🎃 2022 October FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

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Brenduhh came over with a paper and pen.  “Hi!  I’ve been told to write down all the states in the United States in alphabetical order.  I’m stuck on how to spell that state, Hawaii.  Would you help me, please, Trudy?” she asked.  I checked her list to see if she had any others which might need correcting.  “Well, it’s really easy.  You’ll need two I’s,” I began.  She squinted, pursed her lips, and shook her head at me.  “You really are a smarty pants this morning!  I already have two eyes, and they’re working just fine!” she grumbled.

Well, we made it to October.  Have you ever noticed the bugs and the way they fly and behave in this month?  Do you know why?  Well, I believe they know they’re going to die and they just don’t want to be civil any more.  So they take the liberty of pestering you with walking or flying into your space.  They go for the dive bombing and kamikaze tactics at your face.  Sometimes it’s just absolute “up close and personal” with them.  This is why I don’t allow myself to fall asleep in my chair.  When I do, my mouth usually falls open and then…..well, you know the bugs’ mentality in October…they like to explore dark, moist caves.

I had a dear, sweet person---my first best friend of my life---tell me she enjoys reading my column every month because she likes to “camp out in my brain” to explore what I’m thinking.  She asked how I come up with some of the stuff I put in the column.  I can’t exactly tell how I do it, it just happens.  Perhaps it’s a sight, sound, odor, or feeling which brings forward a memory or connection to a random thought that’s looming on the precipice of consideration.  The 2022 September’s edition (the account of my 6 year old son singing GOD IS GREATER THAN THE BOOGIE MAN, in the throes of a tornado drill which turned out to be the real thing) is an example of a memory connection coupled with a few words. I think the key word(s) is “connection” or “memory”; and, the longer I live, the more connections and memories I get.

There was a knock at the door.  I opened it and saw my favorite Lady of the Holler standing there with a cherry pie in her hands.  “Oh Aint Daisy, come on in.  How nice of you to come over, but I must apologize for my messy house.  I haven’t had time to put things in order.  She stepped through the doorway, took off her red and black shawl, and asked if we could go to the kitchen and share the pie.  Of course I had her come with me.  Drat, the dirty dishes were still stacked to be washed, but the table was clean.  I apologized for the dirty dishes still on the side of the sink.  She sat down and smiled at me as I got out the two plates, forks, and triangular pie slice serving utensil.  I cut the pie. Oh gosh, it was heaven in a dish.  I served her and me and sat down to chat.  I apologized again for the messes.  She listened and smiled.  The twinkle in her eyes told me she was going to say something important.  “Chile, I don’t pay no mind to the messes.  We all have ‘em from time to time. I’ve come to see YOU, talk with YOU, enjoy YOU, and share some pie with YOU.  I hain’t a-goin’ to get any enjoyment out of those messes, but I will out of bein’ with you.  So jes’ remember when I come over, I’m a-comin’ to see and enjoy YOU, jes’ YOU.”  Oh, the comforting wisdom of that dear lady----my friend, the Lady of the Holler.

I don’t go to concerts because I can get the same music at the library, listen to it in quiet, and go to a clean bathroom when I need to.  However, I have a friend who enjoys going to concerts and purchased a ticket through a ticket distribution company.  They got their bill.  It had so many fees; the base price was reasonable, but everything else was inane.  Here is my friend’s rendition of the bill:  concert ticket: $35, Venue fee: $20, Access fee: $15, Paperless Transaction Fee:  $12, Fee fee: $5, Fee fi fo fum fee: $7, We can fee: $2, So what fee: $3, Another-contribution-won’t-hurt fee:  $2, and the most laughable one----Toilet paper use fee:  $1.

Be careful when you answer your phone from a number you don't recognize.  If you're asked a question, such as your name, and are to say, "yes" or "nor as a response, do NOT do it.  There are scammers out there using your name, voice, and "yes" response to purchase various high priced items.  They have all sorts of electronic ways of them being you, including your voice.  I usually answer with, "Affirmative" or "Correct" or "It is the one you are intending and asking for."  This really confuses a robo-call.  Of course, that's my intention, anyway.  Sometimes I even use another language...one I've made up as I talk.  Imagine that!!

I was asked from a friend my opinion of a situation involving a challenged child and what I would suggest would help.  I drew on all my knowledge, experiences, research, and education.  When I finished, I said, “Well, there is my two cents’ worth.”  My friend replied, “Not really, Trudy.  It’s is more like $1.95 because you gave a professional opinion, personal and professional experiences, and knowledge.”  I told her, “Hmmm, inflation is everywhere.”

