Curiosity!

There is nothing like a few police cars in an otherwise quiet neighborhood to get some questions stirring around in one's mind. There has never been any cause for alarm as we are an area of a few retirees and young families, looking out for each other as a neighborhood should.

It was after a couple came to my door looking for my husband to give them a ride, (I didn't find out to where). I told them he was asleep, so they hurriedly, with a look of fear, and still talking between themselves, went across the street. They have been here before to visit. In fact I have told you about him and his wife who are mentally challenged.

Shortly I saw them get into my neighbor's car. He backed to the road, and then pulled back into the driveway again. As he did, a woman from up the street came rushing by with a cell phone at her ear waving for them to stop. My neighbor and his passengers proceeded to get out of the car, as the woman waved her arm and pointed her finger at the passengers.

Forgive me, but I was watching from my bedroom window. I had noticed this morning that the shade needs replacing. One slat in the shade is broken, giving me a wonderful view of the street, while I hid behind the good section!

Curiosity has not been one of my vices, but this was getting the better of me. Ones imagination can go anywhere by watching a scene unfold and not knowing the details, giving the mind permission to work out details with each picture. OK, so I admit I am human after all! Sorry if you are disappointed.

I just had to go outside so I could get more information. By now, four police cars had arrived one after the other and stopped at our friend’s house who mows the yard for us. I gave the police time to do their questioning, and walked next door where neighbors were also waiting for information, as was I. My friend walked over to give us all the scoop.

Sorry, but it is a long story that I will not go into. Being a snoopy neighbor was bad enough, but to tell you the details would be gossip for sure. I think I would be wise to drop it now. That way you will not be tempted to tell some one and thus find yourself gossiping. It is only right that I save you that temptation, don’t you think?

I feel safe now that the neighborhood is quiet again. I'm sure I'll sleep just fine.

However, I have to remember to replace that shade tomorrow!

Grammyof13

Journaling!

I've taken time today to review all the posts I've done since November. I found a Hodge-podge of "stuff" for sure. That is what I call journaling, for each day brings thoughts that vary from day to day. Often I have nothing in particular to write about. I understand that is how life is - some days so full of fun, laughter, and having a ball. Then again, nothing to speak of, in fact, there are some days I am alone and unless the phone rings, I may not hear the sound of my own voice or that of another.

This reminds me of a story. After my Mother's death in early 1999, Daddy was well enough to stay in the home place alone. He was very self sufficient, drove his own car, was able to get himself most anywhere he needed to go. When we visited him, he told us about his days of silence, when he never heard a human voice, not even his own. He was not thinking of the TV, which he watched occasionally, he was only thinking of the loneliness and the hunger for the human touch, or human conversation. I thought 'how lonely that must be, when day in and day out, a house that was once filled with noise of a family, was now void of sound.'

I have much to fill my time when my husband is on the road. I love reading, and for sure, I have my computer who is my companion anytime I need to get my thoughts from my head to paper. The solitude when he is gone gives me time to concentrate on my writing and study. I am a Bible Teacher, and study is important to me. I never assume I know so much I can lay it down and forget that the Word holds great truths yet uncovered for me. It is in learning for myself, that I am able to pass on what is tried and true. Not to say it hasn't been tried or true, but the strength of my teaching comes from the Word being passed through me to my students. Anyway, I'm trying to say this blog is a journal of sorts, with my thoughts coming through my fingers onto the paper.

I was so grateful for my daughter and her little fellows who came to visit last week. It was a break in our summer. Of course, my house will never be the same however; I hope they made some good memories of being at Grammy’s house.

I trust your week is a good one. I have an MRI scheduled on Tuesday morning for my left knee that is trying to get "old" on me. Imagine that!

Grammyof13

Good-Byes!

Life is full of good byes. Often Good-bye just means I'll see you later, indicating there will be another time. I have not thought much about good-byes until now. My husband had to leave the house tonight around 10:30 to take one of our little boys’ home who has been here only a couple days but misses his Mom and Dad.

I did not mind his going; I just hated to see him leave this late. There has always been a tender place in my heart at the sound of a little one wanting its mother. Whether it be animal or human to me it is the saddest sound in the world. He was not crying necessarily but I knew what he was experiencing in wanting to see his mother, so Papa decided to take him part way down the interstate to meet her.

