HAPPY NEW YEAR

It is the time of day when everyone starts to get ready for the festivities of the night.  It is time to bring in the new year... 2011.  I am truly looking forward to this next year and praying that it will be a better year for everyone I know and everyone I love. 

Every year has it ups and downs.  For me, this year has been a really down year.  I am praying that it will be a better one for everyone....our family, our country, and those I care for. 

I have spent now 75 new years eve's.  Of course the first so many were outside my memory.  The next ten or so were what people talked about.  My grandparents didn't really relate to parties, much less New Years' parties.  There were a few words, discussion of what had happened but all mostly at the dinner table.  Our dinner table was always there every evening and were full of discussions.  Mostly talking about family stuff, rarely books, and never politics, but lending stability.   Anyhow..... in my years of enlightenment, I found out that people gathered in groups and blew horns, kissed each other and yelled alot.  When we got a TV set, I was around eleven or twelve, there were wonderful pictures about this New Year.  They discussed the old year.  I loved the programs where they showed lots of fireworks and that tradition of a big kiss at midnight.

As luck would have it, all during college, I was home.  I didn't date anyone in my town, so I continued to celebrate the famous day all the way through college.  Now, I need to tell you, I wanted so bad to go to a party.  I even tried once to get up a party with my grandparents and my cousin Jean who was there for the holidays.  Well, I got napkins, and horns and hats.  Everyone got tired and went to bed.  Such a disappointment.

As luck would have it... I have been married twice but both husbands had no interest in New Years.  Well, I take that back..  My husband Ralph had grandchildren that had come to visit for the holidays.  I think I shamed him into doing a party.  We bought sparkly grape juice, balloons, horns, and hats.  We had a fine party.  I think Teddy and I had the best time of all.  It was such a good party.

Thanks to my nephew Jim, I celebrated a New Year in Berlin.  It was one of the highlights of my life.  I was on the way back to Saudi Arabia and stopped over to see him.  We spent time walking the streets, drinking beer in pubs, and just talking.  For the holiday we went to a restaurant, Franco's I think, and had a wonderful evening.  At the bewitched hour, we went outside and watched the fireworks.  Thanks Jim.  You didn't know how much I appreciated that night!

Lets see, that is two New Year's..... I just cannot figure out why I don't remember any more.  I know I worked a lot of times.  Wish some of you who have known me over the years can remember for me.  I know I have received hundreds of phone calls wishing me a Happy New Year.

This year I will be home alone.  My daughter and her husband will be at a party.  I am so glad that she will have an escort and I hope he brings to her the glitter of the night.   My grandson will be at a party, the adults will be home, at a friends house not half a mile from here.  All have instructions to call me if they need to.

I am visioning a better year for all of us....

• Lets help our church, our spiritual group, --our group that lifts us and others up.  For me, I want to get more involved in the Episcopal way of life.  I want to walk a better walk.
• Lets make sure we take care of our bodies... we exercise, eat well and take our medicines. For me, I plan to walk in water more, survive my surgery, and eat a lot less candy and more spinach.
• Let each of us use our talents to make the world a better place.  For me, I want to paint more, paint better, make little pleasures for others. Maybe I will discover another talent.
• Lets support or President and lend a hand, as we are able, to help him get his agenda done. We elected him, our complaints should be followed with action of support. I plan to read more, understand more, and write more letters ....
• Lets pray that the aggressors of the world find out there is a better way.  Course it has been several centuries...but we can always pray.  I will  pray and hope our young understand.
• Lets understand and help others understand what greed does to our environment, to our souls, and to others.....and cut it out. I plan to evaluate every purchase and see if it is need or greed.  Every single one.
• Lets help the animals that are mistreated, lost, and uncared for... in whatever way we can. I will care for my little one, Simba... help to care for Annie, CoCo and the other cat in our home.  I might even volunteer at a shelter, that would be fun.  I will give some food.
• Lets work on our environment.  I will start with mine.  Keeping my place in order will help a lot.
• Lets share our knowledge and thoughts...YES I want to continue to write what I am thinking and not let myself get intimidated by those who might not want to hear my rants, just let it roll, Rusti. Since I love to hear what others write in their styles and with their personal censors, I think I shall give myself permission to do things in my style with my censors.. thanks Bob Burridge. Yes, I will name more names.
• Lets love each other. Every opportunity to let someone know you love them just must not be overlooked.Do not be shy.  I plan to make sure that you know through this blog, my calls and other times together that i treasure you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

GRINCHING CHRISTMAS --- RULES

HOW TO GRINCH CHRISTMAS

Christmas is such an emotional and special time.  Doesn't seem to matter if  we are Christian or not.  It has to do with our own special history.  But, because of any number of reasons, there are ways that people screw up Christmas for others.  This seems to be the best time to remember how that happens.  This is very personal.  It is the stories of how people have made my Christmas a real emotional downer.  Maybe, I think to myself, If I write it down, it will take away the pain of it, the disappointment of it.  So here goes.  By the way, if it bores you to know about others experiences, skip this blog.

