Holi a festival of colors

I don't know if  you've seen "Outsourced" a movie later turned to a television series but only lasted one season. I learned of Holi watching the movie. I dreamed of one day possibly getting the chance to travel to a far away country to be able to experience this Hindu celebration called Holi. What exactly is Holi? Holi is a celebration of the beginning of spring. The celebration of colors. When spring begins the colors of the earth come out from hiding and are full of life and the feeling that it makes you feel. How many of you love purple, pink, yellow, orange, green, and lets not forget red? When you need a cheer me up you pick something bright. 

I didn't get the opportunity to travel to India to experience Holi. Holi came to me. I learned of it last year, the first ever Holi festival here in the area. Didn't get to go last year due to rain. This year was it's second year and this time I wasn't going to miss it. I'll admit I was a bit nervous showing up and being the only Spanish speaking individual and Heather being the only bright skinned person but I was also excited to go.


We arrived in the parking lot and already wondering if we should turn back around and leave but like I normally do, is I pretend to know what I am doing and walk with such confidence like the phrase says "walk like a boss" into the festival ground. I knew we needed colors so walked right up to the tent where I saw people getting pouches of colors and asked to buy a whole box. The box consisted of five colors: yellow, red, blue, orange, and pink. Depending on the box is what the colors were. They are called Holi colors, spring colors. What you do is cut the pouch open and start tossing the powdered colors into the air filled with festival goers. My favorite was going up to a total stranger and saying happy Holi and touching (caressing) their face with the color. Everyone was so welcoming towards us. They were just a happy crowd. Music was playing so there was also a lot of dancing going on. Food was being sold. If we had yellow and pink but not red a person would come up to us and touch us with green. There was not a bright color missed. I felt like I was in a totally different part of the world. We stayed almost to the end and we did dance to their music.

If you have never experienced a different culture you my friend haven't lived. It was an experience well enjoyed and will be more than glad to attend next year. I don't think I have ever felt so welcomed by a different community in my life time than I had on this day. The day we celebrated spring. Holi is also the beginning of forgetting all the bad and making mends. Me being stubborn that part of Holi would be hard but to help welcome spring with my love and total strangers is my kind of life.

Look forward to it next year. Remember this time next year to say goodbye to winter and hello spring Hindu style, the best way the world could celebrate it.  I also recommend making "Outsourced" the movie a must watch on your list. I guarantee you won't regret it.


Happy Holi friends and enjoy the colors.

didn't even say hello

Was driving home from taking photos of a soon to be three year old. Took me a little longer than expected. The sun was right at the sight where if you don't wear sun glasses you would get blinded by it. Was driving home when I saw something from the ground fly up and land back down on the road. I began to slow down when I came closer. I looked to my right and saw a woman with a ghostly look on her face and a leash in her hand. I look to my right and there was a young guy with a big dog on the side walk. By this point I had made a complete stop on the street and rolled my window down and yelled to the lady if she needed me to call someone. She yelled back and said no I just live up the street. In front of me there had been  a red truck with the outline of a person wearing a straw hat. I'm going to tell you what I think might have happened.

The lady had been walking her little dog, when the dog saw the big dog across the street and wanted to get closer to say hello. The small dog pulled himself in that direction when the leash broke and  ran completely across the street. That's when the red truck hit the dog. It had hit with such force that the dog flew and bounced on the ground. He didn't get the chance to say hello. The lady stood in shock before going in to the street to pick him up. She picked him up like a small baby carrying him on his back with his feet up. She looked at him calling him but he was not moving you could tell he was gone. She carried him with such delicacy as to think that if she moved him he might be in pain. It's when I yelled to ask her if she needed help. She then hurried home. I looked over to see the guy with the big dog and we both nodded our heads and said he was gone.

The person with the red truck you ask?  They knew they had hit the lady's dog.  Wasn't going to stop but decided to slow down. The red truck finally pulled over slowly to the side and waited for some seconds before proceeding again. Not once did they get out or approach the lady. Not once did they ask what they could do. Not once did they say I'm sorry. Not once did they pretend to care.

They had just committed a crime by letting this woman see her baby die right in front of her. The red truck just stopped at the light and made a right turn and didn't look back.

