The Last Time I Saw My Father

Christmas 2002 was the last time i saw my father.
I could not afford to come home for Christmas that year, so my mom, knowing my dad would not be around for another Christmas, paid for my ticket home. My mom and dad had been divorced for many years, so this generous gift from my mom was definitely in the spirit of the season! We had found out about a month earlier, that dad could no longer go thru any more chemo treatments or surgeries....the best the doctors could do at this time was "make him comfortable".
On Christmas evening, as we gathered together at Denise's house, i stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. We all knew this would be our last Christmas together...and though words were never expressed...you could see it in our faces. The happy "front" we had displayed all week was wearing on me, and i needed a moment of solitude. I walked out onto the driveway to admire the beautiful evening when i discovered my dad standing out there doing the same thing. We looked at each other, and as all Westropes do, we proceeded to joke and make light of the situation that i believe we were both feeling. Siting in Denises driveway was a giant, uber 80's RV, very similar to the one in the movie Stripes....in fact thats what they called it.....the urban assault vehicle :)
My dad quoted the movie Christmas Vacation......"it looks so nice parked in my driveway"...to which i responded....."but dont you go falling in love with it Clark, cause we're takin it with us when we leave here next month"!
He smiled at me and we stood together quietly for a while staring up at the sky and looking at the stars. No more words were exchanged...and they werent needed....our love for each other, and this moment (which we knew would be one of our last), was expressed in our eyes. After a while, we both headed back inside to join the festivities.
When i hugged him goodbye, for the last time, and watched him drive away, i was sad but no longer troubled, for all that needed to be said was already spoken. My father died February 8th, 2003.
Every Christmas, i think of that brief, but wonderful moment, spent on Denises driveway...and when the stars are out, i step outside for a quiet moment of reflection and think of my father.
I miss you dad!
Love Lisa

Holiday Retrospect ~

Well, the tree has been trimmed...the stockings hung...santas and snowmen adorn the cabin...and jordyn quietly naps in her swing to the music of Charlie Brown Christmas in front of a toasty fire! For many the holidays mean stress...malls...crowds...and over consumption....but to me it brings up wonderful memories of childhood and the magic of the season!
My mom would play holiday records while we decorated the tree, making fun of the silly ornaments we made over the years.
The santa made of an old toilet paper roll and construction paper missing a leg....the polaroid picture of TJ with cotton balls glued around the edges creating a frame...the angel Denise made that, over time, had hair like don king....and the badly sculpted clay bells we all made in miss Guerthes class in the fourth grade...but to my mom, these were treasures! Treasures i didnt understand until i had a child of my own. These ornaments capture a moment in time...a snapshot of our youth...and a way to revisit the past! Every time they are pulled out of the box, stories roll out along with them. Remember the time....didnt you make this....what happened to.......and then soon we are laughing and sharing our version of the same tale!
When i moved to Colorado, Christy and i would go to Gwens house and do the same thing.....in fact, one year, while teasing Gwen about the ornaments, we made her cry. I guess we didnt realize how important those ornaments were and still are! We laugh about it now, but i still feel bad about making her cry. But now i understand, and find myself getting nostalgic over my own silly ornaments. I have one particular ornament that i hang every year....its a lenox christmas package with my name on the tag....a gift from my father. Every year i can say i have a present under the tree from my father, even though he passed away 3 years ago. Of course the real gift he gave to me, his love of life...sense of humor...and of course, my blue eyes.....which i passed on to Jordyn!
Jordyn, only 4 1/2 months old is already taking part in these holiday traditions...Here is a photo of her as she models her daddys old Christmas outfit from 1968, and i must say...it looks like new! Grandma kristie preserved it well! Just as i hope to preserve some of the Westrope....Bruen....Sattler Holiday traditions!

