Carmina Burana

Wednesday evening my daughter and I went to see the ballet at the Kennedy Center. My previous exposure to ballet has been a large number of children’s recitals and once I saw “The Nutcracker” at Christmas time. Ballet is wonderful. It was amazing to see the graceful, yet powerful movements of the dancers. One of the dances was Carmina Burana. I have heard my musically talented teenage granddaughter exclaim over the beauty of this music. I was looking forward to seeing dance and hearing the music.

The lyrics for this piece are based on ancient texts found in a German Abbey. They were believed to be sacred texts. In fact they are the writings of wayward monks writing uninhibited poetry extolling young love, the joy of springtime and the celebration of sexual union. The dance was a beautifully choreographed depiction of the wonder of physical love. I felt like I was watching a sexual orgy set to poetry and music. It was a powerful dance. I am glad that I did not watch it with my grandaughter.

God

God is such a little word for such a huge and complex being.

There is a little chant I frequently sing whose lyrics just repeat over and over again, “Hoy One, Holy One living within me.” Just singing it helps me to be still and to hear the spark of God that lives in me. I like slowing down and listening to God.

Another of the songs I love to sing is frequently called 728B, referring to its page number in the hymnal. It starts out with these lyrics, “There is beyond the azure blue, a God concealed from human sight.” It is a well-loved hymn that speaks of God’s greatness and power.

These two concepts of God seem far apart. How can the God who is concealed from human sight live inside of me? I don’t understand, but I believe that somehow both ideas are true. The God I worship is far too big and too powerful to be contained within me. Yet the Almighty knows my name and dwells in my heart. My God is an awesome God.

We’ve spent the last two days enjoying the beauty of nature at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. What a wonderful, peaceful place to rejuvenate. We sat at the edge of the water and listened to the quiet. The only noises were the wind in the trees and the water lapping against the shore. Overhead we watched eagles soaring in the sky and osprey diving for fish. There was a great blue heron walking regally along the shore. My husband the birder identified twenty-eight different varieties of birds while we were there. We even saw nine white pelicans, which were about a thousand miles from their normal southern habitat. The rangers have installed an eagle cam where you can see baby eagles in their nest. It is very cool.

Jared

Today is Jared’s thirteenth birthday.

He was three weeks old when I first held him. His little fingers curled around my finger, and his big brown eyes gazed up at me. My heart melted. This was my grandson. The last time I held him he had just come running toward me with his little arms raised up. He was laughing when I picked him up and held him close. The next morning he was gone.

I am blessed with eight beautiful grandchildren who fill my life with joy overflowing. But sometimes I fall into the hole of pain where Jared used to be and it hurts.

Happy birthday, Jared.

Question

Everyone I know is a citizen. Why then do we not refer to children as junior citizens and to adults as citizens? It is not until we are old that we are referred to as senior citizens. The youth minister at our church calls older members seasoned saints. There must be a better way to refer to my age group. Being old is really not so bad. Not everyone gets to live this long. Maybe I can just be an old lady.

What do you think would be a good term for old people?

Spices

When was the last time you checked the dates of the spices in your cupboard?

Sunday the family was here for dinner to celebrate Paul’s birthday. My daughter wanted some cayenne pepper to spice the green beans she was cooking and went searching through my spice cabinet. She found what she was looking for, but wasn’t sure she should use what she found. The can had no expiration date, but the McCormick Company packaged it in 1977. Daughter was laughing pretty hard while she showed it to all of us. We wondered if we could sell it on eBay. Would anyone want a half full can of 30 year old red pepper? We used it, but I think it has lost some of its zing.

Today I went through the cabinet checking dates. I found some evaporated milk that said best used by June 2000, and some Bisquick that expired in 2004. Everything else was current dates. I wonder how long a can of milk be stored safely?

Paul

Today is my baby boy’s birthday. He is thirty-eight years old. Paul is our fourth child and our second son. He was born just five years after his oldest sibling. It is hard to find a picture of Paul alone. He was number four He relished becoming an only child after all the older siblings went off to college and he was finally the only one home to get all of our attention

School was hard for Paul. We were told he would never learn to read. Paul reads. We were told he could never finish high school. He finished high school. We were told he could never succeed at college. He is working on his master’s degree. Paul is a wonderful man. He fills this mother’s heart with pride.

Happy birthday, Paul!

Big Lady

After my morning session of water aerobics I entered the locker room to find it full of excited little girls. They were there for swim lessons. They were so cute as they waited to go to the pool. I said something to one of the little girls about hoping she had fun swimming. She then turned to her little friend and pointed at me and said, “See that really big lady, she nice.”

Do you suppose it is time for me to consider going on a diet?

Last night I talked to Joe on the phone. It was great to hear his voice and to hear him laugh. He has been moved to a rehab center to begin the long process of therapy and recovery. He is feeling pretty discouraged about his prognosis.

Thanks for all your prayers.

Mortality

Apparently Joe suffered another stroke last night. This morning the paralysis includes his entire right side. He is able to talk, but he appears to be more confused. Today his strongest emotion is fear. It is scary when your body starts attacking you. He will probably be spending a long time in a rehab center going through therapy to regain function in the areas that have been affected.

I have talked with my other brother, Bill, several times in the past couple of days. With Joe so sick we realize that we are entering a time of life fraught with all kinds of medical problems. Bill has just finished treatment for cancer and is doing well now. I have knee issues because of arthritis. Our bodies are wearing out. Old age has arrived and we don’t like it. We go along thinking we have some control of our life and then all of a sudden something comes along to remind us that we really have no control.

Each day of life is a gift to be lived and enjoyed. My plan is to be grateful for each of my many blessings and to live each day to the fullest.

What are you thankful for today?

Update

Joe is stable. He received the clot-busting medicine and spent the night in the ICU. This morning his strongest emotion is anger. He had hoped the medicine would work miracles and relieve all his symptoms. It wasn’t quite that good, but his speech is better today. The right arm is still not working, but that should improve with physical therapy. He is out of ICU. The prognosis for a full recovery is good. It will just take time and therapy. We are all feeling better tonight.

Joe

This afternoon my brother Joe had a stroke. He lives in California. I live in Maryland. Those 3000 miles seem very far away tonight. My niece called this evening to tell us that he was in the hospital – still in the ER. The doctors say it is a small stroke, some slurred speech and right side paralysis. They are doing more tests and deciding on treatment options now. We are praying for a full recovery. It is very scary. I love my brother.

Toilets

Awesome toilet!

This is a picture of a public toilet in Houston:






























Now that you've seen the outside view, take a look at the inside view...






It's made entirely of one-way glass! No one can see you from the outside, but when you are inside it's like sitting in a clear glass box

Now would you... COULD YOU... Use it?!

Senior Chorale

If you would like to hear a sample of my senior chorale, click here. enjoy

Senior Chorale

“You guys can do better than that. We’ll do it again. This time on doot.” Our talented, young director, Craig, worked us hard during our morning rehearsal today. We are preparing for our spring concert. The music will be wonderful, but the rhythms are difficult. The basses protest that their notes are too high and want to sing an octave lower. Craig tells us that we have the right to complain, but rehearsal is a “Craigocracy.” We have to do what he says. He will try to be a benevolent dictator. “You basses can sing higher. Use your fluffy, little man-cloud voices.” He wants the sopranos to sing louder. “Be divas for me! You act like you’re afraid of forte!” when he said forte the entire chorale of senior citizens heard a word that rhymes with forte and we laughed long and loud. When Craig finally understood why we were laughing he turned a lovely shade of red and banged his head on the piano. Finally he said, it’s not sopranos, but the basses who are afraid of that. I love our rehearsals.

