Family, Favorite Things, Life, Tater Tots

screw it, i’m eating tater tots – episode 70

Kari

if you’re new to my blog, welcome! here is an explanation of the tater tot post.

i’m loving the fact that we’re beginning the 15th year of my blog with episode 70 of tater tots. i was born in 1970, so it feels like this whole thing is a little gift from the universe. i couldn’t have planned it better if i tried.

the lottery

in the early 80s, my mom and dad decided to buy an ohio lottery ticket for the first time. they’d never played before, so this felt like a big deal—a momentous occasion for our whole family. we all counted the days, eagerly awaiting the announcement on the evening newscast.

that night, we decided to head out to my uncle’s house in the country, our nerves too much to be at home. i still remember my dad walking down my uncle’s gravel driveway, cigarette in hand, looking more nervous than i had ever seen him.

we didn’t win that lottery, but i’ll always love that story. the way we believed, just for a moment, that something big might happen. that feeling of possibility.

as my dad was nearing the end of his life, he shared more details about his childhood with me. it made me realize just how fortunate i was to have him as my father, especially given the challenges he had faced before we came into his life. in that moment, i understood i had won a kind of lottery i hadn’t fully appreciated until then.

one thing i read

illuminating our true nature: yogic practices for personal and collective healing by michelle cassandra johnson

one thing i listened to

here comes the river by patrick watson (thank you, steve)

and

my 2024 in music

one thing i watched

yacht rock: a dockumentary (if you love music, i think you’ll enjoy this)

for anyone wondering what yacht rock is, here’s a great article that explains it well:

What Is Yacht Rock? Plus 20 Songs for Smooth Sailing on Rocky Waters | Berklee

links i clicked on last month

(44) How to live a Quiet Life, in 2025 (thank you, melanie)

Always Go To The Funeral : NPR

Grace | A Hundred Falling Veils

We Never Stop Growing

Ring Theory Helps Us Bring Comfort In | Psychology Today (thank you again, steve)

10 ‘Gilmore Girls’ Christmas and Holiday Episodes

(28) When Facing Significant Life Challenges, Is It Even Possible to Look at the Bright Side?

Fundraiser by Karen Kazanci : Help Sevana’s Family Rebuild After Fire

Sending Love to L.A., and What to Do Now | Cup of Jo

quotes that had me thinking last month

“a story is told as much by silence as by speech.” – susan griffin

“i will always be on the side of those who have nothing and who are not allowed to enjoy the nothing they have in peace.” – federico garcia lorca

“you might have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” – margaret thatcher

here’s to january…

Discover more from A Grace Full Life

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

45 thoughts on “screw it, i’m eating tater tots – episode 70”

  1. This is so beautiful, Kari – “in that moment, i understood i had won a kind of lottery i hadn’t fully appreciated until then.” I have often felt the very same thing! The parents we get, the place we live, and so many aspects of our lives are truly a kind of lottery. Yes, we can control some of it, but a lot of it is just luck. I appreciate it all more with each passing year.

    This was another lovely tater tots post! Congrats on 70 of them!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. I love your tater tots, and that you are still here. 15 years! That is worth celebrating. Love the Susan Cain essay, and the one about going to the funeral brought tears. (So many things do now; I think I’m going to be a leaky sponge for the rest of my life.) The Gilmore Girls link–my daughter used it extensively when she was visiting for Christmas. I don’t think I can watch them without her; GG makes me miss her too much. But it was so nice to have so many snowy episodes to rewatch. And your story of the lottery! I remember when a lottery was suddenly legal in my state, and how we all knew all about the woman who won the first one. I’m guessing your story would seem very strange to a Zoomer, but I so understand that feeling of nervous anticipation. It made me smile to think of all of you waiting for the numbers to emerge.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It definitely is worth celebrating! I can’t believe I’ve written 70 tater tot posts either… I need a moment to sit with that!

      A leaky sponge! Yes, that’s exactly how I feel this year. 💕

      GG would definitely make me miss my kids too.

      We still play the lottery here with scratch-off tickets. My dad used to buy them and put one at each place setting at Christmas. Now Mike continues the tradition, and we’ve even extended it to Thanksgiving! It’s such a fun little tradition.

      Like

      Reply

  3. This is indeed a lovely post, Kari, with so many wonderful links to check out. I especially liked the article “Always Go to the Funeral.” If only we all did those small things, the world would be so much easier for those who are suffering.

    And I’d heard of yacht rock before but appreciated the explanation in the article.

    Also, thank you for the shout-outs! I’m glad those two pieces were helpful. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Such a sweet post. I loved the numbers … 70th episode and you were born in ’70. The poignant lottery story and learning more about your dad making you feel like you hit the lottery having him for a dad. Very nice. Happy January to you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. No matter how many times I play the lottery (many) and how many times I don’t win a big lottery jackpot (also many), there is always that fresh feeling of anticipation whenever I buy a new ticket. I love that feeling…and I love the way you tied it in with your dad.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I absolutely loved your lottery ticket memory. You totally captured what it was like to be a kid and have that kind of hope. It’s both naive and important. I think it gives us a good foundation as we get older and more jaded.