I'm going to say that it was an accident because it was but why didn't they stop? They didn't just kill a stray pup. This pup had a mother that had just happen to take him out for a walk.

strength

What were you doing this morning?  Some Mondays are more interesting than others. I hear how everyone hates Mondays, but I think I might be the only one that enjoys them. I'm off from work so I spend it doing errands with my pops. Sometimes every once in a while I'll get them to myself now that he started working.

Today I woke up a little after four am. I woke up to drive to Irving to then leave by six in the morning heading to Wills Point. My father needed a little help out at the ranch before he actually worked today. He is working to get a tractor but in the meantime we use his small truck to bring out a bundle of hay. It is much easier when a vehicle is used but not today. It had been raining and it wasn't safe to use the truck so we had to physically try to pry it from being on the ground for months and try to push it out where it would be safe for the cattle to get to it. When hay is left on the ground for months it starts to grow it's own grass onto the ground so it would be like pulling a huge pile of grass with your hands from the ground. Try rolling something that has taken over the ground and weighs over five hundred pounds when wet. I would push on one end while my dad pushed on the other. We barely nudged it. I then began to pray and said God give us the strength we need to do this. It wasn't easy but He did listen. I kept yelling in my head "God help us" over and over and He finally did. By the time we were done I had mud inside my shoes. Living the farm girl life this morning.

When I realized what we had just done I thought to myself how I had managed to either have the same strength as my father or the fact that he was getting old and I now have more strength than him. How, when I was a kid, I used to think of my father as the strongest man on earth now and his strength was losing him. 

I don't always get to go the ranch but when I do I'm glad to get to visit with my sister. It's like a silent world out there were no one knows you. Where you can still pump gas first then pay. If you haven't heard of the pump first then pay it's because the world is changing and honesty or trust are values that are becoming extinct.

el dia del amor y la amistad

Did you survived another Valentines day? If so good for you. If you are like me you will get that question asked. What did you get for Valentines? Somehow it's important that another individual that is not in your relationship to know. Why ask? It's because it's more like a competition. Who got what? How did it out do their gift?

People that are secure won't brag about how the day was rewarded with a gift. When you have been in a relationship as long as I have gifts don't matter. It's what you do for your love that out shines the money spent. I don't like gift getting from my partner, she does try, but I rather get something more personal. Spending the day doing things we love and making memories is more valuable than seeing how long my flowers will last alive. Some people love getting flowers.

I have single friends and I know that they lie to themselves and say that they are better off alone when deep down it isn't. You want love. You want someone to know you exist. I want my friends to have that feeling. I know from experience. I remember going through school and not getting a Valentine while some of the popular girls got not one but sometimes up to three admiring Valentines. I would get upset and wonder why couldn't just one of them give me a share. I did get lucky my senior year and a dear friend had a rose delivered to my classroom. He gave five of his friends a rose. Our school had that program on Valentines day. I'll never forget that. 

a photo taken from the book of Hearts 

Valentines is what we call in Spanish El Dia del Amor y la Amistad. The day of love and friendship. I end up mailing my friends Valentine cards. Everyone loves getting a card in the mail. Don't think it's just for the lovers but think about that special bond you have with your friends. I don't mean the friends that only get together to drink I mean the friends that share more than an evening.

For Valentines they had people go to a museum and place a heart on their favorite art piece #heartsforart. Being art lovers we went to the Amon Carter Museum and did just that. We went through the museum and placed our hearts under neath the art piece we loved. We also visited the book store our favorite one in Dallas. We assume we will only buy one book but end up leaving with a box. While going through the books to narrow my list down I came upon a book of hearts. Ironic to find it on Valentines day. Flipped through it and saw this picture of a woman visiting her love that had passed away. Thought to myself how lucky I was to still have my partner here with me. Some of us probably cried because we didn't have someone to give us a gift on this day but what about the ones who cried about having someone in their lives that couldn't share Valentines because they were no longer living.

Amon Carter Museum

Be thankful for the loves in your life, be it your children, your friends, or your significant other.

Have you ever seen a guy buy a basket full of bears and candy at a Wal-Mart. Not only did he get a deal but her gave all his girlfriends an even gift. If you are his girlfriend be thankful he didn't exclude you from all the rest.

