Tuna Fish Day...
What a beautiful day, and I’m sittin’ here on my bed lookin’ out the window.
My stomach seems to be going ‘round and ‘round like the leaves on the trees.
Nothing is seriously wrong, but I’ll be glad when I feel like going outside. That’s the best part of waking up!
Daughter #5 came over and cooked my breakfast, and in a little while her daughter, who is my granddaughter, of course, will come.
It is “tuna fish day” with Coke, Dr. Pepper and ice cream for dessert. But, the best thing of all is she brings her baby daughter for entertainment! And believe me, she does a good job doing it.
Well, I just looked outside and I see Son #2. He just discovered the small tomatoes he planted have been pecked on by the birds, I guess.
I never knew of that happenin’ before, but I’m sure Mama would have solved the problem some way.
I hope Son #2 plants watermelon and cantaloupe and they grow and grow!
And the next thing I want him to do is make a scarecrow, maybe two or three!
But, I sure don’t want to harm any birds, and I like havin’ butterflies as visitors.
As I was saying, what a beautiful day!

The View From Here

Summer vacations...
I remember when summer meant a trip with my mom and dad to Galveston, or to Arkansas. They loved water, so we always headed towards it when money would allow. There was no place exotic on our agenda, just days of endless sunshine and simple pleasures. Those trips still bring back some of my most favorite of memories.
It was not the norm for simple folk to jump on a plane and fly someplace, and I was in my 20s before I ever flew anywhere. Now families just fly all over the place, so I guess kids will grow up with higher expectations of where they arrive.
But as for me, I want to pack less, travel light, and find simple joy every day. Lugging a big suitcase around can give you more than one kind of headache, and with airlines charging for them, it is wise to downsize.
Be adventurous when traveling. Sometimes the most memorable places you will visit come from taking a side street or venturing down an alley, or following a path to the river’s edge. If your summer plans do not include an exotic location, discover a nearby town. Sample the foods, unwind in the quaint shops, and discover the things that are close to your own backyard.
While on vacation, practice a random act of kindness every day. Push the elevator button for somebody whose hands are full of packages, or help somebody up a flight of stairs or pathway with uneven ground. Put your change into a charity box, and pick up something somebody else drops and give them a smile. Offer to share your umbrella, and sweep your mind clean of preconceived notions. Random acts of kindness require very little effort but pay big dividends.
Sit under a big tree and make a ten-point list of what is important to you. Millions of people live their entire life without a sense of purpose. Make your list detailed, and qualify your list. If you put family first, then explain that you want to eat meals together, go to movies, work on chores together, and understand the dreams of others. If you know what things are of importance to you, choices will be easier.
A vacation is a good time to reflect and understand what you want your life to be about. It does not matter if you are just starting out, or have lived most of your days already. If you have some life left, then knowing what you want to do, and clarifying what will give you peace and happiness will be worthwhile. At the end of your life, it is good to look back and know you gave it your best shot. We all make lots of mistakes, but is it okay to move your life forward. It is not okay to stay stagnant and be unmovable because it is how things have always been.
Use your summer vacation to make your world better by resolving to speak thoughtfully and carefully to others, or do not speak at all. With a little effort you can retrain your impulse to blurt out commonly used negative words and phrases in your speech in favor of using positive words that are carefully chosen and thoughtfully offered. Don’t criticize, stop your impulse to say something nobody wants to hear. If you speak caringly and carefully you will inspire greatness from others.
So, as the summer spreads out before you, realize you do not have to be going anywhere to have a vacation. Happiness really can be found in your own spirit and in your own backyard. Inhale and slowly exhale, and feel your own lungs expand. Be thankful for your life, and for all your summer opportunities.

