😁 May 2024 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

😁May is the start of blooming spring, the rebirth and renewal of life.  My Sweet Della, 
age 52, was 3 when she discovered the delights of a mud puddle and some of the creatures which lay 

beside it.  After thoroughly covering her yellow velour jumpsuit with “liquid earth”, she found one 

of those creatures.  She is a generous child and believes in sharing.  So, without a second thought, 

she held the big worm and tore it in half calling to her sister to come and get her fair share. 

I almost spit up.

Did you know dead skin eventually ends up in the atmosphere?  Just think, when they all get together, there will be another celestial body floating around.  The number of cells in the human brain can't be counted in a lifetime.  Well, in my experience and observations, that's for most of us.

Laugh of the day on me----There’s a new store in Peoria Heights, IL.  It's called COOKIES.  The building has been painted white with blue trim and the letters of COOKIES are blue.  I thought it was a bakery since it was named COOKIES.  Come to find out, it's a marijuana dispensary!!!!  Talk about FALSE ADVERTISING!!!

“Eat like a bird” alludes to how many birds pick at their food and seem to eat little, while “eat like a pig” invites comparison with the hearty enthusiasm of a pig when it eats. To eat one’s fill is to consume food until one is full, and a pregnant woman is said to be “eating for two” when her appetite increases. To eat someone out of house and home refers to when a house guest demonstrate one’s healthy appetite by exhausting the supply of food in the home of one’s host. (from Daily Writing Tips)

Ignorance spoken is really just words that had nothing better to do. 

Cenosillicaphobia (cen-o-silli-ca-phobia) is the fear of an empty beer glass.  Cheers!!

My friend, Carole, and I were having a fun conversation.  She started to yawn and said, “Well, its time for a nap.”  I told her, “I don’t usually have a schedule for a nap---they just happen.  I’m real leery of long stop lights.”

As I walked up the flat-rock walking path to her house, I saw Aint Daisy planting various flowers in the beds in front of the porch.  There were all sorts of pretty ones----tulips, daisies, hyacinths, pansies, and baby’s breath.  I was admiring her selection and told her, “Pansies are my favorite ones.  They have faces in the middle of them which bring a smile to me.”  She said, “Yep, they’s a message in each one.”  I wondered what she was meaning, so I asked.  “Wahll, jes a-look at ‘em.  Do ye see jes a face or sumptin’ else, chile?”  I told her I just saw faces.  She smiled, patted my hand and said, “Ye know the good Lord sends His angels to look out fer us.  They a-come in all sorts of ways, even a li’l flower.  Look closer at the pansy’s middle.  You’ll see an angel.”  I looked again and did see an angel.  Now when I see pansies, I see only angels, and I smile. I don’t seem to see the faces anymore.  More wisdom from the Lady of the Holler.

Being a teacher, even though I’m retired, I just can’t seem to help not teaching just about every time my daughter, Tara, and I get in the van and go somewhere.  I was mentioning about words and different meanings and parts of speech to her.  She sighed.  I asked her why she sighed.  In her unfiltered explanation she said, “Mom, I know you loved teaching, you still do.  Do you think you could just be ‘Mom’ for this trip and not a teacher?”  I turned my head and looked out the window.  I couldn’t look at her and not laugh.

Brenduhh came over all excited carrying two jugs of fluid.  "Trudy, look what I found!  Here is a jug of blinker fluid and a jug of horn oil.  Now no one can tell me, anymore, I need to get some."  She was so excited.  I read the label of the blinker fluid; "Trusted since 1776, Full synthetic blend, ID-10T Use Only, 710 Cap Compatible."  The horn oil stated:  "HORN OIL for 10,000 honks."  I told her that she had a rare find and wished her well as she skipped away.  My eyes kept rolling.

Do you remember some of the breakfasts you fixed your children when they were young?  I remember a lot of mine.  Mother was such a good cook.  She presented a lovely delicious table.  She’d fix eggs, bacon, juice, and toast; or Cheerios, milk, toast, and juice.  When I was a teen she couldn’t understand why I asked her to not fix eggs anymore.  I told her they didn’t stay with me until lunch.  She asked me to suggest some things.  So, I suggested her vegetable soup.  She usually made a huge pot of it every week in the winter.  I don’t know why she objected, but she did.  I guess she didn’t think it was “traditional” enough.  I convinced her, though, and when I got home that afternoon, I told her I wasn’t hungry by 9:00 a.m. like I was when I had eggs.  I, also, asked her to not fix GRAPE NUTS for me because they took too long to chew.  I usually was about out of “home time” by the time I ate breakfast….10 minutes at the max before I had to race out the door to get the bus.

