Happy New Year!!! May 2026 be a trophy year for you. 2025 went by very quickly; well, to me it did. I guess when your age is passed 50 time goes faster. My 365 days were filled with smiles, some frowns, some tears---which make the smiles even more enjoyable, and gratefulness. I gained people in my life and lost some. The memories of those lost will keep them close. I have a friend who is struggling with grief. We have talked about it and how I handle(d) the grief I have. I told them, “Grief causes me to wonder where to put all the love I still have to give to those who I’ve loved and are now gone. Grief changes everything---your think more, move a little slower, develop deeper insight, and sometimes you just don’t want to do anything including thinking. You know you miss the person, and then, you realize you miss the relationship, which becomes, ‘I miss us.’ There is no time frame on grief. Everyone is different. In my opinion, grief doesn’t get smaller, you just grow around it.”
This is a comparison of an English statement and poetry of the departure of 2025. The English version: “Goodbye 2025.” The poetic version: “Farewell, old year of fleeting light,/Your days have folded into night./You leave behind your joy and scars/A trail of dust beneath the stars.”
Sometimes I hear different words than those which are
spoken. I’d asked my daughter to flip
and move the cushions on a certain couch.
I was busy in the kitchen when she announced, what I thought she said,
“Mom, I’ve frisked and mooed the chickens.”
When she approached me, I said, “What?!?! We don’t have any chickens, so how could you
have frisked and mooed the chickens??”
She looked at me and laughed.
“No, I flipped and moved the cushions.
Mom, you are hilarious.” We both
had a good laugh of the day. I found
these misheard lyrics to some songs. I’m
not the only one who “mishears” words. 'Bad Moon Rising' by
Creedence Clearwater Revival- Misheard: "There's a bathroom on the
right"- Correct: "There's a bad moon on the rise" 'We Didn't Start the Fire' by Billy
Joel - Misheard: "We didn't start the fire, it was always burning, said
the worst attorney"- Correct: "We didn't start the fire, it was
always burning, since the world's been turning"; ‘Waterfall’ by TLC—Misheard: “Don’t go Jason Waterfalls”—Correct:
“Don’t go chasing waterfalls”; ‘Desperado’
by The Eagles—Misheard: “You’ve been outright offensive, for so long
now”—Correct: “You’ve been out riding fences, for so long now.”
Brenduhh came over excited. “Trudy, I have something to tell you. The car just plain stopped right in the middle of the street. Luckily I was in front of my car service garage. I called to Mike that the car had stopped for no reason. He came over and pushed it into the garage. After he fiddled around with it, it started. I asked him ‘What’s the problem and how do I fix it?” Mike said, ‘Just crap in the carburetor.’ I was amazed, so I asked him, ‘How often do I have to do that?’ ” I was almost speechless, so I sputtered, “Would you like some tea and cookies I just made?”
I was a little…oh alright, a lot, upset one day. My voice was loud and body language ominous. One of my kids, I think it was the brave one, said, “Mom, you remind me of two dogs.” Well, that didn’t sit real well with me in that moment, so I insisted they support their statement and with caution. “Yes, two dogs. You have the attitude of a Chihuahua---thinking confidently you can take on just about anything; and, the posturing of a Cane Corso---enough body mass and intimidation to warn the opponent.”
When you can’t put your prayer into words, God hears your heart. Tears are prayers, too.
I was talking to someone about anagrams using SILENT and LISTEN as an example. I told them, “Silent and Listen have the same letters, but they are changed.” She asked me if there were other examples. I shared this with her, “Anagrams involve rearranging letters in existing words to form new words. There are so many and even names and sentences: Eleven plus two—Twelve plus one. A decimal point---I’m a dot in place. Vacation time---I am not active. By rearranging “Clint Eastwood,” you can spell “old west action.” “William Shakespeare” can be rearranged to spell, “I’ll make a wise phrase.” She seemed to be listening intently because she was silent for a while. Then, she said, “You hurt my head.”
It was really cold and windy when I hurriedly walked up the sidewalk to Aint Daisy’s house. She must have seen me coming because as I got to the front door, it opened with her standing there. The aroma of freshly baked pie, cookies, and bread enveloped my nose. “Oh Aint Daisy, it smells heavenly. I’m sure you’ve been busy this morning because it surely smells like it.” She smiled and told me to hurry on in the house and get warm. “Chile, set yerself down in the kitchen. It’s a-warmer in there ‘cause the oven’s been busy all morning. Did ye come to visit or ye need some advice?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Oh, I just came to visit. I always enjoy talking with you, and I usually learn something new,” I said. “Whall, that’s jess fine. I have all these here goodies to share an’ I know ye like most o’ ‘em. Did ye know that when ye share the good’s ‘at ye done, it’s a blessin’ to ye and another; an’ when ye share a trouble with another, it’s half a burden to ye? So’s, ye jess he’p yerself to all ye want. I a-got plenty. I’ll fix us some nice, hot tea,” she said with a big smile. ‘More wisdom from the Lady of the Holler.
I came across a quote that said, “Maybe your path is harder, because your calling is higher.” It made me chuckle. With that thought, God must think I can leap a tall building with a single bound, and run faster than a speeding bullet.
Here are some lessons I’ve mentioned to my children and students: Life isn’t fair. Failure is part of success. Not everyone will like you. You are responsible for your actions and words. The world doesn’t wait for you. Hard work beats talent. You can’t control everything. Life will challenge you. You can’t please everyone. Happiness is not guarantee. When it's your time to pass away, make sure you have left a good mark while you lived. I could give examples of each one, but they would be mine. You are invited to reflect on examples of your own.
“Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection.” Judge Frank Caprio, Providence, R.I.
I like to dunk my French fry in sauces. I was busy chatting with others and dipped my fry in, what I thought, was a mild sauce. It wasn’t. It was wasabi infused catsup!!! It cleaned my sinuses; I was breathing in 10 dimensions; I could smell around corners; my nostrils were on all six planes of my skull, and I sneezed through the soles of my feet. NOTHING I drank put out the inferno in my mouth. I could not even swear!!!
I found this German word. It really tells it like it is. I couldn’t find an English equivalent to it, though. FRUHSINN (FROO-zin) “A cheerful, optimistic mood that arrives early in the day. It reflects starting with clarity and lightness, before worries have the chance to settle.” I think of me when I awaken and am still in bed. I think to myself, “Alrighty, you’re going to get up, do some domestic diva stuff, laundry, vacuum, and maybe make a casserole for supper.” Then, I do get up, fix my coffee, sit down in my chair and review FACEBOOK, play a little game, and enjoy the warmth of our cat, Jada, who finds my lap irresistible to lie on and purr. I look at her and think, “How can I disturb this sleeping, warming, healing darlin’ by getting up and doing all those domestic diva actions? Well, I can’t.” So, I sit there and usually doze until Jada decides it’s time to move. Another German word which has no English equivalent is SCHADENFREUDE (Shaden froida) “pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.” I equate it to, “I told you so” said with a sly smile.
I looked in the mirror. I know, it’s stupid to do that, especially in the cold winter months and right after two food infused holidays. I thought, “I wish I were as fat as I was the first time I thought I was fat.” That fat thought was when I was in high school with a 26” waist and size 12. I do know I’ll be that size again-----like 2 years after my last breath.
May this new year bring you joy, more love, and lots of what you enjoy and want. May you make “lemon pie with real whipped cream” using the “lemons” you’ll have from time to time.
***I dedicate this column to those who were a part of my life, past and present, who made their journey to Heaven in 2025. You all made your marks, and they were good.
Always, Trudy J