RULE 1
Tell someone you are going to do something and then don't do it.  I remember, as a child, I did not live with my parents, I lived with my grandparents. Many times my parents would tell everyone that they were coming for Christmas.  I would wait to open my presents waiting for them.  I would look out the door a hundred times to see if they were coming.  When the evening came and then night.  I would go and hide and cry.  Children, especially, look forward to things in such a real way.  Still today I react, not just at Christmas, but every day of the year when this happens.  My we sister and I share the suitcase story..... maybe someday we will tell you that one.  Of course, we cant always do what we say we will do..but we can always do things to make it so that it is understood. Just admit it!  I cannot get there, do it, etc.  Talk about it. I have to thank those of you who worked though pain to keep your word for your family and those you love.

RULE 2

I got the Spirit

Don't get the spirit.  Treating Christmas as just another day seems to be some kind of cop out.  Family and friends sometimes just don't get it.  They don't seem to know how great the day is.  Now, I will say, it is very tiring to make traditions and keep them.  But just another day?  I remember one Christmas when someone, not to be named, changed the oil in the car.  I remember yet another one, when someone read a book all day and talked to no one.  Anyhow, the spirit is the engagement, the laughter, the hugging and the loving.  So many times it is people we don't even know.  This year, Sterling is working in a grocery store.  He put on his Hurricane Santa Hat and shared that spirit with his customers.  He gets it!!!!



RULE 3.

Don't get the importance of tradition.  Almost all of us have traditions that we love.  For me, I love having a special time to open presents, having a special meal, reading the Christmas story from the Bible, having candles burning on Christmas Eve, having oyster stew on Christmas eve, listening to happy Christmas carols into the evening,  having everyone hang out in their pj's enjoying their special presents... So, yes, I am a traditionalist.  I don't think I am the only one.  When these traditions slip away, for me, then the importance of the season slips away.  Unless, of course, one tradition is changed for another.  This year as in 2006 we had a seafood Christmas meal.  Nancy's idea, I think. My daughter made the most wonderful change.  We had enough of the turkey and all the mess for Thanksgiving, so we decided to do the Seafood thing.  She put newspaper all over the table, and there was tons of crab legs, scallops, muscles, calmari, shrimp.... It was delicious and afterward just take newspaper and all to the trash.  I think since we have had it twice, it will become, for this family, a tradition.  It was especially nice, since we are not near the coast, to bring NC to Ohio.  Not so much work  Fun conversation.  Thanks Leah.

RULE 4

Being emotional absent.  It happens.  This is one of the very best ways to be the Grinch.  If you really want to spoil the day for everyone, then just don't participate with your heart and soul.  You know what it looks like.  No comments, no smiles, etc.  Sometime it is because of alcohol.  Sometimes it is because of drugs.  Sometimes it is because of self pity.  Sometimes it is because we are too concentrated on ourselves.  The bottom line question is.... how much can you forget yourself and how much can you make yourself happy by being  a contributing human being in others happiness. Being "under the influence" on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day doesn't let others know what we are really feeling. Everyone walks on eggs, not being able to predict what will come next.  The words and actions of alcohol being questionable.  The highest level of being unfair to those we love.

RULE 5

Being physically absent.  This is very unlike, but like being emotionally absent. There are many times in our lives that we have made choices "not to go..." when going would have made the world such a happy place.  I know that there were many years that my parents could have come  to see us at Christmas but choose to booze.  I know there are times when sons choose their lives, daughters choose theirs, children choose their friends.  When being physically present would make the life of people who gave life joyous.  The issue here is self importance, self indulgence, and in some cases self protection.  It is not an issue of right or wrong.  It is just an issue.  The outcome is the truth.   I think of the people who are in long term care facilities, and in hospitals.  I have observed the deep pain of loneliness there.  Letting one of your own feel this loneliness is perhaps one of the most painful of all actions and may be one of our greatest sins..   Justin, my son in law, worked Christmas Eve this year and for the first time observed this and felt the pain of people just being dropped off, forgotten and alone.   Physically absent can be as simple as retiring to ones own room or as complex as flying half way around the world.   Some of my most wonderful Christmases were spent taking a plane from Arabia, driving to Florida and having a Christmas with my daughter and my sister and her family.  I know they couldn't possibly know how important they were to me. Thanks Alyce, Leah, Suzie, Nancy, Jim and Jeff.  Phone calls count here.  They make us physically present.  My sister always tries to be first to say Merry Christmas.  Thanks, Alyce.

