FREEDOM

The other day, a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.

Growing older, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body ... the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the cellulite. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long. I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family, for less gray hair or a flatter belly.


As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avant-garde on my patio. I am entitled to be messy, to be extravagant, to smell the flowers. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon, before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m. and then sleep until -- ? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50s and 60s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old (if they're lucky). I know I am sometimes forgetful. But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no," and mean it. I can say "yes" and mean it.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being older. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day... (if I want).

Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles. Love simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

LIVE WELL -- LAUGH OFTEN -- LOVE MUCH. "And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others."

Have a great day!

GOOD MORNING

Ayla is sending lots of love to all those of the clan. She realizes just how blessed she is on a daily basis. What a diversified group in this clan with each one having their own attributes to contribute.

Activities around the cave are very busy. The Cub just had her dental appt (no cavities), has her school physical this next week, enrolls for school, shopping for school clothes, etc etc

The Alien and I are cleaning out the attic, storage room and closets of all unused items (covering the last five years) and getting them ready for the garage sale the Valley View employees are having this next weekend. It will be held in an air conditioned building. We will each have a booth with tables, can take our stuff the night before and set up as the bldg will be locked. I had said I would never have another garage sale, guess that just teaches me to never say "never".

Yesterday, I helped the Alien make the last batch (I hope) of peach jam this season. For some reason he has got the bug this year and we have enough jam and jelly to last for a while (probably a long while).

Well, our oldest "furry boy" is in the dog house, so far back it may take a while to see daylight. Last week he and R were playing in the other room and he bit her. Regardless of what she did or didn't do, he will not be allowed to bite. His only excuse might be he has severe allergies and doesn't feel well at all. He has to get allergy shots about every five weeks.

The youngest furry one stays in lots of trouble. He does things Casper never dreamed of doing such as chewing the wall paper off the wall in the foyer, chewing up the area rugs, chewing up shoes, and on and on. He is so adorable though it is hard to get to upset!! Our golden years have turned into white fur ball years.

My youngest sibling's daughter is getting married this October. She and her new husband will live in Kansas City. The Alien had told her years ago that she had to wait until she was 25 and she was 25 in May so she told him he couldn't complain. Her brother's wife has a kidney transplant in September. M's Mom is donating one of her kidneys.

Our Cub went with our Church group to Texas this last week. They went to watch the Ranger's play on Monday night then spent the night and went to Six Flags on Tuesday. They got home around midnight on Tuesday. She had a good time.

It just occurred to me that we have traded in our knitting and checkers for dog shows and softball games. Time will tell what kind of trade we made!!!

Oh by the way, on my tombstone, I want to be able to say "She was to simplistic to please anyone but God".

Used vehicles vs used bodies

Have you ever noticed the similarity between how much maintenance it requires to keep a vehicle with high mileage and a human body also with high mileage? Although there are always exceptions. Some older vehicles seem to be taken to the repair shop more often than others even though they have been properly serviced over the years. Some vehicles can be grossly abused and may require a lot less repair. Have you ever wondered why that can be? I have been doing lots of comparison lately between used vehicles with high mileage and human bodies also with high mileage. Some of these people can abuse their bodies with everything from overeating, drugs, sleep deprivation, etc etc and yet they continue to be relatively healthy. While others seem to be constantly having to be repaired even though they may have led a rather mundane type life. Just doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to explain this.



Speaking of repairs and high mileage, I recently went to the hospital for a one day procedure that required me to be sedated. Now for those of you that may not know it, I have had lots of trouble sleeping over the last several weeks. Well, I am here to tell you, I found the cure. If they would have given me a pint of the Versed like I asked!!! I was taken to the "holding" pen and hooked up to an IV, given a skimpy gown and then covered with two very warm blankets. About that time, the nurse gave me a shot of Versed in my IV. Out like a light I went and enjoyed such blissful sleep until I heard the doctor call my name. I was really irritated to be awakened but soon forgave them as right after they wheeled me into the "room" they gave me a "big" shot of Versed this time. Again, what wonderful sleep. Don't know what happened after that as I was definitely in La La land. And stayed that way for most of the day. Things I thought were dreams were actually things happening so the Alien told me. I kept seeing this big skillet and finally was awake enough to tell the Alien about it and he said, "I just got a skillet from Amazon and UPS delivered it". Sure enough, this morning there sat that big skillet on the stove. Nothing life threatening showed up just some minor tune up needed. Hopefully, they will give me more Versed, ya think?

