Blog Posts - The Beth Lists

Best of August 2017

9/1/2017

The Eclipse

On August 21, we made it to Pikeville, Tennessee in time for the Great American Eclipse! Don and I traveled a total of 1842 miles (with detour to pick up Scott in New Orleans) from TX to TN and back! We made up ridiculous eclipse songs and limericks. We enjoyed Moon Pies and Sun Chips. And we hoped the skies would stay clear!

Before noon, we found a town in the Path of Totality with a welcoming cemetery. Other enthused locals and eclipse travelers gathered on blankets and lawn chairs. We enjoyed a picnic and shared extra eclipse glasses with the working lawn crew. Finally, we applauded with giddy glee, and removed our glasses to look up at the moon covered sun! The 2.5 minutes was worth 2 days of driving!

Hurricane Harvey

Hurricanes have no place in a Happy Blog, unless your house doesn't end up flooding after a mandatory evacuation! It all started the day we returned from the Eclipse Trip.

We returned to Sugar Land, the day Harvey was headed towards Texas. Days after landfall, the rising Brazos River became a serious threat and we scrambled to evacuate. After 4 anxious days, we were allowed to move back to our dry home.

I will always remember August 2017, as the month that brought us a spectacular eclipse and a devastating flood. We cheered for the eclipse. We cheered to get home. Now it's September and time to help those who are not cheering.

Highlights from July 2017

8/1/2017

Michigan

I'm already looking back at July and remembering the refreshing weather in Michigan.

Dave & Amy

Don and I spent a few glorious days with my brother and sister-in-law. As much as I loved the lakes, dunes, wineries and cherries, it's the laughing that I'll remember. Especially our last night.

Exploring

Don and I spent a few days on our own exploring parts of Michigan we'd never seen. It was fun to be back in the state where we both lived from 1973 to 1975. Oddly, we both lived in Ann Arbor, those same 2 years, but met for the first time a couple years later in St. Louis!

Best of June 2017

7/1/2017

Travels in the West

For most of June, Don and I were traveling. I have hundreds of photos of mountains and rivers and flowers in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Texas. But here are a few photos of the happy travelers... and some of our unique traveling outfits!

A year ago, we had to cancel this trip, since June 2016 was the beginning of my cancer treatment. What a treat, to have all that behind me!

Reunions!

One of the best things about the trip was seeing some special people along the way. Christy and I posed while getting our boots shined in Fort Worth. I got to meet Baby Gus for the first time in Wyoming... and catch up with his wonderful parents. In Colorado, I saw Martha for the first time since college. She made me laugh as hard as she used to. Joanna had hardly changed since we danced to the Monkees in 4th grade, which was about the last time we saw each other!

New People

My June memories will also include the people and conversations we experienced during our travels. We had some pretty curious chats with a rancher, a hiker, a farmer, a musician and a chef. My favorite encounter of all couldn't be captured with the camera. I will never forget the delightful Amish couple, telling us about their train travels from Indiana to Colorado!

The Best of May 2017

6/1/2017

May was a good month and it also marked the end of 12 months. It has now been one year since my diagnosis. It's time to stop counting the days since this all began. Now I'll just focus on each month and what I loved best.

Sunsets!

The month began with some beautiful sunsets in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Graduation Festivities in Nola

Towards the end of May, we celebrated in New Orleans with family. We couldn't be prouder of our son Scott. He earned 2 diplomas at Tulane. One for Law and the other for his masters in International Development. He also brought some pretty wonderful people together! What a happy time!

Day 339 - Memories of April

5/1/2017

Turning 60

Turning 60 is not something I ever expected to get excited about. But I'm pretty darn happy to be here! I celebrated early in the month with a visit from Heidi, doing the things I love most... games, movies and brunch! I spent my actual birthday in the Hill Country, sporting my little donkey pin, sent from Scott and Chali and roaming around backroads of Texas!

Mexico Time!

The last half of the month was all about relaxing... in Mexico. There are way too many photos that make me laugh and smile, so I'm forcing myself to grab 2, quickly.

Day 309 - Remembering March

4/1/2017

Bow Ties and Bluebonnets

Every spring, Texans get out there and pose their kids and pets in the roadside bluebonnets. It's just what they do. Don and I chose to celebrate spring with a festive hike up a bluebonnet covered hill, overlooking Lake LBJ. We went all out and snapped on the bow ties we'd purchased at an antique store earlier. I think Ladybird would have been delighted. She started this whole TX wildflower beautification, after all!

