The Neem Tree

Off and on for years I have had bouts of insomnia.  During Les' illness my insomnia worsened.  No longer did I have an occasional night of restlessness, sleepless nights became the norm.  I wasn't terribly worried about my lack of sleep then because I did not want to sleep soundly in fear that I might not hear Les when he needed me.

I figured after his death I would go back to my routine of an occasional night of sleeplessness.  I was wrong.  It has been three years since I have slept all through the night.  That is until last night.

The last day of my trip to the Bahamas I toured the Wallace Groves Garden.  The tour guide told us of an amazing tree, the neem tree, a/k/a the village pharmacy.  The tree originated in India where it has been used for medicinal purposes for 4,000 years.  All parts of the tree roots, bark, gum, leaves, flowers, fruit, seed kernels and seed oil are used for a wide range of medicinal uses including insomnia.

I was skeptical but what did I have to lose?  I have tried many sleep aid products over the years with varying degrees of success, mostly complete failure.  All the over the counter P.M. products have a reverse effect on me.  Rather than make me drowsy I become hyper.  Those products that actually calmed me enough to sleep drugged me so badly I was unable to get much accomplished the next day.  What harm would it do to try another sleep aid?  I would be out a little money and I would have yet another bottle of pills sitting in my medicine cabinet until I tire of looking at it and throw it out.

Three nights ago I took my first capsule.  I didn't fall asleep right away and I woke once in the middle of the night but was able to fall back to sleep easily.  The next morning I rose feeling rested.  Night two I tried taking the full dose recommended of two capsules.  I slept better than the night before but still woke once to go potty.  Once again, night three I swallowed two green capsules.  Within a half hour I was in dream land sleeping like a baby and didn't stir until 7 the next morning.  I woke alert ready to conquer what ever obstacles came my way.  This was the first night in years that I actually slept eight straight hours without interruption.

Is it possible that the ancient people of India were better healers than modern man?  The makers of this product claim this miraculous herb can be used for fever, fugal infection, blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, heart burn, heart disease, nausea, insect repellent, headache and of course insomnia just to name a few.

I am now excited about going to bed with the knowledge that I will sleep peacefully.  Sweet blissful sleep.

Man Eating Sharks

BEWARE! 

There are man eating sharks roaming the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale.  Darrell knows about them first hand.  He and I were walking along minding our own business when this big blue shark jumped out and gobbled Darrell up. 

It was crazy!  It was revolting!  It was disgusting! 

Good thing Darrell so old and tough.  The shark made a disgusting sound as he vomited and spit him out.

Being the sweet compassionate person that you all know I am, I stood by calmly photographing the historic moment.

Proof of my story below:

How Do You Spell PARADISE

Every one in the world is searching for something.  Some search for worldly pleasure while others crave professional growth.  Some look to improve their aptitude for learning and some focus on social service.

Me?  My search seems to be a vicious cycle searching for something new and interesting, something that thrills my senses.  Sometimes I search for my purpose in life and at times I am in search of true happiness.  In all my searches I have found the most satisfaction and bliss while in the company of friends.

Last week in search of whatever it is that I was searching for I found eternal bliss with my friend Darrell on Grand Bahama Island in the small town of Lucaya in a luxurious resort facing the Atlantic Ocean.  We did a little sight seeing but mostly we walked up and down the snowy white beaches inhaling the fresh ocean air, feeling the warm gentle breezes against our skin. The sand on the beach was incredibly soft and white and quite firm making it easy to walk upon.

So, how do I spell paradise?  L-U-C-A-Y-A

UN-Bubblely Lou

I don't know what is going on in my pea brain but I'm quite sure something is wrong - very wrong.  I am feeling very UN-Bubblely Lou. 

In just a very few short hours Darrell will pick me up so that we can finalize our packing, etc. for the trip to sunny Florida and then cruise to The Bahamas. 

I should be imitating Tigger - bouncing off the walls, giddy with excitement.

OK Girl!!! 

What is your mantra?

Life is an adventure!

A big, bold, epic and often time unpredictable adventure.  Kick yourself in the butt and turn up the radio, dance around the Christmas tree and live.  The future is not guaranteed.  Life may have other plans for you.  This moment, this priceless second in time - here and then gone forever.  Here and now.

"Today is life - the only life you are sure of.  Make the most of today."  Dale Carnegie

I know how short life can be.  I have seen it first hand.  I have seen people I love full of vim and vinegar, full of life and then gone forever. 

Turn off this computer, get up and shake your bootie, Bubbley Lou.  You've got yet another adventure to prepare for!

Why do we love?

Why do we love deeply?  I believe we love out of gratitude for what others have given to our lives. We are all selfish, we love for what we receive in return for our love. 

