Well, It’s Happening again!

I sensed that a strange phenomenon was invading South Carolina again this holiday season! For several years I felt the symptoms that began around July Fourth, but it did not reach epidemic stage during the summer. The symptoms went away and I was relieved that they did!

Yesterday, after I enjoyed a delicious meal with my family, I seemed to begin swelling just a bit. I was pleasantly full of all sorts of traditional fare that you eat for Thanksgiving. A lot of hard work goes into the preparation of turkey and dressing or “stuffing” depending on which area of the country you are from.

Those are only the basics; sweet potato soufflé, baby butter beans, string beans, deviled eggs, slaw or salad, pimento cheese stuffed celery, a congealed salad, cranberry sauce, delicious yeast rolls, sweet tea or coffee and maybe potato salad and macaroni and cheese. Oh, dear, I forgot the giblet gravy. Some items will vary from family, but none of the food is recommended for “weight loss.”

When this series of holidays begins, it can bring on deep depression. If you try on clothes that used to be roomy, but now are”snug” and the zipper will not budge, you become sad. You think back to your younger years when you could eat anything you wanted and would never gain an ounce. You think, “Well, I was more active in those days.”

You begin to search your closet for pants with elastic waist bands and loose fitting blouses. Then you think, maybe jogging suits will help conceal this temporary “fat relocation” in my body. You look at yourself in the mirror, but you don’t dare turn sideways, because the front view is not really that bad!

You check the calendar and count the days until Christmas and New Years, because you are sure this phenomenon will disappear and things will be “normal” again. Wishful thinking! And, No, your scales are not broken! Just in case you need some help,you search for a gym that has some “specials” or buy a book that promises to restore your slim body in “no time at all.”

I remember the days when my metabolism was my good friend and no matter what I ate, I never gained an ounce. There is a saying that goes like this, “Them days are gone forever.” Don’t I wish I could wake up and realize this was just a bad dream and not a reality!

What did you deposit in the bank today?

Oh, I know today is Thanksgiving and the banks are closed. That is not the kind of bank I am asking about. What I had in mind, is your “Memory Bank!” Which memories did you make and store away, so you can “withdraw” them at a later date and enjoy the replay?

My granddaughter, Rebecca, invited the family to get together at her home. Most often, the family gathers at my house or at my daughter’s. Today, was different. My son in law picked me up because I never would have found the place by myself.

As we drove from West Columbia to Blythewood, we remarked about how things are changing so drastically, especially in Cayce. Very impressive buildings are appearing where a motel used to be. Condominiums now fill lots that once were open spaces.

At the corner of Knox Abbott Drive and State Street, new, attractive brick walls have sprung up with bold letters which spell Cayce. They were beaming in the sunlight. I was excited to see the dramatic changes that are taking place!

As we drove on toward our destination, the tree lined streets were ablaze with color. We have had enough rain and cold weather to turn Columbia into a Fall wonderland! Today was warm and a “perfect day” to celebrate the special day of Thanksgiving!

My granddaughter lives in a nice development, which at one time was considered “the country.” I could hardly believe my eyes! When we arrived at her house and went inside, we were greeted by the youngest members of the family. Matthew and Karen were already there with their children, Joshua and Anna. Both of them are growing so fast! Another “member of the family ” was resting on a soft baby blanket on the sofa. I saw Willow for the first time and I could hardly believe how tiny she is.

Willow is a baby kitten, only six weeks old! She has just become a family member after Bandit, who was seventeen years old, died. I fell in love with the little fur ball.

Our meal was delicious! My daughter,Carole, is a wonderful cook. After we finished eating, Kevin called from LaGrange, Georgia to tell us about what his family was doing and shortly after that we heard from Susan and we got a report about what the California folks had for lunch and what was going on there. Jessica sent photographs of the meal she had prepared for her family and the Spartanburg members. Nathan ate with them.

So this year was different from previous years and all these changes were deposited in my “Memory Bank.” Dean, my son in law, is so good to me. He drove me home and asked if there was anything he could do for me before he left. I said I was going to change the sheets on my bed, but it would be easier if he stood on one side of the bed and helped me put the fitted sheet on. He gladly did not only that, but helped me finish the job.