Guy tells of the wintry mornings his dad would fix CREAM OF WHEAT.  He’d make it so stiff it’d be like mortar for a log house.  His mother would thin it out with milk.  I asked Guy if the cow ended up going dry due to the amount needed.  Guy mentioned he didn’t look forward to winter mornings.  I think of what I fixed my kids on school mornings.  Usually COCOA WHEATS was requested.  Then we got into that time thing and they ended up with CW smoothies.  That is when you put COCOA WHEATS in a 16 oz. glass, some sugar, a glob of peanut butter, and fill it up the rest of the way with milk.  Stir quickly and drink it down.  The kids said they could see the headlights of the bus and still have time for a good breakfast.  I’d stand at the door with a tray of empty glasses waving “bye” to them.  ‘Sort of felt like June Cleaver or Aunt Bee. 

While talking to a friend, she shared she’d had a particular rough time from January until our talk, and she didn’t think it was over.  I thought a while remembering some of the tough, challenging times I’ve had.  I told her, “The experiences of the past bring you wisdom, insight, knowledge, and peace. God teaches us, in so many ways, that His plans for us are to mold us into being the best for Him and others.  Tough times do not last; tough people and prayer do.”  She doubted she was very tough.  I reassured her with, “Well, if you weren’t, you’d have not made it this far with your sanity and determination.”  She smiled; so did I.

This will be a long read.  I saw it on FACEBOOK and gave my reply.  Here is all of it:
The military branches explained:  the Army, Navy, and Marines are all brothers in a family.  Army is the oldest and mom and dad made all their parenting mistakes with him.  The Navy is the middle son, they’re the explorers who left home and no one cared.  The Marines are the youngest who mom and dad let do whatever they want and they still have an inferiority complex due to their small size.  Well, mom and dad got divorced once all the boys were grown.  Mom got remarried to a rich guy and quickly gave birth to a fourth son, the Air Force.  Now, she loves him the most, showers him with the best toys, and buys him whatever he wants. When they go on vacation they fly first class, stay in 5 star hotels, and enjoy the finest meals.  The Air Force is spoiled rotten and his three older brothers have bitter resentment toward him for this.  Finally, there’s the Coast Guard.  The coast Guard is the rich step-dad’s son from his first marriage and none of the other brothers think or act like he’s part of the family.
My perspective:  The “middle son” has the biggest ships, teaches the “youngest son” all about being in the water and its dangers and even has SEALS as pets.  The first son got the dirtiest and is usually first-in when there needs business to be taken care of.  They call all the other brothers for help depending on what the terrain is.  The fourth son is always up in the air about something, but boy can he fly and make statements about his skills.  Now along comes the rich step-dad’s son.  He hovers over the dangerous waters the other can get themselves into and drops rescuers to them, comes and gets them with his boats, and doesn’t blink an eye  He doesn’t care if he’s part of the family or not.  He knows his skills and knows them well.  All together, they protect.  Hoo-rah!!

“There isn’t a single person on this planet who is entitled to treat you like crap.  Remember that.”  Emblazon it on your conscious mind!

Distant hugs, smiles, and wishes for all the good you’re entitled to.  Trudy J

☔ April 2024 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

 

One of my readers, Kelly W., sent this to me.  It was the first laugh I had in the morning as I could see exactly what she was describing.  I want to share it with you:

So…couldn’t sleep. Have I ever told you I got whiplash from swatting a deer fly once? Yep! Had to wear a neck brace for 8 weeks. Also, this time of year, flies are sluggish and weird. I was reading my phone, in the dark, just trying to get sleepy. A fly would not stop crawling on my hands, dive -bombing my face. I swatted at it, but did not know where it went. UNTIL I felt it crawling on me under my nightgown! Jumped out of bed doing the “just get off me!” dance and figured it had flown off and was around planning its next sortee. I went to find the only flyswatter no one has lost…looks like an electrified tennis racket, and sat on the side of the bed with lamp on waiting for it to buzz the lamp. After about a minute, I feel it under my nightgown coming out from his hiding place under my “b****t! Let the dancing commence again! This time, I saw it fall and thank goodness, it had expired, as one might expect doing battle inside my nightgown with what lives in there. Held a brief trash bin-side service. Back in bed, but…Nope. Still not sleepy. And if hubby ever tells you he’s a light sleeper, just remember this and that he slept through all of it.

