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Cricket’s Thoughts

I have never been able to pet a Nutria
Cricket's Thoughts

10 Things I Have Never Done

Mini Blog Challenge: 10 Things I Have Never Done

Who in the heck comes up with these mini-challenges?

Oh, wait. That would be me.

Why do I make them so tough to do then? LOLOL

Okay, here we go…

1. I have never been sailing.

I have been in a lot of boats in my life, but never a sailboat. I think I would love to sail.

2. I have never been to Maine.

Somehow I have never managed to visit Maine. I have no clue why it is so important to me, especially when it is so cold up there. Maybe I just wanna be able to flirt with an old fisherman, or maybe I just really like crab and lobster.

Hmmmm…. I could probably do that in Alaska too, huh?

3. I have never been very normal.

Hey now! I actually like this about me.

Life would be so boring without my funky outlook on it.

4. Drove the full length of historic Route 66.

This one is definitely on my bucket list of things to do before I die. I would love to photograph the entire route, one special moment at a time.

5. I have never figured out how to stay married.

Ha! Apparently I was born with a broken man picker. On the flip side though, I am probably pretty tough to live with.

6. I have never held a chimpanzee.

I love monkeys!

I am totally amazed by their expressions and would love to hold a baby one!

7. I have never been very organized.

I don’t know why I am so lousy at being organized.

I think perhaps my brain just doesn’t work that way.

8. I have never ridden on the back of a bull.

As much as love watching bull riders, I have absolutely no desire to ride a bull, not even a little one! I might consider a mechanical one someday!

9. I have never chased a tornado.

I love the power of a good old fashioned storm but I have never chased a tornado. I am a bit of a chicken, so I doubt this is something I would do even if I was given the chance. It would totally rock to photograph one though, huh?

10. I have never lived completely alone.

Being that I am nearly 50 years old, this seems nearly impossible, but true. The youngest of the litter will be leaving the nest soon and I wonder if I will be lonely or if I will simply go with the flow and become a crazy cat lady.

Okay, it’s your turn now. Tell me 10 things that you have never done!

 

Cricket Walker

beach
Cricket's Thoughts

Who Are You?

Mini Blog Challenge: Answer the following question…

Who are you?

Who am I? Is that what you asked?

Wait. WUT?

Am I supposed to know the answer to this?

Okay, fine.

“J. Cricket Walker has 22 years of experience developing and implementing corporate level training programs, along with a strong background in professional speaking. Following that career, in 2003 she began teaching a series of online classes in Search Engine Optimization, Internet Marketing, and Website Development. Her focus has been in helping small business owners build a successful online presence. In addition, she has been involved with the V7N Webmaster Community from its conception.”

That isn’t what you meant? Seriously?

My name is Cricket.

I was born with the hiccups. The first time my daddy saw me, he was horrified. He told everyone who would listen that I was the ugliest baby he had ever seen and that I sounded just like a cricket. Since that day, I have always been known as Cricket.

That still isn’t the answer?

Don’t people spend a lifetime trying to figure out the answer to this question?

I still have something like 50 more years to figure this out, right?

Wait. I may be someone else by then.

Maybe I should try this now…

I am a fighter for life. I have been since before I was even born.

When all the doctors were certain I couldn’t possibly survive the womb, my daddy had faith that if I was to be, then I would be.

I am.

My middle name is Faith.

Much like some people wear many hats in their lives, I wear many masks. I have never figured out if this is how I hide from the world, or if is a coping mechanism of finding what I need inside of me. If my heart needs a smile, then I search for people that I can bring a smile to. It brings me comfort. Yeah, that is a bit backwards since I technically find that smile outside of me, huh?

I am the whisper of the waves as they gently approach the shore searching for life.

I have seen darkness in my life, but I am not a victim. I am a survivor.

I am simple.

I am hope.

I am compassion.

I am a dreamer.

In the deepest parts inside of me, I am childlike in my passion for the beauty of the world around me. I giggle at the antics of a playful squirrel and watch the flight of a soaring bird, wondering if I too can fly. I talk to my cats. And, I still believe in love.

If I have a gift, it would be a gift of being able to help others see their strengths – to believe in themselves – to see that they are so much more than they realize.

I am a child of God.

So tell me, who are you?

