25 Things, for my friend Fran and because of her
by Julie Kelly on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 10:26am
1. If I could change one thing about my life, it would be to live as a missionary with basically nothing. Simple is good.
2. If I could take back one thing in my life it would be that I never sang to my Great Aunt as I sat beside here during her end stages of cancer. Like the little drummer boy who had no gift to bring, I wanted so badly to give the only gift I could give, a song. Yet I sat, mute and afraid. I did not open my heart in song for her until it was too late, at her graveside in the pouring, icy, October rain.
3. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Mike, age 40, Wayne, age 38, Rick age 33, Anne, age 33, Lisa, age 33, Rich, age 31, Irene, age 30, and Josh age 24. We are a mix of his, hers and ours. In one family I am the oldest child and in the other I am the middle. No wonder I am messed up!
4. I have moved 39 times in my 35 years of life. 'Nuf said.
5. When I turned 9 I refused to admit it. I declared that I could not turn another year older as I had not done anything with my life yet to change the world. I thought keeping my old age of 8 would give me more time to fix my horrendous mistake and a chance to do something to make the world a better place.
6. Most people say I am confidant, but I am scared stiff and unsure of myself 90% of the time.
7. If I could take any vacation right now I would take all my girlfriends to a lonely beach with a huge hacienda and tons of good fresh food and yummy wine. We would spend the week eating, talking and working on our skin cancer risk. No men allowed.
8. I am quite nervous about the idea of Lance retiring and us not being so involved in the Army anymore- it is all I know!
9. I don't have too many interesting things to share because you all know what there is to know already. I try to live transparently- that is why so many people don't know how to take me; they figure there is something else behind it all... but there isn't.
10. My best writing happens at night when I cannot sleep. I type in a stream of conscious style (thanks Pat Sperry!) until my brain is empty.
11. I have never taken any classes on how to use a computer but I think I am allowed to call myself a mini geek. (what do you say Jason?)
12. I first kissed a boy in 2nd grade... but I kissed my first boyfriend in 7th grade.. Shane Nesmith in Clarksville TN.
13. I learned the facts of life at age 9 from the book "Where did I come from?" (great book to teach kids this stuff!)
14. I fell in love with Lance at first sight but thought I would never have a shot with him- until I started dating Tony Campbell (Fulda) and told Lance after church one Sunday and the look on his face said it all. I have never broken up with someone so fast in my life! Sorry Tony buy true love was waiting!
15. I found out I would never grow any taller when I was 15 and skied over my thumb (yes I am talented like that- that will be number 16 here) and had to have an x-ray. I have pretty much worn high heels ever since... not wanting to admit I am short for life. (5'4")
16. I have skied over my thumb (youth group ski trip from Fulda to Zugspitz). It is hard to describe- if you realllllly need to know how I achieved it hit me up for a real message.
17. I used to have to wear glasses- but at 16 I got hit in the head with a locker and ended up in the hospital for a week with a concussion. I missed out on the volleyball season and I still have the card my whole Jr. class made me. I could not see any writing for around a month without vomiting and somewhere around 6 weeks it cleared and voila- I had better than 20/20! Now I wear reading glasses due to age.
18. I have had 6 operations in my life. All for different things. Let me tell you- having a varicose vein removed realllllllyyyyyy hurts. Do NOT go Black Friday shopping only a week afterward!
19. My favorite color used to be green growing up. Now I would have to say it is tangerine orange. I am not sure what that says about me.
20. When I need to reset mentally I picture myself standing on a hill, standing between fresh white sheets hung on a line, as they blow in the stiff breeze. The sky is sunny but I cannot see the sun- I am simply caressed by the white and sheets.
21. When I had my first surgery I remember thinking how nice the "nothingness" was. I heard a voice saying "Julie, breath or I will have to put your tube back in" several times- but I really didn't care. I did not "know" I had a loving husband, 60 day old twins and 2 other lovely children waiting for me to come back to them. That scared me stiff. To this day I am affected by it- grasping life for all it is worth.
22. I HATE painkillers. They don't get rid of the pain, they just make me not care- and I HATE not caring or losing control- I am a control freak!
23. My favorite book in the Bible is Ruth. The story of friendship, devotion, love and the power of chosen family is so inspiring to me.
24. I am named after my Great Aunt Julie whose real name was Violet Jewell Torricellas. She died when she was verrrrry young of a massive heart attack. She also had twin boys. I kind of freak out her living siblings every so often when they see me as an adult because I remind them of her very much.
