The View from Here

Where's the tuna?????

Our local Wal-Mart is at it again…remodeling, revamping, restructuring or whatever they call moving everything to a different place and creating chaos in the meantime. I’m sure the ultimate plan is designed to make shopping more efficient and attractive for the customer…LOL…even I thought that was funny! The ultimate plan is to change the store layout to encourage customers to explore more of the aisles, discover more products, and SPEND MORE MONEY. There are research teams being paid to figure out how to do just that!

I’m not sure it really works. As a customer I base most of my purchases on my individual tastes and needs, recommendations of friends and family, television commercials, and online ads. I seldom buy something just because I notice it on the shelf. Today, because of the rearrangement of products, Gary noticed that Wal-Mart sells escargot. We still didn’t buy any! And I can’t say that moving ketchup over six feet makes it any more appetizing. Even some of the employees are questioning the “new plan” and whether or not it will be effective. In six months most of us will have the new layout memorized and be back to our old shopping habits.

On the other hand, some major stores are having major problems with their “brick and mortar” stores and will be closing many of them in the near future. For those of you who enjoy “retail therapy” and like to actually see, feel, and try on your clothing before purchasing it…be prepared for disappointment. Online is taking command of more and more customer loyalty. JCPenney, Sears, and now Macy’s may be difficult to find at your local mall.

As someone who generally hates to shop, I appreciate the privilege of sitting here in my pjs while ordering anything I need. But as a former Macy’s employee I also feel a bit of sad regret that the old shopping “experience” is gone. When I worked there in the 80s our customers enjoyed music played by a real person on a real piano, fragrance samples and chocolates passed out by stylishly dressed staff members, exquisitely decorated product displays, and attentive sales personnel. Shoppers could even arrive at the store on a special bus where they were served crackers, cheese, and champagne! I don’t think online shopping will ever rival that…but apparently it doesn’t need to do so. Most shoppers these days are concerned with convenience and price.

Wal-Mart may not have much to fear from online competitors. After all, where else can you buy a ham, a can of paint, a child’s suit, and a houseplant in the same shopping cart? (the actual contents of a cart ahead of mine one day) But there ARE other grocery stores out there and there ARE online stores that sell many of the same items, so I guess they feel an obligation to keep some of us happy. I’m not sure ripping up our local store and confusing everyone for the next twelve weeks is the way to do that…but I’ll stick around and see how it all turns out.

(The photo is me...on my way to work at Macy's.)

All In a Day's Work

The calendar may say otherwise, but summer is officially over.  Parents are posting photos of their children’s first days of school. My teacher friends are back in their classrooms. And here I am waking up from my afternoon nap!  Before you envy my leisure, I have to tell you that I’ve been up since 3:30 so I needed a nap. I often spend part of the night in pain or sleeping in my chair instead of the bed, so I need a little afternoon restart.  Don’t fret…I’m seldom in more pain than I can handle and I always recover. But I’ve had to accept the fact that my nights are going to affect my days and I have to make adjustments.

My schedule is flexible and generally of my own making, but retirement isn’t quite what I imagined. I don’t suppose anyone knows what they will do with their time until they wake up each day without a paying job. Of course women don’t retire from maintaining their households, so I still cook and clean and garden and pay bills and shop and do laundry. But it’s amazing that I seem to create more and more work for myself. I’m not sure if I’m trying to justify my existence or it’s simply my nature to “stay busy”. I have writing and research and photography projects going all the time.

This week I’ve been taking, editing, and posting seventy-five headstone photos to Find A Grave. I take photos of the Gethsemane Cemetery in Caddo so that out-of-town family members can use the information on them for their family genealogy work. I’m also trying to figure out the best way to update the current cemetery book to include photos.

I spent an hour in the museum at Caddo, researching school records and photos for next year’s book project. Yes, I said next year! I will gather, gather, gather materials until I’m ready to compile and write.

I spent two hours at the genealogy library discovering Chancery Court records. I didn’t even know what a “chancery court” was until this week. I plan to explain more on the website next week. Another project- updating the two websites that I help manage. More photos and phone calls for that.

I had the privilege of photographing “yard of the month”. I’ve been doing that for eight years now and it never gets boring. I love seeing other yards. I love meeting new people. And I love seeing how happy it makes them to be recognized for their efforts to keep their property attractive.

I’m ordering enlargements of some of our vacation photos to frame for our bedroom wall. I think looking at photos of the ocean will help me drift off to sleep faster.

And of course I spend part of the day writing down my thoughts, taking photos of the birds and flowers, reading a good book, going to the gym, watching the news, and visiting on FB. All in a day’s work…or whatever you want to call it.

Thou Shalt Not

Have you ever wondered why we need so many laws, rules, decrees, ordinances, and regulations to guide us through our daily lives? We have the ten commandments, the constitution, the Bill of Rights, state constitutions, town charters and by-laws, school rules, speed limits, contracts, and “good manners” yet we live in a world fraught with bad behavior of every kind. Sin is as much of a daily struggle for us as it was for Paul- “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” We have the nature of selfishness and the free will to do what we choose…a dangerous combination.

Our only recourse is to do the best we can. While that at first seems like a copout, it really isn’t. If we consider our “best choice”, “best behavior”, “best decision”, “best action”, “best option”, or “best opportunity” in every situation, perhaps our behavior will be more in line with what God desires for us to do.

