The View from Here

Things that might have been...

Today would have been my mother’s birthday if she had lived this long. I always hesitate over “is” my mother’s birthday or “was” my mother’s birthday because I never know which is really correct. “Would have been” seems a logical choice since she isn’t here to celebrate. I no longer find much joy in the date either. And that’s what birthdays are for…joy and celebration. Today IS the birthday of a friend and many other people as well, so I am happy to wish them well and pray that they celebrate many more anniversaries of their birth.

For several years after Mom’s death I mourned each minor and major holiday without her. I remembered the celebrations of the past and thought about how we might do things differently now if Mom was still with us. I don’t do that as much anymore. I still miss her. I still think about her often. But she would be the first to say that life goes on and we should celebrate the events of our lives in ways that makes us happy.

I still wonder from time to time if things would be different if I still had her ideas and her opinions and influence to consider when I make decisions and solve problems. And then I realize that I always do.  You can’t be the first born, only girl-child of a strong Christian woman without having her values and life lessons deeply embedded in every fiber of your being. Sometimes I hear myself talking and I AM my mother! And if I have doubts about what she might think of something I also have hundreds of pages of her writing to read. Her heart and mind and values are evident in every letter and article and newspaper column she ever wrote. It is a legacy I cherish.

Things might have been different if Mom had lived to celebrate this birthday, but things are what they are, and life goes on. I hope that if you have a birthday today it is the best ever and that your life brings joy to everyone around you! 

Everything you need to know...

We’re pretty smug these days about our “apps” and smart phones and talking cars and portable libraries. We spend hours communicating with people all over the world. We brag about our ability to find information quickly and easily at the tip of our finger. We rely on our gadgets and devices to make our lives easier and more efficient and less stressful. But do they really deliver? Do they really improve our lives or just make them more complicated? A fine line sometimes…

I was reading through some posts and status updates on Facebook and it occurred to me that the real problems of life aren’t solved by apps and programs and software. The serious issues of our society aren’t resolved by gadgets and devices and machines. Real communication isn’t found in texting and tweeting. Solving problems and changing society and communicating with others is a matter of connecting hearts and minds and values. It’s about telling the truth and understanding other viewpoints and cherishing life. Everything else is just bells and whistles. How we connect and exchange ideas isn’t nearly as important as the fact that we do.

Another attitude found in our society is that new is automatically “better”, so old must be bad. Updates and upgrades are frequent topics of conversations and advertisements. People stand in long lines, overnight, to buy the latest version of their favorite device. Very few things are repaired anymore; they are simply replaced. We have learned to not only expect, but to embrace planned obsolescence.

The one thing we overlook in all of our enthusiasm for new and better and more exciting is that we are essentially the same old model. Human beings have not changed their basic natures or actions since creation. For all of our modern ways we still have the same feelings, desires, and problems as our most ancient ancestors. We just express them in different ways. So I think we should seek advice from the form of communication that has stood the test of time and was used by the people who set this ball in motion in the first place. Yes, I’m referring to the Bible.

I’m not sure why so many people think of the Bible as “old news” or say that while it is important historically, it doesn’t contain “advice relevant to our current society”. I spent some time in Proverbs this morning and found wisdom pertaining to politics, honesty, relationships, and beauty. Advice doesn’t get any more current than this:

19:6

Many curry favor with a ruler,

and everyone is a friend of a man who gives gifts.

 

18:6

A fool’s lips bring him strife,

and his mouth invites a beating.

 

13:10

Pride only breeds quarrels,

but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

 

11:22

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout

is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

 

So…while we all enjoy our gadgets and devices and modern conveniences, let’s remember that everything we really need is still found in the pages of a very old book. 

Mary and Gary's Not Quite Excellent Adventure

Well, you know how plans often work out. We were going to spend a couple of hours at Hagerman, visit the Harber Museum, have lunch, go to Walmart and come home in time for the game and the rain. I suppose that’s sort of what we did, but there were a few interesting changes here and there.

First of all, the predicted “afternoon rain showers” arrived just about the time we crossed the creek at Hagerman. We still enjoyed our drive around the refuge and saw several birds, ducks, geese, herons, egrets, cormorants, and vultures. It just wasn’t the photo opportunity we had anticipated.

Back to Sherman to visit the museum…which wasn’t open yet. So we drove across the street and walked around the mall for a little while. It’s like a ghost town compared to the old days! But I suppose the fact that there are any stores left at all is a miracle. There were even advertisements for a couple of new places soon to open. And by the time we walked around there were at least ten customers coming through the doors. Maybe it will survive for a while longer.

By the time the Harber Wildlife Museum opened it was really raining so we were happy to have an inside adventure. However, my feelings about the museum were not what I’d expected. The museum does have a great collection of animals and the taxidermy is excellent, but I could not help feeling deeply disturbed by the fact that the majority of the animals on display were killed for sport. There is even a reminder on one wall- photos of the Harbers with powerful bows.  I didn’t take a single photo inside the museum, only a quick snapshot of the tiny elephant statue in front of the building. I guess I just prefer my animals alive.

After lunch at Salita’s we did some shopping at Walmart and by then we could hear the rain pounding the roof. We walked out in a blinding downpour- I nearly drove the cart into oncoming traffic- and we were soaked by the time we loaded our groceries into the back of the truck.  But we need the rain and we were happy to suffer the consequences of its early arrival.

Home to unload and get wet again. Changed clothes, made a fresh pot of coffee and sat down to watch OU make their first touchdown! The day may turn out to be excellent after all. 

My Least Favorite Excuse

“He/She doesn’t do that at home.”

Well, duh.