Disabled

Today I officially became a disabled person. My knee has become increasingly painful and walking any distance is difficult. The doctor says it is arthritis and there really isn’t much that can be done. I don’t like to complain but it has become a problem. The doctor signed all the paperwork for me when I was there last week. Today I went to the MVA and requested a disabled tag so I will be able to park closer and not have to walk so far. It was the easiest and quickest thing I have ever done at the MVA. In my previous adventures I have been known to wait up to two hours to get tags and licenses. Today they said right this way, please. A nice lady took my papers, typed up some forms, put stickers on my new tags, and I was out in five minutes. I guess when you become old and disabled thy figure you can’t stand in long lines. Another advantage of getting old!

Amazing Grace

We saw the movie Amazing Grace this afternoon. It was a great movie about William Wilberforce and his long, painful battle to end the slave trade in the English Empire. He fought political power, greed and tradition. His opponents said this evil should be phased out very slowly, if at all, so as not to hurt the rich who were thriving from the slave trade. I have never understood people who support the idea of phasing out evil slowly so as not to upset people who are prospering on evil. Wilberforce demonstrated an amazing amount of grace to fight evil. Go see the movie.

The movie ended with a beautiful, haunting rendition of the hymn, “Amazing Grace,” played by pipes and drums. This hymn is probably the most popular of Christian hymns. It is played at many funerals, including the funerals of both of my parents. One sweet memory of my dad includes this hymn. My dad was sick for many years before his death. The family finally made the difficult decision to move dad to a nursing home. No one was happy, but it seemed to be the only possibility. The day before he left home the family gathered around his bed for a time of family worship. Dad’s voice had weakened and he was no longer able to speak above the faintest, unintelligible whisper. That day we read some scriptures, we prayed, we had communion. Then we joined together and sang “Amazing Grace.” My dad’s sweet voice rose and he sang with us. As he sang our voices faded and we listened to this man of God sing. Tears were flowing and God filled that room with His spirit. It was the last time I heard my father sing. I am looking forward to hearing him sing again.

Traffic

I occasionally work a day in the doctor’s office where I was the nurse for twenty years. Yesterday was one of those days. I had a great job which I enjoyed, so filling in once in a while is kind of fun. The commute to the office is usually about 25 minutes, most of it on a fairly light traffic portion of the beltway. Yesterday it was the commute from hell. Just as I turned onto the beltway yesterday morning the traffic stopped. The warning sign overhead reported that there was an accident further ahead and all lanes were blocked. There would be major delays. I got off at the first available exit, as did many other commuters. I wondered through the city streets seeking a way around the accident and finally arrived at work after a ninety-minute drive. Just as I was preparing to leave after a pleasant day at work we heard there had just been another accident on the beltway. This accident involved two semis and lots of spilled diesel fuel and flames shooting into the air. The beltway was closed in both directions. I again had to find a way on unfamiliar, overcrowded city streets. The traffic was at a crawl and the drivers around me were not happy. The drive home took two hours.

I did make it home just in time to get to the awards ceremony and watch granddaughter number three inducted into the Junior National Honor Society. It is so wonderful to watch my grandchildren succeed.

Funerals

I have attended three funerals in less than a week. That is more than enough for now. None of the deceased were a part of my life so these losses are not large in my world. I knew their families and went to support my friends who were grieving. Funerals, especially when they come in such rapid succession, do make you stop and reflect on life. All of us will die. Life here on earth is a temporary thing. God said that we should live life abundantly, have fun, enjoy the moment. Life is precious. Don’t waste it on worry and dither. I heard some interesting stories about people this week, some funny, some sad. I wonder what stories will be told about me when I die. I want my funeral to be a party with lots of laughter and good stories. I want a brass band playing, “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In.” Sing ”When Peace Like A River,” for me. I hope lots of friends are there. There should be lots of food and drink. Have it all catered so no one has to do any work. And I do hope that my funeral is a whole lot of years away. I am having way too much fun to be in hurry to leave.

Health Food

Yesterday Krispy Kreme, the company known for its glazed doughnuts, introduced a whole-wheat doughnut. It is glazed with a caramel flavor. The company calls the new doughnut an alternative for health-conscious consumers. The original glazed doughnut has 200 calories, while this new healthy doughnut has only 180 calories. According the company this new healthy doughnut delivers the delicious taste that Kispy Kreme lovers have come to expect. I can hardly wait to enjoy this wonderful new health food.

Bat Sunday

I have never seen a minister so completely upstaged, as ours was this morning. Our resident church bat is usually very quiet and sleeps through most events, but during this morning’s sermon the bat decided it was exercise time. The bat started circling up near the ceiling at first, and then started swooping and diving down near the pews. The congregants gave their complete attention to the bat, with several shrieks as bat swooped dangerously close. The minister suggested some appropriate music might make batty go into hiding. The organist played “All Creatures Great and Small.” The bat kept swooping. Then several folks stared trying to catch the critter. Coats were thrown into the air and people were jumping and running after the flying rodent. Bat finally flew into a small hallway behind the pulpit and the minister whipped off his clerical robe and blocked it in the hall while another man finally captured our bat with his coat. Bat was released outside into the falling snow. The sermon was forgotten. We did have a baptism immediately after the bat capture. I have been to bat mitzvahs before, but this was the first bat baptism.

Ash Wednesday

Last year I celebrated Ash Wednesday among a circle of women friends. It was a memorable evening that greatly helped me to understand the true meaning of Lent. One of the women had been through a difficult divorce. After her husband left she found she was unable to enjoy lighting a fire in her fireplace because it reminded her of times that had seemed happier. The fireplace became a symbol to her of the bitterness she felt toward her ex and the pain that weighed heavy on her heart. One February evening she sat staring at the cold fireplace when she felt the presence of God beside her. God was telling her that it was time to let go of the bitterness and move on into the land of joy. She built a big, beautiful fire that evening. She threw into those flames the hurt, the bitterness and the anger that had been weighing her down. The fire consumed those painful emotions and she felt a great release. The next morning she collected the ashes in a plastic bag and saved them. They were ashes of joy. On Ash Wednesday, as we sat around a cheerful fire, she told us that for Lent she had burned up her bitterness. She brought the ashes of joy for us to share. As we put these ashes of joy on one another’s foreheads we were filled with a sense of the joy that comes when God is present among His people.

“Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:5

Wine

One evening during our snow party at AM’s house we discussed several recent articles that said drinking a glass of wine everyday was good for you. The articles said a daily glass of wine would extend your life by several years. I enjoy living, so anything that might extend my life sounds like a gook idea. I grew up in a house where alcohol was never served. I rarely drink and don’t know anything about wine. I made the comment that I might try drinking a glass of wine, but I didn’t have any of those special glasses and didn’t know what kind of wine to buy. My loving and helpful daughters heard my problem, and they have tried to help their dad and me. This weekend to celebrate dad’s 69^th birthday they gave him a set of wine glasses and six bottles of wine. There are three different varieties of wine glasses. The label says one kind is for burgundy, one for chardonnay, and another for Bordeaux. Then I looked at the wine. AM gave us white merlot, red Beaujolais, pinot noir, white zinfandel, blackberry wine, and one call Frutezia. None of those matches the kinds the glasses suggested. What kind of wine do I pour in which glass? Is there a school for wine drinkers? Maybe I should just drink it straight from the bottle. Do you have any helpful suggestions to make this all less confusing?

