The end of October is nearly here, and as usual, I find I have eaten the last of the mini candy bars that I had purchased early for Halloween. Now, it's time to reflect on the upcoming holiday. Tomorrow, I will go and buy some more candy.
Soon, my "trick or treat aged' grandchildren will appear at local doorsteps as Dorothy (from the Wizard of Oz), a mermaid, (there is a slit in the tail, thank the Lord, so that her own little legs can carry her from door to door), a superhero, and a superhero's sidekick. All great costumes, but I ask myself, "What happened to the costumes favored in my youth?"
Well, now they would all be considered "Politically incorrect".
Can you imagine a youngster of today clad as an Indian? (Excuse me...an idigenous American.)
Or how about a Cowboy? (No firearms please.) A Cowgirl? (That's too sexist.)
A Bum or maybe you called it a Hobo costume? (It's so wrong to make fun of the homeless.)
Peter Pan? (Was he transgender?)
A Ghost, which was my mother's personal favorite and the easiest for her to make? (No, too tame. Today we have zombies and the walking dead.)
I could go on and on.
Times change and so do our holidays.
Dear Lord. We are making you laugh. I know we are. Your children are a funny bunch.
Help us to see our silliness and show us how to care for our fellow world citizens.
We ask so many things in your name. Amen.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
The "Royal We"
Several folks at work, are fond of using what the dictionary refers to as "the editorial or Royal we". And, although we know that they are using "we" because they want to appear less demanding and/or dictatorial it, never-the-less, drives us crazy.
We would like for our peers and boss-types to say, "Nancy" will you please call, clean or fix whatever they would like accomplished. When someone chooses to say, "we need to call, clean or fix something", we are fairly certain that we are the person that has been selected to do the job. But, we do not work with royalty. "We" should be reserved for use by the queen and not for one of our co-workers, who might be walking around with a case of multiple personalities or a mouse in his pocket!
Imagine, as a parent, if we had said to our messy boys, "we need to clean your room". Those boys would have replied......"Go right ahead, mom". Or, to our husband, "we need to mow the lawn". We would, for sure, find ourselves riding on the John Deere.
So, please be clear in your choices of pronouns, dear people. Be specific when asking us to do something. We promise we will do it to the best of our ability.
We would like for our peers and boss-types to say, "Nancy" will you please call, clean or fix whatever they would like accomplished. When someone chooses to say, "we need to call, clean or fix something", we are fairly certain that we are the person that has been selected to do the job. But, we do not work with royalty. "We" should be reserved for use by the queen and not for one of our co-workers, who might be walking around with a case of multiple personalities or a mouse in his pocket!
Imagine, as a parent, if we had said to our messy boys, "we need to clean your room". Those boys would have replied......"Go right ahead, mom". Or, to our husband, "we need to mow the lawn". We would, for sure, find ourselves riding on the John Deere.
So, please be clear in your choices of pronouns, dear people. Be specific when asking us to do something. We promise we will do it to the best of our ability.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Chapter II
My last entry was about life's unexpected bonus of "senior love". I celebrated the newly found companions that are found late in life.
New love is wonderful, at any age, but I would also like to celebrate those couples who are still in it for the long haul.
Everyone who takes the marriage vows,signs on "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, etc....." However, let's face it, around 50% of marriages don't make it these days. That "til death us do part" business just isn't the norm. You don't find a lot of people willing to commit to eternity.
So, by golly, hats off to those who have stuck it out for 50, 60 or even 70 years!
Life is a struggle. None of us really thought we'd be sick, old and feeble, when we got married at age 20 or so. We were all invincible. Unfortunately, after a while, we do get sick, old and feeble. Our knees don't work. Our backs can't bend and we're not able to do the things we once did. Some of us are in need of spousal assistance to do the most simple things.
Praise God for the spouses that continue to be partners to one another. It ain't easy, but it's worth it.
I am often reminded of the old Captain and Tenille lyric....."Love will keep us together, whatever." Let's keep doing on doing the "whatever" forever.
