Well, the Newton Falls High School Class of 1978 Reunion Weekend has come and gone and so we will get together as a class in another 5 years. This weekend spent with my friends was nothing short of fantastic. I do not know how many other classes can claim what I am about to say but we have always been a very close knit group. While a lot of classes had their cliques and rarely intermingled, we did our very best to accept everyone for who they were and just tried to support each other.
Now, I am not trying to say that our school days were lived in utopia. We teased and picked on each other. There were arguments, fights and hurt feelings, just like any dysfunctional family but family we were and you could still see it at the reunion this weekend. By looking back and reminiscing, the good times by far outweighed any bad. We even got together and sang and danced to "We Are Family". Corny, yeah, but we didn't care! We were amongst cherished friends and it just felt right!
We mingled from table to table, just like we did in the halls of the school. The atmosphere was charged with positive energy. We caught up on our lives and it seemed like yesterday that we graduated, not 30 years ago. But you see that is what happens when people who truly love each other get together. Time has a way of condensing and even standing still. Some how, we did not look or feel almost 50, we were back in high school and having a great time. The thank yous and compliments flew about how great of a weekend it turned out to be, with everyone asking us to start planning the 35 year reunion.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone of my classmates who attended our reunion. You all made it a magical time for me!
Once again, if you have the opportunity to attend a reunion, of any type, go. You'll be glad you did!
That's all for today.
May you be blessed always and in all ways.
Harry
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Sometimes you just need a break!
Hi all,
I have not blogged in awhile because I decided to take a much needed technology break and combine it with a little family vacation and business trip. So, my wife and I packed up our car and took the scenic route to my hometown and back, with some diversion in between.
Along the way, we stopped in Newark, OH at the Ohio State Campus there to drop off some things to our daughter, then it was off to Coshocton and Roscoe Village. Roscoe Village is a quaint little place with shops, a museum, canal boat ride, living history exhibits and restaurants housed in buildings from the early 1900's and earlier.
We spent part of the afternoon shopping and having a nice lunch in The Warehouse Restaurant. It was a beautiful day. When we were done, we headed for the back roads and after discovering we had went the wrong direction for a time (even though the scenery was beautiful and led us to a gorgeous lake), we got turned around and came upon Gen. George Custer's birthplace and memorial. We stopped, took some pictures and read some information about Custer. We would probably never had been to his birthplace had it not been for taking a little accidental detour
After the little detour we headed up through Carrolton to Salem, OH. It was getting to be dinner time and by simple happenstance we came across a little family restaurant, Annabelle's. We stopped and had a wonderful dinner. If you are ever in Salem, OH, stop by Annabelle's, you'll be glad you did. One other nice thing about the trip was along the drive, we did not listen to the radio, we just talked and enjoyed each other's company and the scenery.
That Saturday, we went to Southfield, Michigan with our daughter (Melinda) and my Mom to visit my Great Aunt, who will be 94 in November. We had a little adventure as Melinda was coming from Columbus and meeting us in Sandusky to go to the Southfield and somehow thought she was supposed to bring our 70# Chocolate Lab (Toby) with her. Needless to say it was a little crowded in the back seat but all went well. When we got to the Southfield, Melinda and I took turns staying outside with Toby since he could not go into the apartment building.
The visit with Tusa (Romanian for Aunt) Eleanor was great. Even though she is sliding physically, she still has her wonderful wit and sense of humor.
Sunday, I had a speaking engagement in Warren, OH, which went very well. I sold some books and made some new contacts. That evening, Tammy and I went to see a friend of hers that she had not seen in 25 years. It was a nice visit as we were at a camp ground and the weather was perfect, the fire smelled great and the tree frogs were serenading us.
Monday, Tammy and I took the scenic route back home, stopping at an outlet mall for a time. Once again, there was no radio, just good conversation and beautiful scenery.
One of the best things about the trip is I took a break from technology. I did not post, check e-mails, nothing. I did get some reading done and I highly recommend "The Power of Intention" by Dr. Wayne Dyer. It was nice, really nice.
