where would I like to be right now?

That's a good question..

Actually I enjoy being up in the mountains.. We do a lot of traveling and I have been fortunate enough to see a lot of different places. Between Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, Bryce and Yellowstone it would be very hard to pick a favorite.. I expecially like the fresh air and to see all the beautiful rocks, trees and animals.. But usually the one treasure we look for is "waterfalls".. We are hoping to add the Smokey mountains to our collection this summer.

I also like to walk on the beach and feel the sand between my toes..
Even though the desert is sometimes beautiful.. I don't really like it..

10 objects that have sentimental value..

Hmmm. where do I begin with this:

and not in this particular order but...

1.) My Mom's bible.. she would make little notes in it and I love to read them..
2.) My Mom's wedding ring and some of her other jewelry.
3.) Jewelry I received as gifts from Bill through out our marriage..
4.) Jewelry box I keep them in..
5.) Photo albums and heritage keepsakes..
6.) Christmas ornaments given to us all through the years..
7.) Disney dishes from my kids..
8.) Creamer and sugar bowl crystal from my Aunt Ruthie..
9.) 25th year anniversary clock..
10.) Sweetheart ring from Lyle..

this is only a short list, I am sentimental about a lot of things to numerous to list them all...

Have I ever been in a band or orchestra?

This is short and sweet.... NO...
I did sing in the choir when I was in school, does that count?

What if anything is changing my life right now..

I guess I would have to say.. my not doing tax work anymore.. I was always so used to being busy all winter doing taxes, that I never even really noticed the weather, unless I had to drive on the icy roads. When tax time was done, spring was here and I would go right out into the sunshine.
I am finding new ways to fill my time and even though it's a lot more fun and relaxing.. sometimes, I have to admit, I do get bored...

What is my most indispensable possession and why

I am going to assume that family and friends are not included in this, because they are blessings and not possessions..
I would have to say my home.. A while back I put everything into storage and for six months I did some traveling out to the west coast.. Although a lot of people do that, and I had a great time.. the fact that I had no home to come back to, really bothered me...
Inside my home, the most indispensable possession I have is my Bible.. it's where I get my guidance and direction. I would be lost without that.
And the list continues:
scrapbooks..
photos
music
etc. etc.etc.....

Nicknames..

That is so interesting.. While I was back in Mass. we were all trying to remember the nicknames that Dad gave to us as kids.. Mine was (and don't laugh) "chatterbox". Dad told me he called me that because when I was 3-4 he would take me to the local drugstore, in Rockdale, and sit me on the stool and I would carry on a conversation with anyone willing to chat with me..
Another nickname I use for the computer: pokadotsunshine came from a few people combined. A patient in the nursing home where I worked called me pokadot, so that stuck, and then Lyle started to call me sunshine.. so put the two together... wala..
I am also called "mimi".. (shortened, but loving version of gramma, from Alexis)

January was a blur for me....

I spent most of the month of January in Massachusetts with my Mom.. She had been a resident of Beaumont Nursing Home for the last 5-6 years and suffered from dementia. When my sister called and told me that Mom was doing badly and they didn't give her much more time.. I knew I wanted to spend her last days with her.. so I packed a bag, took the train, and got to be with her for 3 weeks before she passed away.. Seeing her wither away was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but I took comfort in knowing she would soon achieve her life long goal of being in the arms of the Lord she loved so much..
I think of her often and how she used to be all those years before she got sick.. She was not only my loving mother.. she was also my closest friend...