Im in the business of falling in love with life.

I found this in an old new paper, and loved it.

...the truth about life is that the joy of living is determined, not so much by what happens to us as the way we look at what is happening. Great living comes from great outlooks. What life does to us depends largely upon what life finds in us. Boca Raton News, Sept, 23 1982

I'm determined in making the changes to love life better.

I keep repeating this song.......Oh baby I can't even explain...

King Leonidas were are you?

Where are the men that keep their word?

Their words are to be feared and trusted, because they are prophetic promises.

Where are men that know who they are are, that stand as kings?

They fear nothing except God.

Where are men that can be trusted?

They search their souls fo truth and honor it.
They are for justice and freedom.
They love their families and country and will fight to the end for it and never retreat,
to defend all that they are and all that is good.

I need a man I can admire and adore. Maybe I'm too picky or expect too much, but I will not settle or marry a man I can't admire. I can not settle with just any man, if I want to be the women I'm striving to be.

The Birth of Chirst by Carl Bloch

To my friends and my country...

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. - Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address

i do portraits sometimes

this is the Carlson family.

"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Maison Pestea" for you abuelito

Last month I was in France, in the basque country. I got to visit the village of Hasparren where my ancestors are from, and I found the house where some of them lived and died. It was in the family for a few hundred years and was built around 1700, it still stands as you can see. Is pretty incredible to me, that I was able to find this house. I have many records from my research that mention the " Maison Pestea" as the place of birth and death. My grandfather spend 2 years traveling in France and lived in Paris for a while, he liked it so much he added to his pen name " Tito Paris". He went there in search for his family and never found them. I feel like I completed the task and even though my grandpa has been gone for a while, I hope he can see how much I have worked on his French genealogy.

I had a realization yesterday. Email and text and chat are not ways of communications, not when things are important. I knew this, but got sucked into it anyways. Important conversations should be made face to face. Nothing beats the real thing, where you and all your senses can express what is in your heart and mind. To not do this, is messy, as I now know. I am never ever going to do this over email or text or chat, is not worth the misunderstanding. There are times when emails and letters are necessary, but I prefer the real time interaction. I hate how lazy we've become and have replaced people with technology. I'm much kinder and nicer in person anyways. This makes me want to get rid of texting from my phone all together. I'm sorry I took the easy way and not the best way. Lesson learned, will not happened again.

sometimes i blink.sometimes i squint.

i love

the muppets, and

poetry .......the romantic era
greek yogurt with honey
heavy blakets
kitchen pottery
boots
french manicures
steak tacos
my hair
manly men
genealogy
black and white pictures
honesty
the color of wine
burning oils
hot showers
to be impressed
and to laugh so hard my jaw hurts
books
paintings
admire someone
watching people at airports
warm laundry
new beginings
intelligent conversation
clarity and truth
courage

"It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you're not." -Andre Gide

Joshua James

how long does it take you to run away.
run run run
i have been numb.
i take a spoon and I have tasted that.
from my toes to my waist, I'm in it, with no way to go
a seat belt will never keep you safe from it
walking on Lincoln road he told me
in a letter I told you
at a taco stand he told me
at night I told you
takes me no time to run, no time.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

OUT of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

want someone to sing this to me.

I adore the rain
the roaring and the thunder callin
the freshness moves in.
like this , I wish it would stay for a little longer.
and you company me.
louder louder it poures.

