I did a rant on standing in check out lanes, and one of the topics was about people that stand right next to you while you are paying at the cashier. I cannot stand people that stand right on top of you when you are standing in line, or stand right next to you when you are checking out. If you are standing close enough to see my PIN or signature then you should have to pay for my purchase.
We were at Disney World last Summer and there was a family that seemed to follow us from ride to ride. One of the kids in the group had no concept of personal space. My son was so irritated with this little girl that I thought he was going to yell at her. She looked to be about 10 or 11, maybe older, and she would stand so close to us that she would actually touch us. She would put her hand on us, step on our feet or lean on us. It was very uncomfortable. We would turn and look right in her eyes, as if saying stop touching me, and she just did not get the cues. So, finally I just turned to her and in a very nice voice I said, "Honey, please move back and stop touching or leaning on us." It did absolutely no good. Her parents heard this request and said nothing to her. Maybe they didn't speak, or understand English, or maybe they were just rude people, not sure which. From that moment on we made sure they were not in the same line with us any more.
Ben Stone and Paul Robinette (Richard Brooks), poor Paul had to have many close encounters with his boss Ben.
What made me think about this whole personal space topic was watching the original "Law and Order" TV show. The first years of the show the Executive Assistant DA was Ben Stone, played by Michael Moriarty. Ben Stone did not recognize other people's personal space, and every time I see him in these conversations it makes me uncomfortable. Face to face conversations where they are inches apart and even walking scenes where they are so close that their shoulders overlap, or they are bumping into each other. I would be paranoid that someones breath was bad standing that close. I would have to tip my head back and look at them through my bifocals just to see them clearly. Maybe the cameras back in the late 80s didn't allow for more space in these scenes, but it sure looks uncomfortable to me.
Ben talking to a Defense Attorney up close and personal.
I wonder if Ben needs a breath mint.
I wonder if Paul is picking up bad habits from his boss.
This last weeks episode of "Law and Order SVU" Assistant DA Rafael Barba, played by Raul Esparza, is being replaced by Peter Stone, played by Philip Winchester. Peter Stone is the son of Ben Stone from the original "Law and Order". Let's hope, that like his first episode as the new Asst. DA, Peter recognizes and respects every one's personal space, unlike his father.
Look at Peter Stone having a normal conversation with Olivia at a regular distance.
Jack McCoy The DA is also having a normal spaced conversation with Peter Stone. Jack came after Ben on Law and Order as the Executive Assistant DA and maybe Peter is using him a role model for personal space.
Oh Ben, you really need to back off!
Ben Stone you make me uncomfortable. But of course, I was not so uncomfortable that I did not watch every episode. Still the greatest TV series ever made!!
I published this post in September of 2015. A few days ago there was a school massacre in Florida where 17 adults and children were killed. My sister sent me a text a few days later telling me about a distraught father who was speaking at a vigil for the victims of the shooting, one was his 14 year old daughter, and he said he couldn't remember if he told his daughter he loved her as she ran out the door for school that morning. My sister said she thought of me and the speeches I made at my Daughter and Son's weddings about this subject. So, I thought I would just publish it again to reinforce saying the three most powerful words that we can speak or hear.
These three simple words are used so often in this world that sometimes we don`t really think about what they really mean and how powerful they are. I was reminded of their power a week ago, by of all people, my real estate agent. Odd, I know. Here is what happened.
Once again we hit a real estate snag causing us to look at more houses in Texas. My agent and I went out alone and while we were in one of the homes my husband called. I talked to him for a few minute and as I was saying good-bye, as always I said, "I Love You"! My agent heard me and said that was so sweet. I told her that we never hang up without saying "I Love You" to each other. Then I told her the story about why.
A very old picture of my Loving family. I am the one in the pigtails.
When I was growing up my parents and siblings have always said "I Love You" to each other. We said it when leaving each other, or when talking on the phone. We have done this for as long as I can remember. I lost my Mom this year and I found a voicemail she sent me for my Birthday, and at the end she says, "I Love You". I love to listen to the recording and it never gets old hearing her say those three words to me. This has carried over into my family. My husband and kids always say, "I Love You" when leaving each other, before hanging up the phone, and now even when ending a text thread. For over 35 years my husband has kissed me good bye in the morning and we ALWAYS say "I Love You" to each other. There have been mornings when he has left for work while I was still sleeping, and after he leaves I could not remember if we said it. I call him sometimes before he even gets out of the garage. He always assures me that we have said it, but I was not quite awake, so I just didn't remember.
This is my favorite Picture of me and my Mom. I miss her everyday.
A few weeks ago I dropped my grandson off at school and was afraid to kiss him good-bye and tell him I loved him because he was having a bit of a problem separating from me at drop offs. So, this once I sneaked out and left without tears. The only problem was it bothered me all day that I didn`t kiss him and say "I Love You". Now, we say our good byes while we are getting out of the car and he gets a few minutes to get adjusted as we are going in the building. But there is nothing better in this world than to hear those words from the sweetest grandchild ever!!!
