I'm Sad

I moved into my house nearly 27 years ago. That first spring I began chatting with a neighbor a few doors down. Doris would often sit on her steps, reading the paper, waiting for family or just getting some air. She was always very pleasant. And interesting to talk with. Up until a month ago she could be found most days having lunch (and sometimes dinner too) at the bar on the corner Yesterday, she passed away. Doris was full of kindness and wisdom and had a truly beautiful soul. I will miss her. Without her the whole tone of my block will change.It simply won't be the same without her presence.

In Life

It’s often the little things that make it worth getting up in the morning. Hey, I admit it. There are occasional days when I’d really rather not bother.

Fortunately today wasn’t one of them. I had a nice long chat with a very dear friend last night and I was still smiling when I woke up this morning. Isn’t it amazing how some people seem to know exactly when to get in touch? Or is it just me that happens to? Hm, perhaps I send out an I-need-you vibe or something. Don’t really know but whatever it is, I’m always happy when it works.

Later on at work, (yep, still smiling with no one knowing quite why which made it even better) I opened my bag of Cold Stone jelly beans. Damn if they don’t taste just like the ice cream! Regina, 35 only have 140 calories so you might want to nab some next time you’re at the store. Trust me, they are so sweet you won’t even eat that many.

In happy writer news, my wonderful editor offered me an Ellora’s Cave contract for Chaos, the second in my Cosmic Connections series. Time for me to get back to work on the third. And I will. Just as soon as the new people who invaded my mind move on. But for now I’m having so much fun playing with them that I hope it’s not too soon.

Recharged

Aren't friends the best?

I was supposed to have dinner with Riley and her husband on Friday night. They were swinging by to pick me up since they were already out and about. When I opened the car door, Riley announced she had a surprise for me. Neeley was with them! Yay!!! After last week it was exactly what I needed. Not that an evening with Riley and her husband alone wouldn't have been fun. They always are but having Neeley there too made it even more so. [A note just for that other child who reads this now and then - When are you coming home to see me? I need snickerdoodles before you're off on your big adventure! And I better hear from you while you're away.]

Then yesterday I spent much of the afternoon with Eva May and her family. It never fails to leave me smiling, hanging out with that crew. What a truly wonderful bunch of individuals they are!

Today I'm home, doing my weekend chores but that's okay. I'll be on-line in while I'm doing them. I'm sure to find my cyber friends at some point so I'll have company. Laundry's not so bad when you're catching up with what's going on around the world.

Yep, friends are the best and life is good.

Take A Moment

When you see some atrocity on the news or read some horrific story in the paper that involves individuals stop and think. Take a moment to honestly think about it. You know there’s always so much more than is reported. Every story has a slew of stories within it. Every individual has a slew of lives connected to theirs. Take a moment and think about them before you judge and criticize.

It’s true that many of the things reported are awful. But, because of everything going on in the background, they’re so much worse than any of us can even begin to imagine. Take a moment and consider all that are affected instead of just spouting off at the snapshot that resulted in the moment being made public.

I have a friend whose life, whose family’s lives, were irrevocably changed today. There’s nothing anyone can ever do to make it right. I ache for her. I wish more than anything I could help. I have all sorts of what if’s and I should have’s and if only’s running through my mind. Too late for that now. All I can do is let her know I’m here, that I care, that I love her and am available whenever she’s ready to reach out no matter how long it takes.

Someday it might be your friend in the news. So next time you hear of some tragic occurrence take a moment. Remember that there’s more to it and open your heart to the unreported victims behind the scenes.

I have the Lopsy Lyles

That's what my dad would have called this severe case of inertia I'm suffering from today. He had all sorts of names for things. I've always suspected he made them up as he went along but if he did, he was good at it. Once a term was used it was repeated with the same meaning.

So what's my problem? Dunno. Maybe I don't have one. Hm, that seems too easy. Maybe I'm bored. Okay, boredom. So change something.

I went outside earlier, actually took out the trash. See? I haven't stopped entirely. I'm still doing necessary chores, just nothing that's good for me. I walked around my yard and looked at all the pretty flowers. For a moment I considered grabbing my gloves and readying the ground for planting annuals next month but then I rejected that notion. I have a month. What's the rush?

I looked in my book room. My neverending project of organizing my books is still stalled. Yep, books and boxes stacked everywhere. No order to anything. Have I mentioned that I have roughly 10,000 books? They don't all fit in the room. The rest are scattered about the attic. One room up there is wall to wall, floor to ceiling bookshelves. The other is storage and yes, most of the boxes have books in them. Surprisingly I have a general idea of what I have. And I do think I could find a particular book, should I ever rediscover the ability to read. In the meantime, why bother sorting through them when I have little interest?

I debated on taking a walk. It's overcast and a bit chilly but the sun pops out occasionally and I do own jackets and sweatshirts. It really is a pretty spring day. Only problem is I don't really feel like going alone and the friend I used to walk with is having personal meltdown and has no time for mundane things such as a walk with me. Nope, no time for a little laughter that could actually improve both our moods. Nope, much better to wallow in a bad situation that doesn't stand a chance of truly improving. Oh, it may look like it but we both know it'll be on the surface only and with no lasting effects. But okay. Delude yourself if you have to. Just don't be surprised to find that I'm not sitting where you left me when you're done.

Okay so maybe I'm not completely inert. Maybe I'm a little mad, or even a lot mad, and that has me too preoccupied to be productive. Oh the other hand, maybe I simply care and being forced into the role of doing nothing when I know my friend is hurting is really bothering me. I put the offer to help however I could out there and that's all I can do at this point. Right?

But I digress. What was my point? Oh yes, the Lopsy Lyles. Seems I have quite a case of them today. I really have to shake them because I'm getting tired of living like this. As you go about your day, please keep one thing in mind. Your actions, no matter how inconsequential they seem, do effect others. Think carefully before acting or speaking. I'm not suggesting you live your life based on others, just that you're aware of how you impact those around you.

Consider Yourself Hugged

This is very old and has been printed often but I still thought it worth sharing with you. Take a moment and think of your friends who mean so much. Then tell them. No matter how self-confident you may be it is still nice to know someone, somewhere thinks highly of you.

A very happy Saturday to all. Thanks for stopping by.

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in VietNam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary"

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists"

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

Life will end one day. We do not know when that one day will be so please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.