㋈ 2025 September FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

2025 September FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes; you’d be bored.  Spend 30 seconds in my head.  THAT would be a trip and a half.  I know some, where 30 seconds is too much time, and 30 seconds is not enough time. 

Just a little mind challenge:  How much tow can a tow truck tow, if a tow truck could tow trucks?  

I don’t know why so many are against sugar.  What stood by you when things went wrong and you were sad?  Who stuck with you and didn’t leave in a hurry; and keeps staying hugging your hips and thighs?  What was always there ready to soothe your wounded heart and can even repair a physical wound?  What was there in any state not turning to a brown, slimy mess?  Well, you can bet it wasn’t lettuce. 

My dear friend in Florida, Melodie, sent me a seasonal guide to Florida.  It said, “Spring, Summer, Hurricane, Mosquito, and Boiled Alive in Your Car.”  She said she doesn’t bother to cook on the stove during Summer; the sidewalk to their house does a great job of frying eggs and burgers.  She’s even laid out hot dogs on the lanai of the pool and had them “cooked” to perfection. 

I walked over to Brenduhh’s house to return a kitchen utensil I borrowed.  I ran the doorbell and waited.  While waiting, I noticed a sign she had on the door---“WELCOME—ish.  It depends who you are, and how long you stay.”  She opened the door as I was laughing.  “Hi kiddo.  I like your sign on the door,” I chuckled.  “I’m glad you do.  It really does apply to some people I know and really don’t know, like sales people and others who with silly requests.  You don’t count, Trudy, so come on in.”  I was relieved at her back-handed compliment. 

I had a friend tell me, “I think we are BFF---best friends forever.”  I thought a bit and replied, “I can't be a BFF because nothing is forever other than the word "forever". However, I can be a terrific friend for a long time.” 

I was reading about the behavior, attitude, and “work” of various 10 buzzing, striped insects.  All were rather mild-mannered, minded their own business, left you alone unless you bothered them.  Then, came the yellow jacket.  Complete irrational, aggressive, and radical behavior and attitude.  It usually builds its nest in the ground, usually where you mow your lawn.  It will attack you and keep on stinging you until IT feels like stopping.  Then it calls its buddies to come on and join in the attack while it goes to get a snack, usually something sweet and tasty. It will even chase you!!  It’s known as the bastard of the buzzing, striped insects.  Two things it doesn’t like:  the odor of peppermint and spearmint.  So, in the nice months of being outside, get some peppermint soap and use that when you bathe.  I speak from experience, y’all. 

Grief came knocking at the memory’s door, again.  It fades and then returns.  It hides better in the day, but at night it sits beside me in silence.  So, to deal with it, I go to my memories and there you are, again, and I smile.  What was can still be…in my memory. 

I came across a quote which said:  “The most valuable math you can learn is how to calculate the future cost of your decisions.”   Hmmm. 

Incorrectly is the only word that when spelled right, is still spelled incorrectly.  Look at the word “minimum” written in cursive.  It looks like a trek up and down the inclines of a mountain range. 

I got my electric bill recently.  I think they charged me for the sunlight, moonlight, street light, the light at the lightning bug’s butt, and the light at the end of the tunnel!!  It’s been hot, y’all and the air conditioner has run a lot.  However, I’m in love with Mr. Carrier, the man who invented the air conditioner.  He’s been good to me. 

If you think you can, you can; if you think you can’t, you can’t.  It’s your choice, plain and simple. 

