🌸May 2018 FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                              2018 May “FROM MY PERSPECTIVE”

Last month I left you with some little-known words.  I’d like to finish that list as the remaining ones will be as useful to you as the April ones.

LANSPRESADO:  Someone who always conveniently shows up with no money.  FROBLY-MOBLY:  Neither well nor unwell.  (I think “Meh” fits in here, too……”A little frobly-mobly, a little meh.”)  CACOETHES:  Irresistible urge to do something inadvisable (eating TIDE pods, lighting flatulence on fire, tasing yourself….the list is endless, I’m sure).  SNOLLYGOSTER:  a shrewd,  unprincipled person.   Thank you, Kelly W. and historyhustle.com

“Making the decision to have a child----it’s momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  Elizabeth Stone.  I know this for a fact.  I birthed 3 children and adopted 2.  I think of them every day as they go out into the world to make their marks.  I’m sure my mother thought about her 3 as we moved away, in distance from her, to start our lives.  Once you become a mother, your entire world changes and you are really never alone in your thoughts.  When I’m missing mine so much, I pull up the memories of the past smiling, nodding, and having a tear or two.    They walk around the outside of my body and creep through my mind, never leaving my heart.  Happy Mother’s Day to those of you who have been blessed with a child and to those of you who “mother” others’.

The brain’s been busy.  The people in hell…..when they get angry, where do they tell the others to go?  Why is there a handicapped parking spot in front of a liquor store?  Why is there a Braille message plate next to the drive-up window at a fast food place or a bank?  Why are some people so mean by asking me if I want to go for a run and do I like creamed okra?  Do pigeons walk “peopled toed”?  “In a New York minute.”  Well, what about Atlanta?

I believe a person earns respect, but the position/rank has already earned it.  So, if you can’t respect the person, respect the position/rank.  That way, you will not look bad, be considered disrespectful, get into trouble, or all of the aforementioned.

“If you’re confused or stuck or at a point where you don’t know what to do, then be a good listener.  Be a helper.  Be inclusive.  Be respectful.  Be a smile.  Be a hug.  Be kind.”  Bryan Skavnak

One week in February, central Illinois had freezing cold, torrential rain, wind, and warm and humid temperatures.  Mother Nature said, “You can’t fit all four seasons into one week.”  Illinois said, “Here, hold my beer.”

If your love wasn’t enough, what makes you think your words will make a difference?  It’s sad, but true in a lot of cases…but not all. 

I saw a sign the other day.  It was profound and so true:  “I am not what you think I am.  You are what you think I am.”  We all wear many “hats” and under each “hat” is a slightly different me.

I have a friend who was really depressed and was briefly thinking of ending their life.  They shared their thought with me.  Suddenly all this came out of my mouth, “I can see God at the gates when you arrive.  He’s sitting down with one hand on his knee, elbow out and the other hand on His hip.  He says to you, ‘WHAT are you doing here, NOW?  Do you want me to send you to where some of your students told you to go?  You’re going back because the ice cream shop is closed for a while, the freezer is broken at the house, and you’ll just start to complain and bother the others.  If you insist on staying, you’ll have nothing but Brussels sprouts, cheese, asparagus, and spinach to eat.’ (these are hated foods of this person)”   My friend about fell off their chair laughing.

Children do not always believe our warnings as parents, especially when shopping.  I have always told my children, “Stay with me, do not stray, tell me if you want to go look at something because I will keep on walking and perhaps leave without you.”  Sure enough, someone didn’t believe me.  As I was exiting the doors, over the loud speaker came, “If Trudy R. is still in the store, please come to the service desk and get your charming child who has eaten ½ a chocolate cake and is very messy.  Please hurry.”  I strolled to the service desk.  My look was ominous, so was the customer service representative’s.

My friend Melodie was telling me about an experience she’d had at the dental office.  Here it is for your enjoyment:  “When he lays me back in that torture chair, and I'm staring at his 'knee caps', I cup my hand and say, ‘We're not going to hurt each other, are we?’ ;) One time I had a great dentist with a great sense of humor….very quick-witted. I told him, ‘I'd rather have a baby than have my teeth worked on!’ His reply was, ‘Make up your mind so I know how to adjust the chair!’” LOL!

At what age do you learn to cook pasta for one and not for an entire village? If you're Italian, it won't happen. You'll have left-over pasta for the next 3 meals and to share. Then there is the spaghetti sandwich, left-over spaghetti/macaroni/pasta for the chili, or a salad, or goulash, or just heat it, put butter on it and Parm. cheese----lots of Parm. I bet you’ve forgotten about the slucking of spaghetti and the whip lash on your nose? It can be a contest for the kids.

In March, I was driving on a local road trying to dodge the potholes.  A police officer pulled me over, got out and continued to sniff the air I was exhaling. I asked him what he was doing. He said he was checking me for alcohol because with the way I was driving he was sure I was drunk. I told him I was stone sober and that he must have forgotten we live in Illinois where IDOT is not prompt in filling the potholes, and that I didn't want to lose my VW Bug in one of them.

TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA (tris-ky-dek-uh-FO-bee-us) noun Fear of the number 13.  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 tongue is skipping around in my mouth. 

What fills the heart is reflected on the face.  May your heart be filled with love and peace.

CONNOR-ISM:  Charles/Dad: “Connor, look both ways crossing the street.”  Connor: “I KNOW Dad. I grew up in the streets!”  Ahh, the wisdom of a 6 year old.

“Don’t kill people with kindness, because not everyone deserves your kindness.  Kill people with silence, because not everyone deserves your attention.”  Book of Prosperity

I’ve used this with some people.  It is better to remain silent and have them wonder what you’re thinking or going to do, than to verbalize what you’d like to do and maybe get in trouble.  Also, some people do not understand kindness, thus silence is the better choice.  Besides, when your silence is directed toward them, they will leave, and that’s probably what you wanted them to do in the first place. 

Peace, good will, and smiles to you.  Trudy :)

2018 April FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                                        2018 April FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

Kids don’t realize what their energy does to parents.  Here is an example from my friend, Kelli, who has 5 of all ages under her roof.  “My teens today “who is the whiskey in the fridge for?"   Me: .....not you.  Them: right but who is it for.   Me: its a gift.  Them: for who?  Me: Dad.  Them: why?  Me: BECAUSE WE HAVE KIDS. NOW GO AWAY  

A former student of mine wrote this.  I wanted to share it with all of you because I know his “history” and am proud of the man he is now.

