A pleasant Sunday morning in Columbia

I went out to get my paper from the box a little after 6:00 AM. It was cool, but not unpleasant. In fact, it felt good! The sky was blue, with lots of fluffy white clouds, the grass had been cut yesterday, the pine straw was fluffed, the bright colored annuals from spring and summer were gone and it was too soon to plant mums because of the heat, but it was very neat and nice.

I like to enjoy the early the morning stillness when I can. For many months our world has not been restful, but just the opposite. The pandemic brought with it major lifestyle changes. Older folks had to remain inside to avoid being exposed to the virus. There was unrest all over the country. Essential workers were on their jobs to help those in need and many office workers carried on their assignments from home.

In a nutshell, the way of life in America vanished! By the majority of the population observing the restrictions, the number of cases of the virus began to decline and gradually normal life is resuming.

My church has had worship service on a very limited basis for about a month. It had to be canceled today because someone tested positive for COVID 19 during the week. If all goes well, plans are to resume Sunday school and worship service on September 13. In the meantime we will watch on television or a device from home.

I have had my coffee, watched a pastor from Plano,Texas preach, skimmed through the Sunday paper and am now getting ready to “attend” Sunday school on my IPad. The big march around the State House from yesterday is over. My neighborhood is quiet, my church will televise the service with a few staff members and singers and I will watch many messages from other churches today. Without modern technology, it would be a different story.

Despite the total changes in our way of life, we have so much to give thanks for! It is still cool, but calm, with only a little breeze, the sun is shining brightly and a few squirrels are jumping around on the fence in the back yard. You would never know that today is not “normal.” We have God’s promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. So let us rejoice and be glad in this awesome Sunday!

I am not an alcoholic, a chocoholic or a shopaholic….but….

I am a “dishoholic.” This malady did not come on suddenly, but did gain a foothold gradually. When I lived in Atlanta there was a convenient shopping center not far from my home. My dentist’s office, a drug store, the dry cleaner, a branch office of my bank and a Kroger allowed me to make one stop to do all I needed without a lot of driving.

To add the “frosting to the cake” a Dollar Tree opened a store when a vacancy became available in the complex. That was my introduction to a whole new world! There were so many things I could buy for just a dollar that cost much more at other stores that I began to spend more and more time there.

I had an ample amount of everything I needed, but just as an alcoholic begins his downfall with the first drink, my “disability “ began with the purchase of some navy blue cups and soup bowls. I love to decorate and I thought it would be nice to use red, white and dark blue in the dining room to show my patriotism for my country! Quite often Dollar Tree will get certain pieces and later they get more choices.

I continued to buy additional dishes as they became available. Soon I had a set of service for four. But, there were cups and plates in different shapes, so I added those for variety.

When you live alone, as I have for almost twenty two years, you don’t need that many place settings. Some of my friends had different “hobbies” that were costly, such as buying rings at Pandora’s that were not cheap or name brand purses when went to shopping outlets.

I justified my hobby since my dishes cost only one dollar each. I won’t elaborate on my “weakness” but now I have sets of dishes in almost every color of the rainbow. My food tastes better and I enjoy looking at my dining room table. It has become my “ artist’s drawing board“ as I arrange my centerpieces with flowers and candles. Now my kitchen table gets decorated so that the colors are coordinated between the two rooms, as well as the mantle in the living room.

Becoming a “dishoholic” turned out to be an expensive hobby because of the volume of the collection, but it brings me pleasure and keeps me at home, out of trouble. So far I have not found a rehab company for this type of addiction, so I will have to do it myself. It will not be easy, but it is not impossible! If I decide to open a restaurant, I will not have to worry about a supply of dishes because I already have them!

Angels aren’t always dressed in a long white robe, strumming a harp!

Yesterday was very frustrating because I had things planned and time was important! I got up early and drove to Fort Jackson so I could arrive by 9:00 AM. An identification card has to be shown to allow you to enter. To make sure there was no lost time, I had my mask on and my ID card on the seat beside me.

Just before I reached the person who would check me in, I attached my card to my seat belt to save time (I thought). I must have moved slightly and all of a sudden the card came loose from the clothespin and flew up in the air.

I asked the man, if I could get out of my car to find the ID because it was not visible and I needed to check under the seat. He let me do that. I searched in every crevice, under the seat and every inch of the inside of the front of my car. Finally, I asked if I could pull over into a lane that was not being used. After another thorough search, a bruised hand and being totally embarrassed, I told him I would have to leave to get someone to help me.

I did make one stop at a parking lot to make another search. No results! I made the long drive home, stopping at the car dealership where I bought my car. I had a little wait in line, but a young man walked by and asked if he could help me. I explained my ordeal briefly. He said, “Let me take a look.”

