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My most meaningful conversations with Clint Miller was never about real estate or business.  It was always about our families.  We had some things in common,  I raised boys and he has two, there was no doubt in my mind, Clint was a prankster, a joker and told it like it was.  I’ll tell you right now raising boys as a mother is not an easy job..I would do it again in a heart beat.  One thing we always had together was a lot of laughter, many pranks and yes, we all thought we were comedians.  I think it comes with the territory being a mother or father to sons.

@therealclint

I cannot tell you how Clint Miller and I actually started talking but I do know he was one of my first twitter followers or at least one of the most memorable.  We rarely talked about business but about our sons, the fact he was from Montana and how my parents love it there!  We even joked about having the same last name. But my most memorable conversation was about Montana Moose Poop, a gift from my parents.

The Terwilligers

The great thing about my parents when they went on their vacation adventures  is that they would always bring things back for us.  It has been a tradition since we were little kids.  So here is what those pranksters did…

So one year for Christmas my parents gave me a clear clear box and it appeared to look like chocolate but when I read the touristy box it said it was Montana Moose Poop. I thought to myself, yum raisinettes…my favorite but boy was I wrong.

I never took the time to read the box but I did open it and threw one in my mouth…it wasn’t raisinettes but little rocks that resemble moose poop.  My parents knew I would probably do that..I am lucky after biting down that I didn’t lose a tooth.  I told my parents..they laughed hearty and so did I.

When I first started chatting with @therealclint, I wanted to know so much about Montana because my parents loved it so much and I had never been. As silly as this sounds, I shared the story with Clint,we both wondered if his boys would fall for it. I had considered mailing it to him..but I never did..I think we decided chances were they would try to eat it!  Damn it twitter, I wish u had a timeline.

We continued to chat on twitter but my time on twitter dwindled down..too many social networks, too little time…I tuned out twitter for a bit…every now and then I would jump back on and say hello to Clint.  When he responded back..I felt pretty lucky..and it meant a lot..

Out of all the conversations I have had on twitter, this stuck out in my mind. It involved all the people that I loved because when I talked to Clint Miller he had that knack to get people to talk about what was important…life..family..and really living ..I always admired the man and I always knew he was an incredible father, husband and man.

I’ll miss Clint and I let him know just what his existence has meant to me..I didn’t have to talk to him everyday or be connected everywhere..because when he spoke the words meant something….and I made a promise to myself and to Clint…

“I want you to know…you have impacted many lives, including mine…..I won’t squander another day, hour or minute on the things that really aren’t that important..but what I will do is live life filled with love and joy.”

Every day I try….Its a tall order..life sometimes bring tears..I cry for his family and friends..

If Clint did one thing, he taught me there is more to life..its living it while you are here and being present and in the now. Your ticket could be up at any time..don’t waste time..use your time on the important stuff.  Living life and  impacting people and the legacy you leave behind. Everyone leaves a legacy impactful or not!

The loss of Clint Miller has deeply impacted me, maybe as I pay attention to my own mortality I find myself more aware of how I treat people and see life and try hard to do the right thing.

Clint Miller was the master at teaching lessons..boy he left a legacy not only did he live strong…the man knew how to live out loud!

To The Millers

Kids your dad was a wonderful man..he impacted many and he was so very loved!  He has touched many lives and lives in each and everyone one of us. Your dad loved you so!

The one thing I am sure of..with the legacy he left…. Clint Miller lives on. Truthfully the kind of guy Clint Miller was..not sure he would want to rest rest in peace.. but I will say it anyways…

Rest in peace Clint..I don’t know it sure doesn’t sound right.. the way I saw him…its more like Clint Miller lives on!  #weloveclint

This year has been an amazing journey and also a year that has been the hardest in terms of gratitude and appreciation but more along the lines of personal growth and building strength and courage. You see, I believe that happiness, sadness and appreciation arrive in moments…just as the purple hankie did.

The Purple Hanky – Gratitude

This year I had to bury a son…felt the deep affects of losing a childhood friend…and lost some amazing online influences that truly impacted me…I’ve had health issues that made it extremely difficult to work..fortunately I bounced back….its been a year filled with tears, a lot of hard work to keep my mental state in tact but most of all its been hard to feel blessed!  Everything has been a fight…to get up in the morning, to feel the sunshine…smile..all the little things we take for granted are the things we should be grateful for.  I have moments…and so do you!   Don’t judge me or any others who have suffered tremendous loss..but people should remember its the moments that count and can change your life.