I felt defeated one particular day.  Defeated because I had so much planned in the domestic diva area, but every time I’d start to do one of the things, I ached somewhere on this old body.  Everything seemed absolutely daunting.  I sat down and thumbed through FACEBOOK, a mindless distraction most of the time.  One of my friends must have sensed I needed to read what she posted:  IT’S O.K. IF ALL YOU DID TODAY WAS SURVIVE.  Holy moley, that is exactly what I had done……survived.

EARLY VACUUM CLEANERS RAN ON GAS, NOT ELECTRICITY.  Well, I’ve seen “vacuum cleaners” sucking up meal droppings under the table---they run on four legs and have a wagging tail.

It’s easy to distract fat people; it’s a piece of cake.  It’s easy to distract squirrels; they’re nuts.  It’s easy to distract teachers; everything is chalked up to experience.  It’s easy to distract a laundry attendant; they’re such bubble heads.  It’s easy to distract a bear; just say “Aww, Honey.”  It’s easy to distract detectives; they don’t have a clue.  It’s easy to distract a child, just kid ‘em.  It’s easy to distract a grocer, give them some food for thought.

I learned a new expression---“fun hoover”.  It’s a person who sucks the fun out of something like a Hoover vacuum cleaner.

People who can’t communicate effectively think everything is an argument.

Word for the day:  HURKLE-DURKLE---a 200 year-old Scottish term meaning to lounge in bed long after it’s time to get up.  Hmmm, I do that often.  I love being retired so I can hurkle-durkle until the sun comes up.

Aint Daisy lives in the country. I asked her what those who visit her who live in the city ask, “How do you tolerate the quiet?”  She told me she tells them, “I tol'rate the sublime quiet very well.  It’s the noisy city I cain’t tol'rate.  Of course, there are some loud ‘Moos’ and chatterin' squirrels to put up with an' the birds tell me whar they are.  Then the coyotes sing the song of their tribe at night from time t' time.  The hooty owls call out t' let me know they are a-watching.  Yes, it can get a bit noisy out here sometimes,” she said with a grin and twinkle in her eyes.  Ahh, wisdom from the Lady of the Holler.

Masculinity isn’t toxic.  The absence of it is.  Weak men are abusive and spiteful.  Strong men are protective and loving.

My friend, Dianna, and I were taking a little road trip. She talked to me as I drove and let me know of different things to see. As I drove, nothing looked familiar---I had driven through the area a while before. I asked her to look at the map. She looked at me with a puzzled look and said, "This map is a little confusing to me. I think I'm your 'naviguesser’."

I love how the first thing they do at the doctor’s office is weigh you.  I was already nervous, now I’m depressed.  Maybe next they can bring up something I regret from my past and really get this party started.  My doctor noticed my blood pressure was a little high.  I told him, “Of course it is.  Your nurse insisted she had to weigh me.  She wouldn’t take my word for it when I told how much I weigh,” I grumbled.  “Well, Trudy, what do you weigh?”  He asked.  I told him, “Write this down on my chart.  I weigh too much.”  He chuckled.

Today will never come again. Be a blessing; be a friend; say words to encourage, comfort, heal, not wound. Give someone a smile, it may be the only one they get all day.  Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness.

I was reading some Facebook posts.  I saw this enlightenment and found it to be so very true. I'd like to share it with you and my added statement:   "I've learned a lot this year.... I learned that things don't always turn out the way you planned, or the way you think they should.  And, I've learned that there are things that go wrong that don't always get fixed or put back together the way they were before.  I've learned that some things stay broken, and I've learned that you can get through bad times and keep looking for better ones, as long as you have people who love you."  Jennifer Weiner  I added:  “As I've discovered/learned, some times looking through the opened window, when the door has closed, gives you a better view and perspective."

Shakespeare had such a way with words; however, in today’s English the thought or meaning gets right to the point.  Here are a few examples I’ve found and interpreted.  Shakespeare: “What light through yonder window breaks?”  Now: “Yo, shut the dang window!  I’m sleeping!”   Shakespeare: “And others have greatness thrust upon them.”   Now:  “What?!  More responsibility on top of all this other work?!”   Shakespeare:  “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.”   Now: “Yep, I’m Noah. What!? You want me to build an ark?  I’m NOT a carpenter!  I have things to do!”   Shakespeare:  “Et tu, Brute?”   Now:    Really, man?  Really??!!   Shakespeare:  "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice."   Now:  “You need to shut up and listen more!”  Shakespeare:  "What's done can't be undone."  Now:  “Yes, I ate the whole pie.  You want it back?”

