a fan of social media and never have been I wouldn’t have social media if I didn’t have a special BC cousin who convinced me we should stay connected. I would do anything for my family, and as my family  circle gets smaller, I will do everything I can to stay in touch. Family means everything to me.  I am thankful for social media in many ways as it keeps me connected to family and friends from afar to whom I wish I could be closer. I have reconnected with people I am so glad to hear from, sought out some of my favourite people, and had amazing conversations that we wouldn’t have gotten to have without social media, making it so easy and always at our fingertips.

Scary to think anyone is one just one click away. You have the ability to search for anyone or anything. I have a love dislike relationship with this. I struggle with social media and the amount of time I can waste looking at cute dog videos on Instagram. I have always tried my best to keep my son’s presence offline. I try to share all the important updates with family, but I have sheltered my information about my boy as best as I can. No judgement to those who post kiddos I love following all the moments I am cheering you on from the sidelines. I am always down for baby snuggles!

Recently I realized more than ever how precious our limited time is and I make the choice of who is allowed in my life. I will not allow myself to be upset by a message from someone who upsets me and brings nothing into my life. I get to make the decision. Silence is a decision. I do not have time or energy to waste on anything or anyone who doesn’t bring me positivity, light and love.

2023 Good riddance to my past and all my bad decisions. Nothing but good vibes moving forward. I am open to new adventures and opportunities coming my way!

 

Save the drama for your momma!

An interesting fact and guilty pleasure of mine is that I love drama. Not my own drama. Other people’s drama. But don’t get me wrong I have had more than my share of my own personal drama.

In my younger years, I used to have a t-shirt that I loved that said: “Save the drama for your momma” I wore it until you could no longer read the words. I loved that t-shirt. It was white with red letters. Then it sadly became just dull white and faded.

To be honest with you all, I have had enough drama in my personal life to last me for a lifetime. Now I do everything to avoid having drama in my life. I’m the first to admit I created a trail of drama everywhere I went for years. I coated people’s lives with drama. I was like the glitter you couldn’t get rid of.

The worst version of myself was during the drama years. I wish I would have saved my drama for my momma as my t-shirt said. I am certain I gave my momma enough stress. Her early grey hairs had my name on them. I pray my son is a better teenager-young adult than I was.

I am most thankful I learned how to change my life, my thoughts, and my actions. To know when to leave the drama behind, how to walk away, and just make each simple day filled with love. To be a kinder more selfless version of myself, to draw out my kinder qualities. To help and accept help.

One of my biggest guilty pleasures today is that I love drama-filled reality TV. I am one of the biggest fans of “90-day fiancé” I enjoy how people fall madly in love and move across the world to be with each other. I love love. The fairy tale love that everyone dreams about, the kind we read about in our romance novels, until it all comes crashing down. I love to watch but my heart aches for the people who get hurt as the world watches. I am not sure how some people come back from that public heartbreak. I am glad that my biggest heart break was behind closed doors alone. I am thankful when I picked myself back up it was just my dog and a few close friends that were witness. I am not sure what I would have done if millions of people could have reached out and told me about their opinion on social media.  For the record I do not comment on any TV social media I keep my thoughts to myself, but I wish nothing but the best.

When I reflect on all the drama, I have had in my life what a horrible made for TV drama that could have been, then add in editing to include only the dramatic parts, the tell all’s, the sad moments, the things I would have said I didn’t mean I was just upset. TV really paints the worst versions of these people and yet I find myself unable to turn away. Sunday and Monday nights at 8PM are my reserved for TV times my guilty pleasure. Everyone knows and just lets me watch. I cry at all the wedding and the proposals. I am always so hopeful for anyone’s romance story! I have a tough time watching a season without googling to find out if the couples are still together.

I know I shouldn’t support this drama reality TV, but it is my guilty pleasure. It does remind me how fragile love is and how much work it takes to keep successful relationships. It reminds me to be thankful for the people in my life and to let them know every day how much I love and appreciate them.

I no longer engage in personal drama. I realized long ago that silence beats drama any day. If I have become silent it is because I do not have time for drama and I checked neither does my momma. Here’s to 2023 being quieter and filled with love.