May peace come to us all this Holiday Season!
Love lisajo

My 5 Christmas Senses.....
see........the colors, lights and twinkles of a tree, while snow falls lightly on the ground
hear......the sounds of "its a wonderful life" playing on the television, laughter and the crackle of a fire
smell.....the scent of a warm fire on a cold night with something yummie cooking on the stove....perhaps lasagna
taste......the warm rush of cocoa with mini marshmallows....sometimes with just a hint of peppermint schnapps :)
touch.....a hug and the love that touches my heart when i think of my family

PU Notes

The infamous PU Notes~

Well, im not really sure how it all started....or who started it for that matter....but well over 25 years ago one of the cousins (Greg, Christy, Denise, Teresa and myself) received their first PU note. Now let me explain....a PU note...is a note that describes how incredibly stinky and smelly the receiver of said PU note is! Some were very poetic in their description....some were comically illustrated.....and some were simplified to two bold letters.....PU! or.....PU to You!!!
Once the receiver finished reading their PU note, they would quickly take pen to paper to retaliate......er.....respond!
Since some of the cousins were in California and the others were in Colorado....this mostly took place thru the mail.....but it was particularly colorful and fun when we were visiting in the same state. We would create paper mailboxes, decorate them, and then tape them to our doors to receive the PU notes.....now why we would encourage receiving these dreaded PU notes....ill never know......but we did and we continued on this tradition for many many years! We even got as clever as hiding PU notes in unique places (such as rolled up in a toilet paper or paper towel roll....inside a shoe....behind a picture frame.....etc), so that when we left back home, the receiver could find notes long after the vacation visit was over!
Now why have i decided to share this story with you?.........well....about 4 years ago......after a long hiatus from the PU exchange.....a photo was sent out over the internet with the letters PU hidden in a family photo (thanks to Photoshop)......and since that photo.....it has once again kicked a family tradition back into gear.....
Soon holiday photos were being sent left and right with a secret message hidden in the photo....kinda like those fun hidden pictures we used to enjoy in the mini page. I, of course, not wanting to be outdone....immediately joined in! (nice to see my college degree hard at work). Our busy lives have kept us from keeping in touch as much as we would have liked, so who would have thought a silly childhood prank would once again bring us all closer together!
Isnt modern day email and Photoshop wonderful! Now this tradition can continue on!
My latest PU note, was to Greg.....i took a black sharpie pen and wrote a loving PU note on one of Jordyn's dirty diapers(hey, what better way to include her on this family tradition).....and placed it in his desk at work.....wont he be surprised! :)
To enjoy some of our recent PU bantering......go to Christy Wolfes photo website on smug mug where she has gathered these historical photos and cataloged them in a cleverly named folder "PU"! Enjoy!

Halloween Survey on a Snowy Morning~

Here is a Halloween survey that was passed along to me....
I enjoyed strolling down memory lane when i was filling it out.....
Feel free to answer and pass these questions on....or just read and enjoy!
cheers!

Halloween Survey

Childhood

1. Did you celebrate Halloween as a child? Oh yeah...Halloween is very big in California :)

2. Did your parents? yup....mom would dress up and take us trick or treating and dad stayed home to give out candy...Halloween is his birthday, so he would have a few neighbor dads over for cocktails while he handled the task of candygiver! :)

3. Scariest childhood Halloween moment(s)? I remember one house down the block that was always creepy to go up to....long....tall.....hedge to venture thru to get to the door......brrrrrr! i get chills just thinking about it! But all for the sake of a piece of candy :)

4. "Funnest" childhood Halloween moment(s)? One year a kid tried to do a bicycle drive-by and steal my candy....turned out to be someone from class.....and he only returned the bag because my mom shined a flash light on him and recognized him.:) Shannon exclaimed...... "oh...barbara, is that you....sorry!"

5. Favorite costume from childhood? hands down.....Darth Vadar (two years running!)

6. Do you still celebrate? Hell......i'll take any excuse i can get to dres up in a costume :) heheheh Your kids? I hope to pass on the tradition to Jordyn!