February 16

Today is my beloved’s birthday. On his twenty-seventh birthday I gave him the best gift I have ever given him for a birthday. I presented him with a beautiful baby girl, our second daughter. There is a special bond between those two. I don’t know if it is because they share a birthday, but they do form a mutual admiration society. When she was little, AM wanted a green birthday cake. Dad wanted a banana cake. It was easy to spread green icing over a banana cake and keep every one happy. They are still easy to please.

Happy Birthday to two of my reasons for living. I love you both enormously!

Snow Party

We have snow, ice, and no electricity. The house is too cold and too dark for habitation, so we have come to camp out with other friends and relatives at daugther #2's house. She is one of the few in town with power. Having power means she has a full house of refuges from the cold. We are having a lovely visit, but it will be nice to be able to go back to my quiet house.

Sunday Happenings

Yesterday morning after making a few remarks the minister sat back down on the chair he sits on every Sunday. Only yesterday the chair seat gave out from under him. There was a loud crash. His feet were on the floor, his knees were over the frame of the chair, and his behind and the chair cushion were on the floor. His face first registered shock and surprise, then he started smiling and then laughing. He was obviously unhurt, but he looked totally ridiculous. The congregation started laughing. We laughed for several minutes as he sat there in a very awkward position. No one came forward to help him up, we were all laughing too hard. Poor guy. He finally hoisted himself up and very gingerly sat down on another chair. It was a little hard to again find a spirit of worship.

In the afternoon I watched Al Gore’s movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.” It was a thought-provoking movie. I highly recommend that you watch it. Global warming is a problem that needs to be confronted.

I watched part of the Grammies last night. I was pleased to see the Dixie Chicks win best song of the year for, “Not Ready to Make Nice.” That song touches a chord in all of us. There are times when we are just not quite ready to be nice to people who have mistreated us. Forgiveness is a hard thing to do.

Love Your Enemies

I was looking over the lesson for my Sunday school class (I teach second graders). The memory verse for Sunday is, “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you.” This is a hard teaching. I really don’t currently consider anyone my enemy, but I can remember times when I felt very persecuted. Loving my persecutors was difficult.

Are you able to love your enemies? What helps you to be able love people who are mean to you or, worse, people who are mean to your children?

Aging - Some Good, Some Bad

Today is our third grandchild’s sixteenth birthday. S is bright and beautiful and still likes to hang out with her gramma. She, along with our other grandkids, is one of the greatest joys in our life. Grandchildren are, without a doubt, the best part of getting older.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon in the dentist’s chair. One of my teeth had broken in two. It didn’t hurt but it did leave a large hole that was most annoying. The dentist said there was no decay, but as we get older cracks appear in the teeth from years of wear and tear. The small cracks eventually cause the teeth to break. I now have a nice new tooth and the knowledge that my teeth are wearing out. I hate knowing that my teeth are getting old. I hope other body parts don’t start falling off any time soon.

The Januaries

My friend J is suffering a bad case of the “Januaries.” You know the symptoms. You feel depressed and bored. The blahs seem to overwhelm you. She finds this malaise overwhelms her every winter. I pointed out to her that it was now February, but she responded that a bad case of the Januaries could last all through February.

Do you have any suggestions for overcoming the Januaries?

Delight

I babysat for my favorite baby today. Rocky is nearly a year old now, and he has just learned to crawl. It was fun to watch him scoot all over and get into things I didn’t even know were there. He found a big paper bag full of bags that just delighted him. He dumped out all the bags and then just chortled as he crumpled the paper and threw them all over the kitchen I didn’t realize a person could have that much fun with a paper bag. Later he discovered the baby in the mirror and spent quite a while talking with the baby who looked just like him. It must have been a funny conversation because there was much laughter. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all find such delight in our everyday life?

Guilty

The case is over. We can all rest easier tonight knowing that two very bad guys are in prison.

The case involved an interstate drug business. I now know a lot more about cocaine and the buying and selling of illegal drugs than I ever wanted to know. It’s a huge business with lots of people involved. The possible profits are huge, but jail is one of chances you take when you decide to traffic in illegal drugs. The evidence against these two defendants was overwhelming. The defense’s case was basically that the government set them up. The defendants were offended that the government used a wiretapped phone to collect evidence against them. The government had no business listening in on their private conversations about the buying and selling of their cocaine. The bad guys tried to convince the jury that they were victims of the government. The jury decided the case very quickly. We were convinced that the victims of the hundreds of kilos of cocaine being sold in the D.C. area were not these two drug dealers. They are two very bad guys who are a part of a large group of very bad guys. I am glad they are off the streets.

Jury Duty

I have been on the jury listening to a criminal case for several days now. It is a very interesting experience. I keep thinking that I’m part of a TV show. Many of the witnesses and other court room people look just like caricatures of the people who would play their part on “Law and Order,” “Judging Amy” or “CSI.” Then I realize that this is real and I am being asked to decide someone’s guilt or innocence. It’s a bit intimidating. Many years have gone into the preparation of this case just to present it all to my fellow jurors and me. This is not a case that has received any press. No one will gain any fame or notoriety. All their work is just for the benefit of the jury.

Every morning two big, strong security guards meets the jury members as we arrive and escorts us into the building through a back door and leads us through back halls to our jury room. In the evening we are escorted out and protected until we leave the parking lot. In fact I am grateful to have them there to protect us. I’m not sure I like feeling a need to be protected. I will be grateful when this is over.

I will tell you about the case after it is concluded. Stay tuned.

A Jury Of Peers

I spent Tuesday in a room full of strangers who are my peers. I am on jury duty and this room full of people was the jury pool. It was an interesting place to people watch. The first person to catch my eye was a middle-aged man in a power suit. He was obviously too busy to be there. He had his leather briefcase open with papers all around him, looking very important. Just down the row from power man was a young black man with a head full of dreadlocks dressed in dirty jeans and sweatshirt. He slept. In the corner there were two blue-haired ladies chatting happily. The lady sitting near me was reading a book called, “Chaos,” with another book called the “Science of Chance” on her lap. She looked like a nerdy college professor. The man next to me was wearing a baseball cap and football jersey. He looked very bored. I offered him my morning paper, which he happily accepted. I was not surprised to see that he picked up the sports section first. Towards the front of the room I noticed a young, pregnant girl. She didn’t look old enough to either be pregnant or to be on a jury. She looked very uncomfortable. The people gathered there were young and old, black and white, male and female, wealthy and poor. But for that day in the jury lounge we were all equal as we waited to be either chosen or rejected.

Winter

Winter has finally come to Maryland. We had our first snow last night, along with cold, ice, and slippery streets. Schools opened two hours late today.

As the snow began falling heavily last night I went to church where our congregation is hosting “Warm Nights.” This is a county run program to increase the number of shelter beds during the winter months. Last night about 20 men and one woman spent the night in our church building. We had set up cots for everyone and provided dinner. Several church folks had cooked meat loaf, mac & cheese, broccoli and applesauce. It was good food, and the folks ate a lot. Several came back for seconds and thirds. Our guests had to be up and out at seven this morning. We served breakfast and gave them a brown bag lunch. They will be back every night this week and then move on next week to another church that take over for a week.