Every day I work to make myself the best version of myself. Accept kindness and love. Sprinkle that shit on others like it is glitter they can never get off!

Sparkle on!

 

 

Signs

My entire life I have been told if I just put my walls down and opened my heart, I could receive signs from beyond. You nees to be open and acceptive.

I have always had a fascination with what happens when we are no longer in our physical bodies? I believe in spirits, ghosts, and a higher power. I love thinking did that just happen for a reason, was it a sign, a coincidence, or when you meet someone, you swear you knew before that meeting?

I have always wanted to know what my greatest gift is, my power, my mark to leave behind in this world. I have always thought I am more than the life I am living. The only person, place, or thing that is holding you back from your highest potential is yourself. I work on myself every day. I try to be the best version of myself. I keep working towards my dreams. I take leaps that I hope are for the best and I keep my dreams in sight. My 2023 goal is to make time available to the people, places, and things that are most important to me and bring me joy.

I do admit the last while I have struggled to be open to receiving signs. I have felt like I have lost my way and had my heart and mind taken up by other things. I vow to take back 2023 and accomplish more things on my bucket list.  To show up and write more each day. To share my accomplishments, my struggles, and my moments of teaching and learning. To dedicate more time to my love of writing this journey has opened my heart and my life to so many amazing opportunities. I am glad I got pushed-took the leap to start this page. Change is always a possibility.

Recently on a little road trip I read a book in a day that blew me away written by a psychic medium. I love that idea and I have been to a medium who blew my mind with accurate messages things she could never know from friends and family passed. I don’t like to seek out direct messages it is still something I would love to understand and be able to experience the capability to do.

The book I read in one sitting was called signs and is written by Laura Lynn Jackson. I saw this book recommended by a friend to another friend on social media, but I happened to see the recommendation and thought the book sounded interesting. Thankfully living in a small town with a quaint little book store I only had to cross the road to find a copy. I was so happy they had one copy left S-O-L-D. I found out this is the authors second book, The first book was sold out, but the lady happily ordered me a copy which I am beyond delighted to read this week!

I love the idea that loved ones are here with us. I get signs all the time and I laugh thinking of how I said I haven’t seen signs lately. I have one person who passed who vowed to haunt me and do fun things and I said if that was true, I hoped for the rest of my life to be haunted. I noticed after the passing those weird things started happening like my tv turning on while the remote was on the table not near me. I used to have electronics come on all the time. Finding dimes in my pathways thinking I wonder who sent me this, lately it has been quiet, and I have been in my own busy little world mind racing always busy. I haven’t had time to slow down and look around for signs.

Then a couple of weeks before I read this book, I was alone in my house rushing to get ready for an appointment when a dime hit me on the side of the head, I had a what the heck moment. I picked up the dime and looked around to make sure I was alone. I let out a laugh read the date and knew it was from the year you passed. I miss you! I will always be happy to have a sign and I give an extra point for making it funny!

The book signs made me bust out into tears and I had a sign while reading the book of a loved one near that I am not sure I would have noticed if not for this ladies’ words chapter after chapter the stories she shared filled my heart. This book has made me regain the spiritual side I loved about myself and has made me more open for a journey of love and understanding. I hope when I pass, I get to throw dimes at so many people. This book also made me think of all the love I am surrounded by each day and again grow my grateful list and reach out to more people to remind them how much I love them. As I look at turning 41 my heart is so full and so excited to see where this year takes me, I am sure I have more changes coming my way and I embrace where life takes me, and the signs let me know you are right here with me. Heaven has some of my favourite people. I have the best angles.

Thank you, Chicken, Lobster, Peach for putting this book in a path I would see it. I miss you girl and I hope 2023 we can get back to fun tea times filled with laughs that hurt and sharing pictures that make us spit out our tea!

Bring on the signs I am open and willing to embrace.

 

Cheers to 2023 and being mindful of time

 

Does anyone else feel like 2023 just snuck up?

My whole holiday season flew by. As the days ticked by, I couldn’t seem to get it together. Winter crept up and my usual favourite holiday Christmas left a hole in my heart this year. I usually have all my decorations out and everything set and ready to do by the first of December. This year I barely had my tree up in time for Santa’s visit. My Opa was the biggest fan of Christmas and bringing the whole family together and while I was glad, we gathered I just feel like every time I looked at your chair, I missed your smiling face a million times more.

