Thieves on Black Friday

My camera was right in my bag,

why didn't I get a picture

of my two sisters, my daughter and granddaughter

carrying packages from the store

to the outer-most post of the parking lot

because Verla said we needed the exercise?

We hadn't planned to buy anything--

Oh, maybe boots for Verla's granddaughters--

Two hours later, as we attempt to leave the store

laden with packages galore,

a loud continuous alarm sounds.

Criminals.

You have to go back to checkout.

Long lines.

Forever.
"We paid for everything," Amy bristles
as we walk back.
Humiliated.
Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh
Duh Duh Duh Duh Duh

Beautiful Brigitte to the rescue.

She grabbed our numerous sacks, scanning

and clearing them

before we could say Jack Robinson.

If not for her, we may be there still.

As it was, her expertise and skill

freed us from Debtor's Prison

in time to make the movie, "Mockingjay".

Her break over, Brigitte returns to work.

After the movie, back at Verla's,

we enjoy delicious Thanksgiving leftovers

and friendship and love

unbounded.

My sisters, my daughter, and me.

Cockles of my Heart

Mr. Nice Guy

We used to call him Mr. America.

He has a perfect physique - all muscle and sinew.

He swims like a demon, stretching at least 45 minutes before.

He said he didn't take up swimming until he was 45.

Now he coaches two high school swim teams as well as the community team.

The only time I have visited with him,

He told me that his wife left him.

He put her through college; she got a job as a Ranger at Red Canyon near Bryce

And she hasn't been home since.
Usually Ed and I are lucky enough to get the first lane at the pool -

The only lane officially designated as a lap swimming lane.

Thursday when we went Mr. America and another strong swimmer

Were swimming in those lanes.

We found another spot and thought nothing of it.

Friday, he stopped me while we were swimming in our usual lanes.

"I'm sorry we took your lanes yesterday.

I tried to get her to give them to you

but she said, 'I was here first.'

I explained to her that Ed likes to swim on the edge

But she wouldn't budge."

"Good for her.  It's fine for us to adapt.

As long as we have a place to swim we are not complaining."

"I really wanted to move for you."

"You are nice.  Thank you."

What a guy.

Mr. America

Mr. Nice Guy

Warms the cockles of my heart.

Other unrelated stories:

I don't know why but I wanted to wear a long skirt to Fine Arts Club.  I know that everyone else wears dress pants or even jeans. I have some blue and orange Chocos that match perfectly my favorite long skirt, also blue and orange; but it is cold and not wanting my feet to freeze, I decide to put on some socks.  Off-white.  "I've got to get out of here before Amy comes home," I tell DeRay, "she'll laugh at me for wearing socks with sandals."  I knew it didn't look the best but I didn't realize how bad until Leta came up to me after the book review and asked me if I'd had foot surgery. I laugh to myself every time I think about it.  I'll never make that mistake again.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do," I say to Ed.

"That's what mothers are for."

"No.  Mothers are useless." 

"USEFUL," he corrects. 

Created to?

     Usually both Fine Arts Club and DUP come in the same week - the third Tuesday and Wednesday of each month.  When I joined, I didn't think about having to fix the luncheon or host at my house or give a history or a book review or be an officer.  Or sit silently during lunch while everyone else is chitchatting. What was I thinking? Just leaving home stresses me, especially when Eddy calls me a gad-about.  On the other hand, I feel utter bliss when I first wake up in the morning and wiggle and twist and stretch - my geriatric yoga, I call it. It makes me smile. I like to play games with Eddy and ride trikes with him; go for short walks with Amy; and close the day watching TV with DeRay.  My best days are when I don't have to go anywhere.  With few exceptions, I wish I were home before I leave even when I'm going to do something I enjoy doing, like swimming.  I remember the last time we went to the British Isles, at the Salt Lake Airport passengers disembarking from the plane were chatting about their wonderful vacation and I almost passed out wishing I were coming instead of going.  And paradise is when we're all home safe and warm.  Was I created to stay home? Is that the essence of it?