“There are different types of courage, the person fighting for their lives from something they can't see inside themselves , the women with anxiety that has the courage to get up and face the day , the man that gets up and goes to court that knows he's going away , the soldier on the battlefield that faces death each day , the mother that knows she'll have to raise three children by herself if she leaves him , the man who knows if he leaves her his heart is going to break , the child who never had a real choice that has to start life at a disadvantage yet makes it anyway . Different types of courage, yet all the same, "Brave". ~ Andrew Thomas~”

The brother of a friend of mine took his 3 month old son to the pediatric emergency room at a local hospital.  Here is his account of the verbal exchange he had with a medical intake person.  You just can’t make some things up.  “We took JJ to get checked (he's been real congested). In the peds ER, the registrar comes and asks me a few questions:  ‘When was he born?, Current address; Has he been out of the country or been around anyone who has in the last three months?;  Correct way to contact his mother and/me; Does he speak English?’ (No... not yet, he’s 3 months old.)  Here's the best one: ‘Is your son single, married, or divorced?’  The look the dude got from me must've been priceless because he quickly said, ‘I have to ask this.’  No you don't, fool; use some common sense!  But instead of that being my reply, I simply said, "No, he's divorced."

“Not all those who wander are lost.” -J.R.R. Tolkien, novelist and philologist (3 Jan 1892-1973)  Daddy used to wander all over a hardware store after he got what he went in there for.  I went with him one day.  I thought I was going to be bored----girls don’t usually go into hardware stores like Daddy did.  He got what he came for, and then started to “wander”.  As he slowly walked down an aisle, he stopped to pick up an item.  He showed it to me and told me what it was and its use.  He did this for 5 aisles stopping multiple times and explaining each item he picked up.  The man was not lost, and I got quite an unexpected education.

My granddaughter came up with this gem when she was little.  When this was said, her brother, Will, was crawling around meowing pretending to be a cat. CJ says, "No, Will, be a doggie!" and then he does. Then she says, "Ok Will, enough barking, be a boy, be a boy!" He doesn't...then I hear " AAARrrrrggghh! Will, be a GOLDFISH!" LOL!  This is told by her mother.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”  ---David Tutu

Sometimes when the people you love hurt you the most, it’s better to stay quiet because, if your love wasn’t enough….do you think your words will matter??  Tjr  To be hurt by someone you love is a part of life. To be able to keep quiet is a part of being mature. To be able to not choke the snot out of the hurter is a part of Karma, because Karma will get them and you'll smile.

A man followed a young girl into a department store’s bathroom in Texas saying he self-identified as a woman.  The man’s teeth were knocked out by the girl’s father, who says he self-identifies as the tooth fairy.  Alrighty then!!! 

There are some names of individuals which are very appropriate for the profession they’ve chosen.  Here are some examples I know of:  Euell Sue….attorney; Mr. Wyre and Mr. Tapping…..detectives; Justice Wong…..judge; John Vroom…..motorcycle dealer;  Henry Ford Carr…..automotive dealer;  Dr. Bonebrake…..chiropractor;  Betty Boring….English teacher;  Lois Screech….vocal music teacher.  Three of these people I have known and have had a difficult time not smiling/laughing when introducing them to others.

Do you remember the “pet name” you were called by your parent(s) or grandparent(s) when you were young?

Mother called me, "Trudy Boo"; Daddy called me "Babe"; my Beloved called me "Tootsie"; and my grandmother called me “Trudy Girl”. Oh, how I'd love to hear them call me those names, again.  This stirred a memory, didn’t it?  Perhaps your memory ran down your cheek or turned your mouth into a smile.  It did mine.

Aint Daisy and I were sitting on the porch discussing directions to places.  She reminded me, “Ya know, chile, up North those folks give you directions using North, South, East, and West.  That’s sort of confusing, especially when you might be directionally challenged; it’s, also, boring.”  I agreed with her and told her I have trouble with directions to somewhere which have those words in them.  She told me, “Down here, we give some color to the directions, landmarks, and throw in a bit of local information.  Here’s an example:  Down yonder a piece passed Joe Hanyes' 3 silos which ain't never full, but he keeps 'em standing making shade for the cattle, you’ll turn left at the first dirt road.  Go a piece and you’ll see a little yellow house with a porch that has 2 rockin’ chairs on it.  Sarah Gallup likes to make sure her visitors come and sit a spell and drink some of her fresh lemonade."  I drove the directions and sure enough, there was everything just sitting there like Aint Daisy described.  Sarah made lemonade and we talked and rocked until the sun was low.

I enjoy Ellen DeGeneres’ sense and delivery of humor.  Here is one of her good ones:  “Catch-and-release, that's like running down pedestrians in your car and then, when they get up and limp away, saying -- Off you go! That's fine. I just wanted to see if I could hit you.”  This statement reminds me of the time I was in a grocery store pushing my cart down an aisle.  I made a quick turn and skidded passed a lady, also, pushing her cart.  I thought I’d bumped her, stopped, and asked her, “Did I bump you?  If so, I’m very sorry.”  She replied, “No but thank you.”  With a twinkle in my eye I said, “How about if I roll back and try, again?”  She started to laugh, and then tears rolled down her cheeks.  “I’ve had a really rough 2 days, but your question, which made me laugh, has relieved some of my burden.  Thank you so much.”  I gave her a hug and told her she was in my prayers.  I got to thinking that a moment of silliness caused more than a moment of relief for someone else.

Why is it that when you are struggling with something you can not change, it sometimes changes you?

The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same. -Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle), novelist (23 Jan 1783-1842)  Hmmmm, sounds a bit political to me, but then again, it sounds biblical, too

Most of my readers know I love big words and unusual ones, too.  Here are some which are old ones and not heard often, but I plan to revive them:

FUDGEL:  Pretending to work while actually doing nothing.  GROKE;  Someone who stares at you while you eat, hoping you’ll share (like your dog or cat!!).  DYSANIA:  Extreme difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. (I’m sure most of you will be using this one.  Use it to tell your boss why you were late.)  PERENDINATE:  To put off until the day after tomorrow.  (Another useful one!!)  KAKISTOCRACY:  Government by the least qualified or worst people.  (I’d better keep quiet about this one.)  UHTCEARE:  Lying awake and worrying about the day ahead.  SLUGABED:  A person who stays in bed after the usual or proper time to get up.  PHILOGROBILIZED:  Having a hangover, but without admitting to actually drinking.  GRUMBLETONIANS:  People who are angry or unhappy with their government.  SNOLLYGOSTER:  A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician.  TWATTLING:  Gossiping idly about unimportant things.

ULTRACREPIDARIAN:  Somebody who gives opinions on subjects they know nothing about (She’s nothing but a twattling ultracrepidarian.) Thank you, Kelly W. and historyhustle.com

That’s it for this month.  Smiles and blessing to you for all of April.  Try not to be a twattling ultracrepidarian.  Trudy J

2018 March FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

I was asked to state, for 7 days, things for which I’m thankful. I tried it and found there were more things of gratitude for which I’m thankful. One of them is my desire to learn and the knowledge I’ve already acquired. One needs to be thankful for their acquired knowledge and desire to learn more. One is NEVER too old to learn more. I, also, know that without learning and appreciating it, life can be very difficult. It can be extremely so if you’re stupid.