I came home feeling very thankful for the blessing of my warm house. We live in a nice suburban neighborhood. I don’t see the face of poverty very often. But the people who came for shelter last night are here in my neighborhood. They are real people with sad stories. They are just like me.

The Spiral Staircase

I’ve just finished reading, ”The Spiral Staircase,” by Karen Armstrong. This is the very moving story of one woman’s spiritual journey. At the age of seventeen she entered the convent eager to meet God. For Karen this was a brutal, unhappy, life altering experience. This memoir describes her journey through darkness as an ascent up a narrow spiral staircase that eventually leads into a place of light.

She concludes with this thought that is common to all religious traditions.

“The one and only test of a valid religious idea, doctrinal statement, spiritual experience, or devotional practice was that it must lead directly to practical compassion. If your understanding of the divine made you kinder, more empathetic, and impelled you to express this sympathy in concrete acts of loving kindness, this was good theology. But if your notion of God made you unkind, belligerent, cruel, or self-righteous, or if it led you to kill in God’s name, it was bad theology. Compassion was the litmus test.”

Does your faith lead you to acts of compassion?

High Five

I am just finishing Janet Evanovich’s book, “High Five.” It is the fifth is her series about Stephanie Plum, the world’s funniest bounty hunter. These stories have no redeeming value except that they make me laugh. Laughter is a very good thing.

What have you read that makes you laugh?

Martin Luther King Jr

Today is a holiday set aside to honor the work of Martin Luther King Jr. Today I went to an ecumenical service to honor his life and accomplishments and spent some time reading, “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” Today the world is better because of the work of King.

I grew up in a white only world. It wasn’t exactly segregated; there really were no people there to my knowledge except people who resembled me. Negroes lived in The South or in Africa. I lived in a small Southern California town. Everyone I knew was white, protestant, and middle class. If there was racism it was far away and not part of my world.

Today my grandchildren live in a very different world. Their world is a diverse place populated by people of different races and different religions. They judge their friends by character, not by race or religion. My grandchildren are aware of racism and believe it to be an ugly, evil thing. My grandchildren are living part of Dr King’s dream. There is still much that is wrong, but I am thankful that we have come this far.

The picture is a drawing I made of my two grandsons enjoying a day at the beach.

Good News

Our newspaper is usually full of reports of war, murders, and political intrigue. This morning there was a story that was different. It was good news of the kind that made me smile through tears of joy. Shawn Hornbeck is home. Shawn is a 15-year-old boy who has been missing for four long years. There are many unanswered questions, but this boy who was lost has been found. He appears well and happy. I can feel his mother’s joy as she holds this son close to her heart. I do not know Shawn or his family, but I am a mother who worries about a long lost son. I can feel the joy. Welcome home, Shawn.

Washington DC

Last night our daughter, AM, treated us to an evening at the Kennedy Center. It was our Christmas gift from her. We saw “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf?” which is the story of a marriage from hell. You can check out her blog for a review of the play. The best part of the evening was the fact that she wanted to spend an evening with her parents.

We’ve lived in suburban Washington DC for forty-three years. I am still surprised every time we go downtown to realize that we live here so near to this most powerful of cities. The monuments never fail to impress me. On our way to the theater we saw the dome of the Capitol Building and drove right by the White House. We went by the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial. We walked along the terrace of the Kennedy Center and admired the National Cathedral and the multitude of lights reflected in the Potomac River. This truly is an impressive city. I love that I am able to visit there and still be impressed by all the history that is reflected here.

Where do you live? What impressive sights are part of your world?

Why

I just came home from my water aerobics class. It really is a fun way for me to get some exercise.

I go to a nearby health club with a few parking spaces near the front door, a small lot next to the building and a large lot just across the small street where it is located. There is plenty of parking in the large lot, but it is a few steps further away. Today people were fighting over the nearby spaces using words that are not on my approved list along with hand gestures that are less than friendly. I don’t get it. These folk are coming to work out on treadmills and stair climbers. They play tennis and swim in order to get exercise. They are paying good money to exercise and yet they can’t walk the few extra steps it takes to cross the street.

Can someone explain why people fight to park close to the gym where they are going to get some exercise?

Noodles

Momofuku Ando died on January 5, 2007. He was 96 years old. I think we should all pause a moment and give thanks to this man and the legacy he gave the world. Without him my children would have gone hungry during their years in dormitories. He keeps children all over the world from hunger. Mr. Ando was the inventor of Ramen Noodles. Can you imagine the world without Ramen Noodles? Thank you Mr. Ando.

Marriage

Recently my blogger friend Greeny said that I should pass on some secrets I’ve learned about a long and happy marriage. I have been thinking about that and decided that I really don’t know any secrets. I could talk about unconditional love, forgiveness and commitment to one another and marriage, but what I have finally decided is that I was just lucky. We were very young and naïve when we married. We were “in love.” We really did not know each other very well and certainly had no idea about how much pain and junk life can throw at you. Marriage has to be a commitment by both partners. If either one decides to quit there really isn’t much the other can do about it.

I was just lucky. I have a husband who puts up with me when I’m not easy to love and somehow lets me know he loves me anyway. In forty-five years we have survived a lot of pain together. We have also experienced life’s greatest joys together. Now we know each other. We are no longer just “in love.” Now we truly are part of one another.

My advice is to pick very carefully and pray that you are lucky.

Resolution Keeping

In order to follow through with my resolutions, today I joined the local health club. My knees have not been behaving as they should and have caused me too much pain to walk for any distance. I am beginning to feel like a slug for lack of exercise. So, starting tomorrow morning I will be participating in water aerobics class three or four times weekly. I am looking forward to this no impact exercise. I think it may be a fun way to become a little more fit.

What are you doing this year to stay fit?

Happy New Year

It is the new year and time for my resolutions. Like everyone else I plan to eat a healthier diet and exercise more. That is my every year resolution, though, so it really doesn’t count. I’ve decided that this year I will resolve to be grateful for each new day and live the life God gives me in joy. I think that is resolution enough for me.

To celebrate this new year we made reservations to spend a week in Yellowstone National Park this summer. Have any of you been there? Is there anything that you think we must do while we are there? We have never been there and are looking forward to going.

President Ford

Yesterday’s headline in the Washington Post said, ”Gerald Ford dies, leaving a legacy of healing.” What a wonderful legacy to leave a nation.

I wonder what the headline will say when George W. Bush dies?

Christmas

The house is quiet. Everyone has gone home. The gifts have been opened. Scraps are all that remain from Christmas dinner. My heart is full of happy memories and I find a smile keeps creeping across my face. This year I received the best Christmas gift a mother can receive. All of my children and grandchildren gathered around our tree. There was laughter and silliness and lots of good conversation. Life is good.

Merry Christmas!
God bless us, everyone.

Long Night

Did you all notice how long last night was? It was the longest night of the year. Actually I just slept through it, it seemed like any other night. I remember three nights that each competes in my memory for the longest night of my life.

