2020
November FROM MY PERSPECTIVE
It will be Veteran’s Day on the 11th. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who fought for our continued freedom and rights. You may not agree with me; however, I am the daughter of a father who at 26 commanded a ship in the gulf of Iwo Jima during a fierce battle to overcome that little island and its occupation of what was the enemy, at that time, to the United States of America. My Daddy was a kind, gentle, Southern gentleman who had high standards and did not waver from them. I met some his crew in 2001 when I attended a reunion of his shipmates. Every one of them told me of their admiration of my father---“He was tough, but he was fair.” “He’d stand watch with us on the tower and help us if we needed it.” “In the midst of battle he stayed calm and kept up the morale.” “We went through hell, but he brought us home safely.” “He was a hero to many of us.” Those words have stayed with me all these years. Daddy never talked about the war or his experiences. He’d seen and engaged in enough danger and action. It was only when I met his crew did I learn more about this man.
To all those who have or are fighting for our continued freedom, I dedicate these words and thoughts by Raymond Chandler of what a hero is.
“Down these mean streets a man must go who
is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. He is the hero; he is
everything.” I am adding: “Down these mean streets/seas/airs…..”
Negativity and positivity use the same
amount of energy. The difference is that
one will drain you and the other will fill you up. It takes 7 good shuffles to thoroughly
shuffle 52 cards.
Faces are interesting. They tell a lot if you look closely. The lines are gifts of emotion---you cared,
you laughed, you cried, you loved, and so on.
In fact, they show all the emotions in one crease or another. Even your thoughts are revealed on your face. “The fingers of your thoughts are molding
your face ceaselessly.” Charles Reznikoff,
poet, 31 August 1894-1976.
Aint Daisy was on her porch rocking and sipping
lemonade. “Hi, Aint Daisy, how are you
today?” said the little neighbor named Beth.
Aint Daisy told her she was fine and to come sit a spell to keep her
company. Aint Daisy knew Beth had lost
her daddy just about a month ago. They
had a good relationship, took walks together, and sang silly songs under the
big oak tree in their yard. “I miss my
Daddy so much, Aint Daisy. I just feel
so alone, even when relatives and friends come over,” Beth sadly said. Aint Daisy sat as Beth spilled her memories
to the kind, listening ear. “Beth, would
you go get me a twig, please?” asked the wise woman. Beth found one and took it to her. “Now, see if you can break it.” She snapped the twig into 2 pieces. “Now, go get me about 15, please.” Beth wondered out loud why, but gathered 15
twigs and presented them to Aint Daisy.
“Put them all together straight up with one of the pieces of the one you
broke in the middle, sweetie,” urged the kind soul. “Now break the whole bundle like you did the
single one.” Beth tried and tried, but
was not successful. “I’ll tell you why
they didn’t break all around the piece of the single one you brought me. The piece you broke is you. When you’re alone, all the forces can break
you; but, when you are surrounded by your family and friends, they protect you
and keep you strong.” Beth smiled and
nodded. She understood the wise, old
Aint Daisy.
I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is
those cell phones that everyone has clipped on. I can't afford one, so I'm wearing
my garage door opener. Now everyone
thinks I'm cool, too. I was thinking that women should
put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans! I was thinking about old age and decided that
it is when you still have something on the ball, but you are just too tired to
bounce it. I thought about making a
fitness movie for folks my age and call it, "Pumping Rust"; it would make
Jack LaLane sick. I see some have gotten that dreaded
furniture disease....that's when your chest is falling into your drawers! You know when people see a cat's litter box,
they always say, "Oh, have you got a cat?" Just once I want to say, "No, it's my
third bathroom!"
A
friend of mine said, "It's weird being the same age as old
people." I laughed and told her, "Age is a matter of mind. If
you don't mind, you are any age you choose. Presently, I'm 28 with the mind of
a 75 year old, and the body of a very large Twinkie.”
I
have found that most politicians are truth slayers. They don’t walk the talk they said they
would.
It’s
that time of year when other women look cute in their flannel shirts, and I
look like I’ve misplaced my axe. It
wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t referred to as “Babe”.
Brenduhh
called me to come over and help her with something. “Would you open this for me, please
Trudy? I’ve been trying for 15 minutes
and can’t.” I took the large envelope
off the porch floor and zipped it open, then handed it to her. “What was so difficult about that, kiddo?” I
questioned. “Well, look on the front of
the envelope. It says, ‘DO NOT
BEND’. How am I supposed to open it if I
can’t bend over to pick it up from my porch?”
I asked her if she needed anymore help with her mail.
Sometimes
the thinking process of a young adult is confusing to a vintage person’s
thinking. Case in point: My daughter had put away the groceries. She was in her room with the door closed when
I called to her from the kitchen much later, “Where did you put the chicken
breasts I bought?” She cracked the door
of her room which was down the hall and around the corner of the kitchen. She called out, “Look in the garage
refrigerator. Don’t talk to me now, I’m
naked!!” Somehow I think she thought I
had super powers enabling me to look through walls and doors and around
corners. Sheee-rah Queen of some powers
at your service.
My Beloved knew an ex-con who was
sitting at a bar telling all his
woes and downing one glass of suds after another. He said, “I’ve been a
police officer, MEG agent, railroad detective, incarcerated thief, and now I’m
an alcoholic.” The bartender, tired of listening to his lamenting said,
“Well, you might say you’ve seen both sides of the bars.”
I went to college in West Virginia; met my first husband
there,---a local fella--- and married him. I learned a lot there from the
people, the community, and land. It was a culture shock to this gal from
bustling Pittsburgh, but it was rewarding and enriching. I learned to can
vegetables, ate wild game (I'd never eaten before in my whole life), and
remember the first meal I ever ate at my in-laws’ came from their huge garden
and the end of a gun---even the butter was made right there by Bessie's
contribution. I learned a new vocabulary---a dirt and gravel road winding
through two hills was a "holler", "warshing" clothes in a
wringer washer got "wrenched" in a separate tub, a closet was a
"press", and "right cheer" meant immediately next to
you. There are lots more things I learned, and I carry them in my heart
and memories every day. The memories and teachings are still with me of a
beautiful state where the hills are alive with the sound of music from fiddles,
banjos, and heartfelt singing of those singing on a porch up a holler.
A friend of mine came home from work tired and hungry. When he got into the house he smelled a
freshly baked cake. He looked all over
for the cake only to discover his wife had scented wax cubes burning called
BIRTHDAY CAKE.
While
sitting on the deck, my daughter and I were watching a flock of birds turning
left then quickly right, then swooping down and immediately back up. We both wondered, “What about those birds
which have ADD or are directionally challenged?” We couldn’t stop laughing.
There have been some burglaries in my surrounding area. I mentioned to a friend they could put some signs on their doors and windows. The signs are: “Before you break into my house, get right with Jesus because you’re going to meet him if you do.” or “A retired special forces sniper lives here. Guess where I am.”
Peace, smiles, good thoughts, and thankfulness until next month……………….Trudy 😀
