The View from Here

Bye-bye!

Last day of the short but sweet month of February! Moving on to March winds and flowers and report cards and spring break! I suppose it is human nature to always look forward to something better. However, we need to be on guard against overlooking the good things that happen each and every day. So I will resist flipping the calendar page ahead of time and will enjoy whatever happens today!

And just to balance things out…these photos are from last year…because 40mph winds prevent me from taking pictures of the sweet daffodils currently blooming in my yard.

Have a great last day of February!

 

Why?

Why do we have to once again watch very well-paid grown men argue about why the best country in the world can’t take care of its elderly, educate its children, protect its citizens, arm its soldiers, and feed its hungry?

Why do we need to create hundreds of laws to prevent people from doing stupid things they know they should not be doing in the first place?

Why do people spend thousands of dollars each year on totally useless habits, toys, and entertainment and then complain that they can’t support their children?

Why are people willing to spend far more for pretty clothes than for healthy food?

Why do we give more time and media attention to criminals than we do to their victims?

Why do I spoil my day by watching the morning news?

Learn a lesson from Mrs. Maurer and do not turn on the television in the morning.

Have a great day! I’ll try!

Living in a small world...

I grew up in a world of strangers, separated from all but a few of our relatives. It was rare for us to go to a major department store or grocery store or theater and see a friend or relative. Oh, we attended a few school events where we might encounter a close neighbor and we knew a few people from church. In some of the smaller towns where we lived for short times, we were more likely to at least be acquainted with someone. But as long as we lived anywhere near Fresno we were pretty much surrounded by strangers.  I suppose our frequent moves, nineteen before I was in high school, accounted for some of our isolation. But city lifestyle- living miles from work or school- was also a key factor. And we usually lived just outside of town because we farmed. We rarely had more than two or three neighbors within walking distance.

All that changed when my family returned to Caddo in the middle of my freshman year of high school. And as a result I had to learn a whole new set of social skills. I was suddenly plunged into a world where everybody knew everybody else and every other person was a relative. At first I found that comforting, but it soon became stifling. I had to learn to be much more tactful than I had been in the city. Anyone I talked about had a friend or relative within hearing distance. I had to be more tolerant. Most of the students had been together since kindergarten! Anyone I didn’t like had a friend or relative who did like them, and anyone I liked had an enemy who was ready to question my choices. I found the social structure of school completely baffling.  I even felt that I had to behave better- who knew when a friend or relative might report my actions to my parents?

After a few years I returned to the city a changed person. I was a little more trusting, I developed more friendships, and I stayed in touch with many friends and relatives here. Gary and I were involved in many social and church activities and I credit my confidence during those years to the social skills I learned in Caddo.

When we returned to Caddo in 1991 I thought I knew what to expect and I was anxious to resume most of the relationships I had formed during my teens. But I didn’t anticipate some of the more complicated social skills that I would need as an adult in a small, small world where everybody knows everybody else and every other person is a relative! I am thankful that my mother taught me to be tactful and kind and that she was adamantly against gossip.

All this rambling brings me to yesterday when it occurred to me that even though I am a somewhat reclusive person when left to my own devices, I truly love living in an area where I can’t seem to go anywhere without encountering someone I know. I’ve even been shopping in Denison and Sherman several times and encountered Caddo or Calera friends. I like being surrounded by neighbors I know and trust. I like having colleagues who are friends and family members and have ties to other people I know and love. I like having students who are related to my family and friends. I even like the feeling that I need to be a better person because someone might report my actions to my father or other family members! lol

Yes, I live in a small world. And I love it! 

Little Things...

I’m borrowing an idea from my daughter this morning and making a list of things that have brought me joy this February. When the wind is howling and the rain/snow is falling it is easy to get down in the dumps. But this last hurrah of winter will not get me down as long as I am grateful for these little things:

Facebook- I am still amazed by the privilege of sharing bits and pieces of the lives of family and friends who are scattered to the far corners of the globe. I’ve always enjoyed cards and letters, but the immediacy of the internet and the addition of photos is such a blessing.

