St. Francis

February 29, 2012

This is one of many versions of a prayer by St. Francis.  It is a particular favorite of mine.  Tonight at church we sang another version of it - another favorite.  This speaks of a life of living for others - of being Jesus to others.  I aspire to live this life; to bring joy rather than sorrow, to console others, to understand, to show light and faith.  I'm not as successful at this as I would like, but continue to try.  With God, all things are possible.

Happy 18th

February 28, 2012

Today Thomas and Laura Hall turned 18.  Wait, what??  How did that happen?  Wasn't it just yesterday that they were 3?  The 15 years since I first met them have flown by.  From tiny little toddlers who used to crawl up in my lap, they've turned into these grown up people with jobs and school and plans.  We don't get to see them often enough.  Happy Birthday Laura and Thomas...the best is yet to come.

Bird of Paradise

February 27, 2012

The Bird of Paradise is an interesting plant.  I think it's beautiful, but it's also a bit creepy.  It's a favorite of Catherine's (and of mine) and I would love to have one in my front garden.  In the category of "boy do I remember some weird stuff", I remember my Mom and Dad randomly singing a snippet of a song about the bird of paradise flying up a nose.  I googled it - the title of the song really was "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" and was sung by Little Jimmy Dickens in 1965!  By the way, according to one of the entries that popped up, you can get a ringtone sent to your phone!

Winter Has Been Cancelled

February 26, 2012

Yes, that is new growth.  The bushes, flowers, trees, and grass in Southwest Florida have decided that winter is over and it's now spring.  Wait, WHAT?  Where did winter go?  Or rather, why didn't we have winter this year?  I know that many of you are thinking that's a pretty silly question.  But, here in Florida we look forward to winter - low humidity, pleasant temperatures (in the seventies) most of the time, several weeks (all spread out) of cooler temperatures - sometimes even cold enough for sweaters and jackets, few bugs, blue skies, and sunshine.  This year we've had a few days here and there where it was cold but we've had many more days of heat, sometimes record-breaking heat, and humidity.  And now, it looks like our winter is over.  So, for those of you who are thinking that it sounds like a pretty good deal, here are the drawbacks.  It means we didn't get a chance to be without humidity and that is going to make the summer months more difficult to take. It also means our mosquitos this summer are going to be the size of birds.  Well, maybe not quite that big, but you get the point.  And, we'll live with it because this is where we reside and the perks far outweigh this year's lack of winter.

Living Water

February 25, 2012

This is the book I am currently reading on my Kindle (important because I am also reading a book that I keep on the bedside table and I am listening to one on my iPod while I work out).  I first heard of Mark Hall as the lead singer of Casting Crowns, one of my favorite Christian Artists.  Their song, "The Voice of Truth" is the story of Mark Hall's feelings of insecurity and inadequacy due to his lifelong battle with ADD and Dyslexia.  He told the story of this song in his first book.
I am not a big fan of reading nonfiction, as I find it tedious.  As a rule, I read incredibly fast and have done so since I first learned to read.  In 5th grade I used to get in trouble during that torturous exercise known as "round robin reading" because I never knew where we were when it was my turn to read - not because I wasn't paying attention, but because I could NOT read as slowly as the others and I was almost always several pages ahead of where we were supposed to be.  Anyway, I can't read nonfiction quickly so I find it tedious.
Mark Hall's nonfiction writing style is easy to read and understand.  He speaks to my heart with simplicity, humor that is similar to my own, and self-awareness.  He doesn't preach from a lofty place, but from a human, "I'm not perfect" place that makes it real.
"The Well" deals with the Living Water of Jesus Christ and how we often dip into empty holes of such things as Talent and Resourcefulness instead of relying on Jesus and his Truth.  Mark Hall uses stories from his life and others in addition to scripture to make his points.  In my opinion, this is a book worth reading.

To Kindle or Not...

