Yes, that is what I have become. I spend money giddily on tooth implants, gold crowns, doctor's visits, creams of various sorts that promise to restore youth, shampoo that promises volume and shine all in one bottle!, and other things. The sad reality is that nature hates a vacuum....and nature considers leisure time as a vacuum. Now, when we were young, that vacuum was filled with dancing the night away, playing on the swings, romantic walks on the beach, and, of course, meaningful work, or studying for school or...fill in your favorite here.
Now, at this stage of my life, my leisure time is spent at the dentist's or doctor's office, or "taking care of myself" Ah well, I am grateful I still have health to take care of, hair to have cut, friends to check in on.....and who knows, maybe I'll go outside on this beautiful day and play in the dirt for a while.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
The House of several crises
We lived in the little house in Huntsville for 26 years. The house was built in the 50's and was a charming little brown frame/brick house. Over the years we added another bedroom and bath, a dining/office/den area, a carport and shop/storage area, replaced the carpets, and did a complete renovation of the kitchen. We never had to file any home insurance claim.
Then we moved to San Angelo and bought a brick house that was built in the 80's. To be honest, we bought the house because of the location: the back yard goes down in a series of rock ledges to the North Concho River...and on the other side of the river is a golf course. Within 6 weeks of moving into the house, we had to do a major repair in the master bath (removing the whirlpool tub which was on top of a pipe leak, jackhammering the foundation..a trench about 12 ft. long and 2 ft. wide and several feet deep was dug.) Then we had to have the bathroom completely redone. We also had to have the carpeting in the dressing areas, closets and master bedroom replaced. A rather large claim was filed...and paid.
A couple of years later, our house was hit by a major hail storm....new roof, new outside paint job, gutters replaced, several windows replaced, skylights replaced,etc...another major claim filed and paid.
Last May, we returned from a trip to find our living room carpet soaking wet, the downstairs office floor (it was a parquet floor) buckled and one closet flooded. A pipe in the utility closet had sprung a leak...(ironically we had had the hot water heater that was in that closet replaced with a tankless heater mounted outside the house because we feared that if the hot water heater went out while we were gone, the living room and downstairs would flood....) Another claim filed and paid.
So now we feel as if this house is jinxed. When the carpet in the living room had to be replaced because of the leak, we paid (not the insurance company) to replace the carpet in the two guest bedrooms with the same carpet that we were having in the living room. The bedroom carpets have "developed" a yellow streak across them from one wall to the other, and in one room several other smaller streaks have shown up.
We have now had 3 people come out (the owner of the carpet store, the sales rep and an inspector) to come out. They all assure us that the carpet will be replaced....all of it..living room, bedrooms halls etc. But the pace is slow. I hope to have it finished by next year sometime.
Ah, the joys of home ownership!
Then we moved to San Angelo and bought a brick house that was built in the 80's. To be honest, we bought the house because of the location: the back yard goes down in a series of rock ledges to the North Concho River...and on the other side of the river is a golf course. Within 6 weeks of moving into the house, we had to do a major repair in the master bath (removing the whirlpool tub which was on top of a pipe leak, jackhammering the foundation..a trench about 12 ft. long and 2 ft. wide and several feet deep was dug.) Then we had to have the bathroom completely redone. We also had to have the carpeting in the dressing areas, closets and master bedroom replaced. A rather large claim was filed...and paid.
A couple of years later, our house was hit by a major hail storm....new roof, new outside paint job, gutters replaced, several windows replaced, skylights replaced,etc...another major claim filed and paid.
Last May, we returned from a trip to find our living room carpet soaking wet, the downstairs office floor (it was a parquet floor) buckled and one closet flooded. A pipe in the utility closet had sprung a leak...(ironically we had had the hot water heater that was in that closet replaced with a tankless heater mounted outside the house because we feared that if the hot water heater went out while we were gone, the living room and downstairs would flood....) Another claim filed and paid.
So now we feel as if this house is jinxed. When the carpet in the living room had to be replaced because of the leak, we paid (not the insurance company) to replace the carpet in the two guest bedrooms with the same carpet that we were having in the living room. The bedroom carpets have "developed" a yellow streak across them from one wall to the other, and in one room several other smaller streaks have shown up.
