Missing my second home….

Golly, as I sit here on a Saturday night (by myself) watching my Bulldogs play Arkansas, I am hoping for another win as we had against LSU last week (44-34); what a great game!

I am reminded of the many years we lived in Starkville. We moved there on our wedding day and we enjoyed our jobs, friends, golfing, hunting and fishing so much that we called it “our second home” for eighteen years.

And, even though we loved everything about Starkville and Mississippi State and our wonderful friends, there came a time when another move was made. I like moving and would be ready to move again if I could even at this age. I loved living in Alabama, too.

Moves bring you new friends, new opportunities, and a new lease on life. But, I must be content for now, because we never know what tomorrow will bring.

I have a good life; I am blessed beyond measure, and I love and enjoy my friends I’ve made along the way and I am sure to enjoy any new friends I have yet to make.

Another day ~ another birthday!

“Another day, another dollar,” is my all-time favorite saying when someone inquires how am I doing.  It just seems to be a good answer, especially when I am heading to work and I’ve stopped by the mini-mart to get my usual soda pop.  I just have to have some caffeine in the mornings, as do my coffee drinking friends.

However, I recently had another birthday.  I might have just as well turned 70 so that I could get that over with!  Get it out of the way.  Now, I am sixty-nine and holding, albeit inching toward that 70 mark.  Like any other lady friend I might know, I wish to look to be in my 30s or maybe 40s; not 70, but I’m not sure what we’re supposed to look like when we turn 70 years of age.  Do you?

My hair is graying, getting thinner, and my body keeps getting fluffier.  I am to believe it is because I am not exercising.  I told my husband the other day in Academy Sports that I wanted a new bicycle; one with all the bells and whistles and gears and such.    The bicycle I am now riding is very similar to the one I had as a child; just a handlebar, peddles and brakes.  The one I was looking at in Academy, had no fenders.  That wouldn’t be a problem to me, although my husband said the bad thing about those bicycles is that when the road is wet, the water is thrown up on you.  Well, if that’s not the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.  Who in their right mind at 69 years of age is going to ride their bicycle when the road is wet.  For the road to be wet, that would have to mean that it had been raining, and I’m wondering who rides their bike in the rain?  I caught on pretty fast; he just didn’t want to spend the $200 for my new bike!  After forty-nine years of marriage, I’ve got this one figured out pretty well.

I am also inching myself closer to leaving my job, AKA “retirement,” and I hate that word for me.  I deplore that word.  I didn’t work for nearly seven years after caring for my Mother for two years, and I feel like I’ve had my “golden” years of retirement.  I still want to wake up and have a meaningful purpose to jump out of bed (assuming the Aleve pill has entered the blood stream during the night) and the planters facetious has not struck my feet again.  Just my thoughts, only; my personal feelings.  I don’t feel the need to tell everyone I’m retired, when they ask, that’s all.

If I live to be 70, I will continue to count each day as a Blessing because nothing is for sure and I taking nothing for granted.  Remember, “life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”

Until next time.

XO

GolfinGal’

Golly, I’m so thankful ~

………..for each and every Blessing that makes my heart happy.

When I read this young lady’s feelings on her Blog, “Gonna Do It,”  her post ~ Martyrdom and Donut Holes, I feel she has read my mind and my heart.

See if her feelings touch your heart, as it did mine.  I can surely relate.

Home

 

 

Have a Blessed day!

HSK

 

 

 

 

Today is a new day……

But, what do I write about today?

Nothing special comes to mind; except that I am grateful; always thankful and grateful.   This in itself, makes me happy as I know that I am truly blessed by my Heavenly Father.

I do have Faith.  I have an abundance of Faith.  It keeps my head above water, my chin up and my heart full of joy, especially when I feel as if others are unkind to me.  Perhaps it’s how I perceive it and not them, at all.

