tracyschruderblogspot

Category: family

  • Laugh, Love, Laugh

    Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate.

    By Tracy Scruder

    “A smile stretched widely across my face with the corners of my mouth dug deeply into my cheeks, when I read the daily prompt today. I relish the opportunity to invent a holiday that everyone should celebrate and explain why?”

    I’m laughing right now because this prompt brings to mind the Jerry Seinfeld episode where George’s dad created the a holiday called Fedtvus 😂. The episode was called “The Strike”. “The Strike”, was the 10th episode of Season 9 of Seinfeld, where Frank Costanza, who played George’s father, introduces the holiday Festivus.

    Festivus is celebrated on December 23rd and involves several unique traditions –

    • The Festivus Pole: An unadorned aluminum pole serves as an alternative to the Christmas tree.
    • The Airing of Grievances: During dinner, each person shares their grievances with others, highlighting ways they’ve been disappointed throughout the year.
    • Feats of Strength: The celebration concludes with a wrestling match between the head of the household and another member, typically George, to determine if the holiday can continue.

    Side note : The episode’s writer, Dan O’Keefe, based Festivus on a similar holiday his father created in the 1960s. While some aspects, like the aluminum pole, were invented for the show, others, such as the airing of grievances, were part of the real-life celebration.

    I will create a holiday called Laughalot Weekend

    Laugh-a-lot weekend is a 3-Day Celebration of Laughter and Togetherness. This holiday weekend will take place on the first Friday in February every year.

    Laughalot weekend

    Day 1: Friday – “Laughter Day”

    1. Outdoor Games:
      • Scavenger hunt with funny challenges
      • Water balloon toss with silly prizes
      • Lawn games like giant Jenga, cornhole, or a giant slip ‘n slide
    2. Board Games:
      • Cards Against Humans or Cards Against Humanity
      • Jenga, Pictionary, or other party games
    3. Round Table Discussions:
      • “What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you?”
      • “If you could be any cartoon character for a day, who would you choose and why?”
    😂✨😂

    Day 2: Saturday – “Sitcom Saturday”

    1. Sitcom Binge:
      • Choose a favorite show (e.g., Friends, The Office, Seinfeld) and have a marathon viewing session
      • Provide funny snacks and drinks
    2. Karaoke Contest:
      • Sing your favorite comedy songs or silly lyrics
      • Offer prizes for best performance, worst performance, and most entertaining
    3. Props:
      • Funny hats, wigs, and accessories
      • Inflatable guitars or microphone

    Day 3: Sunday – “Sunny Sunday”

    1. Outdoor Activities:
      • Host a comedy picnic or BBQ
      • Play outdoor games like capture the flag, tag, or frisbee golf
    2. Gratitude Circle:
      • Gather around the table and share things you’re grateful for
      • Discuss how laughter has positively impacted your life
    3. Props:
      • Funny sunglasses or oversized novelty glasses
      • Smiley face balloons or props

    Additional Props:

    • Joke books or comedy scripts
    • Funny masks or costumes
    • Silly string or whoopee cushions
    • Laughter-inducing games like “Would You Rather” or “Two Truths and a Lie.”

    Why Celebrate Laughalot Weekend?

    Laughter is indeed the best medicine! Laughalot Weekend is a chance to:

    • Relax and unwind: Take a break from the stresses of everyday life and enjoy quality time with loved ones.
    • Create memories: Share funny moments and make new memories with family and friends.
    • Boost mood: Laughter releases endorphins, which can improve your mood and overall well-being.
    • Foster connection: Laughing together brings people closer and strengthens relationships.
    • Spread love and positivity: Share laughter and joy with others, and watch it spread like wildfire!

    So, mark your calendars for Laughalot Weekend and get ready to LOL, giggle, and guffaw your way through a fun-filled three-day celebration!

    Let’s make Laughalot weekend a national holiday! It’s power will lighten the load on a heavily burdened society. Deep belly laughter is strongly encouraged 😂!

  • Narcissistic Fools

    By Tracy Schruder

    “When the target makes a stand, the narcissistic family dynamic falls apart. As a caring and empathetic individual, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of being entangled in a web of manipulation and abuse. Your compassion and understanding can make you a target for the narcissist, their enablers, and flying monkeys.

    The most painful part is that these people are your family – the very ones you’re taught to trust and care for. Growing up, your empathy and compassion may have been exploited, setting a pattern for toxic relationships in adulthood. If left unchecked, they’ll lie, manipulate, use, and even harm you to get what they want.