February 24, 2012

This is my Kindle.  Wayne gave it to me for our anniversary last June.  I had been weighing the pros and cons of having one and hadn't yet decided what I wanted to do when he surprised me with it.  And, I love it!   I've always been a fast reader so when I travel I carry a bag full of books with me (seriously - usually a minimum of 4 and often as many as 10, depending on how long the trip is).  Now, when I travel I carry 10 to 15 books all in this one little book!  And, if I should just happen to run out of books to read (or think of something new I'd like to read instead of what I have) I can purchase a new book and it downloads to my Kindle instantly!
There are some drawbacks.  Even though there's a running percentage that tells me how much of the book I've read, I am very visual and find it less informative to have a percentage than the visual of seeing how much of the book I have left.  I also like to look back at parts of the book I've already read to check on names, etc. and I find that difficult with the Kindle.  I'm getting used to those two things, though, and have decided I LOVE my Kindle.

Right Between the Eyes

February 23, 2012

This picture was taken in early March of 1990 and is one of my favorites from that week.  I love the intense stare - the beginning of a beautiful relationship. As he said to me later, "from the beginning it was like she poked me right between the eyes and I was hers".  This is my Dad, Frank "Larry" Walls spending quality time with his first grandchild, Catherine Michelle Clifton.   Daddy was in Daytona for Bike Week when Catherine was born and came up to meet her when she was a few days old. To this day both Catherine and her Grandpa (who never succeeded in convincing Catherine she should address him as "Grandfather Dear" - said tongue firmly planted in cheek, of course!) will tell you that her birthday is "Bike Week"!

Prepare Ye The Way

February 22, 2012

This picture was taken at Sewanee by Catherine last winter.  None of the pictures I've taken of this cross have quite captured the feeling she has captured in this one so I'm borrowing her talent for this one!
Today is Ash Wednesday; the beginning of Lent.  Today is the day we begin our annual 40 day journey toward Easter.  Lent is a season of preparation, of penitence, of being deliberate about putting Jesus first (which we should do anyway...), of self-sacrifice.  Jokes are often made about what we are giving up for Lent.  The first time I was aware of someone doing this was during my first year of college.  My roommate, Eileen, gave up all snack foods for Lent.  At the time, I thought she was crazy.  But, during that time, I watched as she went through those 6 weeks with temptation all around her and held fast to her commitment.  I was in awe of her ability to do that.  A couple of years later, I found myself a new member of a church in which Lenten discipline was an important part of the season and so began many years of giving up sweets or snacks or meat on Fridays or any of a number of other things I enjoyed.  The reasoning in giving something up is that when you think of that thing it is supposed to remind you that this sacrifice is small in comparison to the great sacrifice made by Jesus for us and our sins.
Over the years I have discovered that there are other ways to observe Lent and have started taking on something instead of or in addition to giving something up.  This year my Lenten discipline has 3 parts.  First I plan to give up my daily candy bar during my break at school.  Instead, that dollar a day will go to the food pantry at St. George's.  This means that instead of me having an unnecessary snack, a less fortunate person will have food that will sustain them.  Second, I will be taking part in a weekly Supper/Study on Prayer/Praise Service at St. George's.  My third discipline will be to read at least one nonfiction, spiritual book.  I have settled on Mark Hall's "The Well".
None of this is done to call attention to myself.  Instead, the purpose is to help me grow in my walk with our Lord.

Peaceful Morning

February 21, 2012

Today started very early - up at 4:30 and out the door at 5:30 for class at the gym.  It was a rough night of waking up thinking I had overslept (which happens almost every time I have to get up particularly early).  I had a great workout, though, and left the gym at a little after 7:00, with lots of time before I needed to be at work.  So, I took my second breakfast and my Kindle and went to sit by the pond.  The air was cool and fresh, there was mist coming off the water, and the birds were beginning to gather.  It was a very peaceful way to transition from workout to work.

One Lump or Two?