So after he left, I reviewed the many changes that had taken place today, put them in the safety deposit box of my Memory Bank and turned the television set on to watch my favorite show, Jeopardy!

My dear friend, Louise….

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day that began when the Pilgrims gave thanks to God for sparing their lives and providing for their needs. Thanksgiving has changed through the years.. oh, it is still a day of feasting as families and friends enjoy all sorts of delicious food and fellowship. The newspaper includes so many ads, you almost need a wheelbarrow to get it inside the house. I remember in bygone days, some stores urged customers to go out and begin shopping for Christmas as soon as the noon meal was over. Some stores began decorating with trees, twinkling lights, and displays of toys, so high it was hard to navigate through the aisles, in late September.

Not every family has lost the way Thanksgiving used to be celebrated. The men love getting out of the dining room so the ladies can clean the kitchen and they can watch a football game on television. Some of older members of the family might take a nap. The children, in the “olden days,” used to play in the yard with cousins they seldom got to see.

Thanksgiving is a day I give thanks for the many ways God has blessed me, for my family, my friends, my church, a warm house, food , reasonably good health and so much more. Last night I went to sleep very early, but then I woke up thinking about a very dear friend and all the good times we had through the years. I “relived” so many of the things we did in the past. I should have begun writing all my thoughts in the middle of the night while all my memories were fresh, but unfortunately I didn’t.

My thoughts were about my friend, Louise Massie. I don’t remember the date we met, but it was many years ago. She and her husband moved from Virginia because Tom’s work brought him here. Louise had a long career as an outstanding nurse at the hospital in the town where they previously lived. She had a lot of responsibility and spoke about her career when we were learning to know one another. I knew the names of her daughters and many of the doctors and nurses she worked with from our conversations.

Tom was an only child and his mother had very poor eyesight so she had a man who worked at her home. Louise, Tom and their children lived with Mother Massie and Lawrence did chores at the house, including cooking. Mother Massie had beautiful furniture and other nice things that eventually came to Tom and Louise. I mention this because one piece of furniture I especially liked was a “cannon ball” bed. The posts of the bed looked like cannon balls.

Louise was the mother of three daughters. She had a picture of Pat in her wedding dress, hanging in one of the bedrooms. Their other two daughters were Judy and Shannon. Pat died at a young age, sadly. Judy and Shannon were teachers. On one visit, I met Shannon and her two children, Brian and Patricia. So I felt that I knew the family, just from our conversations.

Louise was retired. As I recall, Tom went to service station to buy some gas and as he and the owner of the station were talking, Red, the owner mentioned that he needed someone to work in the office to try and collect some long overdue bills. Back then, people did allow some customers to buy gas on credit and supposedly pay at the and of the month. Tom said Louise might try to help him out with the collections.

She did get the job and after a while, the bills were paid and and instead of Red being “in the red” he was in the black! Louise reminded me of Margaret Thatcher, she was stern, but nice, she did an outstanding job, but there was no sympathy for people who did wrong. I think she earned a lot of respect from her job, well done!

I was still working, but my children were no longer at home, so Louise and I would go shopping on Saturdays quite often. Back in those days we were slender and liked pretty clothes, we also liked bargains! At that time there were many factories in the upstate and there were outlets where you could get some good buys of slightly “imperfect ” garments. I would drive us to Spartanburg, where we spent a lot of time at the Butte Knit outlet store. We checked everything carefully, matched jackets, slacks , blouses and skirts and when we were satisfied, we would make our purchases and go do some more bargain hunting. There was a raincoat factory in Fairforest, so we had to go there! It rains a lot and we wanted our Butte knit clothes to stay dry!

I won’t go into everything we did, but our friendship grew as time passed. Then I was transferred to Georgia and our Saturday outings were over. We kept in touch by telephone and when I came to visit my mother, we saw one another. Every now and then I would spend the night with Louise and I slept in the room with the cannon ball bed in it. One year, when I was visiting Mother at Christmas, I went to the midnight service with Tom and Louise at Trinity Cathedral. Louise said, ” Now, Jean, you are Baptist and you cannot take communion here.” I said, “Yes, mam!” You don’t mess with Margaret Thatcher.

