Remembering mom

My mother passed away last Sunday. Yesterday was her memorial service.  What follows was my portion of her eulogy...

          Music—That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of mom.  Growing up we had one of those stereos that was also a piece of furniture; and either the radio was on, or more likely a Johnny Mathis album.

          Mom loved music.  She played the piano, and she was a regular soloist at our church.  Her music came from her heart and was an expression of her love for life and for her Lord.

          And this love for music rubbed off on all of her kids.  My earliest memories of my brothers and sisters were of going into their rooms and looking through there albums, often making a mess of them I’m afraid.  Music always filled our house.   My first concert, probably when I was 11 or 12, was when Mom and Dad took me to see Johnny Mathis.

          On the British TV show Doctor Who, The Doctor is explaining life to his companion, he says, “The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad the bad things, but vise versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things or make them unimportant”

          Mom’s pile of bad things sometimes seemed large.  She broke her hip when I was in second grade; and then her back.  She was paralyzed from the waist down for awhile. These things would have brought many people down, but mom kept her mind on her pile of good things—her family, her love for dad, her faith in God.

          She lost her son John to epilepsy, and her son David left a few years later, choosing to sever family ties. Mom looked to her family that remained and a growing group of grand kids and drew strength from them.  No matter how much stuff was piled on mom’s pile of bad things, she kept her eyes on her pile of good things.

          In recent years, as her memories began to leave her, little things became important to her. Every Sunday when I’d talk to her after she’d been to church, she seemed to be a little better for the day, because the fellowship here added to her pile of good things.  A phone call from one of her kids or grand kids, pictures from her brothers, these added to her pile of good things.

          This February I had the chance to take mom to see Johnny Mathis in concert, returning the favor from that first concert 35 years ago.  Mom told everyone around us that she was there for her birthday, even though her birthday is in November.  I didn’t correct her; I let her have a great time on her birthday.  She smiled and she sang along with almost every song.  Mom had a great night, and this night added to my pile of good things.

          I love you momma. Thank you for the music.

Well then...

Apparently my @Starbucks #scorecard tanked.  Partly due to my busy schedule preventing Starbucks runs on some days, partly due to the fact that I got bored with it.  So, I will try to come up with a topic or to of August randomness to keep y'all interested...stay tuned.

oops...sorry

Was running late for getting up the hill and missed @Starbucks #scorecard day 4...will try again this afternoon.  Sorry.

My @Starbucks #scorecard day 3 -- Rialto (210 at Riverside Ave)

Today on the way home I stopped around 3:45 at the @Starbuck in Rialto.  I asked for a peaches and cream muffin, no luck, but he suggested a blueberry one instead, and I went with it.   I then asked for the Asiago Pretzel, and thy had it (yay).  So the overall score here was once again a 4.5 (see yesterday for explanation) 

I am beginning to think @Starbucks knows I'm reviewing them, because they aren't running out of stuff as much this week...tomorrow I think 40th and Watermen.

My @Starbucks #scorecard Day 2 Ontario (15 at Jurupa)

Well, Monday's @Starbucks visit was surprising. I went to the @Starbucks close to work.  I have had tons of problems getting what I want at this location, sometimes asking for four or more items before getting something they weren't out of.  Today at 3:40PM it looked like it might be the same as I once again asked for the Asiago & Cheddar pretzel (my favorite) and they were out of it. But then the girl asked me if I wanted the Asiago bagel instead.  Suggestive selling is a plus for sure.  Then I asked for the blueberry muffin, and they had it.  So it only took one no before I had the two items to go with my water.

So the @Starbucks #scorecard, for the Ontario (15 at Jurupa) location is a 4.5.  I gave them .5 back for the suggestive sell.  Good job.  Let's see where tomorrow will take us.

My @Starbucks #scorecard Day 1 -- Blue Jay Starbucks

I am starting my @Starbucks #scorecard with y own local @Starbucks locate in Blue Jay inside the Jensen's Supermarket.  Now let me start off by saying as a small store within a grocery store this @Starbucks doesn't get everything that a stand alone store can get, so they do not have the sandwiches, or some of the speciality baked goods.  Therefore, when I visited Sunday evening at 6:30 PM, they did not have the Asiago & Cheddar Pretzel...strike one.  They also did not have the cinnamon swirl coffee cake...strike two. So I had to settle for a chocolate chunk cookie and a double chocolate brownie to go with my water. So giving them half credit, since they can't get the pretzel to start with, and starting with a base score of 5, this location gets a 3.5, deducting half a point for no pretzels, and 1 full point for no cinnamon swirl coffee cake.

Keep checking in all week as I visit other Inland Empire @Starbucks.  And be sure to share this with all your friends.

August Randomness-- Here comes @Starbucks #scorecard week

Ok, so for my random August mini-theme of the week, I'm going to address something that has been bugging me for several months now.  I am not a huge fan of Starbucks drinks, since I am not a big coffee drinker.  I do however like their various pastries and bakery items, and a few of their sandwiches. Here is where the problem lies. almost every time I try to get something in the snack line, it seems Starbucks is out of it.  I take this as poor food ordering on the manager's part. 

So here is what I am going to do. Starting today I am going to visit various Starbucks locations, and try to order a bottled water (love there store brand) and two bakery or sandwich items. I will mix it up, so I am not always ordering the same thing.  I will keep track of how many items they tell me they are out of before I get my two items.  I will report these back to you in the next days blog.

Please share this week's blogs with as many friends as possible.  I want Starbucks to hear about me as I make my @Starbucks #Scorecard.