As I approached the screen door of Aint Daisy’s little house, I heard a loud voice saying things which shouldn’t be said.  I soft voice kept trying to get the loud one to calm down, but it was futile.  Out the door stormed one very angry young gal.  I greeted her with, “Hello, Mary Lou,” which was returned with, “Oh go stub your toes!!” and down the stone walk-way she stormed.  I waited a few minutes because I knew Aint Daisy was collecting herself.  “Aint Daisy, it’s Trudy.  May I come in, if you’re all right; well even if you aren’t all right, may I come in?”  I heard her blow her nose and softly say, “Come on in, chile.  I’ll be all right in a bit.  Set yerself down, let me catch m’ breath, an we’ll talk.”  I waited until she spoke again.  “Wahl, I recon you heard all that ruckus from Mary Lou.  She was mighty angry with me a-cause I wouldn’t tell her she was right about something.  I told her she might wanna rethink her actions and words to the person she was angry with.  I encouraged her to apologize t’ them.  That’s when she done blew her cork, and bellered like an old bull at me.  I recon since I wasn’t gonna side with her and jess kept quiet, she decided t’ leave.”  There were some sniffs and patting tears away from her eyes.  I went over and gave her a gentle hug.  “Aint Daisy, you’re the wisest lady I know.  Your advice is always correct and profound.  How did you keep so calm when she was so stormy?  I would have blown up at her for yelling at me, especially when she came to me for advice.”  There was silence, the smoothing of the flowered apron, and another dab to her eyes with her hankie.  “Chile, I haint regretful about being good to her in the middle of her blowin’ her cork.  My behavior says every thing about me; and her behavior says enough about her.  The good book says, ‘A soft answer turns away wrath.’  So, I practiced that.  I recon it works a’cause that storm of wrath turned away and blew out my front door.”  There was a soft chuckle from the wise lady of the holler. 

When I was teaching, I had many conferences with parents.  The ones which stood out were the conferences with parents who thought their child could do no wrong, and I was the culprit.  One parent in particular challenged me every time we met.  Weeks before the meeting, the school installed auditory and visual equipment for the teachers to use in their classrooms as an experiment.  Because this particular student was known for their behavior and inappropriate word choices, I engaged the system before he came in for class.  Other teachers told me he was “really cranked up today.”  Sure enough, he came into the classroom in a rancid mood and was looking for someone to verbally attack.  Guess who was chosen??!!  I told him he was to go to the deans’ office and gave him a pass with a message to the dean to contact me a.s.a.p.  A conference with mother was arranged with the dean and security officer present, too.  I verbally presented what had happened and told of what he’d said.  She denied it all saying, “You’re lying because he doesn’t act like that.”  Trying to remain calm, I played the recording of his “performance”.  Then, I told her, “These are the cold hard facts and proof that your child said and did what has just been presented to you.  Reality can be beneficial; delusions can be detrimental.  I have nothing to lose by telling you the truth; you have plenty to lose by not believing it.”  With that, I excused myself and let the dean and security officer talk with her.  I’d had it. 

A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up and down the aisles. The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him. He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife. She directs him down the correct aisle, and a few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter.   She says, confused, "Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife? He answers, "You see, it's like this, yesterday, I sent my wife to the store to get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco and some rolling papers; because it's so much cheaper. So, I figure if I have to roll my own ..... so does she." 

Guy, my beloved, was telling me about a friend of his who had studied law, and while in college he could only afford pork and beans to eat.  He started to say more, but I interjected, “Well, with his chosen profession that was the perfect thing to eat, especially with the results of that product.”  Guy growled, “I WASN'T finished talking.”  I innocently said, “Well, you took a breath, so I thought you were.” 

“Always forgive your enemies; it really irritates them.”  Oscar Wilde   Do illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?  These are just a few of the things I think about from time to time.  So, until next time, it’s been a grand time to spend time with you.  Trudy J

😸 August 2025 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

I was talking with my friend who lives in Florida.  We got on the subject of weather.  At the time, my area was not hot and humid as it usually is.  Hers was typical Florida weather in the late Spring and Summer----hot and humid.  I mentioned to her, from my experience of being there, Florida had only two seasons---deodorant works and deodorant doesn’t.  She laughed, and the conversation swung to deodorants, in one swipe. 