I’m sorry to be frank this morning, but of course your child “doesn’t do that at home”.

At home do they share a bathroom, playground, and lunch room with sixty other children?

At home do they have to be quiet when they walk around?

At home do they have to keep their hands off the person next to them?

At home do they have to wait patiently while you attend to the needs of nineteen other children?

At home are they expected to sit down, listen to directions, and write their color words?

School is an entirely different environment that requires a higher level of responsibility and behavior from your child than you expect at home. 

Happy Birthday!

Celebrating the birthday of Johnny Appleseed today. My class will be wearing funny hats and sampling apples. Seems like a silly holiday until you really think about all of the apple products we consume. Amazing! Johnny was a smart guy. 

So go eat an apple! And no...fritters do not count. 

Hump Day

My students love the hump day commercial that features the comical camel! I have to admit that the voice and the odd gait of the camel are a winning combination. Never been a big fan of camels, but that could change. lol

Wednesday is becoming one of my favorite days of the week. My students are settled into our routines by Wednesday.  It’s spelling test day. “No homework” day. And there is something calming about knowing that there are only two more days until the weekend. No matter how much I love my job, I love the weekends more.

This weekend we plan to visit Hagerman and also the Harber Wildlife Museum in Sherman. We have driven by too many times…must stop and look.

It’s also supposed to rain by late Saturday or early Sunday. We certainly need more rain! My new plants are all in the ground and ready. I think each one is in a place where they will thrive. Next project will be transplanting some plants that have multiplied and are beginning to be too crowded. Then about two weeks until time to plant my wildflower seeds. If you are interested, I always order from Wildseed Farms in  Fredericksburg, Texas.  

A friend identified my mystery plant as Prairie Ironweed, a member of the veronica family. I hope it reseeds.

Hope you have a Happy Hump Day! 

Our Bodies Are Wondrously Made

I went to the podiatrist yesterday and got a shot in my arthritic foot that seems to be aging faster than the rest of my body. This morning I am happy to report that it feels SO much better.

A trip to the doctor is something I generally avoid, even though I have a couple of the best doctors around here. Praise the Lord, I am seldom sick. I haven’t had a major accident in years. (Yes, I’m taking chances here, and yes, my desk is wood…knock, knock, knock.) However, my age and previous accident history have combined to make my visits a little more frequent. So I’ve spent some time in waiting rooms lately.

It occurred to me yesterday as I waited and looked around that our bodies are wondrously made and God certainly blessed us with some super abilities. We groan and grumble about pain and illness and injury, but our record of continuing on and fighting the fight is impressive. And the medical advances we’ve made have improved that record exponentially. The fact that our bodies recover from our abuse and neglect is truly a miracle!

I count my blessings again today and hope that you do the same.

 

Fall

September was my mother’s favorite month, not just because it was the month of her birth, but because it signaled the end of summer. Mom was never a big fan of summer. She hated the heat and in the early days she hated the field work of summer. And I suspect, growing up in California where school started in September, that she was relieved to get us out the door and back to our classrooms. By summer’s end my brothers and I were usually a grumpy bunch of kids.

Our fall seems to have taken forever to arrive, but that’s only because I have been impatient. In reality, this is the first Monday of the season and it finally feels like it. The mornings are darker, the air is cooler, the breeze is crisper.  I even turned off the air conditioner for a while yesterday.

Fall weather increases my energy at a time when I need it for the garden and other chores. Lots to clean and plant and transplant before my least favorite season begins. And I’m one of those people who packs away summer clothes. I add more things to the pantry to cut down on winter shopping. I clean a little more until the cold and dark decreases my desire to do so.

This is the beginning of the bird migration and we are already seeing an increase in the birds at the feeders. I look forward to watching and photographing our many visitors. We are also planning a visit to Hagerman this coming weekend to see the changes in the population out there. I hope we can make the trek at least once a month from now until next summer.

Of course fall is the beginning of a sad season for many people. Since my mother died in late fall I understand that this is the time of year when the absence of loved ones is most strongly felt. The arrival of each holiday ahead is a reminder that there will be an empty chair at the table.

And some people have a condition that is triggered by loss of daylight and causes them to become somewhat depressed in the fall and much more so in the winter. We should be aware of these people in our lives and try to help them cope with their problem. Studies show that increased social support and light therapy (light boxes and increase in wattage of light bulbs) are effective in the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

I begin this fall with gratitude that at least for now my computer problems have been solved and I can once again enjoy taking pictures. But I should be smarter and anticipate that in the near future a new computer is probably going to be needed. Time to start saving my pennies! Okay, quarters…

Happy first Monday of Fall!

 

Happy Birthday!

My best friend is 70 today! We have been together almost 42 years and most of those years have been spent happily facing the challenges of life together. I give us an A+ for endurance! Even when we have disagreed, we have done it with a commitment to love and respect each other. We have each faced the death of a parent and depended on the other for support and encouragement. We have each faced serious health problems and spent many hours sitting and waiting in hospital rooms together. We have also celebrated some wonderful family events- graduations, weddings, births. We have raised three children and we now have the joy of following the lives of three grandchildren. We’re looking forward to retirement and spending even more time together pursing our hobbies.

Happy Birthday Gary! 

Actions Speak Loudly

We may think of ourselves as a civilized society with values and rights and privileges that promote the health, welfare, and safety of every citizen, but the recent actions of one segment of the population speak volumes about the reality of our situation. The sales figures for Grand Theft Auto 5 are proof that many people are so obsessed by sex, drugs, and violence that they have little regard for decency or standards or Christian principles. Makes me sad and more than a bit fearful.