Envy and Greed

I am often torn between lamenting the sheer stupidity of people and praising their creative genius. This week we are surely proving that we are capable of both. I suppose if I didn’t watch the evening news I wouldn’t find myself wondering why so few people use logic, reason, or even “common sense”. I wouldn’t marvel at the extremes we are willing to endure for “fifteen minutes of fame”. I wouldn’t ask why America spends so much money on entertainment and so little on education.  I wouldn’t be angry over the fact that people lie, cheat, steal, drink, take drugs, and treat others vilely and the “consequences” of their actions seems to be power, fame, money, and accolades.

I thank God for Titus, which I have read three times today. Don’t be impressed…there are only three chapters. However, the little book contains some of the soundest advice in the Bible. Reading it gives me hope.

I thank the IOC for the Olympics so that we can see some of the best athletes in the world. I know there are problems. I know that bad things happen behind the scenes. I know that everyone isn’t competing fairly. However, watching the games gives me a break from crime, violence, and politics.

I’ve been searching for Bible verses about envy and greed, because clearly the twin sins are the cause of many of our problems. We are capable of so much good, but like a child…when we want something we don’t always care what we have to do to obtain it.

Thankful for Nature

I’ve been comforted and entertained by nature these past few days, but I’ve neglected to take any photos. My camera was often in the other room or I wasn’t quick enough with it to get a picture, or I was simply too involved in the moment to reach for it.

Of course the birds are here every day, but their type and number vary. I mentioned that a flock of geese flew overhead while I was watering. I’m not sure if they’re migrating already, but it was thrilling to see them. A blue bird has visited the bird bath this week and competed with the blue jays for the right to splash in the water. Three types of doves have been in the yard. A couple of Incas rolled around in the grass and put on a beautiful display. The house finches have been stripping the last sunflower of its seeds. A pair of cardinals has been frequent feeders. The house sparrows have been massing on the patio in the late afternoons. There are still hummingbirds, despite the heat.

And even in the city there are other animals out and about. I watched through the kitchen window as a squirrel picked a pear off the tree and carried it to the middle of the yard where he tasted about three bites before scampering up the tree. Then his companion hurried over to do exactly the same thing!

Sadly, I watched the neighbor’s cat leap from its hiding place beneath the grape vine and catch a house sparrow for breakfast. I know that is the nature of the beast, but I wish it was satisfied with Meow Mix.

The little tree frog is still with us. This morning he was hiding behind the wooden elephant that hangs on my storage shed. One leg was sticking out, or I might not have even noticed him. I’m not sure if that spot is cooler or safer for him than the nearby trees.

Perhaps feeling guilty about my lack of photography skills, I went out to the butterfly garden this morning hoping to see some wings. I didn’t find any, but I decided that while I was out there I might as well photograph the only beauty that is consistent and dependable in this heat—zinnias. So here are some of the tough little beauties from my garden. I hope they make you smile!

Expecting the Unexpected...

These past few weeks have been unprecedented for unexpected news and events. Most have been disturbing, distressing, and depressing. We are still dealing with some of the consequences. But “such is life” my mother often said. Each day there are also unexpected moments of joy that help to offset the pain and sadness.  

I was watering the flowers this morning when a flock of Canada geese flew overhead and honked at me.

I started to fill one of the bird feeders and discovered this sweet little face peering at me. He is about five feet off the ground! No idea why or how he got there.

As I was photographing the frog a woodpecker flew into the tree next to me. Haven’t seen one in several weeks!

Those simple moments help me remember that God is in control. With so much violence and hatred reported on the news each day it’s tempting to forget that politics and prejudice are not the central themes of the universe. And it’s easy to get caught up in all the “what ifs”. We like to plan and plan and then plan some more, but God says “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I’m certain that many of those plans are not what we expect.

Towels

I was hanging clean towels in the bathroom yesterday when I suddenly thought about Grandma Bea. She was the first person I ever knew who had matching towels. I thought they were beautiful…and she was so proud of them! She had a brown set, a pink set, and a gold set, and of course there were rugs to match. She even had toilet seat covers! Her stylish bathroom was a symbol of the progress she had made from living in a tent to having a well-kept home of her own.

Gran had rules about using her towels. The hanging towels were left alone so the bathroom would look good if guests visited. There were other bath towels in the closet that we used for daily drying. And there were lots of odd wash cloths for cleaning chores.

Gran had her own way of hanging towels. Bath towels were folded in thirds and hung over the rods. Then the wash cloths were hung over them. Hand towels were hung on a different rod. They were changed often so they stayed fresh.

At my childhood home we had old beach towels, free towels, towels purchased at clearance sales, and towels given to us as gifts. My Mom especially liked the little towels that came as a bonus in detergent. And sometimes we even found towels at the local flea market. None of them matched. No one cared how they were folded or hung. After all…we had boys in the house! We had one rug that we just washed as often as possible. Sometimes muddy feet made that a daily requirement.

I buy nice towels, but I don’t really worry about them matching. All of my towels are green! I buy them on sale, in any shade of green, but never in a “set”. I fold them in half before hanging them. I keep wash cloths in a basket nearby. I hang a hand towel by the sink and change it every few days.  And yes, my rugs are all green.

It’s funny to think about the little things that set us apart or join us in harmony with each other. I think my grandmother would like my towels…but she might fuss a bit about the way I hang them.