🏊 2024 August FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

 

As life goes on, we all find there are trials and tribulations.  We question why? and question if we are going to get through them.  Oh my, I’ve had my share, and sometimes think I’m being included in another’s.  Then I remember a Bible verse which is so true----Ephesians 3:20----“There will always be trials and tribulations in life, but God will carry you through every storm in your life.  He will give you strength to make it.” 

I saw this post and believed it was intended for me, too:  “Today I learned that ostriches often walk around and then forget where they are going.  Today, I, also learned that my spirit animal may be an ostrich!”  My mother told me one day, “Any more, I have to say all the way down the steps what I’m going down to the basement to get a can of something for.”  I thought, at the time, it was kind of silly.  Of course, I was in my 30s at that time.  Now, I’m 79 and find her statement rings so true every time I go down stairs to the larder to get something from the food shelves or little refrigerator.  I don’t tell my kids about it, though.  I don’t want them to think I’m silly- minded.

Unconditional love is NOT unconditional tolerance.  Boy, that is for sure.  I’ve had one of mine tell me they didn’t think I had unconditional love for them.  I told them I did, but I wouldn’t tolerate their sassiness which borders on disrespect.  That gave them something to think about.

Aint Daisy was busy in her kitchen when I knocked on the screen door.  “Come on in, chile.  I see ye there.  I’ve made some pies and am takin’ ‘em outta the oven.  I think there’s a cherry one, too, fer ye to take home,” she said with a little grin.  She knows cherry pie is my favorite.  “Jess set yerself down on that chair and chat a while with me.  I’ll fix some tea, and there’s a few cinnamon rolls over yonder.  So, get ‘em an’ two plates and forks.  We’ll have a snack.”  I did as she suggested, sat down, and drooled at the thought of her deliciousness about to come to my soul.  “So, what brings ye here t’day, chile?” she asked with a smile on her face.  “Oh, I’ve been mentally wrestling with something which just doesn’t seem to get solved.  Dang Aint Daisy, it just keeps coming back stressing me each time.  So, I thought I’d talk the issue over with someone I know will understand.”  I told her of the reoccurring issue.  She listened intently, as she always does.  “Ye know, chile, this issue jess seems to be a-wantin’ to teach you something.  There is always another way t’ solve a problem, even when it keeps a-comin’ back,” she wisely said.  “Oh shoot, looky there, it’s rainin’ again.  Well, I’ll jess sit and wait for somethin’ to be lovely about the rain.”  I wondered what she was meaning, so I asked her.  “Whall, I’ve learnt that it takes the rain to have an’ see a rainbow.  Don’tcha think that’s sorta what’s a-happenin’ with yer repeating issue?  Look for the rainbow, sweet thang, always look for the rainbow.”  I couldn’t help the moisture which ran from my eyes; she is always so on point with her wisdom.  ‘More of it, from my Lady of the Holler, was given to me.

Brenduhh came over all in a huff.  "I want to talk to you about what the principal at Mac's school said to me!"  she blustered.  "Alright.  Tell me.  It seems you're pretty upset about it," I encouraged.  "Well!!!!  I got a phone call from Mr. Peeps just a bit ago.  He told me, 'Mac is causing a problem at school.  He talks too much, and is contrary about doing what he's asked.'  I listened then told him my thoughts," she said.  "O.K., what thoughts did you tell Mr. Peeps?" I asked.  "I told him, 'He does the same thing here at home.  Do I call you about it?' What do you think, Trute?"  I replied, "Hmmm, you do have a valid point, but I don't think that was the answer he was hoping to get.  How about some tea and a muffin?"  Thank goodness she didn't notice my eyes rolling.

I've been wondering, if there is a highway to hell, are there speed bumps, yield signs, road blocks, speed limits, and/or traffic jams?

There are days I feel I'm riding through life full-steam ahead----well, as much steam as I can muster.  The mind is quick and the body just laughs at my thoughts of running, jogging, or sometimes even moving a lot.  My mind is a sadist.

