Greetings!

Monday and also the last day of July.  August will be arriving tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to one month from tomorrow — September — meaning fall is on its way and cooler temps!

Shouldn’t wish time passing a whole month fast.  I’m guilty.  Because I do.  Ha

Found this dozen for today.  Hope you enjoy.  I sure think they’re super fun!

Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?  Me?  I’m a fan of mayonnaise.

With the blockbuster hit of “Barbie” — that I’ve read about — in the theaters — I thought this AI of Barbies by state was fun.

Ears are more than just hearing and listening was super interesting to me.

The Charcuterie Skewers are totally my kind of entertaining.  Guests grab one and the conversation all around continues without having to go back and load up a few more items on a plate.

Potato Tacos – need we say more?  Yummo!

Lemon!  Hey, Mom, are you seeing this lemon lover?

I love, love, love the Dinner Date story.  Heartfelt and totally beautiful – and a reality check for us all – find your loved ones and tell them how much they are loved by YOU.

What have you found/seen/noticed on a walk?  Totally out there if we just keep our eyes open and notice.

Candid Camera Invisible Phone is funny!

Thanks for hanging out with us and reading and sharing this Monday — last day of July.

We are grateful!

• Mayonnaise vs. Miracle Whip …
• AI visualizes Barbies based on our 50 states
• Awesome giant murals by Reskate contain hidden glow in the dark paint art …
• Etiquette expert — how to be a cool house guest
• Can you hear me now?  These are some super interesting facts about our ears …
• ENTERTAINING IDEA – Charcuterie SKEWERS!
• Potato TACOS – YES!
• Got Steak?  Burgers?  Chicken? Mashed potatoes?  You might consider this fabulous marinated mushroom recipe !
• Luscious Lemon Bars.  It’s that time of year for lemon everything!
• Check out these awe-mazing theaters
• Treasures found on walks …   So very random cool
• Candid Camera — invisible phone — hilarious!

A DINNER DATE

The story goes like this …

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie.

She said, “I love you, and I know this other woman loves you and would like to spend some time with you.”

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who had been a widow for 19 years.  The demands of my work, and my three children had made it possible to only visit her on occasion.

That night I called to invite Mom to go out for dinner and a movie.

“What’s wrong with you, are you well?”  she asked.

My mother’s the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation as a sign of bad news.

“I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded.  “Just the two of us.”

She thought about if for a short moment and said, “I’d like that very much.”

That Friday after work, I drove over to pick her up; I was a bit nervous.  When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be a bit nervous about our date.

She waited at the door.

She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that looked as radiant as an angel’s.

“I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son and they were so impressed,” she said as we got into the car.  “They can’t wait to hear about our dinner together.”

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy.

My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady.

We sat down, I read the menu to her.  Her eyes only read large print these days.

Half way through reading the dishes on the menu, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there, staring at me.

A nostalgic smile was on her lips.

“It was I who used to read the menu to you when you were small,” she said.

“Then it’s time for you to let me return the favor,” I responded.

During the dinner, we had a wonderful conversation.  Nothing extraordinary, just catching up on recent events of each other’s lives.

We talked so much we missed the movie.

As we arrived back at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you allow me to invite you.”

I agreed.

“How was your dinner date?” my wife asked when I got home.

“Very nice.  Much more than I could have imagined,” I answered.

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack.  It happened so suddenly I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her.

Sometime later, I received an envelope with  copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined.

… I paid this bill in advance.   It read.  … I wasn’t sure I could be there, but nevertheless.  I paid for two plates – one for you and one for your wife.  You will never know how much that night meant for me.  I love you, Son.

At that moment, I understood the very importance of saying,  I LOVE YOU.  And to extend to our loved ones the time that they deserve.

Nothing in life is more important than family.

Things cannot be put off until another time.

~ This beautiful piece — I have no idea who wrote it — email thread

VALUE YOUR TIME

HAVE A GREAT WEEK
CATCH YA ON WEDNESDAY