Mistaken Identity

 Somethings are just not easily transmitted via the written word. Emotions are one example. My daughter has cautioned me to avoid capitalizing words, because in Internet writing, that means that I am angry! PHOOEY. I just like emphasis.

Pronunciation is another thing that often cannot be put into written language. Once, I tried to write a post about Peonies. Those large, outrageous pink and hot pink blossoms, that Southerners use to decorate graves. Grandma said, Pee OH nies. Most everyone I know says, PEE oh nies. (There I go, capitalizing for emphasis.) I'm not quite sure you can understand the difference in pronunciation, by written explanation!

Growing up in a town, known for its predominant immigrant population, most of us learned words from hearing, not from spelling.  The Italian, French and Serbian surnames of our friends and businesses, we learned as we got older, didn't match "spelling wise" with the way that we had learned to pronounce them. Names like Cujakti, Oertle, Fornaciari and Billionis rattled off our little tongues, but we sure couldn't spell them.

Oh, the joy of the written word. In school, there was a boy, I knew, Charles Ann Kelly. He was a great saxophone player and sat behind me, in band. His name seemed a bit odd, certainly, but we all (I thought) called him that. It was his name. After all, Johnny Cash had recorded that song "A Boy Named Sue".  Anyway, (Charles Zanichelli), wherever you are,  I'll remember your name, FOREVER!

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 Holy Lord. Memories are such a blessing. Thank you for remembrances of yesterday. May we look back fondly on these blessings, as we continue on with our lives, today.

"Latch on to the Affirmative"

 I told someone the other day, that I have never been bored? By that I meant, I like being busy, and that I can't remember EVER having nothing to do. 

My children, often complained of being bored. I really was not a parent that had to have my four children constantly scheduled with lessons, play dates, etc. However, I would always be able to suggest a half dozen things for them to do to occupy their hands and minds, to escape the awful boredom of doing nothing. Unfortunately, some of these things they would interpret as work. So, they mostly did not want to choose to do anything I suggested. More often than not, they were suddenly "busy" enough!

Truthfully, many seniors, that I encounter, operate as I do. Most retirees will tell you that they are busier now than when they were working! The happiest "old people", are busy "old people". 

Lots of my friends are volunteers at public places.....the opera, the ballet, museums and hospitals. Doing a volunteer shift, a couple of days a week, wears a body out and it helps you sleep. And, doing for others, just makes us feel good. I know, because I do just that. 

Volunteering gets us out of the house, but there's always a ton of things to do, at home. Being someone who likes to eat, I still cook. In my closet, there is always a CWIP (Crochet Work In Progress) to finish, books to be read, and my blog to Post. Lunches with friends take me on new adventures. Gardening or even "Yardening" gets you dirty and sweaty, and it's great exercise. I have a friend that always has a building project, that he is working on.

Then, there are always those chores to be done. Cleaning, dusting and laundry are at the bottom of my "to do" list. But, they are there. I get around to them eventually. Bottom line, stay busy and active as long as you can. My daughter often tells me that "Motion is Lotion."  Even if all you can do, is sit-down stuff. Keep your mind busy.

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Gracious God. We have many blessings. Even aging is a blessing. Thank You for whatever talents we have been given. Show us how to use them for the benefit of others and to Your glory. Amen.

"Choose well, my friend."

 This ranting is not written to be judgemental. In my heart and mind, I seriously believe that whatever a person chooses to do, wear, or be is one's personal decision. What I want to make clear is that sometimes I can't imagine WHY they make the choices they do ???

Years ago, while undergoing radiation treatments, I was given a couple of "dot location" tattoos. I still remember the pain. At the time, I likened it to childbirth. Since that experience, I have often recalled my teeny tiny tattoos, when I meet or see folks that are pretty much covered with ink. Jeeze Louise. How were they able to stand the pain? How were they able to pay for those sleeve, leg and total back tattoos? I can't figure out what would make them decorate themselves like that. WHY?

Then sometimes, as I venture out in sub zero degree weather, I question the sanity of some guy walking past me, in shorts?  It's cold enough to freeze your exposed skin.......so WHY, would someone freeze on purpose? But, tons of folks, all ages, from Middle School to aging men, do it. Being cold is often a choice. WHY????

Just last week, I was maneuvering North on 69 Highway, trying to guess which lanes would be closed that particular day. (Oh, yes, I am aware that the gov'ment started working on that highway in 1964, and they haven't finished it yet!) Why is it so hard for people to prudently get in the left lane, when a sign clearly says that the "right lane closed ahead"? 99% of folks calmly and kindly merge to the left, letting folks in and traffic moves smoothly. But, there is always some fool who speeds up, in the right lane, to the front and tries to be first in line moving into the left lane. They are not turn-takers. Fooey on them. Didn't they learn anything in Kindergarten? Why do they think their behavior is appropriate?

No judging here. Just trying to figure out....WHY?

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 Great and All-Knowing God. Acceptance is a Virtue. I'm not terribly good at it. Teach me patience and acceptance. Allow me to make good choices.

 

 

"Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing, ever a child can do."

 I'm not usually an antique mall shopper.  Costco, WalMart, and Aldi are my favorite stores. But, I like to look at old stuff and it certainly brings back fond memories, of the past. However, I rarely see anything that I think that I cannot do without. I don't go looking for old stuff to buy. I have a house full of stuff and there are very few antiques in my home...... of course, I am not counting the two 78 year olds, who reside here.