We went out for a pancake breakfast, then back to their house. It was too late for me to go to Mother’s house, so I got to sleep in the cannon ball bed! I liked that bed!

Unfortunately, Tom passed away and Louise moved back to Pulaski, where her two daughters lived. We kept in touch by phone. I visited several times and learned to know some of her friends there. The last time I went for about a week , she said she had something to show me. She opened the bedroom door and it was now a huge closet! She was so proud of it. Her son in law, Jimmy, had bought a large round stainless steel rack that is used in department stores to hang short garments like blouses and jackets on and that took up lots of room, There were shelves for shoes and handbags, plus room for other longer clothes. I would loved to have had a room like that!

That was the last time I was able to spend time with her. Some time later, I learned that she gave up her apartment and was in a nursing home. Her daughter,Judy, let me know that she had passed away. Judy told me that toward the end she mentioned me to her mother and Louise said, “she was nice.”

Since that time, Judy has become a close friend, as well as Shannon. Judy even drove from her home, which was some distance away from where I was staying, when I went to a dinner theater in Virginia, so we could spend less than thirty minutes together.

It is moments like these that I remember and am so thankful for, not only on Thanksgiving, but every day! God bless you, dear Louise!

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Thanksgiving came early for the C&C group today!

For my friends who are not familiar with the C&C group, a little over three years ago Thompson Funeral Home began the Coffee and Conversation outreach for seniors in our community. To belong, you need to be fifty-five years old or older. It is for single seniors who are widows, divorced or never married. It is not a matchmaking organization.We meet every Tuesday at the Cayce United Methodist Church. We are not affiliated with any denomination, but this church graciously allows us to meet at their facility.

Ordinarily, we meet from 2:00 until 4:00 PM unless we have a pot luck meal, then we meet from 1:00 until 3:00 PM in the large dining room. Our meetings are well attended.

In addition to our regular meetings, we have a group which get together to play cards, the breakfast group for anyone who likes to meet for an early meal and from time to we have crafts, such as “paint parties.”

One of our members plays the piano at a local restaurant in the evenings and from time to time, groups will go to hear her. Some of our members like to play bingo, so some get together to go as a group for this activity.

Short trips are very popular with our members. Depending on how many want to go on our out of town trips, we may rent several vans and divide the cost among the riders. For example, when we went to Charleston, we rented two vans and the cost was only $9.00 per person for the round trip. Lunch was on our own at a nice restaurant on Shem Creek. We took a tour of Sullivan’s Island before returning to Columbia. Last year we went to Swan Lake Gardens and to a play at the Newberry Opera House. We carpooled and the only cost was for our group ticket. Seniors love saving money!

All that leads up to our feast today. We each prepare a large dish to share. We do not have a sign up list for certain items, but we always have a wonderful assortment of delicious food.

We celebrate birthdays at our first meeting of each month. Thompson provides a huge cake and one of our members always contributes a large cheesecake. Coffee and soft drinks are provided.

We had a large group for our meal today. One of our members prepared a huge turkey, We had all the traditional accompaniments. You have never seen such an assortment of vegetables, vegetable salads, dressing, congealed salads and breads. But, the dessert table would blow your mind…there were so many pies, cakes and cookies of every kind!

Doctors have said that one of the worst things that can happen to older adults is to be lonely, not to have social contacts with peers. Well, our C&C is the answer to better health. I look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesdays. We are from diverse backgrounds, but we are a family! It has been said that we need at least eight hugs a day. You can get that many in the first five minutes of arriving!

For any of my readers who would like more information, please call Mary Beth Lamey at 803-791-0650 or 803-995-0068. We would love to have you join our group!

Morning Has Broken…and I want to stay in bed!

Today seemed like a good day to just stay in bed a little longer, for a change. I sometimes like to listen to soft music to set the tempo for the day. When I turn the news on and hear about the murders, highway accidents, storms and so many tragic happenings, I can’t help but wonder if peace and tranquility exist anymore.