I like to go through my library to find interesting books and titles.  Here are some:  Bad Cow Jokes by Terra Bull; How to Avoid Falling Down Stairs, a step-by-step guide; Ambushed by May B. Surprize; Chicago Gangs and Families by Tom E. Gunn; Downpour by Wayne Dwops; Sparkling and Clean by Armand Hammer; Ten West Virgina Fixes by Jerry Rigg; How to Survive Being Laid Off by Gwan Home; Simple Lawn Care by Ray King; Coping With Bad Neighbors by Bill D. Fense; Gentle Massage by Ophelia; Tug of War by Paul Hardd. 

I was having my hair done.  A very disgruntled customer, who had a strong attitude of entitlement, started to berate and demand free service from the strong, female owner.  The owner would not succumb to the threats telling the customer she had had the same stylist and procedures for many times.  The customer told her, Well, I’m going to bring my husband here to fix all this!”  She thought that would scare the owner.  Fat chance since the owner was a very strong female who was not intimidated by anyone, easily.   All I could think was, “Her bringing her husband here to intimidate this very strong woman is like bringing a cake to a knife fight---kind of a crumby idea.” 

While visiting a friend, we started looking at pictures of old cars.  The restoration of ’56 and ’57 Chevrolets were featured.  All I could think of was, “Who in 67-70 years will want to restore a Tesla?”  

I’ll never be OK with donut shops cutting a hole in my donut, and then charging me separately for the same hole they robbed me of.  That’s double dipping, in my opinion.  Soooo, I buy whole, holeless donuts to get my money’s worth.  I want a whole holeless donut, not whole holes from a whole donut. 

Always remember, someone’s effort is a reflection of their interest in you, and that they care about you. 

When one of mine was little, they were full of questions; some I couldn’t answer and some I could.  We had just come home from church.  Out of the blue this inquisitive one asked me, “Mom, does God have a pencil?”  I responded with, “Yes, I’m sure He does.”  Silence, but I knew the look on their face; the silence meant they were thinking.  “Mom, does the pencil God have, have an eraser like mine?”  Without missing a beat I said, “No.  The pencil God has doesn’t have an eraser, because God doesn’t make mistakes.”  The silence was profound and the face of this sweet one showed agreement. 

Have you ever made biscuits and gravy?  If so, you know that gravy is just flour, water/milk, salt, and pinch of flavoring, and grease/oil/butter.  Good biscuits for this dish are a bit crunchy on the outside.  I equate gravy to glue and the biscuit to me.  The gravy/glue holds the biscuit/me together.  No wonder I feel good after eating that. 

I was visiting Aint Daisy when Sara Lou came stomping up the porch stairs.  “Whall, hey, chile.  What’s a-botherin’ ye that ye need to beat yer feet so?”  the wise one asked.  “Aint Daisy, I’m so mad at my husband.  He keeps telling me how to cook, comparing me with his ma, cain’t seem to say anything nice to me at all.  I don’t know what to say to him to make him stop.  It’s getting mighty difficult not to smack him a good one, but he’d hit me back only harder.  Do you have any ideas to help me, please?” she cried.  The sweet, wise one smoothed her apron over her knees, rocked a bit, took a deep breath, and squinted her eyes.  “Honey, I’m sure you’d liked t’ hit, but that hain’t a gonna solve anythang. An’, it seems if’n you say anythang to defend yerself, it will fall on deaf ears a-cause he don’t think he’s doin’ anythang wrong.  Sos, ye do th’ best thang, ye keep silent, no matter how angry ye get.  Jes let him bellow like an old bull.  Ye knows ye ain’t a-doin’ anythang wrong and ye know ye know more’n him about what he’s a-puffin’ about.  An iffin’ he askes ye why yer offended, jes tell him, ‘I hain’t easily offended, but I sure cain git easily annoyed.’ Can ye do that…..stay silent? ” she asked.  “Oh, I suppose I can, but what good will it do?  I want to yell at him in my defense,” she grumbled.  “Whall, lemme tell ye that silence is sometimes the best answer; it really h’aint gonna gitche in trouble; it gives wonderin’ to the other, and it soothes yer soul.  He’s a-gonna get tard o’ blowin’ his wind an’ will go off ‘n leave ye be.  Lemme know how it turns out, and ye come on back fer some pie when yer a-gonna tell me.”  Sara Lou walked a bit softer as she left and she surely had a straighter back.  I could tell she didn’t feel as defeated as when she arrived.  ‘More wisdom from the Lady of the Holler. 

