Episode #5 – friendaversary

Best friends enrich your life and are the people you trust above all others to keep your brightest and darkest secrets. They are the people you call with good news and the ones who can soothe your soul during times of great sadness. A best friend can be summed up best like this:

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My fifth suggestion on living well is always stay close to your best friends so that your life will be enriched and filled with love that only a best friend can give you.

Visiting friends is a must in my life! I have three groups of friends that I must visit ever so often because of the joy they bring to my life. They are my high school friends, my college friends, and friends who used to live in my city who have moved away.

I am lucky that my high school friends get together often each year to celebrate whatever they can dream up to celebrate so we can all get together and share stories of family and crazy things we did in our youth. These times keep me grounded in the reality of my life and who I will always be “myself, Katy” at ten, than twenty, turning thirty, than forty, God forbid fifty, oh my God sixty, how did I get to be seventy, can you believe I’m eighty! If I can remain true to myself than life would have served me well.

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Some of my high school friends at the Christmas luncheon in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Shirl’s mother Doris is in her nineties and keeps us all on our toes.

My second set of best friends are my college roommates from my years at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Those were the years of discovery and adventure. Those were the years of awakening as to who I could be, what I would like to achieve, and what kind of legacy I would like to leave behind for hopefully others to build on or consider worthy.

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Starr, me, Sylvia, Sally at Starr’s home in Atlanta sooo many years ago.

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Starr, me, Sylvia and Sally with “Brandi” about nine years ago at Sylvia’s home in Dallas.

Starr, Sylvia, Sally and myself get together once a year now usually at our various homes in Dallas, Fort Walton Beach, Atlanta, and New Orleans. I am leaving tomorrow for Dallas so my next Blog will share all the fun we had. Don’t forget to tune in next weekend to hear all about it.

My third group of friends who get together to celebrate and contemplate life are Patti and Andy and myself. We don’t get to see each other very often but when we do we bring the house down with laughter, wine, and good times.

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Andy, myself, and Patti years earlier.

I like to think the benefit of friendship is immeasurable. That every great friendship improves your self-confidence because you know there is some one who truly gets you and loves you for who you are. I also think every great friendship is the only thing that can encourage you to change or help you avoid an unhealthy habit or lifestyle because you trust that friends judgment and are willing to listen to his/her advice.

The last group of friends live in my hometown and one about one hour away. Joann and Coco have been my friends for about five or six years.

It really doesn’t matter how long you have been friends with someone it has to do with connection. Both these ladies became instant friends and that friendship grew stronger with each year. They are the people I keep in touch with all the time. Sharing our lives with each other is an important part of my days. Everyone needs friends like these two ladies; friends who pick up the telephone to say hello I’m thinking about you. Hearing their voice, speaking of their life experiences, and they also wondering about yours. Just to hear their voice, having them telephone, or having lunch together says you are special to me and makes my day special.

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Joann and me!

Coco and me!

Why not share some of your special friendships with me which I can pass on to others.

Episode #4 – The Importance of Family

My lesson on living well in this episode is the importance of family.

My strong belief in family began during my childhood in a small country town, Church Point, Louisiana. I was blessed because I was born into a beautiful and nourishing family. It started with my maternal grandparents, not my immediate family.

My mother’s mother was a strong; take charge woman who was a fabulous cook, and seamstress. She was a woman who loved God and attended Mass everyday. She always had a brood of grandchildren playing around the house every single day. We would walk home from school and stop at grandmother’s house, as we would enter her house you could smell the aroma of fresh baked sweet dough pies and a number of sweet delights she had laid out on the kitchen table. Sometimes we would sit on the floor and watch her cut fabric and patterns to make something wonderful. She would often let us help and she would teach us techniques about sewing like always pressing seams, clipping corners and curves, etc.

Weekends were especially fun with our grandparents, parents and all the cousins gathered on the lawn. Everyone would spending time catching up with the gossip of the week and we played under the big weeping willow tree. We took turns on the crank of the ice cream makers waiting for more than one flavor of homemade ice cream to be ready.

My mother’s father was warm, funny, and larger than life and he was a God loving man. He demanded that any grandchild spending the night was down on their knees with the family as he recited the rosary before bedtime. The next morning he took us with him to his farm to milk the cows and gave us a squirt of milk and a cool drink of water from his hand pump. He loved his grandchildren and spent time trying to teach each of us French words and telling us stories sitting on his lap around the kitchen table. It seems like the kitchen at their home was always our gathering spot and the heart of family’s special moments during the week. However all the family participated on Sundays for a formal family dinner and afterwards gathered in the living room to talk and have family time together.

My parents were wonderful yet the death of my sister when I was six years old left them damaged. My father was a Banker whom everyone loved and a pillar in the community. My mother was a very talented teacher whose students returned in later years to say she gave them the greatest foundation to become successful in life. There was much sadness however in our home and lots of drinking to wash away their pain. My happy spot were times spent with grandmother Ernestine and granddaddy Pierre and all my cousins, aunts and uncles. Unknowingly, I learned many life lessons from my parents and surrounded by my extended family that gathered weekly to be together. This made me a very strong, self-aware person. I have always felt comfortable in my own skin. I had a clear understanding of my abilities and situation. With that being said, I have never felt life owed me anything or jealous of others success. So I can say I have lived an uncomplicated and satisfied life. This is a result of growing up with a supportive family who gave me a loving, encouraging, and positive upbringing.

Life is good and I’m living well. Please share your life story with me that I might share with other readers.

My grandfather Pierre with me, my sister and some of our cousins.

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My grandmother Ernestine with my sister and me.

My mother and father and my sister and myself.

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Saturdays in my grandparents yard.