View Your Life in Moments…

On the upside many wonderful things have happened, my business is growing and my other two sons are awesome and I have the man that I love by my side..I still have a great sense of humor…yes, I cry a little easier now and in reality I am ok..I have bad days and good days probably like you….but still there is this ache, this yearning and something is missing within… it’s missing one of my sons and all I want to do is hug him just one more time.

Take Time and Tell Those You Love That You Love Them!

About three months ago…I attempted to talk to my blogging  mentor who happened to lose one of her dearest friends. I knew how I felt about it and it shook me and impacted me but I could not imagine how she feels… My mentor Colleen Kulikowski was mourning the loss of her good friend Laurie Manny and still mourning another great friend Joe Ferrara. It pains me to think about her sad, then again I really hate it that people feel sad but I know if we never experienced sadness the happiness wouldn’t feel the same and we would take it for granted!

You Never Know What Is Going On In Someone’s Life – Take That Into Consideration!

While we tried to be brave and not cry..there were many moments of silence..uncomfortable silence..the kind of silence that needs to exist otherwise you would hear nothing but sobs. It had been a long time since I had seen or talked to her, I knew she was already feeling blue..she was on her way to Laurie’s Memorial. It made me feel better that she called..I wasn’t focusing on myself. She didn’t know I lost a son. I couldn’t bear to talk about it…so I didn’t. I was just so happy she called me even if the words were hard to get out and I wanted to be there for her! I perked up when she said she was mailing something to me….yes, you got it…the purple hanky.

Pay It Forward – Make Someone’s Day

She brought up the term Pay It Forward, I have never forgotten the little lesson and by her doing this little action…created a reaction, one I hope will make someone else smile. For me I gave the hankie to someone else…I swear I never used it but I loved the hankie so much…. once I touched it…I knew it was meant to be shared and with someone who needed it more than I.

The Purple Hankie – Memories of Love – Sadness – Separation – New Beginnings

I took the hankie and placed it close to my heart…I cried…because it had meaning…it brought me back to when I was a little girl living in PA with my stepmother..little does Colleen know…I had a dress in that pattern. Many viewed the dress as too hot for Florida and  it was satin and velvet.  I didn’t care…the dress was special to me and I loved everything about it and the hankie reminded me so much of the dress

Purple Is Still My Favorite Color!

It reminded me of a time…of love, sadness, chaos and loss as a small child but it also reminded me of some of the most memorable times in my life where a woman did everything she could to give two children a good life…the two children were not hers, we have since reconnected on facebook!

Every Online Action Creates A Reaction And Can Impact Someone’s Life

In October I took a trip to South Florida where I was anxiously waiting to see old friends. We had a fine dinner and a few laughs but we now had something else in common…a mother lost a son and sisters lost a brother… a man who I loved a good part of my youth…..he was gone..but the pain remains.

I Never Had The Guts To Tell Him How I Felt!

When I sat with Mama Halloran, I could feel her pain…I could see she was hurting…just like my mom and just like me.   I know how it feels to lose siblings.  Its painful enough but imagine losing a child..you suffer..you feel guilt…and the thought of not holding or touching your child again..is very sad and  devasting.   I can attest to that..its just recently I am feeling the impact..with holidays..his birthday approaching and his two brothers together without him..yes..it pains me…deeply..I’ve been in denial for too long.

Mama Halloran Is So Special And So Are All Of Her Children

I dug in my purse..and pulled the hanky out…I shared with her the story about Pay It Forward and the inspiration of Colleen Kulikowski and Laurie Manny, I shared a little about Ryan but I really wanted her to know..how special her son was and she is too…and the hankie was meant to cry into..to release the pain and keep the great memories close….we talked and watched a slideshow of her son several times.  It touched me and reminded me….why I loved him most of my youth.    I stayed a little longer than everyone else…that moment changed many things inside me but still both of us were still the same, we are without our sons, feeling loss and devastation.   There are no words, actions or deeds to eliminate that kind of pain.

A Parent Should Not Have To Experience That In Their Lifetime

This holiday season while you give thanks remember to tell those that you love how much you love them and if you are fighting with your family or haven’t spoken to someone who you love…pick up the phone. Don’t wait!  Regrets suck…

I Love The Internet Especially Facebook!

Last week an amazing thing happened…I got a message from google voice….my little stepson who we couldn’t find for a couple of years…is back in our lives…his mother found me on facebook..I cried the moment I laid eyes on him and hugged him as if it were my last…I think it was the work of angels or at least someone or some rooting for us!  We have Daniel back in our lives…its the moments..and everything can change by one phone call, one sentence, one action!

Be A Little Nicer To Those You Don’t Know!