Then in the morning, I will have to say good-bye to my daughter and her two little ones. Daddy is waiting in Oklahoma and wants to see them, and I think they are ready to see him. With warnings of "Please drive safe", we will walk them to the car. "You have our number if you should need us before you get home", we urge. Then periodically we will call her while she is on her way home the four and 1/2 hour drive.

We have learned to look forward to her visits, but the week passes too soon. It could be, that we stay so busy, but for whatever reason the house seems very empty after she and the children have gone.

In July, we will leave for Iowa to visit another daughter and her two little ones, ages six and four, this time a girl and a boy. We are not with them very much, but we do visit by phone and about every six months, we meet in Oklahoma and have our "reunion" there. It isn't the same as visiting them in their home, so we are making plans to be there for a week. Again, the good byes will start again!

Life happens. Families somehow get separated, but by some means never lose touch. I remember my mother longing and wishing she could see her girls. Mother was a stay home mom, and her life was her six girls. Within a matter of only a few years, we all left home. No one ever spoke of an empty nest or even recognized such syndrome back then. Her longings for the way things were, had never been explained or written about.

Only now do I understand how excited she must have been when one of her daughters came home with our entourage of children & luggage to stay a few days, only to have to say good-bye again. However, we have established that life happens, and there are countless others in the world, from whatever culture we can name, who encounter the same emptiness sometime in their life.

Morning will come soon. I am blessed. May you also recognize your blessings.

Grammyof13

Breaking Bread!

My house has been full of squeals and giggles from 6 little boys eight years old and under. I haven't decided yet why my house is so much fun for hide 'n seek! From behind the shower curtain, under the vanity, in any closet they seem to find a new place to hide. I even found two on the top shelf of my linen closet once. (Not this time however. I'm sure they remember for the first two taught the rest about the perfect hiding place.)

I could really get up tight about the disarray of my house, but I figure if they remember the good times they had at Grammy's house, I will have added a little joy to their lives.

They had supper on the deck, and one of the youngest decided to stand up on the side seat of the deck and play with the bird feeder! Bird seed was everywhere, even in their plates! Awe well, if the squirrels can, I guess I have to allow them to play in it too. I really should have been sharper than I was. Who would have anticipated the feeder would be so enticing?

Anyway, the week is winding down. It was good to have all who could come over tonight for supper. It was a short visit, but a good one. I enjoy having my children around the table for a good family time.

In fact, meal time is a great time to get caught up. Meal time was always a special time when I was growing up. Daddy had his special place at the table, so did Mama and for sure each of us girls. We laugh today at some of the conversations we had around the table. It was usually I who put my foot in my mouth, and the laughter reverberated through the house. Not laughing at me but with me.

Meal time is not the place to solve problems. We tried to lay problems down until we finished with nourishment. Often our emotions as well as body was nourished when the day was finished because we had shared "bread" together.

My daughter and I took her two little boys to play at Chick-fa-la. One of our favorite places to go when she is here. We had to split a brownie!!!OOOOOh Goooood!

Well, I promised the boys a movie after their baths. Oh yes, they forgot they had supper, now they want a peanut butter and banana sandwich!

Life goes on...

Grammyof13

Pooped!

I'm ending this day totally pooped! I have difficulty admitting "I'm too old for this", but that is the phrase on the tip of my tongue tonight as I close out my day.

We had a sick one last night that kept waking us up with upchuck where ever he was sleeping. I'm glad I have extra sheets and pillow cases to make a quick change. Along with some other improvising, we were able to get the two beds back in sleeping order and without anymore excitement waking us up from a deep sleep, we managed to get a few hours rest past midnight.

I don't think it was a virus, just a long trip yesterday getting here, then going to the baseball field where he had snacks and such. The grandmother in me says, he overloaded his little stomach! (I think I'm right this time!)

Anyway, we left home around 12:30 and found our way to Wendy's for lunch, then to the fitness center where we got to swim for awhile. I'm admitting that was good for me and my bad knee. Getting to play with Preston and Parker was great also. They swim like a fish, and I stay close to the shallow area. Old habits are hard to break. Mama said "don't go near the deep water til you learn to swim", so I didn't and therefore I don't! Swim that is.

My daughter cannot come to town without going to Fred's Dollar Store. There is none in her area of OK, so we left the fitness center and went to Fred's. By the time we arrived home, I was dead tired and a few hours later I am no better. For someone who goes at a snail's pace all day, all this going-and going is wearing me out. I need what the energizer bunny has to keep me on the go.