Longest night number one was thirteen years ago. My daughter was in labor with her first child. Things seemed to be progressing pretty well and her husband and I were hoping for a birth in a few hours. Then everything just sort of stopped. It was late night. My daughter got drugs and slept very fitfully. The straight-backed chairs in the room were not very comfortable. The floor was hard and cold. My girl labored on and we waited and waited and waited. I went out to the nurses’ station to complain. We got here before all these other women and they have had their babies and gone home. It didn’t seem fair. Finally, after more than 50 hours of labor, my daughter gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

Longest night number two was four years ago. It was about midnight and I was visiting with a girlfriend who was spending the weekend. My husband came walking into the room and said he thought I should call an ambulance because he was having a heart attack. That night we sat in his emergency room cubicle on little stools with wheels. It is very hard to get comfortable on a rolling stool. Eventually it was determined to be “small heart attack.” I came home about 4A.M. knowing he was stable and would probably be fine. He is still fine, but that was a very long night.

Long night number three was two years ago. The beautiful baby born in longest night one was sick. She was very anemic and the doctor said to get her to Children’s Hospital now. The fear of what might be wrong was overwhelming, but we all tried to put on a brave face in front of each other. Her mom and I spent the night in her hospital room. She was receiving blood transfusions and IVs. She had to be prepped for a colonoscopy and drink a jug of obnoxious stuff that made her gag. Finally an NG tube had to be inserted so that she could be properly prepped by morning. We were all scared and very tired. Daylight was a welcome sight. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Medicine has brought all her symptoms under control. She is healthy and happy. It was a very long night.

What was your longest night?

A Senior Ctizen Prepares for Christmas

My tree is decorated, and the gifts are wrapped and under the tree. I nibble on fruitcake while I bake cookies. A holiday special is on in the background, a program of lovely Christmas music as seen on public TV. My husband is sleeping in his chair. It is peaceful. All is calm as we wait for the big day to arrive with a house full of family and friends coming for Christmas.

One of the perks of retirement is the gift of time to prepare without the rush and stress of previous years. I listen to my children and friends as they try to squeeze working, family and all the preparations into too short, too busy days. I remember late night shopping trips and later night wrapping and hiding sprees. It was a lot of work. Although I miss the days of having a house full of small children and working full time, I find memories are much less work and can be selected to suit my mood.

All of you remember to breathe. The children will grow up too quickly. Make some wonderful memories today for the years to come.

Santa Claus

“Aha, I thought so!” It was Christmas Eve. I was nine years old and feigning sleep when I saw my father sneak into the bedroom and pull a pogo stick out of the top of the closet. I knew it was mine. All I really wanted for Christmas that year was a pogo stick and I was expecting Santa to bring it for me. I guess by nine I had realized that Santa needed help to deliver all those toys. It made sense that my father would be helping to deliver my gift. It was comforting to have my suspicions confirmed.

In our family we all still believe in Santa Claus. If you stop believing you don’t get any presents. There is still magic in Christmas because in my heart of hearts I believe in Santa Claus.

Do you believe in Santa? Were you traumatized or did you know anyone who was traumatized when they discovered mom and dad’s role in helping Santa?

Christmas Families

This morning I helped sort food for the forty-eight families our church is helping this Christmas. This is the third year I have helped with this project, and I am amazed every year at the generosity of so many people. Our congregation is not huge, about 200 members, but they provide food enough for about a week including turkey and all the trimmings, plus clothes and toys for 168 children. This morning twenty volunteers worked bagging, sorting and labeling groceries for each family. Tomorrow more volunteers will check the gifts to make sure that each child has an appropriate gift and then wrap everything up. The people of the church donate all the food and all the gifts. It makes me feel good to be part of such a generous group.

What are you doing this year that makes you feel the spirit of Christmas?

Role Reversal

Over the years I have attended more school plays, piano recitals, scout award ceremonies, and children’s concerts than I can count. The number would be very large. I love my kids and grandkids so I was always happy to be there and support whatever the activity of the day happened to be. Tonight the roles were reversed. The senior chorale in which I sing had a holiday performance. In the audience were my children, my grandchildren, my husband and several good friends. It was wonderful to look out and see my fan club all there to hear the concert. The singing was much more fun with the people I love there to listen.

Rose

There is a beautiful red rose on my kitchen table. My husband gave it to me last night along with a wonderful hug. No real reason he said. It seems he had been listening to his co-workers discuss their divorces and unhappy family situations and he just realized how very blessed we are. He thought maybe it would be a good thing to tell me he loved me.

It is wonderful to know that I am loved.

I love you too.

Recovery

Today I went to see my orthopedic surgeon. I have been frustrated by the fact that I am recovering from the arthroscopy much more slowly than I anticipated. I still have pain and end up limping by the end of the day. I don’t like pain. The doctor drained a bunch of fluid off the knee and then injected cortisone into the joint. It should be much better in a week. If the knee is not better I will have to return to see him again in a month. Pray that the pain goes away and I can soon quit thinking about my knee.

Advent

Today is the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of waiting. Just as the world waited for the birth of Emmanuel, it now awaits the second coming of Emmanuel. Emmanuel is translated God with us. What does it mean in your life today that God is with you?

This afternoon I went to see the movie, ”The Nativity.” It is a very well done telling of the birth Jesus. I highly recommend it.

Play Day

Yesterday was a day to play.

In the morning I accompanied my daughter to the elementary school where her youngest is a third grader. My daughter volunteers there frequently and yesterday she was planning to do an art project which required a couple of extra hands. She read the kids a cute story, “Stranger In The Woods,” while I passed out the makings for bird feeders. Each child had a pinecone and a big scoop of peanut butter, which they were to carefully spread onto the pinecone, getting it as deep as possible into the little shelves of the cone. (What do you call those little shelves?) Some of the kids were very neat; they spread the peanut butter without getting any on themselves and covered each little shelf with precision. Others gleefully filled their hands with the gooey stuff and spread it over the cone, their desk and themselves. It was a wonderful mess. The cones were then rolled in birdseed and placed into plastic bags for transport home. We left teachers and children happy with the activity. It was fun.

In the afternoon I dressed in my finest attire and picked up two ladies for high tea at the Belair Mansion. The mansion, which was built in 1750, was the home of Maryland’s first governor. It is a beautiful old brick house, which was all decorated for Christmas. My friends are both in their eighties. They were as excited as two little girls playing dress-up. We sipped tea from fine china cups and ate fancy little cucumber sandwiches. We had scones with clotted cream and jam and lovely little cream puffs. It was an elegant affair. Watching the delight in my friends’ eyes made the afternoon a happy holiday memory.

December 7

Today is Pearl Harbor Day. Sixty-five years ago President Roosevelt said this date would live in infamy, a day the world would never forget. There are still thousand of sailors entombed in the wreckage of the Arizona where it was sunk on that day. Did you remember that this was the anniversary of the day Japan dropped bombs on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor? Don’t feel bad if you forgot. Very few people remembered. The morning paper is full of Iraq and the war we are fighting there. Many wars have been fought since World War II ended. Sadly war is a much too common thing.

I long for the day the prophet Micah foretold, when the nations, ”Shall beat their swords into plowshares; and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Micah 4:3)

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Amazon

After spending a long day in the stores on Monday, today I decided to look on-line to do a little shopping. It really is just a little too easy to buy things from Amazon. I see lots of things that look like good gift ideas, and all I have to do is click. I click and instantly get a message saying I have just spent a kaboodle of money. Gifts are being shipped. There is no problem finding a parking space and no shivering in the cold. The biggest problem is that many of my first choice items are out of stock and I have to keep browsing. I will have to go back to the mall for some things, but it sure is nice to be able to just click.

