A Moment in Time

Sorry to divert from the fun of the 80's flashbacks, but I was brought up short this evening when I heard of a young life cut short.  A tragic car accident that ended a 17 year old life.  His mother was my favorite babysitter and the coolest girl a ten year old could ever imagine.  His grandparents are like my second set of parents.  I can't remember a time of not knowing them.  When my mother told me this afternoon, I was in shock.  This family is the family everyone wishes they were a part of.  They love and cherish each other.  They leave their mark of goodness with the people they touch.  I know this young son would have done the same.  He leaves behind a huge, extended family, an older brother and a younger sister.  Their lives will never be the same. 


Let's take this time to know that every moment is precious with whom ever we love and share our lives with.  We are only given this minute; life changes in a moment.  My heart is breaking for my dear friends.  This is a moment to pray for peace of the spirit and give thanks for what we share.  


Sandy, Teddy, Mr. and Mrs. Mershon, Cody and Carrie, my sincerest sympathies.
Love,
Jenifer Anne

Starship Enterprise

My 20's and 30's were spent on the Starship Enterprise, traveling at warp speed. College, jobs, growing family and almost no time to breathe, except when doing lamaze...with time moving like a speeding bullet I do recall many songs and musicians that could sum up life at certain moments, made me cry and of course gave me and my girlfriends a chance to belt out to the world that "You Oughta Know." (shout out to Alanis Morissette)  So I am now going to sssslllllooooww it down~ instead of providing a list, I am going to choose one or two songs a post to focus on.

When You Say Nothing at All- Our first dance...this was "our song."  I don't even think we even had a conversation about the song we would dance to. This was it.  We became fans of AK and TUS several years before.  I remember setting up a college friend with a local hs friend and heading over to the Rich Valley Fair to take in Alison and her band.  In the red jeep Wrangler with the top down, I knew before reaching the top of the mountain I would never, ever set up a blind date again. Match making + me = DISASTER!   I'm not sure, but I think a few beverages of choice made that curvy mountain trip a little more tolerable.  I recall meeting up with a group of friends and enjoying the evening, ending with talking to AK and my better half asking for her autograph- for some odd reason he chose the back of his hand.  I don't think he washed it for a week, but with fate and anti-bacterial soap, all good things fade with time.  Years later, when I had our 3rd child my nurse anesthestist (the one and only MG) made a cd that was played during my c-section.  One of the songs she put on it was "When You Say Nothing at All.'  It warms my 40 year old heart to know that I have been surrounded with people that know my soul, my past, and my passions, without me having to say "nothing at all!"

There's Nothing Like a True 80's Girl

Yes I admit every bit of it.  I love the 80's.  People now make fun but I still believe it was the best decade to be a teenager!  Big hair, bright colors, lots of eye shadow, what could be better?  I had friends that dressed like Madonna, Boy George, the Thompson Twins and Prince, ( friends you know who you are)!  Do you remember how to get bangs so high and stiff?  The cans of hairspray consumed must have made a huge dent in the ozone.  My mother wouldn't let me spray hairspray in our bathroom because it spotted her wallpaper!
And oh the phases, I went through the new wave stage, punk stage and the "please I really am Belinda Carlisle, really!"


Here area my Ten:
1.  Wake Me Up Before you Go-Go! Wham! - oh George Michael!
2.  Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper - my first concert ever!
3.  Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
4.  Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
5.  Melt With You - Modern English
6.  Hold Me Now - The Thompson Twins
7.  We Got the Beat - The Go-Go's
8.  Girl You Know its True - Milli Vanili
9.  Don't Go Back to Rockville - REM
10. If Love Somebody Set Them Free - Sting


11. Do They Know it's Christmastime? - Band Aid

Jose Gonzalez - Stay Alive

My dear friend Michelle Gates sent this to me a couple of weeks ago.  She sent it and said "Great track. Kristy May, can't help but think if we were 16 today this would be part of our soundtrack...."  So I thought it was appropriate to add to our music memory posts.  Thanks Michelle, it feels good to be thought of now and then :)
aka~ Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Music Magic Time Machine

Here is a list that spans time from 1973-1985

My childhood list of influential music- please, please don't judge

This is me and my best friend, April at this time.  We would sing this song in the car and her dad would call us Juice and Fig Newton.

• Angel of the Morning~ Juice Newton, My very first 45, purchased at the Record Bar.  Oh, how I wish something this simple would still make me feel like I was queen of the world :)

Ocean Front Property ~ George Straight

Islands in the Stream~ Kenny & Dolly

Afternoon Delight~ Starland Local Band- this was my first LP, and I thought I was something, thank goodness I did not know what this song was REALLY talking about!