A song that I was introduced to many years ago, is Morning Has Broken. It was on a Sunday evening, at First Baptist Church when Tom Westmoreland hosted the program to introduce the “new” Baptist Hymnal. He had a tall stool to sit on, as the told about songs that had been added and there were singers and musicians who performed. I believe the year was 1965.

A lot has changed in churches so far as music is concerned. I remember when people would pay for hymn books as memorials to family and friends. Also, there were shield like pieces of wood that hung on the wall, that had spaces to place the page numbers of the hymns that would be sung that morning. Most of the songs were so familiar because they were sung frequently. I remember singing the many verses of “Just as I am” very often at the end of the service as the altar call. The younger generation knows nothing about those days!

All that bit of history to let my readers know how I was introduced to the song, Morning Has Broken. It is really is a Christian song. Many people learned about it when Cat Stevens recoded it as a secular song and it became one of his hit records.

The words were written long ago and the song was published in 1931. The words are by an English author named Eleanor Farjeon, who was born February 13, 1881. The song was often sung at funeral services. It was sung at my husband’s funeral and I have planned for it to be sung at mine. She died in 1965 in London.

Cat Stevens, got the lyrics from an old hymnal he found in a bookstore when he was looking for a new song to introduce. I found his recording of the song and immediately liked it.

Cat was born on July 21, 1948. He became a teen idol in the 1960s. His hair was long , as many singers wore theirs and they wore clothes that were “different.” He was born Steven Demetri Georgoiu, in London. Later he changed his name to Yusuf Islam. I have heard nothing about him in many years. I did buy a record of his song, many years ago and had a friend at work to copy the song on a cassette tape, so I could play it over and over as I drove from Atlanta to Columbia. Back then, you played cassette tapes in your car, then they became obsolete and were replaced by CDs. Now, my CDs are obsolete. A friend of mine from Kansas used to tell me, “Jean, I don’t like this planned obsolescence .”

I was able to find a recording of “my song” by someone other than the young Cat Stevens, but I will have to say, his voice and the music are still my favorite. Perhaps I have not transitioned into all the current trends of music and modern worship with loud sounds, flashing lights, jumping around and singing the same line fifty times, but I am very thankful for Steve Phillips, who still uses many of the old hymns and blends the beautiful new music into each service. Our choir is outstanding in every way. Our hymnals are still in the pews, but never used because of the big screens with the words that are visible for everyone. Those large letters really help the older folks who need a little help with failing eyesight!

By the way, I did get up and I did a days work beforeI stopped for lunch!

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SPECTACULAR SUNDAY HERE in SOUTH CAROLINA!

As I drove home from church today, the leaves were even more beautiful than they were earlier in the week! The colors were brilliant! My heart swells with joy when I see how God speaks to us in nature, if we only take time to look around us.

I pass the State Capitol on my way to First Baptist Church. The grounds are well kept and there are lots of trees around the building. Just a few days ago, a huge tree was brought in and was placed in front of our impressive State House. Today, I was glad I had to stop for a red light so I could get a better look at the fully decorated State Christmas Tree. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.

It was a bit chilly, but the sun was shining and the traffic was not heavy! I come home by a different route and pass some lovely homes, where lawns are well kept and there are many trees. I will be going to North Carolina in a few days to see the foliage, but I doubt that it can outdo what I saw today.

My pastor, Wes Church, had an inspiring message today. Thanksgiving is Thursday, a day when we get together with family and count our blessings. Of course, that is not the only day we count our blessings. I count mine every day, many times.

Sunday afternoons usually are a time for a little rest, but not always. I look forward to Sunday afternoons because I know I will get a call from each of my daughters and one or more grandsons. I am blessed with thoughtful children!

I hear a number of sermons by some of my favorite pastors. I am grateful for television for this reason. Back in the days when I was traveling all over the United States, I was able to attend services at First Baptist, Dallas, Texas, Second Baptist, Houston, Prestonwood Baptist in Plano, Texas and too many to itemize, but I enjoy seeing services from those churches now. I just cannot mention every church by name, but we are so fortunate here in the United States to have access to outstanding churches everywhere.