So, after all that, here is the lesson. Sometimes the best things in life are simple and free. The time I spent with family and friends was priceless and the time away from technology energizing. My suggestion is take time away from your hectic life. Take a drive along some scenic byway and just be with the ones you love! It is refreshing!
May you be blessed always and in all ways!
Harry
I have not blogged in awhile because I decided to take a much needed technology break and combine it with a little family vacation and business trip. So, my wife and I packed up our car and took the scenic route to my hometown and back, with some diversion in between.
Along the way, we stopped in Newark, OH at the Ohio State Campus there to drop off some things to our daughter, then it was off to Coshocton and Roscoe Village. Roscoe Village is a quaint little place with shops, a museum, canal boat ride, living history exhibits and restaurants housed in buildings from the early 1900's and earlier.
We spent part of the afternoon shopping and having a nice lunch in The Warehouse Restaurant. It was a beautiful day. When we were done, we headed for the back roads and after discovering we had went the wrong direction for a time (even though the scenery was beautiful and led us to a gorgeous lake), we got turned around and came upon Gen. George Custer's birthplace and memorial. We stopped, took some pictures and read some information about Custer. We would probably never had been to his birthplace had it not been for taking a little accidental detour
After the little detour we headed up through Carrolton to Salem, OH. It was getting to be dinner time and by simple happenstance we came across a little family restaurant, Annabelle's. We stopped and had a wonderful dinner. If you are ever in Salem, OH, stop by Annabelle's, you'll be glad you did. One other nice thing about the trip was along the drive, we did not listen to the radio, we just talked and enjoyed each other's company and the scenery.
That Saturday, we went to Southfield, Michigan with our daughter (Melinda) and my Mom to visit my Great Aunt, who will be 94 in November. We had a little adventure as Melinda was coming from Columbus and meeting us in Sandusky to go to the Southfield and somehow thought she was supposed to bring our 70# Chocolate Lab (Toby) with her. Needless to say it was a little crowded in the back seat but all went well. When we got to the Southfield, Melinda and I took turns staying outside with Toby since he could not go into the apartment building.
The visit with Tusa (Romanian for Aunt) Eleanor was great. Even though she is sliding physically, she still has her wonderful wit and sense of humor.
Sunday, I had a speaking engagement in Warren, OH, which went very well. I sold some books and made some new contacts. That evening, Tammy and I went to see a friend of hers that she had not seen in 25 years. It was a nice visit as we were at a camp ground and the weather was perfect, the fire smelled great and the tree frogs were serenading us.
Monday, Tammy and I took the scenic route back home, stopping at an outlet mall for a time. Once again, there was no radio, just good conversation and beautiful scenery.
One of the best things about the trip is I took a break from technology. I did not post, check e-mails, nothing. I did get some reading done and I highly recommend "The Power of Intention" by Dr. Wayne Dyer. It was nice, really nice.
So, after all that, here is the lesson. Sometimes the best things in life are simple and free. The time I spent with family and friends was priceless and the time away from technology energizing. My suggestion is take time away from your hectic life. Take a drive along some scenic byway and just be with the ones you love! It is refreshing!
May you be blessed always and in all ways!
Harry
Friday, July 11, 2008
You're Eighteen
Below is a poem I wrote for my daughter's 18th birthday, which is today. I wanted to share it with you all because I felt that it may help others express how they feel about their kids turning 18. Please share this with anyone you feel may help them during this transitional time in their and their children's lives. Of course if it is for a boy, you will want to change the line about "your wings" ;-). Blessings!
You’re Eighteen!
You’re eighteen but what does that mean?
They say you’re an adult but also a teen.
You feel so grown up it’s like a dream.
But where do you go from here, the future is unseen.
Just yesterday you were told what to do.
Now you have to choose what is right for you.
Life is no longer black & white, there are grey hues too.
And it can seem like there is no more support for you.
But take this advice if you dare.
From your dad who really does care.
Life is a journey filled with responsibility to bear.
But there is fun, love and new adventures everywhere.
So spread your wings my girl of eighteen.
Your future is bright and you create the scenes.
I will always help build your self esteem.
And be there when you fulfill your dreams!