The average life span of a $50 is 5 years. (Not in my hands!) The jewelry industry uses about 1,000 tons of gold a year; the dentistry uses 87 tons. The longest alphabet is the Cambodian with 74 letters; the standard central dialect of Rotokas, is spoken by about 4000 people in Papua, New Guinea, a place known for its absurd language diversity. The largest desert in the world is Antarctica. Yes it is. Look up the definition of “desert”.

 “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Kautilya -- Indian philosopher. I have used this quote before. It is very true; however, one needs to think it out. I didn’t realize its full-meaning until I was faced with a situation which made it very applicable. One of my special needs children was having a lot of difficulty adjusting to an environment they were in. The “head honcho” of the environment was pretty much knowledgeable of the special needs of this child, but was not heeding my information and knowledge of said child. I asked, “You have a degree in psychology and have studied about autism, don’t you?” They sat up straight, puffed themselves up and answered in the affirmative. I looked them straight in the eye and stated, “So, how’s that working out for you?” Two other people who knew my child, were professionals in the field of psychology had made many suggestions on how to help the child, were at the meeting, too. We were a team of advocates for my child, and we were friends. They had a lot of difficulty hiding their smiles of agreement.

 Here are some fancy ways to say ordinary jobs: ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE SPECIALIST: garbage collector; domestic engineer: house keeper; domestic culinary expert: cook; custodial engineer: janitor; director of seating: hostess/host; multi-faceted, multi-profession, multi-status engineer: Mom.

 “A home isn’t a shell you climb into. It’s the people who are there for you who leave the door open even when you’re at your worst.”

 I’ve noticed my hearing is not as good as it was when I was younger. I know this is part of “maturing”, but it really gets annoying at times. Most of the time when I can’t hear, I smile or laugh and hope it wasn’t a question or statement of sadness. Then, there are times I think I hear the words correctly, but politely ask the person to repeat what they said. They do and then I tell them what I thought they said. Usually, laughter ensues. I’m trying to learn to read lips. Vacuum and the “F you” phrase are the same lip movement. Thus, I try not to talk about cleaning the house.

 My friend and I were out and about at lunch time. She mentioned ordering some food and taking it to her house. She was having some trouble making up her mind about what to get. As I drove by PETSMART I said, “Why don’t we go in here and nibble on some kibble?” She laughed. After we ordered from HARDEE’S, she mentioned she thought all the fast food places probably order their food from the same supplier. I told her, “All but McDonald’s. They order their burger patties from a place which makes window glass……you can see right through them.” Another round of laughter ensued.

I was telling one of my grandchildren, “Today I'm thankful for the sun and its warmth. It burned-off the cloud which fell to Earth and now it is safer to drive.” "Grammy, what is fog?" asked the little one to me. "It is a cloud that fell to Earth," I told. "Oh no!!! Did it get hurt? I hope not; we don't have a big enough Band-aid to fix the boo-boo."

 Perhaps you’re wondering what to be grateful for. Be thankful that you don’t have everything you desire. If you did, you would have nothing to look forward to. Be thankful for the difficult people you have to work with. They are improving your patience and understanding. Be thankful when you don’t know something, because it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for difficult times, because it’s in times of hardship that you grow. Be thankful when you’re exhausted at the end of a day, because you know you’ve accomplished something. So, readers, think about what you are grateful for. Make a list and read it often, as well as, add to it.

Where we love is home, Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., Homesick in Heaven

My Daddy went to Heaven in 1997. He’d lived a full life, loved my mother and was loved by her, loved his children (3 of us) and was loved by us. I was the only one who called him “Daddy”; it just fit the man. I miss him and my mother who went to Heaven to join him in 2001. There is no substitute for Daddy, and there never will be. My husband was my children’s step-father. He was a good “daddy” although he’d never had children of his own. Then, in 1999 along came my 2 grandchildren---special needs with multiple challenges, but he didn’t care. We adopted them in 2000; I was 55 and Beloved was 60. He loved them and guided them until he went to Heaven in 2011. Most any man can be a father, but it takes a very special one to be a daddy, especially to children who are not even your blood.

There was a time a few years ago, where I was severely criticized by some people. One of the brave ones, or stupid…you choose, asked me in front of the others, “Trudy, just what do you have to say to us.” I thought for a moment, knowing silence can scare your opponent, and said, “I have some words for each of you; however, they are in French, German, Spanish, Polish, American Sign, Webster and Roget. I don’t think any of you could translate them.” With that, I turned and walked out of the room leaving them to wonder what the words were. I’m certain those of you who know me are pretty sure they weren’t ones Mother taught me.

Peace, smiles, and blessings…………Trudy

2018 February "FROM MY PERSPECTIVE"

                                        2018 February “FROM MY PERSPECTIVE”

Trivia has always fascinated me; I love it.  Some trivia is helpful, some is funny, some is mundane, but some is thought provoking.  Here are a few I’ve found very interesting:

In the movie SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, Hannibal Lechtor does not blink when he speaks.  Elephants do not have 4 knees; what looks like the elephant’s front knees are actually its wrists.  If you put two straws in your mouth, one inside a drink and one outside it, you won’t be able to drink through either straw. (I know you'll try this)  Bananas have no fat, cholesterol or sodium. The word 'banan' is Arabic for finger. Mosquitoes prefer to bite women.  Geese have been trained to tend and move sheep.  The U.S. paper money has 75% cotton and 25% linen; prior to WWI the fibers were made of silk.  Cannibalism was once widespread and possibly still exists today on the island of New Guinea.  (‘Not going there on vacation!!)  MEXICO CITY, GUADALAJARA, and LOS ANGELES have the most Mexicans.  The world's longest continuous hiking trail is located in the U.S., and is called the Appalachian Trail; it extends over 2,000 miles, from Maine in the North to Georgia in the South.  Disneyland invented Doritos to get rid of their extra tortillas.  Frito-Lay, the company that makes Doritos, had a Disneyland restaurant named Casa de Fritos. In 1964, workers at Casa de Fritos decided to experiment with leftover tortillas, so they fried and seasoned them. Little did they know, but their revised recipe would become the famous orange chips in 1966, when Frito-Lay's VP of Marketing, Arch West, realized their potential.  The invention of tea bags was an accident. Tea was meant to be removed from the bags before being used, but no one made that clear.