This evening, a yearly celebration in connection with that beautifully decorated tree takes place. It is the Governor’s Carol Lighting service. It was exceptionally good this year. A group of bell ringers called Autumn Bronze performed several numbers, which were outstanding! Rev. Wes Church had a prayer at the beginning of the celebration, as well as at the end. There were many songs by different choral groups. What an exciting celebration just prior to Thanksgivings! Now you know why I called today “Spectacular!”

Skimming My Previous Stories On This Saturday Morning…

When I opened WordPress today, a previous story was on the screen. I had not looked at it before I logged out yesterday and have no idea why it was there. The title of the entry was, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.” Computers are amazing devices and I still have much to learn about them. Since my six year old grandson will be here for Thanksgiving, he can explain all that. He was four when I got my IPad and volunteered to show me how to use it! In today’s world, children adjust to technology as soon as they are born! It reminds me of a verse that says, ” A little child shall lead them.”

The date of the entry in my blog was January 29, 2019. The story evolved because of a picture that someone posted of an old timey bonnet that was hanging on a straight back chair, like one my grandmother used to sit in when she shelled peas or snapped string beans. There was a screened in porch in the old house. It was not very large, but it had room for an ice box, notice I did not say refrigerator. The ice man came every few days and cut a chunk of ice just the right size to fit the opening at the top of the ice box. He would grip the ice with tongs and bring it to the back porch for Grandmother. She had an ice pick that she used to chip bits of ice when we had tea . There was a sink on the porch. The pipes had to be wrapped at night during the frigid temperatures of the winter months. Grandmother kept an enamel bucket of water and a dipper in the kitchen to use for cooking and drinking. The water would freeze overnight. She had a laundry heater with several spaces to place pots to cook , as well as a kerosene stove. Life was not easy back then, but that was the way people lived.

I had an old photograph with me sitting on the back steps, but the chair and her bonnet were in the background. After I saw the photo on Facebook, my mind wandered back to those very early days and living conditions. Grandmother wore long dresses in the wintertime. They were usually high necked with long sleeves. She wore thick cotton stockings and probably had an undershirt on, as well. All the older ladies wore big bonnets. Grandmother had a thick shawl she wore when she had to go outside for some reason. Among some other photos was one of Grandmother with several of her friends, standing beside a snow man. They were all dressed alike. One did have a knit tobaggon on. The snow man had a big smile made from small pieces of coal. I know the ladies were freezing! Having a lot of photos made was not so common as it is now.

There was more to the story I wrote back in February. I suppose I am fortunate to have lived in a more primitive era to be able to relate to old movies, but I am very thankful those days evolved into better living conditions! Grandmother had lots of children, but only three survived. There was a set of twins, a son and a little girl that my mother loved so much, who died at young age. They are buried in the Kannapolis Cemetery. I took Grandmother back several times and we visited the graves of her family members. The tombstone for mother’s sister has a little lamb on the top of it. I only knew Mother’s two brothers. I loved my uncles.

Now the old house I was born in has been sold and completely modernized. All the family is gone, but three cousins. I still have a few faded pictures of bygone days , which are worth 1,000 words!

It is “Finally, Friday” and that means…..

It means different things to everyone, I think. To people who work and get paid on Friday, without direct deposit, it means rushing to the bank to make a deposit and get cash for the weekend. I try to avoid this time, to make room for people who need it to handle their business.

For young working mothers, it means having time with their children who are in daycare, after work. But it means much more…like grocery shopping, cleaning the house, cooking, in other words turning into Super Woman to do many things in a short time, so that Saturday will not be so rushed.

To my dear doctor, it means the office closes early so he can have a little time with his family. He deserves a break away from all the daily stress of patients, one after the other, and from all the decisions that come with each one he sees. God bless, Chris Wicker and his nurses!

The grocery store workers are very busy because customers often shop on Fridays so their meat and vegetables will be fresh. To be ready for the rush, those who stock the shelves work hard to be ready for the crowds.

Pastors are always busy, with a capital B. Their work never ends. It is a 24 hour a day “calling.” Since most church offices are not open on Friday afternoon, it means their sermon needs to be finished and so many things must be checked because Sunday is almost HERE!