I’ve mentioned phobias in another column.  Some are rational and some are not.  This one made me chuckle.

ANATIDAEPHOBIA (a-na-t-die-phobia) is the fear of a duck watching you.  It’s not quackery, either.

Here is some strong advice:  If you’re buying a watch on Amazon and it says, “You can swim with it on”, make sure you have known how to swim before you ever wore it.  This sounds like something Brenduhh would do.

Dogs and young children are pretty good assessors of a human’s intent and/or aura.  Don’t worry if other humans don’t like you; be concerned if a dog or young child doesn’t like you.  Children will cry or retreat; dogs have teeth they will use in a flash.  Hmm, come to think of it, I’ve seen a child bite an adult for no apparent reason.  Soooo, be cautious around both.

Toxic people “play games” and usually not fairly.  To win dealing with these “creatures”, just don’t play their game.  Silence and a strong stare are such strong opponents and can give a message to the most determined.

The color blue is relatively uncommon in fruits and vegetables because there are few natural pigments that produce a blue hue in plant tissues.  There are blue carrots and potatoes (but they didn’t come naturally), though, and of course, blueberries.  Red cabbage can turn blue when it is mixed with an acid or a base. The pigment turns red in acidic environments with a pH less than 7 and the pigment turns bluish-green in alkaline (basic), environments with a pH greater than 7.

I was having “words” with one of our cats.  She always thinks running in front of me will get her what she wants.  She has beautiful dark fur which is difficult to see her sometimes.  Recently she ran in front of me, again for the quadruple-illonth time.  I almost tripped over her.  I snarled, “O.K., Miss Flulffy Butt!!!  Do you really want to take me on?  I’m so much bigger than you and would flatten you with one fall.  She looked at me, did a back flip, raised her back hair, showed me her fangs, spread and waved her “murder mittens with daggars”.  I growled back, “Hmmm, you DO have a cautious idea.  Soooo, I’m calling a truce.”  She licked her paw and strolled away as if to say, “One for the fluffy butt, zip for the human……again.”

I was talking with my dear friend, Melodie, in FL.  We were comparing the weather between IL and FL.  She said, “I’m thinking about going to the ranch today, but it depends on the heat.  The humidity here is just awful.”  I said, “I remember when I visited you in July years ago.  I could hardly breathe outside.”  She told me it was even worse now.  I said, “Gods, I remember when climate change was summer, fall, winter, and spring.  Now it seems like there are half season, but, of course, FL has HOT, HOTTER, and OH HELL.  Then there is HOT, WET BLANKET ON YOUR FACE season.”  She laughed and mentioned “boob sweat” which I replied, “That’s called ‘humiditties’.”   She laughed again and told me her coffee was all over her desk.

When my husband let his nefarious sister put her stuff, which we questioned where it all came from, in our garage as their mother looked on, I said, "Load all that back in the truck. It's not going to be stored here." Their mother said, "NO!! Half this house is my son’s!"  I told her, "You're correct-----the floors are mine and the ceilings are his. Get the stuff off MY HALF!!!" Truck got loaded.

My friend was having a rough day and told me she thought she'd lose her mind.  I told her, "Remember, Moses was once a basket case."  She laughed, which broke her tension.  Then, while she was chuckling, I told her, "If God can light a bug's butt, imagine what He can do for you."  She had to hold on to the table so she'd not fall over.  I'm so glad there were a few moments of levity for her.

What do you call the wife of a hippie?  Mississ Hippie.

Brenduhh asked me if I thought she was smart.  I told her, “Wisdom has always been chasing you, BUT you were faster, girl.”