    Narcissists thrive on drama and are consumed by jealousy. They can’t bear to see you succeed or live your life without their influence. But I’ve learned that it’s possible for them to back off and cut ties for good. And trust me, it’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

    After setting boundaries and prioritizing my own well-being, I’ve gained confidence, courage, and a sense of freedom. I’ve surrounded myself with decent people who respect me, and I’ve let go of the desperate need to cling to toxic family members.

    When I laid out my boundaries, I gave them a chance to respect my wishes. But they chose to be offended and argumentative, denying any wrongdoing. I stood firm, asserting my right to prioritize my own emotional safety. The outcome was unexpected – they deleted me from social media, and in a twist, they deleted each other too. We’ve lost contact as a family, but I’ve gained so much more.

    It’s clear that setting boundaries is essential to breaking free from narcissistic abuse. If you’re struggling with similar dynamics, know that you’re not alone. Prioritize your own healing, and don’t be afraid to set boundaries to protect yourself.”

    💫💫💫

  • My Furry Family: How My Cats Became My Stand-In Children

    By Tracy Schruder

    My Fur Babies

    As I sit here surrounded by the purrs and snuggles of my two beloved cats and fond memories of one, I am reminded of the profound impact they have had on my life. They are not of my flesh, nor of my bone, nor even the same species that most people call their own, but they are unmistakably mine, heart and soul.

    Me and Sam

    My journey as a cat mom began when my husband moved into my apartment, and we realized that starting a family wouldn’t be as easy as we thought. We struggled with conception, and it was a challenging time for both of us. But as we navigated this difficult period, we decided to adopt a cat, and our lives were forever changed.

    Pet Shelter Google Image
    Pet Store Google Image

    We visited local shelters, searching for the perfect addition to our little family. When we couldn’t find a shelter cat that resonated with us, we ended up at a pet store, where we found a beautiful orange male kitten. This little ball of fur would become Sam, or Dorito, as he was affectionately known.

    Sam earned the nickname Dorito due to his peculiar fascination with the crunchy snack. My husband, an avid Dorito fan, would often munch on the chips while watching TV or playing games. Sam, being the curious and playful cat that he was, would inevitably gravitate towards the bag, rubbing against it, pawing at it, and even trying to sneak inside it to a snack or two. He would often take a lick of your chip when you weren’t looking.

    Sam

    The nickname Dorito became an official part of our family’s dynamics when my husband jokingly referred to our little family as ‘BLT with an extra cheese Dorito cat.’ He meant that our family was comprised of Brian (B), Loves (L), Tracy (T), and our furry companion, the extra-cheese Dorito-cat.

    Me and Dorito

    It was a playful way of acknowledging that Sam had become an integral member of our family. From then on, the name Dorito stuck, and our beloved cat remained an cherished part of our BLT family.

    Sam
    Sam Urn

    Sam was more than just a pet; he was a loyal companion, a cuddle bug, and a constant source of joy. He had a unique way of communicating with me, using a variety of meows and chirps to convey his needs and wants. I cherished every moment with him, from the way he’d snuggle up on my chest to the way he’d playfully pounce on his toys.

    Gracee, Tygrr and Sam

    Over the years, Sam became an integral part of my life. I eventually adopted two more cats, Tygrr and Gracee, who brought their own unique personalities and quirks to our little family. Sam may have been initially insulted by the new additions, but he eventually warmed up to them, and the three became inseparable.

    Sam and Tygrr
    Sam and Tygrr

    As I look back on the 16 incredible years I had with Sam, I am filled with gratitude and love. He may be gone, but his memory lives on in my heart, and in the countless photos and mementos that fill my home.

    Sam and me saying hello and goodbye
    Dorito

    Today, Tygrr and Gracee continue to bring joy and fulfillment to my life. They are my stand-in children, my furry family, and my constant companions. As I care for them, I am reminded of the importance of love, compassion, and connection in our lives.

    Tygrr
    Gracee
    Gracee watching T.V.

    In a world that often values productivity and achievement over relationships and emotional connection, my cats remind me of what truly matters. They teach me to slow down, to appreciate the simple things, and to cherish the time I have with those I love.

    Dorito

    As I look to the future, I know that my cats will continue to be a source of inspiration, comfort, and joy. They may not be of my flesh, nor of my bone, but they are unmistakably mine, heart and soul.

    Tygrr and Gracee
    Sam aka Dorito

  • The Bottle-cap Cross

    Describe the most ambitious DIY project you’ve ever taken on.

    By Tracy Schruder

    When I was a child, I would collect discarded items to create art projects. I used things like bottle caps, pieces of wood, sticks, tinfoil from cigarette packs, nails, washers, coins, and any other small items I found in my dad’s garage or around the house.