25. I love to make tortillas and I hear that mine are pretty darned good. (especially my flour ones with oregano in them.)
2. If I could take back one thing in my life it would be that I never sang to my Great Aunt as I sat beside here during her end stages of cancer. Like the little drummer boy who had no gift to bring, I wanted so badly to give the only gift I could give, a song. Yet I sat, mute and afraid. I did not open my heart in song for her until it was too late, at her graveside in the pouring, icy, October rain.
3. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Mike, age 40, Wayne, age 38, Rick age 33, Anne, age 33, Lisa, age 33, Rich, age 31, Irene, age 30, and Josh age 24. We are a mix of his, hers and ours. In one family I am the oldest child and in the other I am the middle. No wonder I am messed up!
4. I have moved 39 times in my 35 years of life. 'Nuf said.
5. When I turned 9 I refused to admit it. I declared that I could not turn another year older as I had not done anything with my life yet to change the world. I thought keeping my old age of 8 would give me more time to fix my horrendous mistake and a chance to do something to make the world a better place.
6. Most people say I am confidant, but I am scared stiff and unsure of myself 90% of the time.
7. If I could take any vacation right now I would take all my girlfriends to a lonely beach with a huge hacienda and tons of good fresh food and yummy wine. We would spend the week eating, talking and working on our skin cancer risk. No men allowed.
8. I am quite nervous about the idea of Lance retiring and us not being so involved in the Army anymore- it is all I know!
9. I don't have too many interesting things to share because you all know what there is to know already. I try to live transparently- that is why so many people don't know how to take me; they figure there is something else behind it all... but there isn't.
10. My best writing happens at night when I cannot sleep. I type in a stream of conscious style (thanks Pat Sperry!) until my brain is empty.
11. I have never taken any classes on how to use a computer but I think I am allowed to call myself a mini geek. (what do you say Jason?)
12. I first kissed a boy in 2nd grade... but I kissed my first boyfriend in 7th grade.. Shane Nesmith in Clarksville TN.
13. I learned the facts of life at age 9 from the book "Where did I come from?" (great book to teach kids this stuff!)
14. I fell in love with Lance at first sight but thought I would never have a shot with him- until I started dating Tony Campbell (Fulda) and told Lance after church one Sunday and the look on his face said it all. I have never broken up with someone so fast in my life! Sorry Tony buy true love was waiting!
15. I found out I would never grow any taller when I was 15 and skied over my thumb (yes I am talented like that- that will be number 16 here) and had to have an x-ray. I have pretty much worn high heels ever since... not wanting to admit I am short for life. (5'4")
16. I have skied over my thumb (youth group ski trip from Fulda to Zugspitz). It is hard to describe- if you realllllly need to know how I achieved it hit me up for a real message.
17. I used to have to wear glasses- but at 16 I got hit in the head with a locker and ended up in the hospital for a week with a concussion. I missed out on the volleyball season and I still have the card my whole Jr. class made me. I could not see any writing for around a month without vomiting and somewhere around 6 weeks it cleared and voila- I had better than 20/20! Now I wear reading glasses due to age.
18. I have had 6 operations in my life. All for different things. Let me tell you- having a varicose vein removed realllllllyyyyyy hurts. Do NOT go Black Friday shopping only a week afterward!
19. My favorite color used to be green growing up. Now I would have to say it is tangerine orange. I am not sure what that says about me.
20. When I need to reset mentally I picture myself standing on a hill, standing between fresh white sheets hung on a line, as they blow in the stiff breeze. The sky is sunny but I cannot see the sun- I am simply caressed by the white and sheets.
21. When I had my first surgery I remember thinking how nice the "nothingness" was. I heard a voice saying "Julie, breath or I will have to put your tube back in" several times- but I really didn't care. I did not "know" I had a loving husband, 60 day old twins and 2 other lovely children waiting for me to come back to them. That scared me stiff. To this day I am affected by it- grasping life for all it is worth.
22. I HATE painkillers. They don't get rid of the pain, they just make me not care- and I HATE not caring or losing control- I am a control freak!
23. My favorite book in the Bible is Ruth. The story of friendship, devotion, love and the power of chosen family is so inspiring to me.
24. I am named after my Great Aunt Julie whose real name was Violet Jewell Torricellas. She died when she was verrrrry young of a massive heart attack. She also had twin boys. I kind of freak out her living siblings every so often when they see me as an adult because I remind them of her very much.
25. I love to make tortillas and I hear that mine are pretty darned good. (especially my flour ones with oregano in them.)
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