Kayaks, the River, and my Best Friend

Paige:my bff

To those of you who don’t know this beautiful woman, this is Paige. My best friend. It all started when we went to Syracuse back in 2002 to play Women’s Lacrosse. She played attack, me goalkeep. We were always known as quite a pair while at Syracuse… During training in Syracuse I was the slowest and somehow Paige who was a fast girl was always somewhere in the middle to the back getting reemed by Coach Miller or Trainer Kenya. I would try hard where as Paige would have this look of indifference.

After I left Syracuse, we kept in close touch. By phone, webcam, email. You name it we did it. We both lived in MD/Va area so during our college summers we would spend most of our time with each other. When it came time to grow up and get a job…Paige went to DC and did the Mr. Smith goes to Washington successful career path.. While I bounced from North Carolina to Southern Maryland with jobs with not too much success. Then we met our current men in our lives…and life changed…we both had something to complain to the other about. For the last couple years we still have done mostly long distance since it has mostly never worked out that we have been in the same place for very long.

One thing is for sure that I know about Paige. She has always been a strong supportive force in my life. She tells it like it is. She doesn’t tolerate my bullshit. There are times when we rub each other the wrong way…There are times when the words we say hurt. And there are times that we try to do the best we can just to be there. She did that for me this past weekend. We needed to see each other. It had been way too long since our last visit when she was in CALI for a business trip last spring.

She brought her kayaks down and we went to go play in the river:

This is my favorite picture perhaps ever of the two of us. I couldn’t tell it we were posing for the camera with are arms behind each other or if we were self consciously thinking it would be fun to knock the other over right now:

After chatting and drifting too far away from shore heavy into conversation we paddled back to the house and watched the sunset over the water. I miss those beautiful sunsets. We loaded up the kayaks and I watched as Paige drove away. I was not sad. I was happy. I was happy for her, happy because it wasn’t goodbye…it never is…it is see you later mofo.

Paige and Sarbear @ sunset on Riverwinds Drive

Smile

Well it was a beatiful service, both the viewing and the mass/burial for my Grandma Ellen. All of it was was emotionally difficult. Not to mention I had little sleep after barely making it to the east coast in time for the services on Thursday afternoon. Thank goodness for Jason and my brother John for helping me get there.

On the evening of the viewing there were pictures everywhere of Grandma, showcasing the extraordinary long life she had. She loved the water, she loved her gardens and birds. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. My sister and I worked on putting together a memory board (Alexa) and myself putting together a power point that I displayed at the funeral home with pictures of the grandchildren.

As we arrived early to pay our respects on Thursday, Jason held my hand as I tried to collect myself and approach the coffin. It was so difficult. Once I saw her I smiled despite my tears. She looked so peaceful. Her nails, her hair, her makeup, her outfit…looked amazing. She would always worry about these things before going anywhere. Her make up and her lipstick especially. It was nice to see old neighbors, cousins, distant relatives, and friends at the service who had not seen me in ages. I was happy to see them and they wanted to know what I had been doing where I was going. I tried to stay away from the coffin. My mom I was so proud of her, she received everyone as they came up to the coffin, calmly, with a smile on her face. She looked so graceful, so beautiful. I couldn’t imagine how she did it.

My father did an amazing eulogy that evening and I watched in awe as I knew that I would be next to share. He talked about things in the family that I never knew. Family memories, happy memories. Things that captured grandma’s spirit.

As I got up to say my speech, I was so nervous. I stood up at the podium in front of everyone and took a deep breath. And I spoke the following words. Ending with a verse from one of my favorite songs that so reminds me of my grandmother.