Well this isn't helping matters, by setting here at the keyboard and updating my blog, I could be resting. Now that is a good idea.

Goodnight!

Grammyof13

Expecting Company!

Some of my posts have decided to change order on their own. I really have posted since last weekend, but somehow it got posted with an earlier date! AW well, I'm sure it was some error on my part, as a computer can't do anything it isn't told to do. Well that may not be totally true, but I don't feel like arguing with myself this evening, so I'll move on.

My daughter and her two little boys ages six and four are coming here from OK. tomorrow. I should be cleaning house - but I figure what's the use? I'm old enough to have come to the conclusion that one should clean (put in order) the house after company has gone.

That has not always been my thinking however. Mama use to work my sisters and me to a frazzle when she was expecting the preacher or her family from out of state. One could eat off her floors, and for sure, we were spit shined, and everything in order. She had her menu planned, and we were good to go, with warning, we had "better not touch the beds" the day of their arrival, and for sure, we must not drop crumbs.

I also remember having to do it all over again when the preacher and his family left and her family had gone on their way. Come to think of it, I don't believe she ever learned to wait until after they had gone. Poor Dear!

My daughter always has her house so neat when her father and me arrive. She is still young enough not to have come to the decision of waiting.

I should not be too very hard on myself however. I did go grocery shopping at 9:30 Friday evening. Yes, you heard me right, 9:30PM. At least the store was almost mine. There were a few others here and there who had opted for shopping late and it worked out fine. I did not have to ride a bas-cart either. By the time I finished, I wished I had but I do not like the reflection of the elderly woman I see as I pass the refrigerated pizza case, when I am riding those things!

I shopped with my two little boys in mind, remembering their likes and dislikes. Not to forget my daughter, I try to have something she likes in the house also. They don't get to come often, so I get like a kid waiting for Santa (almost!!??) when I know my children or grandchildren are going to spend some time with us.

I know I am not alone in this. Let me know if you get excited when the kids come home! Moreover, I will add that I really do organize my house for them.

Grammyof13

Divine Appointment

The spring shower was over, leaving the air cool enough to be comfortable, also leaving the flies to bother me as I sat soaking in the memories that engulfed me. The porch swing gently swayed back and forth in a rhythmic motion while Clay and I let our mind and eyes wander over the world at our door.

The birds sang from a nearby tree. Cars passed on the road. People waved, not sure to whom; However, that is the normal way of life on Long Branch.

The trees were a luscious green, and the pink roses in bloom. Close to the road there stands a Magnolia tree gloriously arrayed with its beautiful flowers giving off a fragrance that adds to the clean country air.

As usual, the house reeks with visions and echoes of yesterdays long gone.

My little eight-year-old grandson is with me exploring my memories. His questions are priceless and the compassion for his heritage makes my heart smile as I try to answer each of his questions.

"It must hurt to be a hundred years old", he said thoughtfully as he sat beside me on the swing.

It took him by surprise to learn his Great Grandfather did not live here anymore. When I explained that he was living in a nursing home now, he seemed to go into deep thought trying to get it all strait and in order in his mind.

"Yes, it probably does", I answered. "Our body gets tired when it is close to 100 years old, and it has a way of telling us it’s tired."

"I don't think I would want to live that long," he ventured softly.

"I don't either", I replied.

His eyes formed his question before his mouth spoke the words.

I prepared supper after our arrival that day, and while he allowed me to rest from my day, he tried to be patient. The ten o'clock news came on, when he laid his game boy down and said, "Do you think we could go outside and look at the stars tonight?"

Oh my, he had my attention and now he was making me fall in love with him all over again.

"There is nothing I'd like better" I answered with enthusiasm. There was no way I could have ever dreamed of sharing this day with one of my grandchildren. We walked to the front porch; he took my hand to assist me as we walked down the concrete steps to the sidewalk. Hand in hand, we ventured into the yard, looking up to a filtering cloud cover that hid most of the galaxy.

"It was on this very spot," I started with the story, "long ago when I was only a girl. We came here after a long hot summer day on the farm. Daddy with his guitar and my sisters and me around him in a semi circle; We sang every song we knew, stopping now and then to find the "milky-way", the evening star, the big dipper and little dipper."

Yes, I was more than glad to hold my darling little Clay's hand as we started our evening of looking toward the heavens hoping the clouds did not hide our view for very long.

