Would You?

Recently, I was faced with the opportunity to help someone in need or.... not.

Now, it seems that there would be no choice to make, right? Help. Of course! Lend a hand. Do a good deed. Pat yourself on the back.

But what if you had to get messy? What if it meant you would suffer? What if you had to take on the embarrassment and judgment for the person in need? Would you still do it?

Ok, and what if you had an out? You had a valid reason or excuse that would dismiss you from the obligation. You could just walk away and let someone else get their hands dirty.

The epiphany for me was this: It's not about my choice at all. It's not about me. It's about the person who has the need. The person. Not even the need is important, the person is.

When you are the person who is in that position (and I have been) nothing else matters but the help provided. Not the excuses or reasons, not even the person doing the helping. All that matters in those moments is relief.

I guess what I'm saying is this: If it's not me, who's gonna do it? While I'm busy deciding, a person is waiting for SOMEONE to step up.

Would you?

A Business With Heart

Bassitt Auto Co. is this cute auto shop up the street from our house. You can’t miss it! It has a huge picture of a basset hound with a wrench in his mouth. It’s adorable and inviting from the road. Inside is even more spectacular. It looks like an old-fashioned “soda- fountain.” In fact, you can actually get something to drink from your “soda jerk” behind the counter while you wait for your car. The atmosphere is so fun and attractive, you just want to stay and hang out. It’s certainly not your typical auto shop!


Scott used to take our cars there. Those who knew Scott knew he would NEVER buy a new car. Not only did he consider this an insanely poor investment, he thought it was no fun at all. “Cars need work” he would say. And boy, throughout our years together, the Resnick cars certainly did. Scott’s mustang (s) were always in need of this or that. I remember dropping Scott or a car off at Bassitt many times. Scott believed they were a great company, honest, friendly, trustworthy and very knowledgeable.

No, this isn’t a plug for your car service needs. This is a story about a different kind of need, and a local business that rose above and beyond the call of duty.

After Scott passed, Craig Bassitt contacted us to ask if he could do something for our family. He remembers Scott and considered him not just a customer, but “part of their family.” He felt a calling to do something for the kids and I to show their support and care.

On Friday, they picked the kids and I up in their company limo. It was the children’s first time ever in one, and they freaked out! We actually used to pass this very vehicle all the time and Scott would tell Kiel, “When you turn 16, this is our next car. Mommy and I will hang out in the back and you can drive us around in style.” You know, I actually think he might have been serious!

We loaded up into the limousine, and Craig drove us to Red Robin (the kids favorite) and bought us all dinner. We sat, chatted, laughed, and ate until we were stuffed.

Our next destination was across town to a house in SE that had a litter of basset hound puppies. These dogs were the most adorable little things we’d ever seen! The kids were in HEAVEN! They snuggled and played with the puppies until they almost burst. But that wasn’t all…

You see, Craig had a professional photographer there to get pictures of the kids with the puppies. Not just for me to savor, but to put on the cover of a magazine they advertise in. They want the add to be more of an article on Scott’s legacy through his children. Again, not just a customer, but part of the family.

Bassitt Auto is also hosting their 5th annual “Cruise In” on August 14th. Craig wants to offer the proceeds from the event to our family for the children’s education.

I am overwhelmed by the true goodness of people… The love of our fellow man… The amazing way that a stranger becomes a cherished friend in an instant.

Thank you, Craig and Bassitt family, for a night we will never forget!

A Waste Of Time

June 18, 2009

Thought today about how most women I know (including myself!) pick themselves apart in some way or another. We complain about our weight, our hair, our skin, our bums, our lack of this or our abundance of that. We just never seem to give ourselves a break.

In a small moment of clarity this morning, I recognized how ungrateful that is. Our bodies are incredible gifts that do amazing things. For those of us that are moms, you know just how unbelievable your body can be when called to the test! We are strong, capable and courageous creatures by design.

I also decided that it was a waste of time. “Waste” being the key word. To spend time criticizing that fabulous gift instead of using and appreciating it is simply wasteful.

Like it or not, we are also the “super models” for our children. As my daughters get older, I am more and more aware of how my own body image affects theirs. Pretty high stakes!

So for today, (and hopefully all the days that follow) I am committed to love myself: mind, soul and yes, BODY. I hope you will join me!

Reliving the Glory Days

I recently joined a co-ed volleyball league. Ok.. I just have to say it: I have a passion people...beyond singing, beyond making babies, I......love........volleyball. This is a picture of me in high school, I'm number 2. No comments about the hair or size of my rear.

Now..I've been out of the whole "team sports" thing for a long time. College....to be exact. BUT...I have never lost my love, lust, passion for competitive volleyball!

A friend from church approached me awhile back and asked if I wanted to be on his team. I said:

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! And here I am. On an awesome team of really good players, playing every week, making plays, catching the angles to dig the hits, serving, etc. I am LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT!

Ok..the best part? No...not that my husband is on the team with me (sorry, honey)...NO... the best part is that my BEST FRIEND from high school is on the team with me. (check out that picture above once again...she's #1 right beside me!) This girl was once a mighty Blue Jay with me at old Lu-Hi, and now we are back on the court together again. That...my friends... is SO COOL! It's like dejavu. To look across the court at my best friend from high school, several (don't make me count) years later.... totally a trip!

We play every Sunday afternoon, and it's not nearly enough. Our team is currently ranked 5th.....a ranking we WILL change....Yes...we will take the championship! We will!!!

I think I'm a little beyond into this. I need therapy.

Dodge Ball!

A few weeks ago, I got to play dodge ball while I shot a story with Recess Time Sports. Ok, I have to say....it was SO MUCH FUN!

