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Friday, January 9, 2009

Lions & Tigers & AWARDS oh my!!!!!!

To my dear friends ... I love you all !!!


I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon;
before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.
They, too, will get old.I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers,or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.


I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore.I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever,but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it).

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART!

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER! FRIENDS FOREVER!


Now onto the AWARDS


Proximidad Award

Thank you Sweetie, Tootsie , Tar Devil & Joyce for giving me the special "Proximidade" award. This award focuses on the friendships that blossom here in blogland."Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.


Donna @ Donna's Den
Gloria @ Happy To Be


Lemonade Award


I received the Lemonade Award, thanks to Toosie & Ann (sorry it took so long to post)! The purpose of this award is to give it to someone who is showing gratitude or a good attitude ("if life hands you lemons, make lemonade") within their life or blog.


The rules:

1) put the logo on your blog
2) nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude and/or gratitude.
3) have your 10 pass it along to 10 more!

These rules are the easiest EVER, but narrowing it down to 10 is the hard part because I follow a lot of blogs, and I wouldn't be following them if they didn't demonstrate great attitude or gratitude qualities!
If you have received it or will get it more than once, that's OK. It's the thought that counts, right? That being said, I've chosen to pass it along to:

  1. Sheila @ Note Songs
  2. Terrie @ Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity
  3. Raxx @ FIGHTING FABULOUS FORTY
  4. Sally @ Smiling Sally
  5. Ginger @ The Gingerbread Shed
  6. Tar @ Confessions of a 40-something Mama Queen
  7. Dot @ Picket's Place
  8. Anni @ Hootin' Anni's
  9. Bo @ Blinks 'N Winks From Brown-Eyes
  10. Bridget @ My Silly Blog

Ok this was a hard task to do since I know everyone has gotten these awards... So please accept the award from me but if you have already gotten them and can't pass them any longer it is ok... And if you haven't gotten them then take them and enjoy...

Sorry I haven't been around much but I have not had to good of Internet up here in the woods of North Florida... It is a little better where we are now so I hope to get caught back up and next week we'll be where there is better service... Love you all

Until Later

Hugs And Kisses

34 comments:

SmilingSally said...

I agree with you: I'm old, and most of it I like. Now, I'm not going to have my hair get gray--not as long as a drug store is open!

Congratulations on your awards. Thanks for thinking of me with the lemonade award.

Renee said...

Congrats on the awards. I enjoyed your perspective on aging too!

cindy said...

Great post! Made me feel a little better about getting older....I just had a birthday and it seems I have aged over night!!! Things have drooped and sagged where they didnt droop or sag before...and my memory is going...(I like the way you look at that). Have fun on your travels. ~Cindy~

Bridget said...

Thank you for the Lemonade award! I will share it with 10 more lovely bloggers.
I hope you are having fun on you latest trip. I so know what you mean about the freedom of aging, it is wonderful. I do so many things now that would have embarrassed me when I was younger.
Hugs, Bridget

Anonymous said...

Thank you dear one, for thinking about me!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Kathy said...

Perfect post Donna, I agree with each and every word. Congratulations on your lovely awards, have a wonderful weekend, hugs, Kathy.

nikkicrumpet said...

What a great post...words to live by for sure! And congrats on the lovely awards.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Donna, I loved those pictures and those wise words about aging! Thanks for sharing! Your blog looks great. And congratulations on the awards. laurie

Blogger said...

Hi Donna,

Glad you are back!

Congratulations on your awards and you have a great outlook on aging gracefully, good for you...it's dragging me kicking and screaming, ha, but I'm getting use to the idea, I guess... ;)

Bella

Ginger said...

Hi Donna:
Great post. I hate aging...but it's better than the alternative I guess. lol.
Thanks for thinking of me with the lemonade award.
Glad you are back, missed you.
Ginger

Dawn Marie said...

Hello! I'm glad your going to be able to post again. I've been thinking about you and your little adventure life on wheels. I so wish i could do that--even for a month!

It will be nice to hear from you on a regular basis!

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL BLOG.I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK...ANN

Tardevil said...

Thanks Donna! Have a wonderful weekend!

Hootin Anni said...