We have now had 3 people come out (the owner of the carpet store, the sales rep and an inspector) to come out. They all assure us that the carpet will be replaced....all of it..living room, bedrooms halls etc. But the pace is slow. I hope to have it finished by next year sometime.
Ah, the joys of home ownership!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Life's work
There comes a time in one's life when one finally accepts two things:
I am not going to save the world.
I am not going to live forever.
These are harsh realities and often they send one into despair...or midlife crisis. If one is fortunate, the despair is overcome and one's life work can begin. There is a realization that, although most people cannot save the world or even a small part of it, it is within everyone's reach to act on the small stage. The whole world might not be saved, but perhaps one person's world might be changed for the better if we reach out a hand to help, open our hearts to hear and be willing to give of ourselves.
One person can make an impact on a child's life that will affect that child for the rest of his life. Help a child feel good about himself. Let a child know that you care for her. Listening to a child makes her feel important and valued.
We may not be able to save the world, but we can open up the world for a child!
I am not going to save the world.
I am not going to live forever.
These are harsh realities and often they send one into despair...or midlife crisis. If one is fortunate, the despair is overcome and one's life work can begin. There is a realization that, although most people cannot save the world or even a small part of it, it is within everyone's reach to act on the small stage. The whole world might not be saved, but perhaps one person's world might be changed for the better if we reach out a hand to help, open our hearts to hear and be willing to give of ourselves.
One person can make an impact on a child's life that will affect that child for the rest of his life. Help a child feel good about himself. Let a child know that you care for her. Listening to a child makes her feel important and valued.
We may not be able to save the world, but we can open up the world for a child!
Monday, August 3, 2009
World Peace?
I am puzzled. As I read the newspapers, listen to the nightly news...I have begun to believe that most of the problems facing the world today are religious based ones. And yet, all religions that I know, teach tolerance, loving one's neighbor, do unto others. Christians, Jews and Muslims claim a common ancestor--Abraham. Each religion has many stories about Abraham...a common one to all three is the story of his rebelling against the multiple gods of his family and insisting that there is only one God...Although we may call God by a different name, He is the God to us all.
My prescription for World Peace is as follows. No government, political party or candidate for office anywhere should claim that God is on his/her side. Politics and religion should not be mixed. All of us should practice what we claim to believe. If we believe that God created everything and everyone on Earth, doesn't it follow that we should treat everyone as our brother/sister. This is not easy, just as it isn't always easy to get along with our siblings...but we are family.
We should accept the differences, learn about them and then learn what all religions have in common. All people want the same basic things...after food, shelter, water...the necessities, we all want a better life for our children, the right to live with dignity and without fear, safety in our homes and streets and a feeling of community.
I realize that "the devil is in the details"...in my extended family there are several recipes for Turkey and Dressing (or Turkey with stuffing..we can't even agree on a name!)with each family thinking that "my Mom makes the best"....So far we have managed to get through Thanksgiving with having shouting matches about it or food wars....
Surely, we can find a way to listen to each other....and accept the differences...and embrace our neighbor. As the wonderful songs says "Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me."
My prescription for World Peace is as follows. No government, political party or candidate for office anywhere should claim that God is on his/her side. Politics and religion should not be mixed. All of us should practice what we claim to believe. If we believe that God created everything and everyone on Earth, doesn't it follow that we should treat everyone as our brother/sister. This is not easy, just as it isn't always easy to get along with our siblings...but we are family.
We should accept the differences, learn about them and then learn what all religions have in common. All people want the same basic things...after food, shelter, water...the necessities, we all want a better life for our children, the right to live with dignity and without fear, safety in our homes and streets and a feeling of community.
I realize that "the devil is in the details"...in my extended family there are several recipes for Turkey and Dressing (or Turkey with stuffing..we can't even agree on a name!)with each family thinking that "my Mom makes the best"....So far we have managed to get through Thanksgiving with having shouting matches about it or food wars....
Surely, we can find a way to listen to each other....and accept the differences...and embrace our neighbor. As the wonderful songs says "Let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me."
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Old friends
Or, maybe I should call them long-time friends...anyway, some friends were passing through San Angelo and stopped for the night. What a wonderful visit! We got caught up on kids, friends and the news from Huntsville. (We lived in Huntsville for 20 something years and they still live there.