    This brings me to the most ambitious DIY project I’ve ever undertaken. I promised my mom that I would make her something special for her birthday that year. I was seven years old, and it was the end of springtime and the beginning of summer. My dad had just finished a DIY kitchen project, and there were various sized pieces of chipboard, some slats from the trim, and a few nails left over.

    I gathered all these materials and headed outside to design and create the perfect birthday gift for my mom. I set everything out on the picnic table and organized it into piles. I needed some more items, so I went to my secret junk trunk and gathered some tinfoil and bottle caps.

    My younger brother got involved, asking, “What are you up to?” I replied, “I’m making a gift for Mom for her birthday.” Being the ever-helpful little brother, he offered to help. We discussed the materials we had on hand and decided that we would need some tools to help with the project.

    On our way to the garage, we had the extra slats from the trim in our hands. I was scraping mine on the pavement, and my brother noticed something: “Hey, that’s looking kind of like a sword.” I responded, “Yes, it does.” This led to a side DIY project – we created two magnificent swords by scraping the slats on the pavement. We took some rope and tied smaller pieces of wood together to make the handles and proceeded to have a good old-fashioned sword fight. “On guard, de la sword” I stated standing in a battle stance. “I shall protect the princess at all cost!” He responded and the battle went on, haha. Such a nice memory.

    I regress, after the sword fight, we continued with our original project. By this time, I was full of ideas – I imagined the castle and my brother as the steadfast guardian of the princess, I imagined his armour with a shiny silver cross on the breast plate and then a decision was made, “We will make a silver cross for Mom,” I suggested. My brother agreed, and the creative process began.

    I set out a large square of chipboard and washed my bucket of bottle caps with the garden hose. We set them out in the sun to dry as we organized the rest of our supplies. We needed as many pieces of tinfoil as we had bottle caps and just as many nails – about 100, if I remember correctly.

    After the bottle caps dried, we wrapped each one in tinfoil and arranged them into place on the chipboard. My little brother became bored and took off with both our swords on another adventure. I thought, “Yeah, great, so he takes off just as the hard work begins.”

    I nailed each covered bottle cap into place on the chipboard; it took me at least four hours. The rest of the afternoon, as my memory serves. Extra time was spent flipping the board after each bottle cap and hammering down the nails sideways, as they were a bit too long.

    As the last nail was secured, and the project-gift-masterpiece was completed, I relished in my success. I wish I had a picture of it to share, as it was a divine piece.

    Later that week, it was Mom’s birthday, and for some reason, all my siblings – three sisters and my brother – decided to present this gift to Mom from all of us. I thought it must have been a real, genuine work of art for everyone to hop on board and take a piece of the credit. I hesitantly agreed, and on June 9, 1978, or ’79, we presented this beautiful gift to Mom for her birthday, and she loved it.

    She put it on the wall and showed it to everyone who came over to our house. I was very proud of that, even though I had to share credit with my siblings. As far as Mom was concerned, it was a gift from all of us, but I knew secretly that it was my own, heartfelt, creation.

    In 1986, we lost our house to a fire and lost almost everything. The gift survived, though it was burned around the edges, and the cross was blackened a bit, but it held its integrity. Mom held onto it for years afterward, but after she passed away, I couldn’t find it in her belongings. It must have met its demise sometime over the years.

    This concludes my story about the most ambitious DIY project I ever took on.

    I hope you enjoyed my story. Thanks for reading 😊🙏

  • Living The Dream

    What were your parents doing at your age?

    Mom and dad 53-54 years old

    When my parents were my age (53), they were living the dream. They had a full life with all the trimmings: children, grandchildren, a home of their own, as well as being gainful employment. They were both still working at their respective jobs – Mom as a secretary at the local automobile salvage shop, and Dad as a mechanic. At that time, they were raising my nephew, Christopher. They lived in a lovely three-bedroom home on a country road, which our family helped build together.

    The homestead

    As parents of five adult children, they were blessed with five grandchildren: Rita, Robert, Jena, Christopher, and little Tracy (my niece, who was named after me).

    Family picture

    They lived the dream, and they did it well. My parents were popular and respected individuals who always strove to do what was right. They made a conscious effort to be fair and honest in all their dealings. By doing so, they inspired and encouraged each and every one of us in the family to strive for excellence. They were hardworking and caring people who left a lasting impact on our lives.

    Sadly, Mom and my nephew Robert have since passed away. Dad is now living life to the best of his ability without her. We, too, are learning to navigate life without her. I really enjoyed writing this post, as it gave me the opportunity to reminisce through old family photos and relive cherished memories.

    Although I miss my mom every single minute of every day, I take comfort in knowing that she continues to watch over us, no matter what challenges we may face.