” Ellen was the kindest most forgiving woman I ever met. A wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, aunt, niece, friend, and mentor. She has so many gifts and talents that she has left with each and every one of us. She was so very sincere. Uncritical. Never judged a soul. These are some of the gifts that she has left with me. My grandmother Ellen has first left me with her strength in spirit. My name is Sarah Ellen Ashworth and I proudly carry her name. She constantly reminded me despite my lack of self confidence at times my beauty. She helped me build character with her constant reminders of reassurance and love.
I remember when I was young and the excitement of visits with grandma. She had so many talents that she shared with me such as opening my first blue crab, teaching me basic sewing, showing me her birds and how to identify them, and how to garden. We would read books together and the newspaper (she would leave the cartoons for me).
As I grew into a young adult we moved to Southern Maryland. Grandmother Ellen was my sponsor when I received the sacrament of Confirmation, she witnessed me graduated both high school and college graduation.
She became my rock of support as my world spiraled downward in 2007. I underwent a series of hospitalizations that summer and spent the next two years living at home with her and my parents. At times my family had difficulty understanding. Not grandma. She never once judged me. She would say what’s the matter honey. During this time of my treatment and recovery from my illness my Grandma was there. I tried despite how difficult it was for me to spend time with my only companion, Grandma. We would have sleepovers, read books together in the sunroom, watch our favorite primetime lineup on TV. She would call my name and I would come running. ‘Sarah, I want you to do me a favor, what grandma, I need a beer out of the fridge.”
During this period one of the greatest gifts that Grandmother Ellen gave me was that she helped me renew my faith. She encouraged me to come to church with her. If I was too depressed to get out of bed she would understand but give me that “Look” I knew what that look meant. I would go the next week. After a few months of sitting with grandma I would look up at the choir and wish I could do it. She encouraged me as did my mother to go sing that she would be okay sitting in the pew. I started singing with the choir. I sang so loud, so loud to ensure that my grandma could hear me. She always said she loved seeing me up there. During the mass she would look up and wave to me and blow me a kiss.
I have been so very lucky to have had my grandmother Ellen in my life for these years. She is an extremely amazing and beautiful soul. When I am alone or when I am running, singing, I know she is watching over me. She is part of me. Part of my soul. I believe that there is part of Ellen Rossignol in all of us. Now she is at peace, in heaven with Grandma and will always be watching over me.”

“Smile though your heart is breaking, Smile even though its aching. Although a tear maybe ever so near,
If you smile through your tears and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow, you’ll see the sun come sun shining through if you just SMILE…

The funeral service the next morning was beautiful. Grandma wanted it performed at her church: Our Lady’s of Medleys Neck. A small quiet catholic church up on a hill. My sister and I did the readings. I held it together till the end when the palm bearers my family and others walked out with my Grandmother in the procession. I tried. I tried to be happy. It was a beautiful day. We drove the procession all the way to Silver Spring, where she was laid to rest at the family plot next to Grandpa Rossignol and and Uncle Jack Rossignol. The family was there, we said our goodbyes. I laid a single red rose between Grandma Ellen and Grandpa’s tombstone. As I told Grandma goodbye I promised her I would smile, laugh and live a long happy life as she always did.

San Diego to Maryland in 3 1/2 days

It was quite a trip. We left San Diego early Monday and arrived Thursday early afternoon in Southern Maryland. I have no idea how we made it across so quickly. We probably had a few angels watching out for us, considering we drove safely the entire time, driving the speed limit and extremely long hours. My brother at the last minute also flew in to help us with the driving and this helped us immensely.

Left San Diego early Monday morning and decided to take the Rt 40. But we took the scenic route on the way out. Showed my brother downtown San Diego on the way out of town. Took Rte 8 East to hook up to the 10 and head north through Phoenix and eventually hit Flagstaff. John took some pics as we approached Flagstaff. The weather difference in Phoenix was outrageous compared to Flagstaff. It was 92 degrees in Southern Arizona, and as we pulled into Flagstaff at the sun came down it was around 39 degrees!

Day 1

John seemed really excited to see the country. I think he was impressed with the landscape out west and how it changed when we got to New Mexico. It became complete grassland. Mountains and desert to grassland for miles…

Southern Arizona

This was the view of the Sedona valley, John kept reaching over me as I was driving around the mountain range about 6,000 feet in elevation to get a good shot of the sunset. It was very exciting. With a frantic golden retriever in the car and a little brother who had never seen Arizona matter of fact never been out of Maryland…I had my hands full on the first day of driving.

Northern Arizona

We had to stop in Flagstaff, AZ for something to eat. We decided on Carl’s Jr. John got the Terriyaki Burger. He loved Carl’s Jr. It is definitely a west coast thing. We got about an hour outside of Flagstaff that night and stayed the night around 10pm we stopped for the night.

The next morning we got an early start on Tuesday. We made it quickly through New Mexico, and stopped stopped in Amarillo, TX. We had to go to the BIG TEXAN. It is known for the 72 oz steak. If you can finish it in one hour you can get it for free. One poor guy was sitting at the table with the clock going. He had 2 minutes left and 2 slices left. Couldn’t quite make it. The catch is if you can’t eat it all not only do you get sick, you pay 72 dollars for the steak.
I begged John to take some pictures of me there, Jason was about pictured out.