There is something wonderful about friends whom one has known for years. They understand...one doesn't have to explain things (like relationships, history, etc)Good friends are people who even if you haven't seen them in years....the conversation seems to start where you left off....
There is something wonderful about friends whom one has known for years. They understand...one doesn't have to explain things (like relationships, history, etc)Good friends are people who even if you haven't seen them in years....the conversation seems to start where you left off....
Friday, May 29, 2009
Peace
A strange and wonderful thing is happening in my very conservative, West Texas town. A group of people are meeting each week to discuss Peace...and read and discuss books about achieving peace in the world, in our town...and in our homes and selves. We have read and discussed:
The Faith Club
Non-violence: The History of a Dangerous Idea
Three Cups of Tea
Oneness
We are beginning to read "The Courage for Peace." The group is open to everyone and each week we see new faces. It is the most accepting group I have ever been a part of...everyone's comments are listened to, everyone's ideas are accepted. The discussion is lead by anyone who will volunteer. The members of the group have varied backgrounds and religions...Muslims, Taoists, Hebrews, Catholics, and most of the protestant churches are represented. In our discussions, we learn not only about other religions but other cultures. The meeting is scheduled to last for an hour and a half...and we try to hold to that schedule, but we often stay on to continue discussion after the meeting is over. I cannot speak for everyone in the group, but I have found that after our meetings, there is a calmness within me that I haven't experienced in a while.
The group is an off-shoot of the Ambassadors for Peace...a group that was formed after 9-11 by the local Inter-Faith Council.
The Faith Club
Non-violence: The History of a Dangerous Idea
Three Cups of Tea
Oneness
We are beginning to read "The Courage for Peace." The group is open to everyone and each week we see new faces. It is the most accepting group I have ever been a part of...everyone's comments are listened to, everyone's ideas are accepted. The discussion is lead by anyone who will volunteer. The members of the group have varied backgrounds and religions...Muslims, Taoists, Hebrews, Catholics, and most of the protestant churches are represented. In our discussions, we learn not only about other religions but other cultures. The meeting is scheduled to last for an hour and a half...and we try to hold to that schedule, but we often stay on to continue discussion after the meeting is over. I cannot speak for everyone in the group, but I have found that after our meetings, there is a calmness within me that I haven't experienced in a while.
The group is an off-shoot of the Ambassadors for Peace...a group that was formed after 9-11 by the local Inter-Faith Council.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Daughters
I never had a daughter...as the step-mother of two sons and the mother of another son, I always secretly thought I was lucky. I watched my friends with daughters go through the teen years and was glad I didn't have the problems they had...and the hair and clothes and makeup and the hormones issues to deal with. Boys were so easy.
But now I have two daughters-in law and I am beginning to realize that I missed something after all. In the last two days, I have received wonderful newsy notes (snail mail!) from each of my wonderful daughters-in-law. They email too, of course...as do my sons....but there is something about a handwritten note arriving in the mail.....So cherish your sons and your daughters....with any luck, you will end up having both sons and daughters! And I can hardly wait for my youngest to give me another daughter-in-law!
But now I have two daughters-in law and I am beginning to realize that I missed something after all. In the last two days, I have received wonderful newsy notes (snail mail!) from each of my wonderful daughters-in-law. They email too, of course...as do my sons....but there is something about a handwritten note arriving in the mail.....So cherish your sons and your daughters....with any luck, you will end up having both sons and daughters! And I can hardly wait for my youngest to give me another daughter-in-law!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Prayer
A mighty controversy has erupted in my West Texas town over the following prayer offered at the City Council Meeting:
Dear God, almighty supreme power, the creator of all--Allah the merciful and forgiving--thank you for bringing together as sisters and brothers for this historic moment...Oh, Allah, please guide us to have better understanding of each other and help us to have more tolerance, acceptance and compassion for one another...Oh, Allah, your are our creator. You are our provider, You are our sustainer. We pray for this in your name only. Please forgive us for our mistakes and accept our prayers. Amen.
