In Search of Reasons to Celebrate

Labor Day falls on September 2 this year. The whole country gets a day off to rest or run; the choice is theirs. It was a labor day of a different kind 65 years ago in a tiny village in Germany. It’s still a tiny village, by the way. My mother labored a long time to give birth to a 13 pound girl (yes, you read that right) at home, with no anesthesia. She remembered nothing of that day and it took me awhile to understand why. Mom was a 2 pound baby, incubated in the oven at home and was never supposed to be able to have children. The four of us sure made a liar out of the doctor who told her that.

Main street. You can see beginning to end.

No motel or grocery, just a bar and convenience market. They sure are a friendly bunch though.

Why celebrate turning 65? That’s just getting old. Well after my birthday, I get Medicare. I have had no health coverage since my divorce a couple of years ago. Not that I need it, but it’s like car insurance, nice to have just in case. The other reason I celebrate is that I’m still here among the living and loving. My first husband only made it to 42. I’m grateful for each and every minute of pain and pleasure. I plan to celebrate big time…for me.

My daughter is taking me to my favorite German restaurant, Gustav’s, where after months and months of a very strict diet, I’m going to indulge in a good German beer, pretzel and cheese fondue, followed with a dinner I will probably end up taking home and topped off with their famous apple strudel. That’s MY idea of celebrating.

Is your mouth watering?

I have other reasons to celebrate. I’ve exceeded my weight loss goal by more than enough to indulge one day. It’s not easy by any means but I’m feeling sooo much better everyday as well. I think the Bells Palsy is improving as I’m needing the cane less and less for balance.

Another reason to celebrate is that this is my 100th post. I mainly post once a week unless fatigue overtakes me. Life is pretty simple for me and I want to keep my posts remotely interesting. As healing progresses, so will the variety of my writing. I’m still two months shy of my two-year blogiversary. Every time I get a bit discouraged, someone comes for a visit to my site and leaves an encouraging comment. Thank you all for reading and adding so much to my life. Each of you are treasures.

How and what are you celebrating this fine day of no labor?

If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend.~ Doug Larson

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself.

In Search of the Horse and Buggy

There are days we long for simpler times, if indeed they were simpler. The last few months have been nothing but one car repair after another for my daughter. It’s hard to explain to someone with a budget so tight it squeals, that if you don’t fix it now, it’s going to cost you twice later. Where does that leave you?

It started with lower ball joints and all that affected. $900. Had to be done or the car would fall apart on the interstate and tie up the morning or afternoon commute. It was in dire condition. Mom (me) fronted the cost so she could keep working. Because daughter had waited so long to get a necessary alignment done, the calipers, brakes and rotors were totally gone. That wasn’t cheap either. Another $1000 down the drain just as she was gleefully starting to pay me back for the last repairs. She pulled out of the bay at Sears automotive and got to the signal to turn onto a major road when the car died, twice, then wouldn’t start again.

It’s still pretty for a 1997 Olds Bravada.

Sears tried to help but couldn’t figure it out. Tow truck time. I had just signed us up for AAA the month before. Took 2 tow trucks because they couldn’t get the car out of gear and it’s all-wheel drive. So across the street to the next shop. It was the ignition and wiring. That was another $657. She had to whip out her credit card.

Then came tires and finally an alignment. All in less than six months. Last Thursday, as she was filling her tank and taking the car through the car wash, the driver’s side electric mirror fell off. They had to back her out of the wash. She called and cried. Does this sound like anything you’ve experienced? So she borrowed my car to get to work while trying to figure out the next step. Guess what happened next? Daughter ran over a nail somewhere and had to get my tire patched. Four days later, I ran over a screw and had to get another tire patched.

The offending mirror all new and shiny.

Thinking about the good old days of horses and buggy’s was sounding pretty good. Till you start adding up feed costs, vet bills, blacksmith for shoes and wood wheels in need repair or replacement. Then there is the dust you had to eat not even mentioning the heat or cold. My daughter’s car no longer has working AC. That would be another $600. It’s not so easy for some to just go and buy a newer car or to replace the cost of a horse and buggy.

Can you see the residue from the duct tape that held the broken one on?

She would love to do something where she didn’t need to commute, but right now the ideas aren’t jumping out at any of us. She talks wistfully of the day she can utilize the proper application of high explosives on her nemesis. (i.e. the car)
We all want to drive less and not be involved in a commute. Many of us are looking for the simple life and hers really can’t get much simpler. She doesn’t have TV and she’s living in 400 sq. ft. How do we get back to the horse and buggy days? Do we even want to?

I saw an ad for the new electric car. Sounds wonderful but it’s going to run a minimum of $70,000. How many do you want? I’ll take three.

Our vote is for gratitude for the old clunker for now. Lets hope next week is kinder on the budget. Is there an easy fix for this kind of problem?

Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners. ~ E. Joseph Cossman

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself

In Search of an Old Crone

What is an old crone and why on earth would anyone search for one? According to Wikipedia this is the definition:

The crone is a stock character in folklore and fairy tale, an old woman. In some stories, she is disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructing. The Crone is also an archetypal figure, a Wise Woman. She is marginalized by her exclusion from the reproductive cycle, and her proximity to death places her in contact with occult wisdom. As a character type, the crone shares characteristics with the hag.

This woman taught me lessons in overcoming adversity.