Lesson in a Chili's

Spend enough time walking downtown and you 'll have stories to tell. I met a man yesterday , his name is Ayi Ayi from West Africa, he's a refuge and was stranded until his sponsor met up with him this Thursday. He was hungry and asked me for food, not money. Now I have to just say I'm not the kind of person that gives money to the beggars every time I see one, and in no way I'm trying to brag, this is not something I would normally do, buy a complete stranger dinner at Chili's, and sit with him as he ate. But ,I did feel at the moment I should ,so i did. He had been in a concentration camp for 9 months in his homeland of Togo, before he had been seen sent here, he was tortured and his eyesight had been damaged because of it. His family was killed in a bombing. I was completely intrigued, between the smiles of eating food and watery eyes of the painful experiences he had lived since last week being in the streets, I felt an immense sense of gratitude, that I could in some way help him and make his journey a little better. The were a lot of thank yous and mercies, he expressed his gratefulness. Last night and this morning I woke up thinking about him, I do not understand the reasons for suffering in the world, but I do know that we can be part in someones healing, that we can help even with a meal, or a few minutes of listening to someone. That day he helped me more that what I believe I did for him. Is not everyday I have the opportunity to meet men of courage, in fact it's very rare, but when it does happen, I'm changed a bit and forever.

bad and good day

I don't know what has kept me from writing. There hasn't been a lack of things. Today I had a bad day. I know we all do, every few weeks or once a month.I'm not going to bore you with details, but it had me on my knees praying for some light. Then, after my pouting and tantrum I took the bus downtown. The bus is a very strange place. All sorts of characters meet there. For me, the bus ride always makes little more thankful along with a reality check, as if while riding I'm given a lesson in life. Today wasn't any different. I sat across a young man, blind and riding the bus. I couldn't keep me eyes from him his dead eyes, he had his long stick and beside him, attentively waiting for his bus stop. When he got off, i was a little worried for him, but this is my lack of faith you see, he's gone all his life without my help. He seemed to know where he was going with out really seeing it.
I had spend most of the morning crying over losing something dear to me. And this young man how does he do it? Moving from place to place in darkness, how does he find things when they are lost. Makes me realized that as grateful as i am and as much as i complaint, i wouldn't trade my trials for anyone else's. But also made me think that some people, like this young man and are stronger and more courageous than I will ever be.
Today was a good day to be humbled.

poem by Pablo Neruda

I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.
Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets.
Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day
I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps.

I hunger for your sleek laugh,
your hands the color of a savage harvest,
hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,
I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.

I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body,
the sovereign nose of your arrogant face,
I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,
and I pace around hungry, sniffing the twilight,
hunting for you, for your hot heart,
like a puma in the barrens of Quitratue.

Translated by Stephen Tapscott

Why this poem today? It makes me think of someone, he's not far but runs from me all the time. Love, real love, passionate love, is not easily forgotten, we are fools in love, thinking we can control it. It linger and festers, changing us forever. I have stop running from it , I surrender to it, and will now wait for it to come, it comes, it always comes.

Interesting perspective and quite sobering....Remarkable images of families from different parts of the world. They're surrounded by the food they consume in one week; we're also told the cost of that food. This is a way of showing the differences in the world.
Germany :The Melander family of Bargteheide /Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States : The Revis family of North Carolina /Food expenditure for one week: $341.98

Japan : The Ukita family of Kodaira City /Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25 Italy : The Manzo family of Sicily /Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.1 Mexico : The Casales family of Cuernavaca /Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09 Poland : The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna /Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27 Egypt : The Ahmed family of Cairo /Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53 Ecuador : The Ayme family of Tingo /Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan : The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village /Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

Chad : The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp /Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23

....the rain drops are singin your name, so loudly. Makes the wanting inescapable.

I was in Washington last weekend @ Sasquatsh Festival, and I got to experience this:

I remember shouting and screaming with the crowd so loud that I couldn't hear myself, but just a ringing and the vibrations. I wish I could write in better words and explain how great and magical this performance was, I was so close to the stage and I felt it all of it, the sounds, the words that came out of his mouth, the energy of a complete heart in which this man Justin Vernon sang. It was poetry to all the senses.

laughin me bootie off

This commercial takes me back to my hometown, how i love that Cuban accent. This is a real commercial by the way !

