Wishing You All a Happy New Year

Hello everybody.  2013 is almost here and we are celebrating as we do every year...just as we do every night...quiet and some would say boring; the TV on, nobody watching.  "A Man Who Came to Dinner" has just started.  I have never cared for old black and white movies, but for the last six months, I seek them out.  They seem so innocent and these days I am looking for a little more innocence.

Today I received an unexpected gift.   I was totally shocked to receive it, but at the same time I was thrilled.   Inside the bag were things I love.  My friend knows what I like for we are kindred spirits when it comes to cooking, cleaning, decorating, makeup, and just about everything else.  

Have you ever received a gift that was totally unexpected?  I have such pleasant memories of receiving a small box of homemade candy from someone when I was a teenager, and I think I recall that it was from one of my aunts.  It was my own little box of fudge.  It was wrapped with a bow with a name tag just for me.  I didn't have to share it with my brother or my sisters.  It was special.  It was unexpected.  It meant as much as any gift I got that year.

This week my daughter told me of a couple of sweet things that happened to her.  1.  Her garbage man picked up her trash.  Then he turned to pick up cans from the other side of the street and noticed her refilling her just emptied can.  He stopped the truck, got out, and came up and pulled her garbage can to empty it again for her.  2.  Then her neighbor across the street brought over a loaf of zucchini bread....totally unexpected.  They were acts of kindness.  My daughter and I talked for quite a while about these sweet acts, and I told her how that box of fudge was so sweet and unexpected for me. 

Sometimes it is those unexpected gifts or acts of kindness that mean the most.  The box of homemade candy I received that year will never be forgotten.  The thoughtfulness of a sweet friend will never be forgotten.  The memory of a neighbor bringing a loaf of quick bread will never be forgotten.  And the garbage man will never be thought of as a garbage man again.

So............as we near the midnight hour, my resolution is to try to be kinder, to be spontaneous, to act with compassion, to love unconditionally with no expectations. 

I love you my friends, my family. Thanks for a special lunch, my dear friend. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year.




 




 

Just Kicking Back with the Laptop

Another year is quickly coming to a close.  It is hard to even fathom that 2013 will be here in a matter of hours and I am not through with 2012.  Yes, I still have things I need to do before the new year, but alas, I fear that my TO DO list that I made in January 2012 will carry over to 2013.  I guess I can just erase the 2012 and write 2013.  I knew there was a reason my lists are always in pencil. 

Just as a matter of fun, here is a list of just things that I bought or learned or did this Christmas season.

1.  I tried a new brand of makeup - Laura Geller - and I love it.  For years the crevices in my face collected makeup and when I would happen to see myself in the mirror, I was appalled.  So.......I just quit wearing makeup.  I guess these days my eyes are so bad that I don't notice the collection of makeup in the Grand Canyons of my face.

2.  I do not like goat cheese.  I bought a Sam's Club size log and took one bite and decided it was not to dance on my tongue ever again.  I found a recipe where you mix it with cream cheese which almost makes me want to see if there is better dance step out there........but NO, not goin' happen.

3.  PJs - I got two new pairs of cotton knit PJs and I love them.  Comfy and cute.  I have been a nightgown lady, but there is something sophisticated about lounging around in a pair of cute PJs.

4.  I only made a few Christmas candy and treats - fudge for Santa, Oklahoma Millionaires without the chocolate coating, and caramel popcorn which I sent home with the daughter today.  I have to get this stuff out of my house.  I failed to remember to give her the millionaires.

5.  I found out my house has TOO much STUFF in it.  Going to clean, clean, clean, clean in another couple of days.  Goodwill here I come.

6.  It is better to give than receive.  I could elaborate on this, but why?  It speaks for itself. 

7.  I have a new found appreciation of the cost of mailing packages.  About a week before Christmas, the hubby and I drove across town around 9:00 a.m.  On I40 we saw 13 UPS trucks leaving out for their various rounds.  The one on our street had two employees and often were driving our streets at dusk.     So.......I will pay that $7.98 shipping charge and will remember all the people employed by UPS.

8.  I have discovered makeup again which directly relates to number 1.  This season, I went to Ulta and Sephora probably 10 times and bought something each time, but for other people.  No that vain.  I don't remember having so much fun by myself.  Then on Christmas Eve I went with my sister and had even more fun.  Gosh, we are such girly girls.

9.  Nobody gives out Christmas collectibles anymore.  Remember when Arby's and Long John Silvers would give away a Coca-Cola Christmas glass or goblet? 

10.  We saw Home Alone and A Christmas Story on the big screen at Tinseltown.  Yes, they brought back classic Christmas movies each Wednesday night during December.  Whose clever idea was this?  The theater was packed and it was a wonderful time with my grandchildren and although they had seen both of these movies many, many times and could recite the lines, just being there in that setting was great - and the popcorn wasn't bad either.

11.  I didn't buy every gift from Sam's this year.  I know.........  Surprised even me.  This year, I got them all from Ulta. 