I was alone after the holidays with the house to myself. More time off than I knew what to do with. I decided to meet my Gran and her friend for lunch on New Year’s Eve. I hope this is a start of a fun new tradition as my face hurt from the laughter shared. There is no one else I would want to catch up with on the last day of the year. You always make my days better Gran. I am thankful Opa brought us together because I would be lost without you. I can’t wait to see where 2023 takes us from laughter to tears and back to laughter again.

Alone on New Year’s Eve evening, I decided to start a painting project one that I meant to start much earlier in the year, but time got away from me. I had the most horrifying electric neon green bathroom that I couldn’t use because the glare made my soul hurt. I got lost in a great crime podcast and started bringing calm to the walls, which made me reflect a lot on how my 2022 went and what I hope to accomplish in 2023. I love painting I think I have painted every surface of my house at least twice over. Give me a paint brush some good music or an addictive podcast and watch out. It will be out with the old and in with the new. This seems very fitting for the last day of the year.

I got an unexpected invite from one of my favourite people to join her and her boyfriend for New Year’s Eve I immediately declined I didn’t want to third wheel, but I did want to meet this gentleman, so I said you know what stop making excuses and do it! I took 15 minutes to clean the bright white primer off me, slapped on some mascara and lip gloss and was ready to go. I headed out to have a drink at a place I had not been in years and the people watching did not disappoint. Surround myself in good company set an intention for 2023. Thank you, giraffe Jen, for the invite you are one of my very favourite people and I am blessed that going into 2023 I know we will remain kick ass tall girlfriends. You are the only person crazy enough to agree to hike with me until our feet bleed. I am thankful for our chats, walks, tea and problem solving skills. 🤣

2023 I have decided that my time is important and that I need to make certain people and things I want to accomplish a priority. I set the intention that I will be mindful of my time. I have a list of people that I want to catch up with and that I am going to be available to reconnect. I am going to accept more invitations and try to add even more fun that I already have into each, and every day and my huge list of gratitude as always grows along with me.

Cheers to 2023!

Road Trip!

Load up I need a road trip. On this certain rainy Saturday, a random road trip with the purpose of delicious snacks! I love a road trip filled with good music, laughter, and discovering new snacks!

This road trip was a girls-only adventure. It started with a plan to head to the Trenton bakery a place my Opa loved and filled with all the treats I love. When I open the store door, I can picture your smiling face as I collect our favorite treats and black licorice cat candies, we loved to share my” happy pills” as he called them. I cannot live without those candies. They are the key to my happiness. I constantly crave them and should buy stocks in the company.

Joining me on this adventure is a woman I met through a co-worker. We instantly bonded and have been best of friends. We have so much in common. Katie I am so lucky I found you!  Katie became my Smalls, and I became Talls. Yes, I tower over her over six feet in stature. She may be small, but this woman has the biggest heart of anyone I know. We oddly have so much in common we instantly bonded like we always knew each other. Hanging out with you girl is just easy and it is always so much fun!

We have been on some amazing random road trips filled with endless laughter and random pictures on funny-named roads, kissing statues, and jamming all the snacks in our faces.

We keep finding the most amazing snacks, but we are always dreaming and making lists of places to hit up and try the latest best-find snacks. I hope we spend a lifetime searching out delicious snacks. The adventures we have in search of snacks oh goodness as I think of all the places, we have been I wonder how we are not on a permanent sugar high or maybe we are!

Life is always somehow always better and more fun when you are around.

Just yesterday when I was feeling down and out struggling with the problems of adulting you were my shoulder to lean on and then you randomly showed up with cheesecake the one thing that no matter how sad I am will always put a smile on my face. You came with a huge box of all the favourites. No words needed just some hugs and snacks. You just get me girl thanks for that.

My son loves Smalls and her crazy pets he always wants to visit at her place. If I ever leave this world Smalls you will be getting my son and alllll my pets!

Kelso our beloved corgi goes crazy when Smalls visits she instantly brings all the toys to Smalls because she knows she loves dogs and will always play.

