65...OMG!

Sixty-five...ugh. That sounds strange to my ears. But that is what I am today.

Where did all that time go? I remember when I was young and thinking anyone older then 30 was ancient. I thought all my teachers were old and decrepit. It didn't help that they were religious nuns; their habits and veils covered everything, except for their faces and hands. Besides that I thought they looked old, they scared me.

Then one day my father caught me looking in the mirror and imparted a bit of fatherly advice. "You know, Maggie, one day you look in the mirror and you're young. Then one day, you look in the mirror and wonder, who is that old person looking back? Then you realize, that old person is you." After those pleasant words, he turned and walked away.

I looked at my father and thought that he had lost his mind. The words he imparted left me confused and I didn't bother to think about them. After all, I was young and a teenager and what did I know, besides everything. I didn't understand what he said because I was never going to get old.

Now, I am 65. I have all the signs of that age - dark pools and enormous bags under my eyes, drooping boobs, a map etched on my face and abdomen, and gray hair that I color. Nine children and life added all that to my body.

My knees ache - all the time. I still exercise, just so I can keep moving. I am not as ferocious at attacking the weight machines. I have slowed down and have become a gentler person to my aging body.

Even my brain has its senior moments. I used to be a whiz at Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy. I could beat the pants off my kids, especially when I used the 60s board game. Not anymore! As for Jeopardy, I am still squinting and biting my lips and furrowing my brow to get to my brain's file system. My son already has answered the question. But I am so intent on finding that answer that I don't hear him. During the commercial, the answer finally appears in my foggy brain, my mouth forms the words, and then I realize the MC is asking another question. I know my son has no clue as to what is going on with me. I don't bother to hand out any advice because he won't get it until he starts to age and get older.

Two months before I was 65, I was able to figure out how to file for my ex's Social Security and was able to register for Medicare with the help of my favorite brother-in-law. So I am there. I just hope 65 turns out to be a better year then a few of my past ones. I hope this year and the following years are going to be gentler to me as I will be with my own body.

Poodle Skirts

I was reading one of my friend's Blogs and looking over some of the things that she had written about. One that struck me was about a polka dot dress. I liked her entry and thought about the dress. I never had a polka dot dress but I do remember when I was little that an aunt made me a poodle skirt. The skirt was full with a white poodle dog and a leash on the front. My aunt also made my cousin one as well. That was so in and so very long ago, I am surprised that I can remember it. Even though I wasn't a teenager, I had to be a least 10. I thought I was really cool...even though I have seen a picture of me and I looked like an absolute dork. I definitely did not fit the definition of cool.

Then I just started thinking about all the cool things that were popular and the things that I had. My black and white saddle shoes were my pride in joy in the 60s. I wore a pair of those shoes for four years while I was in high school. The only way to wear them and look cool was to make sure that the white area had a scuffed look.

I remember when boat neck sweaters were big. It was a sweater that I wanted to add to my clothing collection. I was at one of the college boutiques and found a navy boat neck sweater. I bought it and can honestly say that I definitely didn't look like a dork! I wore that sweater to death. I also had a white sweater with a hood that was popular until I threw it over my popcorn popper in my college dorm room and burnt it. It was supposed to hide the sight of the popper which wasn't allowed in dorm rooms but it didn't hide the smell.

What about the green slickers that were stylish in the 60s? I had one of those and even wore it over my nightgown to one of the college dances. Unfortunately I was sweaty and couldn't even take the slicker off to cool down.

In the 60s the bell bottom pants and jeans were big. They were comfortable but then that fad went out. So did tied dyed and paisley shirts, along with go-go boots. The only boots that I ever owned were the cowboy boots that I wore when I was little to accompany my cowboy hat and Hopalong Cassidy six-shooter.

How about the mod style? I was more of the preppy kind of person. I wore rounded Peter Pan collars under my sweaters, or button down collars. And don't forget the plaid skirts. Those were cool, too. But my favorite had to be the culottes. Whoever invented that skirt was definitely cool and looking for comfort.

Of all the styles, I think besides being preppy, I was the sloppy hippy person. I loved the tied dyed shirts and even have a few that I wear to work out at the gym. I loved the poncho, and even made one, along with a shawl that I wore with a hippy long dress.

Then along came the pill box hat, immortalized by the late Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of the late President John F. Kennedy. I had one of those hats along with a lot of woman in America.

As for my beloved poodle skirt, I wore it until I out grew it. Then my cousin gave me her skirt after she out grew it. I wore it proudly, even as I scaled a tall metal fence across the street from my house, too lazy to walk around. I made it home, with a scratched leg and a red face, wearing half of the skirt, the other half was flapping in the breeze on top of the metal fence.

It is amazing that whatever you wear is going to show up 20 years down the road. I still have my tied dyed shirts, and my poncho and the shawl that I made. I just can't give up those things. If I live another 20 years, which I doubt, I will be in style.

Karma

First it was the "Big Decision" announced in a one-hour circus like atmosphere on ESPN prime time. That would be how LeBron James announced that he wouldn't be playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers and would be taking his game and entourage to play with the Miami Heat in South Beach, Florida

Then it was the owner of the Cavs blasting LeBron about tanking in the playoffs, and leaving the team. Sure, the Cavs felt like a jilted and spurned suitor. So did their fans. The fans gave their all, their loyalty, and their love to one of the greatest basketball players of all times. From this ugly split - nothing would ever be the same.