Shopping

I began Christmas shopping today. I am blessed with a big family so there are a lot of gifts to buy. As my grandchildren get older it gets harder to find a gift that makes them go, “Wow! Thanks. This is the greatest thing ever.” I suppose I could just give them money. They would like that, but I can’t afford to give them enough to get a big ”Wow” from them. It is so much fun to watch them open presents that I really do want to get them something wonderful to open.

What was the best present you received as a teenager? What made you say, “Wow! This is the best present ever!”?

Sleigh Ride

One of the songs we are singing in the senior chorale holiday concert is Sleigh Ride. It is a fun song all about riding in a horse drawn sleigh, where they go, “ Gliding along with a song in winter fairy land.” I grew up in southern California where snow was something I saw on Christmas cards. In Maryland we usually get a couple of snowstorms each winter, but generally the snow melts in a few days. I have never even seen a real sleigh.
Have any of you ever been on a real sleigh ride? Was it as much fun as it sounds like in the song?

Christmas Tree with Harold the angel

Christmas Tree

While I was at therapy last Friday my husband and grandson got all the Christmas decorations down from the attic and put up our artificial tree. My husband put the angel on top (The angel is Harold, of Hark the Harold angel fame.) The rest of the tree was mine to decorate. DQ and I had a few Hallmark moments as we put on the decorations. Some of the decorations are old and have been on our tree since we married long ago. Our children made some of them. We have styrofoam meat trays cut into cookie cutter shapes and sprinkled with glitter. They still have the kids’ names written on the back in their childish hand. Friends gave many of the decorations to us; others are souvenirs of trips we have made. It is a tree full of memories.

DQ went off to play video games, and my husband napped. I thought about my mother. When I was a girl decorating the tree was a major holiday event. Every year without fail when we finished my mother would say, “It’s the prettiest tree we ever did have!” When I married and moved across the country every year without fail I would call my mother and tell her that this year we again had the prettiest Christmas tree we ever did have. My mother is gone. I miss her.

I want all of you to know that this year we have the prettiest Christmas tree we ever did have.

Tradition

We enjoyed a non-traditional Thanksgiving Day at the museum of the American Indian on the mall in Washington D.C. It is a beautiful building full of interesting exhibits. It has a wonderful cafeteria serving various foods representing foods eaten by American Indians. Being a traditionalist, I had turkey and all the trimmings. Others in the family ate salmon, buffalo, and burritos. The kids played in the rotunda; spinning in circles until they could no longer stand. It is always wonderful to hear my grandchildren’s laughter.

Over and over again the exhibits explained that today’s Indians maintain their culture by passing the traditions from one generation to the next. The music, the dances, and the stories help them to know who they are. I think that is true for all people. Our traditions help us to know who we are.

Yesterday we made a gumdrop cake. This is a recipe that my mother-in-law gave me. She made it every Christmas. I have made it every Christmas. Now my daughter makes it every Christmas. It contains two pounds of gumdrops, “cut up fine (no black ones!).” While we cut up the gumdrops we reminisced about Christmases past. It was a pleasant evening of telling family stories. We ate a piece of the cake and it tasted like Christmas.

What food is a tradition in your house? What tastes like Christmas to you?

Radio City

Yesterday we got up at o’dark-thirty to join a group of friends for a day trip to New York City. We arrived in the big city about noon with tickets for the 2 pm matinee of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. With just over an hour of free time and a not quite strong knee we decided to ride the elevator to the top of Rockefeller Center. From the observation deck seventy stories above the city, we gazed out on this ocean of buildings. It is an amazing sight. The day was crisp and clear. The Empire State Building looked like we could reach out and touch it. The Statue of Liberty looked small standing guard at far end of Manhattan. After soaking in the view we joined the hustle and bustle of the crowds surrounding Rockefeller center. I felt like a kid from the country looking up at tall buildings and sights all around me.

Then we made our way to the Music Hall. Wow! Is the only appropriate word as you enter the grand foyer. It is red and gold and magnificent. The show was great. Radio City means the Rockettes and thirty pairs of legs moving as one. The costumes were fabulous, the sets and lighting were amazing. The music was wonderful. We all came out humming Christmas music. The holidays are here. The Radio City Christmas show is a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas and all the joy and happiness of the season.

Happy Holidays!

DQ

It is DQ’s fourteenth birthday. This young man is my grandson. When he was three years old he was in need of a family and my son and his wife and daughter were in need of a little boy. God helped them to find each other. The journey of life has been a constant adventure since this boy joined our family. He has become a Yugioh dueling champion. Once he tried to explain the game to me, but I just can’t quite figure it out. He and his eleven-year-old cousin can play for hours. I think you need to be a boy to learn the intricacies of Yugioh. We spent a week in the mountains with DQ last summer. Together we went on my first and last whitewater-rafting trip. At the end of that journey he declared that it had been the best day of his life. I pray that life is full of many best days for him. Happy Birthday, DQ.

Church

I love Sunday because it is church day. Church is more than a nice building, it is a group of people whom I have learned to love and who care about me. We share a love for God and we are family. The church we attend normally has two Sunday morning services. The 8:30 service has a praise band and more contemporary music. I love to sing along and clap my hands and feel the joy of the Lord. The 11 o’clock service has more traditional music and more organ music. I love the old hymns and the soaring sound of the organ. Today I attended both services and it was wonderful to sing and worship twice. The sermon was good, but I’ll confess I skipped the second go round of the preaching. After the second service we all had lunch together. The food was good, but the fellowship with each other was what was so good, there were lots of hugs and laughter. I love being a part of this church family.

Storm

Two days ago I gazed out the window while riding the exercise bike at physical therapy. The view was lovely. The trees were showing off their autumn splendor with bright reds, yellows and orange. I looked out at their beauty and visualized myself pedaling along a lake framed by a mountain of colorful leaves. It was so nice. Yesterday a fierce storm blew through town. We had lots of rain and powerful winds. Today I got on the exercise bike at therapy and gazed out on a bleak, leafless view. The trees looked so bare and empty. The trees announce that winter is not far away. What a difference one storm makes. I am sure there is a great moral to be learned here, but I’ll leave figuring it out up to you.

Aging

Getting old is something that happens little by little. Most of the time you don’t notice it is even happening, and then, all of a sudden something comes along and tells you, “Hey, look at that. You are getting old.”

I quit taking baths a couple of months ago. Don’t worry; I do take showers so I am clean. But I love to take a nice hot bubble bath. I soak in the warm, perfumed water and just let life float away. It is a lovely, peaceful time. A problem developed at the end of my last bath. I couldn’t get out of the bathtub. My knees felt too weak to get me up. I was afraid to stand up for fear of slipping and doing severe damage to either the bathtub or me. It was not a peaceful feeling. I did eventually manage to crawl over the edge and land safely on the floor, but it was a sight I am sure no one wants to try to visualize. I have not been in the tub again since that day.

Today my daughter and her friend came over. Her friend installed a grab bar on the wall of the bathtub. It is securely fastened so I can pull up and feel confident that I won’t fall down. It is a lovely gift. I am looking forward to a long, hot bubble bath. The grab bar sits there and says you need help. You are old. It also says my daughter loves me and I can take a bath. Life is full of mixed messages. I will dwell on the fact that I feel loved.