Birthdays- My own birthday and the birthdays of so many friends and family members makes February a very special month. I am grateful for all the cards and messages and gifts. I was especially touched by a handmade card I received from my great-niece. What a talented child!

Critters- The birds and squirrels and raccoons and other critters that inhabit this hill entertain me on a daily basis. Feeding them forces me to go outside, and watching them and photographing them makes me happy. We recently watched a nature program about crows and now I am keeping a close eye on the pair that frequents our yard. They are very, very smart and capable of making tools! And I can add my little indoor group of critters to the list of things that I find fascinating. In addition to the dozen baby fish that were born recently, we now have about fifty snail eggs ready to hatch! Anyone need a snail?

Puzzles- Gary gave me a jig-saw puzzle that is challenging and has made me question my abilities a few times. But I will persevere! I have also solved a couple of genealogy “puzzles” recently that have been personally rewarding.

Flowers- Who can deny the joy of a daffodil that has spent months in the ground just waiting for a little warmth and sunshine! And BTW Marilyn Birdsong, yours are gorgeous!

Food- Yes, cornbread and beans and other winter foods are so good, even though I don’t need to enjoy food quite as much as I do! I recently discovered Jasmine rice and may not eat any other kind from now on.

I could go on, but I must leave to enjoy the thing that gives me the most joy, any day, no matter what the weather—School! 

The Lure of the Quick Fix

Reader Warning: The fat lady is on her soap box this morning and she is bound to offend a few people. As always please be aware that my motives are good and my intention is to save a few lives.

First, a basic premise that I hold near and dear: God created good food for the nourishment of our bodies; man has corrupted and abused it.  

I have been both amused and alarmed by the growing popularity of nutritional shakes and energy drinks, but I’ve kept quiet because most people look at me and question my knowledge of healthy eating habits. Yesterday I reached the “tipping point” at Walmart, and I knew it was time to speak up. A young woman next to me was carrying a package of Monster energy drinks. And next to the checkout lane was a display of “Dream Water” the liquid “sleep and relaxation” drink. Both are supposedly quick fixes for common problems and both are fraught with potentially dangerous side effects.

I will be the first to admit that I eat too much. But I try my best to make sure that I’m eating basic food, not heavily processed food, and that I’m eating food that is as safe as possible. I read labels and do research and I’m constantly making subtle changes in my diet. I don’t take prescription drugs or herbal supplements or even vitamins unless I understand what they will do and what side effects they might have.  I’m trying to establish life-long habits that will keep me going until I’m 90. I’m not looking for a quick fix for my weight or health or anything else.

Apparently I’m in the minority because most people give little thought to what is actually in the products they consume. They fall for the claims of manufacturers and the endorsement of other consumers. They believe the convincing words on the labels and look no further for more information.

I think there are two reasons for this lack of concern.

1. Consumers have a false sense of safety because they assume that someone is regulating the manufacture and sale of anything associated with “health products”. Well, yes and no. This warning is from the National Institutes for Health:

 

“Federal regulations for dietary supplements are very different from those for prescription and over-the-counter drugs. For example, a dietary supplement manufacturer does not have to prove a product's safety and effectiveness before it is marketed. A manufacturer is permitted to say that a dietary supplement addresses a nutrient deficiency, supports health, or is linked to a particular body function (e.g., immunity), if there is research to support the claim. Such a claim must be followed by the words "This statement has not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors safety. If it finds a product to be unsafe, it can take action against the manufacturer and/or distributor, and may issue a warning or require that the product be removed from the marketplace.” In other words the FDA waits for someone to get sick or die from using a dietary supplement product before they step in and do something about it.