My daughter, Della and I, went up to the Chicago area to visit a relative.  I told Della there wasn't enough $$ to pay me to live in the Chicago area unless I had a chauffeur.  GODS, 80 mph traffic, semi-trucks, crazy drivers and I’m just a country girl driving.  We experienced the epitome of STUPID---had to have been Brenduhh's sister---antic while going up there.  We were on I-55 North going 70.  A red Jeep was in front of us.  We approached a right-hand merging traffic on-ramp, and she started slowing down, THEN STOPPED HER ASS so the merging traffic could get on I-55 North.  Both my feet hit the brakes, a tractor trailer about plowed into her (she would have been a red bug on his grill), and other cars hit their breaks and swerved into the left lane.  I think the F-word came out of my mouth about.....cripes I lost count.  When we restarted our hearts and got going, we both agreed she was descriptive words my mother never taught me, epitome of stupid, and will eat our dust.....so we got in front of her and did a Thelma and Louise get away.  We arrived safely.

Curious that we spend more time congratulating people who have succeeded than encouraging people who have not. -Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and author (b. 5 Oct 1958)

It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy. -George H. Lorimer, editor (6 Oct 1867-1937) EXAMPLES:  manners, morals, respect, character, common sense, trust, wisdom, patience, integrity, love, and true friendship.

There is no problem with aiming high and missing, but there is a problem if you aim low and hit.  The problem---well, to try to be better is to set the goal high so you can stretch, get out of your comfort zone, and move forward.  "When we fail to learn, we fail to change.  When we fail to change, we fail to achieve our goals.  And, when we fail to achieve our goals, we fail to achieve the happiness we seek."  Dr. Mardy

This is a quasi-oxymoron:  Oxygen is required for combustion and hydrogen is a flammable gas, but together
they make water.....which puts fire out.

That 20-sided shape in the inside of the Magic 8-Ball fortune telling device is called an ICOSAHEDRON, not an "I don't want THAT answer!!"

There are so many types of love, but each is important in its own.  I tell my children and their spouses I love them.  I have special relationships with non-family members....a few former students, one who tells me I'm like a second mother to him.  He tells me he loves me; I reciprocate.  I have friends whom I tell I love them.  They know.  One friend in particular is having trouble remembering a lot of things.  We've been friends for over 30 years, taught together at the same high school, became widows within a few years of each other, and share our fears, delights, and deep thoughts.  I tell her I love her before I hang up the phone or before I leave after being with her to help her.  She smiles and tells me the same.  She told me she doesn't remember as much anymore.  I tell her, "I'll remember for you."  She smiles and says, "I know you will.  I love you."

"It's a topsy-turvy world.  When we ask for advice, we usually want approval, and when we ask for approval, we usually get advice."  Dr. Mardy  “The friend given you by circumstances over which you have no control was God’s own gift.”  Frederick Robertson

My daughter fell and opened her chin in a nasty laceration.  I called the doctor’s office and asked them if they stitched-up chin wounds.  They told me they’d rather I go to a clinic 10 miles away which is very good and does that.  Off we went to FIRST CARE and arrived 20 minutes after the clinic’s opening time.  3 trees’ death of paperwork and 45 minutes later, she was seen by the doctor who was engaging, humorous, and dedicated to putting a patient at ease.  His personality and skill at stitching was admirable.  His staff, though, distracted him with questions, etc.  We were there for about 2 hours.  I’m glad we didn’t go to PROMPT CARE because it would not have lived up to its name; we weren’t FIRST, either.

I saw this recently and truly wanted to share it with y’all.  “Whatever anyone says or fails to say….you are loved.  And, when you are standing alone at he edge of the Earth and it looks like no one is coming, listen closely…..You will hear the roar of rattling stones, trembling beneath the feet of friends who are moving mountains to find you.”  Honestly, you are never alone.  There is ALWAYS someone who will listen to what you have to say, to offer a shoulder to help you with a burden, to present a box of tissues to dry your tears, and to give you a much needed hug.  Perhaps they will cry with you, too. 

“I believe in words, you see. I believe they do things. I don’t know how they work, and I don’t care. Saying simple words can make the sick feel a little better, make the sad smile, and make the old remember.”  Sean D.

“May you have a smile and blessing given to you today,” is what I like to say to others when I leave them or the conversation is over.  When I taught, I told my students, “Please give someone a smile today; it may be the only one they’ve gotten.”  In the last class of the school day, I said this to a class.  The bell rang and everyone rushed out the door.  One student lingered, turned and came to my desk.  “Mz. R., I want you to know that every day when you say that and then you smile, helps me to go on and to what I have to face at home.”  The student turned and left quickly; I sat down and said a prayer for them and thanked God for putting me where I was every day for that student….I knew of their home life.

Psychopaths typically use too many "uhs" and "ums" while talking, in order to seem normal.

A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." -Stephen Crane, writer (1 Nov 1871-1900)

Do you have a “hell drawer”?  You know, that drawer that has little things in it which at the time you put them there, they were important, or the thought of, “I’ll need this one of these days.”  Now there are a bazillion little things in it, all of which had importance at a time, and are taking up valuable space for more little things.  Oh no, there will not be a second “hell drawer” made because this one is just fine.  You don’t DARE throw anything in that drawer away.  WHY????  Because you will find you have use for it one day after the environmental specialist (garbage man and truck) has hauled it away to sites unseen and unknown.  Here’s the definition of the infamous HELL DRAWER:  it's hell to open and hell to close and while looking for something, you usually say, "Where the hell is it?"

Peace, love, smiles, and blessings to you.  Trudy J

2018 January FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                            2018 January FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

“The middle of nowhere is any place that’s empty, with no heart,” was said by a man who writes a blog I read.  I live in a small town in Illinois. I’ve been to New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago and felt the same way he does. To me, sometimes progress is regression; there’s too much focus on mechanical and electronic which have no heart, and getting ahead at the expense of another. I’ll take a small town in the middle of somewhere over a large town in the middle of nowhere, any day.

Connor-ism:  “One hundred plus five hundred is sick hundred….I mean sick hundred.  No!  I mean six hundred.”

Have you ever visited a retirement home or sat and talked with someone who is 80+? Those are the walking history lessons, time-gone-by accounts of what life was like across the country before you were born. They are treasures, in my opinion. Young folks are so busy acquiring what they think they need and want or just fooling around doing nothing important. If you want a true history lesson, visit someone who is 80+.  They will tell you what isn’t in the history books…..the real stuff they lived through.  Chief Dan George said, “If the young will listen, the old will speak.” There is so much to learn from our “history treasures”. 

Here are some interesting names and places:  Scot Scott lives on Scott Ave. in Scottsdale, AZ; Woody Treeze lives in Forrest, IL;  Ima Word, Scrabble, WV; Captain Jim Kirk, Enterprise, WV; The Bakers of Pie, WV.