The Big TEXAN

Here I am with my new cowgirl hat which I was very excited about. Of course Bail bail crushed it afterwards.

Sarah the cowgirl

John and the big boot. He is 6’6″ This boot is still huge in comparison.

John at the big Texan

Jason wasn’t really down for many pictures. He was pictured out from graduation (IDC) graduation which I will get to….

So anyway we got back on the road…through texas…into Oklahoma…and got stuck in traffic. It was great. Bailey hates traffic. As long as you put the window down he is okay. He was climbing on top of the cooler on my side and sticking his head out to check out what the deal was with the back up.

So we made it through four states on tuesday: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. We stayed the night on the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas in a town calledwn called Fort Smith around 12 pm Midnight. We were all exhausted.

Got up 530am the next morning and on the road by 7pm for the longest day of the whole trip we had alot of road still to travel on Day 3. We started at 7pm and didnt get off the road till 1pm. So around 18 hours on the road. We drove from Arkansas, and all the way through Tennesee. Which is insanse. There was so much construction and traffic. At one point on I 40 in Tennesee literally 10 miles from the 81 North we were stuck in traffic for an hour and half.

Memphis, TN (crossing Miss,river) I took this while driving very safe

Crossing into Tenesee the longest state ever!

So after passing through Memphis we missed my favorite BBQ shack along the border so it was getting late and it was grub time. I saw a billboard for some authentic country southern food along the 40 in Western Arkansas. It was a little difficult to find off the exit, after asking for directions from the locals at the gas station she told me to keep going down the side road till I saw the “choo choo” train. I said Ok lets go. Jason wasn’t very excited. He was especially happy when I slammed on the brakes to take a this picture:

Old Country buffet in Arkansas

We stayed the night somewhere in Virginia on the 81 North right on the border of Tenessee and Virginia. We had about 6-7 hours to make it to Maryland. John took this picture of the sunrise as we came into the Shenadoah Mountains of Virginia.

Bailey and I

Finally we were in Maryland: I was so happy. So was bailey, so was John.

They are filled with joyous open mouths singing Maryand! Oh Maryland!

Here is Day 3.5 Bailey and I very excited:

NAVY IDC Party @ Skii Beach and KARAOKE at Fat CATS

what are you guys grilling there?

So the boys had one last hoorrah together to celebrate becoming IDC’s before graduation this Friday. All the guys from the class and the ladies were there. Nice little BBQ and get together on the beach. The best part was as the sun came down and the we could see the sky line with the beautiful view of the coast.

Here are the guys having a good time:

Then it was the ladies turn:

After some good food we hung out on the beach at the bonfire. I entertained them much to Jason’s chagrin with my singing. He was very embarrassed. Baby, the cops are coming! He said. So the girls and I got up there and sang a couple songs, like Aretha Franklin, not sure what else, we took some requests from the fellas. I think they liked it? They thought it was funny anyway.

It was a really fun night. I enjoyed talking to the other wives who I haven’t really gotten to know this whole time out here, for the past year and a half since we’ve been out in San Diego. Jason and the guys have been so busy with IDC school we rarely get a chance to all hang out together.

I was really anxious afterwards after singing to go to Fat Cats for some good old Karaoke! After all, Jason and I did meet at our old stomping grounds at Arizona Pizza…the karaoke spot back in Maryland back in April 2008 doing Karaoke together. So it was nice to have a chance to go out and for once do some karaoke together. It made me very happy.

Jason singing some Billy Joel

Here is Jason and I before our duet of Journey, “Dont Stop Believin”:

I called Bruce to tell him he should stop by and that we were at his spot, Fat Cats, and he did! He didn’t sing, but he was a good sport and cheered us on. I love this dude.

Afterwards, Bruce took us to my favorite late night dive diner…RUDERFORDS! Yay! For some much needed coffee and breakfast. Jason and I had a short “conversation” about how we like our coffee and eggs and apparently we don’t see eye to eye on a couple of things. Does it take two years to figure out that I dont like scrambled eggs? hmm… Anyway It was an awesome way to end the night. I got to sing my favorite songs: Shook me all night long, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Greatest Love of All, Dont Stop Believin, Need you Now, You Outta Know, Dont Wanna Miss a Thing, Hallelujah…. It was great. And I didnt mess them up too bad! There were a few notes I couldnt quite make but over all. It was nice. Jason was awesome too he was so00 Goood! I love his voice. Bruce, my cheerleader, my great friend, and always there for me, I love you so much :)

Very busy day with the training, BBQ, and Karaoke…and I am exhausted! Time for a nap….

