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 |  I've maxed out. Closed this blog. |
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This is a way of making myself write something coherent and grammatically correct almost every day. I'm opinionated and need an outlet. I'm also prone to flights of fancy. Thanks for stopping by. |
| I miss a lot of the old ways. Things like visiting your relatives on Sunday, and sitting out in the yard, or on the porch for hours. Or going out in the car to look for wild blackberries. I miss sitting around the living room of some great aunt and listening to everyone swapping tales of hayrides, and unpaved roads, and barn dances. When we were kids, we played hide and seek until dark, or caught lightning bugs and put them in jars with air holes in the lid. I miss the tea parties and special events of church ladies, and college professors, and summer soirees. The fluffy decorations, the pastel colors, the gloves, dressing up, and ladies hats! The best silver or stainless was used, not plastic. And real tablecloths! My mother came from a poor family, but we always set the table properly. Today, I've noticed well-educated women with good jobs don't know where to put the fork or how to place a knife. They prefer buffet style. Then there are napkins which never leave the table. You might forgive a man who doesn't know what to do with it, but I just expect women to put the napkin in their laps. Yet so few do. Those little customs, those nice things, seem to have been thrown out. I miss those little things that made us/me feel more civilized, better mannered. They were signs of an orderly society that had nothing to do with class or social standing.They were things or pastimes that kept us together as families, as neighbors, as a community. Now kids play with Smartphones or I-pads instead of chasing lightning bugs. They have gadgets to use instead of playing hide and seek. And it's not safe to walk to a neighbor's house after dark. So the world has changed. It's not as safe, or as friendly. It's over-crowded. Styles have changed, activities have changed, child-rearing has changed, etiquette has evolved. I just miss some of the things that made humans appear a little less untamed. |
| Someone asked today how we talk about sin today. We all grew up with the idea when I was young. People lived in sin. Telling a lie was a sin. Etc. Today, the word is a no-no. So how do we talk about it, or do we? It was a large group of kindly people, all over 50. Not a lot of suggestions came up. Obviously, we don't like to discuss it. So I volunteered some suggestions, "I had a lapse in judgment. I made a mistake. I misspoke." So that started things moving slowly. "I didn't mean to do it." "I was only doing my job." "Everybody does it." "Nobody's perfect." For a conservative group of people, it sounded like maybe sin is acceptable or doesn't exist any more. But it stuck with me and gnawed at me. Iniquity is a word you don't hear much any more outside of a traditional (old-fashioned) Catholic church or a fundamentalist church. I remember hearing the phrase "den of iniquity", but most people today wouldn't get it. On the one hand, it's kind of freeing; one doesn't have to worry so much about public opinion, only family, close friends, and God. On the other hand, it may be why we don't have good public leadership, why there is so much unrest and hatred. We don't have moral backbone as a culture. We claim to prize truthfulness, but look at how many leaders have lied and have been caught in webs of deceit. We want leaders who can be faithful to the people and to their causes, but so many can't even be faithful to a spouse, the most vital and intimate of all relationships. Parents of college students make charges that we shouldn't hold students to the letter of the law about public drinking, or purchasing of alcohol. "They're just students, trying to have fun." But how can they learn accountability as corporate leaders, as public leaders, if they don't learn personal accountability before they turn 21. What is "higher" education, it if it's not about being more responsible than the uneducated masses? Our so called educational institutions are supposed to do more than help people make higher incomes. Maybe it's time to revisit the meaning of "sin" as failing to make the goal and use the word more often. Moral integrity is something we're very short on. How do we instill values now, or is it too late? |
| There was a time I felt outlandish wearing shoes that stood out a little. Others could wear shoes with buttons all over them, or bright stripes, or neon yellow, but I felt uncomfortable with that. I'm finding that as I get older, I don't give a hoot. If I wear turquoise sneakers with my black jeans, so what? Of course, it's the rest of the culture that's getting me accustomed to it, and I'm adapting. I thought red heels, which have been very acceptable forever, made my feet look outlandish if I didn't wear a red dress. I've given up the heels because of bunions, but I like red sandals and sneakers. I'm thinking about a pair of striped patent shoes that shout spring colors! These days you just blend in with all the other brightly colored shoes. And shoes are available in all styles with glitter, sequins, metallic finishes, jewels, and beads, even feathers. So I'm going to get a few less practical, but showy shoes. It's time for something besides black or brown. I think I need something that says, "I'm comfortable. Want to make something of it?" |