 

Cricket Walker

Lemur Being Random
Cricket's Thoughts

So Very Random

35 Random Things

My friend George challenged me to write a note with 35 random things, facts, habits, or goals about me. 35 things? Are you kidding me? Here goes…

  1. I would love to learn to play the harmonica.
  2. I am a bit of a geek.
  3. I have 4 children. (3 grown and 1 tearing the nest apart, piece by piece)
  4. I get cold when temperatures fall below 70.
  5. I’m not a fan of big crowds.
  6. I am much more comfortable in the country than in the city.
  7. The girls in my family are short vertically challenged.
  8. I dream of one day owning a really nice camera.
  9. I am a grandmother.
  10. I love most anything in nature, except snakes, spiders, and mosquitos.
  11. Time down on Padre Island brings me peace.
  12. I don’t much like being closed in.
  13. No matter how old I get, I am still afraid of the dark.
  14. The smell of fresh brewed coffee brings me comfort.
  15. The one challenge I have still have not beat is quitting smoking.
  16. My beliefs tend to be on the conservative side.
  17. I shy away from heated political discussions.
  18. My sleeping habits are not ruled by the clock.
  19. I don’t dream of great riches.
  20. I am fascinated by the power of thunderstorms.
  21. I drool in tech stores.
  22. I do not enjoy malls or shopping in general.
  23. I can’t remember the last time I wore heels.
  24. Finding my keys and cell phone is a never ending search.
  25. Drama irritates me.
  26. I can remember my phone number from 3rd grade.
  27. I can’t remember my own cell phone number.
  28. Did I mention coffee? I love coffee.
  29. I’m fixin’ to turn 50 this year and I am okay with it.
  30. I’m left handed.
  31. My cats drive me crazy but I adore them.
  32. I’m known to wear my heart on my sleeve.
  33. New programs give me goose bumps.
  34. I own too many domain names.
  35. I think Caller ID is a gift from heaven.

Now, I am supposed to choose 25 people to be tagged. It’s supposed to mean that I want to know more about you, but the truth is, if I had to do this, so do you! (evil grin)

Cricket Walker

Cricket's Thoughts

I Had Forgotten

The darkness lingered nearby for so long that I wondered if maybe it had become a part of me, that perhaps I felt some comfort in holding onto it, keeping me safe from hope.

Yeah, I was smack dab in the middle of a good old fashion pity party filled with the kind of hate and anger that can destroy who you are as a person, who you are inside.

Just before dawn, tears began to roll down my cheeks, even as the gentle breeze caressed my face to bring me comfort. I watched the horizon, waiting for the light; the light that I prayed would soothe the aching inside of me.

It was then I understood what was going on.

I had forgotten…

I had forgotten that while I was dwelling on the pain of being sick and tired, there were children that would not be feeling the warmth of the sun shining on their face today.

I was so busy complaining about the high prices of food, what a pain it was to shop, and how much I really hate cooking, I had forgotten those who feel hunger every single day.

Caught up in the anger of politics, I had forgotten that unlike some countries, we have the freedom to stand up for what we believe in, and that we didn’t need to spread hatred for our message to be heard. I had forgotten that when we don’t like the way things are going, we have the freedom to vote.

While scrubbing the perpetually dirty floor, I couldn’t seem to stop grumbling about how much I despise housework. I had forgotten those who would give most anything for a floor to clean and be forever thankful for it.

I am ashamed that my thoughts were so caught up in how much I hate the sounds of the city, from the traffic to the jets overhead, and even the neighbor’s dog barking half the night, that I had forgotten about those who awaken to the sound of war all around them, and the people who make it possible for me to have the freedom to find a quiet place away from it all.

There were moments when tears filled my eyes, loneliness threatening to overwhelm me. How had I forgotten how lucky I am to have the gift of four beautiful children, when there are people out there with empty arms to fill, arms aching for a child to love?

My Family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had forgotten…

Cricket Walker

Cricket's Thoughts

Life Is Perfectly Balanced

Surrounded in nature, a sense of peace and comfort begins to penetrate the wall of protection I have built around me, slowly filtering through the cracks.

Berries

 

A favorite quote floats into my thoughts. God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Peace In The Woods

 

I am finding that although I am alone, I am not lonely.

At Dusk

 

Life is perfectly balanced here, in my special hideaway from the world.

 

Cricket Walker

P.S. A special shout out to all my friends who are participating in the V7N 30 Day Blog Challenge. I know you can do it!
V7N Blog Challenge

Cricket's Thoughts

Simply No Reason

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.”

As beautiful as I have always found this to be, I have a difficult time embracing it.

Do you truly believe this?

What if you came into someone’s life for a season, but they came into yours for a lifetime?

What about families utterly destroyed by divorce?

The death of an unborn child?

What possible reasons could there be?

Why do we call it a miracle when someone survives a horrible illness? Does that mean those who didn’t survive were not worthy of a miracle?

Is it possible there is simply no reason?

Perhaps sometimes, it just is…