I learned a long time ago to take just one day at a time, and, at the end of each day, to give thanks for getting through each day and for every Blessing I received that day.  Life is difficult at times and we each have our own burdens to carry.  Some, more than others, I feel.  It is those whom we spend time more time praying for.

It is beyond my realm of thinking how one can not recognize that there is a higher being who is in control of our lives.  He has a purpose for our lives, and, for the life of me, sometimes I can’t help but wonder what my purpose is in this life.  However, it is not for me to question.

I live on Faith.

 

 

VIA Facebook, a friend reconnects

We all know that FB can have many faces; some of which can be shown as hateful, dramatic, sad, unbelievable, angry, unexplainable, powerful faces because of the days we now live in and the personalities that people sometimes share online, but then there are those times when people reconnect bringing friends back together that bonded in their youth so many years ago. FB has given me this, and I am so very grateful. It has truly been a wonderful outlet for this user.

I was prompted to write this so that my longtime and new) friends would know how thankful I am for their friendship, and, because someone on a group page from my hometown was inquiring if anyone had knowledge about a friend that he had made back in his high school/college days.  It seems they had been in a band together and he was wanting to reconnect.  I happened to know the name of his friend because at one time, we went to the same school.  I thought it would be wonderful if they could reconnect so I began searching for his friend via internet and Facebook.  Little did I know that by making an inquiry from one of my close and personal school friends (Virginia), that it would lead to his younger sister’s name.  After searching Facebook under her first and last (maiden) name, I decided to send a personal message to  someone that could possibly be the sister; not knowing if she had married or was still single, and, believe it or not, the lady responded just last night.  “Martha” let me know where her brother is now living with his wife, so I am tickled pink that I will be happy to pass this information on to our Vicksburg group member.  My search is over and another good deed has been done.

His friend is co-owner/founder of the following animal rescue mission in Utah.

http://bestfriends.org/about-best-friends/our-story

If you so desire, donations for this website are greatly appreciated.

Warmest regards from this GolfinGal!

 

 

 

 

Classmates ~ truly forever friends

My classmates and I just celebrated our 50th class reunion from my hometown.  Our three county schools merged as one high school back in the year of 1966.  Can you believe it?

I can’t.

Time has passed by too quickly.  I’ve  had so many birthdays since then; I guess that’s a good thing, right?  I’m still kicking, golfing, and enjoying life.

My class was the second graduating class of this new school.  I’m sure it took a lot of getting used to on everyone’s part because we all dreaded leaving a place that we had already spent so many years at, but we all came together and shared our young lives, made new friends and graduated in a class of 99 students.

Seeing these friendly, smiling faces once again, some of whom I would not have known had they not had graduation photos and name tags on, was definitely the highlight of this year for me!  I will forever hold many of them near and dear in my heart because of the innocent, wonderful times that we shared as friends.

Going to Johnny’s Restaurant, hanging out, eating battered French fries, drinking cherry Coke, seeing friends and passing the time away; laughing, sharing secrets, making memories; that’s what it was all about.  It was an innocent age at that time.  Especially for me.  You can say that I lived a sheltered life under my Mom and Dad’s roof.

Some of us even met husbands to be there.  Who would have known?  Marriage was certainly not on my mind at 18 years old!  How about you?  Two years down the road and it happened.  Going on 48 years now.  WOW!

And, last but not least, we truly had the best music back then, too!  Well, at any rate, this was a sure favorite of mine that I will never forget and will always be one of my favorites.

Enjoy this special era with me ~ one more time.

 

 

 

 

I’m a year older!

On any given day, I am always feeling blessed and immensely grateful.  So far, I’ve been given 68 years in which to be thankful!  God is good!

Recently, I came across this necklace and it was amazing that something this small and possibly insignificant to others, could speak to my heart and bring a smile to my face.  There was no doubt that this was going to be a “must have” purchase.  It speaks volumes.

