Sierra Madre will always have a special place in my heart.  It is a small little village nestled in the foothills.  The San Gabriel Mountains are it's beautiful backdrop.  The downtown area is charming and quite busy these days.  When I was a kid, this was a sleepy little town, a gem undiscovered.  No longer.  The beauty is that it has still maintained its quaintness and it still has character.

I feel blessed because my parents still live in the same home I was raised in.  It's a sweet little house that is filled with memories.  My Mom should have been an interior decorator.  She has a great sense of style and color.  Mom and Dad's house is calm and serene.

This will be one of many posts on my childhood town.  I grew up in a lively neighborhood full of kids and the memories are full and plentiful.  Three of the "original" families still live side by side.  They are like family in many ways.  I will forever remain a "small town girl"..........

It's been nearly 20 years since the last time I saw U2 in concert; talk about feeling like an old fart.    I love the build up and excitement of an event  and I certainly got it with this concert.  Once I landed in California, I became acutely aware of the magnitude of this concert of over 100,000 at the Rose Bowl.  I felt like I had won "the golden ticket".   Thanks Clare!

The Rose Bowl had such a party atmosphere.  Everyone was tail gating and listening to U2 music.  There was good food to nourish our bodies and good friends to nourish our souls.  

"The Black Eyed Pea's" opened and did not dissapoint.  Fergi is beyond sexy and we all got an unexpected surprise when "Slash" from Gun's and Roses appeared and the two of them sang "Sweet Child of Mine". 

Once U2 hit the stage, fans jumped to their feet,  hands in the air, hips swaying, heads bobbing and voices singing.   Bono sings with such heart and conviction.  Once again, it's that passion that I see and love.  This band has a "coolness factor" that is off the charts.   The concert ended too soon but the memories are forever etched in my mind.

Thanks Clare for a gift that will not be forgotten.  You know me so well and love me anyway.......

As I am writing this my brother is celebrating his 42nd Birthday by running  the Long Beach Marathon.  How cool is that?  He has been a runner as far back as I can remember.  He learned early on that he would need to have endurance and speed to run from my mother who was always chasing him after getting into trouble.

Growing up as his little sister was a bit of a pain.  I must admit that I wasn't crazy about him growing up.  He was always teasing and torturing me.  Somewhere around the "tween years", he seemed to come around.  (Personally, I think it was because he got one look at my cute friends and thought that he needed to change his game plan).  He was right.  I fell in love with him as did a number of my girlfriends.    I still hold a torch for him in many ways.

He has grown into an amazing man.  He is a family man through and through.  He adores family and will do anything and everything it takes to come together and celebrate family.  

One time, after moving to Texas, he surprised the kids by ringing our doorbell on their Birthday.  He stayed for the day and had to fly back home.  Who does that?  He makes it a point to try and get our family together in the summers when he rents a beach house.  The days are filled with shell hunting, sandcastles, swimming, long walks, bike rides, kite flying and the nights are filled with campfires (in the driveway) and marshmallow roasting.  He is a  rock star when it comes to children, not just mine, anyones children.  It is amusing to watch.

Today I celebrate you Tim.  My love for you, although not spoken as often as it should, is endless.  I love you for loving my children so unabashedly, respecting my husband, honoring Mom and Dad, being the buffer between my Mom and Dad in times of conflict, the loyalty you have for Ana, your love for the Lord, your energy (it's contagious), your desire to want to spend time with me,  your acceptance, your generosity,  and the history we share together.

The memories are rich and full and I thank you for every single one of them.  From the days as a kid in Sierra Madre, riding our bikes on Ramona Street, playing dodgeball in the street, being banned from "the boys" treehouse, shirtless boys, go carts careening down Lima Street, raft races in the pool, carpooling to PCS and you tormenting poor Mrs. Green, the days at the beach, summer vacations spent on Balboa Island, riding on your handlebars, video games, visits from you at Heidi's Frozen Yogurt, crying on your shoulder about a boy in Dad's office, camping out at the Rose Parade and cruising Colorado Blvd. in the back of Dad's "tough truck", helping you on your pool routes in the summer and jumping into the customers pool's to cool off,  pushing the lawnmower and edger up Lima street to help you with some of your gardening jobs, house sitting with you after stocking up on junk food at Albertson's, all the concerts you took me too, trips to Vegas, Kings hockey games.  I could go on and on. 

Enjoy your day and always know deep in your heart that I am so proud to call you brother.