Day 278 - Best of February

3/1/2017

March 1, 2017

I'm continuing my once-a-month post, using some February photos that keep me smiling.

Milissa

February ended well when my friend Milissa came to spend a few days. Here we are celebrating... and modeling our candy jewel rings for Oscar night, as well as our 7-dollar outfits from Goodwill. A lot of laughing in a few days!

Houston

February was also a month for exploring the city. Houston is actually a pretty interesting place... if you get yourself out of the suburbs to enjoy it. Don and I made good use of Houston's great food, art and music this month!

Day 250 - The Best of January

2/1/2017

February 1, 2017

Now that I'm only posting once a month, I'll throw out more than 1 photo. These 2 collages show what made me happiest in January.

Being Outdoors!

It was so fun getting away and enjoying the world... without my wig! Just wearing hats and scarves was the first step. Halfway through the month I started facing the world with my funny, fuzzy head!

Being With Don

But the best thing of all, was spending a little time on the road with this guy! Even though we were able to get out of town a couple times in earlier months, this time we weren't hurrying back to start up a treatment. Lots of toasting in January 2017!

Day 220 - On the Road, Again!

1/1/2017

January 1 2017!

We are bound for Big Bend National Park, today. Meandering through west Texas... taking our time. I doubt there will be snow like we saw in Janurary 4 years ago, but I know there will be surprises along the way. That's what I adore about road trips!

This trip is the best way to start the New Year... to return to normal! On this, 220th day since I first learned of my cancer diagnosis, I will end my daily posts. Maybe a monthy post? I don't know. It's been fun remembering and recalling and staying postive with photos from the past.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Day 220 - Champagne

12/31/2016

This photo was taken on New Year's Eve about 6 years ago when my 2-inch Bear had more fur and stuffing. He's been put though a lot over the years, while posing for my camera. Sadly he did end up falling into the champagne. But that wasn't as bad as many other close calls in the past.

Close Calls With Little Bear: Almost got carried off by a seagull... nearly caught on fire when posing with 10 candles... Fell into a marsh at dusk... Blew off a wall and was lost in growth 12 feet below... Fell out of pocket in New York, was run over by a car and mailed back to me by a family who found him AND the posted "Missing" note...

Day 219 - Car Surprise?

12/30/2016

No, this is not a surprise Christmas gift, with a bow. This was taken today at the Carmax, used car dealership. Thomas our "sales-guy" placed a temp bow on our newly purchased Kia. He was delightful, by the way. We spent as much time talking about Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim Museum and NYU, as we did cars. I'm pretty darn excited to drive this car, but I'll be sad to say good-bye to my well-worn Honda Element.

Favorite Past Cars: The (1965?) red, Ford Galaxay convertible, that held our family of 6... Dad's red Fiat Spider convertible, that he used to teach me to drive stick... Our crazy (not classy) conversion van called "Prime Time", with mood lights and built in TV... '73 Chevy pick-up that Don drove, on our first date... My new 1978 , 4,000-dollar Ford Fiesta, with no a.c. or power windows!

Day 218 - Clothes on a Line

12/29/2016

I miss the days when backyards had clotheslines. The last time I saw clothes drying in the sun was 2 years ago in Bouquillas, Mexico. Don and I were visiting Big Bend National Park in west Texas. We brought our passports so we could cross the Rio Grande at the only ranger operated legal crossing. It was a beautiful day and we met some wonderful people in the village.

Clotheslines I Recall: Beach towels struggling to dry on the line, in our jungly, humid yard in Sarastota... Taking pictures of old quilts on a clothesline, behind an unoccupied house in smalltown Texas... Watching preschoolers enjoy a bandana washing activity, then hanging them on a line...

Day 217 - Using the Camera

12/28/2016

This looks like I'm taking a picture of a seagull. Actually my sister took this photo of me, because she was amused that I was photographing my tiny, 2-inch bear on the sand. We were together almost a year ago in Florida, eagerly snapping away with our cameras. Taking photos makes me happy. Taking photos with Jenni, makes me twice as happy.