Teen years

7. Did you (or do you) do Halloween as a teen? Halloween parties that involved kegs...quarters...and sexy costumes! the infamous pirate parties were always a blast too!

8. Ever get stalked by a deranged maniac while babysitting on Halloween? Nope......but i was often creeped out about the idea while babysitting!

9. Ever "fool around" on Halloween? If so, with whom? no particular memories come to mind....though i remember making out with a guy from a punk rock band when i was only a freshman......boy did i think that was cool!

10. Illicit drug use or drinking on Halloween? (getting the gist yet?) Ill plead the 5th!

11. Favorite Halloween experience during your teen years? As i mentioned before.....the infamous pirate parties! Every year these folks would throw a Pirate party at halloween.....it was in a giant lot complete with pirate ship....treehouse.......casltes.....and plank walking! Awesome! I wonder if they still host them?

Adult years

12. Do your kids celebrate? If no kids, when you do have kids, will you let them celebrate? Jordyn is only 3 months old.....and has a 2 costume wardrobe change, complete with halloween purse and two halloween bibs.....does that answer your question :)

13. How special is Halloween as a holiday to you? i.e. religious beliefs, most fun, etc....It is my favorite Holiday.....and i always think of my father, since it is his birthday!

14. Sexiest Halloween Costume: S&M broad....i was quite popular in this get-up!

15. Scariest Halloween Costume: i liked my creepy old lady costume, though i scared a lot of children when i was dressed up as the evil queen from snow white!

16. Scariest Halloween musician; Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, or Ozzy Osborne? Marilyn Manson........what the FxxK!!!

17. Your plans this year for Halloween? To take Jordyn around to some of the neighbors and actually hand out candy instead of collecting it! that is.....if there isnt a blizzard :)
Usually every year Justins dads band (county road 74 e) plays a gig up the road from us at the becks garage.....with dancing.....socializing and some of the best damn pot luck food you can imagine......we dont get out much in the winter due to weather so the folks usually look forward to this one bash every year.......sadly they have no drummer.....so the party will be postponed.......the drummer is always an issue with this band....just like spinal tap!

Movies

18. Favorite horror or suspense movie? Halloween...the Shining...friday the thirteenth 1 & 2....sleepy hollow

19. Favorite movie psycho? how about those creepy twins in the shining?

20. Favorite monster? sheelob

21. favorite scream queen? michael jackson

22. Favorite zombie film? Does the Thriller video count? :)

23. Favorite horror director? tim burton....tho hes not necessarily horror

Trick or Treating

24. Favorite Halloween Candy? Reeses

25. Best place you've trick or treated? all of hawthorne in the 70's gave out great goodies

26. Do you, or have you, tricked? (no bad hooker jokes please) not on halloween....otherwise i am a constant trickster :)

27. Best (or worst, as the case may be) trick you've pulled? dont want to give out my secrets :)

Misc.

28. Your worst nightmare? bush in office for yet another term

29. Worst phobia?

30. Most fun you can have this Halloween? (make it good, last question!)

you forgot to ask best halloween party ever attended......
christy and brian threw an awesome party.....with fabulous costumes....a costume contest with trophies.....several kegs.....a rave room.....and a visit from the police and fire departments.....fun was had by all!!!