God didn’t promise us an easy journey.  He did promise us a better journey with Him in it, though. tjr

You know it's going to be an interesting day when you dial your television remote thinking it is your phone. YEESH. They didn't answer, either, but I found a new channel!

I’ve wondered about the word “service”, especially when it’s attached to:  Internal Revenue “Service”, Cable TV “Service”, Public “Service”, Customer “Service”, Federal, city, state “Service”.   I listened to two farmers talking, and one of them said he had bought a bull to “service” his cows.  It all came into focus.  Now, I understand what all those agencies are doing to us.  I hope you’re as enlightened as I am.

OCD can be a pain. I was eating a few cookies from a package. There were 4 stacked in a row, so I ate 4. Well, I retrieved the 4th one and one from the second stacked-row fell out of place. I tried to put it back in place, but it started to crumble. So, I ate it. That left the second row uneven; therefore, I had to eat those to make the following rows even. I was careful to retrieve the last one in the second row so I wouldn't disturb the third row of them.  I guess I was “keeping them in line”. Then, when I tried to hide them from my daughter, she heard the wrapper crumbling and I spilled some on the table. I got up and left.....they weren't in a straight line.  I think Adrian Monk was a relative.

Brenduhh stopped by for some tea.  She was going on about her day, her conversations with others, and her plans for the future.  She had a trouble, too.  She asked me for advice; I gave it to her after much consideration of what to and how to say it.  She listened intently then said, “Trudy, for as long as I’ve been listening to you, I have not found a single piece of advice I didn’t like, nor one which didn’t give me something to think about. Thank you for another “think coming” and another something to like.”  I felt honored she valued what I said and my years of experience which lead to some wisdom.   

“A child will go as far as you allow them to reach.” “A smile takes only a moment of pleasure for you to give, but can give many moments of pleasure to another.”  tjr

Have you been hearing about some people believe we are in the “end of the world” times?  They are saying with all the hurricanes, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, etc., it is the Biblical indication of it. A friend of mine had a personal sign given to him a few days ago that has just about confirmed we are in the end times. He went through the drive thru at McDonald’s and they not only got his order right, he could understand what the person was saying as it came out of the speaker, the fries were hot, and the drink didn’t have more ice than liquid. If that is not an end times sign, I don't know what is.   

My friend and I were discussing dieing.  She said, “I think I’ll just live forever and make those I dislike uncomfortable.”  I told her, “I plan to come back as a ghost and watch over those I love, but antagonizing and scaring the poop out of those I don't.  I'd laugh so hard I'd split my sheet!”

My friend, Carole, posted a note saying, “If I did one of those wine and paint nights, the instructor would be like, “Wow, look at you, you are really good at wine.”  I told her, “I wouldn’t be a Monet, but I could certainly be a Merlot.”  She told me her sister got all the artistic talent, and she’d rather have wine.  I told her, “You’ll get more friends with a round of wine than you would with a round of paint and brushes.”

There’s a character from my past.  Her name is “Ain’t Daisy”.  Most people pronounce it “Aunt/Ant Daisy”, but she’s from the rural South and pronounces the first part as “Ain’t”.  She was full of wisdom, which as I’ve explained before, is a lot of experiences which taught you something, and then you go and share it with another.  I asked her one time, “Ain’t Daisy, how come you don’t talk a lot like the others in this neighborhood?”  She rocked in her favorite rocking chair (she had 5 of them around the house and on the front porch) being quiet for a “spell”.  I knew she was thinking because she’d half-way squint her right eye.  “Chile, seems to me those that’s a-talking so much take care of most of what isn’t important, but to just hear themselves’ noise.  I’d rather say something important, contributing-like, to a conversation so’s another can use it to get bettuh.”  As I thought about what she’d said, it made a lot of sense….more ‘n what the others were saying, anyway.

Sometimes I’m at a loss for words.  So, body language helps express my feelings---hand gestures do, too.  I can, with one finger, tell a person what I think or what to do.  Sometimes it’s the only thing that stands up for me. 

Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence. -Henri Frederic Amiel, philosopher and writer (27 Sep 1821-1881)

There is a book out called MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS.  I've been watching the politicians and truly believe most of them are from Uranus.  Worms are from Earth; dimes are from Mercury; and, Mickey and Minnie's dog is from Pluto.

My friend came over hobbling around and groaning as she sat down for tea.  “What is the problem you have?  You’re hobbling and groaning.”  She told me, “Yesterday I learned how to erratically count as I went down the stairs…..’Step 1, step 4, step 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, FLOOR!’”   She deserved a second helping of a freshly made cinnamon roll, so I gave her one.

I have a friend who has much darker skin color than I.  She was telling me of a soul who called her, “a colored girl.”  I grimaced as I know this is a veiled racial slur.  I asked her what she did.  She said, “I chuckled and told them, “Honey, you’re colored, too.  You’re a peachy, pinky cream color.  If we and anything didn’t have color we’d be invisible.  Aren’t you glad you’re colored?”  Oh, she is so wise.

Peace, smiles, and blessings for 2018 ----------- Trudy :)

2017 December FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

2017 December FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

I listened to some Christmas songs in August.  Not the ordinary ones, but ones most people don’t hear on the radio over and over and over for more than 25 days.  Songs like:  THERE’S A NEW KID IN TOWN; SOME CHILDREN SEE HIM; THAT SILENT NIGHT; LIGHT all by Kenny Rogers.  Then, there was:  WHAT A WONDERFUL BEGINNING, Lisa Brokop; WHO IS THIS BABY, The Judds; LET IT BE CHRISTMAS, Alan Jackson; IT WASN’T HIS CHILD, Skip Ewing; WHAT MADE THE BABY CRY, Toby Keith; A STRANGE WAY TO SAVE THE WORLD, B.J. Thomas. ‘Refreshing to say the least.

Have you ever said, “I’m sorry”?  Well, of course you have, but did you mean each word to the fullest extent of their meaning?  There are 2 ways to say this phrase and each way means something different.  “I’M sorry”, means only you are sorry; “I’m SORRY” you’re telling a feeling, a noun (you could put your name in there or another feeling, for example).  Looking the person in the eye, if it is possible, when you say this and telling them why you’re sorry will confirm to them you truly mean it.  IF you don’t truly mean it, don’t say it.  That’s what I’ve tried to teach my children, because if you don’t truly mean it, those two words are just that------words.

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss, at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. -Honore de Balzac, novelist (1799-1850)   She kissed away boo-boos; made monster-go-away spray for you to spray them away; was there when the spray didn’t work and you crawled into bed with her asking, “Mom, please make the monsters go away”---then, she laid her hand on your cheek and they went away; make a hot breakfast on cold mornings; told you she loved you RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FRIENDS!; cried with you, but she cried harder; always believed you’d be somebody terrific; shared her cake or pie with you; made your favorite meal on your special day; and many, many more things you’ve tucked away in your “memory bank” and heart.