My sons beloved cat Noah will also come running because he knows Smalls will always pet him as she has cats of her own. I avoid cats the best I can not because I do not like them but because I am allergic making cats like me a million times more,

Smalls has just become a member of our family! I always tell her sorry girl you are stuck with me F O R E V E R! I think it’s going to take us that long to find the ultimate best snack ever. Thank you for always loading up on road trips and for always be there when I need a bestie, I am beyond lucky to call you mine. Thank you for all that you do! We love you!

 

I will not give up!

This weekend reminded me that I am older than I think.  I am forty. This weekend reminded me that even though I think that I am twenty my body would disagree. I have sore spots on my arms where I didn’t even know you could have muscles.

Truth be told I have struggled a bit to make the adjustment to working Monday to Friday 9-5 and having weekends off. I love my house, but it seems even smaller when I never get out of it. I am staring at multiple screens a day and am so tired of screens. I am burnt out. I want a screen-free holiday!

Friday night my partner suggested why don’t we do something like go rock climbing or a movie? I then turned the question over to my son and asked which activity would you rather do? I was delighted and a little bit anxious when he picked rock climbing. I have always promoted doing something outside of screens. I grew up in the outdoors and now with more screens than ever I love it when we can do anything without screens. I however do not enjoy gyms filled with people.

Rock climbing, I may have bitten off more than I could chew. Something you should know about me if I am determined to do something nothing will stand in my way I will not give up and I will do it. I will find some way to complete the task at hand.

The last time I went rock climbing I was much younger and more fit, or less broken. As I watched my son do the training, he looked a little bit scared, but as soon as he was on his own, he lit up that wall and climbed to the top in lightning-fast speeds.

I don’t know who made the grades or rates the walls from easy to hard but I at last was defeated and stumped on the easiest wall rated at a 5.2 it was starting to become impossible. Impossible is not a work I like to use. I think anything is possible if you have the right attitude. I don’t like that feeling of defeat. I despite pain and tears attempted the wall more than once probably 4 or 5 times. Between my discs slipped in my back, nerve damage, almost no feeling in one leg and a broken pelvic floor I am not sure why I thought I would be great. I went in to complete the climb determined. I gave myself points for trying but I want to high five the top of the wall.

Everyone around me in the gym was truly kind yet as the tears that rolled down my face I was feeling defeated. The tears were from a combination of pain and defeat.

Pay attention when I say that I will be back, and I will make that 5.2 wall my bitch. I will make it to the top and happily jump down. Now that I know what I need to work on I have a game plan.

This is the mind set you need for life! When life knock you off a wall before you accomplish what you set out to do. Make a new plan tackle it in a new way but never give up. You got this. If everyone was just instantly great at something the first, try, we would have no reason to work and do better or work up to a goal.

I am determined.

I am strong.

I am surrounded by good vibes.

I got this!

Fit fabulous and getting up that 5.2 rock climbing wall here I come. Stay tuned for my victory picture!

It’s November

I might still be riding a sugar high from last night. I may never shake the cold that the rain left with me.  I did enjoy seeing the costumes and watching the kids run around from house to house. The impressively scary decorations people set up. It was a great feeling even in the pouring rain to see so many people out.

I have never been a Halloween fan and I did not want to go out last night. I had to remind myself that this could be the last year my son lets me tag along. Time really needs to slow down! Thankfully, my sister-in-law joined me on the walkabout. We were rewarded quite nicely upon return and sorting of the Halloween haul.

My son and my niece have gone out together trick or treating for all the years we have lived here and this year they outdid themselves. They dawned the costumes of what might very well be my brother’s favorite movie of all time Monty Pythons Quest for the holy grail. He haunted me with never-ending movie quotes when we were growing up. He has now passed all those quotes onto my son to torment me with. I will admit I do think this movie is hilarious and is a classic must-see that is if you like to laugh.

My niece was King Arthur and she nailed it. She pulled off the look and all the movie quotes. My son was Patsy complete with coconuts that were so believable many people thought a horse was coming down the road. My brother being the big nerd he is made a soundboard of movie quotes and soundtracks.

For the people who knew what Quest for the holy grail was they loved it and shouted quotes. They timed it perfectly to have “run away” play as they left the houses.