February 20, 2012

This was taken Christmas of 1991.  Catherine was thrilled with the table and chairs her Grandma and Grandpa had given her for Christmas.  She also received dishes and pretend food (and the incredibly cute duckie slippers she's wearing).  Grandma was very accomodating about sitting with Catherine and having "tea".  They chatted and giggled and had a grand time!  This table and chairs has moved from house to house to apartment to apartment to house.  It has been a place to play, to eat meals, to do homework, to scrapbook, and so much more.  Right now, this little table and its chairs occupy a special place in the house and await the time when they'll be given a place of honor in Catherine's apartment or house.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

February 19, 2012

...one is silver and the other gold.  This song has been in my head since my Girl Scout days.  An old song for sure, but it has a great message.  The picture is from a gathering in November.  All of the girls in this picture (because when we get together we are still just girls) graduated from Edgewater High School in 1979.  Some of us have stayed in touch all of these years and some of us just reunited through Facebook.  Some of us weren't friends in high school (after all, our graduating class had 535 or so) but are finding common ground now.  There are more of us in this group of friends but not everyone could make it to this particular gathering.
I find it interesting how the little things that kept some of us from being friends (different interests, a big school, perceived slights and threats, socioeconomic differences that really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things) are no longer important.  What's important is that we have a common experience with different threads that are all woven into the same fabric.  We now have husbands, ex-husbands (for some), children, grandchildren (for some), a variety of work experiences and activities, tragedies, triumphs, bad days, good days...and we share the burdens, laughter, tears, and joys with each other.  We encourage, laugh with (and at), cry with, rejoice, and love each other.  The passing of years has made us appreciate each other and has allowed us to come back together to form new friendships that are based on less superficial ground.  Thank you, girls, for being a part of my life!

Geraniums, a Grandma, and a Godmother

February 18, 2012

Geraniums are on my list of favorite flowers, and they're also on my rather short list of flowers I can name by their real name!  The red ones are my favorite, although the pinks and the whites are pretty, too.  I love the spicy scent they emit.
My Grandma Susie always had geranuiums in stone flower boxes on her front porch.  She watered and cared for them and they always looked fresh and friendly and inviting.
Geraniums also remind me of Maria Williams.  Maria was a special woman; a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Bainbridge.  A retired teacher, a talented doll maker (that's a subject for another blog), one of Catherine's Godmothers, and a blessing to all who knew her.  Whenever we were out of town, Maria went by our house daily to take care of the cats (she spoiled them rotten!), collected our mail, and checked to make sure all was well at the house.  When we arrived home, there was always a fresh container of milk and some kind of fruit in the refrigerator as a "welcome home".    We had a lovely front porch that Maria decided needed flowers.   We arrived home after a trip to find flower boxes full of red geraniums on the porch.  They were beautiful!  Unfortunately, I have a black thumb when it comes to plants.  If I water them, they die.  If I don't water them they die.  If I look at them too hard, they die.  Sad.  Maria was a trooper, though.  Every time we went out of town, we returned to find the dead geraniums gone and new, live ones planted in their place.  Eventually she gave up, realizing that I was hopeless when it came to plants.
Beautiful plants, beautiful flowers, beautiful women, beautiful memories.

My Heart Belongs to...

February 17, 2012

Yes, this is a few days after the fact, but that's par for the course for me this week...

Valentine's Day is a pretty low-key affair around here.  Neither Wayne nor I think it's a particularly good "holiday".  It's not that we don't believe in love; it's more that we don't think the media, stores, florists, etc. should tell us when and how to express it.  We went out to dinner Sunday night (much calmer and easier than trying to go on Tuesday) and Tuesday morning we each had a card and some candy for the other at breakfast.
We actually celebrate Valentine's Day year 'round - daily expressions of love and appreciation for each other, small gifts for no reason except that one of us sees something the other would enjoy, flowers "just because", and so much more.   I know every day that Wayne loves and appreciates me and I try to make sure he knows that I love and appreciate him.

Book Baby

February 16, 2012

These are a portion of the books Catherine owned at the age of 3 when we moved to Savannah.  She wanted to arrange her books on her shelves, so the books got dumped into the floor so she could sort through them and arrange them on the shelves the way she wanted them.  Catherine has always loved books.  There were books everywhere:  on the shelves, in the bed, on the couch, in the closet, in the living room floor, on the table, in the car.  Wherever she went Catherine took books (yes, bookS, plural).  One time I limited the number of books she was allowed to take on an outing to two.  She finished both of them soon after we left the house and was quite annoyed with me that she didn't have any more books to read while we ran our errands.  I didn't make that mistake again.  Bedtime was an adventure in figuring out how many books she could manage to get one of us to read to her, and she was quite the negotiator!  I'm glad to have shared this love of books with Catherine and that she embraced it.