Brenduhh came over to tell me she saw a sign advertising for a pickle ball tournament. "Trudy, there's a sign wanting people to play in a pickle ball tournament.  What a waste of good pickles.  Next there will be 'tomato ball', or 'onion ball', or 'head lettuce ball', or maybe even 'watermelon ball' !!"  Oh dear, oh dear, I don't dare mention badminton because she'd hear 'bad mitten' and go off on that.  I can hear her now, "How can a mitten be bad?"

Sitting in church, my stomach started to make the call of a love-sick whale.  No matter how I moved, the sound continued.  I remembered my biology teacher telling us that sound has a name.  This information came about because in the middle of a test, my stomach started to make the sound, and everyone heard it, including the teacher.  The teacher announced, "No, that's not a love-sick whale's call.  It is an empty stomach's sound.  The sound is called borborygmus (bor-bo-ryg-mus).  Having an inquisitive mind, I looked up the definition.  It said, "Borborygmus is the sound from the intestines of the fluids and gasses moving.  I thought, "Along the avenue of exit, which causes another sound, which brings laughter to boys for some reason."

As always, Trudy J

🐑 March 2024 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

 🐑 March 2024

I’ve been to different churches in my life.  Some have been enlightening and others have not.  I was sharing with my daughter one I’d been to a while back.  She asked, “What time did it start?”  I told her, “Oh, about 11:00.”  She replied, “O.k.  I know how you are about sitting for a long time and a speech getting to the point.  Soooo, what time did it end?”  She watched my face as I said, “When the minister ran out of breath, and I think prayed for every living creature on Earth!”

Bumper stickers can give you some reading material while you’re waiting for the light to change, a train finish traveling in front of you, or while you’re stuck in traffic.  Here are some I’ve seen:  KEEP HONKING AND ROAD RAGE WILL COME TO YOUR WINDOW; TURN SIGNALS---NOT FOR JUST SMART PEOPLE ANYMORE; DAISIES: NATURE’S SOPHISTICATED HUMOR TO ‘EENIE, MEENIE, MINEE, MOE’; HOME IS WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR REAL NAME---YOUR FUN NAME, AND THE ONE YOUR PARENTS CALL YOU; I saw this on a VW Beetle---BACK OFF OR THERE WILL BE BUG GUTS ON YOUR WINDSHIELD.  It made me laugh out loud because I used to have a red VW Bug and loved it.  FAIR FOOD SURVIVOR; I saw this on a “Smart car”----MOM WASHED ME IN HOT WATER, I USED TO BE A LIMO L. 

We had a beast of a television in the late 60s---Magnavox I think. There was a big TV in the center of the long, wooden cabinet, record player with a large space for records below on the right, AM/FM radio below on the left. It took my dad, my brother and two neighbors to move that monstrosity.  We never worried about anyone stealing it, either.

Daddy was a very organized man.  He believed and lived “There’s a place for everything and everything has its place.”  I don’t know if he was obsessive-compulsive or just very neat, but you could bet if you put something back he’d put in a place, it better be in that place when you return it.  I didn’t know how very precise he was until he asked me to go to the basement and get something from a long, multi-doored, and multi-shelved cabinet he had.  He told me exactly where it was.  I followed his directions, found it, and got curious as to what was on some other shelves.  He had put dates on the packages of the items I saw.  He called out, “Did you find it?”  I responded I had.  I returned to his side with the item.  He wondered out loud why I was taking so long.  I said, “Daddy, you have so many things in that cabinet.  Some of them have not even been opened, and they are years old.”  He grinned and said, “Yes, I know I haven’t used them, because I never know when I might need them.”  I think he’d, also, had been a boy scout and embodied their motto-- “Always be prepared”.

I went over to my friend, Dianna’s house.  She’d called me and told me she was finished with her canning for a while and needed my help putting the lids and rings on the jars. She had some carpal tunnel issues and couldn’t twist the rings closed.  I thought it was a bit strange because in all the years I’ve known her, she never mentioned, nor did I see, any canning she’d done.  I walked into the kitchen and there on the table sat empty bags of M&Ms, tiny Tootsie Rolls, gum drops, Good & Plenty, Mike and Ike’s, cinnamon Tamales, Junior Mints, peppermint discs and spearmint discs, and Smarties.  Neatly lined-up were quart jars filled with the assortment on the table.  Next to each jar was a flat lid and ring.  I couldn’t stop laughing at her idea of “canning”.  She enjoyed my amusement.