| I'm getting into cleaning out the closets and cabinets finally. I'm giving away a box full of flat sheets with not fitted sheet, king size pillow cases that don't match anything, tablecloths, rice cookers (we have 3), and so forth. And I can't believe the way my hall closet looks! I've been taking clothes, shoes, and belts, and a few knickknacks to Good Will. But the local church won't take clothes for their annual yard sale. Things will go cheap, but they usually make a nice profit. All of it goes to mission projects, like the mosquito treated netting for Ghana. I'm just getting geared up, after a slow start. I have a feeling some Christmas wrap will go, now that we mostly use gift bags. But that's in the garage, and I haven't made it there yet. I found a box of weird ceramics, stamped Japan on the bottom. My understanding is that only dated Japanese things are worth anything. They would be from occupied Japan. After that, everything was more cheaply done, except electronics. Neither the church nor Good Will will take vases from florists--too many out there. The china cabinet is next week. Someone told me that old board games are almost worthless, as are children's books. They only want current toys and books. I'm getting more organized, and my house is looking roomier. I might even get some office space for my father out of this. And the church will benefit from my cast-offs. It's a win-win. |
| With all the trouble California farmers will have this year due to the drought, we need to be as supportive as possible. When at the supermarket, read the labels. Buy local first; support your own area. Then buy California, not some other country. California avocados, for instance, are suppose to be the healthiest and tastiest. None of my area markets have any. They are all from Mexico. I plan to shop around. The same is true of other produce, like lettuce. The crops will suffer without rain, and their expenses will get worse. We need to support them now as much as possible. Buy your almonds now and put in the freezer for this fall. So many people don't read the labels, especially on fresh foods. And remember signs and advertising can be misleading. It is legal to call a vegetable "local" if it's grown within 300 miles. "Local" meat can be up to 100 miles from the distributor, not the store. Buy American. It will be fresher, more likely pesticide free, and will support American farmers. |
| I've discovered I really like plugging music into my ear when I walk through the park. So I wanted a new album. I've spent an hour after making a 30 second purchase from Amazon, trying to get the download from the Amazon cloud to sync with itunes ap to download to my Ipod. Yikes!!!! No success, so far. I can listen to the music on my computer, but I can't carry the desktop with me. I've done it before, at considerable effort. This time I'm not finding any options.I've googled it, but nothing matches up. I'm glad I only got one album. I don't want to duplicate Internet services on a desktop, an Iphone, and an Ipod. I want the conveniences, but not the hard work or expense. I had the I-pod 2 years before I got the I-phone, so I don't want another music collection.And the I-pod is lighter to slide in my pants pocket when I'm walking. I have a Twitter account, or did, but don't use it. I'm on Linkedin, but don't use that either. I do use Facebook, which is mostly advertisements and fake claims. And job-hunting on the Internet may allow you to stay home in jeans and a t-shirt, but it's more complicated than going in person with a resume and filling out a simple paper ap. And for the phone, I need glasses and good light. No, computer savvy I am not. Even here on WDC, I have my trials at times. I need a grandchild around to help me, I guess. |
| Today after a long battle with the insurance company and alternative methods that didn't help, my specialist broke down and gave me an injection in the shoulder. Tonight, I am not good as new, I still can't reach behind my back, but I am so much better than I was this morning!!! It will take several days for the stiffness to wear off after so many months of agony and not using that arm. I can't take anti-inflammatory drugs on a long term basis because I'm on a blood thinner. (I can stand a one time heavy use like for oral surgery, and then no more.) I'll set up four appointments for physical therapy, which should be enough to get me back in action. Side effects? I asked, too. I could get infections easily for a while, so I need to avoid scratches, etc. Headaches, maybe. So far, I still have discomfort. but I'm not wincing from sudden moves or crying if I forget and put my elbow on the desk. I carried my purse in that hand this afternoon, even lifting it a little. You really don't appreciate the little things until you can't do them any more. Tomorrow, I expect to put on deodorant properly and hold my hairbrush with the bad hand. It's a red letter day, and I'm happy! |