Friends

I have been so grateful for the love and concern shown me this past week by my many friends. One of the blessings of having surgery and not feeling well is that you become so aware of the blessing of friendship. With all the modern methods of communication I have heard from so many people in so many ways. A few of those who are closest to me came by to visit and see how they could be of help. It was such a joy to see them. Several called on the phone to check on me. It was so nice to hear their voice. I received a lovely assortment of get-well cards. How nice it is to get something other than bills in the mail. My email in-box was full of get-well wishes. There were many sweet comments on my blog. I love that there are so many ways to reach to people. I am not alone.

Therapy

“OK, now I’m going to press against your leg with my hand. Don’t let me move your leg. Hold it strong.” The therapist pressed against my right leg and my leg held firm against the pressure of her hand. “Ok, now let’s check the other leg.” She pressed against my left leg and it just gave way to the pressure of her hand. She then checked the range of motion in my knees. The left is limited, but not too bad. I had a knee replacement six years ago in the right leg. That was a long and brutal recovery. This won’t be nearly as bad. I have a ways to go, but I expect to be able to go on long walks again in less than a month. I will do my exercises because I do have places to go.

Home

I’m home. The surgery went well and I sure am glad yesterday is over. While waiting for surgery I got to be a pincushion for the student phlebotomists. I know they need to practice on someone, but three tries and misses were enough. I slept through the surgery part. The doctor trimmed off the torn up cartilage and smoothed out the rough spots. Waking up from anesthesia took a long time and was gross. But today I woke up feeling like me again. Percocet is a lovely drug and I am feeling fine. My sweet husband is a pretty good nurse.

Arthroscopy

I go in for my knee surgery in the morning. The plan is to be home by evening. I will be glad when this is all over and done and I am up dancing again.

Music

A friend invited us to a choral festival celebration, which we attended last night. It was wonderful. The program was held in the chapel of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. What a beautiful place to listen to powerful music. The chapel is laid out as all cathedrals in the shape of a cross. Beautiful stained glass and symbols remind you that this is not only a place of worship, but also a place of history. The festival choir sang music that spoke to my soul and led me to place of worship and peace. The conclusion of the program was a postlude by the pipe organ. Have you ever been so lost in the music that you felt like you actually a part of it? That is how I felt. I was no longer just listening, but actually inside this glorious music. I could feel the vibrations of the sound coming up through the floor and filling my body and my soul. It was a powerful sensation to be lost in that glorious sound. I hope there is a great pipe organ in heaven.

Personal Hero

Recently my nine-year-old granddaughter called and asked if she could interview me. She said she need to get information for a school report about her personal hero. She wanted to write about me. Wow! I thought that was just such a wonderful thing. Imagine having your granddaughter think of you as her personal hero. I was quite happy. So I went over and this sweet little girl asked me about my work with hospice. She wanted to know who had inspired me and why I liked to help people. When she was done I thanked her for picking me and told her I felt honored. She replied, “That’s OK, Gramma. The policeman down the street was too busy to talk to me so I chose you instead.” Oh well. It’s nice to be the first runner up hero. I did read the report she wrote. It was so sweet. I did feel like her hero.

Good News

I went to the dentist today for my routine checkup. I heard those wonderful words, “No cavities. Everything looks great. Keep up the good work.” All that flossing paid big dividends today. After leaving the dentist’s office I went to see my doctor for my pre-op clearance. He said I was healthy and everything was ok for surgery. Nice to know that I am healthy enough to have my knee fixed.

Did you get any good news today?

Trunk or Treat

Yesterday we had a trunk or treat party for the children at church. It was so much fun for all the kids. There were little monsters and witches along with mermaids, dragons, a chicken and several princesses. I dressed in my “orange dress” for this party, (I was told that I looked like Cinderella on crack,) and helped at one of the tables. We had an assortment of Halloween crafts and games and a scavenger hunt for the kids, followed by hot dogs and chips Then came the big event of the afternoon, trunk or treating. The church folks had decorated their cars and filled the parking lot. The kids then went from car to car shouting, “Trunk or Treat!” and filled their sacks with goodies. It was a couple of hours of organized pandemonium and great fun. I love that our church lets our kids enjoy the simple joys of this day.

20

Another life-changing event occurred twenty years ago today. I became a grandmother.

It was a day full of phone calls. Early in the morning my daughter called from Nashville. “Mom, we’re on our way to the hospital. My water broke and the doctor says I should come in now.” I asked her if she was ok and she replied, “Oh Mom, I’m so scared.” Nashville seemed very far away at that moment. I got up and went on to work, making sure everyone knew to come and get me when “the call” came. The call that came first was scary. It was my son-in-law saying they were going to do an emergency C-section because the baby was in distress. “Please pray,” he asked. I prayed. A very long hour later he called again. “We have a little girl. She’s perfect. Laurel is fine. Oh, Sue, I have a little girl and I’m in love.” After I stopped crying I realized I had been taking a patient’s blood pressure and I had just left him sitting there with the cuff around his arm. He laughed and congratulated me and gave me $20 to buy diapers. Then there were lots of happy phone calls to family and friends. What joy! I had a granddaughter. What wonder! My little girl was a mother. Then there were calls to the airlines. I was flying to Nashville to meet my granddaughter. Gary was right. She was perfect.

Now she is twenty years old and she’s back in Tennessee where she is a junior at Milligan College. She is bright, confident, beautiful, and in my eyes she is still perfect.

Happy birthday, Ashley. I love you.

Politics

I am counting the days until election day. I am so tired of political ads that spew mud on the opponent and hurl insults on anyone who might support the opponent. I am beginning to feel dirty. According to the ads I hear and read if I vote for the Republicans I must be against finding cures for difficult diseases and I must want the war to continue. Voting for the Democrats means the terrorists will win and I am against family values. What are family values anyway? I think the greatest family value is loving one another and treating each other with kindness and respect. None of the ads I have seen demonstrate respect and kindness toward those with different opinions. I don’t think any of the candidates running in Maryland are evil people. They all seem to have some good ideas and some ideas with which I disagree. I will vote for the people whose ideas seem to most closely reflect my values and opinions. I am hoping for a break in the ugly rhetoric soon.

Knee

I went to see my orthopedic surgeon today. He told me just what I expected him to tell me. The cartilage in my knee has two large tears. If I don’t do something the knee will stay inflamed which will lead to arthritis and degeneration. This happened to my other knee and I had to have it replaced six years ago. That was not fun. All I need now is arthroscopic surgery. That is a same day procedure. He will repair the torn cartilage, I’ll be on crutches a couple of days, and then I will be all better. No more knee pain. The success rate is 95%. The main complication is post-op infection, which happens about one percent of the time. There is a remote possibility of a blood clot, less than a one percent probability. I told him to go ahead and schedule the procedure. A procedure sounds less frightening than surgery. I know this is a minor surgery, but it is being done on me, and that makes it major. I am sure I will be fine. I am afraid.

Laurel

Forty-three years ago today my world changed. I have not been the same person since that day. I became a mother. There are no words that adequately describe what it means to become a mother. There is a part of me that is now a whole separate person and yet still part of every aspect of my being. It is the most wonderful, awesome and scary experience of my life.

Laurel is my first-born. She was this tiny little bundle with huge brown eyes. When I first held her, her eyes seemed to be staring straight into my heart. The wonder of her existence in my arms evoked such powerful, overwhelming feelings of fierce love. I still have that same feeling of overwhelming love when I think about this little girl who has grown into a beautiful woman. She is a wife, a mother, and one of my best friends.