“One who tells the truth doesn’t mind being questioned.  One who lies does.” Give that thought, a lot of thought.

Aint Daisy called me to come over.  She’d made two pies, one of which was cherry (my favorite), and needed to have someone help her eat a bit of it.  “Aint Daisy, are you in here?” I called out at the front door.  “Oh Chile, ye jes come on in here to the kitchen and set a spell.  I got the pie all cut and ready fer ye to share with me.  I want to talk over what someone said to me recently.  I had t’ get a little snippy with my reply t’ ‘em, and it’s been a-botherin’ me some.  Emma Jane called me an’ started tellin’ me about her teen chile who’d done sompin’ wrong.  She told how she scolded her and told her chile how much the doin’s had embarrassed her ‘cause every body’s gonna know about it an’ not think she was a good mama.  I let her talk, then got a bit tired a-her tearing the chile apart with her words.  I told her, when she took a breath, ‘Don’t be a-givin’ a scoldin’ to one who needs a hug, instead.  The chile knows she done wrong an’ yer disappointment at her choice.  Jes give her a hug, tell her ye love her, an’ to think about how she’s a-gonna act the next time.’  Emma Jane hung up without sayin’ ‘Bye’.  I recon she was irritated with my response.  What do ye think?” she asked.  I told her, “Your response was wise and kind.  The daughter will be better with a hug than a scolding.  As always, you provided wisdom to another.  You are our Lady of the Holler.”

I will leave you with this thought as reflected in what Aint Daisy said:  Often, some people don’t realize how their words and/or actions affect others.  Be careful what you say and do.  It’s not always about you.  This parallels what Thomas A. Edison said:  “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Brenduhh came over all excited, huffing and puffing and could hardly tell me what she needed to say.  "Trute!!!  I just saw a police car with two ducks in the back seat.  I asked the officer why they were there.  He said, 'These two were walking around the bank watching people and making their usual noises.  So, being the suspicious people we cops are, I arrested them.'  I asked the cop, 'Why are you arresting them?'  He told me, 'It is believed they are safe quackers.'"  Brenduhh was very excited that she'd seen the arrest; I went to fix myself a cup of tea.  Sometimes I think, “If that girl’s brain was butter, it couldn’t cover a Wheat Thin.”

A chef on TV said, “Where there’s fat, there’s flavor.”  My body abounds with flavor!

You know it’s going to be an interesting day when you dial your TV remote and no one answers.  I found a new channel, though.

As most of you know, I like unusual words.  I saw a picture of a bathroom which had toilet paper dispensers on and all over every wall and the ceiling.  I wondered if there was a phobia for fear of not having toilet paper.  Holy Charmin, Batgirl, there is!!!

ACARTOHYGIEIOPHOBIA is the word, which made me wonder if there was a word for “fear of extra long words”.  There are two!!  HIPPOPOTOMONSTROSESQUIPPEDALIOPHOBIA and SESQUIPEDALOPHOBIA.  I hope you don’t have ATHAZAGORAPHOBIA which is the fear of being forgotten or forgetting something.  You’re welcome.

 

Peace and smiles to you until next month.  Trudy

💞 2024 February FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

 

         💓💝💞 2024 February FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

Brenduhh returned from her trip to Tibet where she’d visited a monastery where small land squirrels were sacred and ran all over the grounds.   It was located on top of a mountain and served delicious food to the tourists.  She ordered some thinly, sliced fried potatoes which were only prepared by one certain monk.  She said they were delicious.  I said, “It sounds like they are more like chips than fried potatoes.”  She said, “Yes that’s true.  I think he was known as the ‘chip monk’.”  I’m sure you’re familiar with the eye rolling some people do.

Memories---they take us back to a time or times which we want to remember.  However, some memories bring tears.  That’s all right because I believe when there are tears at a memory, more than likely it is because it was then you had what is missing now, and you wish then was now.  I’ve had those memory tears, and a bit later a small smile comes.

