throwback thursday: triggers

There are some things in life that, whenever I experience them, they take me back in time.  It's like I am immediately transported to another time in my life, just at the whiff of a particular smell or the slightest glimpse of a familiar image.  Memories come flooding back to me and I can bask in them for a few precious moments.  It's amazing how powerful our senses can be. 

Some of my favorite triggers:

The smell of coffee // my dad, brewing coffee at home when I was young.  Such a comforting, soothing smell.

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Diet Pepsi // Pops.  He drank it all the time throughout my childhood.  Sometimes I will get a DP, even though I am much prefer Coke, just so I can taste it and think of him.

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Anything Disney // my sister.  ABC Family has been playing some of the old favorites lately and I can't resist tuning in.  When we were growing up, Shelby and I would watch certain Disney movies over and over, so that we knew the entire thing by heart.  We also choreographed dances to several of the more "catchy" numbers, like this classic.  I'm sure we put Megara and the Greek goddesses to shame.

S'mores // block party bonfires in my hometown.  Every year, all of the neighborhood kids would gather at the bottom of the huge hill next to our house to watch fireworks (I think for the 4th of July?).  We would collectively "ooh" and "ahh" while we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. 

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Shania Twain // my entire middle school/high school experience.  I listened to all of her albums pretty much non-stop through my adolescent years and still love her.

 

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The Peanuts Gang // family gatherings at my grandparents' house with my cousins.  We were all obsessed with Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown and still practically have the entire thing memorized (and watch it every time we're together).  {That's it, Chuck, you're leading!}  Steve got to watch it with us for the first time after we got married, and I'm pretty sure he thought all six of us were crazy. 

 

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Both Kings Island and Cedar Point have Peanuts-themed kiddie parks within the theme park.  The Kings Island one is actually based off of Race For Your Life Charlie Brown.  I pretty much died when I saw it.  And yes, I wanted to ride all of the kiddie rides.  I'm pretty sure Pops would have wanted to, too. :)

 

Do you have any triggers that transport you back in time whenever you see/smell/taste them?  I'd love to hear about them!

 

what is a silver lining?

silver lining (noun): a sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation; a bright prospect.

[origin from the proverb: "Every cloud has a silver lining" (1870)]

the thankful project day 10: a memory

{Linking up with Kenzie at Chasing Happy}

November 10th: A Memory.

The small northwest Indiana town of Chesterton has a special affinity for The Wizard of Oz.  The Yellow Brick Road House was a popular tourist stop during my childhood, and the town is the proud host of the annual Wizard of Oz Festival each year.  Which was perfect, because my grandparents lived in Chesterton and Pops loved The Wizard of Oz. So us grandkids grew up knowing all things Wizard-related and developed a love for the movie at a young age.

cousins at the festival parade 

During my childhood years, many of the Munchkin actors would travel from across the country to attend Chesteron's festival.  The morning of the festival, they would camp out at various local restaurants and retailers to sign autographs and take pictures.  There was no set schedule or map detailing each actor's location, but somehow Pops figured out in advance where each of them would be.  

The morning of the festival each year, I would dress up in my Dorothy dress and hop in the car for our actor tour.  Pops took me everywhere - from the local Dunkin' Donuts to the Blockbuster Video and around town - to hit each actor's location.  I have countless autographs and pictures with the Munchkin soldiers, the Lullaby League members, the Munchkin Land Mayor and Town Board, and the flying monkeys (who were actually the Munchkin actors in disguise - who knew?!).  

One year, I got to meet the Lollipop Kid.  Pops told me in advance of a rumor that the Lollipop Kid handed out one lollipop each year to a lucky kid, but not to be disappointed if I didn't get one.  I'm not sure if that rumor was true or not, but imagine my surprise when, after sweetly signing my autograph book, he handed me a grape Tootsie Pop!  I couldn't believe my luck!

via google

When we got back into the car, I began to take the wrapper off of my Tootsie Pop so I could enjoy my prize.  When he realized what I was doing, Pops quickly stopped me and had me put the wrapper back on.  He told me that this Tootsie Pop was an extra special one, and I would regret it later if I ate it right away.  

