Let There Be Light

"Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself." 
 Desiderius Erasmus

The lights are back on in downtown New York.


"Normal" will not return for a longer time for many who were in the path of Sandy, but meanwhile the media is taking time from their constant annoying political spin to tell the stories of  the selflessness of so many who braved the dangers to help a neighbor, be it a stranger or a friend. 

People from all over have lent a hand in any way they can.  It does the spirit good to know that we truly do live in a wonderful world.  The lights seem to be a little brighter because of the the kindness of the human heart.

And BTW, I am doing OK.

I Am Still Here

Beautiful days, crisp nights and I am doing OK.

It was the summer of my 21st year and I was living life in the spirit of what that age gives to you.  One evening I was in the latest and coolest of the local clubs, dancing to the sounds of The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.  The room was crowded with 20 something aged party-goers but off to the side I spied a group of older patrons  and wondered what they were doing there. I thought they were taking up the space that belonged to us, the young, the vital, the hip. 

Time marched on...

I  am not the sort to spend my time looking back.  Life, for the most part has been good to me, although like everybody, there have been pitfalls and sadness.   I miss those that have gone before me and do think of them often, but try to dwell on only the good times shared by us.

I often hear contemporaries use the expression of "In my time.", meaning their youth.  I look at my time as now, because heck, I am still here.  It is the whole journey, not just a portion.  Each decade brings with it new adventures, new acquaintences, and new things to learn and experience, no matter if it is good or bad.   I may not be as limber as I used to be, but I am still vertical.  I can still think, although constant changing technology can befuddle me, but most of the time I can put a few words together and make sense.  My time is yesterday, today and I hope, many more tomorrows and I have tried to use it as best I can.  Because I have reached an age of invisibility does not mean I have no purpose.  Of course, that purpose is defined by me and how rewarding and meaningful I make it.  I am always a work in progress.

My friends and I are still vital and hip, even if some have hips that are made of titanium and yes,  I am still dancing. 

 

'Tis the Season

Storms are surrounding us, weather people are talking about doom and gloom, but I am doing OK

I will soon be going on vacation with my family and am excited about all the fun we will be having. Plans have been made since April and everything fell into place very easily.

There were just a few more things to get, so off I went to Costco today, the mega store with everything mega sized. As I walked in, I noticed that against the wall there was Christmas ribbon stacked high.  As I moved across the aisles, I saw all the outside furniture had been replaced by toys for children.  Did I miss something?  Where did the rest of summer go, and for that matter did autumn happen without me noticing?   Have I been in a coma and woken up to a very warm winter?

So just in case you are listening to holiday carols right now and can't wait to get that shopping started, the fa-la-la thing has begun. Sales at Walmart will start at midnight, get there early.



Me, I'm going to the beach.  Hopefully, it will not snow.

Monday PhotoPrompt, June 4, 2012

Tending to my gardens lately and doing OK


Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer.



We all look forward to this time of year.  This vacation has been planned for 10 months and we can't wait for it to start.  The car is packed with all sorts of paraphernalia, the tank is full and everyone has been buckled up .  Fun and sun is only 4 hours away.


One hour has passed and you begin to feel that you are part of National Lampoon's Vacation movie.  The kids who you thought would sleep, didn't, and now don't want to share that back seat with their other siblings.  Then you remember what you forgot to pack to keep them entertained , but too late now.  However, you can always buy it at your destination at 3xs the price you paid for at home. 


Hour two into the road trip and you start to threaten the children you once loved.  You really don't mean it, but that headache that began pounding about half an hour ago has turned you into another person.  The pain started around the same time that traffic seemed to come to a standstill and people became impatient.  You should be halfway there, but you are not.  There are no happy campers in the car.


Three hours now and you have been able to make up some of the time due to your spouse's need to break the sound barrier.  Oh, what's that you see in the back window, why it's your friendly  policeman who has noticed your "out of state license plate" and wants to welcome you to his town.   You thank him for his keen observance of hubby's driving habits and try not to cry when he hands him the $200 ticket.  