RULE 6
Being Judgmental  Yes, we are all guilty aren't we.  I know that I am.  The judgements are not reserved for the old, like me, that have our outdated ideas of what ought be.  Although we can certainly be judgmental. But for each of us who puts down what is important to others.  It may be simple traditions that we think are stupid. It might be religious beliefs.  It is so hard to put away these things that we think should or ought be.... and truly enjoy others joy.  A motto from my friend Sherry:  Don't should on me.


I thought there were more ways to make a grinchful Christmas, but it seems like those six ways kinda take care of them all.   At least, these are the most important. 

Feeling the love of Christ through the love of family and friends makes the best of all Christmasses.

ENCOUNTERS WITH HEALTHCARE Entry One

Traveling in to Cleveland from Olmsted Falls  30 minutes

Surgical Building...
Visits and Special Treatment
Surgery not done here.

Today is December 29, 2010.  It is a better day.  The everything seems to be better. It has been a very bad Christmas, for a lot of reasons.  The thing for me was trying to keep myself physically and psychologically up and moving, when I was dealing with having been told some problematic news.  I complained to my primary care physician that I had vague abdominal pain.  They did a CAT scan and found something where my appendix usually resides.  That meant a consult with a surgeon.  Of course, the report, which was available to me online, impression  .DIFFUSELY DILATED APPENDIX, THIS IS MOST LIKELY MUCOCELE OF THE APPENDIX  THOUGH APPENDICEAL CARCINOMA CANNOT BE EXCLUDED.   I, like most others, reacted to that diagnosis. Surgery is always the answer. I will state the bottom line first. The danger is in having it pop, and that means something that is very difficult to treat. Does make sense. Spewing who knows what all inside the abdomen.

Today I decided to publish my progress.  I wanted to chronicle my feelings and observations and share them with you.
 I will label the entries,  ENCOUNTERS WITH HEALTH CARE, so those of you who want to not deal with the journey, can read only the other entries. After having visited over 700 hospitals in this country, I find there is so many things to laugh about and complain about.  So here goes..........

Yesterday I went to my appointment at Cleveland Clinic and me my surgeon and his team.  Truly, I felt right at home.  It is so much like Duke it is scary. 

I have scheduled surgery on January 24, which seems like a long time away, but on the other hand, if they are not worried, I do not have to be.  Silly, ignorant statement...but gives some solace.

First, let me tell you how to make one go crazy.  Thank you Cleveland Clinic.  I was made an appointment with a surgeon for December 21.  I was in the car tootling toward downtown Cleveland, and received a phone message telling me the appointment had been changed and they would like me to see a more specialized surgeon.  OK.  I couldn't wait to get to the computer and find out the qualifications and why this new surgeon.  Now how is this for specialization.  this new surgeon, which I saw yesterday.  Is a specialist in appendix surgeries.  NOW give me a break.  He also specializes in pancreas and liver stuff.  My guess it is a specialization based on cellular issues.  The surgeon, Sricharan Chalikonda, MD, is very certified in Lap surgeries and that is how it will be done. He is also working in Robotic surgery.    If he has to, of course he will go to open incision, but that is highly unlikely in today's world.  He is also going to repair the ventral hernia I got from the last lap that was done three years ago.  I will probably not have to spend the night, unless I am very late in the day.  I am going to ask for first case, of course. This is  a real important thing, If you can muster up the courage to make sure it happens.  So I always try. The staff is alert having just had a bunch of coffee and sugar,

the room was cleaned during the night from floor to ceiling, 

 I will have general anesthesia. Cleveland Clinic has a bunch of sites and of course I opt for the most complicated one on the main campus.  Well, I guess my guys will get over having to hang out down there. 

Now for the observations.  The fun stuff.  When I arrived for the visit I was a bit early for the 10:10 AM time.  At 11:20 I was summoned into the inner sanctum.  The usual blood pressure, weight and review of vital info took maybe ten minutes, at most, then into the exam room.  Another thirty minute wait.  In comes a young woman and we begin an hour interview.  Of course, being the second year resident, she had read every word of my record.  We had to go over every word again.  It did seem we went over them twice.  A very thorough, maybe obsessive, young doctor.  THANK GOD FOR OBSESSIVE.  Out she went.  Another forty minute wait.  In comes the boss... Dr. C (we will refer to him as Dr. C) Spent an efficient thirty minutes, reviewing and explaining.  Out he goes.  In comes the nurse.  Not the one that did the original stuff, but the real boss.  The explanation of all that was to ensue.  Cards were given and a pleasant, We will see you when we do the things required before surgery.  I will send you appointments.

In the middle of traffic I fought my way home.  In my heart I am grateful.  That visit really took a long time, any diva would have screamed.  This diva would have been really uncomfortable if it had gone any other way.

Postscript:  Just looked at My Chart.  On January 11 I have seven appointments.  Beginning at !! AM and ending at 4:30.  Betcha I am there until six.  More Later.

