"Daddy sang Bass, mama sang tenor....."

I consider myself a music snob. I know what I like and what I dislike. And, what's more, I can be very vocal about my opinions. I've got reasons!

I've made a few jokes about the hours I've spent drinking in bars, in all parts of the world, while my singer-spouse practiced, in near-by performance venues. I did, eventually, sit through all of his concerts. Trust me, when I tell you that I have listened to symphonies, choral concerts, operas and recitals by the dozens. I've watched professional singers, at all levels, in performance. God knows, I could write publishable reviews.

So, why I am I telling you this????? Because, my mother used to say "If you can't say something good, just keep your mouth shut." You will find me listening to what's being played or sung, and then I'll clap like a good audience member. It is possible, for great music to be played or sung very badly. And, likewise, bad music can be performed expertly. 

I've heard high school bands in concert, that were so bad you could not distinguish their rendition of our National Anthem, from their rah-rah fight song. I've even smiled through beginning violin recitals, and imperfect back to back renditions of "O Holy Night".  I'm even quiet, about my opinion of contemporary church music. Mostly.

Yeah, I'm picky, but unless you are sitting right next to me, at a particularly awful performance, and I chance to abruptly grip your arm in sheer audio-pain, you'll never know. Silence is golden, and I can turn off my hearing aids. 

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Dear God. Help me control my mouth and my typing fingers. Guide me towards curbing my enthusiasm for caustic words. Remind me that praise is preferable to criticism. Gentleness is better than harshness. This help I ask, in your Holy Name.

 

"Thanks for the Memories"

 I have, in recent years, promoted acceptance of change. After all, change is growth. Nothing ever stays the same, in our lives. "To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." - Winston Churchill. 

But, no matter how hard we try, we often remember how things used to be. Realistically, familiarity can be pretty awesome and comforting. I certainly embrace new acquaintances and new experiences. I like to think that I am growing, daily. However, I frequently communicate with friends that I have known for 70 plus years. I know and love them, not only for how they have evolved (since the nineteen fifties, yikes), but also for what they once were. Together, with our years of shared experiences,we can discuss the past and embrace the future. We have shared broken bones, broken romances, successes and failures. We've shared joy, sadness and devastating loss. This deep connection has enhanced our lives.

Who, among us, doesn't (just occasionally) jump at the chance to have a greasy old-fashioned hamburger and fries? Or, wolf down a serving of gooey macaroni and cheese (when it looks like the stuff we enjoyed, in the grade school cafeteria). Comfort food at it's best! We do it because it's familiar (and yummy), although we all know better. Thanks goodness for the anti-acids in the bathroom cabinet.

Isn't life great?  Enjoy your life to the fullest. Look forward to the new, but hold on, just a little bit, to the past. Both are amazing.

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Great God. We thank you for life.

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't mess with Mr. In-Between"

Congratulate me, please. I just discovered a new word. Well, it's probably not so much a new word, but a new definition of an old word. The root word would be influence. And it means, "to persuade." That's the common, old-fashioned definition. I've just discovered the word, "influencer".

Now, perhaps I used to be an influencer............to my four children. I would suggest that they should clean up their rooms, or else!!!!! Perhaps I was more of a threatener. I was the influencer, who put food on the table and encouraged them to eat it, or starve!!!!

Today, the word influencer is used in regards to Social Media. I checked the Internet for a list of the 10 most successful "influencers" and I recognized four, of the ten names. Frankly, in spite of their popularity, I haven't been influenced by any of them. And, seriously, probably never will be.

An "influencer" in today's jargon, is someone who promotes a product or products. These folks make huge amounts of money doing it.  For example, Justin Bieber (one of the 4 names I recognized) will wear a holey pair of jeans or sport a new tatoo, on his face, and thousands of folks will buy the jeans and rush to the closest tatoo parlor. 

The top influencer, in today's crazy society, is a soccer player names Christiano Renaldo. I'm not interested in knowing anything about him. Common sense tells me that there's not much this mega=popular, gazillionaire guy can influence me to buy, do or change in my life. My age, alone, should make me wiser than this 30-something athlete.

I'm pretty happy with who I am. I'm not interested in following any of the recognized "influencers". I am sure they are all perfectly nice individuals. But, in the end, we all have to make our own decisions and take responsibility for our own actions or inaction. We have free will.....let's use it, wisely.

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Lord. There is but One Influencer that should be guiding our lives. Help us to keep an open heart and open mind, to Your Words.

 

 

"Open my eyes, that I may see."

 Here's a simple question. What did you do, the last time you had a few minutes, unscheduled? Just a few minutes of peace and quiet. Chances are, from I have observed, you probably pulled out your cell phone and checked your messages, your email, or just scrolled through whatever. Listen up! Get your face out of your phone, and observe what's going on around you. Try it.