I was asked, “What is the worst response to a police officer that asks, ‘So you know why I pulled you over?’”  My three responses were:  “”You were lonely?” or, “Well, if you don’t know, neither do I.” or “Hmmm, forgetfulness is a bummer, huh?” 

When I was teaching, there were meetings featuring an “expert” on various problems/challenges we teachers faced every day.  I’ve always wondered how many years these “experts” spent in the classroom.  So, in my last year of teaching, I asked one of them in an after school meeting on a Friday.  The response was, “One school year.”  Then, they smiled all proud.  I responded with, “So, your ONE year, versus 5-30+ years represented here, makes you an EXPERT??”  Some teachers applauded.  I sat down with a smile. 

A long time ago, I was taught that respect will take a person further than they think.  I taught this to my children and others’ children.  One child, not mine, refused to “learn” saying it really wasn’t necessary.  Well, they didn’t show respect to a person in uniform thinking their yelling, “I have rights!!” would take care of the issue.  They were very surprise when that didn’t happen.  They called me telling me about what had happened, and they’d just been released from jail.  I asked why they called.  They told me, “I remember something you often told us about respect.  You know that statement of, ‘Learn respect.  Many apologies will not take its place.’”  I told him, “Yes, I remember the jest of what you’re telling me.  The correct phrase is, ‘Disrespect will close doors that apologies can't reopen.’  Both statements of respect are correct.  Some ‘doors’ close, due to disrespect, may never be opened.  And, some ‘doors’ closed may be opened a bit, but never fully as they were before.  Respect and disrespect are a choice for you.  There are more consequences for you with disrespect than with respect.  Hugs to you and keep learning.” 

The old saying, “Teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a day and more” is very true.  But, if you teach a woman to garden, she feeds the whole neighborhood zucchini!! 

Brenduhh came over a bit grumpy.  “What’s wrong, kiddo?” I asked.  She said, “Well, the doctor told me I had to replace coffee with green tea.  It’s something about oxidants and all that stuff.  He, also, said I’d feel better,” she grumbled.  “Hmmm, I don’t think your doctor is totally correct.  I read where when you do that, you’ll lose 89% of what joy you have in life,” I said sarcastically.  “You are 100% right, Trudy.  What joy is in a cup of tea when you love coffee?” she grumbled some more.  I agreed and poured her and me a cup of strong coffee and placed a warm cinnamon roll on our plates. 

I like cake, but I LOVE pie.  I was reading something and enjoying a piece of pie.  It amused me because it was logical and dealt with mathematical terms.  “Eating too much cake is the sin of gluttony.  However, eating too much pie is okay, because the sin of pi is always zero.”  I cut and ate another piece of my cherry pie and enjoying it without one bit of guilt. 

Some words to think about:  Never regret a day in your life:  good days give happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons, and best days give memories. 

My daughter, Tara, came to me all excited.  “Mom, my friend got some chickens, and they can count their eggs!”  I was surprised and exclaimed, “Wow!!!  That’s unusual.  What kind of chickens are they?”  She smiled and said, “They are mathemachickens.”  She got me on that one…..we laughed.  Later she asked me, “Mom, what do you call a prestidigitator that’s good at arithmetic?”  “They are called mathemagicians!” she glowed.

Smiles and blessings to you.  Trudy 😁