My doctors credentials....

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/staff_directory/physician_name_search.aspx#6382

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES....

It is the day after Christmas and all the celebrations are a memory.  My thoughts had found the subject of PRESENTS.  I had a lot to say, but as I started writing, I just got stuck on my Christmases.  I only got as far as when I was in College.  More will follow.

The tree was cut, always cedar....decorated with mostly handmade stuff and angel hair pulled over it to make it magical.



A typical cedar tree for Christmas

When I was younger .. the magical stage where there was some gifts, but there was Santa Clause.  Those were wonderful times.  I got one gift from my grandparents.  I had one gift from my Aunt Frances.  She always, every single Christmas had a gift from her under the tree.  She always lived a distance but the postman always brought it in time for Christmas.  Everyone should have an Aunt Frances.  I cannot remember getting a gift from my parents.  Well, except for one Christmas, but that is another story. 



Nurse, baby doll and high chair... I had all of these



  I got a Nurses set one year and spent hours and hours listening through the stethoscope and giving out pills or using the syringe to give shots.I cannot forget the paper doll book and coloring books and crayons.



There was always a stocking filled to the brim.  Filled with oranges, tangerines, apples, peppermint sticks,unshelled pecans, walnuts and Brazil nuts, and some chocolate candy.  The stocking itself was one of my socks or one of Grandaddys'.  That was IT. No fancy ones, just practical ones.

 There was also the gifts I had gotten for Grandmother and Grandaddy.  Usually I made them or when I made some money babysitting I would buy something. Grandmother got a handkerchief that was embroidered and Grandaddy got some pocket ones with his initial.  Do men still carry handkerchiefs, I wish they would. So classy. Granddaddy always had a bunch of presents.  He was a bus driver and policeman and people gave him lots of wonderful things.  Cookies, cakes, socks and more socks.

Like mine, but prettier.

no telling the hours spent with these

Santa always brought me my most desired dream.  Usually one or two things were under the tree.  I remember getting dolls on many Christmas mornings.  Some would need their diapers changed, some would need to be fed and a couple were just plain beautiful.  There was often a game.  Monopoly or something to make my mind better.  One year I got a set of Compton's Encyclopedia. I also got Lincoln logs and tinker toys and  a cowgirl outfit complete with a six-shooter. 

Lincoln Logs

Tinker Toys

There was some clothes.  I remember several coats and some beautiful boots.  Aunt Frances sent me blouses.  They never quite fit, but they were always beautiful and I kept them because she was the only person who remembered me except my grandparents.

Christmas presents were pretty much the same until I went away to college.  Well, they became more age appropriate, but never a bunch of stuff.  Nicely selected just for me. One year I got a record player that was in a suitcase like carrier.  It played both 33 1/3 and 75 records.  One record that I played over and over again was Oklahoma.  I remember my sister visiting and laying across the bed listening for hours.
When I left home, I pretty much left home.  I was never there again except for Christmas and of course presents were practical but given with much love.

The first present I ever received that was not from my family was in 1954.  It was probably the most exciting one I ever received.  I had met a boy in April and was pinned.  At Christmas he gave me a short sleeved black CASHMERE sweater.  It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  I kept that sweater until late in the seventies..just to look at from time to time.

Isn't it funny.  I remember some presents, just a few.  But I remember the really bad times and the really  important ones like the warmth of the tree, my grandparents consistency in making sure I had a good Christmas, the loving care they gave me.   I remember special times like the little house in Lake Mary, the Christmas at the Beach, a time in Daytona, a time in Pinehurst.... More on Christmas memories...later.



GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS HO HO HO

The days before Christmas bring all kinds of emotions.  One of the most frustrating is getting all the decorations out, untangled, cleaned, repaired, sorted, and put up.  This is a year when we are trying to trim down all the things collected over years and years.  It does seem impossible, then, that we have bought other stuff.  Crazy, I would say.  Fresh greens, of course.  A huge fresh tree in the main house.... a Norfolk pine and poinsettias ... live, in my little attached house. .  I have a new little artificial tree which is up.  I almost didn't buy a tree, but couldn't live without one.  I keep finding boxes of ornaments and add a few every day or two.  I put homemade angles on the Norfolk Pine.  I made them with my beloved Beverly, who kept the house on West Lake going while we lived there.  We made quite a thing of having both black and white faced angles.  She helped my understanding of race and love more than any
one  except Yank and Effie when I was growing up.  More about them later.

And, the biggest cheerleader for ornaments that I know is Janice.  She was an other most wonderful person at my household.  She made ornaments every year, we took one to her party and she gave us one she had made.  I haven' found hers they are in the unrecovered box. .  She helped make my Aunt Frances' last Christmas as good as it could be.  I always hold her ornaments and say a prayer for her each Christmas. 

