I just had to get that out of my system! Now, that’s better. Okay, I was really ready for my girls to start back to school today. I’m ready to reclaim my house – I’m sorry, but it’s MY space during the day. Most of the time I’m here ALONE, just me, two dogs and three cats, and while that's a lot of critters, they DO NOT TALK BACK. And usually, they don’t drag out EVERYTHING DAMN THING they own and leave it in the middle of the floor. They also don’t leave TV’s blaring all night long; or invite tons of friends in to eat chips and salsa; leave empty Coke cans everywhere; or leave their Wave-Board in the driveway. They don't write with sidewalk chalk everywhere; or find a boyfriend who has a hollow leg. (Sound familiar Mom?); or get mad because I dare ask "Where are you going in that spiffy blue car"? The critters and I, we have a workable arrangement, you know what I'm saying??
Now, I know Nelson sometimes forgets and has a little accident in the floor. Neither Syd nor Rea do that (that I know of). And every now and then he invites Scout and Trooper in through the pet door, but they don’t stay long, and they NEVER have chips and salsa.
I’m not much on the reptilian gifts that Oscar is so fond of and the southern short tailed shrew (Google it) that someone brought in last week was seen briefly, but has never been found. There have been two partial frog carcasses in the last three weeks, (I think they were a love offering from Vivi). But I'm willing to overlook that because, overall the felines just don't cause me that much trouble -a little hair here, an accident there and their attitudes are GREAT!!
And, Shelley, bless her heart, (it’s the South I have to say that), smells so bad anymore, that it’s becoming difficult to give her affection, but she's happy and she NEVER talks back!
And the whole menagerie, always loves me, no matter what!
But then came Monday, I had to drop Rea off for Sixth Grade orientation. I watched her walk up to the principal and introduce herself and I had a little lump in my throat. And as I pulled away I cried. I came home to MY SPACE, with my menagerie, and I thought: "Where in the world did time go? How is is that my baby is starting middle school?"
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
A trip to the doggie spa...
Today was spa day for Shelley and Nelson – they go every two weeks for their beauty treatments. Looking beautiful and smelling nice isn’t high on their list of priorities, Shelley particularly thinks going to Sadie’s Snips is something akin to torture.
Sadie’s Snips is located in the neighborhood just next to ours and when the weather is nice we take Shelley and Nelson there on the golf cart. They both LIVE to ride on Danny’s lovely, red cart and somehow the humiliation of being bathed, groomed and pampered just seems a little less if you get to ride there and back on the CART!
So late this afternoon, Shelley and Nelson were ready, they were finally beautiful and much better smelling and Rea and I ran over to collect them.
Rea is learning to drive the golf cart, and while there were a couple of incidents this morning when I sucked air through my teeth, the trip this afternoon was quite uneventful; she did a really good job. She parked RIGHT in front (where I told her to); right there by the gate and in we went. And boy, was everybody HAPPY to see us!
We got all of our business, tail wags, licks and greetings out of the way and I went out and sat down in the passenger side of the golf cart. Rea was going to pilot us home, but she was trying to wrangle Nelson. Shelley still had some other “business “ to finish and when she was done she hopped up into the floor of the golf cart and…PLOPPED her PLUS SIZED Sheltie self onto the accelerator!
Shelley and I went from zero to TOP GOLF CART SPEED in a nanosecond and went STRAIGHT through the gate of a wood privacy fence. We ripped that sucker COMPLETELY OFF THE HINGES! All I could do was scream “OH! OH!, OH!” Rea hung onto the side of the cart DRAGGING HER FEET trying to stop it!!
Once we slammed into the fence it knocked Shelley off of the accelerator – otherwise I don’t know where we would have ended up! Poor Millie the boxer, was inside the fence, she will probably be marred for life. That dog was some kind of upset!
And sadly, Danny’s beautiful, candy-apple red golf cart is no longer pristine. It is imperfect. It has been fouled. It is blemished. It is scratched, the headlight is broken, a cowling is cracked, a fender is scratched and the windshield is marred.
But you know the wonderful part? I DIDN’T DO IT! THE DAMN DOG DID!
Sadie’s Snips is located in the neighborhood just next to ours and when the weather is nice we take Shelley and Nelson there on the golf cart. They both LIVE to ride on Danny’s lovely, red cart and somehow the humiliation of being bathed, groomed and pampered just seems a little less if you get to ride there and back on the CART!
So late this afternoon, Shelley and Nelson were ready, they were finally beautiful and much better smelling and Rea and I ran over to collect them.