Photo Moments: In Rome, my memory card was suddenly full, just as the Pope was approaching in his Pope Mobile... In Utah, I fumbled my camera off of "auto focus" and have one blurred photo of Robert Redford walking by... Such fun, attempting to capture the sun setting as the full moon was rising on Galveston beach...

Day 216 - Old Houses

12/27/2016

I'm continuing these "happy posts" till the end of 2016. Christmas is over, so I'll post more random, favorite images. This photo shows my grandmother and her sister playing croquet at her grandparents' house. I have always adored old houses and this one is a beauty. I so wish this house were still standing in Springfield, Missouri so that I could go visit.

I love old houses with... Wrap-around porches... Creepy attics and basements... Pocket doors... Bay windows... A barn for a garage... Staircases with ride-able banisters... Tall windows that open...

Day 215 - Christmas Cheers!

12/26/2016

It's the day after Christmas and the four "youngins" are already gone. That should make me sad, but the photos make me smile! We toasted to both engagements on Christmas Eve and the night before we had a few toasts at our favorite German restaurant. I was surprised on that night when there was a toast to me... finishing treatment. The holidays have made me forget!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Day 214 - Old Fashioned Christmas

12/25/2016

In 1963, my family woke to this Christmas scene, in our Staten Island apartment. Obviously this photo is taken after the gifts were opened and wrappings were cleared. The best indication is that the easel on the right, has clearly been put to use. I was 6 years old that year and remember being giddy over the gift I had asked Santa for. You would have thought I might have painted Santa, or a Christmas tree. But that's Lincoln. I liked painting him in his top hat.

Memorable Gifts: When young Scott got an Elvis doll for Xmas and squealed with joy... The battery operated penguin toy form Grandpa, made so much noise and racket, but the kids loved it... My sister and I got Chatty Cathy dolls for Christmas... I got a diary at age 10 and wrote every day for that year and 11 years after, in new diaries... 2 year old Heidi was very skeptical of a doll, but adored her tiny bear...

Day 213- Christmas Eve Surprises

12/24/2016

This Christmas Eve photo was taken at our home, in 2004! To hope for a little snow in the Houston area is asking for a lot, anytime! To wish for a White Christmas is almost ridiculous. But, the snow started the evening before Christmas and we woke to a little more on Christmas morning. There's nothing like snow to bring neighbors out of their homes, cheering together!

Memorable Christmas Eves: Snowy, NYC 1963, when Mom and we 4 sibs killed time at a city fire station, waiting for Dad to get off work... 25 years later, we began a "Xmas Eve at the Fire Station" tradition with my kids. One year after a cookie delivery, I was allowed to try out the fire pole... In 1988, a knock on the door with a "Ho Ho Ho!" excited little Heidi. The door was opened to discover a big stuffed monkey and note from Santa... Many memories of mom in later years spending Xmas Eve knitting, frantically finishing up the stocking for the latest family member!

Day 212 - Merging Traditions

12/22/2016

In this photo, Don and I were married just over a year and still learning how to work out Christmas celebrations with both of our families. Don's family felt organized and calm, compared to my family's quirky-chaos, which I loved. In this photo, Don and my bro were topping the tree with the always unhappy "Miss Copeless" doll.

Don's traditions vs. Beth's traditions: D's Xmas boots & B's Xmas stockings... D's family took turns opening gifts & B's fam, all dug in at once... D's house was quiet enough to hear Xmas music on radio & in B's house, you might not hear the phone ring... D's family was up early and dressed for present opening & B's fam often in robes until pm...

Day 211 - Santa Pics

12/22/2016

Santa photos can be so adorable and also so pitiful. At least no one is crying in either of these photos, taken about 30 years apart. The Santas don't exactly look jovial and the expressions of the children vary. Scott looks a bit annoyed. Heidi and I both seem to be conjuring up smiles. I wish I had more Santa photos!

Santa Memories: The Macy's Santa above, seemed pretty ideal to me at age 6. We were in NYC on Xmas Eve and snow was coming down... A preschool fieldtrip in St. Louis to see Santa could have been disasterous. We teachers chose the shorter Santa line. Our racially mixed group of children showed no surprise or concern that their Santa had dark skin... I remember taking my kids to see the most gentle and realistic mall Santa when they were young. I so wished they were old enough to appreciate the rare Santa experience they were getting.