Well, a girlfriend and I had an urban adventure, yesterday. We went for a fun and tasty lunch at a place called "The Ship". It was definitely a dive!!!! Lots of ocean, and sea-faring decor.....a rarity in our land-locked town. After our meal, we perused an antique store or two. She, very quickly spotted a cute bright red cat shaped pin. It was a keeper!

I went "'round the corner" (quote from pg. 94), saying to myself, the only thing that I would ever want in a place like this would be......and there it was! BTW, in perfect condition, not a page missing or crayon scribble to be seen. A 1950 edition of the Better Homes and Garden Storybook. I hesitated almost 60 seconds, before snatching it.

What do I need with another copy of a really old, childhood book? The absolute truth is that my beloved original version, of this tome, has always been near me. I've moved in many times. However, because I have referred to it at least once a week, and quoted it almost daily, since receiving it for Christmas, in 1950, it is a bit "tattered and torn". (That's a quote from page 42.) The lime green binding, on my new treasure, is all in one piece, not duck-taped together. This gem contains almost all of my favorite, memorized poems. I now possess pristine copies of "The Owl and the Pussy Cat", "The Goops", and "The King's Breakfast". It has a copy of The Pledge of Allegiance, without the "under God". All of the pages of "The Little Red Hen" are intact. I'm in heaven.

So, dear readers, "Whenever I walk in a London street", "sail away for a year and a day" or "Spill broth on the tablecloth" or "go up in a swing",  I'll be remembering and quoting from my newly-found antique...my brand new old book                          .

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Dear Lord. Every day we receive Your blessings. Sometimes they are small and sometimes they are great. We are thankful for all of them.

 

"Accentuate the Positive"

 I just thought I would let you all know that I am DONE. I have watched my last POST, VIDEO and  LIST. I'm swearing off the "What not to wear (or how not to style your hair) or (or what not to buy) if you are over 60!"

When I first started looking at those things, I said to myself,  "Oh, I would never wear, buy or try to look like that old lady" Then, I started to realize that I had a closet full of "turtlenecks" and "baggy tops". My jeans were all "out of style". I didn't want the latest shoes...just comfortable ones. And, my hair looked just like how I was "not supposed to have it cut". Egad! My whole life mirrored those nasty VIDEOS. I started to believe I was a complete fashion horror.

Now, after viewing several hundred of these Horror Tales, the truth is, there is no way that I can change my whole lifestyle. And, what's more, I don't really want to. I am over 60.......way over sixty. I  possess a whole closet full of decent clothing that I will continue to wear. I like my hairstyle......most days. Sometimes, I even get compliments on my appearance. I have decided that I'm comfortable with who and what I am.

I'll bet you that the writers and authors of those same Horror Tales, are in their mid-twenties. Hell no, they wouldn't wear what I like to wear. I wouldn't want to see them in my clothes. And, seriously, I don't want to be wearing theirs. Just letting you know, I'm not paying any attention to their advice.

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Dear Lord. Growing older isn't for the weak. We seniors should be thankful for all of the things that we can still do. We have wrinkles, lines and gray hairs. Nobody can call us young. We all show signs of courage and survival. We are blessed. We are thankful for life as we have experienced it.

"Don't Worry. Bee Happy"

    

 We have two new additions, to the home site. A friend of Rick's called last week and asked if we would allow him to set up a bee trap and hive, on our back pasture. Our reply was an enthusiastic "YES".

For the past several winters, the back wooded area has been adorned with plastic bags for catching Maple Tree Sap. It seems, that there is plenty of room, on our 5 acres, for all kinds of food production. Especially, when the permanent human residents are charged with nothing more than watching the process. Our friends tap the trees, hang up and collect sap in the bags for a month or so. Then, they do the syrup production and voila'. We are presented with a bottle of delicious Maple Syrup.

I know very little about bees and honey production. But, I plan on doing some research. I'm not interested in getting stung or interacting at all, with the flying sweeties, but I would like to know about how the honey is made. I am fascinated by the whole idea of a Queen and workers. The hive and trap are neat and attractive. They are nice additions to the property. We hope the bees will be happy and in the future, we will be gifted with some local honey to enjoy. 

Before I moved to Stilwell, Rick allowed some friends to add a few small Koi (pets that could not be transported to a new home), to his pond. These Koi are now 2-3 feet in length and could, if they chose to, carry off a small child! We love feeding them and they appear to be very docile and content being admired, from the docks.

But, I am adding this caveat........this notice is to warn you in advance. There is a limit to our benevolence. Please, don't even think about bringing us any goats, chickens, or cattle, for housing and care. We will say "NO, thank you!", without hesitation.

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  Dear God: You Blessings abound. Remind us to be Thankful.                                         

                                              

"Just When Everything Seems So Dark"

 If your life is like mine, you are often reminded, during the passage of time, of those many adages about the foolishness of making plans. Now, I am not putting down the wisdom of planning ahead, we all plan ahead to some extent, but everyone knows "the best laid plans of mice and men....,etc.")

Well, I've been laid low by a rotten cold, this past week. It ruined some of my plans. But, I'm living, although still-coughing proof, that life goes on quite nicely, without being able to complete each and every segment of minutely planned schedule. So, I cancelled a couple of engagements and I missed a self-designated deadline or two. Too bad. Apologies have been made and I am on the mend. No one was injured and no property was destroyed in the process.

Plans are a necessity, in order to accomplish goals, but when Plan A doesn't work out, Plan B or even F, can be just as successful. I read recently that life is just 2 numbers after your name. Two numbers with a dash in the middle. 

Dear readers. Enjoy the dash........ because it's all we've got.