Rea is learning to drive the golf cart, and while there were a couple of incidents this morning when I sucked air through my teeth, the trip this afternoon was quite uneventful; she did a really good job. She parked RIGHT in front (where I told her to); right there by the gate and in we went. And boy, was everybody HAPPY to see us!
We got all of our business, tail wags, licks and greetings out of the way and I went out and sat down in the passenger side of the golf cart. Rea was going to pilot us home, but she was trying to wrangle Nelson. Shelley still had some other “business “ to finish and when she was done she hopped up into the floor of the golf cart and…PLOPPED her PLUS SIZED Sheltie self onto the accelerator!
Shelley and I went from zero to TOP GOLF CART SPEED in a nanosecond and went STRAIGHT through the gate of a wood privacy fence. We ripped that sucker COMPLETELY OFF THE HINGES! All I could do was scream “OH! OH!, OH!” Rea hung onto the side of the cart DRAGGING HER FEET trying to stop it!!
Once we slammed into the fence it knocked Shelley off of the accelerator – otherwise I don’t know where we would have ended up! Poor Millie the boxer, was inside the fence, she will probably be marred for life. That dog was some kind of upset!
And sadly, Danny’s beautiful, candy-apple red golf cart is no longer pristine. It is imperfect. It has been fouled. It is blemished. It is scratched, the headlight is broken, a cowling is cracked, a fender is scratched and the windshield is marred.
But you know the wonderful part? I DIDN’T DO IT! THE DAMN DOG DID!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Something to Celebrate!
Dang girl, when did you get so old???
Today, Leana, my niece turns the big number SEVEN!
I hope she has had the most MAGNIFICENT, AWESOME, WONDERFUL, MAGICAL, GLORIOUS, SPECTACULAR, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, EXCITING Birthday EVER!
Happy Number Seven Leana – I love you very much…
Sunday, July 27, 2008
More Changes
Today was our second Sunday at church since New Guy started, and frankly we wouldn’t have gone at all except Rea was on the schedule as an acolyte. We didn’t get our act together in time to get someone to take her place; so we got ready and went at 10:00.
Things were very different this morning, our sanctuary is being renovated, so church was held in the gym of the Family Center and there will only be one service until the sanctuary is completed. I liked that part – all of the early people were there, all of the late people were there, a complete church. Sometimes it’s as if we are two separate churches, early people/late people and never the twain shall meet. We also sang several old, songs this morning (more than usual). I can’t remember the names of all of them, I lost my bulletin, but my formerly Southern Baptist husband was blown away by the fact that we sang the first and last stanzas of songs this morning – a Methodist no-no with previous pastors.
New Guy was shoeless again today. Basic black, Gold Toe socks only. You see, he said on his first Sunday that our sanctuary was “holy ground” and that he wants to respect it and all of those who came before him and by not wearing his shoes in there he is being respectful. I understand, (I suppose) how, the old, historic sanctuary might be “holy ground”; I’m just not with him on the church gym thing – that’s got me just a wee bit puzzled. And if the sanctuary is such “holy ground” why isn’t everybody barefooted?
New Guy preached today. Then he PREACHED some more. Then he PREACHED and PREACHED for THIRTY. MINUTES. Now, I know other denominations are used this, but we are not, we are spoiled, we are used to a 10 minute or possibly a 15 minute message, then things are tied up nicely with the Benediction and we go on our way with hearts “strangely warmed”!
So back to Rea and her acolyte duty, she and her partner had done a good job, their candles lit well and they took their seats. After New Guy had PREACHED for an eternity, new people transferred their memberships; Rea and J got up to extinguish their candles and were standing facing the congregation waiting for the Benediction. The postlude has begun, New Guy is still talking, they have taken a few steps toward the back and then he just says “YOU CAN GO NOW!” NO: Let The Lord bless you and keep you. NO: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. NO: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. NO: Amen.
And everyone just swarms out of their seats and overwhelms Rea and the other acolyte. They are standing there holding long, FLAMING brass sticks and I am horrified. I have visions of some little old ladies hair going up in flames! Thankfully Rea and J had the presence of mind to blow their flames out, I was really proud of them!
I guess the part of where an acolyte is supposed to take the light of Jesus Christ out into the world where believers are called to serve just didn’t happen today.
And all God’s people said AMEN!
Things were very different this morning, our sanctuary is being renovated, so church was held in the gym of the Family Center and there will only be one service until the sanctuary is completed. I liked that part – all of the early people were there, all of the late people were there, a complete church. Sometimes it’s as if we are two separate churches, early people/late people and never the twain shall meet. We also sang several old, songs this morning (more than usual). I can’t remember the names of all of them, I lost my bulletin, but my formerly Southern Baptist husband was blown away by the fact that we sang the first and last stanzas of songs this morning – a Methodist no-no with previous pastors.