The three quarter moon cast a shadow on the land, giving enough light to show us where to step safely. For a long time we stood looking upward, but finding only a few stars spotted here and there in the vast space we called the heavens.

"God is sooo big!" He finally spoke. "To keep everything in place, and still take care of the tiny specks we are. I think I want to be an Astronaut, so I can go up in space. Don't you think that would be cool?"

I wanted time to stand still as I listened to him and marveled at how his mind worked. "Yes, that would be cool", I responded with excitement that matched his. "You know you can be anything you want to be! The opportunities for you to be an Astronaut are many."

He moved on. "You know there are billions and billions of stars?"

"Yes, too many to count for sure," I said.

We talked about the Place that was being prepared for us in Heaven even at that moment. I told him in the best description I could about the streets that were pure gold, an the gate to the city was made of real pearl. I'm not sure how much he understood, but he quietly listened and showed no signs of hurry.

I could not anticipate each question, yet I always seemed to have an answer that satisfied him. He had my undivided attention and he was taking advantage of it.

We walked a few paces toward the hay field beside the house. He thought it would be nice to sit on the back porch awhile. I agreed.

He took charge - brought my lawn chair close to the edge of the porch and he sat at my feet with his legs dangling off the edge of the small porch. As much as I could, I kept my eyes on him.

It was getting close to eleven pm, but I had no desire to hurry the moment.

Again, my heart smiled as I watched his eyes brighten up with a new idea to talk about. Occasionally our eyes met, but mostly his little face, slightly tilted, was at least looking toward me as he kept the conversation going.

You see, I have concluded this night was a divine appointment. Have you ever experienced a divine appointment? A time when you knew that you knew, that where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing was designed for you? Surely you have! I love those times and I am sure I have had many, but this one caused my heart to dance.

The plans were for Clay to go with his parents and brother, but opted for staying behind with his Papa and me.

Maybe one day he will understand in a measure, the deep gratitude I felt in getting to spend quality time with him in a place that held so many memories for me. I could not expect him to comprehend my efforts in wanting to pass to him, an era that is so far removed from modern day America in which he lives. However, the importance of History as it pertains to the next generation will give him a sense of his own roots in time.

Having the opportunity to meet his century old Great Grandfather, will always be a treasure to him, when he shares with his children the long life he may inherit. To be able to listen to his Great Grandfather talk with perfect diction, and alert mentality, is also a treasure he will appreciate in time to come.

Thanks Clay-boy for giving me 30 hours of your undivided time. I am a better person for having shared those special moments with you.

Love
Grammyof13

Analyzing Roots!

I'm still feeling that somber, close to melancholy mood today. For sure my creative juices have been flowing, and my fingers have been doing my thinking all day. It has been difficult to get away from my keyboard to get any housework done. Thank the Lord for my husband, who encourages me to stay with it while my ideas are flowing. Naturally his kind words have taken the nasty nagging guilt that has buzzed around my head away.

Somber and/or Melancholy is the norm for me after I spend time in Tenn. Will there ever be a time when the hills of home will not call so often and for sure so loudly? I have not actually lived at home since 1958, however often the sound of the Whippoorwill Call in the distant trees takes me back.

I am trying however, to analyze the strengths of my roots that run deep in the Tennessee hills. Maybe there will always be a special place for those years of innocence and poverty. Albeit a place tucked away and given the name like "A place of refuge" or "my green kingdom."

I feel for those who have no such place. Sadness, maybe even pity for anyone who does not have roots that run deep. I think of those who have lived (as my mother would say) from pillar to post. Not really being able to call any special place home.

I am not looking forward (I've probably said before) to the day when I will leave the house of my childhood never to spend the night in the rooms that echo sounds of youth; To have the video play that invariably comes on in my head when I settled down on the porch swing, or into the couch inside, or Mama's bed; to accept they may not be as vivid as when I am actually there is something I choose not to entertain in my mind.

It seems I spend a lot of time stumbling around in the house of my childhood, almost in a dreaming stupor, recalling voices and faces that have graced the old home place over the years.

From Aunts, Uncles and cousins, or even neighbors or boy friends who were permitted to drop by occasionally; from trips to the spring house or to the corn field during harvest, I find myself strolling the land.

Anyway, it may take days for me to complete the analyzing of my roots. Maybe too I am getting things in order for my end time. Either way, about the time I have settled down to life, there will be the need to go home again and the cycle will start over.