Budding Musician

February 15, 2012

From the time she was born (well, long before she was born), Catherine was surrounded by music.  There has always been music in our house...piano, flute, Euphonium (I'm not sure what it was really called...E flat horn?  Something like that - sorry, Steve), singing, records, cassettes, eventually DVDs...  Catherine made musical sounds long before she started talking in words.  She was a great imitator of sounds and showed great interest in everything musical.  She had an amazing ability to repeat sounds she heard (and to do it on pitch).  Once Catherine started talking, the fun really began.  I loved to sit in the living room and listen during bathtime when Catherine and Steve created operas about bathtime (and any other topic they could come up with).   The music has never stopped.  There is music in her fingers, in her voice, in her soul.

The Good, The Bad, and the Truly Ugly

February 14, 2012

Today was the first day of a new session of a class I take at Lifestyles called STRIKE.  I've been taking it since they started it almost two years ago (I think I'm the only person who has taken every session).  I truly enjoy this class - it's a combination of mixed martial arts, boxing, cardio, and core work that is an amazing workout.
Yes, the clock says 4:40 and that is 4:40 in the morning!  Until this session the class has been offered at 5:30 in the afternoon, but Jon decided that this new session should be at 5:45 in the morning.  In order to get there, I have to get up at 4:40.  I've long been a believer that this is not morning...it's still the middle of the night. And so we arrive at the good, the bad, and the truly ugly of this situation.
The Good:  I got to see a spectacular sunrise this morning when I left the gym.  And, because I was done with my workout by 6:30, I was at work by 7:20, which meant I had time to get organized and get my thoughts together before school started.  After school, instead of going to the gym, I was able to stop at the grocery store and then come home and cook dinner so we could eat earlier than usual.
The Bad:  I am a slow starter.  I'm not really a late sleeper, but I like to wake up gradually.  Optimally, I like to get up and wander around, drink coffee while sitting and reading the paper, or sitting and enjoying the peace of quiet morning.  Rushing into things makes for a not-as-happy-or-with-it me.
The Truly Ugly:  My coordination is not consistently good at any time of the day, but first thing in the morning it is deplorable. The sight of me jumping up and down, lifting, punching, kicking, and balancing before it's even light outside is not a particularly pretty one.  On a more positive note, I have great entertainment value for the rest of the class as I flail about!
It's a testament to how much I like this class that I'm willing to get up at 4:40 in order to be there!

Warning: Woman on Soapbox - Rant Ensuing

February 13, 2012

As you might have gleaned from the title, tonight I am angry.  This car belongs to a dear friend.  A few days ago she was sideswiped by a drunk driver.  The drunk then hit a pole, exploding a transformer, and had to be extracted from his car.  My friend was able to get out of her car and move around, but was taken to the hospital with back and neck pain.   This will come as no surprise to many of you, but the driver who caused this was a repeat offender.  Imagine that.  Part of what bothers me about this situation is that it probably won't be the last time for him, as it seems the news is full of drivers with multiple offenses who are still out there driving while impaired and wreaking havoc on the innocent of society.  And, who pays?  Who is out of work for a week or more while seeking medical attention, pays big medical bills, pays a lawyer, has a car that is totaled and an insurance company saying the car's not going to be replaced, who is in physical pain, and in emotional pain from terror of the accident itself and from the subsequent worry?  Not the drunk driver, that's for sure.
How do we get through to people that driving while impaired is simply NOT acceptable and won't be tolerated?  Why are there so many repeat offenders?  Why aren't there more stringent laws?  Oh, that's right, because drinking is a disease and we certainly don't want to offend someone by making sure there are serious consequences for their actions, particularly when those actions infringe on the rights and well-being of others.
I am well aware that I am not being politically correct.  Frankly, I don't care.  This is a societal ill that needs to be fixed.  Now.