9-5 ~ Dolly Parton

Young Turks~ Rod Stewart

Hurt So Good~ John Cougar

Abracadabra~ Steve Miller Band, yep had this 45 too :)

Hard to Say I'm Sorry~ Chicago

The entire Michael Jackson Cassette Tape (my first one of these)~ Beat it, Billy Jean, Thriller

Eye of the Tiger~ Survivor, I know, I know kiddos, it was ours first.

Stand Back~ Stevie Nicks and a pair of roller skates, Friday night, and the world was my oyster!

Time out...

First and foremost, I want to thank my sister in blogging for allowing me to take a time out from our walk down music memory lane to honor a dear, dear man who was referred to at his memorial service today, as one of the "last true southern gentlemen." ~ The Penningtons.  This evening we celebrated the life of one if the most kindest, loving, self sacrificing and loyal men I've had the honor to know and love. We will miss you Paw! Give Ruby and Dot a hug from us all.

June 3, 1995

Instead of using this space to discuss all the traits that made him one special man, I will use the many tributes that have been written and expressed to express just how loved he was.
Mr. Tudor was born in Smyth County, VA to the late Turner Park Tudor, Sr. & Lillian Thomas Tudor and was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Buchanan Tudor and a sister Martha Tudor Robinson. Mr. Tudor attended the Marion College & North Carolina State University and was a member of the Royal Oak Presbyterian Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the Medical Air Evacuation Unit. He was a Life Member of the Francis Marion V.F.W. Post 4667 where he served as treasurer and served on the honor guard & firing squad. He was employed as the plant manager for the downtown Holston Harwood plant in Marion for over 35 years. He worked with the Red Kettle & Salvation Army.

Paw and his boys

Summer 2000

He was a wonderful man & I know you all will miss him so much!

                                                                     ~ Genie Sneed

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Turner Park Tudor, Jr. of Marion. Mr. Tudor passed away at his home on Friday at 95 years young. He is the grandfather of previous MFD Chiefs Jim May and Todd May, and great-grandfather of firefighter Matthew May. Mr. Tudor will be missed by all who met him.

~Marion Volunteer Fire Department, Marion Virginia

He and Dot helped me get through moving from Staunton here. I have so many wonderful memories of meals and times spent with them. :'-)

~ Sharon Buchanan

As most of you knew, I took care of my grandfather in the last few years of his life. Today, we lost the most sweetest, unselfish, wonderful man. I could go on, but those who knew him already know how he was. He wasn't just my grandfather, he was my hero who taught me so much in life. He will be so missed by us all. I love you Paw, you are forever in our heart.

~Robyn May Akers

Park was such a wonderful and compassionate man! He adored you and that was evident to anyone who knew you. You can never prepare yourself for when something like this happens but you and your mom have stood by him and advocated for him. You, Suzanne and all your family are in our hearts and we will keep you in our prayers! And I know that we hardly ever get to see each other but time and distance doesn't change how we feel! This family shares so many memories with you and your family, and we love you guys so much!! If there is anything at all that you need, please don't hesitate to ask. We are here for you!! Love you and we miss you. We will miss Park but we will remember him for the wonderful man and the legacy that he leaves.

~ DiAnna Bice

One of the finest men that lived in Smyth County, VA has gone home for his reward. I first met Mr. Tudor when I was 17 and started working at Holston Harwood with a worker's permit, auth by Supt of Schools, Leonard J Mauck. I worked with a lot of ladies much older than I. Some wanted to intimidate you, but this man did not allow it. My Supervisor Ruby tried to scare me, but I am hard-core Stamper, not much to be intimidated...Through the years, when I would meet Mr. Tudor , I always thanked him again for believing in me and telling me they all started young and worked their way up, too. R.I.P Mr. Tudor. Thank you for remaining my friend through the years.

~Sadie Stamper Greer

Music Memories

Those of you that know my heart are well aware that I am a woman of words.  This is one of the reasons that I love, I mean LOVE music.  Rhythm and chords give you a vibe, and the lyrics well, they give you a story.  Without sounding too creepy...music is my muse.  My buddy blogger and I have decided to share some of the music that has helped us reach this milestone of our lives.  You young folks out there, I suggest you youtube some of these one hit wonders.  My girlfriends and I would joke during our teenage years that our dream would be to wake up with Robert Plant singing and playing the guitar at the end of our bed.  Hell, now I am thrilled if my kids let me play some Zeppelin on my ipod.  Man, oh, man, how times have changed.  Hope you enjoy!  Just watch this- two of my favorites from different decades of my life.