I have a dear friend who has many, many people asking her to do for them.  She has a lot of difficulty telling each one of them, including her dogs, “NO!”  She was telling me of all she had been doing for others over the last week.  I listened intently, and then said, “I truly hope your life, for a day or two, winds down to complete boredom.”  She laughed and said, “You’re great at keeping my broken sack of marbles together.”  I told her, “Well, that’s because I’m usually looking for the marbles I’ve lost.” We went for the snort, y’all.

Have you ever noticed that through the “storms” of your life there usually comes a rainbow of peace?  He keeps his promises.

I went to the doctor to listen about my blood sugar should be lower, blood pressure should be lower, and weight should be lower. Hell's bells, he doesn't mention a thing about my boobs being lower.

Brenduhh came over in a huff.  “Settle down, missy,” I told her.  She became momentarily quiet then snapped, “I don’t do the calm and carry on thing, Trudy.  I do the spontaneously combust and go totally mental thing.”  “Oh.  Well try to chill-out.  Now what else is bothering you?”  I queried.  “You know I’m taking American geography at the junior college.  There was a test yesterday which required us to give the capital of each state.  I failed the test.”  “50 states and their capitals are tough to remember. Let me quiz you.  What is the capital of Ohio?” I asked.  “The capital of Ohio is O; and, it’s the only state which begins with a capital O,” she said proudly.  I hung my head.  

 

Peace, smiles, and blessings until next month--------Trudy                                         

🏈 2022 September FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

 

 🏈 2022 September FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ♍

While visiting my parents one year, Guy got a bit upset with me about something.  Daddy was sitting in his chair and asked how he could help.  Guy told him about his irritation and said, "Papa Doc, do you have any advice on how to handle her?  You've been married a longer time than I."  While Guy stepped out of the room, Daddy got out his legal-size pad of paper, tore off a sheet, folded it in fourths, wrote on the outside "How to handle a wife", and handed it to Guy when he returned.  Guy opened it and exclaimed, "There is nothing written on either side of the paper!  What is your experience?"  Daddy said, "Guy, I've been married to Trudy's mother for 50 plus years.  This is what I've learned about how to handle a wife."

Brenduhh came over all in a huff and about in tears.  “What is the problem?” I asked.  Sniffing and trying not to cry, she stammered, “I was called ‘LAZY’ today by my boss.”  I took my time to ask her some questions as to what might have been the reason the boss referred to her using that term.  “Do you have any idea why your boss called you ‘lazy’?” I inquired.  “NO!” she said emphatically.  “Well, what did you do at work, today?” I asked.  “Well, I …, hmmm, I think I, hmmm.  Well, I didn’t see anything to be done, so I didn’t do anything,” she announced.  “What about yesterday?  Did you do anything yesterday?” I carefully asked.  “No, there didn’t seem to be anything to do; so, I didn’t do anything,” she said.  I suggested from now on she find something to do so she’d look busy, because the boss obviously is watching.  Her reply made me roll my eyes, “Trudy, I can’t do something when there isn’t something to do!!  And, that goes for ‘anything’, too.  I can’t do anything if there isn’t anything to do!”

I walked up her sidewalk which had some leaves scattering on grass and stones.  Her porch was vacant of her, but the rocking chairs were waiting for her and anyone who wanted to “set a spell”.  As I reached for the door handle, I could see she was busy in her kitchen.  I saw some pies and a few dozen cookies on the cloth-covered table.  I got ready to be with one of my favorite people.  I opened the door and called her name.  “Oh chile, you jess come on in and set a spell in here with me.  Get a plate and fork to eat a piece of whatever pie you want to enjoy.”  I sat down in the red chair with the overstuffed cushion on the seat.  She had different chairs around the wooden table and each chair was a different color, so were the cushions on the seats.  She said it was her “rainbow kitchen settin’”.  I was quiet, which she knew was a signal that I “had a bother”, as she puts it.  “Alright, tell me what yer bother is, chile.  I know it’s heavy on yer heart.  Ye don’t get as quiet as when that’s a-happenin’,” she soothingly said.   "How do you get over the losses in life of the people who had such a profound effect on you and who you cared so much about, Aint Daisy?”  "Oh chile, they hain't losses, they're gains.  Ye gain more moments to think of those who’re gone.  Ye gain insight into what is important.  Ye gain a look into you.  Ye gain the time to count the blessin's ye didn't recognize ye have.  Ye gain the importance of yer memories with that one ye lost. Ye don't really get over those losses; ye jess get used to not havin' 'em around ye.  No tear is as bitter as the one(s) shed due to a heart’s loss, but, honey, those are the dues ye pay for lovin’, carin’, and wantin’.”  Oh my, such profound wisdom from the special Lady of the Holler.  It never fails to give me something to think about.  (To my friend, Marva 3-25-44 to 8-16-22)

No matter how crazy your world gets, you always need at least one person you can be nutz with, confide in, and laugh so hard you go for the snort.  I’m blessed; I have more than one, and they know who they are.  There is peace in my soul.

