Cheers

Today DH and I lifted a a glass to celebrate the time sequence of 05;06;07;08/09/10, since this particular sequence won't come again until some time in the next century. It seemed fitting, and funny. We enjoyed it, including the countdown, which was loud. Fun is important.....

Blessings to all.......


oops! not the next century - the next millenium!

What can happen when someone rear-ends your car

Yesterday, unfortunately, a lady who drovelike a speed demon crunched into the rear end of my car as I was making a turn. Long story, but the funny part is here. Today we had to go to the police station and pick up a report, which cost $6.00, if you please. It was $5 but the girl wanted to know if I wanted a cawcauw. I said, "a what?" and she said "you know, a cawcauw." And I thougnt, it might be worth a dollar to find our what a cawcauw is, so I said "sure, lets have a copy." It turned out to be a cop call. . I wanted to take her sweet little face in my hands and say "watch my lips and say COP CALL." But I didn't. I was a teacher too long for this not to amuse and infuriate me. I know language is in constant change, but I can't say I like it all.

Friday Five......

Five things I like about where I live, and one that I don't..............

1. It is just the right size. I can be anywhere in town in 15 minutes providing I don't get lost.

2. I live in a senior retirement housing community and so things are very, very quiet, Love this.

3. I am close to daughter #4 and the grands there and participate in their activities as much as I can.

4. I go to the bestest church I ever had. The Anglican church of the Good Shepherd.

5. It's dry and hot out here, but I've learned to appreciate the starkness of it all.

and one thing I don't -
1. I am way, way, way too far from my other daughters. We need to be closer and this is frustrating.

5 things I love

Over at RevGals, Songbird invites us to share five things we love, or don't love, about SUMMER.

Sorry the photo didn't make it.

1.St Teresa, Florida, is one of my earliest memories. My granddad threw me off the dock with my dad just below, to see if I could swim. This was before I could walk. And I did swim All I needed was fins!I truly love this place. It is like no other.

2.I love the people in my church. I was never in one in which everyone (literally) loved everyone else, and was always ready to help

3.I love gulf seafood, which I darent eat right now. Bah!

4.I love my very small flower garden. It is an occasion for joy when something actually blooms!

5, I love the A/C in my house so I can be comfortable when it gets to 107 degrees

I am having a real problem

with the phrase "no problem'. For years, my thank yous have been sincerely meant, and You are welcome has been the answer. Welcome sounds as if the responder has really been glad to render a service. On the other hand, "no problem: sounds to me as if the service wouldn't be offered had it not been convenient. This bothers me every time I hear it, though I continue to say you are welcome. Does this bother anyone else, or am I too picky?

Tonight,

I am going to talk about being old and getting older. Fr. Stan suggested I write a book about it. I can't do that, beacause it is different for everyone. But I can say that, while I am not in great shape, I fully expect to get better and I am glad to be alive. Dead will be ok, too. I know where I will be, but life is to be enjoyed. I have many wrinkles, too much weight and what seems to e a ton of ailments, but that is ok, too. Mostly because it has to be. I could lose the weight, and wrinkles are ok with me, but the ailments I can do without.

Our children want us to go to the ER for every twinge we have. Actually they are more realistic than that. When Dad fell last week, the first question from everyone was 'did you go to the hospital?' Well, no. I got him in the bed and checked him over and figured I would give him time. We both have seen the doctor since, and he is having lots of tests. It's hard for me to realized he is nearly 85 - soon we'll have a 46th anniversary. And kids, I promise I will call the ambulance when I need to.

But back to my original premise, getting old means a great many changes. Some are welcome, as in resting a lot more, and some are very frustrating. I had to have much help to get my teeny garden in order this year, I have to make allowances for pain control and shortness of breath. Lots of both of them. I practically live in this TENS unit, and I thank God for it. And, of course, my brain just won't work the way it once did. We both tried to remember the name for raw fish and it wouldn't come. Usually it does, at least by tomorrow. But I wanted to finish the crossword I was doing. That part is still blank, but I will remember it eventually.

I've always heard that old age is not for sissies. Actually it is, it just means more adaptation to the limitations that exist. If you can't adapt, you won't make it. You also need to find things to laugh at. Laughter really helps. Sometimes I watch Caddyshack over, just to laugh. Or look at the old movies of my my kids learning to manage roller skates. I've given up dreaming about climbing trees and accepted that this isn't going to happen again in this life. Neither is racing the little sailboat just ahead of a fast moving squall, with George on the beach waiting to help me get it in and readied for a blow. I really loved it, though.

I have more time to ponder God and all His glories, and to read about Him. Only I read a book the other day by an author who keeps asking 'who is God?'. I finally decided if he didn't know, I didn't think I would read his book. I now have the time to let soak in the things that Fr. Stan teaches me, and time to reflect on them. I'm working at teaching three Bible studies right now and love learning each week from that. I'm always amazed at what I don't know. I now have some CD's of Fr. Stan's sermons. As visual a learner as I am, I find I need to hear them several times to really 'get it'.

So --- while old age is physically challenging, and sometimes mentally, it's not so bad. Stick around and try it yourselves. I think you'll like it, even as you adjust for it. I am grateful for my cane, and sometimes my walker. And when the electric chair becomes part of my life, as I am told it will, I will be glad to have that. I see people out in our retirement community who are joyful to be alive and some who are miserable. We don't go around the miserable ones. Actually, we mostly go to church. Everybody there is joyful.

Enough of this - love God, be happy and roll with the punches and you'll make it just fine.


3 hours later - Sushi!!!

In other matters,

Dad went out into the county, pretty far away to work the census. Several of the people had already been contacted several times and are getting pretty crabby about the continued intrusion into their lives. One lady really dumped on George - ranted on about how angry she was. He apologized and retreated to the car to do the paper work. In a bit, she knocked on his window, apologized for letting loose on him and had brought him a glass of tea. This whole census, unlike the one he worked in Glen Rose 10 years ago, is a complete mess. George is convinced that a scam or con is going on. I can't wrap my mind around how this could be, but maybe. Anyway, he told his boss he quit unless she wanted him to see people in the Angelo area. Who knows whether she will or not.

This episode has been wearing on him and I am glad he is out of it.