    I am going to watch the Yacht Rock documentary as soon as I finish the Bee Gees one. I’m also watching Traitors. Are you?

    This is so strange, but I know I read a similar article about always going to funerals recently, but I don’t think it was the same one. It caught my eye because I’m the person who never goes to funerals. I missed most of my aunts and uncles (in my defense, all were 3+ hours away) and I had a lot. But I’ve also skipped out on other people’s funerals that were more local. I just can’t handle the emotions.

    Ring Theory is a great read and I like the suggestions at the end. I hope your week has some warmth and sunshine in it, Kari. XO

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes! I agree. 💕

      I was going to ask in my comment on your blog post last week if you’d seen the Bee Gees documentary! So glad you’re going to watch it!

      I just googled “cast on Traitors” the other day! I’ve never seen an episode—should I watch?

      I totally understand how hard it can be to go to a funeral. I never thought about how much it would mean to me if someone showed up to be with me in my grief until my dad passed. I also think it extends beyond the funeral—it’s about checking in and being there for someone in the long run. Honestly, that’s more important than just showing up for the funeral, if you ask me. This is something all of you have done for me this year. ❤️

      Thank you, friend! I hope yours has the same! 😘💕

      Like

      Reply

      1. If you have Peacock and are looking for something to watch, I highly recommend Traitors, but I’d start at season 1 (the current season is 3). The first season had half reality stars and half regular folks. The second season they switched to all reality/famous people. The host is very campy and the premise is a game of figuring out who are the traitors in the group. Very fun and entertaining.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Oh, how I love that lottery story. The last paragraph really tugged at my heart strings!

    Thanks for all the great links. The NPR story about always going to the funeral was my favorite. I grew up that way, too: with my parents always taking me to funerals, even when I didn’t want to go. I still don’t want to go to wakes/ funerals (well, who does?) but I force myself to show up for the family. It DOES make a difference. I remember a couple of things about Phil’s wake…one time being up front and looking back at the crowd and being amazed that so many people were there. In that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of love. I also gratefully remember the three coworkers who drove a long way to come to the wake. (We didn’t use a local place.) And it was a weekday where they had to be at work the next morning. So yes, showing up is everything.

    On this subject of funerals and wakes, this is one reason why I don’t want this traditional way of doing things for my own demise. No one wants to be there. No one wants to look at a dead body in a casket. There are stiff and formal and awkward. I think a lot of people are now choosing to do a Celebration of Life, like what you and your family did for your dad. So much better in every which way.

    xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. We were so lucky to have each other in this lifetime. 💕

      YES to showing up for the family—showing up truly is everything. I love that you have those special memories from Phil’s wake. So much love was surrounding you.

      It’s so much better, isn’t it? I love that idea too. I want that as well.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. “… the way we believed, just for a moment, that something big might happen. that feeling of possibility.”

    Kari, just in telling me that story got ME all excited about you winning the lottery as well! And I love what you shared about your father and realizing that you HAD won the lottery. I too felt that way about all three of my parents (mother, father, and step-mother) after losing them.

    Looking forward to checking out the dockumentary you linked. Sounds great!

    Yes, I’m sending MUCH love and positive energy to LA!

    Love that final photograph, my friend! Have a fantabulous week!

    X

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. We really did win the lottery, didn’t we? 💕😘

      You are going to love that documentary! I could easily watch it again just for the music.

      Sending so much positive energy to the West Coast.

      I hope you have a wonderful week filled with beautiful snow and crisp, chilly weather! 😘💕🌈

      Like

      Reply

  12. Congratulations on 15 years! What an inspiration! I hope I can continue on for a fraction of that!

    I read one of the articles you added a link to. It was incredibly good. I’ll be sure to read more, thank you!

    I’m sure your father also felt he won the lottery, too. It often goes both ways.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you! I never imagined I’d still be blogging after all this time, but it’s been such a joy, and I credit all of you for keeping me here. I truly enjoy connecting with all of you.

      By the way, I think you’ll love that Yacht Rock documentary—it’s packed with so much great music.

      I know he felt the same way. It really does go both ways. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  14. I recently heard the term Yacht Rock, maybe it was here? I do love a documentary. Maybe I’ll watch this one. You know me and music, clueless – so maybe I’ll gain a little knowledge.

    I like the quote about doing for one person what you wish you could do for everyone. Such a sweet sentiment.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It was probably here 🤣. If you’re into 70s music, I think you’ll really enjoy this.

      It’s such a great quote, isn’t it? I always feel overwhelmed during big tragic events, like the fires. I never quite know how to help. This quote really resonated with me in that way.

      Like

      Reply

  16. I recently drove to another state and back to go to a funeral. I did think the man who died was a wonderful father and grandfather, but I did it mostly because his daughter is one of my dearest friends. She was so surprised I was there and I was surprised she was surprised. I missed too many funerals during COVID and won’t do that again.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Lauren Cancel reply