I cannot talk about the many Ahhhhhhs that come from Leah as we unwrapped.  So many memories for her and I still have many of her growing up decorations.  Sterling was in on the Ahhhs too... his memories are clearly etched in his heart. 

The stockings.  Yes we have enough for the four of us, the three cats ...and our beautiful dog, Annie. Well, we have the stocking, but not a hanger.  Please do not tell her when you send her card.

Hears in Our Hands, My Mantle

And... after years and years, there are new hangers for ornaments.  I had to have some.  They are so beautiful. 

My old friend Jane, Mrs. Christmas, herself.  Has made me decorations over the years.  I treasure every single one.  This year I found only one candlestick.  I have them all, Santa's, carefully packed away and I cannot find them.  So when people look at the one lone candle holder and shake their head, I will tell them the story of all the years that the Santa's were lovingly painted, and how humble I am to have gotten many of them. 

I cannot tell the decoration story without the story of my lighted deer.  Ralph and I traveled a lot during the month of December (never knew why the Joint Commission surveyed in December..).  One year we were driving through the mountain town of Boone, NC.  In front of their town hall there were several lighted deer.  One of them gently put her head to the ground as if eating grass, and gracefully lifted it again.  They were beautiful.  When we got home in Raleigh, I announced that my first priority was to buy some deer for the front Yard at 8705 West Lake Dr.  For the very first time, Ralph announced that he would not have those things at his home.  I was shocked.  How could it be that a thing I thought was so beautiful not be acceptable.  Well, at 4711 Ludwell, and 7205 Timber Lane, my Deer are shining brightly. 

I have lost some of my favorite things.... this weekend I will do a search and seizure mission.  I am missing the Santa that hung of the door corner..and the Santa's that Jane  made.

Remembering last year...... Jeff did most of the decorating.  This is so meaningful... This year I will not be sharing with them.  I am there in spirit.  I am in Florida with Suze, Rosie and Jamie and some I have yet to meet, in Maryland with Nancy and Sean, Brett, Kira, Jason, Carol, and all, and in Virginia with Jim and Mary...and will be remembering Gracie and Sophie.  I will be dreaming of every single person in North Carolina.

My front door sports a red berry wreath, seems such a happy one.  My laundry room has a lighted wreath to assist with the front of the house decorations.  

Cookies were the real order of business today.  Leah woke me with an announcement that she was not going to work, and today was cooking day.  She knows that I have been deeply depressed...yes, I admit it.  My issue around my health has not been shared with all of you.  I will do that after Christmas in detail, but for now..... I will be having surgery sometime after December 28 for something in my abdomen.  Just add prayers please that this is just another little stumbling block.  It has made me crazy and my daughter will never ever know how wonderful it was that she choose to spend time with me today and that Sterling was hanging around too.   

 

Guess Who...Goofing Off





We finished Macadamia Nut, Old fashioned Chocolate Chip, Nutty fingers, .... more will get baked tomorrow.  I want to make a Coconut Cake, (Alyce told me she was baking pound cake...ohhhh wish I had a bite of that right now.)  I have on my list some stuffed dates, shortbread, spritz..... We are doing something a bit different for Dinner on Christ  Day.... Seafood.  Many of you will remember the crazy and wonderful Emerald Isle Christmas in 2007.  We had wonderful seafood.  So the four of us will repeat the tradition this year.  Yummmmmmm

    

Christmas at Emerald Isle  Almost all of Use Were There

Now we are counting, tomorrow is Christmas Eve... hopefully I will have some Oyster Stew.....  More about our Holiday later.  I am looking forward to hearing from each of you and that your time was loving and wonderful.







MY 75TH BIRTHDAY THE YEAR 1935 MCMXXXV

As I was writing my 2010 Christmas note, It occurred to me that I hadnt written anything in the blog about my birthday.  It is one of those years that we all mark as one of the milestones.  My day was in several parts.  Thanks to my daughter, I believe it was the best in my life.  She arranged a little party on board the  Goodtimes sailing around the Cleveland shoreline.  A beautiful day.  She invited my son-in-law's parents, some of her friends.  A terrfic evening. 

The highlight, however, was a quiet day on the shore of Lake Erie.  She brought lunch, delicious, and we painted for six hours.  Having that much time with your daughter has to be the best gift of all.

Looking back to the year I was born.  The world was so different that it is too much to really talk abou except in little pieces..  The day to day, pretty much didnt change until the sixties.  Yes, new things were invented, cooking was a little easier, but the values and activities stayed pretty much the same. 

Car borrowed from Benjamins to ride to Wentworth

Elvis household stuff...mine too.