How sweet!!!! That made my day. And I love the fact that you passed it on to me. I'll try and get it posted asap [and link to you too with my thanks!!!]

Happy Friday.

Tootsie said...

thanks for taking my awards! you are the first to have done so and said it out loud!
focus on the positive and get rid of those negatives that you can...that is my new year in a nut shell!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Oh Donna I was so happy to see you post again..sory it took me so long to get here...had to do something dumb today like clean house YUK!! thanks girl for the award now this makes 6 times I have gotten it..is it cocktail time yet for you and Chris ha ha !! yours the best girl...hugs and smiles Gloria

Melissa Miller said...

Congrats Donna!

Each award well deserved by you sweet lady.

I've missed you! ;)

Anonymous said...

Woo Hoo! Donnaness has service now! I've missed you and glad you can get back to blogging. Congrats on all your awards! Me, old? naw!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Anonymous said...

It's been a five year journey but I think I've reached the same place that you are in now, except for the bathing suit on the beach. I don't think I'll be at that point ever. :>) I absolutely love Maxine!

Anonymous said...

Morning, Sweetness! Hope you're still having a good time! Chloe Dawn told me what she did, that little stinker. But I appreciate what you told her.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Jerry and Suzy said...

We long ago determined that getting older is great, getting OLD is not! Suzy's hair is naturally a beautiful silver color that men and women both comment on ("Where did you get that great color?" "From God!") My hair is still salt and pepper, but I nave noticed there is a whole lot more salt and hardly any pepper left!

Lisa (aka) French said...

You know I hate following award rules (lol) Surely miss you though! Hugs French;) and a big thankYOU!!!

Bo said...

Hey Donna...good to hear from you...thanks for thinking of me for the lemonade award(isn't it cute), but I did receive it from TarDevil the other day, bless her heart! It's getting harder & harder to pass these awards around & especially when they say to 8 or 10 bloggers...sheesh...luv ya, ♥ Bo

Justine said...

So glad you checked in again, Donna, and what an inspirational post!

Now, you seem to need a bit of blog layout help. Your main wrapper is WAY too big, and I had to scroll allllllllll the way to the right just to see your blog list. Let me know if you need any help fixing it. Love ya!

Justine :o )

The Muse said...

you go girl! lol

Ruthie said...

Very good post. So true.
Hugs.

Proud Italian Cook said...

Donna, Well said my friend!!

^..^Corgidogmama said...

Hi Donna, so glad you stopped by to visit our blog, and you're right, we DO have much in common!
Took the tour of your RV. We have a 2005 Winnebago Journey. 32 ft.
We hate that we're not in Florida this winter, as we enjoyed it so much last year.
You have fun for us. We really enjoyed that park you're going to, Lazy Days, getting the strawberry shortcake, and all the Florida sunshine. sigh...
You guys take care. It's 23 tonight here. Susan/Corgidogmama

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Donna, Good to hear from you!! Thanks for your nice compliments on the frames. I guess your still in Florida? How I am longing for the beach! Actually....I'm going to Hawaii the first week in Feb. I'm so excited I just had to share that with you! My parents are taking us. It will be a trip of a lifetime I'm sure. They are going on business and decided to bring us along. I think the begging helped.lol! Talk to you soon, Kristen

Kristens Creations said...

See there, my 35 year old brain forgot to tell you how much I loved this post!! It can happen at any age!

Anonymous said...

I stumbled upon your blog by chance. The name of your blog caught my eye, because I have an aunt who we call Tassie. Then as I was reading your posts, I discovered that you & your husband are Memaw & Poppy to your grandkids. This is what we called my grandparents. Anyways, none of this has anything to do with anything, but I enjoyed reading about your adventures & your family.

Michelle in PA

Anonymous said...

Come by to see me, I have a tag for you.

Love Ya,
Chris

Carole Burant said...

I so loved this post!! I agree that we should embrace getting older and just enjoy each day the way WE want to enjoy it:-) I know that a lot of people look at me funny when they find out I love faeries and collect them...hey, they bring me pleasure so why not?? hehe

Congratulations on receiving your well deserved awards, dear Donna:-) xoxo

Anonymous said...

tag you're it.come get the rules.teehee...ann

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