Happy Valentines Day Friends

only needs two quarters

How has the year started for you? I see all theses boot camp photos and gym shots and I hope it's working for you. What I don't see are the ones where you gave up carbs, or sweets. You don't have to explain I'm just speaking to myself. Keep it up I expect slimmer photos come June. What I'm trying to do myself is just eat earlier and sleep more. Getting more sleep I find out helps you be more energetic.

Have you ever had a wonderful day? No, I don't mean just four hours of the day being the best. I hadn't realized how bad my days are until I actually had a good one. My wonderful day was Friday, I'll explain...I didn't encounter any roughness or cursing at work and everything went smoothly, which never happiness. Got off work and had my car inspected and it passed with flying colors. I don't know if you had ever had the feeling of waiting to see if you car passes the EXAM and praying for your little revving engine to keep you on the road. So when the guy comes to you and tells you how much the inspection is your sigh of relief is really a thank you JESUS. I wanted to reward my car for passing so I went ahead and took it to get an oil change. Came home and a few short hours my father n law with Becky and Emma came over and fixed our shower. See how many more little blessings I'm talking about. After that they treated us to dinner. What more could I ask for. I like hanging out with them I think it's because after knowing them for so long I can actually act like myself around them. They even know the moment I'm about to cry when watching a sad movie. Enough about my wonderful day. I mean I know I wont get many of those days. Think about it, how many wonderful days have you had that didn't involve doing something spectacular?

There are small angels in disguise around us we just don't realize who they are because we don't take time to see. I spotted an angel Sunday. Someone I work with had two stuffed animals that he had just won from the claw machine (a glass see through big box that you put quarters in to have a big claw come down and try to win something inside). He saw me and was going to give me one but I said that's okay not really a big fan of stuffed animals. Two other people approached him and asked for them instead. He went ahead and gave them away. He said he wins them all the time. I asked who he gives them too, maybe he was going to give them to someone at home. He told me he gives them to the hospital for the children with cancer. So before he gave those two away I said well keep them don't give them away. He replied and said "that's okay I'll get more tomorrow". He let them accumulate once and ended up taking four trash bags of stuffed animals.  They put a big smile on those kid's faces. My view of this man changed and I told him he had a gift. He said "I never thought of it that way. Imagine fifty cents buying happiness to a child that has cancer. The small things in life that bring joy are priceless. We often see people and don't realize what they have offered this world. Here is an angel disguised as just a working man that doesn't bother anyone and just goes about his daily routine not realizing how many children he gets to make happy.

I ended bringing one of the two stuffed animals home anyways, to my stuffed animal lover. How you may ask? One of the lovely ladies that wanted one ended up with one that she couldn't quite give to her little nephew so she ended up
giving it to me. What ever it says on it is what I really mean with all my heart.  

I Love You

pay phone

Have I told you how not to break a pay phone? Wait do you know what a pay phone is? I've used them in my lifetime even checked them for quarters left in the slots before.

I'm trying to enjoy a break away from work but it's hard when you sit down and the couple next to you are speaking loudly. They have two little girls and an older little boy. He keeps his little sisters entertained as the adults are speaking. You can tell just by the boys reactions to his sisters that he has had to be an adult at times. Next thing you hear is the man getting loud and yelling at his lady. I'm going to say they are married just so that I can get some justification for myself. He then slams his fist on the table and I stop what I'm doing to look at them. I think everyone there practically froze to see what his problem was. At this point the lady gets embarrassed and immediately gets up. He blocks her from passing so she pushes her way through. Anger comes over me and my eyes won't stop drilling his back as he walks away. He leads the way then her and the children. As they walk out he continues to curse, using fowl language, towards everyone that just witnessed what he had done. I believe it to be over at this point.

As I continue to grasp what is going through my mind as to why things like this happen to women, or why they don't realize how bad it can be, I hear the boy yelling for his mommy. When they left the area I could hear along with others the boy calling for his mother and the two little girls start to cry. He had his hand around the lady's neck pinned up against the wall.  People started coming in and leaving yelling to call security. All they knew was to call security. I heard a big noise and the guy had let go and walked out leaving her there with the children.

