family – Sherri Ross

Tag: family

08
Mar
2019

I Just Wanna Dance With Somebody

Guess who’s back, back again. Dancin’s back, tell a friend. 😉

Birmingham Dance Walks are back! Our first dance walk of 2019 will be 2pm CDT on Sunday, March 24th at Railroad Park. We’ll meet on the grass across from the Boxcar Cafe (which is located under the 17th Street Plaza covered area). Look for the balloons!

What is Dance Walking? It’s a fun fitness craze sweeping the globe. We are dancing and walking our way through Birmingham on a quest for fun, people, music, and FITNESS! Everyone is welcome and all ages are encouraged to join!

We’ll provide music via megaphones throughout the dance walk, but feel free to bring your own or listen with some earbuds. We’ll dance walk around the park until we’ve had our fill. Don’t tell anyone, but we heard that Free Hugs Birmingham might even pop up at some point!

You can find more details and RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2120427331380720/.

Want to see how it got started? Here you go!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib3Duz_6a9M

Email me if you have any questions or would like information on sponsorship info. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, March 24th at 2pm at Railroad Park. SPREAD THE WORD AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

16
May
2016

These hands are not my own

categories: dad

It’s an odd and scary thing…getting older. Seeing the changes in your body – some subtle, some drastic. One day I’m looking at the smooth, unblemished hands of a 20-year-old and the next I’m noticing how the skin isn’t as taut as it used to be….and how I can see my father’s hands in mine.

I’ve long been afraid of dying. I’ve sought religious counsel, gone to therapy, talked to God and tried to reconcile my feelings, but they’re still there. Granted, since I’ve started therapy, started praying and relying on God more, and found a nice balance with medication (there is NO shame in my game), I have found more peace with it. The mere thought of passing away, of no longer “existing” as I know it, used to bring on a full panic attack complete with gasping, head pounding, blood rushing, nausea, and near fainting. This fear has(had) kept me from flying in airplanes a lot and other things that would enhance LIVING. Like the old cliche goes, I was so scared of dying that I wasn’t living.

Now that things are somewhat better, I can see the effects of aging and think about the future – even the unknown – without breaking into a cold sweat. The lines under my eyes that weren’t there two years ago. The cracks and aches that swing by when they’re feeling lonely. The lines and breaks on the back of my hands that are outlining the years as I go along. I often looked at my father’s hands growing up and thought about all the jobs he’s worked to provide for me, all the hugs he wrapped me in, and the spankings I received (deserved!). I can picture myself as a tiny, tow-headed girl with my little hand completely lost in his as we walked through Six Flags or the World’s Fair. I can remember him throwing me through the air into the hotel pool, holding me tight on rides, and working hard around the house to make sure everything was done that needed to be.

His hands tell a thousand stories, many I don’t even know. My hands have their own stories. But as I watch mine change each day, noticing more and more lines and similarities in skin to my father’s tan, tough hands, I’m grateful that they’re following the same path. I love my father’s hands because they were my swing, my horsey, my crib, my blanket, my security and my comfort whenever I needed. Even if I never have children of my own I hope my hands have – and are – giving someone else that same comfort.

01
Nov
2013

What’s New for November? Me!

categories: bloglikecrazy, goals

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out there in blogland! I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaack. First off, before I get started on anything else, I have to tell you that La-Di-Da-Di just came on the radio station I am listening to. SCORE! This takes me back to junior high and high school. I may or may not still know all the words. Shhhhhhhhhh!

Alright, back to business. November is #bloglikecrazy month for us See Jane Write gals. And seeing as how I have been sorely lacking in the writing department for months, here goes nothing.

I am grateful for Javacia’s writing prompts for each day if we’re blanking. Today’s topic is our intentions for the month. We all know how well I do with written out goals (cough), but I am hopeful! This month I would like to:

Continue this writing trend
Work harder on making healthier food choices
Start riding Elektra again (my bicycle..I stopped during the hot weather because I would surely pass out)
Spend more quality time with hubster, family, and friends (I’ve been remiss in my trips home to Montgomery)
Begin cleaning out the house so I can have a massive yard sale in the spring and MINIMIZE
Focus on finances and make some major changes for the new year
Slow down socially. I am in desperate need of “me” time. I love my city, all my friends and their celebrations, but I’m just wearing myself down, I can tell. So HEALTH IS NUMBER ONE! My hypothyroidism levels continue to increase (not good), so I need to slow down and focus on all things good and well.