 2. People assume that natural means good. Natural does not necessarily mean good or even safe. Again, from the NIH:

 

“Be aware that an herbal supplement may contain dozens of compounds and that its active ingredients may not be known. Researchers are studying many of these products in an effort to identify active ingredients and understand their effects in the body. Also consider the possibility that what's on the label may not be what's in the bottle. Analyses of dietary supplements sometimes find differences between labeled and actual ingredients. For example:  

 

An herbal supplement may not contain the correct plant species. The amount of the active ingredient may be lower or higher than the label states. That means you may be taking less—or more—of the dietary supplement than you realize. The dietary supplement may be contaminated with other herbs, pesticides, or metals, or even adulterated with unlabeled ingredients such as prescription drugs.”

 

So, how does that information apply to our consumption of nutritional shakes, energy drinks, and sleep aids? First of all most of the nutritional shakes contain a mind-boggling array of natural ingredients that sound both exotic and reassuring. Plants are good, right? So the more the merrier. Well…maybe. Stevia, found in many low-calorie drinks, may trigger allergic reactions in people already allergic to ragweed, marigolds, and members of the daisy family. The problem might not occur unless the person is also consuming Sevia in several other products, but it is still a legitimate concern.  Guarana, found in shakes and energy drinks contains far more caffeine than coffee. Kudzu has some warnings associated with its use. Milk thistle warnings include allergies and also warnings about its affect on contraceptives.

Then there is the whole issue of vitamins and minerals. My daily vitamin tablet contains 25-100% of most of the vitamins and minerals my body needs. It is the most balanced of the supplements I’ve researched and seems to compliment my pescetarian diet quite well. Vitamins A,D,E, and K are fat soluble vitamins and stored in the body for later use. Vitamins C, and B are water soluble and excess amounts are flushed out by the body. That’s why it is interesting to read labels that list 1,600% or 625% or 333% of a vitamin your body can only logically use in limited quantities. My son would call that very expensive urine! Minerals are trickier, but a little research will tell you which ones we need the most and which foods contain them.  Too much niacin poses some problems and you should read more about folic acid.

Danger, danger! Many of the ingredients in “natural” shakes, supplements, and drinks do not react well with the chemicals created by man, yet few people tell their doctors about the diet or “wellness” products they are using. This can cause mild to major interactions with prescription drugs that vary from mild stomach irritation to headaches to death. One of the ingredients in the aforementioned “Dream Water” has moderate to major drug interaction warnings. I wonder how many people will actually investigate that before trying the product.

The last thing that concerns me about all these liquid cures is the cost. Some of them are unbelievably expensive, especially if anyone takes the time to compare the store brands with the products sold by the multi-level marketing groups.

Why? Why are we seeking health or energy or sleep in a bottle? Because we are lazy and willful. We don’t want to eat the things we should be eating. We don’t want to do the things we should do. We don’t want to take care of our bodies the way we should. We don’t want the slow and careful road to health; we want the quick and easy path!

God gave us the foods we need for our health and well-being.

We just need to learn to use them wisely. 

Special Ladies

I had the opportunity yesterday to spend a few hours with my Aunt Betty Ann. I was blessed as a child to have seven aunts: Ruth, my Uncle Don’s wife; Betty Jo, dad’s sister; Betty Ann, Juanita, and Carolyn, Mom’s sisters; Doris, Uncle John’s wife; and Clariece, Uncle Curtis’s wife. Betty Jo is in CA and Ruth, Doris, and Clariece are gone, but I still have the privilege of enjoying the company of Betty Ann, Juanita, and Carolyn from time to time. I must admit that I am a terrible niece and do not see any of them as much as I should or as much as I would like to but I think about them often and I am very grateful for the childhood memories I have of them. They were and are so good to me! Each taught me some very important things about life and about our family. And it is a precious gift to me now to have three people in my life who shared their life with my mother!

It’s sometimes amusing to think about the things that stay in your memory. My Aunt Ruth has been gone the longest and she was just one of the five wives that my Uncle Don had, so it’s probably incredible that I remember her at all. But I can clearly see her face and hear her infectious laugh and remember that she made pineapple chicken! Aunt Doris was one of the hardest working women I’ve ever known and she was always growing something or making something. She seemed to me to have such a peaceful spirit. It was always calming to be around her. Aunt Clariece was my funny aunt! Always amusing and surprising, she let us do things mom never would- stay up late, watch scary movies, eat junk food. Betty Jo was my doting aunt. I grew up with her and spent the most time with her. She spoiled me and entertained me and took me away from the drudgery of the farm as often as she could.