I didn't understand Pops' logic at the time but now I am so glad that he stopped me.  Because the thing is, I still have that Tootsie Pop, twenty-five years later.  It's no good to eat any more, but that doesn't matter because it was never about eating anyway.  That little Tootsie Pop is a small reminder of all the time, effort and love that Pops poured into our Wizard of Oz Festival autograph adventures.  I am so thankful for that little Tootsie Pop.

via google (my tootsie pop is safe and sound in my parents' house)

walk to end alzheimer's

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of increasing awareness for a cause that is very close to my heart: finding a cure for Alzheimer's.  You see, Alzheimer's runs in my family. I have several relatives who bravely battled this disease. My grandfather (Pops) - for whom this blog is named and inspired - passed away last June after bravely enduring Aphasia and Alzheimer's.   Steve and I were married on June 16, 2012 - Pops wasn't able to travel to Texas for the wedding but I know he was there in spirit. He passed away two days later. I still miss him, every day. 

Every year, my firm participates in a fundraising campaign for the Walk to End Alzheimer's, sponsored by the Alzhimer's Association.  Last year I was out of town during the event, so I wasn't able to participate.  I was thrilled to learn that we would be in town this year, though, and jumped at the opportunity to get involved.  After a flurry of fundraising (and overwhelming generosity from my family and friends), the day of the Walk had arrived. 

The day was perfect. There was not a cloud in the sky as 3,000 walkers gathered in downtown Indy with flowers and t-shirts in honor of loved ones.  There was so much color and sunshine - Pops would have loved it.  I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to honor Pops on the most beautiful day in October.  

If you would like to support the Alzheimer's Association in their efforts to find a cure for this disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., you can do so here. 

hope

"Angels fly because they take themselves lightly."

-Pops

It was a year ago today that this incredible, kind, gentle, beloved man, affectionately known in our family as Pops, left us to be with the Lord.  While I am so happy for him and the blessed eternity that he is now spending with Jesus, words cannot even begin to express how much he is missed by those of us left behind. 

I am so thankful for God's promises - especially the promise that I will one day see Pops again in heaven.  While my heart aches here on earth, I know with certainty that God will reunite me with my grandfather and that in the end "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4 esv). 

Pops, I miss you every day.  But I place my hope in God's promise that I will see you again.  What an incredibly happy day that will be. 

Until then - "see ya later, alligator."

Love always,
Amy

happy birthday, pops!

Today is the first birthday that Pops will spend up in Heaven.  I am sure he is having an absolute blast.  I wish that he was here so that I could celebrate with him, but I wouldn't want to deprive him of celebrating his eternity with the Father.

My biggest fan - never missed a swim meet!

Pops always made birthdays special - I can't remember a single birthday when I didn't receive some sort of Peanuts greeting card, signed lovingly by Pops and accompanied by a picture of his "guardian angel."  He loved to celebrate the little things in life, and lived each day to the fullest.  He never took a moment for granted to show me (and all he loved) exactly how much we meant to him.

High school graduation (note the Diet Pepsi - his favorite!)

Pops was always my biggest fan and I knew that he was so proud of me.  He was there through every big milestone in my life - every swim meet (and I mean every one - he would drive for hours just to see me swim a 1.5 minute long race!), high school graduation, college graduation, law school graduation - and even stayed with us just long enough for my wedding.  He passed away two days later.  I'm certain that he planned it that way...thinking of others until his last breath.

College graduation

Law school graduation - 3 attorneys in the family

So happy birthday, Pops!  I miss you dearly but am so happy for you, spending eternity with our Savior.  I remember you with all my love today, and can only imagine how sweet the reunion must have been yesterday when Uncle Marty left us to join you in Heaven.  Miss you, love you, can't wait to see you again someday.

Wedding planning in Brookshire, TX

Love always,
Your Roadrunner

pops

Miss you, Pops.  Love you always.