Great and powerful God. We are your servants. We know we are here to do the very best we can for as long as we can. Give us courage and strength for the long haul.
You are good all of the time.
New love is wonderful, at any age, but I would also like to celebrate those couples who are still in it for the long haul.
Everyone who takes the marriage vows,signs on "for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, etc....." However, let's face it, around 50% of marriages don't make it these days. That "til death us do part" business just isn't the norm. You don't find a lot of people willing to commit to eternity.
So, by golly, hats off to those who have stuck it out for 50, 60 or even 70 years!
Life is a struggle. None of us really thought we'd be sick, old and feeble, when we got married at age 20 or so. We were all invincible. Unfortunately, after a while, we do get sick, old and feeble. Our knees don't work. Our backs can't bend and we're not able to do the things we once did. Some of us are in need of spousal assistance to do the most simple things.
Praise God for the spouses that continue to be partners to one another. It ain't easy, but it's worth it.
I am often reminded of the old Captain and Tenille lyric....."Love will keep us together, whatever." Let's keep doing on doing the "whatever" forever.
Great and powerful God. We are your servants. We know we are here to do the very best we can for as long as we can. Give us courage and strength for the long haul.
You are good all of the time.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Young Love
I've met and talked with dozens of young engaged couples in my lifetime. These folks are in love. They are planning to get married and anticipate glorious futures together. It's a wonderful magical time in their young lives.
Now, fast forward 50 or even 60 years. Young love is a memory, those young lovers are older and years wiser. Often a spouse has passed away, or moved on for other reasons. But, there is often a spark of love left, in those older lives.
At work, we have had a session or two of "speed dating". We've all giggled a bit about it, but there are always lots of folks eager to participate. Seniors relish the chance to meet new folks and see if they can form friendly or possibly romantic relationships.
And, just like in high school, some of the most popular guys are the ones with cars. You see, if you have a car and a valid driver's license in a retirement community, you are automatically a very popular guy, with the ladies.
Today, a couple walked by my desk. They were holding hands and I was introduced the the gentleman, by his companion, one of our female residents.
I was stunned by the glow that was emanating from this woman. I had never seen her look so wonderful. She was enchanted and enchanting.
Love is grand at any age.
Dear God, you have heaped so many blessings upon us. You have granted us the ability to love and to be loved. With that love comes huge risks. Living life to its fullest means taking those risks.
Life is a great big challenge and a huge blessing. Help to rise to every occasion and to continually honor your power and glory.
Amen.
Now, fast forward 50 or even 60 years. Young love is a memory, those young lovers are older and years wiser. Often a spouse has passed away, or moved on for other reasons. But, there is often a spark of love left, in those older lives.
At work, we have had a session or two of "speed dating". We've all giggled a bit about it, but there are always lots of folks eager to participate. Seniors relish the chance to meet new folks and see if they can form friendly or possibly romantic relationships.
And, just like in high school, some of the most popular guys are the ones with cars. You see, if you have a car and a valid driver's license in a retirement community, you are automatically a very popular guy, with the ladies.
Today, a couple walked by my desk. They were holding hands and I was introduced the the gentleman, by his companion, one of our female residents.
I was stunned by the glow that was emanating from this woman. I had never seen her look so wonderful. She was enchanted and enchanting.
Love is grand at any age.
Dear God, you have heaped so many blessings upon us. You have granted us the ability to love and to be loved. With that love comes huge risks. Living life to its fullest means taking those risks.
Life is a great big challenge and a huge blessing. Help to rise to every occasion and to continually honor your power and glory.
Amen.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Misty Water- color Memories........
Like most people that I know, I have mixed memories about my childhood and youth. I wasn't particularly brilliant. (My sister was the smart one). I wasn't particularly athletic. (My dad told me I threw and hit like a girl!) And, I wasn't chosen Homecoming Queen.
But, believe me, life in Kansas was great. I have wonderful memories of growing up in the 50s and 60s, in small town Middle America. I was blessed.