If you should happen to come across someone who might appear ungrateful or unappreciative…remember you never know what is going on in someone’s life and there are bigger things in life to lose rather than money, success or fame.  The biggest loss is always someone you love.  For me…I’ll do my best..and as I think about it…I am grateful..with great friends, the best family and most of all the special moments of happiness.  Did I tell you my brother Albert is coming for Thanksgiving?

♥Thank You Colleen♥

I dedicate this post to anyone who recently lost a loved one but especially to the woman who took time to teach me the fundamentals of blogging, the same woman who stayed connected and gave me a gift so special, who isn’t afraid to live and love. I Thank You Colleen..and I am sorry but it was you who stressed Pay It Forward...the purple hanky was more impactful and you thought it was for me, yes it was in a sense but it felt right to pass it on!

There is always something fun to do in Daytona Beach Florida. There is a mall that I love because people use it in a variety of ways. Walk, shop, shows and karaoke.

Tonight I joined many in celebrating George Dance’s birthday at karaoke at the Sunshine Park Mall at 6 p.m. on Thursday nights. It was so much more than I expected and not one person was unhappy.

It was fun and everyone had smiles on their face. Toes tapping, hands clapping and people singing and dancing to their favorite songs.  Tables were set up and so was the stage, food and drinks provided by Gourmet Kitchen. They had the full menu going and the prices are affordable and the split pea soup was great! The service was amazing.

There were a few birthdays to celebrate and that we did with singing, dancing and birthday cake. It was a unique experience and one that I want to experience on Thursdays.

If ever you want to partake in a fun filled family outing, karaoke is fun to watch or even participate.   Who knows maybe next time I might sing…

A memorable night and why not, George Dance is a pretty special guy! Happy Birthday Georgie, we love you! Check out Georgie singing – Light My Fire!

Bio:

My names Lizzie Gilchrist, I’m 28, I’ve suffered from multiple sclerosis for 10 years and now have to use a wheelchair full time. Just over a year ago I got a chance to model for www.wheeliechix-chic.com. Before that Id never even thought about modeling, but I enjoyed that so much I’ve continued trying to pursue this path. So far I haven’t had many paid jobs, but I’m hoping that now I’m a bit more experienced more opportunities will come my way.

I’m a friendly, sweet natured, kind and considerate individual and I consider myself to be a people person who strives to get on with anyone I meet.  I am conscientious and work hard to make a positive contribution to anyone I work for or with. I consider myself to be a fast learner and someone who likes to take on new tasks and challenges. A couple of years ago I did a charity skydive which I thoroughly enjoyed and this has also given me the drive to want to do another one sometime and take on similar challenges such as paragliding, which I’m due to do later this year. I am a very determined individual and do my best not to let my disability hold me back with anything I want to do.

You can check out Lizzie’s Photo’s  or book her, contact her at  ModelMayhem.com

Bio:

“Throw your words at me, I’ll have my way with them,” mocks young and sharp-tongued singer, guitarist and songwriter, Alexx Calise.

Delivering a sound that is both fresh and uniquely her own, Calise combines hard rock, electronica, and urban-edged pop with crunchy guitars, angsty lyrics, and an instantly identifiable vocal that is hauntingly beautiful and completely raw all at once.

Calise grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she spent her childhood mostly alone or in the pages of a notebook, finding comfort only in her parents’ vast record collection, which included everything from Mozart to Led Zeppelin. At 11, she picked up the guitar to emulate her father, also a talented musician, and began fusing the melodies she heard in her head with her own poetry and recitations.

Now living in Los Angeles, California and continuing along the same path, Calise is endorsed by over 13 music gear/clothing manufacturers, she has appeared in several national TV commercials, shows and special programs (including the Discovery Channel documentary, “The Science of Sex Appeal”), and she has been featured in Blender magazine, Guitar World, and the how-to/method book, “How to Succeed as a Female Musician” alongside such notable musicians as Lisa Loeb and The Donnas. Her music is in heavy rotation on MTV/VH1 Networks, and on thousands of radio stations internationally. Most recently, Alexx’s song, “Morning Pill” was used in a One Tree Hill promo, she appeared as the lead guitarist for a Disney Imagineering DVD about soundwaves,  and she was featured on Boston’s #1 Hit Station, Kiss 108 FM as a “hot up-and-coming indie artist.”

Currently, Calise is recording the follow-up to her 2007 critically-acclaimed debut album, Morning Pill, as well as her debut album with other music project, Sound of Cancer (with accomplished drummer/songwriter, Dennis Morehouse). Both albums will be released simultaneously in January of 2010.

To find out more about Alexx stay tuned but in the mean time you can check out her website….AlexxCalise.com

Become a Alexx Calise fan on facebook!

Check out her cool page on myspace!