My sister Lisa and I made these glasses from wires we found in the garage. We had talcom powder in our hair to look old. My mom painted all the paintings behind us.
I find my life is truly blessed. I live in a spirit of thanks. When my husband walks home from work and asks me how my day was, he always likes to add how lucky I am. I think he’s right.
My road to where I am has been filled with bumps and jumps — beautiful, sometimes heart wrenching, highs and lows. Today, I look at the highs.
My grandmother, called YiaYia (Yiy yah), the most beautiful woman in the world, told me to find the good, find the positive.
When we were little, we’d spend a week, a weekend or a day at Yia Yia’s house. She had rosy cheeks, her hair done and she smelled like baby powder.
Isn’t she just breath taking?
As we drove up to her curb in south Pasadena, we had troubles parking the car every time because the curb was too high to open the car door. My father would drive forward, us three kids would climb out, then we’d wait on the sidewalk while dad would park.
We’d walk up the sloped driveway to the front screen door. The five steps infront of the house were painted green. The dogs would jump and bark, the screen door would crack. Maxie. Maxie. I noticed the funniest long shoot drop mailbox, a chiming door bell and then there she was, Yia Yia, in all her smiling, sweet, come on it, glad you made it loving glory.
Is there anything more wonderful in this world than a grandmother for a child?
I remember if we would visit and she was ill, she’d stay in bed. She’d invite us kids on top of the comforter and she’d hug us. I remember looking at her arms. Her skin was smooth as silk with nice brown and pink spots on it. I’d ask what they were and she’d laugh and cover them. She said they were age spots.
Georgianna (Jane) Angelos, my mom and us three kids.
Her voice was always soothing. When my dad talked to her she used to look at him with listening ears and a smile. She’d say Ah, come on, Nicky, when she knew someone was teasing her, and then she’d laugh her lovely laugh.
She liked to apologize for her house disorder that I never saw and she loved girly things. I remember she had two alarm clocks and two big lamps with curious chain pulls to turn them on and off.
Her husband, Jack, my grandfather had passed away for at least 10 years but his clock was still on his night table. On the walls were framed pictures of ballerinas. On the pink and white cotton bedspread, she had her L.A. Times and her glasses. At the foot of her bed on her dresser, she had the TV turned on low. She liked to watch 60 Minutes.
She liked to write too. She liked Los Angeles. She’d write long detailed letters to her mom who was still back in Pennsylvania about the people she would meet at the Hollywood parties in the 50s, 60s, 70s.
She was lovely because she was. It was her essence.
Mike, Lisa and Julie circa 1968
When she passed, I was ready for it. I am sure I cried but it was through subtle acceptance and love that I knew she was ready to go.
If I had to sum up how beautiful the world is, I would say, it was when I laid my head on my Yia Yia’s chest and she would just hold me and caress my hair. It was as natural as birth, life and death.
If I had to sum up what she taught me in life, she’d say Julie, find the positive, find the good.
How to increase blog traffic — 10 tips and tricks from jbulie’s blog.
If you want your blog or website to succeed, just love doing it.
Even what you can’t imagine is possible. ♡ ㄥ❀∨モ
I’m sharing with you what I’ve been doing over here to attract visitors and increase blog traffic.
Don’t believe the people who say they get a million visitors a day. They are like kids in a candy shop, typing in numbers. Learn from doing first hand, and ask a blogger friend.
Here are the steps you can take to make your site grow.
1. Get to know your readers. Share.
Spend a lot of time looking at your stats feature and try to understand where your readers are coming from. A lot of my readers have become friends. Thanks guys. A lot are new, welcome. I’ve also found having a stats counter installed helps.
I’ve learned that they come from all over the world and different backgrounds and ages.
From Pauline to Helen Gurley Brown: She is an unsung, deliciously sybaritic, and downright cheeky feminist heroine. She will be sorely and dearly missed.
2. Participate in comments and conversations.
One of the best ways of inviting visitors to your site participate in conversations in the comment sections of blogs you like reading. Ever since I started my blog, I’ve learned a great deal in the comments section of articles.
3. Write good content.My highest ranked day was when I wrote a piece about motivation and being a better person.
4. Write from the heart.
Talk as if you were speaking to a few good friends. Write about what you care about people are going to be supportive.
5. Make it a goal.
I have also made it a goal of mine to have a lot of visitors so in my free time, I read as many articles I can on the subject.
6. Use your real voice.
When I write, I like to picture I’m either standing infront of my peers and explaining things simply. Or, I try to imagine I’m writing my sister or mom and telling them how simple it is to make a blog grow.
Wishing you flowers today.
7. Enjoy
You guys might have noticed how much I love to play around with my readers. I enjoy writing. I write to share, to learn and to enrich life and the people around me.
8. Add extra value, then go the extra mile.
The more you give, the more you receive. It’s so easy to get great feedback ~ just give of yourself.
You are one person writing, right? Well, there are lots of people reading so the ratio is just immense. Give of yourself and you get back so much from some many people. I strive to constantly go the extra mile and provide excellent quality in all my endeavors.
9. Be inspiring
You can be inspiring, funny wonderful, full of life. If you don’t believe in yourself, well then I do! You can do it.
We all have the ability to push ourselves to learn and make our lives better. You can do it. I believe in you.
10. Pay it forward.
Without my visitors, I’d just be here talking to my cat. She’s a good listener, however. To pay it forward it’s super simple. Just hit the tweet button if you have twitter, or share on facebook by clicking the link below.
Thanks for visiting. I appreciate your comments.
Thank you for sharing my blog by clicking on these links.
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