One of our City Councilmen felt obliged to add to this prayer and said:
I compliment your on your prayer. It was a beautiful prayer, and it was very well-worded. But as a Christian, I am taught and obligated to pray "in the name of Jesus" so for me, for my part of the prayer, I am going to add "in the name of Jesus." because I feel it's very important that we pray in His name, I don't mean to be controversial, but that is my belief.
When it was pointed out that he did not comment or add to the prayer when a prayer not ending in "In the name of Jesus" was given by a Methodist minister, nor to a Jewish prayer (it is the tradition of our City Council to have a representative of different religious groups offer a prayer at meetings) he admitted that he was being hypocritical but refused to withdraw his comments.
Luckily the Mayor handled the situation well by saying "I know that as a council we try to include many faith traditions, and I respect everyone, the way they pray. I think it is important to set the tone for the City. We all live together here, and that is the mission we are working on."
Ara Rahman was very gracious and said she was used to comments like this, and hoped to get to know the councilman better so that he would understand her views. She also explained that Allah is the Arabic word for God.
Ah Texas, we want so much to be a part of the world....but only if they look like us, talk like us and act like us!
Dear God, almighty supreme power, the creator of all--Allah the merciful and forgiving--thank you for bringing together as sisters and brothers for this historic moment...Oh, Allah, please guide us to have better understanding of each other and help us to have more tolerance, acceptance and compassion for one another...Oh, Allah, your are our creator. You are our provider, You are our sustainer. We pray for this in your name only. Please forgive us for our mistakes and accept our prayers. Amen.
One of our City Councilmen felt obliged to add to this prayer and said:
I compliment your on your prayer. It was a beautiful prayer, and it was very well-worded. But as a Christian, I am taught and obligated to pray "in the name of Jesus" so for me, for my part of the prayer, I am going to add "in the name of Jesus." because I feel it's very important that we pray in His name, I don't mean to be controversial, but that is my belief.
When it was pointed out that he did not comment or add to the prayer when a prayer not ending in "In the name of Jesus" was given by a Methodist minister, nor to a Jewish prayer (it is the tradition of our City Council to have a representative of different religious groups offer a prayer at meetings) he admitted that he was being hypocritical but refused to withdraw his comments.
Luckily the Mayor handled the situation well by saying "I know that as a council we try to include many faith traditions, and I respect everyone, the way they pray. I think it is important to set the tone for the City. We all live together here, and that is the mission we are working on."
Ara Rahman was very gracious and said she was used to comments like this, and hoped to get to know the councilman better so that he would understand her views. She also explained that Allah is the Arabic word for God.
Ah Texas, we want so much to be a part of the world....but only if they look like us, talk like us and act like us!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Roots
Last evening, I got to thinking about the plants I have acquired. Some I have had for 40 years or so. They date from my move to Austin to teach school there and I guess marked the end of my nomadic life style....I wonder if the plants rooted me to the spot or if I acquired plants because I was ready to put down roots? The first ones came from a friend who gave me a couple of plants when he moved from Austin to Dallas and those two plants, a Janet Craig Dracena and a Snake plant are still with me....or their offspring anyway. I cannot (or dare not) count the number of house plants I have. But in the spring and again in the fall, I begin to regret having so many when they are being moved into or out of (or out of or into) the house! I have rooted, made cuttings, and divided so many plants over the years that my friends have stopped admiring my plants because they know they will end up taking one home if they do. I have given plants away at garage sales (Buy something....get a free plant!), taken them to my nephew's Western Wear store,(MR BOOTS--the best place to buy jeans, boots, hats, anything western in Texas....) and given plants away during the Open House during Roping Weekend.
I love plants....after moving to San Angelo, I became interested in Native Plants...the only kind we can grow outside here. I have been fortunate to have friends who have given me many outside plants to landscape the yard with. Plants really do take over one's life....but what a delightful obsession.
I love plants....after moving to San Angelo, I became interested in Native Plants...the only kind we can grow outside here. I have been fortunate to have friends who have given me many outside plants to landscape the yard with. Plants really do take over one's life....but what a delightful obsession.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Cloud
The cloud pictures were taken in San Angelo, Texas about 5 pm on Christmas day. I have never seen a cloud that looked like this. A regular digital camera was used to take the pictures.
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