He put the driver’s seat into the closest position, got down on his knees and checked from the back rather than under the front. After a thorough search, he said, “I found it!”

I think he was a mechanic, by the way he was dressed. So my “angel” was dressed in a black shirt and pants. I told him how much I appreciated him coming to my rescue. He said they were happy to have me as a customer. His act of kindness made my day! I also learned that sometimes it doesn’t pay to be “over prepared” when you have to show your ID!

Time marches on….

It is so hard to believe that there are only a few days left in August! School begins for many teachers and students today. This school year is very different because of all the precautions that must be observed because of COVID 19.

More than half a year has passed since this life altering pandemic began. Nothing of this magnitude has taken place in my lifetime and it is true for most of us. Life must go on. Gradual changes are taking place, which is a blessing, but everyone looks forward to the kind of lives we previously enjoyed.

For me and everyone else, it has taught us that our lives cannot be taken for granted and that our lives will go on as usual, forever. We have had tragedies of every description in the past, but they were temporary. The entire world was not disrupted.

Fall is a favorite time of year for me. The green grass in my yard turns brown, leaves go from green to yellow, rust and red. Days begin with a chill in the air, sweaters and jackets feel so good! Mountains become alive with breathtaking views which draw thousands for weekend trips.

I love to see all the displays of corn stalks, pumpkins, and yellow, orange and wine colored mums everywhere. My fireplace creates a feeling of happiness and safety. I love to sip hot chocolate while I am waiting for a pot of vegetable soup to cook.

My prayer for today is that the end of all this suffering and disruption will take place quickly and we can resume the lives we enjoyed. We will never take these blessings for granted again.

When you hit the wrong key, you can get into in big trouble!

Well, everything was fine, I had completed my journal entry and was ready to get busy with my next chore, when something went wrong! I tapped “publish” and was waiting for that to take place, but it did not! For some unknown reason the action failed. I tried several times to no avail.

I did everything I knew to do, which was very little, by the way. Finally, in desperation, I rewrote the story and when I had completed it, I attempted to publish it. Again, I was unsuccessful.

My six year old great grandson was not available to help me, so I sent a message to another family member to ask for assistance. It is a busy time for so many folks who are preparing for the opening of school, so I was back to square one!

I have had no formal training on the use of my IPad, but so far I have managed to do the basics. Just now I got a telephone call from my daughter and I was able to talk with my grandson. He knows so much about “everything” and will try to straighten out the problem for me. If and when, my ability to write and publish my journal entries is restored, you can rest assured I will double check everything before I tap the wrong key!

Two important dates I will always remember….

Each of us has dates we will always remember. I still recall the day I heard the announcement about Pearl Harbor being bombed in a sneak attack. I was a child and thought it was the end of the world.

Another unbelievable announcement was when I was on a trip and our bus stopped for a break. The television screen at the Welcome Center was showing the destruction of the World Trade Center before our eyes! Another sneak attack on America. Yes, December 7 and “Nine 11” are carved in Stone in my memories.

The memorable dates I had in mind are the birthdays of my two daughters. Susan was born on August 16. It was the hottest summer on record, I believe! She was late making her entrance and all the happenings require a story all its own!

Carole was born on October 24. She also was overdue. I went to the hospital, had the same doctor, the same lady who assisted in the delivery, had Room 408, the same bed and the same nurses as I did seven years earlier! It was really like a rerun!

The dates of my children’s births are “carved in Stone” in my heart. There are other dates common to everyone. They are: The DATE you were born——the DATE you die. It is the dash in between that is so important. It is up to us to make the most of “the dash.” We can use those years to be happy and enjoy life or we can be miserable and complain our days away. It is all up to us!

I love Alex Trebek

It is hard to remember when I wasn’t watching Alex Trebek on television. He has been around as a host for many years and gets better with age. Jeopardy is one of the most popular in the history of game shows. The nature of the show is unique because you answer in the form of a question. I don’t have any statistics about the number of viewers the show has, but in my circle of friends, it is a part of life and we all watch it!

Some time ago I discovered the BUZZR Network and stumbled across reruns of Classic Concentration. On this show the object of the game is to solve a puzzle by making matches of the prizes or cards that allow a contestant to take a prize from his or her opponent. The puzzle is made up of caricatures and some are rather difficult to solve.

It definitely requires a lot of concentration to remember what is behind each square when a match is not made and that puzzle piece is covered up. Once the correct answers are made and the puzzle is revealed, Alex explains how they arrived at the answer.