New Guy was shoeless again today. Basic black, Gold Toe socks only. You see, he said on his first Sunday that our sanctuary was “holy ground” and that he wants to respect it and all of those who came before him and by not wearing his shoes in there he is being respectful. I understand, (I suppose) how, the old, historic sanctuary might be “holy ground”; I’m just not with him on the church gym thing – that’s got me just a wee bit puzzled. And if the sanctuary is such “holy ground” why isn’t everybody barefooted?
New Guy preached today. Then he PREACHED some more. Then he PREACHED and PREACHED for THIRTY. MINUTES. Now, I know other denominations are used this, but we are not, we are spoiled, we are used to a 10 minute or possibly a 15 minute message, then things are tied up nicely with the Benediction and we go on our way with hearts “strangely warmed”!
So back to Rea and her acolyte duty, she and her partner had done a good job, their candles lit well and they took their seats. After New Guy had PREACHED for an eternity, new people transferred their memberships; Rea and J got up to extinguish their candles and were standing facing the congregation waiting for the Benediction. The postlude has begun, New Guy is still talking, they have taken a few steps toward the back and then he just says “YOU CAN GO NOW!” NO: Let The Lord bless you and keep you. NO: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. NO: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. NO: Amen.
And everyone just swarms out of their seats and overwhelms Rea and the other acolyte. They are standing there holding long, FLAMING brass sticks and I am horrified. I have visions of some little old ladies hair going up in flames! Thankfully Rea and J had the presence of mind to blow their flames out, I was really proud of them!
I guess the part of where an acolyte is supposed to take the light of Jesus Christ out into the world where believers are called to serve just didn’t happen today.
And all God’s people said AMEN!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
'Tis a Gift...
I’d like to share something today that truly touched my heart.
The Father –in-Law of a dear friend is facing some tough medical challenges and is in the hospital following surgery. She and her young daughter went for a brief visit today to check up on Pappy.
As they stepped out of the room following their visit, my friend could see her husband, Pappy’s Son, coming down the hallway toward her. Swinging at his side was a large, metal bucket and she could not figure out what in the world he was doing in the hospital with this BIG, METAL, BUCKET.
You see, Pappy has a small garden that he loves to piddle in. He especially enjoys growing tomatoes and peppers; he always seems to have extras to give away (I like that part). This hospital stay coincided with the ripening of his first tomatoes of the season. Son didn’t want him missing out on that – so, he went out and picked them all, then loaded them up in a bucket and brought them to him in the hospital. (He also remembered to include small paper bags for giving the tomatoes away).
Those first tomatoes of the season are now lined up on the windowsill of the hospital like beautiful bouquets - prettier than any flower. Pappy can enjoy their beauty and share them too, just like always.
Such a simple gesture, but can you think of anything sweeter?
The Father –in-Law of a dear friend is facing some tough medical challenges and is in the hospital following surgery. She and her young daughter went for a brief visit today to check up on Pappy.
As they stepped out of the room following their visit, my friend could see her husband, Pappy’s Son, coming down the hallway toward her. Swinging at his side was a large, metal bucket and she could not figure out what in the world he was doing in the hospital with this BIG, METAL, BUCKET.
You see, Pappy has a small garden that he loves to piddle in. He especially enjoys growing tomatoes and peppers; he always seems to have extras to give away (I like that part). This hospital stay coincided with the ripening of his first tomatoes of the season. Son didn’t want him missing out on that – so, he went out and picked them all, then loaded them up in a bucket and brought them to him in the hospital. (He also remembered to include small paper bags for giving the tomatoes away).
Those first tomatoes of the season are now lined up on the windowsill of the hospital like beautiful bouquets - prettier than any flower. Pappy can enjoy their beauty and share them too, just like always.
Such a simple gesture, but can you think of anything sweeter?
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
A Meme
What were you doing 10 years ago?
Wow, how your life changes…I was living in Mount Juliet and still working at Deloitte. Our girls were six and barely two, and Syd still loved Rea in those days. We had a wonderful nanny, Betty, who stayed with our girls while I worked and she was like a grandmother to them. We still miss her.
Favorite Snacks
Dove Chocolate
Chocolate Covered Raisins
Olives
Chex Party Mix
To Do List
I keep a To-Do list on a steno pad and I even write things on it that I’ve ALREADY done just so I can mark them off.