With All My Love, your Daddy, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A Life Well Lived!
My wife's Grandmother transitioned this past Sunday, she was 95 years old and really saw and experienced a lot of changes in her time. Even if she spent her whole life in West Virginia and did not travel out of the area much, she was witness to massive changes that have taken place in the last 50 years.
She was born in 1912, lived through two world wars, the Depression, the 50's, 60's, '70s, '80s, '90s and almost an entire decade in the new millenium. Unfortunately for me, I really did not get to know her as well as I would have liked. There are so many questions I wanted to ask her and so many answers that I will never get to hear. It is my loss and one that I wish I had taken the time to experience. Boy time really is relentless, so one lesson here is to take more time to seek out and talk with the elderly family members as they will one day leave us. Not to get off the subject but quite frankly a similar thing happened when my Dad passed away suddenly, almost ten years ago. There was too much unspoken between us. So, I for one am going to do better and take more time to visit with the ones I love!
One other thing about this story is truly tragic. Grandma Cutright was one of 13 children, a very large family that is virtually unheard of in the U.S. these days and had 5 children of her own. The tragedy is that her children do nothing but bicker and fight. They do not realize what a gem they had in their mother and what that woman did for them. Now it is too late, she is gone and they can never get the time back that they wasted disagreeing over material things. Quite frankly I do not know everything about Grandma Cutright and how she treated her children but that really does not matter nor is it the point.
Sometimes, we just don't do enough to look for the good in others. We keep ourselves trapped in the past by reliving all the transgressions, perceived or real, someone has done to us. One can neither live for the present nor even plan for the future if they are stuck in the past. It puts us in a holding pattern of sorts, takes away our power of choice & creativity and robs us of our time. We need to do a better job of forgiving others, so that we may live our own life, on our terms!
So, if you are one of those people, please take the time to review your own life and see if you are possibly doing the same thing. I know, life is busy but one day we too will have a "Grandma Cutright" or a parent that we wished we had spent more time with and it will be too late!
Saturday, we will say goodbye to Grandma Cutright and hopefully, her family can also say goodbye to all the hurt, fighting and seperateness. Maybe they can finally forgive and come together once more as FAMILY! Only time will tell!
She was born in 1912, lived through two world wars, the Depression, the 50's, 60's, '70s, '80s, '90s and almost an entire decade in the new millenium. Unfortunately for me, I really did not get to know her as well as I would have liked. There are so many questions I wanted to ask her and so many answers that I will never get to hear. It is my loss and one that I wish I had taken the time to experience. Boy time really is relentless, so one lesson here is to take more time to seek out and talk with the elderly family members as they will one day leave us. Not to get off the subject but quite frankly a similar thing happened when my Dad passed away suddenly, almost ten years ago. There was too much unspoken between us. So, I for one am going to do better and take more time to visit with the ones I love!
One other thing about this story is truly tragic. Grandma Cutright was one of 13 children, a very large family that is virtually unheard of in the U.S. these days and had 5 children of her own. The tragedy is that her children do nothing but bicker and fight. They do not realize what a gem they had in their mother and what that woman did for them. Now it is too late, she is gone and they can never get the time back that they wasted disagreeing over material things. Quite frankly I do not know everything about Grandma Cutright and how she treated her children but that really does not matter nor is it the point.
Sometimes, we just don't do enough to look for the good in others. We keep ourselves trapped in the past by reliving all the transgressions, perceived or real, someone has done to us. One can neither live for the present nor even plan for the future if they are stuck in the past. It puts us in a holding pattern of sorts, takes away our power of choice & creativity and robs us of our time. We need to do a better job of forgiving others, so that we may live our own life, on our terms!
So, if you are one of those people, please take the time to review your own life and see if you are possibly doing the same thing. I know, life is busy but one day we too will have a "Grandma Cutright" or a parent that we wished we had spent more time with and it will be too late!
Saturday, we will say goodbye to Grandma Cutright and hopefully, her family can also say goodbye to all the hurt, fighting and seperateness. Maybe they can finally forgive and come together once more as FAMILY! Only time will tell!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
