Saturday, December 31, 2016

Milestone

Every year, about this time, I think of the lyrics to the New Year's Favorite, "Auld Lang Syne"....but, then I forget about them, until next year.
The words "old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind", have always bothered me. For some reason, I believed that those words meant that you should forget the people that you were acquainted with (maybe for the past year, or maybe forever) and never think about them again. Well, I never liked that thought. The people that I meet and the friends that I hold dear, are very important to me.
So, I did a wee bit (it's a Scottish tune, ya know) of research, learned a lot and now, I feel much better.
The "acquaintance", in the song, refers to knowledge. In the Dictionary, it's the second choice of definition. We are cautioned, as the song goes, to forget the knowledge or worries, that we have accumulated in our mind, for the past year and Holy Moley.......Let It Go!
It's difficult, you know, to forgive and forget, but that's what a new year should be all about. So, let me tell you, I for one, am moving on. It's going to be a super new year, full of many, many blessings.
Happy New Year.

This, BTW, is my 400th Post on Nansense. I have been blessed
Thank you.

Friday, December 30, 2016

"Walkin' to Missouri"

At my place of work, devices to "assist persons in walking" or Walkers, are a preferred mode of transportation.  So many of our residents use walkers, that I became curious about who invented them and when they began to become so popular.
In Great Britain (where they were apparently invented), Walkers are called Zimmer Frames, after the company that first produced them. The first patent for a walker was granted in 1953, to William Cribbs Robb, in the UK. This is information from the Internet, so it has to be true.:)
Walkers are wonderful devices. Life without these clever devices must have limited a great many folks to wheelchairs or even kept folks bedridden.
Walkers are so prevalent these days, that the simple technology of legs and handlebars has developed into Walkers with two or four wheels. Some Walker wheels are made to swivel and can turn on a dime. The wheels have independent suspension and hand brakes. Walkers now sport trays, seats, baskets and even horns.
So many folks are using Walkers, that the possibility of Walker races has occurred to me. However, I can foresee that once our folks get rolling and experience a taste of wheeled competition, we might have trouble getting them to slow down..
Happy New Year!

Dear Lord. We wonder at our many blessings. We are in awe of your steadfast love and amazing power.  Guide us to do your will in this New Year and forever.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

NANA SAYS

Everyone has a Christmas Story to tell, and most of them are interesting and worth hearing. Today however, I was lucky enough to hear an especially wonderful story about two ladies named Jane.
Jane #1 is the great-grandma of her namesake, Jane #2. Jane #1 is a delightful lady who exudes a very positive outlook and tremendous Christian Faith.She is in her 9th decade. Her most favorite name is Nana.
Jane #2, otherwise known as Janie, is three years old, going on 30.
Janie thinks that she and Great-grandma Jane, are twins. You see, they were born on the 23rd and 24th days of the same month. Jane #2  says she is the oldest twin, because she was born on the 23rd, and they are both 20, because that's all the further she can count.
Jane #2 wants a walker for Christmas, so she can be just like her twin, Nana.
Now, I received all of this information from Jane #1, who finished her unique Christmas Story by adding that Christ gave us the best Christmas Gift of all, when he gave us grandchildren.

Dear Jesus, thank you for grandchildren. They are a special blessing. Thank you for the Janes in our lives.


Thursday, December 15, 2016

"Winter Wonderland"

More often than not, in Kansas City, we have snow on Christmas. Most years there is just a dusting. But, on December the 25th, the dormant grass is generally sprinkled with the white stuff. It's a beautiful time of the year. And, in spite of the snow, it is rarely too cold to go for a holiday-afternoon walk or to play a game of touch football.
 Almost every year, we have a white Christmas. The lights on the Country Club Plaza, when they are surrounded by snow flakes, are about the "prettiest sight to see".
I have never lived in a place that doesn't have some snow in the winter months. I'm not so sure I would like a warm December or January. Oh, I know that millions of folks celebrate Christmas without cold weather, but it to me, it just isn't Christmas and the holidays without snow.
Irving Berlin, who wrote "White Christmas" spent most of his life in New York. He knew about winter weather. But, did you know that he wrote one of his most famous songs, "White Christmas", in California? The opening verse is all about warm weather winters.