Zion National Park

I went to Zion a few weeks ago, it was my first time. A little while back someone had promised me they would take me, ...such are broken promises. I'm so glad I didn't wait, What a lovely place ! I want to go back and stay at the Lodge. I only got to do the Angels Landing trail, so there is lots more for me to explore. you like my socks? got tons of compliments on the trail, there are alot of people out there that are fans of socks, let me tell you !
Me on the trail to Angels Landing, this view seriously makes me want wings !

I've never seen a leaf like this, I never tired of the nature's designs.

why is this so cute....

Tummy Tubs ??
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30499759/?GT1=43001

I have been silent for a while. I've had things to say but didn't feel like putting them into lines and ideas. Ignoring them felt right. I'm taking responsibility tonight for all that was thought and not said. I wonder at times why is it that we are so unaware of ourselves, I have always been curious about my inner workings, and I dive into dissecting my behaviour and putting reasons behind it. I take life too seriously. I do! I like to be aware of what the hell I'm doing with my life. How I spend my time and with who. I'm responsible for my feelings and even for the things that I do and I'm not aware. For who I choose to listen to and have them affect my life. I'm responsible for all of it. So in my attempt to be a little bit more aware and responsible for my actions, I choose to ignore life a bit and not take it too serious. Because, in the end it all comes out in the wash, expectations are imaginary and I choose to be like waters that run, flexible and free.

let me go tonight...

Lykke Li - Tonight from Lykke Li on Vimeo.

still call me baby
when you say you are not in love
we are too far gone
just call me by my name
i reach for the door
stand back and wait
still call me baby
he never thinks

what's in your heart?

is all i want.
think
not to feel
when you call me baby
nothing

loudest sound of silence

retro.....cause i'm going back

I'm in Miami, my hometown. I have so many distorted and fuzzy memories of this place. I visited with friends and lovers. In conversation there is a lot I don't remember, so I realized. Funny, life can be so different in another place and yet the same. Is nice to walk the streets I walked many years ago, and do a retro-inspection. I'm not the same , not the same girl that lived here. My heart is with the mountains now and I would not trade them for this humid tropical weather. Life is good, I'm off to Ecuador today to the land of my birth. I will go to the places where I live as a tiny little girl. I'm hoping to uncover some hidden memories . I will see Ecuador after 25 years. So here I go...

Life needs to be lived as an adventure, new and refresh, if not.... we may lose ourselves in the routine, enclosed in our one-sided bubble.

deliciouso!

letters

don't know if it happens to you often, but i sometimes have a reoccurring theme, they show up in conversations and at random times. Like lately it's been letters. I was asked to write one, and then in class I read 6 from WWI, also I taught a lesson at church about letters. So what is life trying to teach me, why letters? The one I recently wrote was not an easy one to write, I wanted to pour my heart into it. Who knows what the reader felt when they received it, all i hope is that it was taken well. Letters to me have a kind way of being. They are not presumptuous, but just are and one can go back to them at any time. A long time ago, i wrote myself a letter and then opened it a year later at the schedule date. Letters are just powerful and that power has been present lately.

here is an excerpt from my assignment on one of the letters from WWI and my teacher's response, I have also linked the actual letter if you want to read it, very interesting history from a soldier's point of view.
ME : ......After the details of his last bloody encounter he then finishes with focusing on his wife. He asked her how she’s doing and how he misses her. He recollects the memory of them sitting by the lake. He’s sweet and humorous. I like this part the best, he seems brave, sweet and even concern tells her to take care of herself. I find this funny when he’s in the middle of war and she’s in a safer place than he is. How hard it must have been to be in those trenches for so long?.........This week has been the week of letters I wrote one myself and then I read all of these. There is something special about letters, receiving them in the mail and writing them to someone. It’s almost a lost art. Maybe I’m just a romantic, and so the letter by Edward Luckert to me was sincere, I just don’t see the point in writing and communicating to love ones, especially during that time when it was very difficult to communicate, and not putting real sentiments and just writing about the bloody events of war.
TEACHER: It seems to be a common theme- love, love for ones at home. I think that knowledge that someone is there for you can be a very powerful, persuasive force. All human beings desire to feeling valued. All creatures may in general. I'm not a fish, so I don't know. =) I agree. Letters are a somewhat lost art. I recently received one that made deep impression based on the sincerity and concern expressed. I did not know the friendship was valued so much, either. In return, I sent one to a young person in my neighborhood that is an exceptional individual, but gets teased for it. I relayed how proud I was of them and who they were and to never forget that. There is something "romantic" about letters, even if they are not always about an "in love" romance. Some very nice thoughts. Thank you.