Peace and smiles for another month.  Trudy 👀

🎆 2024 July FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

Triskaidekaphobia (tris-ky-dek-uh-FO-be-uh) noun Fear of the number 13.  [from Greek treiskaideka (thirteen), from treis (three) +kai (and) + deka (ten) + phobia (fear).]   I’ve always liked the sound of this word and the way it feels on my tongue as I say it.  It’s something about the flowing of the Tr, Sk, and K sounds that makes me feel like my fore-tongue and back-tongue are skipping in my mouth.  Hmm, that reason almost sounds like something Calvin would say to Hobbes.  I love that cartoon panel, and the philosophy of both of them.  I found another word and tongue-stumbled over it a few times before I got it correctly said.  It takes a bit of thinking and planning when you start to pronounce it.  Do not be discouraged, it will trip off your tongue like peanut butter!  Perspicaciousness (puhr-spi-KAY-shuhs-nes) noun.  Keeness of perception and discernment.  [From Latin perspicere (to see through), from per- (through) + -spicere, combining form of specere (to look).  Ultimately from the Indo-European root spek- (to observe), which is also the ancestor of such words as:  suspect, spectrum, bishop (literally an overseer), espionage, despise, telescope, spectator, speculum, and spectacles.

A young engineer was leaving the office at 5:45 p.m.  He found the CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.  “Listen,” said the CEO, “this is a very sensitive and important document and my secretary is not here.  Can you make this thing work?”  “Certainly, “said the young engineer.  He turned on the machine, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.  “Excellent, excellent!!” said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine.  “I just need one copy, thank you,” he said. The lesson here is:  Never, never, ever assume that your boss knows what they’re doing.

"The reason the plural of GOOSE is GEESE, but the plural of moose is not meese is because goose derives from an ancient Germanic word undergoing strong declension (the changing in the form of the word), in the patter of foot/feet and tooth/teeth, where in oo is mutated to ee.  However, 'moose' is a Native American word added to the English lexicon only some 400 years ago, and lacks the etymological reason to be pluralized in that way."  Alrighty then!!  So, is the plural of PAPOOSE, papeese or papooses?  And, if the plural of HOUSE is HOUSES, why isn't the plural of MOUSE mouses?  I wonder about these things, y'all.

Life can be a bit unfair at times.  I recently was talking to a professional trying to sort out some issues and move on.  The professional told me, "When times seem too tough to deal with, take a step back and look at the situation."  I told them I'd done that, but still felt a bit defeated.  Then, they said, "Well, when you feel defeated, but want to conquer that, take a step forward."  I thought for a moment and said, "So, to sum up your advice:  when feeling defeated take a step back; when wanting to conquer it, take a step forward.  Alrighty then!!!  Seems I'm doing the cha-cha and when in doubt just DANCE!!"  The person told me they thought I was going to be all right.

I was reading an article about things some bosses do which make their employees want to quit.  BANG!!! An illuminated light bulb when off in my memory.  I had one job which I enjoyed, but my boss was a troll.  At my evaluation meeting with the manager of the company, his written evaluation of me was presented.  She read it and asked me to explain why he reported his observations.  I told her, "He says I'm often late.  He is the one often late because I always arrive 30-45 minutes early.  He says I dress too professionally.  I'm in a professional position so I believe I should appear the part, and besides, my appearance looks better than the dirty sweats he wears.  He says I'm too observant and it makes some uncomfortable including him.  They are uncomfortable because they know they're doing something wrong and have been seen doing it.  He says I knew too much about other clients who aren't mine.  In the initial job interview, he told me I am expected to know about ALL the clients and their challenges in this place, as well as mine."  There was a bit of silence, my boss was red-faced and uneasy.  The manager of the company told him he may leave because she wanted to talk to me.  He left muttering.  I was asked if all I said was true and why would I say so much against him.  I told her it was and that I'd rather be teaching than to have a supervisor as hypocritical and unprofessional as he; this was my last day. I, also, told her that I knew in two days I would be back to teaching because I'd been contacted by a school for a long-term teaching position. I learned a few days later that he was relieved of his "services".  "Truth is hate to those who hate the truth."