"The sun is shining, the grass is green,
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day
in Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,—
And I am longing to be up North—"
 
Christmas is just one week away and once again we have snow everywhere. Hooray. Another  "White Christmas".
 
 
Dear Lord. We are so blessed. Rain or shine, snow, sleet or sunshine, you are always here for us. We can depend on you. Show us how to put our worries aside and trust in your steadfast love.
We are thankful for the arrival of Jesus.
 
 
 
 
 



Monday, December 12, 2016

Addicted

I have a confession to make.
I believe I have developed an addiction to Christmas movies. So much so, that I have been staying up, way past my bedtime, just to watch them on the Hallmark Channel.
The Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel all feature pretty much the same story. Beautiful young girl meets handsome young man. They fall for each other. Problems develop, but everything is always resolved by the end of the movie. Very predictable, easy to watch and non-thought provoking.
But, it's just not the Hallmark movies that I must watch, at this time of year. I have to see "The Grinch", Frosty the Snowman", "Christmas Story", at least one "Home Alone", "Miracle on 34th Street" (I prefer the Natalie Wood version), and even "Meet Me In St. Louis" (only because I love to hear Judy Garland sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".....(it makes me tear up every single time I see it). I've seen every possible version of  Dickens'  A Christmas Carol", and I have loved every one. The story is timeless.
My favorite Christmas Movie is probably "Holiday Inn", which features Bing Crosby, introducing the song, "White Christmas." It's terrible un-PC, but I enjoy seeing it every year. In order to see it, I have had to purchase my own copy.  The networks would probably get fined for showing it. Sometimes, they will show "White Christmas", but, in my humble-sort-of-expert opinion, it's just a showcase to have Crosby sing the song again. "Holiday Inn" is the masterpiece!
As far as addictions go, I'm not looking to cure myself. By January 1st, I'll have had my fill.......until next year.

Good and gracious Lord. Thank you for Christmas and all that it brings to us. As we go about doing all of the things that make this a special season, let us always keep the reason for this season in our hearts and on our minds.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Not a clue.

Funny how relationships develop. Friendships usually develop between folks who have lots of things in common. But, I have only one thing in common with my friend, Forrest. Our ages are different and our genders are different. He lives in an apartment and I live in a house. I work and he is retired. He is very tall and slender, and I am, well, let's say we are different in stature.
Our common interest is the New York Time Daily Crossword Puzzle.
The NY Times Crossword is unique. Each day, from Monday thru Saturday, it gets increasingly difficult. Over the years, I have encountered very few folks who share my enthusiasm for the challenge of the NY Times puzzle. A person who loves doing the NY Times puzzle must be patient and realize that skill increases with practice and that it is nearly impossible to complete the puzzle every day. It is the rare individual who can accept that challenge.
My pal, Forrest, visits my desk nearly every day and because he is a man of few words, he often just says things like, "25 down.......Jedi." I will concur or offer another suggestion.
Other times, I will say things like, "I didn't get very far today. I think today's puzzle has some missing letters."
Then, we both smile, I return to my work and he continues his walk.
Our relationship is truly unique and special.

I am so blessed. My life has been touched by so many wonderful people. God has placed me in a special place to do his work. I am truly thankful.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Venting

I'm venting about vents today.
At work, we have two rooms that don't have good ventilation. In the summer they are too cold and in the winter, they are way too hot. The problem is very simple. They have vents that push the air out to heat or cool the room, but no vents to let the air out of the room.
Vents are important. Vents are essential openings that lead to various kinds of tubing and duct work in a home or a place of work. Central air and hearing systems rely on vents to carry air into rooms and another set of vents allow the outtake of air from a room. In order to work efficiently a system needs both types of vents.
Our lives, I believe, are like modern HVAC Systems. Our Faith in God, love from family and friends, and encouragement from our co-workers, comes into our lives, like the air from a intake vent and then, when we do our best and work for the the good of others and ourselves that effort comes out, like the hot air from a furnace or the cold air from an air conditioner.
We need both kinds of vents.

Lord God. You keep us working. Show us how to live our lives in the best way possible. You are our strength and our salvation. Through you all things are possible.