Pearls….the sign, in the old South, of a lady through and through. I was raised in the old South---Atlanta, Georgia. My mother wore pearls which Daddy brought to her from Japan after he returned from WWII where he’d been a captain on a ship at Iwo Jima. He was from the South……Virginia. They were quite a pair….the officer and gentleman that he was and the lady wearing the pearls. When I see a lady wearing pearls, it brings back the memory of Mother wearing her pearls escorted by the officer and gentleman of her heart, Daddy.

Teenagers should NEVER accompany you when you shop for groceries. Your bill will increase by $30₊ and the stuff will be items you’d never dream of buying. I can stave off my hunger while shopping with rationalization of: “It’ll make you fat; you don’t need it; look at how much it costs; do you really want people see you eating now?” None of that is logical with a teenager, especially if it’s a boy.

We’d just finished lunch 30 minutes before entering the store, so I thought I was safe. Half-way down the produce aisle I heard, “Mom look at this watermelon. It sounds good. You just HAVE to buy it.” So into the cart it went. I seldom buy watermelon, especially a whole one. I have no where to store it until I’m ready to eat it or serve it to the family. I mentioned this to the “scarf-hound”, who replied, “Oh Mom, I’ll eat half of it when we get home.” Of this I was certain would happen. I knew I was safe in the onions, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, so I hung out there as long as I could. “Mom, come look at this sale on popped pop corn. You can get a 3 pound bag for $1.50 and it’s usually $3.25. Let’s get it.” Before I could object, into the cart it went. All I could think of was the 3 movies it will take to empty the bag and the residual pieces on the carpet, couch, and airborne. I had to pass the deli department to get to the eggs, which is why I really went to this store to begin with. The eggs were less than a dollar a dozen; good buy because we go through a dozen in less than a week. Imagine that, and I know you’re wondering why. Drawing my attention to the salads, he mentioned/cried/announced that his favorite potato salad was “ON SALE”. Three pounds of it went into the cart with a promise of eating some of it for supper. He had, also, ordered a slice of “HUNGRY MAN’S” pizza when I wasn’t looking or listening. He carried that.  As I watched the cart explode and the bank account implode, I got him to go look for some obscure product like fried elephant ears while I inched toward the check-out lane. He bought the hunt and I scooted into the lane. I was pretty happy I was surrounded by other people because when he appeared with a very perplexed look and frustration on his face of not being able to find the item, I knew he’d not dare argue that we needed/he wanted more of what he liked than of what was needed. I ran the card through the scanner and was relieved it didn’t blast out an announcement of “Over drawn; sale not valid.”  The next time I go to the grocery store, he’s staying home to dust the house with a Q-Tip and run the vacuum cleaner twice.

My friend was typing a message to me and sent it before she was finished.  She messaged me with, “I hate it when I hit the shift key before I’m finished.”  I responded with, “Shift happens, Dianna, shift happens.”

Remember the look your mother gave you when words wouldn’t suffice?  Well, "that look" is based on faith and experience, as well as discipline of caring.  My mother gave me "that look" and a raised left eyebrow was with it at times, usually when I questioned her.  Then there is "that look" coupled with squinty eyes, clenched teeth with tight lips pursed, and a slight turn of the head.  Oh gosh, that one you didn't question, but tried to find solace/refuge/safety in your room, under the covers pretending to be asleep or sick.  Funny how history repeats itself.  My children got the same looks I received when I was growing up.  Hmmmm, maybe it's in the gene pool or something like that.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: I just ate a box of Girl Scout's THIN MINTS. They didn't make me thin. Girl Scouts now lie AND sell cookies!!! YEESH!  My friend, Carole, told me she’d tried it, too, and all she got was fresh breath.

I was told, “When one door closes another always opens.”  Well, that may be true, but the hallways are a real pain in the patoot.

Brenduhh came over with some big envelopes.  I asked her what they were for as we sat down for a cup of coffee.  She told me, “Watch.  I’m going to send a voice mail to some people,” and with that, she talked into the envelopes, sealed them, addressed them, and put a stamp on them.  I had to step away from the table.  After she licked and stamped the envelopes, she lamented to me about losing weight.  “I just can’t seem to lose weight; in fact, Trudy, I’m gaining,” Brenduhh cried to me.  “I’ve been taking these watching weight diet pills and they aren’t working,” she continued.  “How many do you take a day?” I asked.  “Well, they really taste good, so I usually eat about 10,” she said.  “Gods, Brenduhh!!  I never heard of one taking 10 diet pills a day.  Where did you get them?”  “I found them at the grocery store.  Here are some I brought with me,” she said handing them to me.  Sure enough there was an emblem which read “W & W” until I turned them around.  “Brenduhh, these are NOT diet pills.  You’ve been reading them upside down,” I told her sweetly.

The “one of a kind”, “God broke the mold”, “Ain’t nobody like them” people have their own set of rules to live by. Seems those rules are pretty much tried and true and based on “what’s right it right, what’s wrong is wrong”. I like those people…..they’re real, dependable, and honest.  I was raised with a lot of people like that.  They and their ways gave me stability, taught me what is really important in this world and the guide lines to live by, and took me down a notch or two when I needed it all the while letting me know I was still loved.  They weren’t just relatives, some were neighbors, some lived simple lives and worked hard, and some stepped into my life for a little while then left.  I believe everyone has a purpose when they come into your life.  They all teach you something, and they all are on a time schedule.  Some are there briefly, some stay a while, and others are there until they draw their last breaths.  I’ve seen it happen and experienced all the time frames.  I just hope that I leave and will have left a positive imprint on someone’s life.

Peace with blessings of smiles and Merry Christmas with happy holidays to you……….always Trudy

November's FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

                                             2017 November FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

I was raised in Decatur, GA; watched some of Stone Mountain get carved; stood before various Generals’ statues trying to imagine what they had to do; had to say "Yes sir, no sir, yes ma'am, no ma'am"; loved, and still do, sweet tea (is there any other kind?), and knew what "Well, bless her/his heart" meant (it's a gracious way of saying "That silly fool.")  "Y'all" was for one person, "all y'all" was for more.  I still say those things which make some folks wonder what I'm saying since I now live in the North.  Catfish, hush puppies, greens with real ham hocks, and macaroni and cheese is my favorite supper; macaroni and cheese baked in the oven, stewed tomatoes, and green beans with onions and ham hocks cooked in them is my second favorite.  Ladies usually wore pearls and looked nice when they left their house, and clean underwear was a must, just in case you’d get in an accident and have to go to the hospital.  Men held doors for ladies, said, “Thank you, ma’am”, and smiled a lot at you---I don’t know why, but it could be a signal they know something you don’t.  All of that is culture at its finest, in my opinion.  I’m a bit partial to the old South and its ways.