I still have the same Bosca calendar that I’ve had since I was pregnant with Rea (so it’s nearly twelve years old). I just buy new refills for it each year..You can only write in it in PENCIL – no INK allowed! Danny bought me a Palm Pilot once and I used it for a while, but I really missed the pencil to paper action of my calendar!
Places I Have Lived
Kentucky
Tennessee
Bad Habits
Not planning my meals and then eating a candy bar
Talking more than I listen
Not using sunscreen
Impatience
Caffeine
5 Random Things People May Not Know
Is there anything left?
I like to sleep with the TV on.
I am not afraid of bugs, frogs or spiders.
I check the last page of books when I am reading them to see how it turns out.
CDs I would want if stranded on an island:
Ronnie Milsap
Three Dog Night
Jimmy Buffett
Bonnie Raitt
Selection of Classical stuff
What I'd Do if I Were a Billionaire:
Buy a beach house
Pay off loved ones and friends debts
Give money to my church
Give money to medical research
Set up trust funds for my children
Anybody else want to play?
Wow, how your life changes…I was living in Mount Juliet and still working at Deloitte. Our girls were six and barely two, and Syd still loved Rea in those days. We had a wonderful nanny, Betty, who stayed with our girls while I worked and she was like a grandmother to them. We still miss her.
Favorite Snacks
Dove Chocolate
Chocolate Covered Raisins
Olives
Chex Party Mix
To Do List
I keep a To-Do list on a steno pad and I even write things on it that I’ve ALREADY done just so I can mark them off.
I still have the same Bosca calendar that I’ve had since I was pregnant with Rea (so it’s nearly twelve years old). I just buy new refills for it each year..You can only write in it in PENCIL – no INK allowed! Danny bought me a Palm Pilot once and I used it for a while, but I really missed the pencil to paper action of my calendar!
Places I Have Lived
Kentucky
Tennessee
Bad Habits
Not planning my meals and then eating a candy bar
Talking more than I listen
Not using sunscreen
Impatience
Caffeine
5 Random Things People May Not Know
Is there anything left?
I like to sleep with the TV on.
I am not afraid of bugs, frogs or spiders.
I check the last page of books when I am reading them to see how it turns out.
CDs I would want if stranded on an island:
Ronnie Milsap
Three Dog Night
Jimmy Buffett
Bonnie Raitt
Selection of Classical stuff
What I'd Do if I Were a Billionaire:
Buy a beach house
Pay off loved ones and friends debts
Give money to my church
Give money to medical research
Set up trust funds for my children
Anybody else want to play?
Monday, July 21, 2008
Changes
This picture is from a postcard of our church – the card is postmarked 1943. I found this card on eBay one day while playing around, and I fell in love with it instantly, just like I fell in love with our church when we moved here eight years ago.The deed for the property to our church dates prior to the Civil War. The current sanctuary was completed in 1889 and has dark gothic style beams that stretch possibly forty feet to their peak; they are adorned with curls and knobs, all probably hand-crafted. A row of stained glass windows run down the south wall and on beautiful Sunday mornings, the sun shines in just a bit – not too much, and it’s wonderful to see. I love to sit there during service and wonder about all of the people who have worshipped there before me, about the beautiful brides who have nervously walked down the aisle or about the tearful families that have sent their loved ones home.
Since we are Methodist, part of the ebb and flow of church life is a new pastor every few years. Bro. Jim had been with our church nine years; a long time for a Methodist pastor, and the entire time that we have been members. But it was time for Jim to move on, so now we have New Guy – and New Guy is not a Pastor. He’s a PREACHER. And New Guy grew up a different flavor than Methodist and you can hear it in his tone, cadence and pitch. New Guy wants to PREACH to you from the pulpit, and PREACH from the steps, and PREACH from the other side, and back to the pulpit to PREACH some more! WITH NO SHOES ON (Gold Toe socks only, thank you very much).
So, quite frankly, I’m ebbing right now. This New Guy - he and Jim are like comparing apples and oranges, oil and water, loud and soft. I know that I shouldn’t be basing my church and spiritual life on one person, it’s not New Guy’s job, I have ownership too, but this transition has really put me in a funk!
I want the quiet back, the thought provoking sermon, the stillness, the gentleness, the kindness. I felt that Jim was truly a pastor, or shepherd to his “flock”, he was there guiding us with a kind word and a gentle touch and a word of prayer. And Jim was my friend.
Right now I feel like New Guy just wants to PREACH, that he doesn’t really want to know me or the others in his “flock”. I’m hoping in time that I will get to know New Guy too and possibly come to like him, but for now…I'm still playing hooky on Sunday morning, wondering when I'll get back in the flow of things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
