DON'T ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT'S ON THE NEWS

Today I have some teenage boys doing my yard work. Actually they have been working for a couple of days. They are learning to be workers but they are also learing to be friends. They laugh as they work. As I watch the work progress I think about the young people I read about in our country who are doing terrible things. My question is: Are they bad because they have nothing positive to do and no one who believes in them or are they bad because they choose the path of least resistance? The old chicken or the egg question. Well my boys are working, they are making friends, I enjoy hearing their laughter, my yard isn't the worst yard in the neighborhood and I have faith that the next generation isn't represented by what I hear on the news. A win win situation!

OLD AS DIRT

My computer is dying from old age. Its four years old and has Windows Vista. That’s like being 90 year old with Alzheimer’s in human terms. Kent and I have discussed the computer for months. We have read Consumer Reports, talked to our children and the IT techies at Kent’s office. Kent wants to follow the advice of the techies and get a computer with low ram and I want lots of ram. (Did I mention we have lots of photos?) Derek, my only son-in-law agrees with me. Derek is brilliant with computer design and a wonderful son-in-law? The other children decided to not give an opinion.

So the computer has been designed and purchased. Now we wait for our new arrival. As we wait we voice frustration with the old computer. There will be no love lost when it’s gone. As I contemplate the things this computer does so slowly and how we are rebooting about 4 times a day I am reminded of the times when there was no computer, when we had dialup, when it took 2 minutes for a web page to change, when rebooting was considered normal and Bing or Google didn’t exist. I think of the things we can do without because we have a computer such as phone books, maps and boxes of photographs. We don’t have to use many stamps or checks because of online banking and bill paying. All of our banking is on our computer. Much of our shopping is online. If we want to purchase something we always check the computer to find where our desired item is sold and where we can find the best price. Then we check for coupons. If shipping is free we usually opt for delivery rather than going into a store. I do volunteer work and much of my service is through the computer. I don’t write letters but I am truly connected to many people through my email. All wedding gifts are purchased, wraped and delivered with a couple of clicks. I make appointments and plan activities through the computer. My calendar is on my desk but my husband’s calendar is on the computer. And the list goes on and on.

Being without a computer is not an option in today’s world. I can hardly wait for our new arrival.

KENT

Father’s Day came and went for another year. Honor was given to dads but as a mother I want to make a statement about my roll in my children’s experience with their dad. I want to let them know that as a teenager I decided that I would give my children the best dad in the world and I did. It was not a lucky chance that they have a dad they can honor and respect. A dad that loves them unconditionally and would do anything for them. A dad that finds joy in hearing their voice and leaning of their accomplishments. A dad that sorrows at every sorrow they have. A dad that loves who they love. A dad that loves their mom and has gone on to be the best grandpa a child could ever want. No he is a dad that was chosen specifically for them. What lucky children I have!

IS THIS ALL?

So Far I have….


1. Been in a tornado – I have a scar, pictures and glass pieces in a jar to prove it.
2. Have a masters degree.
3. Worked to put my husband through college and graduate school.
4. Walked the streets of San Francisco and took pictures of flower children. (Google it if you don’t know what I’m talking about.)
5. Worked as a bank teller.
6. Saw a baby born but I haven’t been pregnant.
7. The loosing politicians I tried to get elected: Ronald Regan, Kit Bond and Gerald Ford. They only lost once.
8. Traveled around the country in a 1960’s VW bug, slept in parks and cooked on a hibachi.
9. Taught college.
10. Raised a family that I am proud of.
11. Happily married for 42+ years (to the same person).
12. Skateboarded.
13. Was a PTA President.
14. Taught a class on how to bake bread.
15. Lived on a farm that had an outhouse.
16. Made quilts.
17. Won a cooking competition with my lasagna.
18. Have a secret recipe.
19. Retired from my work as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
20. Had a house fire.
21. Have had friends from every continent in the world.
22. Watch bears eat salmon in Alaska.
23. Worked as a crisis counselor for battered women.
24. Born in a coal mining town.
25. Played on a championship basket ball team.

…Things I still want to do...


1. See all the 7 continents
     - So far I have seen North and South America and traveled within 200 miles of Antarctica.
2. Spend 2 or more years serving mankind (fulltime) after retirement.
     - This will be a mission for my church and I can’t wait.
3. Write a book.
4. Continue to find joy in my art.
5. Vacation with my grandchildren.

ONE REALLY GOOD THING

It’s time to go out and buy new plants to replace the plants eaten by the rabbits. Between the rabbits and the relentless heat our yard is not doing well. Late spring and early fall in Missouri are usually the most beautiful time of year but for the past 10 days we have been in the mid to high 90 degrees. The nights haven’t cooled off and the storms that pass over have added humidity. I guess the really good thing for our yard is a bird of prey (hawk) has decided to spend time in our Honey Locus tree. We haven’t seen a rabbit for a week.

THE LOCUS

Today I sat out on my deck but found it unbearable so I retreated to my house. You may think it was the 98 degree weather but the decibel level was the problem. The morning hours are cooler and provide a wonderful time to sit outside reading but with the Cicada population singing their mating song it is anything but peaceful.  I wondered how people who don’t have a quite house survive the noise. Now all I have to do is stay inside until the population dies which they will and then we will not have to worry about their return for 7 years.

A GOOD THING

I love talented and creative people. They are fun to be around. They inspire me to be more creative. I think what I love the most is they always say something nice about their time with you.

You get my creative juices flowing

You are so fun to be around

What a fun way of thinking

Today a good thing happened! I was around a very creative person. She said “I could just talk to you all day.” I was feeling the same about her, except I started thinking about something creative I wanted to draw while she was there. We didn’t even talk about creativity but creativity flowed.

So what good thing happened to you today?