Leave Your Mark

From the beginning of time man has left his mark stating, "I was here." It appears in the petroglyphs of Arizona and the cave drawings of France; the pyramids and the Parthenon. The great novel, the unforgettable poem, the timeless painting are all examples of man's wish to be noticed. Once children learn to write, they leave their marks on every available surface---walls, furniture, sidewalks. Graffiti can be observed way too often on the sides of buildings, bridges and even on rail cars. Everybody is saying, "Here I am." What type of mark are YOU leaving for posterity?

Drifting Along

You probably know individuals who live their lives like pieces of driftwood. They just float along aimlessly, following the tide, with no sense of direction. We all need plans and dreams. If they don't turn out as expected, at least we tried. Points must be given for effort---no effort, no points. God put us in charge of our own lives but sometimes we need a prod from above. So if you experience an epiphany, pay attention!

Keep Your Cool

Have you ever noticed that, once you place a leftover in your fridge, you never see it intact again? It seems to go into limbo until the refrigerator regurgitates it sometime in the future. By then it's unrecognizable, having either turned pink or grown a beard. Finding an item in that diabolical appliance is akin to going on a treasure hunt---I know there's a jar of jalapenos in here, we bought sour cream last week, where's the leftover salad ? Creative individuals are coming up with awesome inventions daily but what we really need is a user friendly fridge.

A New Beginning

My DH says that when he first met me, he fell in love with my soul. There's a lot of truth to that. Love is different the second time around, especially if you're a little long in the tooth. Priorities change as we mature. Dreams of the handsome prince give way to finding a comfortable partner. Fantasies of the girl with the hour glass figure are replaced with the woman who cooks your favorite meals. Our first loves will always be in our hearts but there's plenty of room for a new beginning.

School Daze

The kids are back to school; a relief for mothers everywhere and scary as hell for the kindergartners. I remember well my first day of school. (I don't know what I had for lunch yesterday but I can recall that infamous day 65 years ago). My mother and I walked the 10 blocks to school and she deposited me in a huge cave guarded by an old witch. She had wild white hair, a sharp nose and piercing eyes. I was terrified. Then, unbelievably, my mommy left me there! I was deserted in a roomful of crying 5 year olds. What to do? I finally sat down on my rug and waited for things to happen. It didn't take long. As I glanced at the girl next to me, a stream started running from her rug. I was going to be okay---at least I didn't do THAT!

Loved, Wanted and Needed

We had a friend whose motto was, "Everyone is looking to be loved, wanted and needed." He was exactly right. We all need love and acceptance. Being necessary to others gives us a reason to start the day with a smile, and having a loving partner
is the frosting on the cake. It's easy, sometimes, to forget the important people in our lives as we become caught up in the rat race. It's time to get back to basics and be aware that we're here for a reason---to give and receive joy.

A Nice Little Life

My daughter has commented that my DH and I have a "nice little life." She's right; we do. We're fortunate to have the freedom to do what we enjoy, and we have enough---enough income to live comfortably, enough health to participate in activities, enough family and friends to keep us grounded. Most important, we have enough faith to know that life will continue on the other side.

Best Friends

Dogs love us unconditionally. Sure, part of it is the treats and the ear scratching and the long walks, but unlike some people, they appreciate everything you do. Who else greets you with a wagging tail and a million kisses or obsesses over your slipper all day while you're at work? Who else hides under your bed until you come home and goes crazy when you spell w-a-l-k? We could learn a love lesson from our canine friends. Maybe there wouldn't be so many divorces if we'd adopt some of their enthusiasm.

A Corny Practice

The sweet corn is ripe; juicy and succulent. Vendors have sprung up everywhere, selling their wares by the dozen. In the larger cities the carts are manned by salespeople, but in smalltown mid-America, the corn stands alone. A slotted box is placed in the midst of the produce, bearing a sign with instructions. Shoppers bag their own choices and dutifully place the appropriate amount of money in the slot. Trust like that is almost unheard of these days. It's refreshing to know that honesty still exists someplace!