Day 210 - Amusing Decor

12/20/2016

My Rex Harrison/Dr. Dolittle doll only debuted as a Christmas decoration one year. He is usually stuck away in a box of things that I should think about parting with. I'm afraid my Christmas decorating is filled with many oddball goodies, that aren't totally appreciated by all.

Odd Stuff: Thumb-sized, metal Christmas elf, bought from an artist 34 years ago... Royal Doulton china chimes with Snowman illustrations... The Christmas Crab is more plastic toy than ornament. It hangs on tree by a long ribbon and is worn by the crabbiest...

Day 209 - Xmas Ping Pong

12/20/2016

It's December 20th and the ping pong table has not been pulled out of the garage yet. We threaten to get rid of the poor, warped thing that only gets used about once a year. But when the paddles come out and the Santa hats go on, everybody gets so darn happy. We'll see if we can keep it around one more year.

Games We've Played at Xmas: Darts... Charades... Pictionary... Jacks... Any cards... Trivial Pursuit...

Day 208 - Books

12/19/2016

Each year, I still pull out children's Christmas books, even though my kids are grown. Some books, I've learned to appreciate more... like the Grinch! And a few old favorites make me laugh with their bland illustrations and lame stories. I wonder what it was that drew me to them?

My Old Favorites: Katie and the Sad Noise... Cajun Night Before Christmas... Eloise at Christmastime... The Polar Express... Frosty, Charile Brown's Xmas and The Grinch...

Day 207 - Kid Art

12/18/2016

I guess it's a little crazy that I pull out my husband's Christmas artwork and put it on display each year. But I love these 2 little 3-D masterpieces! The construction paper has grown faded and Rudolph is losing his pine antlers, but I adore them. They take me back in time, to my own memories of being happily absorbed in Christmas crafts... and then later my own kids!

KId Crafts: Tedious work of paper chains and popcorn stringing... Folding pages of Reader's Digest to create a standing, paper tree.... My kids' ornaments, made each year, with lots of glitter and pride... My childhood family tree in 1962, covered in all family-made decorations, since we were living away from home that year...

Day 206 - Caroling

12/17/2016

For nearly 20 years I organized neighborhood caroling, as our kids were growing up. We started going door to door in St. Louis, when the kids were hardly old enough to belt out Jingle Bells. In Tulsa, we pulled a wagon around our block, singing and collecting donations for charities. But I love memories of our Sugar Land, TX group which always started at the entrance, decorated with angels. It grew as more joined us, traveling around the neighborhood, pausing at corners to sing for anyone who wanted to hear. Because of our neighborhood diversity we often had kids and adults joining us who had never heard of caroling. Some spoke different languages and didn't even celebrate Christmas, but all joined in together!

Caroling Memories: Spontaneous caroling with family friends on a snowy Christmas Eve, when the 8 kids slipped out of the house and began knocking on doors... Caroling with my sibs as Mom played piano and we kids played rhythm band instruments...Taking Heidi's Girl Scout troop to carol at a nursing home and the girls were a bit initimidated... Ending our annual caroling with cookies and hot chocolate, wound up kids and gabbing parents...

Day 205 - Snow Palms

12/16/2016

Twice in 18 years, we've experienced a little snow in the Houston area. Our lame little dustings wouldn't thrill my friends from the north, but they made me pretty giddy. There's just something about snow-covered palm trees!

Surprising Snow: As a kid, seeing snow at Pike's Peak in July... A real Snow Day school closing in Tallahassee, FL was a dream come true... Coming out from a candlelight Christmas Eve service in TX to see cars covered and fat flakes coming down...

Happy List

I started this blog, by thinking about the things that make me laugh and smile. My "Photo a Day" posting began on May 27, 2016. I had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, and I found I could keep things positive, by sharing some of my favorite photographs. Some were silly and made me laugh. Others were just pleasant or peaceful. After 7 months, I was ready to move on. I had finished chemo and radiation and it was time to focus on other things.

Best of the Month!

On January 1, 2017, I stopped the daily posts and began a monthly practice. At the end of each month, I look back at all the things I enjoyed. Then I share some photos, along with a few words. I'm grateful every day, that my life has returned to normal. Each month, I take some time to think about the best experiences or happiest moments in the weeks before. Still trying to keep it positive!

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