Grammyof13

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

The best way to describe my spirit today is melancholy. Going to visit my Father has a way of doing that to me. It was his special day all way round, Father's day included. He had looked so forward to seeing everyone at our annual family reunion that I don't think he rested well the night before in anticipation of the event.

My sister picked him up from the nursing home, and brought him to his home where my husband and I always stay. Thinking he will have to make some decisions as to what to do with all the furnishings and belongings in the house, keeps him talking and (to me at least) he is tying up all the loose ends of his life. Something that will happen to each of us at some point in our lives. Who wants unfinished business when our own days are numbered? NO ONE I would think. Getting our life in order, knowing our children are well cared for, knowing we will be put to rest in a particular cemetery, wanting our legacy to be one of a life well lived, leaving behind bits of wisdom that someone will adhere to, making sure our love for each one is expressed so there will be no questions, hoping our life has meant something and that our years were not spent in vain, all these make up final thoughts that has to be in neat order in our mind. Maybe not at the age we are now, but remember he is 99 and 1/2.

We tell him we are planning a special day for his one hundred birthday, and he promises to try to hang on until October. I really hope the Lord sees fit to leave him with us so we can help him celebrate his target age and beyond. His mind works fabulously well, but his body is deteriorating, yet mostly his desire to live and be with his children is still very strong.

So the picture of this special reunion, where he moved beyond his normal shyness, and "preached" us a sermon for our lives - "Remember to do unto others as you want them to do to you. Always be honest and you will be alright. Don't carry a grudge, it don't do you no good, only buy what you need, not what you want. You'll always have money, if you walk away from what you want and only buy what you need..."

His lesson continued for almost an hour as we stood in silence and listened to what could be his last lesson in such a setting as this.

There is more, and I'm sure the days to come will bring my fingers to the keyboard to share the video that still plays over and over in my head.

Until then - live well - there is only one life and it will soon pass.

Grammyof13

Awardicons!

The ending of a great day and it is now 11pm. I have a nightly ritual, (which I'm sure I am not the only one) that includes checking last minute e-mails and my writing.com web page. I was pleasantly surprised tonight when I found I had been given a blue ribbon award for my true story entitled "Around the Bend". I had not visited my portfolio in a long time and was very surprised to learn that some one had enjoyed the account of my healing in 2005 enough to award me.

Since April 2006, I have been posting my writings on the website and have gleaned much from critiques and praises. In fact it was last year when I posted "Around the Bend". It has not had the traffic that some of my other stories have had, but none of the others have ever been awarded either. One story I refer to as "The Silence" has been viewed more times than all the others and some wonderful comments have been posted.

I am encouraged to say the least. That is what writers write for. We think we have something worth saying, so we write. When we find an audience, we want to keep on writing. When we experience writers block, we cringe for fear our readers will stop coming by to check out our portfolio.

I think that is one reason I find myself going to my Conway writers group on Friday afternoon. There are 15 or so of us who share our stories with each other and laugh, cry or clap. No one is a bad writer in our group. We've become a social club of sorts, and believe we have the best group of writers compared to any group anywhere.

In fact Les is our pride and joy. He has published his great stories and now we each have the book in our homes. My reading his stories however, is nothing like hearing him read the same one. He is to read from his book one evening this month at the Conway Library. We are proud as a peacock for him.

I may never get a book published. Yet I may, if I can keep dreaming that big. I've had to walk away from two manuscripts so I could better see it with new and fresh eyes. I realize a writer is his own worse critic and looking for the perfect word to portray the picture we want our readers to see can be stressful. Finding a different, even new, way of saying something old is a challenge. I'm not sure if everyone goes through this, but since I have no one with whom to compare I'll consider myself normal.

Anyway, had to share my inner smiles with you.

Grammyof13 - off to bed.

Special Days!

I have had a memorable birthday. Not everyone is you know? Some pass by so quietly that twelve months come and go until another one rolls around and nothing stands out from the last one you had. Anyway, this day will be added to some others that stand out as being a special birthday, and there were a few along the way.