Here's a suggestion, in my opinion, for the good of you and your fellow human beings. Keep your phone, in your pocket or your purse, and let your mind wander. Think! Use your brain, instead of your fingers. 

There's no telling where your mind will lead you, if you let it wander. 

Or how about speaking to someone you encounter? I believe that it is possible for folks to go for days without opening their mouths and making a sound. We are using our fingers to do our talking. A two year old knows how to swipe a device. A fourteen year old can't write, but he/she can sure text!!!!

Seriously, why aren't we using our time to let our mind's wander and think? Why aren't we enjoying our amazing world? Can we remember a time, when we were actually living our lives and when we were not on the phone, all of the time, texting, messaging, reading nonsense, or waiting for someone to call?

I understand that our cell phones are our present form of communication. But, I am questioning whether it is a totally good thing. Just for a smidgen of time today, cast your eyes upward. Put your phones down and fold you hands in your lap. Quit moving your fingers and let your mind wander. 

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Thank you Lord, for our many blessings. Help us to remember that there are many forms of communication. Remind us to love one another.

But, what if we need it?

 Attention ,all of you "half-way hoarders" out there. You know who you are. I am not the one who is judging you. I, myself, am a recovering HWH. It's time that we break our habit and start on the road to recovery.

To clarify my "label", HWHs are folks who keep one sock, of a pair, when they have lost the other. We keep the lids of plastic containers, when we have misplaced the bottoms (and vice versa). We keep half of a pair of gloves, when we are pretty sure we dropped the other one in the grocery store parking lot. It's dumb. One earring, ladies? The other one is gone...really gone.

These half-items are fairly useless and they take up space. Just today, I tossed a whole drawer full of plastic take-out containers.....bottoms and lids. I saved the only two I found, that matched, for future use. It felt so good. I won't miss them. I have decent number of reusable, and store-able glass containers, to use for left-over containers. I'm quitting cold-turkey.

But, while I am at it, I think I will toss a few un-used, "where did they come from", charger/appliance  cords. These snakey things seem to appear out of nowhere.  We have a couple drawers full of them. They belong to old phones, razors, clocks, tape recorders, radios, etc. Those items are long gone......why do we need to keep the cords? It's a rare cord that can be reused in another item.

To purge is to live a better life. 

Trust me, HWHs of the world, ........less is more.

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Lord, we are abundantly blessed. Remind us to use our gifts with humility and grace. 

"Her name was McGill. She called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as ............"

 I consider myself fairly techno-literate. Most senior citizens are. And, although we learned to type on a manual Smith-Corona, we are, for the most part, computer and cell phone savvy. We use these things daily. Why then, do I continue to be stumped, baffled and chagrined by these damn things?

For two months now, I have been worried about my "digital" membership card, to a local museum. I have been a loyal member of this group for years. They always send me a physical, plastic card to show at their underground parking facility, for free admission. The card also gives me some shopping and dining perks at the museum. This year, the card is something called a "digital membership app". I cannot figure out how to download the thing, on my phone.

Then, last night, I got a message from the garage door clinic. You know what I am talking about ladies. The Mammogram Place, where they insist on electronically lowering a garage door on your female anatomy, once a year, for your pleasure! 

To continue. They sent me a set of forms, to fill out on my computer, including a "sign with your finger" page, which I finished without a hitch. My screen eventually informed me, that the forms were complete and accepted by the sender. At this point, I looked for something that would tell me just when my appointment would occur. I needed to know the date and time! Nowhere, on any screen, was this information to be found.

Next, I sent them an email, asking them to send the appointment information, that I NEEDED. By return mail, I was told that I must request, by email, a "secret number code" to apply, for the phone app, that I should use to get the time and date. Phooey!!! No way!

This morning, at 8:05 a.m., I physically used my cell phone to call the clinic. In 3 minutes, by giving her my name and birth date, the pleasant young lady answered my questions. No fuss, no frustration, no secret code, no delete key. 

Mission accomplished.

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 Dear Lord. Everyday life is not easy. We find that we are often frustrated by the "easy things." Grant us patience, courage and wisdom to survive. Teach us acceptance. Show us how to focus on your Grace. We ask these things in your Holy Name.

"Memories, light the corners of my mind."

 And, as long as we are on the subject of performing.......performing seems to run in my family. Two of my sons have been paid performers during their lifetimes. They both play instruments and sing, like their Grammy Award winning Dad. They have musical talent. They have other talents, too. My daughter is a talented artist, creating beautiful collages. Also, two of my boys, will go down in history, for appearing on stage nearly naked, in High School. They are responsible for a drastic change in Talent Show rules!!

I played the flute, in school, but gave that up decades ago. Recently, I have been trying to re-create my flute skills, by practicing on a tin whistle. I do this yearly, near St. Patrick's Day, hoping for a long- anticipated career,  as a tin whistle player. I'm discovering that, from year to year, I don't remember much about playing my musical instrument of choice.!!