Since I began this month’s column with experiences and memories of living in the South, I’d like to tell you some of the phrases I remember and some new ones I’ve heard.  Most are self-explanatory, but I will give explanations.  “He/She’s like a fly in buttermilk.”  “Lord, Honey” or “Laws, Miss Agnes”---an expression of surprise, emphasis, or just welcoming a dialogue (it will come before the sentence(s), after all of them (like an exclamation mark), or somewhere in the middle (more emphasis).  “Well, shut my mouth” and sometimes you wished the person would or somebody would.  “I’m growing old here and Christmas is a-comin’!” usually said when the time frame of action is longer than wanted.  “Still waters run deep”.  “Oh she’ll/he’ll be a blessin’ party in hell” usually meant the person will be going there and will see some people they know.  “Well, aren’t you just precious” usually said sarcastically in response to someone being offensive.  “Boy, he’s/she’s cuttin’ rusty today” refers to dealing with a very difficult person.  “I need some switchel” refers to a drink made with apple cider vinegar, honey, and water which some farmers drink when they come in from reaping hay/grass/weeds/grains; it cuts the dust and dryness in their throat.  “Give me some sugar” usually said when wanting a kiss.  “Poke her and see if she’s done with that hissy fit” refers to a gal who’s gotten extremely angry and needs to be reminded the world doesn’t revolve around her.  One usually pokes raw bread dough to see if it’s finished rising and can be baked.  The best one I heard recently was, “Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit.”  I’ll holler at all y’all later.

Each of us has had daunting moments of unhappiness/feeling all alone/feeling unloved or unwanted.  Sometimes those moments are extended to time frames we’d like to get away from.  An animal shelter is about the best place to be when you have or have had those times.  There is unconditional love and acceptance there.  In fact, you can just sit and do nothing and a warm body will come and reassure you with a nudge, snuggle, wet nose, or paw on your arm or leg that life will be better, even if it's just for that moment.  Nothing is expected of you, but plenty is given to you.  Peace my friend, a peace you weren’t expecting.

Have you ever noticed, one can do a day’s Ninja workout in 10 seconds by walking into a spider’s web?  All the arm movements, kicks, lunges and bends are completed.

I find tongue twisters to be lingual calisthenics.  Here is one for you:  AN INTUIT INUIT INDICATED INGENUITY.

Just think, if we charged our cell phones by running on a treadmill, we’d be about the healthiest country in North America.  Mother introduced me to geometry.  I had to stand in a corner after sticking my tongue out at her.  Then, Daddy came home and told me about pie being square, but to not believe it because a total circumference of 360 degrees is the true shape of pie.

The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. ---Love will do this.  Wm. James & tjr

I am a retired teacher.  I was the lead substitute in a certain high school, taught English in the summer there, and supervised Saturday morning detention (a.k.a. Breakfast Club), too.  I liked substituting; I got to know more students that way.  I can't say I like retirement, but age and some school administrators think one should retire so a new person, who is less expensive, can be there instead.  Now I teach via the computer to some of the very ones I had in various classrooms.  They see me on Facebook and talk to me about their lives, troubles, children, and want advice.  They tell me, "Life is really tough, Mz. R."  I tell them, "I was tough on you."  They tell me, "Yeah you were, but you cared…you loved us."  I smile and sometimes my eyes are moist, too.

Everyone who walks through your life leaves an imprint.  The ones you loved and the listeners leave the deepest.  Thank you for your imprint on my life.

Purple is known as a “royal” color because back when people relied on natural dyes, purple came from sea snails and was the hardest to extract. With that, only royals could afford it.

Too many parents make life hard for their children by trying, too zealously, to make it easy for them. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, poet, dramatist, novelist, and philosopher (28 Aug 1749-1832)  Put the grain of sand in their clamshell life and encourage them to make a pearl out of themselves.

While driving recently I saw a Budweiser truck.  The sign on it said, “My other ride is a Clydesdale.”  Loved it!!

I subscribe to a blog: Blog Name: Sean of the South Blog URL: http://seandietrich.com.  This man writes from his heart about everyday things.  I haven’t read a single one which didn’t give me something to think about.  This particular entry was about a girl who wanted a chance, and a lady who was a complete stranger did just that.  The title of the blog is CADDILAC WOMAN.  It reminded me of something which happened to me.  I’m not “fluffing my feathers”---just sharing with you.  Here is what I wrote:     

“There’s a lump in my throat. This is a happening familiar to me. He is covered in tattoos; rougher than rough looking; a don’t-fool-with-me look on his face all the time; has spent some time on the back side of jail bars for something “stupid” he’d done as a youth; has a “family” of fellas who will come to his assistance, if he needs them, or yours if you tell him; and is a minister at the mission where down-trodden men seek refuge. He shared all this with me as we sat and talked about when he was my student. He laughed telling me how he remembers I wouldn’t let him in my classroom if he had anger bottled up. He laughed when he said, “Sometimes, if you remember, I had to stand in the hall for 10 minutes before you’d let me in because you told me, ‘For 45 minutes you will not carry that anger with you.’ ” Yes, I remembered. He was starting his own business of landscaping and mowing grass. I didn’t need his services, but his statement of, “If I could just have a chance, I can make this business work.” That was the key, “have a chance”, for him to take care of my 2+ acres of yard. That was 4 years ago. He told me I am like a second mother to him; I told him he’s like a son to me. He often says, ‘Thanks, Mz. R (that’s what he calls me), for giving me a chance.”

A friend of mine told of her conversation with her husband.  “Me- I may be an overprotective B!tch of a mother, but I'm not a helicopter mom, am I?”  John- “Umm, no. You're more of a carousel mom...every full revolution ya go off!”  Real talk here- This is why our marriage works.

We’ve gone a bit without a “Connor-ism”.  He’s come up with a special way to tell time.  His mother said, “‘Ner, what time is it?”  Connor (Ner): “Eleventy thirty seven.”  Makes sense to me.

Brenduhh ordered some coffee at a coffee shop.  Here’s her order, “I want ½ Half & Half and ½ half of whole milk and ½ of vanilla caramel creamer.”  She told me the clerk walked away muttering something.