My children gave me my first surprise birthday party when I was 40. That was so special. I think because they were able to pull it off so well since they still lived with me at the time. After work, my youngest son insisted that I take him shopping. The urge to go shopping did not faze me that he was up to something. It was his assignment to keep me busy for a couple hours and away from the house. I just knew he had an impatient streak occasionally and this must be one of them. I think he tried to convince me he needed shoes and could not wait until the next day. So grudgingly, I picked him up after work and we went to the mall. Now I realize he was not as interested as he thought he was when we got there, he took me from one thing to another and never made up his mind on anything. Finally, around 5:30 we arrived home with cars everywhere in my driveway and on the street. “Someone must be having a party” I mused

Sure enough, everyone was crowded into my dining room smiling from ear to ear at being able to pull off the surprise. And truthfully I was and very impressed that my children had taken the responsibility of making my birthday special.

I never understood golden birthdays while growing up on the farm in Tenn. I learned later in life that when one turns the age of the date of their birth, that is their golden birthday. When I was 9, and the day being June 9, that was my golden birthday. Maybe that is why my ninth birthday was so special.

It was a washday for Mother and her brood of girls. When water was scarce, we had to spend the day at Grandma’s house where water was plentiful. She built a fire under the big iron kettle and with the washtub close by, she started her day of scrubbing the dirt and grime out of our limited supply of clothes. In the mean time, she went into Grandma’s kitchen to make a pan of cornbread.

If I even thought about it being my birthday I don’t remember it being a big deal. There was nothing special that normally happened on a birthday, so maybe I was accustomed to letting it pass without fanfare.

However, around lunchtime, Mama called us for lunch. The spring where we kept the milk and butter was close by. There was a fence around part of the bluff where the spring flowed. We referred to it as a spring house. Thus inside the spring house were several jugs of milk and containers of butter. Having no refrigeration at home, we were still not deprived of cold milk.

Mother had arranged for each of us to have a glass, and a spoon for our choice of buttermilk or regular milk. So before we started our meal of buttermilk and cornbread, she had everyone sing “Happy Birthday” to me and she laughed that “I’ll bet no one has ever had a birthday like this!” I did not feel deprived. I felt special. And because of the gesture I can still picture Mama with my sisters and me, sitting on the ground, under the trees near the bluff where no sun could shine through the thick trees on the hillside above us. I can still see us having a spontaneous picnic. A moment when time stood still and the memory lens of my mind snapped a picture that still lives on waiting to be recalled at any moment.

Then today, I was invited to LR to have lunch with my friend Olivia. It is something we do not do very often. Get together that is. Neither of us knows why. We just never seem to make plans. However we enjoyed an afternoon of running errands and just hanging out before I had to face the rain storm as I drove home.

My e-mails have been full of good wishes; my telephone has brought me little voices singing and/or wishing me a Happy Birthday. My mail box had greeting cards-I noticed a couple people had called while I was gone, and for those calls I did receive – Thanks for making my day a special one.

I haven't thought of how many years today brings. Only the blessings of the many I've had.

Grammyof13

Momentary Weakness!

Well tomorrow being my birthday has both good and bad associated with it. It is good that I can still have birthdays. I could say I am a little surprised that I have lasted this long. Then on the other hand, there is long life span in my family history, and the possibility of 30+ years could easily be a reality for me. I haven't decided, considering how old I am feeling lately if that is a good or bad thing.

We made one of our few yearly trips to Wal-Mart yesterday. Occasionally I have a momentary weakness and think that going to Wal-Mart could be a one stop shopping trip - since all the necessities on my list can be found somewhere in the mile wide store. Remember, it is a weakness that overcomes me and I make a decision about something so important when I am in a weakened state of stupor or something.

Everyone who goes to Wal-Mart on Saturday is handicapped I have decided. However, after driving around a couple times we did find a parking place close to the front and someone had left a motorized chair/buggy I decided to take advantage of.

Well that thought lasted every bit of 3 seconds, and I abandoned the idea. The noise coming from the thing when we turned it on made a sound that told me it was on its last leg. I have never been particularly eager to run over someone - anyone - so I opted for walking. As we entered the store there was a wheel chair cart that looked more inviting. I figured if my husband pushed me through the store there was less chance in us being separated as we normally do when he decides to take off on his own and meet up with me on the other side of the store. (Which he rarely does!). With purse and bottle water in the basket, I was settled in for the duration of my shopping experience.