dim and quiet

guitar strumming

i sit quietly

listening to thoughts pass

waves are in my eyes

are we to far gone?

can nothing be done?

all i know

it's all i know

you have it all

latin rock....umm more like Latin Indie

Juana Molina * Un dia (one day)

i'm good and i'm gone

like this song....2 different versions one in a cab and the other in a bathroom, i think the acoustic is brilliant.The last on is the album version...

the original video is here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30fSrn7MlmU

My 34th birthday

My birthday was on Sunday. I spent most of my day in my room, writing a 4 page photograph analysis . You know i can't remember the last time I had a birthday cake. It just not right! for dinner I had left over carrot soup I made a few days before. Where was my family you ask ?(here i live with them). It's always a little strange to admit when your family is lacking in something. Well this is not a pity party for me or a trash my family post. But I have to admit I learned Sunday, that I like to be appreciated on my birthday. One day out of the year that they could have made dinner thinking about me (I'm allergic to wheat). It would have been nice to be considered on my birthday. No birthday cake, not even dinner. I was upset and then I got over it, all the birthday wishes on facebook from friends and acquaintances help me with that.

I want to remember your birthday and celebrate your life. I don't want to forget it and certainly don't want to have it pass by just like any other day. When I was little my birthday parties were huge, my mom would spend months preparing. She would even make a pinata by hand ,usually in the form of a character I had requested. What happened? I'm in my 30's, am I to old to celebrate with cake? I don't think so, age is not a requirement for blowingout candels, well maybe if you're on a respirator. Anyways my frustration was expressed, because one thing that is not lacking from my family is communication, we get everything out, almost to a fault. I just wondered do I treat other people the same way? I hope not. The next day was my father's birthday, well I made sure he had a cake, so I baked it, even if i couldn't partake because it was made out of wheat, that wasn't the point. I wanted him to feel loved and cared for on HIS day.

January

It's been a while since I wrote about what's going in this thing called life, maybe it's because I can't seem to sit still long enough to put my thoughts together. I will share some of the things that have happen in the last month. (I have linked the colored words to explain what i'm talking about)

-I would tell you how I was a tattoo artist for a week, I actually did get to tattoo my friend, and found it to be very relaxing, if the opportunity had presented itself I would still be doing it and doing it quite well.

-I would tell you I'm a good student and if I spend more time studying I be even better.

-I would tell you that I feel like the last months I have felt a different feeling out in the world.

-I would tell you that the words "Not my will but thine be done" has changed and settled in my mind like never before.

-I would tell you about my reading and research has open my brain like a clear skies after a storm, things make more sense to me.

-I would tell you I miss someone I didn't expect to miss, and that part of loving someone is accepting their adoration for you, believing them when they do.

-I would tell you that a beautiful voice and talent doesn't require a slim figure, and thank goodness the entertainment world is recognizing that..... Her concert was really good.

-I would tell you that there is peace in the not knowing.

-I would tell you that I will be teaching Kung Fu to a bunch of 6 year olds starting Monday.

-I would tell you that my place of birth is calling for a visit.

-I would tell you that my faith is stronger and some days there is no choice but to believe.

-I would tell you that politics is dirty,and I put my trust in God.

-I would tell you how I like and enjoy my room, the lighting and the space, my Interior Design teacher would have been proud.

-I would tell you about how anxious I have been lately, so much that i want to do and I'm overwhelmed.