Almost there and the car has become quiet.  The children have run out of steam and are sound asleep.  There is silence between you and the race car driver seated next to you, but out the window you can see the sunset over the water. This was what you have dreamed about all these months.  Peace and forgiveness have now replaced frustration and anger.  The car pulls into the driveway of the rental house and surprise, it is even nicer than the picture you saw on the Internet. The children wake and squeal with delight.  All is right with the world. 

Mondays PhotoPrompt is a laid back project wherein anyone at anytime can join in..post a picture on a Monday, write something generated by the prompt (prose/poetry/long/short/fiction/nonfiction), read, critique...whatever stirs your pot. You have all week to think about what you want to write (or not). That's just how we roll lol.

If you are going to post a PhotoPrompt or are going to write about a PhotoPrompt or are planning to do some reading and may enjo critiquing please leave a note in comments so everyone can follow
over to your place and see what's happening.

Participating bloggers include
http://mybabyjohn.blogspot.com/
http://emptynestinsider.blogspot.com/
http://myjustsostory.blogspot.com/
http://randomreasoning.net/
http://sweetteareads.blogspot.com/
http://thatamysaia.blogspot.com/
http://thecontemplativecat.blogspot.com/
http://austanspace.blogspot.com/
http://acceptingchanges-maybe.blogspot.com/
http://randominterruptions.blogspot.com/

It's Time

I'm running late, but doing OK.



In the spring of our lives, time seems to go by so slowly because we are always looking forward to the future.

As summer passes, there is no time, we are busy with too many things.

As the flowers lose their luster and fall approaches, we wonder where did it all go.

Whoosh.............................................

However, only "now" matters; it is only the moment at hand, the moment to make the most of what we have and what we can give.

I am going to start planting, because that time has come.  It's time for my gardens.  Time for me to sow my seeds and hope for the best.

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."

William Shakespeare

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Quite cold here, but doing OK

Skype -  Lights, Camera , ACTION!


I had to get ready tonight for my second Skype appearance.  Hair was newly dyed and coiffed, makeup was put on, the set (kitchen) straightened up, a rehearsal was done and now  "Ready when you are CB."

I made my first screen appearance on December 26th, the day after my children gave me my wonderful new iPad with the app Skype downloaded.  At about 8:30 am, my dear son, Andy, called me on my iBaby (yes, lovin' my new i).  I was still in bed, as the day before had been very eventful and I was sleeping in (OK, maybe it was 9:30).   The ring startled me and I picked it up from where it lay next to me. As I opened it it up and clicked "accept" (or something like that), there was Andy with a big smile, and in the corner of the screen was me, not exactly looking my best. If I had thought about it, I would have put the pillow case over my face.   It was very nice of him to call, as he is my son and as such, does not phone that often.  However, I was not prepared for this and was a little rattled by this invasion of my personal space. He loves me though, no matter my squinty, swollen eyes and baggy chin(s).

 For my second time on Skype though, I would be ready. The scene would be set, the lighting low, and I would suck in any and everything possible.  Hubby and I had tried it out the week before so as not to embarrass ourselves and appear like those old people whose You Tube video went viral a few months ago.  No, that was not going to be us.  We are savvy computer people.  So after about 15 tries with the darn thing hanging up on us over and over, we finally had success.  Eventually we had clicked on the right icons and wowee, I could talk and see hubby on his phone as he sat in the next room from me.  Are we cool or what?

So tonight I called my daughter who lives on the other side of the country and told her that I was planning on Skyping her. She asked me to wait a few minutes so she could fix up her computer room.  I told her that was silly, there was no reason to have to do that.  I did not tell her of all the preparations that I had made for "our scene."   We connected easily and I got to see her and my beautiful and talented grandchildren.  They read stories to me, showed me their new outfits, and told me about what was going on in their lives.  It was wonderful!    

I do have to practice a little more though.  At one point, I apparently got too close to the screen and all they could see were the fillings in my teeth. Gosh, I should have gotten  that implant.