PEACE to you…………Trudy

2017 October "FROM MY PERSPECTIVE"

                                        2017 October FROM MY PERSPECTIVE

I met Brenduhh’s brother, Duhhlan.  He’s a lot like her, looks a lot like her, and OMG he even thinks like her.  I asked him what he liked to do best.  He told me, “I like to go fishin’ with my buddy, Charlie.  We was a-fishin’ on Big Quarry Lake and dock a spell back.  Lordy, we caught so many fish the bucket was about to run over with them.  It was gettin’ dark so we had to go.  Charlie told me to remember where we were so we could go out the next day.  We returned the boat and headed home.  He asked me if I’d remembered the spot where we were.  I told him, “Yeppers, I sure did.  I put an X in the bottom of the boat with the duct tape we had while you were rowin’ it to the dock.”  “He told me, ‘Good, buddy.  I hope we get the same boat tomorrow.’”  My eyeballs could not go far enough up and roll in my head.  I turned around so he couldn’t see my expression.

What a child doesn't receive he can seldom later give. -P.D. James, novelist (3 Aug 1920-2014)

A friend of mine was pretty upset with someone.  She told me, “I didn’t mince words with them.  I just told them, ‘I'm not saying I hate you, I'm just saying that you're literally the Monday of my life!’”  This was the best “tell-you-off” I’ve heard for a long time.  Thanks, Becca, for the laughs.

A friend of my daughter’s was confused about my adult son’s age for his birthday.  She and he celebrate a birthday on the same day.  He turned 43 and she turned 45.  I was telling her my daughter, her friend, would be 46 in September.  She said, “I’m 45 today.  I just thought your son was 40.  My math memory has been gone for a long time.”  I replied, “We're here to help!! Math was sort of a good subject for me....that is the simple, basic math. Forget the Algebra, Geometry, Trig, and Calculus. Mixing letters and numbers is from the Devil, and I'm a Godly girl.”

“Silence isn’t empty, it’s full of answers.”  (unknown)  Yes, it is. It can be the most formidable, or thought provoking, or uneasy feeling producing, or dangerous response.  It can be deafening.

I have a daily devotional, thought encouraging book I read.  It was given to me by a blessing….a dear friend.  The passage I read one day was, “A Number-Ten Friend”.  It talked about being a friend and gave a list of 12 actions to drive friends away and 12 actions to keep friends and make more.  The 12 positive actions are:  “Believe the best.; Respect and set boundaries.; Express humor to release joy.; Applaud successes.; Maintain good manners.; Draw a generous friendship circle.; Give without expectations.; Praise genuinely, but don’t gush.; Support her frailty, but don’t indulge.; Protect private information.; Pray fervently.; Love Jesus passionately.”  (Patsy Clairmont)  At the beginning of the reading was a Bible verse to think about…”A friend loves at all times.”  Proverbs 17:17  I believe a friend is a gift of love you give yourself.

Instead of cursing the fall down the steps or a TAFL (trip and floor landing), be grateful you’re still alive.  I’ve had a tumble and hit the floor a few times.  It was then I thought of all the things I could do while down there and the memories of what I’d done (by choice) on the floor when I was a kid…..jacks, put a puzzle together, played with pets, cut out material for something, read a book or comic book, or just lay there and dreamed about the future.  I don’t get on the floor anymore----unless it is by accident.  The adventures aren’t what they used to be when I was a kid.

I saw this sign and truly believe it.  “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy cows.  Cows make milk and cream, and milk and cream make ice cream, and ice cream makes you happy.”  So, y’all, money can buy happiness.  Here are other things which money can buy which will make you happy:  cars, houses, jewels, furs, chocolate, coffee, and a swimming pool with a cover over it so you don’t get burned.

A piece written by a columnist I read often, told of a child who had written to him about being afraid of the first day of school.  He was going into kindergarten.  The kind columnist replied telling of his experiences of being “a ‘fraidy cat” on his first day of school and other “firsts” fears he’d experienced.  The composition and reply got me to thinking.  We all have fears, ‘fraidy cat moments.  Then, later in hours, days, or years we look back and smile or laugh.  Sometimes another tells us, “You were so brave.  Where did you get the courage?”  My Daddy told me, “Courage is when only you know you’re a scared, ‘fraidy cat.”

 Cap'n Crunch's full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch and the number of stripes on his uniform indicate a rank of Commander, not Captain.

I live with grief every day of my life….about my parents’ passing (’97 and ’01) and my husband’s whom I refer to as “my Beloved” (’11).  All three enjoyed lemon pie. I didn’t care that much for lemon pie; cherry had always been my favorite. On their birthdays I eat a piece of lemon pie to celebrate their living. Each of their deaths threw a bitter lemon into my life. As the saying goes, “When life throws you lemons, make lemonade”---in my case, it’s lemon pie.

Without someone believing in us, we won’t be as good as we can be; we won’t have the strong drive and hope of becoming better or the best. Sometimes that someone believing in you is yourself.   I have met many people in my life… people from all walks of life, from all economic levels, and from all educational levels. Each one has given me another jewel in my crown of life. Each one has given me riches which I can’t hold in my hand, but held in the best place……my heart and memory. You give this to others when you interact with others in a positive way. You are a treasure, a precious jewel in others’ crowns of life.

I know people who are suffering from various maladies/diseases which are hidden.  I ache for them and keep them in my prayers.  My Daddy had COPD and had to have a handicapped tag on his rear view mirror to park in a handicapped place.  A man accused him of not being handicapped.  Daddy, the gentleman he was, told the man to call his doctor to verify his right to park where he did.  He gave the man his doctor’s phone number and walked into the store.  To some people, if they can't see the malady, it isn't important or really exists. Stupidity can't be seen, but the results of that condition can be. Just remember that.

British accents are social class signifiers evidently.  I read that  the Birmingham accent (like Ozzie Osbourne has) is perceived as the least intelligent British accent—it's ranked lower than being silent. 

"Be kind to others; you never know what demons they are fighting.  The true character of a person is measured by the way they treat another knowing there is nothing in it for them.  Do not judge another until you have walked a mile in their shoes."  These are all platitudes which, in essence, represent a statement from the Bible, "Treat others the way you'd like to be treated."  My sweet and wise mother used to tell me, "In thought, word, and deed it is your conscience you will feed."  I find myself telling that to my children, too.

“Don’t be impressed by money, followers, degrees, and titles.  Be impressed by kindness, integrity, humility, and generosity.”  The first four come from money or influencing another.  The last four come from the heart and soul.

I taught English. I refused to teach diagramming sentences because it is not necessary to know in life after high school or at any time, for that matter. I have yet to balance my checkbook, cook a nutritious meal, do laundry, clean the house, transport kids to and from activities, take care of physical and emotional wounds, or help with their homework........UNTIL one brought home diagramming sentences. I wrote the teacher a note in French asking her where diagramming sentences was necessary to learn to live. She wrote back she didn't understand the language I'd written. I returned the note telling her it was more important to know French than to know how to diagram a sentence, and that I was a high school English teacher and had been the captain of the debate team in high school and college.  No rebuttal; I guess she learned it was futile to argue.