Surviving those Golden Years...
Two women in the family have worked with the elderly and enjoyed it. Another has difficulty even hugging me bye. We use those European air motions. Sometimes I jump up and down. I don’t know if anyone (yes, one would) would rub my feet if I asked. I don’t enjoy shaking hands anymore because of germ theories. I’d rather lightly hug. My point is, those of us past the age of 70 must work at making the fewest people mad at us, if we are to survive.
A few weeks ago, I went to a rummage sale, wanted $15 in items but had no checkbook or money. A friend, at the cashbox, said not to worry. She wrote an IOU, signed my name, and the next time at a meeting I told her I had the money. “What money?” She said. She didn’t remember writing a note.
Well, maybe she didn’t, but the treasurer of the affair did not know what I was talking about either. “Just put the money in the till,” she said. I did, explained why to someone, and went on. Later, the first friend said she now remembered the IOU and was embarrassed to have forgotten.
“Don’t worry,” I said, “look who you are talking to, the master of mubbleygook, and besides three people said they didn’t remember the rummage sale at all.
We all have to stay together in a group; then we’ll feel better about ourselves, and no one will look at us with concern or pity. As I left, I heard the friend mumble, “Why is this time called the Golden Age?”
Since presently my peers live in their homes wondering “for how long,” we must interchange with the younger like the working groups, grown children, neighbors, and so forth. With a little cooperation, my life could be so much better.
Numbers. I have a phone prefix of 778. But my banking account has a 788 in it, and a company responsible for the TV, phone, and internet has a prefix of 788. This is confusing.
Many of our acquaintances have eliminated land phones and gone with cell phones, one for each family member. As soon as I have some memorized, the cell-phone user changes companies. There is no list of cell phone numbers anywhere. I think the message is clear. “You don’t call us. We’ll call you.”
Marketing Phone calls. Lists of people with characteristics are sold for high dollars to companies who send junk mail or call. These lists are not accurate, are not always truthful, and are annoying. “Do we have supplemental health insurance? Is it tied to our reirement?” I don’t have to answer that.
“We have life insurance for you, and you can’t be turned down.” Not with three-bypass heart surgery, husband with diabetes and major back surgery?” Just for fun, I applied once. The returning letter said “No” in such a nice way and waste of paper.
Why does a telemarketer call late at night, a nice, normal personal voice to ask for my husband by first name, and scare us silly. I know the answer. It gets our attention. I awakened hubby, and he answered in fear.We have family in that area code. It was someone with a warranty program for a Pontiac we haven’t had in a decade.
Even if we did, we would not want what is usually a worthfless extended warranty. If we have the money to buy an appliance, a machine, or something for the house, there will be no funds for extra warranties. Let us live dangerously.
Investment calls. Someone else knows what we need to do to survive this meeny-getting-bigger recession. I asked the caller, “Do you personally think I should remortage my home with two years left to pay on it? He said “No.”
Callers who blurt out, “Call this number immmediately” and rattle off ten numbers without any rhythm. I have nothing to write with but an eye-brown pencil, and I only remember the last two numbers. The caller is a robot; there’s not going to be a repeat.
My favorite caller is the one with a short intro, then the whistle of a cruise liner blowing loudly in my ear and a professional voice telling me how much fun I can have on this cruise; all the while I’m wondering if I’ll be left with enough money this month to buy a graduation present.
My phone has space for the number calling and the caller. The caller is usually “Unknown” or “Texas Call.” If the caller knows my name and number, but I don’t know his, I don’t believe I’ll answer unless I’m lonesome and want to pour out all my problems to a complete stranger.
Of course, if you are on the other end, needing an address or number of the company working on your four-wheeler in another town, good luck.
Why at the grocery store, can’t agers have their amounts rounded off, and the change go into a Medicare fund. My change is everywhere. I drop it. People behind offer to give me the change. They wonder why I am out in public. And of course, I am going to drive too slow once I head home. My theory is if bad happens, going 55 mph should keep trouble lessened.
If someone in the family borrows my car, why do they return it on empty and change all my radio choices? And finally, (I must stop somewhere less I’m thought cranky) those three-hour waits in a room for an appointment must go. Parts of me become paralyzed or begin itching, or what if I take a nap and snore?
Golden Age. Yes, there are joyous times of no responsibiity, no major event to run, children who can cook, but those giving us services seem to deserve the title unless we happen to have one tooth filled with gold. The Golden Age for those over 70 is really Survival Time by Making the Fewest Number Dislike Us.