Betty Ann, Juanita, and Carolyn have always been my anchor aunts. They are my ties to mom, my link to  my grandparents, my spiritual mentors, my shining examples and faith and fortitude, my family story tellers, my advisors for any and all situations. I hope they understand just how important and precious they are to me! Each one is so special…

Ten Weeks

It is crunch time in kindergarten. Miracle time. Make it happen time.

Ten weeks of school left.

Yes, the last nine week grading period begins on March 4.

But I am a realist with years of experience. I know that I actually have just five weeks left to transform my kindergartners into first graders, because there are two enemies of education which are about to awaken from hibernation to take over their minds, bodies, and time.

The first is daylight saving time. Check your calendar. March 10. Ready or not. I’m all for having more time in the evening to garden and walk and take pictures. But I know that my students will also be going outside…and staying outside. The short after school playtime time they enjoyed in the winter will quickly be replaced by mothers calling out, “Come inside! It’s getting dark!” at a much later and later hour. Soon I will witness little eyelids drooping and heads nodding forward at about mid-morning for some. Others may survive lunch before dozing off.

The other culprit I face is sports, and for my group that’s usually baseball. Okay, don’t start throwing things at me. I don’t care what version a child is involved in- baseball, soft ball, coach pitch, T-ball or some kind I’ve never heard of, baseball means practice and games, both of which take time, time, time. Games are supposed to end at a specific time, but I know for a fact that doesn’t always happen. Practices are exhausting for some little ones. Dinner and other routines are changed. Bedtimes are later. I don’t even send homework after April 1^st  because past experience has proven that students either attempt to do it in the car on the way to practice or games, or they don’t do it at all.

So we’re down to about five weeks of quality teaching/learning time.

Many parents will be surprised tonight when I tell them I can predict with some accuracy how their child will perform in first grade. Right now that seems like an eternity away. They have nine more weeks! They have all summer! They will miraculously become better readers, writers, and mathematicians. Here’s the truth: Your child has spent the last 27 weeks showing me how they comply with school rules, how they respond to directions, how they organize their work, how they stay on task, how they react to new information, and how they feel about school in general. Chances are they are not going to change anything basic about their learning style by next August. They will continue to make progress, but more than likely it will be in the same way they are doing now and at about the same pace. Big changes in personality and work habits, happen, if at all, when students are mature enough and motivated enough to change because that’s what they want to do. My experience has been that third grade is the beginning of those kinds of transformations, while some children don’t find the motivation to become good students until they decide on a career path.

And don’t tell me that your child is going to spend the summer making up for lost time by reading and writing. I’d sure like to think that, but it seldom happens. I was a great student and yes, I spent some of my summer time reading. But most of my summers were spent working in the fields, traveling, or playing. That’s what we do in the summer- all the things we don’t have time to do during the school year!

So…bottom line: in the next few weeks we will be expanding our knowledge, practicing our skills, and gaining more confidence in our abilities. We will continue to make the foundation of education a little broader and stronger. But we will not miraculously make up for 27 weeks of inattention, carelessness, disorganization, and misbehavior. That will take a little more time. 

The Best Me I Can Be

When I was younger I tried in vain to be like my friends. I tried to be as smart as Elaine, as pretty as Donna, as talented as Marie, as athletic as Betty, as sweet as Rosalie. It seemed like I always came up short and I never could figure out why. Turns out God expected me to be the best Mary I could be! Took me about forty years to figure that out, but since then I’ve had much better results.  Still tweaking. Still trying to smooth out the rough edges. Still trying to get a bit closer to the goal of healthy, happy, wise, and wonderful. But I figure I might have twenty to thirty years left to get it right!