That’s it. That’s me and November. Are you doing #bloglikecrazy? If so, what are you most excited to write about?

See you tomorrow! 🙂

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

14
Dec
2012

Duck Duck Duck Squirrel…and it’s Christmas

categories: Uncategorized

http://www.flickr.com/photos/foodbankcenc/8272089857/ — Image by Image by FoodBankCENC.org via Flickr/Creative Commons

My mind has been a whirlwind of activity lately. I don’t feel overwhelmed, just busy. And I like being busy – activities with friends are what memories are made of and I love to make memories. There are a lot of things going on in my life and my ADD is in high gear. It’s crazy to say, but I get stuff done when it’s in overdrive like this. There are about 20 things I am working on, want to be working on, thinking about, etc. but the bustle of Christmas isn’t really among them and I love that. Christmas is such a crazy time for a lot of people, sometimes schlepping kids, presents, and pets to and fro houses for days on end. Not here. My decorating is done and was quite painless. I bought and trimmed a live tabletop tree from Whole Foods – I’ve done this in the past and love it. We also hung a strand of Christmas lights on the mantle, put some LEDs on the deck, and replaced our outside porch light with a green CFL bulb to match the other houses. So our row of houses has green, red, green, red porch lights right now. It is entirely too cute. For the actual holiday, thankfully I have a pretty concise family unity down here in ‘Bama. We usually go to my aunt’s in Clanton for Thanksgiving and all of my dad’s side of the family comes by there at some point during the day. Christmas is a toss-up, either going again to Clanton or cooking at my place and having dad come by for lunch. It’s very low-key and relaxed either way (thank God!), but my aunt’s cooking far surpasses my skills and yumminess so it’s always a treat to go there. This Christmas is not the first for Daniel and I, but it will be our first as an engaged couple living together so I’m doubly excited – and thankful. I think we’ve decided to spend a quiet day at home, snuggled up with cocoa, books, food, and great Christmas movies. I am seriously considering working at a kitchen that morning too. Later that day, I’m making a roast or Boston butt in the Crock Pot, some sides, and viola! Christmas lunch and dinner. 🙂 Christmas night we’re planning on going to see the ETC show at Theatre Downtown. I think we may make it an annual tradition for us. Will you be starting any new traditions this year? Side note: I really want an Elf on a Shelf and start that crazy tradition. They’re so flippin’ CUTE and I’m like 12 at heart so it’s ok.

I’ve been reading a lot of Christmas lists lately and I love it. It’s always interesting to see what people want, but don’t buy for themselves. There are some of us – like me – who will just buy whatever we want (when we can) during the year so there is little or nothing left for Christmas. But that’s ok…Christmas is not about gift giving or receiving to me. Still, it’s always a treat to see what my friends would like and, if I’m able, helping with that list a little bit. This year will be especially hard for me because we are trying to save all of our money to throw a party after our wedding. We shall see what happens. But then again, I know my friends don’t mind little or homemade gifts – they are not superficial or materialistic – they are beautiful, kind souls who would rather spend time than money. I don’t need or want anything material for Christmas. There are plenty of places out there that need help – I just need to focus on doing it, following through, and making it a big part of my life. That being said, here is a list of things I would like if I were to make a Christmas list, though these are more kind of like wishes for 2013:

Parade with Madge, the Magic City Dragon
Bus tour of Birmingham with favorite friends, food, and drinks (thanks to Magic City Post for prompting this idea)
Be a Big Sister or something similar
Create more, whether it’s “art” (I am the least talented artist you will ever meet), writing, implementing ideas, or other
Help support local businesses more
Throw a wonderful party to help raise money for the Crisis Center (and celebrate our nuptials with everyone)
Visit the Cobalt Club in person
Run a 5K (I currently walk them)
Donate to every non-profit that I adore here in Birmingham (there are a lot)
Become the official Duchess of Birmingham to promote our amazing city (hehe)
Start a non-profit to raise money for others in the area that need assistance and to help #BhamDanceWalk grow

What are your wishes for Christmas, 2013, or just the future?