The Kindness of Strangers

I am a shameless, bragging grandma, and I am doing OK.


 At the end of summer, my family and some friends went to St. Peter's Village, a 19th century industrial /mining "company" town, where, in many ways, time has stood still. It is a lovely walk-about place that has some great trails and woods to explore.   French Creek, a lovely meandering waterway that borders it, bubbles over the massive granite boulders and is the town's main tourist attraction.  In the summer,  young, coming-of-age boys travel here to prove their manhood (or stupidity) by jumping off the rocks and cliffs into small pools of water.  Yes, it's illegal and very dangerous, but that does not stop the many generations of youth that have come to show off their masculinity and bravery.  Some have paid a terrible price for their recklessness.

As you can see by the picture, this is a very small village, encompassing only four to six tenth of a mile.  However, it has a  lovely inn, a great bakery, a luscious ice cream parlor, a glass blowing store, a winery and some craft shops.  Because of it's out-of-the-way location, it only thrives in the spring, summer and fall. During a nice weekend, the town, although busy but never overcrowded, is a destination point for us. 

On this particular day, we were only going there to partake of the good food and atmosphere of the outdoor dining at the inn. Three of our grandchildren were with us and while the adults hobnobbed with each other, the kids, at their own table, had a great time giggling, playing cards and enjoying the music being played by the restaurant's performer, a young guitarist and vocalist, named Chris Lebresco (http://www.chrislebresco.com) .  Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed one of my granddaughters walk up to Chris and request that he play a specific song. Within a few minutes, this is what we witnessed.

My 10 year old  granddaughter has been teaching herself the guitar for about a year.  She has learned much of what she knows on You Tube.  She has so many talents and we are always in awe of her.  However, what impressed me this day was her confidence in getting up in front of about 50 or so  strangers and putting herself out there.  She took the opportunity and ran with it, smiling the whole way through it. After all my years, I still don't think I could do such a thing.

All of us remember some of those special  kindnesses that are bestowed upon us.  It might not have been a big deal to the benefactor, but for those who receive, it could be monumental and will be remembered forever.  Just a few minutes in your life, a smile, a gesture, a good word, a caring touch,  can impact someone deeply.  This young man,  Chris Lebresco, gave up his time in the spotlight to allow a little girl a moment in the sun.  She was so joyous that day, it will be something she (and I, her teary-eyed grandma) will never forget.

Hope this video works

The next Stevie Nicks playing one of her original compositions

Our future guitarist/songwriter is now taking lessons from a music teacher.  We know that she will be a success at whatever she chooses to do in life, not only because of her talents, but because of her brave and beautiful heart.

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."

Graham Greene  

God Save the Queen

Reading E-mail and doing OK

Ha, ha, ha.

I have found  that one of the things that retirees do is to send jokes or frightening, but usually erroneous information, via e-mail to their fellow retirees.  At the end, it will say to pass it on to 10 friends or any warm body with an e-mail address.  They warn you that if you don't send it out in 30 minutes, a pox will fall upon your house for ever and ever.   All a senior citizen needs is another jink on them.  I must receive at least five of these a day and may read three (Yes, Chris, I read all of yours) but I seldom pass it on, no matter the threat.  However, today I received something that I thought was a belly laugh and instead of sending it on, I am going to put it in my blog.  This is so much easier than thinking. 

The queen has sent an e-mail.....

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your immediate failure to financially manage yourselves and also in recent years your tendency to elect incompetent Presidents of the USA and therefore not able to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated sometime next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour,' 'favour,' 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise.' Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up 'vocabulary').

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2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ''like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u'' and the elimination of '-ize.'

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3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

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4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you're not ready to shoot grouse.
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5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

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6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

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7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

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8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

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9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. New Zealand beer is also acceptable, as New Zealand is pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

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10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

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11. You will cease playing American football. There are only two kinds of proper football; one you call soccer, and rugby (dominated by the New Zealanders). Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

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12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the Australians (World dominators) first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

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13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

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14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

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15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

One thing Americans have is a good sense of humor and they can't off-shore that.