How well do we “really” know someone?

I was reminded by face book surveys recently by taking a quize which allow friends answer questions on how well you know "name goes here". It usually reveals we really do not "know" each other like we thought we did. I learned by creating my own quiz that people either have a different perception of me than is "reality", or they need to spend more time with me to learn me better. That got me to thinking about how many times we all form opinions about people too quickly without really getting to know them. (You should ask me sometime about my 24 year marriage, or better yet…don't ask).

As we get older and mature, most of us gain much better perception on what reality is. I still make mistakes, and misjudge people, but I do take time before jumping into close relationships and making quick personal judgments of people. For instance, I believe that it takes "at least" 6 months of dating someone regularly before the true person is beginning to be revealed.

Who knows us best….only God!!! Who is next in line….our best friend, and maybe our therapist. Anyone that you can really trust and open up to is who knows us best. We all need people like this in our lives, people that can hold us accountable for our actions. (Believe me, a friend is much cheaper and better than therapists….and can go out to dinner….and you can call at all hours of the night and will actually answer).

I want to spend the rest of my life looking at people in a different and more positive way than I have in the past. I want to spend time getting to know them before I make any unreal judgments about their character. I want to love more people and be less critical. Most of all....I want to find sincere relationships which will last a lifetime no matter what.

How many people can you think of during your life in which you "judged" were different than what you really learned they were after spending time with them? This should teach us all a great lesson. Let's spend time getting to know each other better!

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere."
---Tim McGraw

"Never forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours."
---Ludwig Van Beethoven

"TRUE FRIENDS WILL DRIVE YOU ANYWHERE".........Chloe Michelle Ingram

What I did on my summer vacation – by Deborah Ann Ingram

What I did on my summer vacation – by Deb Ingram

Chloe and I loaded up the car, put the top down and headed to the beach 05/26/09 – 05/30/09. We stayed at "Harley's Haven" beach house close to Sea Grove which is owned by a good friend of mine. Better yet, it cost me only the price of cleaning-can't beat that! Harley's Haven is not named after the bike, but is their pet dog, which is most likely spoiled more than Chloe.

The following are things we experienced:

• Fifty years old and my first vacation trip-alone! This needs to be on everyone's list of things to do BEFORE 50! Very relaxing!


• First trip for me to drive more than 3 hours in a car alone, out of state. Yes I have lived a sheltered life...


• Spent hours on the beach each day reading and listening to the waves. No music. Why is it that you NEVER get bored listening to the waves? I mean NEVER!


• Walked on the beach daily and began noticing the footprints left behind from the people in front of me. It is interesting to watch what patterns of different walks and strides each person has. I turned around and looked and my footprints and I pretty much walk heel to toe in a straight line and a little pigeon toed. Try looking at your footprints sometime and see what you leave behind, and then make adjustments where necessary.....


• Saw an older man who wore knee-high black socks with khaki shorts, tee shirt tucked in, and black shoes walking on the beach…. and it reminded me of my Daddy.


• Saw pretty little girls in their cute pink polka-dotted ruffled swimsuits sitting in a pile of wet seaweed and covering up with it. Did not seem to bother them or their parents. Nice to let kids be kids and just have fun!


• Saw swimsuits on people that would make anybody wonder "what were you thinking". My favorite one was an overweight grey hair gentleman who wore a replica of the American Flag –stars and all. It is great to be patriotic, but some things deserve a little more respect I think.


• Loved being topless at the beach – "car top" down, that is.


• Did NOT shop at any souvenir shop. First time ever!


• Watched a sandpiper for hours pecking its beak in the sand. I wondered if they sense where to peck or is it like panning for gold? It also has an remarkable sense to run to the edge when the tide is out and then watch for the size of the wave to calculate how far to run back before they would get wiped out by the oncoming wave. It seemed to judge it perfectly each time. Watch them sometime.


• Favorite place to eat – Red Bar at Grayton Beach, crab cakes! The best ever! Great jazz band plays there which has been together there for over 12 years. Go there.
  







• Noticed only ONE person walking with an iPod on the beach and it was NOT me. Everyone else was enjoying nature's sounds.


• Chloe loved the loose sand, but was scared of the sound of the waves and would not go near them.


• Read a Grisham novel in my sand chair with my feet in the water-my favorite thing to do. "The Associate - good book".


• Decided one could live on the beach and save money by doing so. No need for pedicures, tanning booths, therapists, stress reduction meds, or treadmills. "She sells sea shells down by the seashore"....


• Best of all – I forgot my blow dryer and round brush and went ALL week without one. Could not believe it! Can you???

Memories of beach trips gone by:

• Jacob – age 2 and first trip to the beach. Stayed on Thomas Drive in a condo and he cried "I wantta go to MY house" as soon as he walked in the door to the time we left. He did not like change then…..or now.


• Jacob catching little fish when the tide would roll out and put them into his bucket filled with water. I thought this was so cute, until I saw him putting one into his mouth to eat it….alive. I screamed and took the bucket away from him! I should have let him eat it and ignore it!


• High school trip with best friend- Day 1 stayed out in the sun ALL day and I thought I was getting a beautiful tan. Later that night I was completely red. We had 5 more days left, so what do you think I did…..go back out in it everyday. Needless to say I got a severe burn and my entire body peeled after many days. Never again…When I say severe….I mean I could only sleep with baby powder sprinkled on my sheets and no clothes touching my body.


• Miracle Strip and the Abominable snowman ride! Does anyone remember this? Let me know if you do.


• Bumper cars…. and the game where you rolled a ball into circles for points to win a prize "SKEET Ball". – who remembers this? They were everywhere on the beach.


• Airbrush t-shirts was a must have item each trip.


• Worst ever…..honeymoon on Daytona Beach – lost my diamond engagement ring in the ocean. No insurance and I cried so much that I could not be on the beach anymore and we had to leave.

What has not changed…?

• Can't believe Fontainebleau is still there – after all those hurricanes and years!


• Gulf World…… who goes there???


• Ambassador still there…..same historic look.
  
• BEST OF ALL….God's beauty and peace remains there in the sound of the waves and nature. Great time to reflect and rejoice!

“The waves of the sea Help me to Get back to Me.”
--Jill Davis

Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our
footprints in the sand are gone..."Anonomous