I personally like the Wise Woman definition since I have not quite reached hag status. As a young woman, I found that all my friends were my mother’s age. I had a few that were my age but by and large, I was drawn to the more mature woman in any room. I found so many held a wealth of knowledge and I wanted to learn everything they would share with me. Many of us that were not well mothered, including my own mother, have searched out other women in the world to fill in the gaps in our educations. My dear Aunt Lucille was the first of many crones in my life. I sucked in her wisdom like a bone dry sponge. These other two women came along much later.

This one taught me to have a sense of humor and not sell yourself out.

It now appears I have reached that crone status. A young woman less than half my age asked me to join her for coffee. We spent two hours over our drinks chatting about many subjects. Most of those were of a more personal nature than I expected. At first I thought it would be a one-time experience but the request to repeat the coffee klatch was extended and I was honored. With the honor comes great responsibility. When you share what life has taught you, you must remember that no one else will experience life the way you have. There are no absolutes, just possibilities. I have been gifted with an ability to see life from various angles rather than black and white. Maybe that’s what makes me an old crone.

Do you know they even have a magazine for crones?
http://cronemagazine.com/

Also a website for women of wisdom. They are not always the same thing.
http://womenofwisdom.com/

It looks as though I have come full circle. I still often search out older, wiser women. We old crones need to step up for the younger generation like they did for us. I’m only crotchety some of the time, I promise.

Do you have a crone in your life or are you one for someone?

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself

In Search of the Next

Complete wellness is still eluding me though I can sense its timid, incremental approach. It toys with me, knowing I have no patience for my illness and debilitation. I have since found only one other, blogging about Bells Palsy and they are into months, not years like I am. I may have scared this person, as I was when first hearing of someone with Bells for over five years.

When I am having a good day and feeling quite spry, I try to find things that are enjoyable to do. This week I had a project that needed to be done. My ex-daughter-in-law is having a birthday at the end of the month so I ordered a couple of Chicken Soup books about cats. But to do something more personal I decided to embroider a kitchen towel for her. I had a batch that I bought wholesale and had one left. The rest had already become gifts.

before washing and pressing

more of the proportion of design.

Then I had a towel that I bought somewhere that looked like it might work for embroidery so I tried my hand at doing one for myself. The teapot in the middle is a tiny scrap of fabric. That’s why I throw nothing away. When living in Arizona, our quilt guild made dog & cat beds for the animal shelter in out small town using scrap fabric for the stuffing. There was no money for the shelter to buy beds so we used up lots of unwanted fabric and made stacks and stacks of them.

I almost forgot to put that tiny piece of fabric over the teapot. I get to choose the colors.

Once the towels were complete, it was time to move on to a birthday card. Looking through my design stash on my computer, I found one that would work. I’ve never done it before so why not give it a shot. I would only be tossing out cardstock, a piece of stabilizer and some thread if it didn’t work. I printed the birthday sentiment inside the card then centered it in the hoop with a bit of temporary adhesive. I have to admit, I did sweat a bit, but it turned out well enough to send. Something different from the norm.

Not perfect but a great first try at something different.

I finally got everything wrapped and mailed so now I sit here wondering what my next project will be. Christmas is always a challenge for me, as I like to make most of my gifts that aren’t books. I have done embroidered t-shirts for my kids and a gift wrappers apron for my daughter that I really need a picture of soon. I don’t think I have the energy yet for quilts but that could still happen. They take me so long to do since I tire easily still.

Do you try to plan your projects ahead or just go with the flow? What’s next on your agenda? Any ideas you want to pass on I’d appreciate.

“I feel like every project I work on is a dream project, so long as I am learning.”
― Simeon Kondev

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself

In Search of Snippets

I have been struggling to find topics I want to share even though there is plenty going on. Some things are just not that interesting to others. You know what I mean. It’s when someone wants to tell you something that has been happening for them and it sounds like “waa, waa, waa” to your ears.

Last weekend my sister came to visit bringing her daughter and a friend. After a good visit, she wanted to go out for a light dinner. So we headed to Sweet Tomato’s, where we could each get what we liked. They went through the line first and I followed up the rear. After I paid for my meal, my sister returned to help me with my tray even though there is always someone working there who offers. Trays are awkward with the cane. She whispered that she had set us beside some interesting people.

As we started to approach our table in that very crowded restaurant, a group came directly at me with no way to go around. All I saw was an older woman with very white hair extending out from around her head in halo form, come face to face with me. She smiled and then reached up to me, planting a kiss right on my lips. Her face radiated pure joy in the most glowing, ethereal way. Her son, apparently, right behind her looked uncomfortable. She said something I do not remember but it spoke of happiness to see everyone. I looked at her and felt nothing but love so I offered a full hug. She was delighted to accept and I was warmly embraced. We stopped traffic for several moments. Her son thanked me, but I was the one who benefitted.

Apparently, she had Alzheimer’s. As my sister had pointed out, we were sitting right next to them. I’m sure she gave her family much to be concerned with, but, she left me with a different perspective on the noisy crowd that day. Through her eyes, I could delight in all the excitement of each moment watching everyone sharing their meals. She was looking at everything with such childlike delight and joy. I felt bathed in that Angelic light of love and joy. I basked in it for several days and still get overwhelmed at the memory of the experience.

Delightful moments come when you are least expecting them. I wish I could have taken a photo of her but I was too close and it would have probably caused some anxiety for her family. These are the snippets of life that secret their way to you, reminding you to appreciate the good with the difficult. Have you had snippets of joy when you weren’t expecting them? I certainly wish them for you.

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself