A need for cheerful things here.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (62502)
July 9, 2026 10:24pm CST
This has been a week for sure.
A cousin and her son were tragically killed Tuesday afternoon. This was near where I used to live...and the family of course is crazy grieving. My last remaining aunt, in her 90's but still active, driving, etc. has called numerous times...so have several cousins. I feel like the phone has been stuck to my ear for hours--well, I guess it has.
We didn't have to go anywhere today, and I am so very thankful for that. My nerves were shot and I was so tired that I turned the ringer off of the phone and son and I both took a nap.
I made a broccoli and chicken stir-fry for dinner and it was really good. We had pretty much eaten all of our leftovers. Now we have some more. But we will eat it tomorrow.
It's July 9th, and son and I just heard a string of fireworks go off. I wish these people would just stop already!!
I know bad things happen to good people and to bad people, too. Son said today we all need to appreciate and spend time with our loved ones and friends more often, and he's right.
18 people like this
17 responses
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
10 Jul
Life and distance often keep us apart physically, but we can make every effort to stay close with phones and internet now, at least.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
10 Jul
We are both very thankful for sure. We know we are so fortunate to have loving family and friends.
2 people like this
@rebelann (118615)
• El Paso, Texas
10 Jul
I know what you mean about distance @MarieCoyle all too often relatives lost touch due to distance back in the 50s and 60s but thankfully in this day and age that doesn't have to happen
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
10 Jul
I am so thankful, so many don’t even have a home or food or anything. And as you say, there’s so much to be thankful for!
2 people like this
@sissy15 (13409)
• United States
15 Jul
@MarieCoyle Life seems to be dealing everyone a difficult deck here lately. I hope you're able to eventually move past it to the best of your ability. You never get over something like that, but with time, it becomes more manageable. It's definitely one of those things where you learn to be grateful for what you have.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
15 Jul
It honestly was horrible and shocking...one of the worst things I have ever heard. It made it so much worse. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
16 Jul
@sissy15
I can move past it, yes. But there are others involved that are truly going to be affected drastically over this for the rest of their lives. To lose two loved ones so unexpectedly has shattered the remaining grandparent and the other son, as well as many other family members.
And for the record, I honestly am very grateful for what I have, and the special family and friends I have, too. I hate it that this happened and it was so tragic and violent...just very sad.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (193120)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Jul
So much going on in your world. I hope you are getting your rest.
I was watching a favorite content creator on YouTube, and she was talking about this dish she made. She put broccoli and cauliflower together in a crock pot. Added her favorite seasonings and several different cheeses and let it cook for a couple of hours. She said it was delicious.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (193120)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Jul
@MarieCoyle........That is odd. It's sort of like my take on squash and sweet potatoes. I can't eat them, they make me gag. I want to find something else to go with them too. Bacon bits or? Pasta?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
Both broccoli and cheese, and cauliflower and cheese, have been staple dishes for years. Then frozen foods mixed the two together, now often people will just top the frozen mixed up, with cheese. I can't eat cooked cauliflower anymore, for some reason I don't know, it makes me ill....but I can eat it raw. Go figure, it's weird.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
14 Jul
@celticeagle
I actually like cooked cauliflower. But it doesn't like ME, haha...I love squash and sweet potatoes. Bacon bits? Not unless I made them myself, I don't like the ones that come pre-cooked.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
I truly am thankful, life is just so short, we all need to love and appreciate each other.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (387554)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jul
@MarieCoyle Oh wow, that is way too many. 
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
12 Jul
@JudyEv
Sometimes it seems it goes that way, that you lose a lot of people in a short time. That happened during Covid for so many, too.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (212503)
• United States
10 Jul
Very sorry about that! Those things are hard to deal with.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
10 Jul
You are definitely right on that, some are very hard to deal with. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
We both try to make the best of what we have, and keep striving and working for better times. Thank you, Julia.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (100468)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Jul
Sorry about the cousin and her son. Might I ask how old they were? I wish you a good beginning to the weekend,
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (100468)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jul
@MarieCoyle blessings to the family and putting in a prayer for them,
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
12 Jul
@RasmaSandra
That's very kind, and much appreciated. Many thanks to you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
The grandmother was 73, very healthy and caring for her husband of over 50 years, who has cancer. Their son was 52. They already buried one son years ago.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (92044)
• United States
10 Jul
That is so sad Marie 
Your son is right about spending time with loved ones and friends. We always assume we have tomoow
Your son is right about spending time with loved ones and friends. We always assume we have tomoow1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (92044)
• United States
11 Jul
@MarieCoyle Abe Lincoln was right. I love that quote.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
We can plan for tomorrow, we can hope it happens--but not all of us get a tomorrow. Personally, I think Abe Lincoln hit the nail on the head with this~
''It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.''
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
I have known her for my entire life...a very talented lady. Talented seamstress, gifted artist, and her flower garden was like no other. She was a devoted wife and mother and grandmother, too. Thank you.
@Deepizzaguy (124952)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
10 Jul
You have a good point that we should treasure our time with our loved ones since tomorrow is not promised to all of us.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (124952)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11 Jul
@MarieCoyle I do my best as well not to take things for granted anymore.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
11 Jul
You're right, George. And I do my best to try to do just that, I'm sure you do, too.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (62502)
•
10 Jul
Nothing is ever certain and no one knows the future, all we can do is to try to live our best life.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (140026)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Jul
Sorry about your cousin and her son.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24211)
• United Kingdom
10 Jul
So sorry to hear your sad news. It is a good idea to keep regularly in touch with those close to you!
1 person likes this
