So I'm a little late.....

The old format of Fill in the Blank Friday is back by popular demand!  Enjoy!

1.  I am   a picker, I'm a grinner...... Okay, okay: I'm a unique creation of God, living here on earth in this time and place for some greater purpose; I'm a big goofy kid at heart who loves nothing more than making people happy; I'm a music lover who lives to sing and hope people enjoy hearing my voice. I'm moody and tired, I'm suspicious and selfish, but once I have your back, you almost have to kill me for me to stop caring for you..... yeah. That's who I am   .

2.   I have always     read, always sung, always been a little standoffish, but have always believed in the best life offers    .

3.  I hope to     have people look at me and realize that what you see is only about a tenth of what you get   .

4. I can      change moods on a dime. It's a talent that a lot of people don't have. I can tie cherry stems fairly easily (not perfectly, but it can be done), and I can talk your ears off .

5. I dream of       finding a winning lottery ticket. No really, because I have already dreamed up the various ways in which I can give the money for truly worthy causes .

6. The way to my heart is     long and circuitous, with deep dark forests and big bright meadows, and worth every mile of the way for the right guy  .

7.  I am passionate about    wellness. I just wish I had been ready to begin my own path to wellness far sooner, but I truly relish talking to people about ways to live a healthier life. I am also incredibly passionate about my faith. I don't preach on street corners because I'd rather my life serve as the example. Do I fail? Daily and miserably. But still, I rise!   .

There.

More than a hole in the world.....

Just before bed last night, I received some horrible news ............. my friend Mike Kosior passed away very unexpectedly. Gobsmacked is about the only word I can think of to describe what I felt.

I first met Mike via e-mail. He'd found my website back in the mid-90s and we started an e-mail friendship. A few years later, he sent me a sweet e-mail: "I found a nice young lady....." and Susan came into my life. Just 3 years ago, I got the sweet notice from them that they were adopting a beautiful baby boy.... no, wait! Girl! Girl! and so lovely Miss Leah came into the circle.

With all apologies to the song writers and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the circle is not unbroken, at least for the time being.

I want the world at large to know the wonderful person that Mike was ......... so please allow me to share these links with you. I hope that you will take a moment to visit them and read just a little of how special and wonderful Mike was and how inspiring he will always be.

Godspeed Mike. This world is far less complete without you in it. The Eagles sang about a hole in the world, but in this case it's a canyon.....

Fredericksburg.com article
Mark Patinkin's article (originally posted in Providence [RI] Journal)
Mike's own web page