"Do you hear what I hear?"

 Have you seen the "News"? Believe it or not, Several Popular Influencers, are proudly proclaiming that they have NEVER read a book.....in their lives. Really? Well, maybe a proper adult book. I bet every one of them has read Hop On Pop, or an equivalent. And, why would anyone be proud of that?? May I pass judgement, on such fools? Illiterate, ignorant souls.

Well, I have a book, to recommend. And, yes, I have read it. The author, Bill Bryson, has been a favorite of mine, for many years. He has a great sense of humor, which comes through in all of his books. Once, whilst driving down the road, listening to an audio tape (that tells you how long ago it was) of his book, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, I had to pull over and do some deep breathing. I was laughing so hard, a serious accident was imminent!

My recommendation is his, The Mother Tongue (English and How It Got That Way). The subject matter is why we Americans speak the way we do, our colloquialisms, and our verbal foibles. It's a fun read....if you like words and read books.

Since perusing this particular book, I have been conducting a little survey of how my fellow mid-westerners pronounce a certain word. So far, my research is indicating about 50/50. So, do you say "wash" or do you add an invisible "r", and say "warsh"? Maybe you are politically discriminate and use both pronunciations, saying Washington, D.C., but you warsh your hands. 

Think about it. Let me know.

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 Dearest Lord, we are thankful for the Gifts and Graces that You have given to us. Help us to choose to use them wisely.

..."Peanuts and Cracker Jack"

I would be the first to admit that I am a bit out of touch with the world, in general. But, I'm pretty savvy when it comes to knowing my living space, the local area and somewhat about world affairs. Like most Americans, my news comes from a computer. I have to admit to giving up daily newspapers and I don't watch the local TV news. Normally, I don't miss them.

But, it occurred to me this morning, October 23rd, and I haven't heard or read anything about the World Series of Baseball. I didn't know if it was already over or hadn't yet been played? I knew the local team, the Kansas City Royals, wasn't in it, but who was?

Back when I made it a point to follow Major League Baseball, the World Series was a big deal. It was the "World Serious", in the home where I grew up and in all the years I had children at home. My dad had played Minor League Ball, in the 1930's. We played softball in grade school. We watched the World Series, on television at school (There were no night games, folks.) I went to High School with a couple of really good ball players, that made it to the Big Leagues. One of my sons played ball all the way through school. I knew the game!

After a bit of research, I brought myself up to date. I learned that the two teams, in the 2026 Series, are the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers. Neither team has ever won a World Series, although the National League Brewers has been in the series twice. The  American League team was called the Devils, from 1998-2007. In '08, they changed their name to the Rays. The games will be played tonight and through the next week. In fact, research tells me that the Brewers, have two active players from the Kansas City area. Jacob Misiorowski, is a starting right-hander, and Aaron Ashby is their go-to reliever. I'll be rooting for the Brewers.

Now, I am also wondering, just when do we go back to Central Standard Time? I hope I haven't missed it. 

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Lord, help me to keep my mind and my body active. 

 

Again and Again.........

 About fifty posts ago, I wrote about a couple of words that I intended to add to my vocabulary. Actually, I never did. It is likely that, at my age, I'm just not going to start using random words that aren't a match for my time tested vocabulary. Yesterday, however, I ran across another new word, that might be a better fit. I decided, it won't hurt to try.

My newly discovered word is EPHEMERA. Just by chance,  I encountered some folks from the Ephemera Society. They were very pleasant and seriously interested in the historical exhibits in the museum, where I volunteer. In case, like me, you do not know the definition of EPHEMERA (al), it is...."lasting a short time". That was Webster's explanation. OED uses 4 columns to define the word and it's forms. Way to long. Longer perhaps than a slang phrase or a paper cup. Both of which are EPHEMERA. 

At first I thought, well this is very odd. Why are these folks visiting a history museum that boasts about storing and displaying 350,000 World War I Era artifacts? This is old, well preserved stuff. It is definitely not EPHEMERA. 

However, in reality, we do have a lot of EPHEMERA, at the museum. There are dozens of paper posters, popular for a short time. Battle plans, maps, gas canisters, ammunition, uniforms, etc.,etc.,etc. Temporary items, initially made to be used for a very short period of time, or even destroyed immediately by use. But, these articles are EPHEMERA, that has been kept for over 110 years.

Okay. According to experts (some elementary school teachers of mine) writing, reading and using a new word five times, will store it in my vocabulary. (as in....."Run Spot. Run.") I think I've got it. Do you?

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 Good and All-Knowing God. You have shown us that life is a journey of new words and events. Just because we grow old, doesn't stop us from learning. Remind us to keep our minds open to new things. We thank You, for new experiences.

 

"Brown paper packages, tied up with strings."

 Feeling slightly akin to Julie Andrews, aka Marie von Trapp, this morning. My thoughts are leaning toward listing a few of "My Favorite Things":

• Day trips to known and unknown spots around home base. Nothing even stays the same, you know, and even the most familiar of places, never fails to treat me to something new and exciting. 
• Time spent with friends and relatives. A visit, like this can involve a job, sight seeing or just a chat in a familiar living room. All of which I enjoy.
• Eating in a familiar restaurant. Recently we went to one, that I remember from the early days of my childhood. I treasured every greasy bite.
• Car travel that includes listening to the Oldies and singing along with nearly all of the lyrics...."yeah, yeah, yeah". Yes, I do realize that this can be annoying to the folks traveling with me. 
• Talking and meeting new folks. Here is where you get to learn and sometimes teach. 
• And, of course, it is most important, that there should be accompanying you, someone who will share your travels, appreciates your choices in travel and actually chooses to accompany you.

My closest friends and I honor our departed friend Jim, with one of his favorite sayings...."Get out there in it." 

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 Holy Lord. Life is indeed a journey. We praise your leadership and honor your guidance, along our path.

 

 

".....drift by my window."

 

 After a brief cool spell, a Faux Fall, if you will, we are experiencing our usual warm Autumn weather. Our house is decorated with my extensive collection of ceramic, crocheted and papier mache' pumpkins. The "mums" are flourishing in pots outside and although the trees are not in full color, they are starting to turn a bit.  Almost everyone's "favorite season" is officially here in the Midwest.

However, there are some folks who really do not appreciate (can you even imagine?) the changing weather. Yesterday, I encountered a woman visitor at the Museum (my volunteer job), wearing a lovely fall themed sweatshirt. I complemented her and she replied, thanking me and pointing out that she wished that the weather was a bit more seasonal (cooler). It wasn't exactly sweatshirt weather, and she was too warm!

Later in the afternoon, I encountered the same woman. She was very upset. It seems our Museum was too cold and she had be forced to make two trips to her car to warm up. Honestly, I did not know how to reply to her statement, so I just nodded. And actually, I don't think she really expected me to fix her issue, she was just complaining.

Unfortunately, it's just impossible to please everybody. But as we often say, here in the Heartland, when all other words fail.......there you go.

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Lord, help us to be more helpful, more positive, more thoughtful, more caring. and reasonable.