On most summer nights, I can remember dropping off to sleep, listening to the radio. Those nights that my Dad was home, the program of the evening was Major League Baseball. This would have been before we had a TV or maybe before night games were televised.
Anyway, my dad would sit, on a lawn chair, on the front porch and listen to the game. He was probably drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon or maybe Schlitz, from the bottle. The night was still, and there was no noise from the air conditioner, because we didn't have one. My sister and I slept in the front bedroom and all of the windows were open. There was no talking, because my dad wanted to hear the game
One of the teams would have been the St. Louis Cardinals. I believe that was the only team being broadcast in our area. My dad wasn't very demonstrative, but I do remember him swearing in amazement at the grammar of Mr. Dizzy Dean. What kind of idiot, he would ask, would say, "He slud in to second base."? Well, Mr. Dean, sure made an impression on me. To this day I am very careful about my choice of tense for the verb slide.
Great memories. Simpler times.
Good and gracious God. Our lives change. Things get complicated. Help us to remember the basics. Love you. Love one other.
We need you in our lives.
Stay with us, forever.
But, believe me, life in Kansas was great. I have wonderful memories of growing up in the 50s and 60s, in small town Middle America. I was blessed.
On most summer nights, I can remember dropping off to sleep, listening to the radio. Those nights that my Dad was home, the program of the evening was Major League Baseball. This would have been before we had a TV or maybe before night games were televised.
Anyway, my dad would sit, on a lawn chair, on the front porch and listen to the game. He was probably drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon or maybe Schlitz, from the bottle. The night was still, and there was no noise from the air conditioner, because we didn't have one. My sister and I slept in the front bedroom and all of the windows were open. There was no talking, because my dad wanted to hear the game
One of the teams would have been the St. Louis Cardinals. I believe that was the only team being broadcast in our area. My dad wasn't very demonstrative, but I do remember him swearing in amazement at the grammar of Mr. Dizzy Dean. What kind of idiot, he would ask, would say, "He slud in to second base."? Well, Mr. Dean, sure made an impression on me. To this day I am very careful about my choice of tense for the verb slide.
Great memories. Simpler times.
Good and gracious God. Our lives change. Things get complicated. Help us to remember the basics. Love you. Love one other.
We need you in our lives.
Stay with us, forever.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Well, Shake It Up, Baby!"
I'm all for mixing things up. I support blended families, mixed marriages (both religious and racial) and the occasional mixed drink. One of my favorite activities, during my years at Lakeside Junior High, was attending YMCA Mixers.
I like mix and match patterns and the new trend of mismatched socks is kind of cute. Eclectic, is the word. I have been known to serve mixed vegetables and I can mix up a tasty batch of brownies. I have salt and pepper hair.
However, just recently, on a whim, I sipped a newfangled "holiday beer", and I am here to shout from the top of Mount Crumpet......I am unequivocally against Pumpkin Beer.
More correctly, I believe the label read, "Pumpkin Flavored Beer". But, whatever the label read, two things that should never, ever have been mixed are the flavors of pumpkin and beer.
Yuck. Double Yuck. Nasty. Don't try it!
Gracious God. We have many choices to make. Sometimes, we even make the right ones. Stand by us. Be our shield and guardian. We honor you.
Life is good, every day.
I like mix and match patterns and the new trend of mismatched socks is kind of cute. Eclectic, is the word. I have been known to serve mixed vegetables and I can mix up a tasty batch of brownies. I have salt and pepper hair.
However, just recently, on a whim, I sipped a newfangled "holiday beer", and I am here to shout from the top of Mount Crumpet......I am unequivocally against Pumpkin Beer.
More correctly, I believe the label read, "Pumpkin Flavored Beer". But, whatever the label read, two things that should never, ever have been mixed are the flavors of pumpkin and beer.
Yuck. Double Yuck. Nasty. Don't try it!
Gracious God. We have many choices to make. Sometimes, we even make the right ones. Stand by us. Be our shield and guardian. We honor you.
Life is good, every day.
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