Houses were always too cold or too hot,   When I was little and visiting my great grandmother, we would heat up irons in the fireplace, put them in the feather bed, and run quickly to get into bed.  the indoor toilet had not been put into the house and it was either the slop jar or a trip to the outhouse.  we walked everywhere and included wearing holes in your leather soles of your shoes, food was either fresh or home canned, home dried, and everyone had a garden. which grew enough to feed everyone in the family.  You went to bed early and got up early.  People still didnt have much electricity..maybe a light hanging from the center of the room, and lamps were scarce unless they were kerosene.  Loved the beautiful glow of the lamp when it was turned down low.  Everyone lived in just a few miles of family memebers.  Except for us.  We lived about thrity miles away, and it seemed like another country. Cars were available and cost around a six hundred dollars, tho many were cheaper. Gas was ten cents a gallon, but milage was very very low, you were never sure you would make it, and it was a dirty hot endeavor.  We would take a lunch when driving from Greensboro to Wentworth, and even stop for a picnic. 

 Penicillin was not available and things like measles and whooping cough cause us to be quarenteened in our own homes with no one entering or leaving.  Most everything respiratory, could be treated by Vicks  Vapor Rub, invented in 1890, It was inavented in Greensbor by Dr. Vick.  A real big thing for our town. More seriously was TB and both my Uncle VT and Aunt Helen were treated at the Sanatorium.  That is where they met.  They stayed there for about two years, then when they came home, the doctor would come to the house, Aunt Helen would get on the dining room table, and he would colapse her lung.  As a child, I was very scared and curious.

 Everyone, that we knew, went to church on sunday and wednesday, and did "good work" as many other days as one could.  We went to the First Baptist Church in downtown Greensboro.  Dr. J. Clyde Turner was our pastor and looked exactly like I thought God must look.  Beautiful white hair.  He baptised me when I was twelve.  The church moved to another location when I was in High School and he left.  Seemed that it had a profound effect on my life.  I went to college in the fifty three and started going to the Chapel.  The music was beautiful, but so different.  The sermons were global instead of local.

 Social Security and Monopoly both were invented/started in 1935.  Growing up ,playing games was the Sunday afternoon activity with my Grandmother, Ollie.  In 1935, Dick Tracy came on the radio, and Babe Ruth played his last game wearing the uniform of the Boston Braves. 

My Grandfather, Rip, died a few years before I was born.  I was born in their home, but a couple of years later, my Grandmother, MeMe had a  new house built for my her by her brother, it cost eight hundred dollars.  It was four rooms and was on the land where the chicken house had been. I was not there much, but when I did visit it was wonderful  Usually, my sister, that I did not see often was there and that made it so wonderful. 

If you went to the butcher, you could get hamburger for ten cents a pound.  Most people didn't eat it, until hamburgers came into popularity.   Babies were breast fed, wore cloth diapers and sucked on "sugar tits" to calm their fussy times.   Sandwiches were in...bread was eight cents a loaf.  However, mostly bread was made in the form of biscuits and corn bread .    AA was born in new york, and beer was first canned in 1935. Krueger Cream Ale  The people who are my age... ELVIS PRESLEY... MY HERO, Julie Andrews, Jerry Lee Lewis, Luciano Pavarotti, Woody Allen, Sonny Bono, and the Dalai Lama...lol a funny group, wouldnt you say?

Women ... well they stayed home, unless you were my mother.  So my grandmother got the duty of raising me.  Amelia Earnheardt flew across the pacific solo.  The depression was still keeping millions on the dole.  the WPA was initiated by FDR, the president, and many wonderful things we enjoy today were built. The Blue Ridge Parkway was one.    Cleveland Clinic did the first surgery to relieve angina.... hard to believe.  Higt Parade previews....Unemployment was twenty point nine percent....Abortion was legalized in Iceland  Most popular girls’ names:


Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, Barbara were the popular names for girls. Why oh why Russelline.  I can recall my first day at school and the utter humilitation when I had to say I was... Russelline Boone Craddock.  Strangly enough every name I have ever had has had a double letter.  Russelline Boone Craddock Moore Greenlaw.

In 1935,Frank Lloyd Wright built Falling Water. First sugar bowl and the first orange bowl were played.  Would you ever believe that in 75 years that a group of folks would sit in front of a tv, and watch all of them at once, have a line that marked the ten yards to a first down, give us instant replays, and let us see each players eyeballs.

First class stamps were 2 cents and post cards were a penny. Mail came to a mail box about a mile away.  We would walk to the box.  [note:  I was looking for a picture of a 2c stamp and ran across the story you see in picture form here...go to http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2010/03/lostcard.html  to read the entire story.  We had finally got a telephone, but we were one of six people on the party line.  Can you imagine being civil enough not to kill each other.  Of course, if you were careful, you could lift up the receiver and listen to the other people talk.