have fun!
love lisajo

The Great Pumpkin

Well, its time to celebrate the season......my favorite holiday.....Halloween! My family likes to celebrate it all month, so naturally, Jordyn has several costumes to get her thru the holiday :) This particular costume was purchased by grandma barbara, who we recently learned will be visiting for Thanksgiving..so we are very excited about that! I also like to celebrate the memory of my father, who passed away in February 2003 and was born on Halloween. I have fond memories of going trick or treating with my mom (who would also dress up and go with us), while my dad stayed home to give out candy to the kids. But he would still find time to enjoy his birthday, by having a few of the other dads in the neighborhood over, and they would drink Margaritas (or some other concoction he would cook up :) and listen to music......most likely the Eagles, a little CCR, or perhaps the Doobie Brothers! He loved to have a fire going, even though it was California...and not very cold.....so when we got home, we would warm up in front of the fireplace! Then, he would insist that we go thru our loot to make sure all of our candy was safe...to help with this, he would taste-test a few "questionable" looking snicker bars! Then, of course, there was always the excitement of awaiting "its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".....which only aired once during the week....so you had to make sure it was marked in your TV guide and you didnt miss it (no videos to watch it over and over again like there is now)! My dad would make a giant pot of popcorn on the stove(no microwaves back then) and he would fill a giant brown paper shopping bag from Thriftymart, rolling down the sides for easier access, and we would all munch out on popcorn, watching the antics of snoopy....er.....the red baron....while the butter seeped thru the bag. Sometimes we would even splurge and have Jiffy Pop! I cant imagine a childhood without this Holiday.....every year we looked forward to picking out a costume......Wonder Woman.....Miss Piggie......Darth Vadar (actually i liked this one soooo much i wore it two years in a row).....and then there was the dreaded year my mom waited till the last minute to purchase a costume and Denise and i had to be Apes, from Planet of the Apes. My mom insisted they were cool costumes, but Denise and i felt otherwise! But at least we wore costumes....some kids today go out trick or treating and dont even bother to wear a costumes......just go from house to house expecting candy......wheres the fun in that? Dressing up and getting into character is half the fun.....perhaps thats why i play in the SCA! :)
Well....the baby is up so i better go.....ill share more holiday traditions next time..........
cheers~

Jordyn's First SCA Event

After a long sabbatical from the SCA due to maternity leave and baby adjusting, we finally made our first SCA event since March this last Saturday, September 30th. ~ Newcomers! This was Jordyns first SCA event... and many folks had not met her yet, so she was quite the celebrity! Even the Baron and Baroness of Caerthe stole her for their processional and morning court, which she lasted thru about 5 minutes :) heheeh (She definately must be my kid)
She did rather well though, and i think she had a fun time! Thanks to Vashti, Jordyn actually got in some nap time as well.....not to mention a break for mom and dad! Thanks Vashti!
Several Darbukans showed up, and that made the event even more spectacular! I wish there would have been more time for music, but perhaps next time. However, as Darbukans, we know the art of lounging too....so we did just that! As always, Jinain and i found ourselves discussing this art, and examined how we could perhaps perfect this skill....but we then realized that we had already mastered it......and so we toasted our talent and dawdled some more!
While Justin fenced, Jordyn and i shared a moment in the afternoon, among the shady trees listening to Kama Devi's tranquil harp....
"The Last Unicorn" floated thru the air of what seemed to be the perfect day! Golden leaves trickled down upon our blanket, and i enjoyed the cool grass between my toes. In the company of such wonderful family and friends, a glass of red wine and a delicious feast, thanks to Sadiq.......what more could you ask for.......this is what life is all about!

Mac Junkie ~

Well, what can i say....the kids gonna be a Mac Junkie just like her folks! i can remember my first computer art class in college.....Aldus Super Paint..........ugh! total nightmare! But a class we had to take as a pre-req for Photoshop. Now folks get started on Painter, a program ive never even used, but am considering buying. I sure wish we had computers and the internet when i was growing up. Remeber when you did a report on something in elementary school.....you would sit down with the dictionary and the encyclopedia and get to work....trying to re-arrange their sentences to sound like your own :) And if you were lucky, there might be an illustration included! Sure, a lot of the stuff on the internet is crap, but surfing on a daily basis teaches me lots of new things! Wanna learn to crochet.......look it up....and there will be images of every stitch.......how about cocktails......wanna try something new.....punch in Mojito......and whalah.....a recipe and a photo of a beautifully garnished drink. You can even find numerous art tutorials......read a magazine.....or just shop! hmmmmm......maybe having a computer when i was a kid may not have been a good idea......i might never have left the house! Never the less.......i do believe we are raising a future Mac Junkie!