12.  Chesapeake lights are wonderful; Nichols Hills lights are wonderful, but you know what I love more than those?  Driving down street in the older part of Shawnee.  Yes, if I see a house which has the old softer colored light around the inside of a picture window, it touches me.  It always touches me if I see a little plastic nativity set on an otherwise dark street.  The dark street, the quiet street, the cold air, and 5 little kids with their noses pressed to the car window, Christmas Eve. 

13.  I signed up to attend Weight Watchers meetings.  Wedding to attend in April and with everybody else loosing weight, I am sort of motivated......sort of. 

14.  Something new for me was my QVC ordered Mrs. Prendables Chocolate and Sea Salt Toffee apples.  I have never ordered any food item, but I fell prey to the QVC hustle.  This is something that I plan on ordering again next year.  I got a dozen apples, shared them with my grandchildren, but mostly I ate them myself.  Oh my gosh, they were so good, cold and refreshing, and of course, they were good for me....fruit you know. 

Well, I was bored tonight and just decided to write.  No new revelation, no new news, no nostalgia, just kicking back with the laptop.  Who knows, maybe in the next few days I will write again. 

I love you all and Happy 2013! 

May God Bless You

There is nothing like a little Lawrence Welk show two days before Christmas to bring back lots of childhood memories.  From the decorated trees to the little ones singing......whew......it takes you right back to 1960.  Look at all the pretty clothes.  That was a time when if you were on television, you dressed up.  I would venture to say that there is not one tattoo on any of those people.....at least not visible; no nose rings, no caps on backward.......just a wonderful time.  A time when people actually took pride in their appearance.  And you could actually understand the lyrics to each song. 

Tonight we went to visit my mother's sister, 97 year old Aunt Geneva.  Oh, she was in rare form tonight talking about how good she had been and that Santa was coming.  She went on to tell us the time when she first learned about Santa.  Her story and in her words:

"That was the time when we lived in one-half of the house and Grandma and Grandpa Hobbs lived in the other.  Daddy was working at the Prague Ford garage.  We were loading the wagon (back in those days we didn't have a car, just a wagon and team) to go to the school Christmas tree.  Back in those days, they took our gifts to the Christmas tree at the school.  Santa came there.  Grandma had us girls hang our stockings (I will never forget those black stockings) before we left because Santa Claus would come while we were gone.  Grandma needed me to run back to the house for something and there I saw those stockings and there was something in them.  Well, I knew that I sure didn't see no Santa.  I knew that Santa wasn't going to come and us still there.  I knew then what was up.  I am sure Momma told me not to tell the others.  I got an aluminum knife, fork, and spoon."   

I may have written about the time I found out about Santa.  If I did, sorry, I am going to write about it again.  I was in the second grade.  Our house had a walk through closet between the kids' bedroom and mom and dad's room (and all of us kids slept in one room, baby in mom and dad's room).  That Christmas Eve I heard rumbling and rustling and my curiosity was really peaked.  I couldn't stay in bed one minute longer.......Santa was about.  Quietly, I moved those clothes aside and I got an up close and personal look at the goings on.  There to my surprise (well, maybe not because at 7 years old, you begin to question a lot of things) was mom and dad displaying all those gifts.  Disappointed?  Not really.  I felt kind of privileged to be in on the secret.  That next day we were at Grandma Thompson's so I had to tell my much more savvy cousin my discovery.  Guess what? She already knew.  That same day I finally got enough nerve to tell Daddy what I had discovered.  To my surprise he was cool with it, but he told me it was our secret and you know what, I never breathed a word to any of the others.

Aren't you glad that kids still believe in Santa?  Ninety years ago, Santa came to Aunt Geneva.  This year my grandsons, 5 and 8, will have a visit from Santa.  Their stockings will be out and whether it is a black stocking (like Aunt Geneva's and mom's), or one of Daddy's socks (like mine was), or handmade with sequins (like my own children had), or a stocking purchased from a store (like my grandson's), Santa will find his way. 

Merry Christmas everyone.  My God's bless you and your family.

I love you.

Who knew that Grandpa Thompson worked for the Prague Ford garage?  I will have to ask her more about that.  Now for a little Andy Williams.............

And the Conversation Went Like This

Went to Cracker Barrel this morning and the conversation went something like this:

Me:  I really worry about some very strange things.

Him:  What are you worried about now?

Me:  I woke up this morning worried that Santa was going to leave the boy's new basketball goal outside for the boys to find.  I am afraid someone will steal it.

Him:  Yes, that is really something to worry about.  Have you thought to worry about the skunk that might find his way into the net and get trapped?  Have you thought about worrying whether the wind would blow the goal over and kill the cat?  Oh......and here's one you probably will really worry you.  What if  the boys do not have a basketball and what if Santa forgets to leave one?  Huh?   What good will a goal be without a ball?

Me:  I want to call Santa, but maybe I shouldn't. 