Of course when LeBron came back into town, he was one of the most disliked athletes to return. The fans booed him and held some very creative signs during the 60-minute game. Miami beat the Cavs and from that point on, the Cavs have not been the same. They find that they are probably the worst team in the NBA.

LeBron tweeted away and made remarks about karma. He made comments about the owner, the team, his teammates, and the fans. Karma -karma - karma.

Then the Heats winning string of games was snapped when LeBron suffered an ankle injury, and sat out a few games. Even his teammate, Chris Bosh is sidelined with an injury. Karma - karma - karma.

My message to LeBron would be that the fans loved you in Cleveland, and so did your teammates despite that you didn't bring home a championship title or ring. The Cavs management treated you like you were special. Like the king that you thought you were. The management shouldn't have. You are not "God." You are not "The Chosen One." You are not a "King" even if you have tattoos on your body proclaiming each.

My thoughts...beware of karma because it can come back to bite you too, LeBron. So maybe everyone should just shut up and let it go. The Cavs need to get over LeBron and find a few players to help the team. Until then, the Cavs need to play better ball, at least play like a 500 team or better. Your fan base is with you. Now give them something to cheer about.

Goodbye Mangini and 2011

The football season is mercifully over for the Cleveland Browns, as well as their long, suffering fans. The team finished the 2010 season with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses. Some time during the mid season, the team actually started to win. At one point, they won two games in a row. Like most fans, I thought this would be a turning point. It looked like everyone was on the same page of the playbook; the general manager, the scouts, the coaches, the starting "rookie" quarterback, Colt McCoy, the defense, the offense, and their big, breakout running back, Peyton Hillis.

But after that 5th win, everything started to sour. The quarterback of the future was injured, the big running back was injured, and everything and everyone else was in some form of disarray. It was only a matter of time before the season would be over.

For the loyal fans, they continued to watch, not a promising football team but a complete wreck happening. Something we are used to since the return of the Browns in 1999. The fans are frustrated. They love their team ferociously. They are loyal. They bleed brown and orange, the team colors. They deserve better.

After reading a book called The Curse of Rocky Colavito by Terry Pluto, I believe now that all the Cleveland sports teams have had a curse thrown on them. How could two great franchises like the Cleveland Indians baseball team, and the Cleveland Browns football team catch fire and then end in burnt out embers?

What about the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team? They were always a good, hard working team. They've won their fair share of games. Then they signed a fantastic phenomenon, LeBron James, right out of high school. Afterwards they soared. The team came close but never quite won that coveted basketball championship title and ring. Then LeBron left and the 2010-2011 Cavs have fallen apart miserably. They are at the bottom of their division with their 8 wins; and probably the worst team in the NBA.

One only has to read The Curse of Rocky Colavito and it all seems to fall into place. If you read the book you will understand why a dark cloud has descended and hung above all the teams like a bad case of toxic smog, since the early 60s. Maybe the Indians baseball manager, Frank "Trader" Lane, could explain why? Unfortunately, he is dead. Whatever would make him trade away the most beloved baseball player and fan favorite, Rocky Colavito? Of course Lane's nickname "Trader" should answer all your questions. This is a man who made around 400 player trades in his career. He even traded a manager, and once tried to trade his entire baseball team until the baseball commissioner stopped him!

My idea to straighten out these teams is to get a good old-fashioned Catholic exorcism going. No matter what the outcome, I will still continue to be a loyal Cleveland Browns fan looking hopefully to the football season in August and probably will finish the season with brown and orange tears trailing down my cheeks. Or maybe like the old cliche...hope springs eternally. I certainly hope so. I think the fans are ripe for a miracle.

Grandchildren

I spent last year trying to do a half a year of new adventures with a friend. I succeeded in doing that half the time. Then I wrote about regular old every day happenings with humor or some kind of insight. Or if something struck my emotions - I wrote about it with my own spin. I will continue to write about whatever is important to me.

Last year was a long one - all 365 days of it, and I lived through every one of those days. Some days were uppers and other days were downers. I was happy to see the year come to an end and eager to see what the New Year will bring.

One thing that the New Year will bring for me, will be my 15th grandchild. Right now, I have 14 healthy grandchildren, 11 granddaughters, and three grandsons. Each one is special, and my relationship with each is good. All my grandchildren live here in Pittsburgh, and I see them often. I babysit some regularly and others sparingly. They are unique individuals and range in ages from 14 years to 7 months. I have been on vacations with them, have gone bowling, miniature golf, Chuck E. Cheese, the zoo, museums, to the movies, out to eat, and attended a lot of birthday parties. Along the way, I have been invited to their school plays, or programs, watched them play basketball, soccer, baseball, t-ball, and football. My hope is to be around a long time to see them grow and be able to participate more in their lives.

I will be eager to see May come because that's when the newest grandchild will be born. For whatever its worth - there is always room for one more, regardless if its at the table or in our hearts.

God's gift to grandparents, comes in one long word, grandchildren.