When I got to her I saw him leave, she was okay but I immediately called 911. I figured I wanted him to pay so I just assumed to call them. When I dialed the number I had to pause because I was trying to fight back tears. So she asked me again "what is your emergency" I apologized and told her what had happened and told her what needed to be said. By this time the lady had left with her babies. When I got off the phone she had sent a signal to my phone when I didn't answer. That I learned that day. Learned that if I was really in danger and called 911 and was unable to speak that they would come to my aid regardless. When I got of the phone it told me to deactivate the signal.

I know you are probably wondering why I choked when I called 911, I guess it would be the children calling for their mommy. Picture a six year old, four year old, and three year old yelling mommy mommy mommy while they are crying knowing she is being harmed. Innocent bystanders to their parents not knowing how it affects the little ones. Not knowing that one day things will get really bad and wonder where there mommy is and why it may look like their father left them.  I use to think that things like this happen behind closed doors but I'm seeing it more out in the open. There has to be a way out.

A woman is a delicate being, why not treat her that way. A mother's love is like no other so why not protect her babies. Why is it so hard to get help? It's never easy but why not try? Take a minute to step outside yourself and look in and see if you like what you see.

My question, how do you break a pay phone? Remember that big noise? Picture a man letting the hand holding the neck of the mother of his children go, and knowing he is being watched. So instead of his wife he grabs the phone next to him and breaks it. That is how mad a mad man can get.

why change

This year has been a great one with the exception of the scares. We don't remember what all happened in these twelve months I mean there is so much to process.
All we can remember are the deaths of humans that society helped raise. I say society because, when parents don't raise their kids right and something happens in that persons life, it's always the fault of someone else. You don't ever hear the parent say" where did I go wrong" you just see riots.
Or when Ebola hit home. In our case it hit real close to home. I have sisters that work at Presbyterian and if you knew how close to home it was you'd see how lucky my family is.
Or how about the movie that was so controversial that it could have started a war. The interview will be in history books one day and that ten dollar movie ticket will be worth thousands of dollars. I haven't seen it yet but to think that a comedy could have started a battle is just preposterous.
How about all the people that decided to end their lives this year due to bulling or because of their inner demons.
And wondering how forty three students could go missing all at once in Mexico.
I'll be thinking of those not with us tonight.
I am thankful that I still have my family and that even though we had some scares I still have them with me.
I'll be thinking of our new family member Natalia whom my sister brought into this crazy world.
I'll think about how I allowed another furry animal to live with us.
I'll be thinking of my friends who lost loved ones this year.
I'll be thankful that my father was able to get back to work after being absent from it. Like seeing my teenage son get a job. don't judge, at my age that is how I see my parents. You too will feel the same.
I'll think about all the friendships lost and all the new ones that I have gained.
I'll thank God for the people in my life.

Even though I ended this year working and starting the new year back at it tomorrow I'll be grateful that it has allowed me a roof over my head and the ability to feed my furry babies, all seven of them.
I love an animal lover and for her I will be thankful.
When the ball hits the ground and we are counting down the seconds I'll thank God that she is still by my side loving me as I love her. Knowing that she takes me and all the crazy thoughts that go through my mind. Its been thirteen great years.
Even though we, still in two thousand fourteen, are unable to marry that doesn't mean that maybe next year it won't be different.
I'll thank her for introducing me to my second family, which that alone is such an amazing thought to know that not many can get along with their in laws.
I may not have all the riches in the world but I have a loving family and great friends that I'll be thinking of when we leave this year and enter the new one.
All these small images will go through my mind and hope that I have somehow captured these memories through photographs.
I'll think about all the opportunities I had this year and hope that next year they will double.
So while I have my red panties on and champagne in one hand and a Snickers in the other I'll say good bye two thousand fourteen its been nice knowing you and well, hello there two thousand fifteen!  Are you ready for me?
While some of us will be celebrating all the good this past year has brought us, others may not feel the same joy.
Then I'll think for a second or two after that and say that I will change then realize and shake my head to a big no. I'm half my lifetime and if I hadn't changed before, why in the world would I change now?
Did I mention I'll be thankful for being introduced to Cristela Alonzo on ABC, she's hilarious.
If you happen to stay home like us just breathe and take it all in but if you happen to be out be safe because you want to make it to the first day of 2015!