Him:  Well, no, you shouldn't!  Not only is it not your problem, it is none of your business.  You really like to be in control...............of other people's lives............., but you cannot make a decision whether to make candy or not make candy, whether to have bacon or ham with your eggs, whether to wear a coat or not...............  If only you could make decisions in your own life like you would like to control other peoples.

That gave me pause.  I have a very clear understanding of other people's lives and can see the mistakes that are bound to happen and I should run in there and clear things up before they get even more messed up.   I say this all in jest, but I do have a problem wanting to make everything right for everyone.  Lately, I am beginning to see that I cannot make everything right.  I cannot nor do I want to be in charge of your life despite how much I insert my opinion. 

Maybe my New Year's resolution should be that I will let you live without me worrying.

I love all you and wish you a very Merry Christmas. 

Get Your Suit On

I was in Penney's today looking for a nice dress shirt and tie for a certain someone for Christmas.  As I was searching stack after stack, and I noticed the shirts on the shelves against the wall, all neat and orderly.  These shirts were placed on the shelves with the collars visible.  I had one of my moments, my moment in time.  I was right back in Shepherds Men's Wear in Shawnee, OK. 

Back in the day, Shepherd's was the place for the best men's clothes in Shawnee.  Christmas was always a good excuse to go in the store and "look around" and occasionally mom would buy a present for Grandpa Thompson or daddy....a nice shirt or a tie.  As a child I was in awe of this store.  I don't remember if they had music playing or not, but it was definitely quiet and we kids were on our best behavior.  The smell was wonderful.......all the nice silk ties, the wool suits, the leather shoes and belts.....the smell of luxury.  The salesmen.....oh the men that worked there..........wow, in the eyes of a preteen, the men were the most handsome men...in their suits and ties and starched white shirts.  I was sure that someday, my husband would either be working there or wearing one of those suits.  (And I would be working at Hamburger King or maybe I would be more "uptown" and work at Anthony's.) 

I remember rows and rows of shelves stacked high as I could see with beautiful shirts, whites, pastels, and plaids, a veritable palette of color.  All neatly stacked with only the collars visible............sense of order and neatness.  Colors stacked together, shelf after shelf.  There was no need to search to find the size for each little divided shelf held the same size.  Same size, same color on the same shelf. 

The rows of suites, the piles of neatly folded sweaters, the leather belts hung neatly, brown in this rack, black in this one; even pajamas.  They had it all.  It is no wonder I that wanted to buy my men's gifts there and that is exactly what I did, and the years I had a boyfriend, he got a sweater.  That is what we bought our boyfriends back then, a sweater. 

Stand alone men stores are few and far between now days, and when I do run across one, they are so expensive they fall off my financial radar.  I long for the days when men tucked in their shirts.  I long for those days when men wore suits.  I long for the days when men dressed up, period!  No tattoos, no piercings, no grungy baggy clothes, no stringy hair!  I long for those simpler times when visiting a men's store was an experience.  It was a place where dreams were made and aspirations began.  Our life was ahead of us. 

Let's go somewhere.  Get your suit on.

I love you.
By the way, Shepherd's Men Wear is still in Shawnee. 116 E. Main Street.  I may have to go there when we make our annual visit to Hamburger King's.  My husband could write this same blog about Camp's Men's Wear in Conway, AR.  Even though he was a city boy and I was a country girl, we seem to have lot of similar experiences. 

Special

I was rather quiet this morning as I often am when things just aren't right.  Finally the hubby asked why and then I had to explain that I was stressed because I didn't know what to buy certain people on my list.  Then we had the discussion about our wants versus our needs. 

"I remember when we'd (folks in general) get that beautiful sweater that was only dreamt of.  The beautiful pink angora (itchy) sweater.  It was thrilling.  It was "the" gift without ever being put on a "list of things to buy".  It was unexpected.  Now days, people might get a pretty sweater for Christmas, but then they might have bought themselves a couple in different colors just the week before when they were on sale.  Nothing seems all that special anymore," I whined.   

"Remember mom telling us how thrilled she was a child to get her sock of candy and nuts", my husband asked?  He continued, "We could think of it as "how sad", but perhaps we should think of it as how blessed.  She was happy, happy with her little stocking of candy and nuts."  We both had to choke back emotion at this point.  Then he said this:  "We are fortunate that everyone we know personally, our relatives and our friends have all their needs fulfilled.  It is not that way for a lot of people.  We are blessed.  Mom thought that candy was special."
My husband is a very insightful man and he helps keep me grounded on what is important and what is special. 

The fact of the matter, none of the gift recipients on my list really need anything.  Everyone that I know, in fact, is blessed with their needs and almost all of their wants.  So with that in mind, my shopping just became easier.  It just became special.     

Memory:  My dear mother-in-law told the story of the candy and nuts every Christmas.  You know what, she always had a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her lips.  There was never any bitterness that she didn't get a doll.  In fact, she had a rock that she used as a doll.  A rock...  Think about her ingenuity of using a rock as a baby doll.  She was so special.

I love you!!