When I was in my early 30’s I taught swimming to children and adults.  The parents sat in the balcony watching.  I was at the grocery store in line with my toddler son in the seat and a basket full.  A little boy ran up to me and hugged me.  I returned the hug.  I noticed the father was watching, stepped forward and asked how his son knew me that he would hug me and I return the hug.  I smiled and said, “No worries for you.  I’m Trudy, I teach your son swimming at the pool.”  The man smile and said in a rather loud voice, “Oh Trudy!!  I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.”  You should have seen the looks and heard the snickers. 

Tongue twisters have always been fun and even more fun when they are made up.  Some I’ve had fun with are from my demented mind:  SHIFTS FISH STICKS; WRITE WHITE WRONG; SHIFT FISH; SUE’S SIX SICK SHEEP’S SHEETS; BUSY BOSSY; BEAR BRAYERS; TWIZZLER TWISTERS; DOUBLE DOUBT DOWN; GLUTTON GULP; OOZE OZ’S OHS.  I was mentioning these to a dear friend, Carole.  She said, “Trudy, you’re bored.  Take a nap.”

As I approached the little house with the front porch holding 4 rocking chairs, I noticed Betty Ann coming out the front door.  Aint Daisy was walking close behind her nodding her head while Betty Ann continued to chatter.  “You take care o’ yerself and them young’uns, ya hear,” said Aint Daisy.  She saw me coming up the irregular stones placed for a sidewalk.  I noticed she didn’t say, “Y’ll come back real soon” to Betty Ann as she does to most who visit.   Betty Ann passed me, muttered, “Hi Trudy, how are you?  I have to get going to----”.  I didn’t hear everything after “to”, but I knew there was a lot more.  Aint Daisy greeted me with a smile and a “come on in” wave of her hand.  She didn’t say anything, just motioned for me to sit down at the kitchen table.  “I’ll be right back,” she softly said.  There was time for me to watch the squirrels scamper around the corn cobs on spikes and the different kind of birds come and go at the feeder with favorite seeds.  “How ‘bout some tea an’ cherry pie, Chile?  The pie’s from this mornin’, so’s it’s fresh an’ I got plenty,” she said as she got two dishes and two mugs down from the cupboard.  “Oh Aint Dasiy, you know I’ll never turn down your pie.  Yes, thank you.”  She served us both, sitting down across from me.  She was quiet, and I could tell she was thinking.  “Are you all right, Aint Daisy?  It’s not like you to be this quiet,” I softly inquired.  “Yes, I’m jes fine.  ‘Jes enjoyin’ the quiet and yer comp’ny, Chile.  Betty Ann was here, as ye know.  My oh my, that girl can talk the bark off’n a tree,” she said slowly shaking her head.  “Ya know, the good Lord gave you two ears to larn with an’ one mouth to tell about it. It’s best t’ use ‘em ears more ‘n the mouth if’n ye want people to enjoy yer comp’ny, often,” she said with a sly grin.   Ahh, more wisdom from the Lady of the Holler.

“Schlemiel!  Schlimazel!  Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!”  It was the silly little chant said by the actors Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams at the beginning of their show, LAVERNE & SHIRLEY.  Did you ever wonder what they were saying?  Schlemiel means a clumsy, inept person----like a klutz.  Shlimazel is someone with constant bad luck.  Both words are Yiddish.  Hasenpfeffer is a traditional Dutch and German stew made from marinated rabbit, cut into stewing-meat sized pieces and braised with onions and a marinade made from wine and vinegar.  Now you know.

My daughter Tara was talking about someone we both know who was quite upset about someone’s treatment of another person.  Tara said, “I hope she doesn’t lose her screws.”  The upset person is known to tell another person what is, in no uncertain terms.  Later on, Tara mentioned how she was sad she couldn’t help our friend.  “Mom, do you think you could help her?” she asked.  I said, “Not really, unless I give her a screwdriver.”  Tara laughed out loud.

I have a friend who seems to frequently give a positive response to an insult from another.  I was with her the day a person made a snide remark about, she'd observed my friend wearing the same garment two days in a row.  Had it been directed at me, I probably would not have been as gracious as my friend, Debbie.  She gently smiled at the insulting one and said, "Thank you so much for noticing me."  We walked away.

While talking with a friend’s daughter, she revealed to me her mother was abusive to her.  I let her talk about the abuse and listened carefully.  I didn’t want to smile or scoff at all the “abuse” she told me about:  “making my bed every morning, picking up and putting away the things on my bedroom floor, emptying the dishwasher, putting my dirty dishes IN the dishwasher, doing my laundry, removing my clothing from the washer and dryer in a timely manner, telling where I’m going and calling if I will be later than the set curfew my parents made.” Of course she went on and on.  When she finished she asked me if I thought she was being abused.  I told her, “Not any more than I was or my children were.  I think we have all turned out pretty fine.”  I asked her if she wasn’t “being abused” what she’d be doing with that time.  She told me, “I’d be texting my friends or taking a nap.”  Gods!  Turning into a teenager, I rolled my eyes twice.