I love that my family took the time to craft these costumes and watching the kids faces light up as the got into the roles was so freaking cute. The quest for too much Halloween candy and a sugar high from now until Christmas is complete.

What did everyone else dress up as for Halloween? Hit me with some pictures I would love to see!

 

 

Play your music real damn loud

I love rage-screaming music! I love to crank my music and sing my heart out. My two favorite places to sing are when I am alone in my house cleaning yes, I will never admit it again, but I crank my music and dance around with my vacuum.  Music keeps me motivated to clean! I freaking love to vacuum and deep cleaning gives me a sense of accomplishment. The smell of cleaner after cleaning a house relaxes me. The popular songs from the club days are now my dirty dancing clean the house playlist.

The second place you will always find me singing is in the driver’s seat. When I am driving alone you can guarantee my music is real damn loud. I love to drive around watching the blurry scenery as I drive too fast and sing too loud. This is when I am the happiest.

I love how just the right song can come across the playlist and you find yourself dancing along getting lost in a memory. I love how a song can instantly change your emotions. The right song just sets the mood for the day. So many songs remind me of certain people or places in my life. Just hearing the right song paired with the memories makes me smile. I have so much to be thankful for.

My taste in music is a bit all over the place I am sure anyone who has seen my Sassy playlist will question my sanity. I have a place in my heart for heavy metal rage music nothing motivates me better. or warms my heart or just gets my soul. My workout music playlist is scary sweary music that makes me want to set a world record in running.

I grew up listening to a variety of music my parents had quite different tastes and I found myself enjoying artists from both of their playlists. They both played a significant role in always playing music I grew up in a house always filled with music. My brother introduced me too and ruined my life with heavy metal which makes me giggle because he doesn’t listen to much of that these days. It still runs through me heavily. I have my playlist ready to go.

The one type of music I could never get into was country I always struggled well that was until one of my new co-workers posted a song of a concert she was going to and ruined my life. I am quite sure my partner thinks I am insane but there is something about this guy’s voice I am so in love, and I so desperately need to see Zach Bryan in concert. I cannot stop listening something about his voice is just a sheer delight to my ears and its so country. I can’t explain it his voice just ignites something in me. I am ready for my cowboy boots and hat now. Play your music real damn loud is a line in his song heading south. It hit me and I can’t stop singing it!

One thing music taught me is to always be open to listening to something else. What one person loves another may not like. Everything you do will not be loved by everyone. You cannot please everyone. But the right words just might change someone’s life. There is music for every kind of mood you are in. If you need to get to a mood work through a mood or searching for something different music always has it.

Back in my younger years I was a concert rat I had tickets to all the shows I love the feeling of a large event energy not so much the amount of people but just the feelings of positivity that music brings out in us and bring us together. I cannot wait for the day I can share a concert with my son! My first concert was with my mom she took us to see Bare Naked Ladies and it is something I will never forget. I hope to create that same kind of memory with my son. We do not have the same taste in music and his music idol is no longer with us RIP Stomppin Tom so we have some details to work out before our first show.

I love when someone shares a song that reminds them of you, a while back a girl who was my best friend and we shared a lot of concerts together reached out and said every time she hears Pink by Aerosmith she thinks of me. Still one of my biggest regrets is not going to see Aerosmith when I had tickets, but my pregnancy made me so sick, I couldn’t cope. I wish I could see them! I missed the opportunity of a lifetime I hope this opportunity comes around again. Bucket list must see! I have a whole list of concerts I still want to see and even a new artist added. Who is something you would love to see in concert? Or someone you saw and it changed your life?

 

 

 

Where you at?

Okay, I know I have said enjoy Canadian summers because they are gone in a blink of an eye, but this year it especially flew by. I left my job and even had most of the summer off with my boy, but it feels like we did so much and yet nothing at all how is it possible that the leaves are now changing colors and the fall crisp air has set in? How is it possible I already have a fourth grader? Time needs to slow down.

As I sit in my home office with the window open and the lake breeze keeping me cool I love watching the sunrises and the sunsets. Gorgeous colors all around me. I do love the fall season and all its gorgeousness.