Robert Plant and Alison

My Teenage Years

(In no particular order)

Some songs I will elaborate on, others don't deserve my time ;), maybe they do, but I am not going there

1. What I Am- Edie Brickell ~ Moss Pit, enough said
2. I Remember You-Skid Row
3. Once Bitten, Twice Shy- Great White~ Hello Jack, meet Kristy... and her hamburger from Hardees and her black sweater... just let me say, I have never EVER had a date with Jack again...honestly I have not seen Jack in 25 years.  You try to make nice with a "bad" boy, it doesn't work out, you don't go there again! Listen up young girls!!!
4. Love Shack- B52's ~ can you say "field parties"
5. Angel- Aerosmith~ spray paint involved, that is the only fact I can give up
6. Lil' Devil- The Cult~ just waking up and hearing this cd play over and over again, lol
7. Karma Chameleon- Boy George~ cruising K-mart
8. Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard~ my first ROCK concert, via and thanks to the Williams' family
9. The Promise- When in Rome
10. New Sensation- INXS

Honorable Mentions*

* Fire Women- The Cult~ my cb call, long before the cell phone youngins

* Just Like Heaven- The Cure~ I had a Cure t-shirt that ROCKED!

* Twist of Cain- Danziz ~ our good girls gone bad days (really it was just a week)

* Back Where You Belong~ 38 Special

* Your Love- The Outfield~ I have loved the beach for a long, long time

I hope you all enjoy as much as I did reminiscing.

Top 10 songs of my childhood

My fellow blogger and I have decided to share our favorite songs of our childhood, teens and young adult years with you!  Here are mine.  They were from my mighty fine collection of 45's.  Yes, do you remember 45's?  I loved getting to pick one out when I went to the mall on the weekend.

• The Tide is High - Blondie
• September - Earth Wind and Fire
• Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart
• The entire Grease Album
• Let Me Be There - Olivia Newton John
• Hot Child in the City - Nick Glider
• Heartbreaker - Pat Benetar
• Morning Train - Sheena Easton
• Da Do Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy
• Copacabana - Barry Manilow

A list truly worthy of the late 70's.  Let's have a karaoke night!

Laughter is the best medicine

Always a good time!

Inspiring, nonjudgmental, outgoing, these are some of "our kind of people" best qualities.  Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of spending quality time with friends.  Every so often we head out into the world to enjoy fine food, good drinks, local musicians, but most of all just to LAUGH.  I love that when we get together we don't have to beat around bushes, or sensor ourselves, but once again I enjoy the fact that we laugh, mostly at ourselves!  Knowing who are "our kind of people" has been another check mark for 40.  By this time we have learned to play nice on the playground of life, but it doesn't mean you want to play hop scotch with everyone * wink*.  So here's to all my playmates and the best medicine any girl can be prescribed!

Polar Vortex

Well, one of the great things about being over 40 is being somewhat unflappable.  Not in all situations, but in a lot of ones that would have thrown you for a loop earlier.
Take for example the recent "polar vortex" freeze.  When you live in a house that is over 100 years old you expect problems, in fact you prepare for problems.  The night before the big freeze I opened cabinets doors, opened faucets and crossed my fingers water would not freeze.  Not to be my friends.  I had ice in my sink, no water in some places, a little in others.  An over 40 does not panic, she manages.  She handles the inconvenience.  But today, when thawing began and this 40+ heard water rushing, much like Niagara Falls, she ran into the kitchen to find the floor quickly being covered by rushing water.  Does Super 40 panic?  Never!  She runs like the wind to grab towels, simultaneously pulling out the refrigerator, grabbing the valve and shuts off the water!  Whooo!  Touch down!
Needless to say the water soaked towels are now drying and Super 40 is waiting for the other pipes to thaw so she can come to their rescue.
The watch word today ladies... Amazing.  We really are amazing.  We don't need to freak out anymore when something goes wrong in our homes, vehicles or other large machines.  We are experienced, quick thinkers who can handle emergencies.
Now for an afternoon glass of wine.  Super 40 is tired and needs a small glass of Moscato!
Gotcha Polar Vortex!

Hairy Scary!

Let's dish on something that is a thorn in the side for many aging woman.  Hair removal..., yes I said it- hair removal.  Deciding to tackle the chore of removing hair from delicate places, I'm talking upper lip here folks, (get your minds out of the gutter and off the nude beach) can be well....sensitive, to say the least.  I've dealt with this issue for a long time.  I've jokingly said that my husband and I created little apes with our dominant hairy genes.  At least he is blonde and  a man,  the world is a much nicer place to hairy men!   I have often thought that I should live in another culture where body hair is just as common as yoga pants and maxi skirts.  So I am curious about laser~  So girlfriends, what's the scoop?