The subject of heritage came up in a conversation with my friend.  I told her, “I have so many ethnic groups in my lineage that if I got offended about a snide remark of them, I’d be honked 24/7.  She told me she was talking to one of her grandchildren and told them she was part Blackfoot Indian.  The little fella told her, “Mimi, because I’m just a little guy, I’m a Blacktoe but, when I get grown, I’ll be a whole Blackfoot.”

Smiles and Peace to you until next month.  Always, Trudy J

🎇 2024 January FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

Sometimes I have a little bit of a hearing problem.  It’s not the volume that is altered, but the word pronunciation.  I really hear some weird things, and when I do and repeat what I heard, my children get a kick out of my mis-hearing.  I was over visiting my daughter and fixing myself a cup of coffee from the pot she’d brewed.  As I stood stirring a spoonful of sugar in to the delightful darkness, I thought I heard her ask me, “Do you want some plain or chocolate fentynl to put in your coffee?”, and I repeated it.  “Mommy, what??!!!  Are you serious; gods?” she exclaimed.  I told her, “Honey, that’s what I heard you say.”  She said slowly, “I said, ‘Do-you-want-some-plain-or-chocolate-MILK-in-your-coffee?’”  We both had a laugh.

I was riding with my daughter in her van.  A fast tempo banjo piece of music was playing as I happened to look at her speedometer.  I mentioned to her, “You know you don’t have to drive at what the speed the tempo of the music is, don’t you?”  We laughed, and I gripped the door handle a little bit more.

During some uncomfortable times, I had to deal with a man who was less than gallant.  He thought he was a knight in shining armor, but his was rusted and pitted in my opinion.  He continued to irritate me.  Mother always told me to try to remain a lady in tense situations especially around others.  So, when the opportunity presented itself, I told him what I thought of him.  I’ve always liked studying astronomy and used some of my knowledge to let him know how I felt about him.  I told him, “You remind me of the seventh planet from the sun.”  He smiled and said, “Oh, you think I’m out of this world?”  I said, “Yes, and in a dark hole of the universe is the seventh planet from the sun.”  I walked away; then, I heard a snarl.  Mission accomplished and I remained a lady with some knowledge.

There have been a few students go through my life whose mentality is somewhere between the intelligence of dead skin cells and pond scum.  This one particular boy became angry with me at the assignment I’d given.  He tried to get me to argue with him, which I didn’t. (You don’t bait the trap with soap and expect the mouse to bite.)  He became so angry he yelled, “You dumb bitch!”---Yes, some have been known to spew forth their entire vocabulary.  I gave him a pass to the dean’s office and told him it would be in his best interest to stay there.  Then, I went immediately to the principal’s office to tell him what had transpired.  When I told him the happenings, I included, “Dustin, also, called me a dumb bitch.” He came out of his chair.  He was incensed and started to go to the dean’s office.  As he passed me, he asked, “Is there anything else I need to know, Trudy?”  I said, “Yes, there is---for the record, I’m not dumb!”

I’m sure most of you know what a sugar daddy is---a rich man who spends money on a favored female.  I’ve wondered what a poor man is called who does the same.  I think it would be a lolli pop.

Do you know the difference between the people of Dubai and Abu Dhabi?  Well, the people of Dubai don’t like the Flintstones, but the people of Abu Dhabi do.  I saw a little sign on a Glock gun.  It said, “So many are redefining things.  So, consider this a cordless hole puncher.” 

Here are some things I’ve thought about, and others have too:  Which letter is silent in the word “scent”, the S or the C?  Every time you clean something, you make something else dirty.  The word “swims” upside-down is still “swims”. (You turned the page or your head, didn’t you?)   If you replace “W” with “T” in “what, where, and when”, you get the answer to each of them.  Do twins or any others in multiple births ever realize that one was planned and the others weren’t? 

Did you know that every day the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles?  In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back.  So when you tell someone you love them to the moon an d back, you’re essentially saying you will love them with all the blood your heart pumps your whole life.  Pretty meaningful, huh?

PSITHURISM:  is a noun meaning the sound of wind in the trees and rustling of leaves.