I was shopping at Walmart when a person came up to me and tried to move into my area.  When I told them I was in that place, they proceeded to be rude and abrasive.  I just watched their mouth and waited for my opportunity to tell them what was.  Finally they stopped talking.  I smiled and said, "I don't know how you can pronounce the very few words in your entire vocabulary with your summer teeth----summer there, summer not."  As the person was processing (well, I think that’s what the brain activity was doing), I then got the items I was looking at and moved on.

Living isn’t measured in years.  It’s measured in moments---the good ones and the not-so-good ones; the laughter and the tears; the “hurrah”s and the “oh crap”s.  The ones we treasure are like smoke in a gentle breeze---seen and then drifting away.  The sum of all our choices makes up who we are.

“Time is:  Too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice, But for those who love---Time is Eternity.”  Henry van Dyke

I decided to stop by Aint Daisy’s to check on her.  She’d been a bit under the weather.  As I approached the front door, I could hear a familiar voice talking to her.  I knocked and was invited in.  “Come on in here, chile.  Set yer self down and I’ll fix us all some pie and tea.”  She excused herself and went into the kitchen.  I asked Betty Jo how she was and how the family was.  She started telling me all sorts of things (actually bragging) about each child (I knew those kids).  Aint Daisy came in with a tray of pie and tea and sat it down on the coffee table.  Betty Jo continued her chatter (bragging tales) as she ate her pie and sipped her tea.  I looked at Aint Daisy, she just smiled at me and continued to eat and sip.  Betty Jo mentioned she had to go do something important (more bragging) and didn’t want to be late.  She said her good-bye and thank you; then, left.  I looked at Aint Daisy and asked, “We know 90% of what she said was just the opposite of what really is.  Why does she do that?”  Aint Daisy smiled.  “Chile, sometimes the real is too much t’ bear for some folks.  Betty Jo is that.  It don’t dawn on her that we know her actions tell us more than her words.  My Mama always said, ‘Understand folks by their actions, and you’ll never be fooled by their words.’”  She smiled, again, with a twinkle in her eyes.  Ahhh, more wisdom from the Lady of the holler and her mama.

Brenduhh came over to tell me her opinion of how I looked in a flowered dress I’d bought.  I put it on and greeted her as she came through the open door.  “Well, hi there, Trude.  How are you today?” she asked.  “I bought this dress and wonder what you think of it on me.  So, tell me, please,” I said.  Brenduhh has a way with words that can be a bit confusing and non-committal at times.  “Hmmm, turn around and let me see the back.  O.K. turn back around.  I think the dress is pretty with all the flowers.  You wear them well.  In fact, I just love seeing all the flowers in a garden in one place with all 12 rows stretched out.”  I think that was her “tactful” way of telling me the Burpee’s flower catalog had nothing on my dress’s display with me in it.  The dress became a blouse later that day.

Ohhhhh, I found a new word to use (if I can remember it)!!!  NEPHELOCOCCYGIA: The act of seeking and finding shapes in clouds.  Now to help you pronounce this word:  Neh-fell-o-cox-see-gia .  Enjoy spitting this one out at a party.  

As with everyone, I was having a rather difficult day with my feelings.  I shared my discouragement with a dear friend after she said, with love, “Wanna share what’s going on?”  I told her, “So many things.  I usually have it all together when in actuality, today, I feel like my “together” is more like dried PLAYDOUGH on the floor and in a shag carpet.  It sits there crumbled, stepped on, being sworn at by a distraught mother, and useless.  It’s getting to be stink bug season, and they want to come into MY house causing me to question God’s rationale as to why He created them, other than to annoy me and stink up my vacuum.  My left hip hurts due to Arthur-I-Is who came uninvited two or three weeks ago and won’t leave when I tell him to.  So, with gnawing discomfort I’m impeded in movement which distresses me, and I swear, and I know God heard me and put another black check by my name and moved me up on the ‘nasty mouth, naughty girl’ list.”  She said words of comfort, but what made me laugh out loud was her, “Oh sweetie, you crack me up with your way to plow through it all and describe it causing me to reel with laughter.”