I'll never forget the swelling of my heart the first time I held my tiny infant son in my arms.  I had never felt love like that before and it was so over whelming I cried.  Love begets love.  My children grew and also loved.  With their love came my grandchildren.

But that is only the tip of the ice berg speaking of love.  We love our family, our friends, our pets, our neighbors, our hobbies, music, books, blah, blah, blah.  You get the picture. 

So why don't we love ourselves with the same deep love?  Why are we constantly belittleing ourselves for our imperfections, those imperfections that perhaps only we ourselves can see?  You know what I am talking about.  Someone tells you how good you are looking and you come back with, "nothing fits since I put on this additional weight".  We are down right mean to ourselves.  We wouldn't dream of treating others the way we treat ourselves.

The new year is right around the corner.  Have you started working on your annual New Year's Resolution list?  Remember that list, the list that gets put away and forgotten collecting dust with no productive changes once again.  I do not write new year resolutions but if I did, this year my list would begin with "Love thyself as you love others."

"Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship."  Norman Vincent Peale

So You Think You Got It Bad?

The following is a little ditty my father (Roger W. Reese) wrote Christmas 1996.  I hope you enjoy his humor.

Listen closely to this little rhyme
because you will hear it just one time.
The other night I could not sleep
so I made up this little ditty
which I thought was quite witty.

Then I told it to my wife
another mistake in my life.
She said, "Oh, what a pity
some of those words sound mmmmmmwell
Those words you will have to delete.
But I said, "It will not be complete."
That's when she hit me on the head
and I went right back to bed.

Ho! Ho! Ho! So you think you got it bad?
Let me tell you about this little lad.
This is a conversation I over heard
as he was talking to his reindeer herd.

Come on now quit your bitching
we have to finish this hitching.
Donner, I don't need to hear you complain.
You think yours is the only pain?
What is the matter with you Blitzin?
You know the elf has your shoe a fixin'
Come over here Cupid.
Don't act so stupid.
come let see that sty
I've got medicine for your eye.

Oh my head is so stuffy
and my eyes are all puffy
my nose is about to drip
and I got a sore on my lip
There's this pain in my hip
that makes me an old crip.

The missus gave me double ex-lax
I'm afraid to bend over for my packs.
I never got to sleep on the cot
for sittin' all night on the pot.

It's really not too bad.
When you think about the lad,
I mean the one who is boss.
They hung him on the cross.
So up! Up! and away
for this is His day!

Powerful Words to Live By But are They Right for Me?

I follow Rich Proctor's blog The Lionheart closely.  My ADHD does not allow me to stick to anything for long.  I jump around reading other bloggers but only The Lionheart has the power to keep me coming back.  He describes himself as a recovering underachiever and writes with complete honesty his struggle to be an extra-ordinary person.  I can't say I'm obsessed with his blog but I do confess I look forward to his daily dissertation concerning his attempts to improve himself.

Today he discussed his reaction to a quote by Nikki Sixx.  "If you are drawn to it ... attack it ... get obsessed with it and conquer it ...it doesn't matter if you think you can do it or not .... its all in your head .... write it down, splash paint on it, snap a picture of it or write a song about it ... practice what you preach and get on a soap box ... don't be afraid .... the only thing to be afraid of is fear itself." 

He called this quote "powerful words to live by" and I am in complete agreement.  If a person could live by this creed there is absolutely nothing they could not do.  The world would be at their feet.  Why?  Because most people are like me, easily conquered by their own thoughts of inadequacy, their own secret monsters of insecurities, that monster called Not Good Enough.

I am what Barbara Sher author of I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was a "scanner", a jack of all trades but a master of none.  Back to my ADHD once again.  I have tried more things than most people have tried in a life time and perfected none.  (Perhaps that is because I am OLD)

Here are a few of the things I have dabbled in:

Cake decorating
Seamstress
Sold craft items at craft stores
Art Journaling
Paint murals
Banker
Trust Officer
Stain glass designs
Writing a book
Home maker
Blogger
Sky diving
Mud Run
Weight Lifter
Politics
Church Leader
Artist
Youth Camp Counsellor
Rock Climber
Sunday School Teacher
Actor
Song writer

I am sure I am leaving things off my list.  This is just what has come to my head while composing this piece.

A year ago my cousin broke down and got medical help for her ADHD and swears she has never been happier.  She is now able to patiently complete one project at a time. 

I am torn.  One part of me likes this eccentric side of me, the dabbler who enjoys trying different things but the other side wishes I could calmly sit and learn something without having to jump up several times and do something else. 

For now I will continue doing things as I always have.