Episode #3- Make a Bucket List

My tip # 3 to live well is that it’s important to always have things to look forward to like church, travel, work, volunteering, studies, exercise, etc. Whatever you are interested in you should have plans to do those things by yourself, or even better, with someone you can share the experience with.

I walked the Honolulu Marathon in 1987 I finished in 7 hours and 30 minutes

You should never feel bored with your life because there is so much to enjoy. There are always events you can enjoy in this world. There are things that enrich your life and give you stories to share; which makes you a more interesting person to be around.

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Afternoon tea with friends!

I don’t believe everything in your life should be planned; sometimes it’s nice for life to just unfold. You will be surprised by the joy your day bring! You should also look for those activities in your community that you know you will enjoy. Search for interesting events in your state and take a road trip and attend. If there is a long ago friend living there whom you haven’t seen in years plan to visit he or she while you are there. You can renew acquaintances and relive events in your past. Who knows what joy that may bring!

KatysFriends (52).jpg a trip to the Alabama beach with friends!

I love plays so I look at what’s playing in my community that I would like to attend. I like to travel so I look for travel that I might want to save for, however I also explore new areas in the city that are interesting. In-town events are the cheapest way to travel and keep you abreast of interesting things around your city. I love movies so I look at whats playing at the theatres. Visiting the library is a must to search for books and new authors I want to read. I always keep a book going by my bed or in the living room and keep the TV turned off and music going unless it’s time for my favorite television program, which are not very often.

Movie with friend!

Fill your life with variety, let the every day be a surprise or have it’s own flavor. Yes, I like that, “the flavor of my day” should become your motto; how grand or inspiring can it be. Let me know about your discoveries for your life, and how your dreams come true. Maybe you can help someone discover his or her joy in living life well.

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A meal with a friend who you can weird with!

**Let me know if I can share your discoveries in my blog.

Episode #2 – Health

I believe one of the most important things in living well is feeling good. Here are my blueprints that help me live a healthy life.

One of my daughters has a very good friend from high school who is like an adopted daughter to me. She is brilliant, a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, and has become an independent Medical Researcher. Her name is Nonnie Chrystal. Nonnie put me on a regiment of taking (Divinely Organic Colloidals), which are minerals and (Energy Biodine), an iodine that you add to water and drink. I take both every day in the morning on an empty stomach.

I purchase from Nonnie (Peak Oxygen) and add it to filtered water, which saturates the water with oxygen. I try to drink at least eight glasses a day, which adds extra oxygen to my body.

Nonnie swears by her (Ancient 5 Scalar Salt), that I use in anything I cook. Body soaking at least once a week with 2 tablespoons of (Ancient 5 Scalar Salt) is great and something Nonnie recommends.

If you are interested in any of her products you can contact her at Health Gems, 981 East Eau Gallie Boulevard, # 170, Melbourne, FL 32937, telephone (321) 615-7847, info@HealthGems.com

I have been on this regiment for a couple of years now. I feel fabulous, have lots of energy, sleep well, and I’m very active. Due to these products I can say at eighty I feel fifty!

My other health secret I discovered from my son-in–law who is battling cancer. It’s a drink he found that boost your immune system. It’s known as the Budwig protocol: flax oil and cottage cheese to reform the oxygen uptake of cells.

You combine 3 Tbsp. of cottage cheese and 2 Tbsp. of flax oil in a blender and mix together then let sit for five to eight minutes. Adds berries, walnuts or almonds, stevia, water, ice and blend. I also add greens, spinach, Kale and a little arugula. Try to use organic fruit, greens, and nuts. Drink as soon as it’s blended. This has now become my morning meal!

If you are interested in reading about “how to Cure Almost Any Cancer at Home for $5.15 a Day” by Bill Henderson with Andrew Scholberg it’s available at www.Beating-Cancer-Gently.com.

I have been exercising with two very good friends for about a year now. We spend an hour everyday and I have to say on days when I miss due to a conflict I now actually miss the exercise. I never thought I would ever say that because I used to be a real couch potato. I loved nothing better than lying on my sofa in the morning with my nose in a good book. I owe my friends for encouraging me to add exercise to my life and for my increasing good health, growing energy, and flexibility!

Episode #1 – Hello I’m Katy

I started this blog in 2018 when I was eighty! I wanted to document the life of my children and grand-children. I now have two great-grandchildren and two more on the way.

I am very fortunate to have lived a happy and healthy life for eighty five years now and I want to continue to do so for as long as possible. Actually, I feel sixty and wonder who I’m looking at in the mirror each day.

I have now sold my business which I started at seventy. “Painting with a Twist” is a franchise business which bring people a great deal of pleasure, fun and happiness!

I love to read! Sometimes I wake at night and am no longer tired so I gather all my pillows around me and read until my eyes grow heavy and I once again fall asleep. There is nothing better than a comfortable bed with lots of pillows and thoughts of a wonderful story in your head to dream about.

In the last five years I have re-discovered the true meaning of my faith. “There is a time and place for everything,” just like, “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” I just wish I hadn’t waited so long to make God the purpose of my life! I now read and study about my Catholic faith and God’s love for all of us and the world. I’m more blessed today than I could imagine just five years ago!

My family is the most important thing in my life! I have three grown children and each have three children. My nine grandchildren fill my life with so much fascination and excitement. Since I began this blog, two of my grandchildren have gotten married and I now have two great grandchildren and two more on their way. I will be documenting all the lives this growing family because I want them to know how proud I am of them and their accomplishments and to also know how much joy they have brought to my life.

My two daughters and my son are a blessing to me and I am fortunate that they live close to me. Each one of them brings a different perspective to my life. I love the different viewpoints and attitudes of these unique adult children of mine and appreciate how they color my world.

So this blog will be examples and illustrations; paradigms of the lives of the people I love and who love me. It’s our history and my gift to them!

Tune in and let me hear from you!

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