HAPPY 75th Birthday Grandma E!!!!

HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY TO MY GRANDMA, ELIZABETH! Wow, what an incredible accomplishment, and what an amazing woman! I wish I could be there with her to help celebrate-I'm just in awe of the woman-75 years-that's a LOT to overcome, learn and put up with! What a truly magnificent blessing she is, and how blessed I am to call her both my grandmother and friend! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA, I love you more than ever and here's to at least another 20 years! Happy 75th-you're positively miraculous!

In other news, here's some random thoughts I was writing to a friend in an email today and thought I'd post them here:

Random thoughts on my mind:

It seems to me that society places so much emphasis on "the good old days," and think things were always better "back when."

I agree that the world in general used to be a cleaner, safer place, but in a lot of ways-the world, or at least American Society has improved, think about this:

50 years ago women couldn't have birth control, legally at least! (Granted, with this Administration, we're still fighting that battle, but my point is, it's a lot better today than it was 50 years ago because now women are educated about contraceptives and open to it)

A long time ago, men just had to work-while that might have been easier-they now can be stay at home dads, senstive and loving boyfriends/husbands/fathers-it's more acceptable for a man to show his feelings, cry and be real. Another thing is men usually kept the same career for decades-now they can change it anytime they want to-now men can have lives and hobbies and be in the delivery room when their kids are born and so on. Men probably have it harder than ever because they're now expected to be EVERYTHING-mocho and sensitive, father/husband, bread-winner/caretaker-it used to be if they "brought home the bacon," all was cool and they could just chill and relax-now, so MUCH is expected of men-but I also think that's a good thing too-I've always wanted to get a man's opinion on this subject-what do YOU think?

30 years ago victims of domestic abuse had virtually no place to turn-there were only about 30 shelters in the U.S., now there are thousands-and since the word is out there, along with statistics and open discussion-victims of domestic abuse have more options when it comes to breaking away from their abuser and starting over again. It's TALKED about now, as where it used to be hush-hush. We still have a LONG way to go and I feel that it's still an issue that's highly overlooked and the severity of it is underated, BUT...we're on the right path and we are more open to LISTEN, instead of look down upon it!

Sex is talked about, okay, maybe too much most of the time-but it's really cool that I grew up in a generation that encouraged sexual education and protection. I had sex Ed pretty much every year growing up and although I learned about it mostly from home, it was very cool that the schools incorperated it into their ciriculum. I think sex SHOULD be talked about to children and especially teenagers-they SHOULD have the facts and reality of it and that way, whehter or not they decide to have sex, they're informed when they do! I also love that it's more acceptable to have sex outside of marriage these days-like, I do NOT sleep around, do NOT misunderstand me. But, the point is, two people can be together now, in a loving, committed relationship, without marriage, and by most standards and people, it's acceptable for them to have a physical relationship. That was very frowned upon not too long ago.

Nutrition-our moms always taught us to eat our fruits and vegetables, but now, we know SO much more about REAL Nutrition and are finally becoming equipped with the knowledge and tools to eat more healthy. Granted, I feel the Government has a bit of a conspiracy against us because the fat-ladden cheeseburger and super sized fries are only 99c, while the fresh produce at the store STARTS at least a $1.50/lb, at least around here it does. But, still, even if we don't all have the money "eat right," we know what we can do. I hope that makes sense!

Grandparents: I don't know about you, but I cannot imagine my life without my grandparents! I started off with seven, I have two left. But, the point is, I would be a completely and totally different person had I not had them growing up. Because people are generally living longer, healthier (most) lives, grandparents are actually around for their grandchildren. Not all grandma's are as awesome as mine, but still, I think having at least one grandparent in your life is EXTREMELY important in helping to mold who you are and especially important in knowing where you came from. I mean, if you don't know where you came from, how the heck will you know where you're going? My mom's generation, she's in her early 50s, didn't really have grandparents that lived long enough to really see and enjoy her generation-so I think the abundance of grandparents today is a wonderful thing!

We Have Choices: you and I, as young adults, have more choices now than ever before. Granted, this often makes our lives utterly confusing, but I mean, men and especially women, have more choices than ever! We no longer have to jump right out of High School and onto College at 18 and then marriage and babies. We can if we want, but we can also wait. While I still think childless women are kind of questioned after they reach a certain age, I'm so fortunate that I can be whatever I choose to be and men can have the same. Women, we can do so much now, you know. I just feel very blessed to live in a country/society/generation that allows me to CHOOSE my own life. That's so great!

Cell Phones: I know, people are very rude with them a lot of the time, and the technology on them is just blowing my mind-but really, I think they're a wonderful thing and an absolute Godsend. I believe they do save lives and help us all stay better connected when we're away from home. I think they're one of the greatest inventions ever!!!

The only downside to all of this is something my Philosophy teacher said last semester, "the more you know, the more you know you don't know." I think there IS such a thing as too much information, and sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss. BUT...nothing ever got done or changed or turned around through ignorance-nothing was ever bettered in this world by turning the other cheek and being stupid. So, I think as long as we as a society accept the fact that we don't know everything-and we're willing to keep learning, keep exploring and keep going-than all is okay in the end! I came up with a quote a few years ago and I've always believed it to be true-"Open minds breed eqaulity," because it is truly, and only, with an open mind, that things can change-and usually always for the better!!!

That's all folks, time for dinner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!! I LOVE YOU!

Many Blessings,
-SL