Music was mostly in church.  But the radio played the Hit Parade that was started in 1935.  The top ten songs were:1. CHEEK TO CHEEK Fred Astaire,2. ISLE OF CAPRI Ray Noble,3. WHEN I GROW TOO OLD TO DREAM Glen Gray ,4. RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET Guy Lombardo ,5. LOVELY TO LOOK AT Eddy Duchin .6. SHE'S A LATIN FROM MANHATTAN Victor Young 7. I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE Little Jack Little .8. I WON'T DANCE Eddy Duchin ,9. TRUCKIN' Fats Waller,10. IN A LITTLE GYPSY TEA ROOM Bob Crosby. 

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL

One of my objectives when I started this Blog, was to share with my. family, friends and people who stumble across the Blog the things that have had a great impact on my life.  One of these things is a little short story.  The story is simple, but it never fails to bring tears to my eyes and to stimulate  me to do something. 

You may want to take a few minutes to read the story... http://www.online-literature.com/hans_christian_andersen/981/

A simple synopsis.......On a cold New Year’s Eve, a poor girl tries to sell matches in the street. She is freezing badly, but she is afraid to go home because her father will beat her for not selling any matches. She takes shelter in a nook and lights the matches to warm herself. In their glow, she sees several lovely visions including a Christmas tree and a holiday feast. The girl looks skyward, sees a shooting star, and remembers her deceased grandmother saying that such a falling star means someone died and is going into Heaven. As she lights her next match, she sees a vision of her grandmother, the only person to have treated her with love and kindness. She strikes one match after another to keep the vision of her grandmother nearby for as long as she can. The child dies and her grandmother carries her soul to Heaven. The next morning, passers-by find the dead child in the nook.


The cold of the season makes me think of all the children in our world who do not have the warmth that each of us enjoy.  In our family we have had people who have looked from outside. We have members that treasure the meaning of this story.   There are those who have experienced some parts of the story first hand. What do we do and what do we understand?

  Reading this simple story helps us evaluate our own humanity.

LOVE



LOVE



CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Today I became so perplexed. Downright stressed.   It is Christmas gift time again.  Oh my!!!   What to gift to people I want to gift to.  What to gift people I know need a gift.  What to gift to someone I don't want to gift.  It used to be pretty easy---Buy, wrap, and give.  It is harder now.  The world is an expensive place and my bank account is tiny in compared to other times.  My ideas are old fashioned.  I am out of touch.  There are some people (my sister and my daughter, for example) who ALWAYS does it right.  Well then there are some nieces and nephews.... well some friends too.  But I seem to fall into traps....

• Trap One:  Earlier in the fall you see something you want to give someone.  Ahhhh you say to yourself, I will buy it for a Christmas present  That seems to be a reasonable thought.  But, the item is too large to hide, so I just buy it and tell my folks, this is your Christmas gift. Time goes by, then I realize that there wont be anything under the tree on Christmas morning.  Will they remember that I already gave them a gift?  I won't be able to see the happy in their eyes.  You guessed it, I go gift shopping.  No early buying.
• Trap Two: I am getting older.  What do I know about gifts.  The things that are beautiful to me, just are a pain in the neck for another generation.  I love the sparkle of sterling silver bowls, flatware or picture frames.  The glow is soft and beautiful.  The beautiful lights in crystal.  The items take much too much time and energy to care for.  No Silver, no crystal, no china.
• Trap Three: Clothing is another trap.  Someone needs some dress up clothes, someone needs some clothes to warm their body, and someone else needs accessories.  Sure.  I do not believe that I have ever bought a single piece of clothing that I have seen someone wear after they told me how wonderful they thought it was.  No clothing.
• Trap Four:  The warmth of the holidays are marked by the smells and tastes of food.  My very favorite thing for Christmas is a Fruit Cake.  Yes the brunt of all the jokes.  My Aunt Frances always  sent me one from a company in Texas.  I loved them so much.  I started sending them to some of my folks.  I was cured of that when I listened to a bunch of jokes when they didn't know I was listening.  No food.
• Trap Five:  The other day as I was checking out at the grocery store, I saw a beautiful exhibit of all kinds of cards.  From every store, restaurant, mail order place.  But... I have to decide which card to give who.  I have to decide how much money is too much, and how much is too little.  Then I have to deal with the fact that I cannot stand the money that is made on these cards that is just a ploy .  If you buy a card for a given amount.... the person will either not spend that amount, or will need to put more money with the card to buy the item.  The card company always wins.  The person may loose the card.  Which one of my friends will like the place I choose, and which one will not.  How can I wrap a card so it looks pretty? It is out of vogue to give old fashioned cash in a bank envelope.  Times change.   No cards. Trap Six:  Oh wow, electronics. I have folks that would love a camera, a computer, a gaming system, some software.... but no!  Too expensive and too personal  No Electronics.
• Trap Seven:  Wish lists are the biggest trap of all.  Do not try to organize that, I have tried.  Please I have cried, make me a list.  Over all these years, each year I have asked.  Still no list.  I promised I wouldn't go there again..  No Lists.
• Trap Eight: Getting gifts to the person can be such a problem.  This year I decided on the best gift of all.  Cleveland makes a great beer...Great Lakes. The brewery doesn't ship, it is against the law to mail it or transport it....  No Alcohol.