We were hardly 15 feet into the store when the front of my basket/chair decided to take off on its own. No problem, I just laugh about it, and get it going again. We maneuvered our way through the crowd a few more feet when we noticed the front wheels of the chair/basket were not rolling. The young man who came to our aid had no clue as to how to get me out or what was wrong with the wheels. He looked helplessly around for someone else to solve our dilemma. I decided that while they were repairing or diagnosing the problem, I would go to the bathroom and it would be ready by the time I returned. It took the three of us to un-do the thingy so it would open giving me room to get myself out.

I hobbled into the bathroom and out again. My husband was looking around as though he was anticipating someone in particular, when the same young man I had left him with came up with the motorized chair I had rejected in the parking lot.

I cringed. Having a debate going on in my head as to whether to walk/hobble through the store or take the chair. My leg and knee hurt so bad I decided to take advantage of the only equipment they could offer a lil 'ole lady who appears to be on her last leg!

Almost immediately, my husband tells me he is going to get his supplies and will meet me later. (Here we go he never disappoints me!) I suggested that I would just ride along with him so we could stay together. He retrieved his items from the shelf, and we started to the back of the store to domestics where I would pick up my items.

He sat in the buggy/chair while I hobble around the short isle looking for my items. I could tell he was not having any fun. We have never been compatible when it comes to shopping together, and I don't expect things to change at this stage of the story.

He suggested that he go on ahead to get the rid-x he needed for the plumbing, and off he went leaving me to maneuver the rattling, vibrating chair/cart through the maze of people who have no sympathy for an almost (hopefully temporary) crippled aging lady who is trying to look dignified, and failing miserably.

Sure enough, the hunt begins. I am not where I told him I would be. He is not where he said he was going to be. So I was on my own, getting better at driving the dreaded cart with each turn! It did not dawn on me that he planned it this way! I have always been self-sufficient, so he has learned that whatever difficulty presents itself, I can think of a way through or talk my way out. I too have learned that he would give up looking for me and patiently wait in front of the store where there was a bench for such times.

Sure enough. He is so predictable. He was waiting for me close by the check-out area.

The idea that Wal-Mart had everything I needed under one roof did not prove true, as we did have to make another stop before going back home. I’ve also decided I may not go shopping until my leg gets better. Shopping is stressful enough when I feel normal. However, add stress-to-stress trying to keep from mowing people down with a runaway cart is tripling stressful and I do not need it.

If you need me I will be home ejoying my own surroundings.

Grammyof13

Weeds in my Garden

My local newspaper, to which I subscribe, has a section occasionally that is considered News of the Weird! Where they come up with this stuff is any one's guess. Frankly, I wouldn't want the job of searching the Internet or online newspapers for such news when there are other local items of interest that would merit the man hours involved.

I'll admit I do stop occasionally when something catches my eye. Like the one a few days ago, that may as well been a flashing neon sign. "Plants have feelings too!"

Oh yes, you want to keep reading also don't ya? Maybe there was a mistake in the translation from "Agence France-Presse" to English. There just has to be an error. It is eloquently written, I'll give them an A for that anyway.

"A provision in Switzerland's constitution recognizes the 'dignity' of 'animals, plants and other organisms,' and a federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human Gene Technology declared in an April report that vegetation has 'inherent worth' and that (get this next line) and that humans cannot exercise 'absolute ownership' over it, but must treat it morally."

That's a mouth full I know. I had to read it through a couple times to make sure I was hearing what I was seeing! There is more, but my first thought was "Man! God goofed when He placed Adam over the garden. An inexperienced man like Adam probably blemished the dignity of weeds or even a leek in the Garden of Eden. On the other hand, what about when Eve deciding to pick some flowers for the dinner table? Read on…

The committee decided it would be better to measure each case individually. Such as, “a farmer mowing his field would be acceptable, but not the arbitrary severing of a wildflower’s bloom.” So there you have it. Eve is in trouble too. Innocent but breaking the law of Switzerland. Well maybe God forgave her since man decided to get involved in His plans years beyond her future and distort the truth.

There is a flaw in the thought process of this committee however. “The committee would permit genetic engineering of flora, since plants would still retain the ‘autonomy’ to reproduce on their own.” Sounds to me like the rule does not apply to the one making the rule!

I’m glad for the good ole USA. I’d hate to see what my flower beds would be should I have to leave the weeds to grow anywhere and everywhere, obstructing the view of what I consider my green kingdom. Sounds like some folks in Switzerland have too much time on their hands. Cruelty to animals, that’s one thing. But I’ll have to draw the line when it comes to the weeds in my garden.

I’m feeling better.

Grammyof13