Speaking of hair...do you remember this hair?  50 is not looking too bad now ladies.  Stop, you are suppose to be remembering the hairband days!

A meeting of the minds

 

A meeting of the minds

Some days you feel like the cat and others like the dog.  Or you could say "sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug!"  I've been thinking today about relationships and today I feel like Annie, my dog.  She's saying "Really, do I have to?"  My hardest conversations are the ones with the people I hold the dearest.  When I really need to talk about something uncomfortable, or a subject that always is touchy I just want to crawl under the covers.  But, that's what big girl panties are for, right?  So, onward I go, into the mud and muck of difficult conversations.  That was my afternoon.  Fortunately, the outcome was good and perhaps we won't have to beat that horse again.

In this situation I am always in the middle: the wife and the daughter.  It is like the eternal tug of war.  Now please understand, both parties are wonderful, but there are those issues where I feel like I should be cut down the middle.  Anyone else feeling the pull?  Maybe if they just pulled from top to bottom I could be a little taller!
Wine anyone?

In all seriousness

I know, I know, we really want this blog to be about the laughs and ha ha's of 40ish, but I could not stop the sentimental side of me coming out in today's post.  This evening I will share in the memorial of a dear friends' mother, whom was a mother to many of us all during our wonder years. When my first was born, we spelled her middle name with an E in Ruthanne, because Anne without an E, is just not the same. This week I visited my friend and her family, reminiscing of our childhoods and our non responsible youth.  A plus about 40, you can share the stories that make you cringe at your boldness (ignorance) with your elders and not worry about being grounded, although you might still get the stink eye.  The negative being: loss is inevitable and an occurrence only becoming more frequent.  So, in the words of my friend John Mayer, "Say what you need to say."

So... healthy food vs. chicken nuggets

It's Friday and lunchtime and I'm faced with the eternal question, what should I have for lunch?  Now, a good over 40 would choose a healthy lunch of vegetables, perhaps some brown rice, quinoa or another whole grain?  A moment of weakness sends your husband out in the snow covered roads to McDonalds for a small order of chicken nuggets, the ultimate in unhealthy, processed food.  I gave in.  Now the guilt sets in.  The golden rule of clean living, no fast food.  I met with the devil today.  Well, there's always supper.  There is quinoa in my pantry,  maybe some wheatberries too....  I need a do over. 

Being in this age bracket always brings with it a little trade off.  Say what you want, don't worry about what others think but omg you better eat healthy.  I promise I'll do better fellow readers!
McG

PS:  according to Lady Gaga, "Baby, I was born this way!"

Why now?

So, May and I decided we would share our experiences of being 40 and 40+ and find all of you that are feeling the same way!  There are some great things about the 40s, like speaking your mind, not caring what people think about you quite so much and life experience; but then there's the downsides;      Strange hormone stuff, taking care of kids, husbands and parents, being in the middle of a career and last but not least feeling like you are still in your 30s but guess what?  You are not!

We hope you enjoy our posts, humor and laugh and cry with us!

Welcome~ Top 10 things I have learned at 2 Score...

1.  You turn 40, you lose your filter.  Think it, usually = say it. This is not always a positive, but ahhhhhh, if doing it is wrong, I don't want to be right.

2.  In the words of OneRepublic:  "Old but I'm not that old, young, but I'm not that bold"  yep, deep, I know.

3.  I don’t have to worry about meeting “the right kind of people” or making “the right kind of friends.” I’m already surrounded by them.  I know within a few moments if  they are "our kind of people."

4.  I’m getting older by the minute, here, people, You choose to cut through the small talk to get to the point

5.  I don’t  worry about if people are watching and judging me all the time. (Wait, did someone just see me type that? What are they going to think? Maybe I shouldn’t have written that.) People judge, it's in their nature...

6.  I don’t feel the need to try to prove myself. I’ve spent the last twenty years doing that. It’s time to relax a little and enjoy what I’ve accomplished.

7.  This year has taught me about deaths bitter beauty.  People will leave you long before you are ready to say good-bye.  

8.  Wear sunscreen people...It's really not worth it.  All the tanning I did at Hungry Mother is showing up now as brown blotches and crows feet (ok, maybe the crows feet are a sign of happiness, all the laughs I've had on this road.)  My eyes still twinkle :)

9.  Vitamin D is my best friend. Sunshine, the beach, tropics, a boat, heck my backyard, just give me the sun!

10.  Dancing on the top of a bar with your best friends is one of the most liberating things a girl can do!