-I would tell you how much I like history, and how I watched the HBO John Adams series all in one day.

-I would tell you about a concert I went to, the man singing restored my faith in hot, manly, sweet men.

-I would tell you that Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Concords, is one of my favorite people.

So that's pretty much the month of January give and take.

oH ! this little clip is one of the reasons why I love Jemaine Clements and FOTC. I watched this at least 10 times, ..............NOTICE at 00:06 he mumbles....

so talented at making me laugh.

Dorky maybe, but it had me laughing......

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Better Know a Beatle - Paul McCartney

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Paul McCartney Appearance

Funny Political Videos
More Funny Videos

Defenition of Buddie

I found this in the Urban Dictionay online
Buddie
1. A Person Who Listens When You Bare Your Soul
2. A Person Who Knows You Inside And Out
3. The Person Who Can Finish Your Sentence For You
4. Who Knows Without Being Told That Your Doubting Your Relationship
5. A Person Who Does Wrong, Apologizes, And Then Takes You Out (Fishing) To Make Up For It
6. The One Person Who Annoys The Hell Out Of You, But You Never Can Get Enough Of
7. The Only Person You Hate Seeing With Another Girl Cause You Don't Think She's Good Enough

8. The Person Who Acts Like Your Brother, Chauffeur, Body Guard, Best Friend, and Sometimes More.
9. The Only One Who Knows When Your Sad, Angry, or Scared, Even When Your Pretending To Be Happy
10. The Only One Who Can Always Make You Smile, Even When Doing Manual Labour

yes, i am an artist.

take away everything that feels fine
catch a shape in the circles of my mind
make me feel like I belong to you
make me feel it even if it ain't true

i dare you........

I'm happy, no reason and that's the best part.
I dare you, i double dare you to be happy right NOW !
where you are, right this instant, can you do it? can you be happy just because?
I think you can.... we all can, Defie all reasons and all defeats, just decide.
I DARE YOU!

Wanna watcha a cartoon?.......Pucca

So I first discovered PUCCA in the 90's on a trip to Chile. Pucca is a Korean little girl that's always after Garu her boyfriend. It's super cute, well... at least I think so.

you know when you thought you knew , but then something happens and you realize you were wrong? and then you are all turned around, makes you wonder if you knew anything at all, yeah !I felt like that the other day.

Kinda humbling to be so wrong.

this was triggered in a conversation with one of my sweet friends...Michelle you are amazing!

So I'm 33.... going to be 34 in a month, I'm also an active LDS single girl. I seen to have a reoccurring conversation, it might be because I know a lot of people that are in the same boat. So it's the same scenario, this includes men and women, "Giving up because they are in their 30's and the marriage thing hasn't happen to them".

Now I've been dating since I was 20 ( i had a late start, pretty much the story of my life) so I can understand the frustration, disillusion, the depression that comes from dating over a decade. I've been upset and sad over it, I've been heart broken several times and was even engaged once. BUT I don't understand in giving up on one's religious beliefs because of it, or settling to marry the next stranger that ask you too. I think in my 30's I know better, I been through my ups and downs. I've learned the many lessons about myself and other people, I'm not going to just throw it all out not after 30 years, not after all the tears, struggles, heart brakes and specially because I know for myself what is TRUE. It's not wise to blame God, and go astray from what one has worked for their whole entire life, as if one was a 5 year old having a tantrum because they are not getting the candy they want when they want it. I think that defeats Faith in a higher power.

I guess I just don't get it, the attitude of giving up, it's not the best or smartest thing for us. If we were to do the best and kindest things for us, we would have faith in a loving Heavenly Father that will help us, because we may not have the capability to make it happen. Have faith that there are other forces out in the world. The time and timing is important, for reason that are not known to us. Not known to us because in the mercy of a Heavenly Father, it is best for us to not know. There is a design to our lives. So I believe in being kind and good to myself by not loosing faith, by being patient with what I can and can't control.