Aunt Frances Angels

• Trap Nine:  The worst mistake of all is giving something I made.  Although some people pay good money for things I make, but how can I possibly know the taste, the new decor, the proper colors, and content of those handmade items.  I have to admit, I threw away some homemade beaded Angels this  year.  I think I may be punished in some strange way.  I don't want anyone to have this guilt when they throw away my painting. No Paintings.

• Trap Ten: This is the worst trap of all.  Re gifting.  I have never done it and don't intend to ever do it.  Except for the time I gave a year old fruit cake...hehehe no one ever caught on. 

You know If I could I would give the world to all my relatives and friends.  But, it isn't really the thought is it?

 I read a wonderful thing that was on Farmers; Almanac, it is called

 8 Wonderful Gifts That Don’t Cost A Cents.  In a world like ours, do you suppose these gifts could count?

THE GIFT OF LISTENING

But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no

planning your responses, no second-guessing. Just listen.



THE GIFT OF AFFECTION

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, and pats on the back.

Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have

for your family and dose friends.

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER

Clip and share cartoons and funny stories. Your gift will say,

“I love to laugh with you.”

THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE

It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or

a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered

for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT

A simple and sincere, “You look great in red,” “You did a super job,”

or “That was wonderful,” can make someone’s day.

THE GIFT OF A FAVOR 

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE

There are times when you want nothing more than to be left alone.

Be sensitive to that same need in others and give the gift of

solitude when it seems needed.

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION

The easiest way to feel good is to offer a kind word to someone.

Really, just a cheery “Hello,” or “How are you?”

can go a long way.

by Sandi Duncan

Monday, November 30th, 2009

From: Home and Garden, Smart Living

ART OF THE CAROLINAS

Sharon(the Boss)and Christina (Boss in Training)

  I have not reported to you about my experience at the annual event sponsored by JERRY'S ARTORAMA.  The Raleigh Hilton is the home of the event.  It is ten years old this year and I have been for 9 of the 10.  First as a participant and then I have worked for the last 4 years... well I missed last year during the move.  Sharon is the mover shaker along with Christina.  Check out the blog featured on the right column.  I am amazed how many people in this part of the world do not know about Jerry's.  I want you everyone to check it out.  It is a terrific resource.  



Pink Hair...Yes it Rinses Out...

ART OF THE CAROLINAS draws people from all over the country, both as participants and as  instructors.  From Thursday through Sunday, workshops are held non-stop.  You can attend for four hours or an entire day.  Many of the workshops are done with all the supplies furnished.  Woot.  You also have an opportunity to go to the convention floor for the trade show.  Suppliers from all over have their newest stuff demonstrated, their tried and true shown off, and bargains galore.  It is a do not miss for every artist.



I am usually assigned as the check in person, along with others.  It is so great to see the faces of folks that come back over and over.  Every year Jerry's gives away goodies.  This year Sharon and company dyed T shirts.  On the front was the logo for the event, and on the back it said ARTIST or STAFF.  You have no ideal how important it was to lots of folks to be called an artist.  Some participants are seasoned artists, but others are just getting started.  Validation is so important.  I thought this was a huge brainstorm by Sharon and her group.  Made all feel so good.




Kate



Bob

Some special people for me.... Bob Burridge.  I have taken almost all his classes.  It has been a couple of years and I need to go back and get a good infusion of his energy.  He is a mad man.  So funny, so talented!!!  His wife, the special person, Kate helps with the marketing and is the backbone of the business.  I took a week long brushless class with him at the Jerrys location in Raleigh.  That class was not too long, and it brought really talented folks.  I was so outclassed.  Please visit his website and look at his latest series of paintings...the circus series is so wonderful. 

Another of my favorite artists is Jeanne Carbonetti.  She is a watercolorist, but her style is so terriffic.  Those of you who know me know that I do not do very well in this medium.  But, many of the paintings that I have sold are done in her style.  Go figure.  I am including one of her paintings and the website so you can look at some more.   http://www.crowhillgallery.com/ 




Maggi and I

There is one other special person that is connected to this event, Raleigh and Art.  My friend Maggi who works this event with me...but beyond that, she and I spend time together taking pictures to paint, painting and just having fun.  She was the pink hair instigator.  A real true friend.

The event was great, but more important was being back in NC.  Although I missed seeing some of the wonderful people of my life, it was a good visit while it lasted. 

To see the highlights of the event, try this YouTube.... It doesn't take too long, but if you are curious or an artist, you will enjoy.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rel-xPK6EJc