Mosquito season is still here for a while.  I’ve read some ways to keep them at bay while you’re out enjoying the air, etc.  I hesitate to put chemical repellant on my skin because the chemicals can infiltrate your body and cause all sorts of unwanted conditions (not that mosquitoes are wanted!).  During my observances of mosquito repellant, I’ve come to the conclusion that fans blowing on me while I sit outside on my deck are a good repellant.  After all, have you ever seen mosquitoes flying around in a hurricane or tornado?  Maybe large objects do---cows, dogs, cats, houses, trees---but not mosquitoes.  Which brings me to wonder, where do they go during those times?

Octopus.  Have you ever wondered how it’s pronounced as a plural?  I have, so, of course, I looked it up.  I discovered OCTOPUS has three different plurals.  Merriam-Webster dictionary states:  “The three plurals for octopus come from the different ways the English language adopts plurals. Octopi is the oldest plural of octopus, coming from the belief that words of Latin origin should have Latin endings. Octopuses was the next plural, giving the word an English ending to match its adoption as an English word. Lastly, octopodes stemmed from the belief that because octopus is originally Greek, it should have a Greek ending.”  So, which ever of the three you choose to use, you’re correct.  It is sort of funny, though, that one would be referring to more than one octopus since they are solitary creatures.  Think about that.

During an intense moment of fellowship with the big guy, he popped off to me, “Well, you know God created man before he did woman!”  So, I informed him, “That is true; however, there is always a rough draft before the master piece!!”  Someone was speechless for quite awhile-----after he told me to “get along little doggie”.

I found some practical uses for vodka.  Fill a 16 oz. trigger-spray bottle with vodka and spray bees or wasps to kill them.  Like they’ll care about stinging you now!!  Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth.  Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain.  Or, drink a 12 oz. glass of this mix:  4 oz. orange juice and 8 oz. vodka.  You won’t care about the pain anymore.

I’ve been a mother since I was 22 and took care of my baby sister when I was 14.  And, I’ve “mothered” others’ children, which is too many to count.   I’ve raised dogs and cats; which brings me to the conclusion of:  dogs prepare you for children; cats prepare you for when they’re teenagers.  I know some of you can identify.

In Bible study, our pastor mentioned perseverance, obedience, and fortitude.  He referred to Noah and the 40 days on the ark.  As you know, God instructed Noah to gather 2 of every animal and have them join him on the ark.  O.K.  I can understand the rationale of that.  BUT, what was the rationale of 2 bed bugs, 2 stink bugs, 2 mosquitoes, and 2 cockroaches???  What was He thinking??

I’m reading a very good book.  It’s a fast read and has very practical advice with the reasoning behind the advice.  The book is:  MAKE YOUR BED: LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE...AND MAYBE THE WORLD by William H. McRaven (retired United States Navy four-star admiral who served as the ninth commander of the United States).  One of the topics is “Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.”  It reminded me of when my 28 year old special needs son was about 6.  He was in a special class with other special needs children.  He loved (and still does) music.  His favorite program on television was VEGGIE TALES.  I think he knew every song sung on that wholesome program.  On this particular day, there was a tornado drill which turned out to be the real thing.  All those in the school went to the halls, sat down, and covered their heads.  A lot of the children were scared and started to cry.  The teachers had their hands full of scared children until a little voice, my son’s, started singing, GOD IS GREATER THAN THE BOOGIE MAN.  From what I was told by my little fella’s teacher, a lot of the children watched VEGGIE TALES, too, and started singing along with my son.  They all were “up to their necks in mud” and started singing.  Everything turned out fine, the tornado went over the school in a big huff never disturbing a single shingle.  I guess “the boogie man” heard the song and realized a stronger force was present.

I, as many people do, like my coffee in the morning.  I saw a poster about “Why I like coffee”.  I can relate to each one.  1.  It tastes like hope and dreams.  2.  Caffeine perks me up.  3.  Other people talk to me in the morning.  4.  Jail is a real thing.  5.  It’s hard to work if eyes are closed.  6.  It helps me mimic socially acceptable behavior.  7.  Strangers stare if you forget to put on pants.  8.  I believe in helping Juan Valdez and his donkey earn a living.  9.  My family seems to like me better after I drink my coffee.  10.  I can talk.

Peace, kindness, and smiles-----------Trudy J