| Just watched an old movie, The Outlaw, from 1943. It starred a young Jane Russell, barely out of her teens. Wow, was she a young beauty. Yes, there were lots of cleavage shots. Apparently, she hadn't learned at that point that she could say no to directors and cameramen. And there were some really crummy close-ups of her face and lips in supposedly romantic scenes. Those lousy shots were the men's fault, not hers. What I liked about the movie is the way it mixed up the Billy the Kid legends. They cooked up a plot where Billy's death by Pat Garrett was faked, and he really rode off with Rio, the young beauty who had secretly married him while he had a fever. I've read a lot about Billy the Kid, and none of this ever came up. His friendship in this movie was with Doc Holiday--played by Walter Huston--not Pat Garrett. Most legends have him being like a younger brother to Pat Garrett. Billy had Mexican girlfriends. He ran across the border frequently. In the 60's TV show, The Tall Man, Billy had an affectionate relationship with Pat, but there was always a foreboding about the lawman and the fun-loving young prankster who walked the edge of the law.On that show he had a girlfriend named Rita. We know the legend was bigger than the man. Billy didn't kill as many people as the tall tales would let us believe, according to historians. He didn't commit as many crimes as he was credited. The researchers think his name may have been an easy one to use for unsolved crimes. William Bonney captured the imagination of the nation and continues to captivate us today. |
| A woman I know challenged us today with just a rhetorical question. "How would you feel if tomorrow you got up and had only what you gave thanks for today?" She left a small group of men and women speechless, wondering "What would I be willing to live without?" If a person were to start listing desperately the things for which he wants to keep and needs to express thanks, you could tell a lot about that person's age and personality. A musician for instance might want to give thanks for his antique guitar or a treasured Stradivarius violin. Most would think of their families, their spouses or significant others, extended family, and friends. The basics would be listed like food, clean water, shelter, clothes, transportation. Some people over 50 or with medical problems would list their medicines at the top of the list, even before food. Doctors, medical workers, emergency workers, hospitals make the lists for family people, the elderly, the handicapped, those in pain. I would add my computer, books, electricity, the ability to work, a place to sleep, and my privacy, Some would add their jobs, their school, a club, the family silver, their stock portfolios, or their smart phones. Some might list their collectibles, their art, their skills, their power, their success, their nice houses.For some, it would be all about their animals, or the gardens, the farm, or the ranch. Most sooner or later would get around to liberty, safety, justice, individuality, and creation. We know that an attitude of gratitude is good for us. It keeps us level-headed and helps us heal and cope. Whether you are religious or not, being grateful for the good things in life is healthy for us. "An attitude of gratitude" is a mantra for 12-step help groups.I remember a scene in the Karate Kid, where the teacher tells him to remember the sky is blue and the grass is green. In some very low times of my life, when I felt like I had nothing to give thanks for, I would repeat: the sky is blue and the grass is green. It was always a place to start. From there, I could find more things to add to the list, and I could be grateful even in the middle of some horrifying times. Fortunately, my friend's admonition to be thankful today and every day isn't really a threat to us. I caught myself thinking that I need some legalistic, covering phase like, "Thanks for all the things I take for granted, or the things I can't remember at the moment." But that isn't necessary. I believe in a loving God, who is not legalistic, who gives us good things even if we take them for granted. He forgives us for the times when we are not grateful, as long as we come around again and remember the source of the sunshine, the flowers, the rain in season, love and life. We aren't walking some narrow bridge, from which we can fall off into poverty and need, if we aren't grateful enough on a constant basis. We don't have to be afraid of losing it all. We do need to give thanks on a regular basis, not to be safe, but to be healthy emotionally and spiritually. |
| With so much bad news, maybe we should wake up to the dangers pending on us all. Christians have been targeted in so many African nations, and slaughtered, including the recent college massacre. Christians in every nation are under verbal and financial attack, with Jews close behind. Within Islam, one sect attacks another sect. Buddhists attack and drive out Hindi. It's not always a matter of religious beliefs. No one stops and asks people if they are adherents of a certain creed. They simply identify them by race or family or location. In some places the fight is over who's taking the cattle to market, one group or another? Maybe Easter weekend is a good time to show we are not afraid to believe as we choose and exercise those rights. If Jewish, go to a synagogue; observe your traditions. If Christian, go to church; say grace and give thanks for religious liberty. We are free to disagree with each other, to worship differently or not at all. But no one has the right to impose their beliefs or lack of belief on someone else. |
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