NAMI Connection Training

All this weekend (well Friday-through-Saturday) I was training 8 people to become facilitators for a program called NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group. It is a weekly support group for people with mental illness where people can feel safe, share experiences, have understanding, non-judgement, and always feeling better when they came.

Work it

I still remember the first time I found a NAMI Connection meeting, in Maryland. I stepped in the door back in January 2008, and was so frightened. I was scared because I was still struggling with accepting that I even had a mental illness. In that room were people who made me feel comfortable, made me realize with the first time of my diagnosis that I wasn’t the only one, that I wasn’t alone. I started coming to every meeting, week after week. Eventually NAMI trained me to become a Connection Facilitator. In June with one of my good friends from my old group we had started our own. It was a strange feeling. I was so excited to be a facilitator back in 2008.

CAKE! time to celebrate!

Congrats to the new San Diego Facilitators!

Once I moved from Maryland to California, I got in touch with my local affiliate right away and let them know that I was a NAMI Connection facilitator and Trainer.

Since I have been here in San Diego, just like my old groups in Maryland. I am there every week. Maybe not facilitating, maybe sometimes a participant. But that is the beautiful thing about the program. I realized during the training this weekend that even as a trainer I still have things to learn and I will always be progressing.

So now 3-1/2 years later, becoming a Military “Women” and having NAMI as part of my life I have to contact the NAMI Connecticut affiliate which is where I will be heading at the end of this month. And if there is no group in my area—I will drive—or I will start one!!

My lover Susanna :)

On a side not I was modeling our team shirts: TEAM PUSH for our NAMI Connection team. Our acronym stands for Progress Understanding Support and Hope. My tee shirt is awesome I must say. Here is a picture of the back:

So in summary, these eight facilitators, who are all wonderful amazing people, are going to carry on the fidelity and tradition of NAMI Connection. Across the United States there are over 700 groups available to anyone with a mental illness. I am so pleased that I could be a part of this training with my beautiful training partner, Debbie Zomparelli. I will miss you darling. We have done now 3-4 trainings here in Cali together. So to my facilitators, my connection group, keep doing it, keep it going and I promise you I will be back!

The BEST birthday party ever!

My wonderfully talented friend Bruce threw me a lovely birthday party this past Sunday, February 27. He went all out, everything from rainbow colored invitations, to a nice little location reserved just for the party called, “Fat Cats”, ordering the cake, hosting the dinner for the guests, drinks, flowers, decorations…and not to mention the huge macadamia nut and white chocolate cookie birthday cookie he baked from scratch!

My bday cake!

So it was awesome. Jason and I arrived and and everything was perfect. As the usual suspects began to show we eventually dug into the grub. I didn’t get any pictures of the food! It was amazing! The restaurant is a BBQ bar and grill. They had beef brisket, wings, beans, potato salad, corn all the good stuff. I definitely went back for seconds.

B4 the the food

Pharoh thought he was funny in this picture…He really isn’t that cool. I guess he was trying to say i was older than 27…

Playa Playa

Bruce was so sweet to me, this is one of my favorite pictures:

The owners of the restaurant were so nice. After dinner they asked if there was any music we would like to listen to and they were telling me about the guy by the laptop who does their music/karaoke…My eyes lit up. Karaoke?? I asked them that would be an awesome bday present if they could set up karaoke for me. And they did! I got to sing with my friends and it was so much fun. I sang a couple songs. Pharoh sang Marvin Gaye, he was rockin that song! Everybody had alot of fun. As the party started wrapping up a couple hours later I started getting picture happy and had someone take this one:

blowing out the candles!

Or this one:

flowers, balloons, and vino!

So later on my friends Devin and his wife, and Judith came. I had a great time with my friends on my birthday. I haven’t celebrated a birthday like that in years. In many many years. It really was the best birthday ever. And so many people who I love and who I will miss dearly were there. I can’t believe that I have really 12 days left in San Diego. It makes my stomach turn, but I know change is coming and will be for the best. The most important thing is that I have met the most beautiful people here. They mean so much to me. And on my birthday they made me feel so so special, so thank you dear friends :)