😸 2024 June FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

I recently saw this essay account and wanted to share it with you.  It, also, spurred a visit from Aint Daisy, which is included.  Enjoy! Yesterday my daughter Grace was packing up to head back to her home after spending Christmas with me and she looked into my bedroom and said, "Do you do that everyday?" I replied, "Do what everyday?" She said, "Make your bed and put all those pillows on there?" I said, "Yes I do."  "Why, she responded, you are the only one who sees your bed?"  "Oh dear I make my bed every morning because it's a gift that I get to open at the end of everyday…a gift not everyone has. So while I'm wrapping my bed in the morning and I'm unwrapping it at night I'm reminded of what a great blessing my bed really is in my life."  When we stop viewing what we have as little, insignificant or not enough, then we get to see what we do have as gifts we get to enjoy great blessings in our lives and provision for our needs.  I'm thankful for my bed.

My visit to Aint Daisy-----Ain't Daisy called me one night and asked me to come to her house early in the morning, around 7:30, to share coffee and cinnamon buns she'd made. I hurriedly left my house about 7:15 arriving at the time she told me. She let me in and told me to go to the kitchen and wait. I noticed she was having a little trouble making the covers on her bed straight. I went in to help her. I asked, "Why don't you just leave it. You will be getting in the bed tonight, and besides, who is going to see an unmade bed?" She stopped, looked at me and said, "I realize no one but me will be a-seein' this bed. I make it every day a-cause it sets my discipline level for the day----it shows, t' me, I care about something not real important. It is, also a gift t' me from my Lord. He gave me a whole day and this bed is my reward at the end of that day. Sos, I take care of that gift by makin' it look nice. Makin' it look nice shows I'm grateful for the gift of another day. Those are the reasons I make my bed every day, sweet chile." Her words gave me something to think about. I had more wisdom given from the Lady of the Holler and went home to make my bed.

I’ve been the mother of two teen-aged boys; one during the years of 1987-1993, and the last one from 2006-2012.  If you have had boys, you know the insatiable hunger they possess.  In fact, one of my sons had such a high metabolism, it didn’t seem he could get full and wait four to six hours for another meal.  So, I bought pork and beans by the case.  He loved pork and beans and it was an inexpensive “snack” for him.  Here is what I dealt with on days where there was no school for either of them:  son had breakfast at 8, 9, 10:30, and 11. Lunch was at 12:30 and 1:30, then, a snack (2:45, 3:30, and 4:25).  Supper was at 5:30. They were 6'3" and 6’4” and weighed 160 and 175 pounds. We joined a bulk food club----Sam’s.  I called my broker asking about buying some Kroger stock!!!

It is important to know your blood type, especially if you have the rarest one-----AB-.  O negative blood is often called the 'universal blood type' because people of any blood type can receive it. This makes it vitally important in an emergency or when a patient's blood type is unknown.  Did you know that Greyhounds, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds, German Shepherd Dogs, Dobermans, and Pit Bulls are breeds more likely to be universal donors of blood to other dogs?  Type A is most common (about 99% of cats in the United States are Type A). Certain breeds have a higher prevalence of Type B. Type AB is rare. There are no universal donors among cats, because they naturally have antibodies against the blood group antigen that they lack.  Breeds that have a rare occurrence of a blood type B allele are Siamese, Burmese, Russian Blue and Ocicat.

The word “PHONETICALLY” doesn’t even start with an “F”; neither does:  PHONE, PHOSPHOROUS, PHYSICIAN, PHASE, PHARMACY, PHOTOGRAPH and many more.  Then there is the “C”.  It doesn’t even have its own sound.  It borrows from the “K” and “S”.  No wonder aliens just fly on by our planet!!