Honestly, when I first got there, my heart was racing and my stomach truly started to hurt because it looked SO intense! Some people REALLY got into it.....they were hysterical. Those little red balls were flying by at heat seaking missle speed, and people were getting NAILED!

For a moment I thought to myself, "Uh...I'll just be the narrator on this one. More reporter style..." But the Ligers were short a player for their 8:35pm game and I had already volunteered. I was going in!

Turns out, the hand-eye coordination thing is not as easy as it looks. I discovered, to my softball playin' shame, that I am not the best thrower. I had very little control on direction, and my throws turned out to be more of a "toss" than a fiery dart. Throwing was definately a skill that the boys had down a bit better than the girls. No fair that their big man-hands could palm it. However, some of the girls were the best catchers. So...."neener."

I managed to catch one guy out, and throw one guy out. Both great moments, (thank you Brian!) were caught on tape and you can see by clicking here:

HOLLY PLAYS DODGEBALL WITH RECESS TIME SPORTS

You definately get a great workout... Mucho cardio and quite the adrenaline rush! But what I loved most about playing this "sport" was the fun of being on a team again. Team sports seem to be a thing of the past in most of our lives, but that is a shame that should be remedied.

Dodge and weave, people....

Holly

Country Escape!

Hey, check out the link to the segments we did for Sears Kenmore in CT! This is Marni and I with the production crew on the day we wrapped!

It was SO beautiful up there. We kayaked, went wine tasting, antiquing, and generally had an amazing time. All in a day's work!

See, even Seth was happy!

Ok, so to watch the stories, go to:

Better - Country Escape

Also, we did a photo shoot that will be in BHG, and is also on the Kenmore website:

See the pics and enter the contest!

Seriously, give it a shot! They are giving away an escape to the very place we shot these! So, check out the stories and enter to win! How cool would it be if one of my peeps won this?! Oh yeah!

Best Friends!

As my daughters grow up, it's been fun/scary to watch them find and develop friendships over the years. My girls are at the ages now when I remember forming important, critical relationships that made life and the turbulent school years bearable. Grade school, junior high, and high school were the choppy seas that threatened to rip us all to sheds. Our friends were the anchors that kept us steady through it all. Those relationships helped us feel "normal," loved, safe.

The "BEST" title was reserved for the friend who won your heart over all the rest. She could be trusted with your deepest secrets. She would stand up for you no matter what, and she would rather look stupid and be the butt of a joke than betray you or let you suffer humiliation alone. She was...... the BEST!

I've had many friends over the years. Here are a list of the ones who achieved "BEST" status. I only hope my girls (and boys) find friends as wonderful as these people were to me!

1. Grade school: Kristi Schwerin. She was funny, kind, REALLY smart, and loyal. She could draw frogs really well, and played me a song on a 45 record (yes, I'm that old) called "Dead Skunk In the Middle Of The Road" that made me laugh until my stomach hurt! She used to walk to my house in the mornings so I could curl her hair before school. We kind of drifted apart once junior high hit... 1. Because she was REALLY smart, and I was more interested in boys and being popular....and 2. I moved away in the 8th grade. Where ever you are Kristi, I LOVE YOU! You were a WONDERFUL friend!

2. Junior high: Shelby Braughtigam. Shelby had the BEST sense of humor. She loved to make jokes about "fluffers"... (use your imagination) She had this yappy scottie dog named "Tiesha" that stunk. I never told her this, but I didn't like Tiesha. Shelby's big brother, Rob, was totally cute and I had an ENORMOUS crush on him.....But the best part about Shelby was that she loved to sing as much as I did, and we sang together ALL the time. We tried to keep in touch after I moved back to Oregon, but fell away as the years went on. When she got engaged many years later, though, she found me and asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. It was an honor to stand by her side and be apart of her future. She was such a huge part of my past! I LOVE YOU, SHELB! Miss you!

3. High school: Jennifer Wolbrecht. I began my freshman year at Lutheran High School in Portland. Small school....private.....scary at first. Jennifer was one of my first friends. She was (IS) this gorgeous blond, leggy, tan, BOMBSHELL. I was kind of in awe of her from the start. We became friends our freshman year, and our friendship grew over time..... By senior year, she was more like a sister than a friend. I loved her like family...only better. Jen was funny (a theme in my friends) and silly. She was SO SMART! In fact.... her academic brilliance inspired me to do better in my studies and I pulled my grades up because I didn't want to embarrass myself around my "smart friends." It was peer pressure in a possitive way. Jen was the MVP in every sport she played, and we got to play volleyball and softball together which was extremely fun!The summer before our senior year, Jen's mom was hit by a car and died. I have never been more devastated by a death in my whole life...to this day. The sorrow I felt for my friend was overwhelming. Our senior year was typical in many ways, but the depth of my love for her and our friendship was beyond "high school" or anything I had experienced.

Jen and I live within 15 minutes of each other and promise to get together often. With kids, career and life....we've only had a few "playdates." But this friend will always hold the MVP title in my heart. High school was like war....and Jen was in the trenches with me making every bomb a little less devastating.

JEN! You're the bomb, Sistah! Love you...let's do lunch! Seriously!!!

4. Now: Erin Livingston. In my adult life, I have so many wonderful women who are all "bests"....but Erin is my soul sister. She reminded me what it was like to be a "girl" again. Having kids can make you lose that a bit. She helped me get my groove back! Erin is one of the most loyal, honest, loving women I've ever known. She makes me laugh and challenges me to be a better woman. Her faith inspires me....she doesn't just talk it, she lives it....and I can honestly say I need her in my life. I call her everytime I need the hard truth, and she gives it to me. That is a good friend. E...."you.....complete.....me."

Ok..those are my girls...my bests! Tell me a story of yours!!