Tennessee Rose

I was born in Queens, NY then lived in Philadelphia, PA until I was ten. My mom and dad took four kids and a dog on a cross country trip where we saw twenty-eight states. Our choices of where to move were narrowed to Tennessee or Colorado. I have lived in Tennessee ever since.

There was a marriage to a man who was a charmer. Young, believing in fairy tales but getting lost, there was no happy ending. Fifteen years later, there was a divorce. During this time I was fortunate to have the blessing of children. My two oldest are my step-sons and then three of my own and I love each and every one of them with all my heart. There was a house fire, lost everything but not anyone. There was a farm where the children, horses, pigs, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, peafowl, geese and ducks were raised.

I met a great guy and remarried eventhough I swore I never would do it again. Yet, after being together for sixteen and a half years, another divorce. As sometimes happens, people stop talking, sharing, participating on a daily basis and time just passes. You have to work on it. If you don't there is complacency, lack of communication, a convenience in the familiar and the love will die.

My children have also had some successes and some failures. Thankfully I get to share in the successes. I am NaNa to my beautiful grandhildren. Willingly I also get to share in the failures. It is simple. It is not easy. The journey we each take...what we all call life...is ongoing and continues with each step taken, paths chosen and stumbles along those paths. Get back up. Brush off. Take the next step.

All of the hills and valleys. All of the ebbs and tides. All of the sunsets and sunrises. I am open to each and every experience because each one is new. Each one presents itself for me to do with as I may choose.

Like a book being written, I keep turning the blank pages and fill the next page with whatever blessing or lesson comes about. Praising God for all the blessings. Praise also for all of the lessons. Each one serves its purpose and I am thankful for the opportunity given to me.