Happy birthday, Laurel. I love you.

Seasoned

Today we received a sweet thank you note from the friends who were our recent houseguests. In the note they said, “Staying with a seasoned couple was good for our marriage.” Now I know that is a compliment, but I also know that seasoned here means old. We have been married forever and have been through a lot of life together. I guess seasoning is just what comes from living a long time. It is nice that someone finds us to be well seasoned.

Door-to-Door Salesmen

Replacing our vacuum cleaner caused me to think back to the evening we purchased our Kirby. We were young newly-weds, living in a small apartment in southern California. One evening a door-to-door salesman came knocking. He was selling Kirby vacuum cleaners. We invited this stranger in and he proceeded to demonstrate the wonders of this cleaning machine. It could do everything from clean my carpet to polish my silver and it came with enough attachments to entirely fill up a large closet. We were sold and paid far more than we could afford for this wonderful machine.

After we moved to Maryland the Fuller Brush man came calling. By then we had a houseful of babies and a little adult conversation was worth the price of his wonderful brushes and cleaning supplies. He came by frequently. We also had a milkman who delivered milk, eggs, bread, sweet rolls and friendly conversation.

Today I cannot imagine inviting a strange salesman into my house. I would be afraid. There is no friendly milkman who brings food and friendship. The only door- to-door salesmen I respond to are neighborhood children selling cookies for their school or scout fundraisers.

When was the last time you bought something from a door-to-door salesman?

This and That

The house seems a little too quiet tonight. After having houseguests for 10 days it seems a little empty with just the two of us. It was fun to get to know our friends a little better and to spoil their baby while he was here.

This morning at church we celebrated “The Blessing of the Keys.” This is a neat thing our congregation does when a teenager starts to drive. The teenager and an adult friend are called up to the front of the church before the service begins and we pray for their safety as they begin driving. Then they go out together and drive for an hour. They return at the end of service and report on their driving experience. We pray for them again and they are given key chains from the congregation to remind them that they are covered with God’s love. It is a nice thing for the kids. This morning one the teenagers was my tall, handsome grandson. I find it hard to believe he is so nearly grown.

This evening I sat in the bleachers at my eleven year old grandson’s lacrosse game. The air was cool and crisp. Geese were flying overhead in large, noisy vees, making their way south for the winter. There is a touch of red and yellow in the leaves. It is fall, time to enjoy the last beautiful days before another winter moves us indoors. I love the changing seasons.

Vacuum Ceaners

We bought a new vacuum cleaner today. The old Kirby we bought as newlyweds has just worn out. I guess after forty-five years we did get our money’s worth out of it. Do you know how many different kinds of vacuum cleaners are available? It was very hard to decide. Did I need an upright or a canister? Should it have a bag or be bag less? I could spend anywhere from $40 to over $500. What is the difference between a $200 model and a $500 dollar model? A very nice saleslady came to help us, but she really wasn’t much help. She knew about the merchandise, but, well, it really just depended on my personal preference. So many decisions to make! We did buy a Kenmore canister model. It seemed much lighter than our old Kirby and I thought it would be easier to use. I hope it last us forty-five years.

Octoberfest

Yesterday I joined friends from my senior chorale to celebrate fall with an Octoberfest. We gathered in a beautiful home overlooking the river for an afternoon of bratwurst, German potato salad, sauerkraut, and, of course lots of German beer. The host, dressed in his lederhosen, grilled the sausage and manned the bar. There was lots of music, easy conversation, and laughter.

I have observed that the older we get the more we seem to enjoy life. We have figured out that life is a wonderful gift and each moment should be savored. Do something wonderful today!

Memories

Today my daughter and I were sitting on her back porch just talking and enjoying the afternoon sun. We began to talk about the trip we are planning to California next summer. Her kids want to see Hollywood and the Pacific Ocean. California is the place where I grew up and I want to introduce my grandchildren to my brothers whom they have never met. I said I would like to go to the Church of Christ in Whittier. As I said those words a huge lump stopped my throat, my eyes filled with tears, and emotions flooded over me. I couldn’t speak as the memories poured over me. I grew up in that church. I learned to love Jesus there. I remember the sweetness and purity I felt when I was baptized there at age eleven. I held tightly to my father’s arm in that building as I walked down the aisle the day I was married. Dennis was smiling and so handsome. The building was decorated with yellow roses and filled with family and friends the day we celebrated my parents golden anniversary. They were laughing and happy that day. Then the building again filled with flowers, family and friends at my dad’s funereal. My mom held tightly to my arm and cried. Two years ago we had mom’s funeral there. At age 94 she had outlived most of her friends so the crowd was smaller, but her family gathered and tearfully honored this wonderful woman.

I want to once again visit this little church. It is holy ground for me.

Weekends

What did you do this weekend?

This weekend I took my thirteen-year-old granddaughter shopping and out to dinner to celebrate her birthday. I went to three performances of the play. Three of my grandchildren were involved in the latest teen theater production and their performances were stellar! We enjoyed visiting with our houseguests. We enjoyed a pre-theater family dinner for fourteen at my daughter’s home. I got to hear all about my fifteen-year-old granddaughter’s homecoming dance and visit with the nineteen-year-old who was home from college this weekend. We all celebrated with my husband who is part of the scientific team that was just awarded the Nobel Prize for physics. I love weekends crowded to overflowing with happy family activity.

Babies

We have houseguests this week, one of whom is a beautiful seven-month-old baby. I am getting my baby fix. Is there any sound sweeter than the burbling and laughter of a contented baby? Is there anything funnier than a grandfather trying to feed sweet potatoes to a hungry baby? Is there a sweeter smell than a baby fresh from his bath? Is there anything more wonderful than rocking a sleeping baby?

Peace

One of my favorite hymns begins, “Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin; the blood of Jesus whispers peace within.” Then I read the newspaper and watch the evening news. I truly do see a dark world of sin and wonder about this perfect peace of which I sing. Is it possible to really live in perfect peace in a place where terrorists murder innocent children, where a sniper picks a gun and begins shooting just to see how many innocents he can kill? Our world is unsafe and evil is all around us. Must I arm myself and learn how to shoot a gun in order to have peace? Would that make me feel safer or less afraid? Somehow that thought only makes me feel more afraid. I can imagine a scenario where I could entertain the idea of murder, but I have not actually been in that situation. I do not want to prepare to do something that I should never have to do.

Where is peace? I find it only in a faith that transcends the fear, even when I am afraid. I find it in the arms of a good man who loves me even when I am angry. I find peace rocking a sweet baby and holding this innocence close to my heart. I see hope in groups of teenagers working together to help someone less fortunate than themselves. I find faith beside the bed of an old man who is dying but looking forward to what is yet to be.

“Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown;
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.”

Talking to Strangers

Would you tell a stranger things you would not tell a friend?

My seatmate on our recent flight was a woman just a bit younger than me. When I sat down she was looking at a handful of seashells. She then proceeded to tell me about gathering the shells with her granddaughter and how she missed her extended family. Her significant other had just died very unexpectedly and she was having a hard time coping with life. I heard all sorts of personal details and difficult emotions. My comments were “I’m sorry”, or “That must be hard.” On previous flights I have listened to people share emotions about broken hearts or job loses or difficulties with their children. Why do people tell me all these stories? I don’t know them and will probably never see them again. Is that why? Is it easier to talk to a stranger?

Have you heard some interesting stories from strangers?