Our children always say "I Love You" to us and to each other. My sons would say it to us even when they were in a car full of their friends. Our youngest, the hockey player, always kisses us and says, "I Love You" when we are leaving after his games. He does this in front of all this college teammates and he doesn't even think twice about doing it. It is funny when I am texting with my kids and I end the thread with "I Love You", I wait a few seconds and hear the text tone. The text is always, "I love you too"! We ALWAYS say it no matter where we are, what we are doing, or who we are with.
Number 21 is our son, and I am sure he is not using the word Love in his comments to the player laying in front of him from the other team.
My sweet Pop! I miss him so very much.
Back to the story I told my agent. Five years ago my Dad was in the hospital with a minor throat irritation (Thrush). I was living in Indianapolis and he was in Ohio. I got updates all the time from my siblings on his recovery, and after a few days I got an urgent call that he was going to be put on a respirator in an hour. I lived 3 hours away and there was no way I was going to be able to see him before that happened. He was put on the respirator and within about 5 days, we had to take him off the respirator and let him pass. I never saw him awake, or was able to talk to him before he passed. I was devastated. Then, my sister said something to me that changed everything. She said, You know that the last words you two ever spoke were "I Love You". And she was right. The last words we said to each other were not harsh, funny, sad, or unimportant, they were the most meaningful words two people can say to each other. I Love You!
One of my daughters engagement pictures.
I then told my agent that those are the last words I want my husband or kids to hear from me, or hear from each other. You never know if they are going to be the last words you ever speak, or hear. When my daughter was married a few years ago, I made a toast that included the story about my Dad and I reminded them that they should always say "I Love You" when leaving each other. My agent was tearing up and said that she was going to start that same tradition in her family.
We were at a showing yesterday and my agent said, "Our last conversation about saying "I Love You" was so touching I now make sure I tell my husband "I Love You" every time we part.
My son was married over Veteran's Day weekend last year in Arizona. For the wedding program we decided to make them fans to serve a dual purpose, first to inform the guests of the sequence of events and the listing of the wedding party, and second to help keep guests cool in the hot Arizona sun.
The wedding had somewhat of a rustic theme and was being held at a popular dude ranch, so I made the programs and the menus out of brown and cream paper to give them that rustic look.
Supplies I needed to make both the programs and the menus were as follows.
brown card stock
cream card stock
wood fan handles
tan paper twist ribbon
fancy cream ribbon
leaf paper punches
corner paper punch
double sided tape
hot glue and gun
My daughter in-law (I love saying that) found a template she liked for the program and filled in all the information she wanted listed on both sides. She emailed the final draft to me. I then printed the template onto the 8 1/2 by 11 cream card stock. After all 80 were printed, using the paper cutter, I cut each side to the dimensions I thought looked best on the 5 x 7 brown card stock background. Deciding on the dimensions you want the information pieces to be, and cutting them all the same size is the hardest part.
I forgot to take a picture of the front before the stick was added, but you get the idea.
Once all the pieces were cut, I punched all the corners to round them and then used the double sided tape and put the front piece of the program onto the brown background paper. When the front sides were in place I used the hot glue by putting a strip of glue on the stick and gluing the handle to the back of the brown background paper that is behind the front side of the program.
I put tape all around the edges of the back cream information piece. When all the handles were glued into place on the backside of the front fan piece, and with the front of the program fan laying face down with the handle side up, I put hot glue on the back side of the handle. Next, I put the back side of the program onto the handle, pressing it into place on the handle and all around the edges.
I used some small leaf paper punches and punched some leafs from the extra brown background paper. I punched leafs in 3 or 4 different sizes and applied them to the front, and the back of the program.
Names were blacked out to protect the innocent
Now it was time for the bows. I took the cream ribbon and cut two strips in different sizes. One was about 8 inches and the other was about 9 inches. I tied a knot on each end and then tied the two strips at the top of the handle just under the paper.
For the bow at the top I first cut a 6 inch piece of tan paper twist. I then untwisted the paper and folded it in half long ways and cut it into two pieces. I then tied each piece into a knot in the middle and pulled the ends out to make a bow. I flattened the knot in the middle and hot glued the bow to the top of the front of the fan.
Sorry for the crusty scissors.
Next, I needed to make 80 menus. I used Microsoft Word and by using the columns function and fonts that matched the invitations and programs, I made three menus per page and printed them on one piece of 8 1/2 by 11 cream card stock.
Then measuring each page to make sure that when I cut them they were all the same size (this is the hardest part) using the paper cutter I cut the front pieces first. I cut the plain brown backing pieces so that there was a 1/2 inch, or so trim showing on the sides and bottom, but a bit larger trim showing on the top so I could add a bow. I punched each corner to round them out.
With the double sided tape I taped the menu information piece to the brown backing. Using the paper twist I made the same kind of bows for the menu that I made for the program and hot glued them to the top of the menu.
Both projects turned out so cute and the fans really came in handy for a warm November Arizona Dessert Wedding.