I believe that everyone is blessed in one way or another, and sometimes it might seem that others are blessed more.  However, I don’t know of anyone in my circle who is not facing some sort of issue, whether it be health related, family problems, money problems, hurt or fear of the unknown.  If we just look within ourselves, be prayerful and see what God has done for each of us, this should be more than enough.  Please keep the faith.

The end.

 

 

Memories….

 

I’m sitting here looking at the bracelets I’m wearing today and fondly going back to my younger years.

We all had silver charm bracelets back in the day, and one of four that I’m wearing today has charms from special friends during my teenage years.   Two of the charms have initials “V.G.” and “A.T.”  Another charm is from my father’s sister, Aunt Annie, with the year 1967 stamped on it, the year of my high school graduation , and a lone horsehead is the other charm.  Haven’t a clue where that one came from!  The thoughtfulness of my gifters Virginia Gilbreath and Anne Townsend, probably came by way of a birthday, perhaps my 16th.

Unfortunately, I was not gifted with a sister; just five big brothers.  I know I was a blessing to my Mom and Dad, being the last child and also being female.  However, I’m sure it was not an exciting time for my brothers, but they did accept me.  After all, they couldn’t return me so they had no choice than to let me be their little sister.  And, this, my friends,  is what I was called for most of my life to my entire family, “Sister,” even though I was given a proper name.

In reality, V.G. and A.T. were like sisters to me and I still hold them dear to my heart for all of the wonderful memories and laughter that we shared going through high school and even afterwards.

As life would have it, we’ve all gone our separate ways, but these are just little remembrances that bring a spot of happiness today and with some  awesome memories, too.

 

Memories ~

One of my girlfriends emailed me today and was telling me how her love of golf has been such an important part of her life, especially since she and her husband are temporarily in another state working.  As we know, there is no place like home!  This friend has had the opportunity of making so many new friends and is so thankful for the memories she is making.

Her inspiration made me think about my own life ~ if I had not married my husband or had not left my Vicksburg home.  Here are a few critical and meaningful points in my life to date:

I would not have had the opportunities that have brought me memories that will last a lifetime.

 I would not have been associated with or been employed at Mississippi State University for 18 years and worked for two of the finest gentlemen I’ve ever known.

I would have never known the excitement as our Mississippi State Bulldogs gained national attention and our Diamond Dawgs capturing the 2016 SEC Baseball regular season title.

I would not have met and have the personal friendships I still cherish and fondly stay in touch with had I not lived in Starkville and worked at Mississippi State, before moving to Alabama.

I would not have had the best job in the State of Alabama; nor would I have worked at one of the finest Championship golf courses.  I would not have met Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino or worked during the 1990 PGA Championship tournament at Shoal Creek.

I might not have been able to quit my job at Shoal Creek, after eight years, to have the most important job in my life; to become the caregiver for my loving Mother for the last two years of her life.

I might not have had the most caring, helpful and loving in-laws and had the opportunity of being closer to them for about a year, or have become the caregiver for my sweet Mother-in-law, the last remaining months of her life.

I would not have four of the sweetest fur babies that greet me with excitement when I awake in the morning or come home from work in the afternoon (Sam, Rosie, Doogie, and Mattie).  Nor would I  have my precious Pearl, who loves to cuddle when I am trying to take a nap.

I would have never met my friend and mentor, Melda Silk, whom I came to love and appreciate her friendship as she volunteered in my office and always offered to work so that I could be off to play in golf tournaments.  I will miss our times having soup and salad at The Olive Garden and shopping for new lipstick at Dillards and our hugs to each other.  My friend, Melda, passed away March 21, 2016 at the age of 89.  She would have been 90 on July 24th.

All of these circumstances are Blessings and just a few wonderful remembrances that have brought meaning to my life. 

Stay tuned; I’m sure there will be more to come, but one of the most important Blessings I would not have had is ~ 

I would not have met you.

XO ~ Hassie

Favorite photos ~