Just Swingin'

February 12, 2012

"Push me!  Push me!  Higher!"  Each of us has probably said this at least once in our lives and many of us have been on the receiving end of this request as well.  And then, ":Watch me, watch me!  I can do it myself!"   There's always laughter and sometimes squealing. A swing is such a simple thing that brings hours of fun. Just the sight of a swing brings back the feeling of learning to pump my legs to propel the swing higher and higher on my own without the need of a "pusher".  I can feel the funny, empty feeling in my stomach as I flew up high and back down low then kept going back up high, the feel and smell of the wind in my face, and the look of the sky as I flew toward it.  At one time my goal was to swing high enough that I kept going all the way around the bar of the swingset (I never did, but I sure tried).  I remember the daring feat of swinging up high and jumping out of the swing - still can't believe I actually did that and managed NOT to break anything! Another "trick" was going as high as I could, then closing my eyes and leaning back until I felt like I was flying.  Now, as an adult, when I sit in a swing, I am immediately transported back to childhood and I don't think I'm alone.  Watch the face of an adult who sits in a swing and sets it in motion - the years melt away until you expect to hear, "Watch me, watch me!" and often WILL hear laughter (and the occasional squeal!).

Whether there's weather or not

February 11, 2012

Today was a jeans-and-socks-open-the-windows-and-love-the-breeze kind of day. Midnight and I agreed that having the windows open was a beautiful thing.  It has been unseasonably, unpleasantly warm and humid here for weeks - highs in the 80s with a couple of record-breaking days in the upper 80s.  I am NOT a fan of this weather.  One of the things I love about January and February in southwest Florida is the mild temperatures (low-to-mid 70s) and low humidity.  Being able to open the windows and breathe fresh air is a beautiful thing.  This year has been an exception.  So, today was a beautiful day as far as I was concerned.  The weather folks, however, are acting like this is Snowmageddon and the end of life as we know it.  They make it sound like we're all going to freeze to death just because we have a few days of highs in the low 60s and upper 50s.  Granted the lows are supposed to be in the low 30s for the next couple of nights.  This is NOT a disaster:  the fruit will be sweeter, some of the West Nile Virus bearing mosquitos (which were a huge deal in the news this week) will be killed off, the sweaters I don't get to wear very often will get some use, and I will be able to breathe easily for a few days.  How is any of this bad?   Oh, and for those of you who agree with the forecasters about the "terrible" weather, it will be in the mid-to-upper 70s by the middle of the week!

Friday Night

February 10, 2012

Friday nights around here often mean Wayne's pizza, a glass of wine, and spending the evening relaxing in front of the TV.  It's a great ending to the week, especially knowing I don't have to pick out clothes and iron them, get things ready for the next day, and then get up before light.
Friday nights have meant different things at different times of my life.  It's always been the signal of the end of the week and two days of no school.  In Junior High it was often Skating night.  Depending on where we were skating, it was also sometimes Go-Cart night.  High School brought Friday night football games (the sound of the drumline on a Friday night still makes my feet start tapping) and usually going out for pizza afterwards.  When football season was over, Friday nights were nights to go to the movies or gather for a party - just hanging out with friends.  In college the football games were on Saturdays so Friday nights were party nights.  For many years, Fridays were "it's the end of the week, let's relax" nights.  During Catherine's late Elementary School and Middle School years, every other Friday night meant a race to pick her up at school and get her to Tallahassee to board a plane to go see her dad.  On the weekends she was with me, we often went to get ice cream or went to the drive-through at Taco Bell (for me) and Arby's (for her) and then went home, put on jammies, crawled into bed to eat dinner and watch a movie and talk.  Catherine's high school years brought Friday night football back into our lives - I thoroughly enjoyed being a Band Mom!
Friday nights are full of promise - the end of a week and two days off.