A happy life is not founded on faithless beliefs or lack of integrity to our morals and values.

I would much rather be single and happy, than in a marriage I created to satisfy my impatience with loneliness, or any other needy insecurity. I think marriage will be a great wonderful thing , if it where to the right person at the right time. I hope that our spiritual journey with God and ourselves is not based on how our lives are going, and at the smallest defeat we give up, we stop believing what we know as true. I believe in a kind Heavenly Father that loves his children, at times by ignoring their request cause he knows a better way. It's sad to watch people make these kind of decisions. They give into self doubt and of course this will diminish their feelings of being loved. I wish I could show them how loved they are, and put their hearts at peace. But I don't have the power to do this, all I can do is be there for them and loved them no matter what. I pray that they make the best choices for themselves and that I can be the best kind of friend I can possibly be for them.

Life is not easy, being single is not an easy thing for me, it never has been, I have no assurance that marriage will happen for me, but I know that Heavenly Father loves me and whatever happens ,I will always know that and I will always love him back as best I'm able to.

How do we love God?, by not giving up on ourselves......

i went to the DI

Sometimes I like to document my day, I went to DI. I think you can always find interesting things if you take the time to look, and maybe look with a different eye.

yes I did spy and followed this man to take the picture, I'm guilty of stalking the Elvis-wanna be.

visually pleasing to my eye, these Barbies, the top pic. not so sure what it is...maybe all the colored skin nudity (I'll explain latter in another entry) and the bottom pic. its the pretty pink. If these dolls could talk wonder what they'd say?

do you see it? there is some design form here, don't know about function, well... maybe if one is looking for a chartreuse ice cube tray...

these dolls freak me out, If I had them in my room at night they would scare the crap out of me, I much prefer the Barbie dolls ,not to play with but being in my room at night, that's what I mean.

I was interested in 2 videos here, can you guess which ones?

• IF you said the KUNG FU collection then you are RIGHT!!, cause if you didn't know I practice Kung Fu, like for reals, like I get down and dirty with a bunch of boys at a gym. I have a Sifu and everything, yah!
  
• IF you guess the double video on the right THE PARTNER DANCING THE COUNTRY WAY then you are right again, I am a fan of country dancing. A-ha!
  

Well there you have it my report on my trip to the DI. I did buy some things too.. like 3 awesome cd's ( Joshua James still wrapped, afrocuban music, Andean music from Chile) a vintage leather jacket and a purse. the end.

hmm...closeness

what is closeness? is it the distance of steps, or affection. Sometimes we think we are close to someone, when in fact they are worlds away. I think is not physical, mental, or even emotional at times. But two people wanting to be seen, they open their doors to try to be understood, and in return there is a connection. I'm not just talking in a romantic way but in general. It certainly takes two willing people, to focused people.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”
-CS Lewis

nataliedee.com

Hey, hey, hey, heya

Happy New Years Day! today we can start fresh, and the numbers in history we write will have a different year. Being a genealogist dates are very important to me. Maybe this will be just another year or maybe this will be the year were we have dates that will forever be remembered. When searching for ancestors, in film or an old Parrish book, years are so important. I wonder about what life was like, for example my French basque and ancestors, the french words, the ink, the priest, the mansion (house in french) if they were happy that day. Then almost a year later I can always expect to find the baptism of there first child. When we are living, dates and moments pass us by quickly, but after we are gone, to someone else those dates are meaningful. A while back I started a chronological biography, of every year of my life, with important events like, school grades, boyfriends, mission, births and deaths of relatives, etc. What I found was as I forced myself to think back on time and history, I remembered things that I had forgotten, I'm not done with it. I keep on adding more to it. But looking at it is pretty amazing my own personal time line. The purpose is to write my autobiography eventually. As a genealogist I wished I had more information on individuals, so I have to leave something for my descendants. I have met people that my future generations will not get to meet, so I will write about my family members too.