When this series was filmed, prices for automobiles was very reasonable compared to today. The contestant who solves the puzzle then tries to work another puzzle by matching the seven different automobiles in a given number of seconds. It takes seven matches to win a car. Quite a few cars are given during a week of programs.

Alex is the perfect host, so polite and so well dressed! During last years season of the current Jeopardy series, he announced that he has pancreatic cancer and that chances for survival are not good. He has been taking treatments and has been able to continue hosting the show. He has shown some improvement, which is a miracle! Alex is not just loved by me, but probably by millions of people who watch nightly. I am sure I speak for everyone who watches Alex, that we are praying for a miracle for him to be healed.

Some things I am thankful I do not have..

Early each morning is prayer and thankfulness time. There are so many things I give thanks for. I don’t have to list them because I share them often. Today, I thought of the many things I need to thank God for that I DO NOT have.

First, I am thankful that I do not have COVID 19. The number continues to climb each time I listen to the news. I am thankful I do not have to go out to work and be exposed to the virus. It is nice to be retired.

Why I thought of this is a mystery, but I am thankful I am not a dancer with the Radio City Rockettes. I woke up with a sore right arm. It starts at my shoulder and goes all the way down to my wrist. Last week, it was my left hip that hurt so badly. I would never be able to tap and do all that is required and still be smiling! Thank goodness that is not a problem for me!

Then I thought, I am so glad I am not a swimmer who would be practicing for the Olympics, or a figure skater who needs to be graceful and in sync with her partner. Thank goodness, I just got to look at the performers at Cirque du Soleil and I don’t have to be one of them! If I would make it up to the ceiling on one of those ropes, I might hang myself!

I could spend all day thanking God for NOT letting me be anyone, but who I am! It takes each of us doing the job we were given and doing it as well as possible to make the world run smoothly. I am counting my blessings and am so grateful to be plain, little me!

Taking a backward glance at life….

Social distancing and being confined at home is so different from the lives most of us are accustomed to. It was very easy to take our freedom and good health for granted. Then, we had a rude awakening! Along came a virus that totally changed the entire world.

I cannot remember when I have had so much of my adult life outside the “mainstream.” For many years, it was full steam ahead, rushing from one meeting or event to the next one. Some days I had to change my outfits three times for the events.

Things do get out of control, if we allow them to. The human body is strong and can endure a great deal, but then, when it has had enough, it will rebel. I know from experience. When you reach the limit, you begin to get caught up in a downward spiral. In my case, it has been various illnesses and weakness in my body.

I have heard the old saying, “When you’ve got your health, you’ve got just about everything!” Another quote that is often declared is, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” We are guilty of putting our bodies to the test, I suppose.

I personally, have learned so much during this experience. I have had more time for studying and writing. By being forced into a totally different lifestyle, it has opened my eyes to my mistakes and has let me know that NOW is the day to change the direction of my remaining days. Life is multifaceted. Life is good! Life is fleeting! My lesson today with Dr.Jeremiah was one that spoke to me in a dramatic way.

You cannot change the past, but you can learn from the mistakes and wrong choices. I trust that I have learned my lesson and that my future will be much different from this day forward.

Living in a Norman Rockwell world….

Today has been a wonderful Sunday. It started at 7:00 AM with David Jeremiah and his message about Heaven. Dr.Jeremiah is so knowledgeable about the scriptures and he explains very difficult passages of the Bible so that everyone can understand them.

A little later, I attended Sunday school and worship service at my church by watching both on my IPad. I am thankful for technology that makes all this possible.

I prepared a healthy salad for lunch and a dessert that I thoroughly enjoyed. My table is always set for two. I like decorating and I thought my placemats, dishes, cloth napkins and a little arrangement were a perfect setting for my lunch.

After my delicious meal, I scanned the paper and when my eyes got tired, I cuddled up to one of my king sized pillows and began to think happy thoughts from some years ago.

The Saturday Evening Post was one of my favorite magazines for years. I subscribed to it because it was full of Norman Rockwell drawings, plus good stories. I had been to exhibits of his paintings and some years ago when I learned about a trip to Stockbridge, Massachusetts around Christmas, I decided to go. The town would be decorated with enlarged copies of his paintings, there would be tours, a visit to his museum and so much more.

It was like stepping back in time. His paintings reflected regular people, doing simple things, being happy and grateful to be Americans. He captured expressions of the home town people in everyday situations. Just looking at his work is calming and makes you want to be a part of a life like that.

I can truly say that was one on my most enjoyable trips to New England. It was cold, so I was bundled up with my hat, gloves and scarf. I went to New England every Fall, but this was in Winter and we had a blanket of snow on the ground! What a wonderful afternoon I have had! I pray for our country. Things are so different now. I want to live in a “Norman Rockwell” world again!