Harry and Susan Madden

February 9, 2012

These are my maternal grandparents, Susan and Harry Madden.  This was in October of 1974, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Grandpa was a carpenter.  He was a perfectionist who helped me learn that anything worth doing was worth doing right.   He was a quiet man for the most part.  He never raised his voice; he didn't have to.  All he had to say was, "Terri Jo." in that quiet, powerful voice and I knew I had crossed the line.  It was more devastating than being yelled at!  Grandpa was funny, patient, fastidious about his cleanliness, and loving.  He was gruff when he was worried (such as when I took my gloves off on the way home from school so I could play in the snow and he was afraid I had frostbite).  I remember playing games at the kitchen table, watching Roller Derby on TV while we ate lunch, Grandpa drying the dishes while Grandma washed them, picking vegetables from the garden, building things in the backyard with scrap wood he kept in the garage, and the swings he made and hung in the tree for us.  Grandpa ate "to keep from getting hungry" and loved tomatoes (for all three meals) and ice cream.  Grandpa had a stroke in November of 1983 and died in January of 1984. I still miss him.  I was thankful to be in Wisconsin at that time and to be able to make the trip to Indiana several times to see him and to be with Grandma.
Grandma was, for the most part, a homemaker.  She did work at JC Penney at one time.  She sewed, crocheted, baked, cooked, canned, kept a garden, taught my sister to whistle, watched her "stories" in the afternoons, and was very crafty.  She was a two-time survivor of breast cancer, struggled with her vision, and lived until her mid-90s. I loved to sit with her and listen to her talk about her childhood and her early years with Grandpa and hold her hand (she had the most amazingly soft hands). I still miss her. She and Catherine had a special relationship.  When Catherine was 3 months old, Grandma laid her on the dining room table to play with her because she could see her better there.  As Catherine grew older she would crawl up in Grandma's lap to talk, and "read" to her since Grandma couldn't see to do the reading.  The two of them would talk and laugh and play for hours.
When Diana and I were at their house, we would often end up in their bed with them in the mornings.  The four of us would talk and laugh for quite a long time until finally Grandpa would claim we were pushing him out of the bed and he'd get up.
One of the most vivid memories I have of Grandma and Grandpa is that they held hands everywhere they went.  It's a beautiful picture to have in my mind.

Bill and Marie

February 8, 2012

These are my paternal grandparents, Bill and Marie Walls.  Grandpa was a real Cowboy - he was a ranch foreman in southern Arizona.  He was also reported to be an Olympic-quality athlete and unofficially broke a world record in the triple jump (called the Hop, Skip, and Jump at that time).  When I was a teenager there was a man who wanted to write a book about Grandpa; the book was partially written and then my grandmother took exception to some of the content, decided it was a bad idea, and wouldn't let him finish it.  I don't really remember Grandpa Bill as he died when I was 3 or 4.  I've heard so many stories that I wish I had been able to get to know him in person.
Grandma Marie lived to meet her Great Grandchildren (Catherine, Robert, and Natalie).  She was a strong woman who did many jobs in order for her family to survive.  She drove a school bus, was the ranch cook, was a school janitor, and many others.  When Grandpa Bill died, she had two adult sons (my Dad and Uncle Billy) and a young son (Uncle Jack, who was about 8 or 9, I think) still at home.  She had a wicked, caustic, and sarcastic sense of humor that I enjoyed, was very opinionated and didn't hesitate to share her opinions, and had no problem letting you know if you disappointed her in any way.
Bill and Marie lived a life with which most of us are unfamiliar; a life that was simple in many ways and very hard in other ways.  They raised 3 boys who grew to be responsible, honorable men.  They left a legacy.

Birds

February 7, 2012

I find seagulls to be fascinating.  They gather in groups to sit on the beach looking out to sea.  Suddenly one will start running and off they go - running, then taking off and flying.  Sometimes they just fly in circles and land back on the beach.  Other times they fly down the beach in different directions.  If one finds food, others will try to take it.  They steal food from unsuspecting people.  They can get downright unpleasant with each other and with anyone who starts throwing food out for them.  I enjoy watching them and taking pictures of them sitting on the beach, taking off, landing, flying...

Full Moons and Rain

February 6, 2012

Today was a little restless at school.  Not bad, but the students were a bit edgy.  For those of you who work with kids, you know the significance of this picture.  And, we had a double whammy today because it also rained.  I'm not sure why, but rain seems to make Middle School students lose their minds (I know  - most of you are pretty sure they have already lost their minds); paired with a full moon, it makes for interesting days at school!

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy...

February 5, 2012

Joy IS contagious.  Have you ever noticed that when you are with someone who is full of joy that it makes YOU feel happier and more positive?   And, especially, if that joy is the Joy we have when we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  

Fifteen years ago I attended a Cursillo weekend.  One of the skits was done by Cathy Latimer.  She was a clown who couldn't help but sing, "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy down in my Heart".  Repeated attempts to keep her from singing were unsuccessful...the Joy just kept bubbling out.  That image has stuck with me for all these years.