I enjoyed my first caddy cruise this past weekend, usually, by the fall I have ticked on hundreds of kilometers but at last this year my lovely car sat in a garage, tarp-covered and sad. . My son has let me know he has been on more cruises this year and that it’s no longer my car. Apparently, I lost my caddy, and he wants it restored back to its original mint condition so he can enjoy the caddy as his first car. I laughed thinking of trying to pass my driver’s test in the caddy. How cool would it be to drive to school in a big ol black caddy. I took my driver’s test in a Mercury Topaz a mid-size car and when I parallel parked, I backed into the spot they have set aside, and I hit both gates you had to navigate between to pass. I would like to say I am a much better parker today. Thankfully, you could have three errors back in the day when I did my testing. I don’t think the caddy would fit between those parking gates. I find it best to find a pull-in spot rather than try to parallel park the caddy. I am not brave enough; afraid I will scratch it the car. I also do not have my transport license and I can assure you the caddy is the longest care I have ever driven. One good thing about the driver’s test with a caddy would have been that I wouldn’t have lost points for speeding like I did. I can only imagine in 7 years when my son finally is a licensed driver what the cost of gas would be to fill the caddy. I do often wonder if as a passenger my son behind the wheel cruising along, would I have the same big smile I see when I look over at my dad. I am not sure if I would be smiling and scared he’s driving my car!

This past weekend we went for a cruise to celebrate my dad’s birthday he is officially a senior and we have a birthday tradition to get Reb Lobster and cruise, This time I picked up my girlfriend smalls who is just the smaller version of myself. I threw her in the back of the caddy and we headed east. We were both having a day sometimes the struggles real. When I have a bad day I try to think of how it went wrong and what I could do to make it better. You know what always makes my problems better? Crushed velour and being in the drivers seat of the caddy! The three of us cruised around laughing and it was just the fall day we all needed.

As thanksgiving approaches this weekend, I think of all the people I am thankful for and my face hurts from smiling. I still make a grateful list every day to remind myself how blessed I am in this life.

Here’s to fall and falling into living grateful lives.

Smash it up!!

From the first time I ever went to a demolition derby, I have had a dream to smash up some cars. Long before I ever wanted to race cars, I wanted to smash them up.  I love to go fast, and I love to smash, hopefully never at the same time.

As a woman when the crowd cheers on a lady demolition derby driver it still gives me chills and instantly makes me smile and proud and deep down, I am like GET EM GIRL! Destroy those other cars. I love a lady driver even better if she’s a winner!

I can remember my dad taking me to the local fair I was about 7 years old or so and I thought it was a crazy idea to take cars you stripped down to nothing, decorate them up, then you suit up and destroy them. Who comes up with this? My dad’s face lit up with excitement as he described the event to me, so I agreed to go, and it turns out I loved it.

The lady who announced the local fair in our small town had such a captivating voice. She sucked you in and kept you yelling and cheering the drivers on. You yelled until you lost your voice. She was always having fun and made sure everyone got along and shook hands at the end. She had a voice that drew people in to watch the derby from all around. I am sure you could hear her voice across town.

This was the first year I have been back to the fair since Covid without the announcer’s voice present and it showed.  This derby was best described as unorganized chaos. The drivers shook hands at the end to honour the late great woman announcer not because they were friendly told. I know I wasn’t the only person who missed her in a crowd I heard her name many times. This derby was confusing, the sound was bad, and the interviews were inadequate quality.

When my son and niece were about 5 years old, I took them to a local fair to watch the derby. For the record they both thought the idea of cars smashing up was crazy like I did at that age. Happy that they entertained me and joined. Our Opa also joined us he also loved a derby, but I think he just came to the fairs to see the carousel.

We had front row seats to the derby, and we got the full experience during a crash up close and personal we had mud sprayed on us. We watched the kids’ faces light up with wonder and delight. I knew from that moment I had derby kids. They even had a 1989 caddy just like the one we have and the look of shock on my sons face like anyone would ever want to smash it up was one is a look I will never forget.

This year we went to the fair for the derby. We sat high up in the grandstands, we know you were right there with us Opa we watched, and we cheered until we lost our voices. Our hearts were full, and I know two kids who want to enter the derby! I will be right beside you helping to decorating a car just please use any other car NOT the caddy!