Remember, that old saying about "riding a bicycle". I looked up the facts, and bicycle riding skill is procedural memory.  Procedural memory involves the use of muscles.That's why we remember how to do it......even if years pass, from ride to ride. The other type of long term memory is labeled declarative, and no muscles are involved. That's what we can't remember things like names, phone numbers or episodes from our past life. Supposedly, remembering how to play a musical instrument is procedural memory. 

Well, I'm beginning to question this procedural memory theory. I don't seem to be making much improvement. I've got a month to practice, until a possible performance. Don't add the date, to your Google Calendar, just yet.

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Gracious God. We don't remember all of the things, that You do for us. We are grateful for Your everlasting love and grace. You are our sword and shield and our ever-present strength, in time of need. Forever and ever.

 

"I have a feeling we are not in Kansas, anymore."

 I believe that I have never been accused of being a very deep thinker. However, that doesn't mean that my introspection is therefore shallow. I prefer to consider myself just a tad "quirky". My thoughts and words just tend lean toward the absurd and obscure. 

Quirky. I've written before that I would like to have the Kansas State Song, "Home on the Range" sung, at whatever type of memorial service my children would like to hold, in my honor........and the "Jayhawk Fight Song", too. I also like "Great is Thy Faithfulness". But, I don't want them to use, "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art." I'm dead serious, about these thoughts.

Absurd.So, as I currently reside "where seldom is heard a discouraging word", let's just ponder "words". "Words are friends. In bad times they keep you company." wrote Peter Balakian. I have quite a few lady friends that simply abhor memorizing words. They just refuse to do it. Not me, I have been memorizing poetry, prose, song lyrics, since I said my first word.  My first performance may have been when I was a just a toddler performing "Down Went McGinty", while standing on my Grandmother's dining room table. My head is full of memorized dittys.

Obscure. I sincerely believe that the author, L. Frank Baum, is perhaps, the greatest philosopher of the modern era. For example, noting where we were born .......My daughter and I believe, that just like Dorothy Gale, we Kansas Girls are sweet enough to help you with your heart and courage, but mean enough to drop a house on you. Don't mess with me or my daughter.  Lions, tigers and bears beware.

And, when my courage fails me, I try to remember what Glinda said, "You've always had the power my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself." Great thoughts, for any type of thinker.

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God: You are our refuge and our strength. Relying on Your strength, makes us strong. Your steadfast love endures forever.
 

 

 

"You'll never be quite the same."

 Three and one half weeks on a beautiful tropical island, reminded me of a poem, written by Rachel Field. Years ago, I read her poem. "If Once You Have Slept on an Island", and sent it to my mother. My mom, Dorothy of Kansas, had just moved, after a lifetime on the prairie, to Long Island, New York. I thought she  would enjoy it, and she told me that she did.

My most recent island experience did not include a lighthouse or a ship whistle. That's kind of East Coast New England, but otherwise, I'll have you know, island living in the tropics is something I will never forget. 

My memories will be of being passed (on the right side), on a two-lane road, by a single motor cyle, carrying a family of four. Dining on fish, cooked with the heads still intact, and eating plantains prepared in every way imaginable. Nibbling on fresh mangoes, passion fruit, bananas, coconut and papaya. Swimming in the ocean and collecting barnacle shells (because they have a hole in them), to put into a future crochet project. Beautiful and unique sunrises, every day. Cool, salty tasting ocean breezes and yummy pina coladas served in fresh pineapples.

And, just as Rachel Field writes, I'll  "never be quite the same."

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Did Lord: New experiences are amazing and awe inspiring. We appreciate them. But, sometimes, our everyday lives seem dull and lack luster, compared to short-lived vacations and exciting travels. Show us how to appreciate, every minute of our lives. We should count our many blessings, constantly. 

P.S. Rachel Lyman Field is also the author of one of my favorite childhood books, Hitty: Her First One Hundred Years.

A Whale of a Tale

 Humpback Whales are very large creatures. They are huge, even from a distance. I wouldn't know this, except that for the past three winters, I have traveled to an island, in the Atlantic Ocean, that happens to be on one of the migration routes of humpbacks. And, from the back deck of my temporary residence, they appear, right there in the sea, in groups or pairs, several times a day.

Scientifically, quite a lot is known about Humpbacks. Folks have studied their migration routes, feeding habits, mating and calf rearing practices. If you are interested, a lot of this information is on the Internet. What's more, you may listen to whales, communication with each other, via sites like Tick Toc.

So, as you might imagine, I like these guys! I pretend that my "back-yard buddies", are just swimming along, on their little five-thousand-mile journey, and as they float by, they wave their giant fins at me and sometimes even leap out of the water, to show-off a bit. Sometimes, they just blow me a waterspout, just to let me know they are passing by. You know, sort of like blowing a kiss.