Unsung Heroes

Among the toughest trials we can face is the care of an ill or disabled spouse. It's disheartening, not to mention depressing, to witness your loved one in pain while you are forced to stand by helplessly. Sometimes a cranky, complaining person is difficult to tolerate, but this is the exact time that a soul needs love the most. When one spouse is suffering, the other one hurts also---in a different way---so if you're experiencing a rough patch, be aware that God appreciates your efforts and so does your partner. There are many kinds of heroes; give yourself a pat on the back.

To Eat or Not to Eat

If you've never been on a diet or don't know anyone who has, you must live in a hut in the Amazon. We're assailed daily by images of triple burgers, double tacos, rich desserts, etc., tempting us to pack on the pounds. Then come the pleas from paper-thin models and pseudo doctors to purchase diet aides to take it off! It's a vicious circle---eat a 1000 calorie burger, take a diet pill; eat a pan of brownies, join Nutri-System. It never ends, so just be thankful that you have a choice to pig out or eat responsibly. There are people in the world who don't have that privilege.

Cat Feet

Carl Sandburg wrote, "The fog comes on little cat feet." Well, so does old age. It quietly slips up on you while you're busy living your life. There are times when it's a black panther, taking huge strides. At other times it's a playful kitten, darting back and forth and toying with you. In later years, it becomes a stalking lion, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. So stave off those sneaky cats as long as possible---they'd like to have you for lunch!

Ups and Downs

Life is like a ferris wheel ride---one day you're up and the next day you're down. Sometimes you feel like you're going around in circles and getting nowhere. Keep in mind that you're not alone on this adventure. The price is right, the seats are full and new souls are lining up every day to buy tickets. So enjoy your few minutes on this ferris wheel called Earth. You're in for the time of your life!

Bird Brain

I opened the kitchen window this morning to a nasty surprise. Some dark soul had attempted to steal our concrete bird bath, and since it weighed a ton, dropped it, breaking off several pieces. There's no way the wind blew it over---no tornadoes lately---and Bigfoot doesn't live around here. Do mothers no longer teach their children to respect other people's property? Now our feathered friends are very disappointed in humanity and I don't blame them one iota. Shame! Shame! Shame!

A Horse is a Horse

For one reason or another, some young girls are obsessed with horses. Many become fascinated at 6 or 7 years and it continues into adulthood. Horses are not only intimidating because of their size, huge teeth and swishy tails, but they're expensive and labor intensive. They need to be fed special diets, curried, hooves picked, exercised, bathed, etc, etc,etc. The attraction must be the control over this large beast---turn left, turn right, cantor, jump that fence. Hey, maybe they're just practicing for marriage!

Beauty is as Beauty Does

In my next life, I'd like to be beautiful for a change. It would be fun not to have to use my brain or develop a personality---just get by on looks. I guess I must have been cute as a baby; even little armadillos are adorable. I do have some very attractive granddaughters, however. Of course, they don't believe it. For example, one has the most beautiful shade of red hair---grown women would kill for it---but she constantly streaks and cuts and perms. Another one, a size 3 blue-eyed blonde, complains about her teeth and her eyes and her butt. Last but certainly not least is my first grandchild. She was born beautiful and remains so. The other girls are still too young to change their appearance but they already dictate their outfits. There's a critical eye lurking inside every potential woman. Just remember, girls, beauty is fleeting, but your personality will be with you for life.

Kiss the Cook

There's an unwritten law when it comes to eating and cooking and cleaning up. If you didn't prepare the meal, you're not allowed to complain about the food. If you didn't prepare the meal, you need to do the clean up. My DH has learned the lesson well. He always clears the table and helps with the dishes. If he doesn't like the meal, he's told to fix it himself next time. There's nothing a cook likes less than criticism---"This isn't the way my mom made it, I like my fried potatoes crisper, This meat should have been put in the pressure cooker." Be careful of your comments; you may become the cook!