BTW, Gary asked me last night if knew what time I was born. I told him no, I’d have to look at my birth certificate. The only thing I know for sure is that I was the main attraction at the hospital for at least a week. “I want to see the big baby!” was the universal request. 11 pounds and 2 oz. My claim to short-lived fame.

Have a great day! I will! 

The Devil I Know

Chronic pain is my constant companion, but it is certainly not my friend. So every so often we have to sit down and have a long talk and I tell it how very annoying it is and beg it to go away. Yesterday was just such a day. Despite my usual medications and precautions I ended the day in more pain than I care to tolerate and I was not looking forward to my very necessary trip to Walmart. But ornery woman that I am, I gritted my teeth and went anyway.

I was annoyed as soon as I got there, because despite it being a Monday afternoon, I had to park about twenty cars away from the entrance. But it was immediately apparent to me that God wasn’t going to let me slide into a pity party. The first sight that greeted me was an elderly woman navigating her way very slowly across the parking lot with one of those three-footed canes. “Okay,” I thought, “If she can do it, I can.”

Well, you should be able to guess how the rest of the shopping expedition went! A man in a wheelchair seemed to turn up in every other aisle I visited. At one point I was stuck behind him as he slowly made his way around some other carts. Another woman with a cane followed me around. A woman with a trach tube in her neck joined me in the bread aisle. Listening to her wheeze through her neck made me ashamed of myself. (And also instantly took me back to the day I witnessed an emergency tracheostomy.)  And to top things off, a young couple had a conversation in the produce section that left me shaking my head, and feeling so grateful that at least I have a brain!  

But God wasn’t finished with me. Wonderful, sweet Linda Clay was also shopping and gave me a hug. Just before she left she turned and told me to “keep that happy spirit”. Yes, God, message received, loud and clear.

I had plenty of time to think as I drove home. My mother spent years suffering bouts of mental depression and anxiety. I have friends and relatives who cope daily with diseases and conditions that I have never experienced. I seldom even get a cold. I have, so far, survived this flu season without so much as a sniffle. Migraines, which plagued my early years, rarely bother me anymore. So I am left with only the ravages of time and injury to remind me that my body is somewhat frail. So what! I will be 63 in a couple of days and this body has done a LOT of living. You would be so very surprised by some of the things this old lady did in her earlier years. And some of you probably recall that my accident record is a family joke.

So pain is the devil I know, but most days it is barely static in the background of my life. I don’t mention it a lot because I absolutely hate pity and don’t deserve or need it. I also don’t want anyone to think that I would let pain interfere with my job as a teacher. The day I think my pain level is high enough to affect my teaching is the day I plan to retire. And as a point of clarification for anyone wondering, I only take a prescription anti-inflammatory combined with Tylenol. I have been prescribed several of those “designer drugs” that warn “may cause suicidal thoughts or result in fatal events” and I have thrown the samples in the trash. I told you I was stubborn and ornery. I refuse to willing give up my ability to think in exchange for less pain. And I don’t think I would be too fond of a “fatal event”!

I mention this today because I know for a fact that I am not alone. My husband goes to work each day with arthritis pain. There are actually some things he can no longer do because of pain and weakness in his hands. I know many of you are suffering silently today. I would not offer to trade with you for fear that I would not be as strong as you are in your situation.

God gives each of us the strength we need.  Sometimes we just need to remember to ask for it, and to be grateful that we are not suffering even more. I pray that I continue to function as well as I can for a few more years. I’ll pray that you do the same.

And yes, I am feeling much better today…

Things I don't understand...

1. Why we worry so much about how we look.
2. Why we spend so much money on things that mean so little.
3. Why we admire people who have no values.
4. Why we continue to do things we know are harmful.
5. Why we take credit for our success, but blame others for our failures.
6. Why we talk constantly about some vague entity in control of the universe, but deny God.
7. Why we think we must be armed in order to live in peace.
8. Why we always think that quantity equals quality.
9. Why we seek respect, but don’t show it to others.
10. Why we don’t cherish each and every day God gives us.