I'll Procrastinate Later

February 4, 2012

This was today's big project.  Yes, folks, those are the CHRISTMAS letters.  And, yes, today is February 4th.  I had the cards made before Christmas.  Catherine wrote the letter and printed it and we all signed it, and then I made copies of it.  I found the address list and updated it as best I could.  Then the wheels fell off.  I claimed that I had "let go of" this particular Christmas tradition and that I was OK with getting them out late. I lied.  While I realize that it probably doesn't really matter to anyone else, stuff like this weighs heavily on me until I finally get it done, no matter how long it takes.
I am full of great ideas: gifts to make for others, little kindnesses I'd like to do for people, organizational tasks that would ultimately make my life easier, recipes I'd like to try, projects I'd like to do, and so much more.  Most of them either get started and never completed or don't even get started.  Why?  Sometimes the time just slips up on me and the event is upon me before I know how the time passed.  Sometimes I'm not sure how to proceed.  Sometimes the task is so big that it overwhelms me and  I'm not able to even begin.  And, occasionally, the job is simply beyond my capabilities.
So, anyway, the Christmas letters are addressed, stuffed, and stamped and ready to be mailed on Monday.  Happy February!

Fast and Furious

This was my first car - 1968 Mustang convertible.  Of all the cars I've had, this is still my favorite by far.  It was fast and powerful (more so than a 16-year-old girl had any business driving!) and so much fun to drive!  When I went to college I wasn't allowed to take the Mustang with me and while I was home for Christmas after my first quarter we traded it in on a Datsun B210 Hatchback.  I cried.  The Datsun was a good car and it served me well, but it just wasn't the Mustang.  There have been others, and I've driven each of them fast and hard and many, many miles; only getting a new car (or a new, used car) when the current one has nothing left to give.  Every one has been a standard (anyone who's ever ridden in an automatic with me will concur that I'm dangerous in one as I keep trying to push in the clutch that isn't there!) and every one has had qualities I liked.  However, given the chance to have my '68 Mustang back, I'd take it!

American the Beautiful

February 2, 2012

I love this flag and this country.  I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America and all for which it stands.  I have lived in 10 states (Illinois, Alaska, Arizona, Indiana, California, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Georgia) and have visited many more.  And, there are many, many places I still want to visit.
We live in a beautiful country.  Every state has unique physical attributes, ways of doing things, characteristics of the people, versions of the English language, food (one of my favorite parts!), and weather.  Each place that I have lived has given me something - a new word, a new food, an appreciation for their way of doing things, art, or something that is unique to that area.
As a child, we moved from place to place because Daddy was in the Navy.  As an introvert, I found that to be difficult.  I so hated being the "new kid" and having to make new friends.  However, I am thankful to have had the opportunity to live in so many places and learn so many different ways of doing things.  I am also thankful that I have friends all over the country.  One particularly painful memory of going to a new school has remained with me and made me very aware of how difficult it is to be new to a school.  As a result, I make sure new students in my classroom are welcomed and have a student assigned to help them find their next class.
American the Beautiful...from sea to shining sea.

Out of Shape

February 1, 2012

It's the first day of February and today's high was 84.  Yes, 84.  And it was kind of humid.  The forecast is for it to remain this way for the rest of the week.  I decided it was crazy to waste this weather so instead of going to the gym, I decided to run 3 miles outside.  My neighborhood is not really conducive to running without an armed escort, so I drove to Lockwood Ridge Road (long and straight with a great sidewalk and relatively close to home).  My goal was 3 miles.  Ok, so that was a bit ambitious.  I managed to run/walk 2.4 and did it in a respectable 28 minutes.   During the 28 minutes I made some discoveries.  Running alone isn't much fun and it's much harder than running with a friend.  I'm in worse shape than I would like to be.  Everything hurt while I ran - ankles, knees, hip, lungs.  So, I will keep on working toward that goal of actually running all 3 miles and enjoying it.  One thing I do know is that if I stop now I'll never get to the goal, so failure is not an option!