D-I-V-O-R-C-E

There is no winner in a divorce. The wife who's been pampered for 20+ years suddenly finds that she's responsible for herself. Her days of leisure are over; she needs to go to work for the first time in many years. She discovers that the lazy husband wasn't as lazy as she thought. The weeds don't pull themselves, the toilet doesn't fix itself, the bills aren't automatically paid. The husband who was used to coming home to his family lets himself into an empty house. He learns to cook for himself and do his own laundry. He starts new relationships and fails miserably. He sees his children on a schedule or not at all. Those spoiled children discover that they no longer have a money tree named Dad. The shopping and rock climbing excursions become fewer, it's necessary to work at the barn to pay for the horse's board, the latest electronic items are less accessible. There's always a "deal-breaker" in a relationship but it's an accumulation of the small things that smothers a marriage. Be considerate of your spouse---you'll miss him/her more than you can imagine.

Reach for the Stars

When my DH and I got married, my corsage was made of star lilies. From then on, that was "our flower". We planted them next to our back step and they've always bloomed on our anniversary. The huge star shaped blooms are a deep shade of pink with an awesome spicy fragrance. Since we had a late spring this year, they're 6 weeks late and are just now blooming their little hearts out. What a pleasure to walk out the back door and see such a perfect example of God's handiwork.

The Circle of Life

As we age, the thrill of an upcoming birthday diminishes. Young children can barely wait for the big day to arrive, anticipating the gifts, cake, ice cream etc. Just last week my granddaughter came sailing in, stating, "I can't believe I'm finally five." Five is the first milestone in her life--- she'll be starting school. The next significant birthday will be 13, the threshold of adulthood. Then 21 arrives and she'll think she's invincible and all-knowing. After that it's a downward slide toward birthday number 30, often a traumatic time. Year 40 is considered over the hill (I don't know why) and the 50's---just a hop, skip and jump from old age. Then the 60's appear and the mindset changes. Retirement and Social Security loom on the horizon; not an entirely bad thing. After that, each birthday is a gift and we're back to anticipating another year and bragging about our age. Keep those birthdays coming!

Going Buggy

One winter in AZ I was introduced to a new hobby---rock painting. The desert has the most wonderful flat, smooth rocks just begging to be transformed into lady bugs or turtles or cute little frogs. The first year I must have painted a hundred rocks; brought them home and distributed my buggy creations to unsuspecting friends and relatives. Each year, the rocks continue to entice me and I always paint a few. If I didn't share, our house would be infested with bugs and we'd have to hire an exterminator!

Stay Healthy

Hospitals are wonderful institutions, but if you're the one going under the knife---not so wonderful. It's nice to visit a friend or relative for a few minutes, sympathize with the pain and the poor food and then go home and thank your lucky stars that you're not the one in that bed. Doctors and nurses get younger every day, waiting rooms are modeled after ski lodges, and you need a map or a guide to navigate the maze of hallways. If you don't have insurance, you might as well dig a hole in your back yard and crawl in. On the up side, visitors seem to enjoy the coffee and the cookies are excellent!

Book Report

From the moment I learned to read, I've had a love affair with books. I don't care what they're about, I'll read anything except "Catch 22"---hated it. Books are the perfect companions. They don't talk back, they're always available, they ease loneliness and help us forget our problems. They're less expensive than a psychiatrist; last longer than a movie. Books are meant to be shared, so when I finish one story , I pass it on and immediately begin a new adventure. Both of my husbands have commented, "You always have your nose in a book." Well, I can think of a lot worse places for it!