BEST FOR ME

I think I wasn't created

for clubs or the things related,

At home stretches, wiggles and twists

are some of my most treasured gifts.

                                                    

It's Friday

It’s Friday, It’s Friday, and no one knows why.

It seems Monday was just yesterday, says I.

The days, months, and the years slip too swiftly by.

Slow down.  Wait up for me. I say with a sigh.

Things left undone all appear to multiply;

So many tasks to complete before I die.

Deepak and Oprah

Today’s meditation addresses our sense of self-worth and its impact on fulfilling our desires. Your true self – your core consciousness, is divine. You are pure light, love, joy, and fulfillment. You deserve happiness and the fulfillment of your desires, because happiness and fulfillment are your essential nature.

This concept thrills me through and through.  Happiness!  Instead of guilt or not good enough or I don’t measure up for some reason or I haven't been called.

I am pure light, love, joy, and fulfillment?
My true self is divine?

NO Dogma

Codes

Commandments

Ceremonies
Organization

Rituals

Questions

Schedules

Arrogance

Hierarchy

Power
Marginalizing

Judgments

Noise?

To experience our inner selves and know our true worth and to become aware that we are deserving of all that is good; that we don’t have to do anything to be deserving – that we are already deserving.

Please sign me up.

Settled

“I don’t know why I’m always running behind,” I bemoan.

“That’s because you’re approaching 80,” Ed resolves.

(He borrowed that phrase from his dad.  Until I put a stop to it and DeRay actually turned 80, he was always using “We’re approaching 80” as an excuse.  “You’re approaching 80,” I insist, “I’m 77.”)

As I ride my trike around the neighborhood in the warm sunshine on November 7, I am listening to “The Wind in the Willow” (a children's novel by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908) .

The River Rat is talking to the Mole:

“Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not.”

That’s me to a T.

The less I have to do the behinder I get.  I’m still stinging over Verla and Amy wondering what I have to do when I complained that I was always behind.  “Behind on what?  What do you have to do?” both my daughter and my sister queried simultaneously.  (Blog “The Behinder I Get” September 19, 2014)

Well –

Listen to the River Rat.  He told me so and that is how I came to know.

Part II.
Other recent wise sayings by Eddy:

“Ed, the dishwasher needs to be unloaded.”

“It’s Election Day.  You know I don’t work on Election Day.”

“I forgot to shave,” DeRay said this morning before gym, “I’ll look like a movie star.”  (They all wear a stubble now – as well as half the men at church.)

“We wanted to become one but it didn’t work out,” Ed said.  

I wonder what he’s referring to.  When did we want to be movie stars?  For sure, it didn’t work out.

     I pass on to Ed that Alison had loved him ever since we went to Russia together.  Next day, he articulates:  “I can’t believe she’s loved me ever since 1993.  I’ve been a world traveler ever since.”  (Besides the year, he could tell you which airline we flew on, which gate, and many more details.)

      “I love this time of year, Mom – with the holidays right around the corner.”  (Anyone else could say that and it wouldn’t seem so grand but when Eddy refused to talk for four years, every idea he expresses thrills the heck outta me.)

      It sprinkles a bit then quits so Ed decides to go on a trike ride.  When I look out and see it is raining, I think, "Oh no! Ed hates the rain.  He doesn't like to get wet.  He's going to come storming home." But he didn't and soon the sun was back out.  As he got ready for bed, he gloated, "That moisture sure felt good today."

 “What do you want for Christmas this year?”  No answer so I start suggesting things.

“We’ve got to have Thanksgiving first,” he grins.  “Did you forget?”

My New Best Friend

I want to make friends with Arthritis.
She has a rather pretty name;
Even though she has a bad reputation.
I don't know why we can't get along;
Hang out together, go to lunch,
Maybe a movie.  Shopping.
We could hike and swim and ride trikes.
Why does she want to hurt me,
Cause me pain?
When I am willing to be her confidant.