Restaurant workers know that Friday nights mean lots of customers! When I worked and had a young family, pay day meant going out to eat! Our family enjoyed our “treat.” With the drastic change in lifestyles, “eating out” is a way of life now. Restaurants like Rush’s, Lizard’s Thicket, Grecian Gardens and Waffle House are happy for the lifestyle changes of modern times! By the way, all those places are very close to my house and all serve good food! I have to drive a little distance to get to Captain D’s, but it is worth it!

Last, but not least, of all the folks who work hard on Fridays are those dear ladies who stand on their feet much of the day, shampooing and setting hair, giving perms, listening to everyone’s ailments or mopping their brows and wondering, ” when will this day end? ” Three cheers for the ones who keep us looking good for church on Sunday!

Now, that I have written my blog, I need to get busy to go to my volunteer job every Friday afternoon. It is a REAL treat to meet so many nice people who visit the gift shop at Still Hopes and to make new friends who really make my Fridays beautiful! God Bless!

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to Springdale!

Today I had an appointment for a haircut ai 9:15 AM. The shop is located some distance from my home, so I left a little early to allow plenty of time to get there. In a beauty salon, every minute counts. So no one wants to be late.

My drive took me through some residential areas, as well as undeveloped, wooded land and roads. We have had some very chilly weather in recent weeks, but today was sunny and beautiful. No rain, for a change!

In today’s world, we are constantly thinking about what we need to do next. It is like we can’t fully enjoy “now” for letting our mind wander into the future. I was paying attention to my driving, but I was also thinking that is was only nine days until I go to the North Carolina mountains .

We have four distinct seasons in the South. We are blessed with natural beauty in each one. It has been a long standing tradition to take a trip in the fall to go ” leaf peeping.” Just like it is in summer to go to the beach for a week.

I have been seeing some of the most beautiful scenes that are posted on Facebook so that makes me excited about my little mountain get away! I am a quote and poem lover and have read some of each, also.

One that I read just this morning by Lauren Destefano goes like this:

Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with it’s last beauty, as if Nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.

Another, Autumn dresses up in gold, the richest season of the soul.

Then one by Arlene Stanford Wilson reminds us about things we overlook: Autumn

A distinct smell…a mixture of dried leaves on the ground, smoke from chimneys and sweet apples.

Suddenly when the sun blazed in the sky like a million light bulbs and all the reds, golds and rust colored leaves stood out as though they were saying, ” Look at me!” Then, when I saw all the natural beauty we have in our midst each day, I was no longer “right at home” but in a paradise that was here all the time. We really don’t need to drive many miles to other states, we just need to look around where we are.

I think Helen Keller had it right when she said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched…they must be felt by the heart!” I just had to thank God for all He has given us to enjoy, the blue skies with white billowy clouds, the flowers of every kind, the Fall colors that man cannot duplicate, warm breezes, gentle rain, the songs of the birds, the night sounds when we are outside . We have so much more than cell phones, television and other things that should demand our attention. Can I get an Amen?

Carolina Smiles

I got up bright and early to go to have my semi-annual checkup and teeth cleaned. I am so fortunate to live close to the only provider that my insurance fully covers in Columbia.

Traffic on the way the office is getting almost as bad as traffic in Atlanta. I arrived on time! When you enter the office, usually there are three ladies at the desk to check you in. They all greet you with a big smile!

The office is beautifully decorated. They have assorted coffees, if you wish to have some before your appointment or afterwards. I get a good feeling each time I have an appointment. The hospitality is great!

I was taken by a hygienist to the alcove so she could begin work. First, it was time for my x-rays after she had taken my blood pressure and verified some information. This young lady was a recent employee. Then one of the “seasoned” employees came in to do the actual cleaning. She was very thorough.

The doctor I saw on my previous visit was no longer there. He had three major events take place soon after I was there. He got married, moved to another state and bought out an established practice. I think all that happened in one month!

When the cleaning was completed, a very friendly young lady came in to check my mouth to make sure nothing had been overlooked. She was the doctor! The practice at one time was run by all females, but they do have one male doctor now.

The name of the dental office is CAROLINA SMILES ! I left with a smile on my face! They started my day right…with a thankful heart that everything was fine and that I have access to such a caring staff .