Leaving Las Vegas

The day after arriving in Las Vegas in the pseudo-taxi, my DH called the garage in Utah to check on our car. Bad news! It needed a new engine. We would be stranded for over a week. A few days later, our hotel reservation expired and the kids had to leave. More bad news! It was Super Bowl weekend---no rooms available. Would we be homeless and carless in Las Vegas? Heaven forbid! Finally, after hearing our hard luck story, we were offered a room at 4 times the rate; we didn't care---it was a bed. By the time day 10 arrived, we'd gambled our butts off, eaten our way through dozens of buffets, and saw every show that would allow us in. Now, how to get back to Utah? An authentic taxi driver offered to drive us for an exhorbitant amount, but since we'd been gambling and losing for over a week, that wasn't an option. So, our last resort was the bus. You haven't experienced the down side of life until you've been in the Las Vegas bus depot at midnight. There were characters I'd never seen before and never want to see again. What a relief when the bus arrived and rescued us. Of course, the Universe wasn't quite finished with us yet. A few miles out of town, a blizzard struck. The bus driver could barely see the road, but as frightening as that was, it wasn't as scary as the bus depot in Las Vegas at midnight. Richman, Utah was beginning to look like a little bit of Heaven.

Las Vegas or Bust

Several years ago, we planned a trip to Las Vegas with our daughter and son-in-law. We had a great time talking, eating, sight seeing, until we reached Utah, where all hell broke loose! The car coughed a couple of times and expired right there at the intersection. It barely restarted and allowed itself to be coaxed into a 24 hour convenience store lot, where we all went in to beg for help. The consensus was that no amount of cough syrup was going to fix that sick car. It was also Saturday night in a small Mormon town, and the sidewalks had already been rolled up. We did manage to get some phone numbers from the clerk and headed for a nearby motel. Vegas was beckoning and we needed a viable plan. I immediately got on the phone and found us a ride with the only taxi in town. The DH had the home number of the lone mechanic and arranged to leave our vehicle in his lot. Bright and early the next morning, a vintage station wagon pulled up. It was definitely not a taxi! The unusual couple in the front seat were definitely not taxi drivers, either. Eventually, the 6 of us, plus our luggage, were crammed in like sardines. We were off! After 300 miles of regaling us with outrageous tales, they opened the sardine can and we escaped. Stay tuned for the "rest of the story".

"Carp"e Deum

How do you make a man happy? Hand him a fishing pole, a 12 pack of Budweiser, a bucket of bait and face him toward a boat. Then tell him to "go fish" for 6 hours. At least that's the way the Annual Carp Tournament works. The plan is to catch as many carp as possible in the time allotted, competing for the longest, the most, the heaviest, etc. Several confident participants placed bets on themselves and went home with a tidy sum. Unfortunately, the carp didn't fare so well. After the weigh-in, they were unceremoniously dumped into a large truck and hauled to a nearby farm to be fed to some hungry hogs. Entertainment for one group is often torture for another.

A Wild Life

When we're at the lake we enjoy sitting on the porch watching the wildlife. A gopher, a miniature marathon runner, sprints by looking for a delectable tidbit. He finds a kernel of popcorn or a cookie crumb or those sweet potato chips that no human will eat. A turtle makes a beeline (turtle style) for the water. He's on a mission and refuses to deviate from his path. A purple martin is attacked by a larger bird and falls to earth in our front yard, a bloody patch appearing on his breast. He crawls under the porch, never to be seen again. One summer a baby bunny took up residence. As I pointed him out to our young granddaughter, she excitedly yelled, "Me see 'um!" Naturally, that immediately became his name----"Has Me-see-um been out this morning?, Slide this lettuce under the porch for Me-see-um, Me-see-um is growing up." Sometimes life is happening right under our feet.

Sunrise, Sunset

We may be in the twilight of our lives, but that doesn't mean we need to sit back and wait for the sun to set. As retirees we can be as active or as passive as we wish. If we allow it, the days will neatly fill themselves---a night out with friends, rock painting with the grandchildren, canning pickles, garage sales---the possibilities are endless. So drag yourself out of bed early some morning and witness the sunrise; then give thanks for another awesome day on Earth.