Whales are special.....and big!

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"Thank you, God, for birds that sing.

  Thank you, God, for everything............especially whales.

 

Perfection

 The New Year presents itself as an opportunity to make personal improvement. Since, I've always considered myself similar to Mary Popppins, that is "practically perfect in every way", contemplating improvement is always difficult for me. 

However, whilst happily haunting the Internet, I happened upon a list entitled, "How to Write Good". Can't everyone improve their writing skills? Here are the a few of my favorites, from the list:

    1. Avoid Alliteration. Always. (I try to avoid alliteration....."Nansense by Nancy" being the     exception!)My sister hated the alliteration of her maiden name, but she turned right around and gave one to her only daughter!

    2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with. (Who does that? surely you have never asked......     "Where did you go to school at?")

   3. Writers should never generalize. (Never write Never, ever.)

   4. Who needs rhetorical questions?

Bottom line. I'm guilty of all of these absolutely horrible Grammar faux pax. I've done all of the things listed, millions of times. Which leads to number 10. Of course, it is "exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement." 

Remember Naughty Nancy's Nonsensical Nounery, always knows where you are at.

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 Dear Lord. A little bit of humor, is a good thing. Life gets really hard sometimes, but a smile now and then helps a bunch. Thank you for bringing brightness into our lives.  You are our constant.

  

 

"And since we've no place to go......."

 January, in the Midwest. That means cold weather and snow. Well, as we like to put it, "We got dumped on, this past weekend." At last count, we measured 8 inches of ice and white stuff.....where it didn't drift. But, with the 35 mile per hour winds, we have drifts of 2 feet or more, piled up in places. It was a real blizzard!

It's beautiful. Prior to the big storm, we had gray, overcast weather. It was cold and wet. But, with this big snowfall, we can look out upon a panorama of clean, crisp, whiteness. Now, that we're in our third day of coverage, we see dozens of wild animal and bird tracks, all over the lawn. The sun is shining and the pond is frozen over. No, I'm not going to go skating, but maybe it's thick enough to try it.

Now, there is a caveat here. We don't have to venture out, on the snowy roads, so we don't care how much snow comes down. Like everyone else, in the area, we were well prepared. We went out last week (before the accurately predicted snowfall) and purchased a little extra milk, bread and toilet paper. Stocking up on toilet paper makes sense. Who doesn't remember "The Great Toilet Paper Shortage", during the initial Covid outbreak? Buying bread and milk, not so much. But, it's just what we all do.

I'm just a teeny bit sorry for the parents who have had a couple of extra days added onto their kid's school vacation. Kids shouldn't be waiting at their bus stop, before daylight, in just 6 degrees above zero  weather. But, I really don't care. These days, I'm not always sure what day of the week it actually happens to be. 

Retirement is pretty awesome. I'm sorry, if you have to get out of the house, today. Well, maybe not too sorry.

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"Thank you God for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat, thank you for the birds that sing, thank you God for everything."

"Let's start the New Year right...."

First Post of the New Year. This is where my list of New Year's Resolutions, should be inserted. Let me just tell you that my list of faults is unusually long. I have a lot of improvement to make, in 2025.

Most folks, data says, keep their New Year's Resolutions, an average of less than four months. In fact there is a specific, designated "Quitters Day" (The second Friday of January) which tells me that, for a fact, it's way less than four months.

Here is a list of six of the most popular Resolutions, and my thoughts about each of them:

1. Save more money. (Not happening. I'm 78, for what and why would I be saving it??)

2. Eat healthier. (Okay. That's a pretty good one, and I could do that, but I like to eat.)

3. Exercise more. (Another good one. We have a room full of exercise equipment. I just need to use it.)

4. Lose weight. (If I ate healthier and exercised more.....Right?)

5. Spend more time with Family and Friends. (I think my Family is happy that I have a lot of Friends, who keep me busy and away from bothering my Family.)

6. Quit smoking. (I never started.)

So, I have recently read that the best way to ensure keeping Resolutions, is to "add something positive" as a goal. Remember when, as children, we would attempt to "give up chocolate for Lent"? That's negative. We should have been thinking about "helping mom more, or doing our homework without prompting". So, writing a blog a week, or finishing craft projects I've already started, would qualify as positive????

And, those resolutions are more successful, if you celebrate your success. That's where I would have a problem. Because, if I would lose weight, I would want to celebrate with eating something very sweet or excessively greasy.......which would not be healthy eating and certainly would make me gain back, any weight I had lost.

So, I'll not be making any New Year's Resolutions in 2025. I'll just be doing what I can to make it a good year for everyone.

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Dear Lord. Some of our decisions are bad, unhealthy or downright stupid. We need Your guidance. Help us to use the little wisdom that we have and allow us to rely on Your Ever Present Grace.