New Zodiac Signs - Old Memories Shine.

Happy New Year everyone! I know, I'm a bit late, but in my defense it's a new year ALL year. :) I've taken some time off to focus on writing and family. It was a great break. So, what brought me back today? The new zodiac dates!

Now I'm not one to rely on star positions to plan my day and don't read my horoscope. I don't believe in finding my way through life using someone else's predictions and assumptions. I have many friends and family that do not or can not start their day without reading theirs. Whatever works for each of us, right? So why, when I heard that the Zodiac dates have changed, did I feel like someone had taken my internal ID and crossed out a big part? I'm no longer a Gemini? I'm a Taurus??? What? No, this can't be right.

Why was so shocked? So bothered by something I've never fully believe in? I really had to think about this. Why did it matter? What did being a Gemini mean to me? Why was it such a shock to loose something I didn't think I truly owned. Then it hit me. The first thing I associate being a Gemini with is my grandmother (RIP). She was a proud Gemini, among other awesome attributes.

On her wall, right beside the refrigerator, above the occasional chair that her blind chihuahua repeatedly walked into, were these wooden plaques. I'll never forget them. One was dark brown with the symbol of the Gemini, which was basically the Roman numeral 2 (II). Under that was all of the personality traits believed to be embedded into every Gemini in the free world. I always had a hard time believing that. The second plaque was lighter wood and simply said...

Gemini: Jack of All Trades. Master of None.

Under this was the picture of a man juggling many things with his face all twisted in concentration or constipation. I was never quite sure. I remember asking my grandmother what that meant. I could not understand why she would want this hanging in her kitchen, or anywhere. It seemed so negative to me. I saw a man who couldn't do anything right. Not a Jack of all trades, just a Jack Ass who couldn't juggle. But still, my grandmother loved everything about being a Gemini; the good, the bad, and even the Jacks. She would read "our" horoscope every morning and even got me interested in how our signs were depicted in the constellations. That part of it still amazes me, although the way our ancestors connected the star dots was quite imaginative.

I guess it shouldn't surprise me that the idea of not being a Gemini anymore bothered me. It's not that I feel I'm going to be changed today by it. But it will change a part of my past. It takes away, or changes something that I shared with a very special person, something that meant a lot to her. She unconsciously made it important to me. I've caught myself asking strangers if they were a Gemini because of something they said or did. I would immediately shake my head at myself and then think of Gram (and how much closer I'm getting to morphing into her). This morning, the thought of losing my standing as a Gemini felt like I was losing a connection to her.

A small consolation to this constellation chaos is my grandmother's sign would also change. Her birthday is May 31st and mine is June 15th. We would both be Tauruses. I wonder what she would think of this. Would she have been more like a bull in her life? As if she could have been stronger. Would she have taken life by the horns and have taken no BS from anyone? She already did that.

I guess this Zodiac change doesn't change anything at all. My grandmother, whether a Gemini or a Taurus, was the person who taught me what is important in life: family, friends, full belly laughter, dancing without music, singing off tune, helping others, and doing the best you can for the people you love. No sign in the stars or hung on a wall changes that.

I can't help but wonder what kind of plaque Gram would have hung if she had known she was a Taurus. Probably something along the lines of a bull saying, "If you can't pick up your own BS stay out of my pasture." I may have to make this sign for my kitchen!

Thanks for letting me blog this through. I'd love to know what you think of the Zodiac signs changing and the added 13th sign, Ophiuchus. I can't even pronounce it. No wonder it was booted from the pack eons ago ;)

If you want to read more about the new Zodiac signs here are a few links.

New Zodiac Signs

CBS News coverage of Zodiac changes

Happy 2011! May the new year bring all your heart desires :)

Kristin :)

This one's for you Gram...

Yesterday was bitter sweet for me. We got together at the cemetery for a memorial in honor of my grandmother, Florence Carey. She passed away five years ago. I still have a hard time believing that it's been that long already. Although I miss her it was nice to get together and share our memories.

She was, and is still in many ways, the backbone of the family. Her never wavering love of family and strict adherence to right and wrong has made me who I am today. I just want to take a moment to share a bit of knowledge that has stuck with me; some things I wish I had told her before. She always knew she was loved, but I wish she could have known how important she was in all our lives and how much of her is in the foundations that make us who we are today. Of course she did not always use traditional methods to ingrain her morals and beliefs into us.

Before I share her words, let me share the image of her; the way I will always see her.

Gram was a giant among women. Not in stature, as she barely touched 5 feet tall before age and gravity took their toll, but in personality. She had long fire red hair that she rolled up each night in small foam covered curlers. Her dancing blue eyes that could make you smile or cringe depending on her mood. She had a love of life that no amount of money or material things, or lack of, could change. She was loyal to her family and friends and fiercely protective when either were threatened. I couldn't begin to list everything she taught me, but I can share one that I am always trying to pass along to my own kids.

When I was young Gram would stop me before I went out to play to see what I was wearing. If she didn't like it she would tell me, "You're not going outside in those shorts (or top...whatever the clothing item in question was) I'll find you dead in a bush!" If that doesn't scare the crap out of a young girl nothing will. I'll be honest, for years just out of the fear that some killer would be lurking around every bush I was careful about what I wore. As I got older I understood that she had taught me a very important lesson; one that I am trying to teach my own children. Of course I changed the wording some.

The direct message is especially relevant with my daughter. She is going into 5th grade and is starting to be more self aware and media aware. I still control her clothing purchases but that doesn't stop her from trying to hike up, tie up, or roll down her outfits to emulate today's pop teens. My version of my grandmother's wisdom is, "If you don't respect yourself no one will." And unfortunately there are many examples of this on television and in print. These pop teens, who are trying to dress and act like adults are instead attacked and taken advantage of by the media and the public.

The indirect message goes much farther. I try to teach all of my kids how important it is to respect themselves. Their clothing choices are just the beginning. I want them to be aware of how they present themselves to the world and know if it matches with how they want to be seen or if they are just copying what they think will make them popular. Popularity can be a dangerous goal for a child who is still trying to find out who they are and who they want to become.

Don't get me wrong, my kids wear clothes I don't agree with. I believe in letting them find their own style and personality, even if I don't like what they choose. I just remind them that if they are going to wear their jeans halfway down their backsides, boxer briefs blazing, and thick chains around their necks they better understand the message they are sending to the world. But at the same time, I do not allow my daughter and her friends to run around the front yard in their bikinis. Call me over protective; call me a prude, but some lessons are so deeply embedded you have no choice but to pass them on. Is it a little sexist? Yeah, I guess it is. But boys running around shirtless in their swim trunks don't carry the same sexual connotation. If Sport's Illustrated starts publishing a male swimsuit edition I will have to rethink that though.

Thanks for stopping by and giving me a moment to honor someone very special and very missed...my grandmother.

Gram, thanks for your love, smiles, dances, lessons, cakes, kaliloo, patience, flowers, everything purple, support, and for your time. I love you.

Kristin : )

Never Throw Away A Good Kid!

My grandmother was a resourceful lady. She taught me value of a dollar and the importance of family and that you should never, ever throw either away. So, what do you do when they throw themselves away? Grab a camera of course, and then help them out of the garbage can they have somehow wedged themselves into.

It didn't end there. After I helped my son out of this. I actually had to tell my daughter 'Don't even think about trying it' as she stood eyeing the can with disturbing interest.

Somehow I don't think Gram meant this when she was teaching me life lessons.

If this is how my weekend is going to be I might have to start looking forward to Mondays. Hope you all have a great long weekend.

Kristin : )