Earlies Memories

A question posed several days ago asked if we remembered our very first memory. I have been giving this considerable thought. I think I have finally narrowed it down to two and to be honest, I don't know which was the first event. However due to the mode of transportation at the time, I will predict it was the wagon ride. Not just any wagon ride! This one had a special treat. We lived out in the country and rode into the small town nearby for groceries and feed for the livestock. This particular trip, my older sibling and I rode with our Dad. We felt so big sitting up on the seat right beside him. I was two and she was four. Anyway, when we got into town, Dad got the essentials and then he bought we girls a piece of coconut candy. This little square was about the size of a dice and they come in different colors. Some were yellow, some pink and some green. This day, ours were yellow. Inside these little gems of sugar was another special treat. There was a tiny ring in each piece. Now for those of you who know me, you know my past fondness for rings. So I contribute that desire for rings clear back to that fateful wagon ride. Our Dad had cautioned us to nibble them very slowly and when we saw the rings, it was the most special surprise that I have ever had to this day!

Now for the second memory. It involved a severe storm while living at this same place. I remember being in the storm cellar and Dad had the door open. We watched the hail, lightening and wind destroy our house, kill several head of livestock and ruin our car. Now the question, if we had a car then did we just take the wagon to haul the feed? Guess I will never know. Guess it doesn't make much difference anyway. I never realized the tremendous source of information available that is now lost for the time being.

Anyway, the Alien and I made blackberry jelly yesterday. Boy is it good!!!!!! We found the berries right here in Ada at our Farmer's market. Goes to show that sometimes the pastures might not be greener elsewhere.

Til next time!

Amusing Nothings

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger.
Then it hit me.-----------------------------------------------------


Police were called to a day care where a three-year-old was resisting a rest. --------------------


------------------------------------------------------ The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.


------------------------------------------------------ To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

------------------------------------------------------ When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.


------------------------------------------------------ The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.------------------------------------------------------


A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months. -----------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------- A thief fell and broke his leg in wet cement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------He became a hardened criminal.-------------------------------------------------------


Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.


-------------------------------------------------------- We'll never run out of math teachers because they always multiply.


-------------------------------------------------------- When the smog lifts in Los Angeles , U.C.L.A.


-------------------------------------------------------- The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.


---------------------------------------------------------- The dead batteries were given out free of charge.-----------------------------------------------------------



If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory. ---------------------


----------------------------------------------------------- A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.


A will---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
is a dead giveaway.


------------------------------------------------------------- A backward poet writes inverse.


------------------------------------------------------------- In a democracy it's your vote that counts;
in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.--------------------------------------------------------



-------------------------------------If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

--------------------------------------------------------------- When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.


--------------------------------------------------------------- The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was full recovered---------------------------------------------------------



-------Local Area Network in Australia : ------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------The LAN down under.

------------------------------------------------------------------ A calendar's days are numbered.


------------------------------------------------------------------ A lot of money is tainted: 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine.------------------------------------------------------------------


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------A boiled egg,
is hard to beat.
------------------------------------------------------------------ He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

------------------------------------------------------------------ Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.


------------------------------------------------------------------- When you've seen one shopping center you've seen a mall.


-------------------------------------------------------------------- When she saw her first strands of gray hair, ----------------------------------------------------------------------
she thought she'd dye.

"Blackberry Festival"

Several times lately, we had seen an advertisement for a blackberry festival in the town of McLoud (about 65 miles away). Last Friday we decided to take a drive up there and get some blackberries to finish out our jelly making adventure. We got there and looked and looked and looked some more and believe it or not there was not a blackberry in sight. They did have a small town carnival set up, booths with different food items that did not in the wildest imagination look, smell or taste like a berry. I have spent the last three days trying to figure this out. Maybe once upon a time they used to have berries in that area. Or maybe just maybe with the surrounding towns having watermelon festivals, peach festivals, kolache festivals, and yes even rattle snake festivals, they just got the idea to have a blackberry festival. Come to think of it we couldn't find a kolache either. Don't know about the rattlesnake festival, we weren't dumb enough to go to that one. Just be our luck that they would actually have the blasted snakes! Don't think they would make very good jelly.

The Alien returned to work today. He is doing well and seems to be on the mend. The only complaint that I have heard from him lately is the mower is getting stuck in our yard! It has to be those cubettes that just visited. I think they did a rain dance before they got here!! I may have to snip their feathers.

Our Church is taking several people to Alabama on a mission trip to help some of the people still trying to recover from Katrina. We really thought about going and know that we would love it but there are just too many things going on right now. Gerbeans' cub is going. He is looking forward to it. They leave in two weeks and will be gone for five days.

Our cub is in summer softball league. They had to cancel today's game due to, of all things, rain. Hopefully the ones next week won't be rained out.

Today was cater to Marbella day. She got her hair done and a massage. Wow, what a treat.

Thanks for the visit.