When I taught speech, it was part of my plan to instill in the students that asking people questions that give them an opportunity to talk about themselves, helps with being a good conversationalist.  I used that little morsel when I was talking with someone who was disgruntled and I didn’t know very well.  I asked them, “What is wrong with you?”  Thinking I’d get a few sentences of reasons, how surprised I was when I got a filibuster!!

I recently saw a cartoon about a funeral home which does cremations.  The director was talking with a client’s wife on the telephone.  He said, “Mrs. Adams, I know everyone grieves in their own special way.  But, putting fireworks in your late husband’s pockets was not appreciated by our crematorium staff.” I guess my sense of humor is really warped because I could not stop laughing at the mental visual I had of the moment the fireworks went off and the staff was present.

I know a person who thinks they are “big sh** on a board, but really nothing but a fart on a splinter”.  They asked me to go to lunch with them on a particular day.   I told my dear friend, who also knows this person,  about the tentative lunch date.  She teasingly said, “Oh Trudy, are you sure you don’t want to spend time with her?  You’d have so much fun.”  I chuckled and informed her, “Yep, I’m positive.  I don’t relish spending time with farts and splinters.”  My friend cracked up.

I recently learned a new term. It is "GLIMMER". It is essentially the opposite of a "TRIGGER".  Glimmers are those micro moments in your day which make you feel joy, happiness, peace, or gratitude. Once you train your brain to be on the lookout for "glimmers", the more these moments will appear.  May you have many glimmers today---so many you just sparkle and shine.

I believe in asking questions.  Sometimes I ask rather difficult ones, but I do ask questions.  I find if I ask questions, someone will know the answer, they will feel important, and I’ll have more knowledge.  Do you see the domino effect?  You’re welcome.

A motorist was mailed a picture of his car speeding through an automated radar post in Plano, Texas.  A $40 speeding ticket was included.  Being cute, he sent the police dept. a picture of $40.  The police responded with another mailed photo of handcuffs.  This handcuff thing has always made me wonder:  how do you handcuff a one armed person?

While scrolling thorough a social media website, someone asked if the usage of the words “can” and “their” being used were correct.  I commented, “No, the ‘their’ isn’t.  It should be ‘THEY’RE’ which is a contraction for ‘THEY ARE’.   The word “CAN” could be correct if asking about ability; if asking permission, “MAY” would be correct.”  I supported my statements with my credentials of being a retired English teacher with a master’s degree who focused on grammar, spelling, and sentence structure; and also, a writer. Another reader stated to me, “Good grief.  Why don’t you lighten up?  Not everyone has your so called credentials!”  My reply to her was, “It’s never wrong to be right.  I realize not everyone has the credentials I do, but a lot can try to learn correct spelling and grammar. Perhaps you are not among them and choose to stay incorrect.”  I really wanted to say “stupid”, but I knew that would open a new can of verbiage which she just might not understand.  (I'm sorry about the change in font and size.  I don't know what happened, nor how to fix it.  My OCD is critical at this point!!  Yeesh!)

My friend, who has a lot of chickens, mentioned she had too many eggs and wanted to know if I wanted any.  I told her I’d like to have three dozen.  She told me that would be fine, but I needed to know they were green in color.  I told her, “Oh, good.  I’ll get some ham to go with them.”  She smiled and asked what I was going to do with so many green eggs and the ham.  I told her, “I’m going to make a Suess-flay.”

 Symbols like: !#%@, which used to indicate swearing or cursing in comic strips, are called GRAWLIX.  It looks to have been coined by Beetle Bailey cartoonist Mort Walker around 1964.  Though it’ yet to gain admission to the Oxford English Dictionary, OED editor-at-large  Jesse Sheidlower describes it as “undeniably useful, certainly a word, and one that I’d love to see used more.”

Mapmakers will often insert a tiny piece of incorrect information in their maps to prevent the illegal reproduction of their work.  Call a “copyright trap”, fake text might be a bogus street name or even the mapmakers’ initials hidden in the corner of a park.

What fills the heart is reflected on the face.

As always, Trudy

😁 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