Courage takes on different meanings to others.  I’ve known that:  courage is when only you know you’re scared (Daddy told me that when he was telling me of some of his experiences in WWII commanding a ship at Iwo Jima in the throes of battle with a crew of “kids” younger than his 26 years.).  Or, courage is doing what is right no matter what.  Or, “courage is the ability to control fear and to be willing to deal with something that is dangerous, difficult, or unpleasant.”  And then there is: having a soft heart in a cruel world; that, too, is courage, not weakness.

Forgiving is not forgetting.  It’s remembering without anger.  The Bible tells us to forgive, so I do; but, it doesn’t say a thing about not remembering what you’re forgiving.  I think remembering the wrong done to you helps you to not get in the situation, again.  The old saying of, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me,” is a fallacy, to me.  You physically recover from the sticks and stones which hit you, but words…oh words come back to haunt you when you least expect them.  Perhaps it’s a sound, or smell, or sight, or feel that returns them.  They come back all right.

Patience….oh how it haunts and evades me from time to time.  I’m sure it’s evaded you, too.  It’s a difficult feeling to get----almost like you have to chase it.  And, sometimes when you “catch” it, you aren’t as rewarded as you thought you’d be.  It’s not just the ability to wait; it’s the courage to endure the waiting without losing hope.  Some people seem to have endless patience, or is it perseverance?  Could it be patience in perseverance or perseverance in patience?

Have you ever looked closely at a hand-made quilt?  Some are beautiful with the colors, swirled designs of thread, and intricately sewn pieces.  Then there are the ones that the colors are muted or faded, not real intricate and rather plain in design.  Those are the ones which have many stories in the pieces of cloth used to make the designs.  Scraps of worn out clothing, except for areas which were tucked-in and not exposed to wear, make up a lot of these quilts.  Oh, and the old feed sacks used are treasures because feed sacks aren't made anymore like they used to be.  The feed sacks have a charm of their own. I have thought a lot about quilts I've seen which were made with love from clothing scraps and feed sacks.  They tell stories and coax memories for those who use them.  I read an essay written by Sean Deitrich about quilts.  He was talking with an 88 year old lady about why she still enjoys quilting.  She told him, "“Oh,” she says. “I think it’s just a woman’s way of taking ugly old things and refitting them together to be pretty again. Sort of like God does with people.”

I was in an intense fellowship with an opponent one day.  They spewed forth all four, well maybe it was six, words in their vocabulary.  I remained calm and let them sputter.  They signed-off saying, "Oh, go to hell, and I hope you stay there!!"  I gave a side smile and retorted with, "Thank you, but I've been to Hell----Hell, Michigan.  I wish for you to stay in Georgia----Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, or the Everglades, Florida."

I'd gotten some sad news and was wrestling with it.  I knew one person who would listen to my feelings and comfort me with words.  I knocked on the door.  She opened it wearing her usual smile and her favorite blue, flowered apron with many pockets.  "Well looky here who's come t’ visit me!"  Aint Daisy said with a smile.  "Come on in, Chile.  I jess got some pies out o' the oven and they're sitting on the table.  How 'bout a piece of yer favorite?"  I followed her into the kitchen, pulled out one of the chairs, and sat down.  I didn't say much, which I'm sure was a clue to my sadness to her.  "Hmmm, sounds like yer a might quiet today.  Ye wanna tell me yer trouble?" she encouraged me as I cut a slice of cherry pie and put it on the old plate.  "I'm so sorry to bring my trouble to you, but you're the only one who will give me words which will help me deal with this.  I have a friend who is, also, my colleague at work.  I received word this morning she had suddenly passed away last night.  Her desk is across from mine.  I'm having a lot of difficulty dealing with the fact she's gone and looking at the empty chair at her desk," I said with choked words.  I told of the fun times, lengthy talks, sharing of experiences, and laughter we had had.  Aint Daisy sat next to me listening as I cried and spoke.  I stopped talking and reached for another tissue to blot my tears.  It was then she reached to touch my hand and held it.  "Chile, we all experience a loss o' someone who has been special to us.  We all wonder how to deal with the loss. I can say a lot o' words, but ye need jess a few.  Here is a word o' comfort----FRIEND.  Ye first called her yer friend.  What a blessin' that is.  All yer moments together and the laughter will keep her close to ye and give ye comfort."  She became quiet, patted my hand, and smiled.  ‘More wisdom from the "Lady of the Holler".