The View from Here

Christmas...1973

I found this lovely piece in the newspaper archives yesterday. I had never read it before. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know many of you are traveling today. Please stay safe!

And you know it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without posting my favorite turkey photo. Dad's pride and joy is long gone, and so is Dad, but the memories are still precious. 

Have a great holiday!

Fruitcake

This morning I read the following advertisement from 1899 and it reminded me of one of the traditions of the Simmons family- Grandma Bea's fruitcake. I know many people don't like the gooey holiday dessert, but I loved it! Gran usually made at least a dozen and gave them away. I often assisted her, and I even made a few cakes after I got married. Sadly, it has never become a tradition in the Maurer family. 

Herons

This isn’t a turkey, but it sure is a handsome bird. I encountered it yesterday at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Herons always seem aloof and unfriendly, but I still find them fascinating. I probably have 1,000+ photos of them. And there will undoubtedly be more...

Changes...

As we begin a week of gathering and gratitude, let us remember that many families will be facing the challenge of an “empty chair”. I still recall that first Thanksgiving without my mom. We joined my dad at the dinner table, but it wasn’t the same…ever again.

Change is difficult, but eventually we adjust and adapt. We don’t forget, but instead we realize that the best way to honor those who are not at the table is to live our lives in a way that would make them proud and grateful.

My Return to Yoga

Years ago I spent a year or two practicing yoga. I was quite flexible, always have been. I could place my hands flat on the floor without bending my knees. I could do most of the poses without stress or strain. My yoga time was relaxing and admittedly easier than jogging. However, I’m not sure I practiced yoga because of the benefits or just because it was popular with a few of my friends. At any rate, changes in my schedule found me eventually drifting away from it.

I mentioned recently that I’m trying “chair yoga”- a series of poses done with the support of a chair. It’s perfect for those of us who have balance or strength or flexibility issues caused by arthritis and other conditions. I thought I would take a moment to give you an update this morning and encourage you to give yoga a try.

First, let me remind you that there are many, many types of yoga. In addition to being designed for seniors, the series I use is also called “holy yoga”. It’s a Christian practice based on the idea of our bodies being a temple that we should care for and respect. There are Hindu and Buddhist practices and trendy “goat yoga”. I know very little about the “religion” behind most of it, and I don’t pray or even meditate during my morning sessions. At this time my yoga practice is about being aware of my body’s condition and trying to move it in ways that improve my daily life. (Bible reading, prayer, and meditation is my early morning routine- usually 4am.)

Yoga seems “right” to me. It feels like relief rather than responsibility. I do a lot of exercises because I’ve been told by PT that I need to continue them if I expect to continue walking. So, while I often preface my trip to the gym with “Well, I’d better go.”, my attitude toward yoga is more like that of a child going to recess. I have that mat rolled out before I even drink my first cup of coffee!

I hope you will give yoga some consideration. I promise not to nag, but I’ll check back with you about this in six months.

 

Wise Words

My grandmother was an inspiration and a role model. I had never read this before. Discovered it this morning.

The Atoka County Times

May 8, 1958

From Della’s column about her poem:

…I have a theory that no matter how black the cloud is, there is always the sun waiting to peep through, and sometimes you may feel that you haven’t a true friend on earth, or that you are losing the thing that makes life worth living, but just wait, time is a great healer and for every hurt there is a joy waiting just around the corner somewhere. So, let’s look life in the face and say, “as many times as you knock me down, that’s how many times I will get to my feet and keep going”.

Toy Shopping...

Gary and I no longer shop for very many toys. Our grandchildren are grownups, so our only foray into that department is for the children we choose from the local “angel tree”. And that task is quick and painless because the children indicate their preferences on a form, thus saving us from confused decision making. We also concentrate most of our budget on clothing.

However, even a casual stroll down the numerous toy aisles will quickly tell you three things: 1. The classics- Mr. Potato Head, Lego, Hot Wheels- are still with us. 2. There is an ABUNDANCE of toys from which to choose. Unless you have notes or know a child very well, then trust me…you are in over your head. 3. Movie-themed toys RULE the market. The online Disney store lists 208 products tied to Frozen II. Add Jurassic Park, Toy Story 4…  

If you are in need of guidance you might start with some of the lists and surveys done each year. When I had young children on my list, I always started my research with Parents Magazine. Good Luck!

Neighbors...

Enjoyed this brief encounter today. 

Joy and Sorrow

I read one of my favorite Bible passages this morning:

Proverbs 14:13

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.

 

A reminder that joy and sorrow hold hands as they journey through life with us.

 

We imagine that our lives would be so much better if we were happy all the time, if the world did not confront us with problems, pain, and loss. Yet it is often after surviving sorrow that we are the most aware of our blessings and thankful to be here. And it is usually after our own failures that we begin to understand the shortcomings of others. We’re more prone to forgive others after asking them to forgive us.

 

As I spent some time at family hour yesterday with the friends and family members who gathered to remember my sweet aunt, I marveled once again at the legacy of my grandparents. I felt such a sense of peace, hope, and faith in the room. John and Della’s children and their children’s children have certainly experienced joy and sorrow, tragedy and triumph, but they’ve survived, and thrived, because of the Christian values instilled in them.

 

So, we go on through life without the physical presence of Aunt Betty. However, each of us who knew her continues to be blessed by the love and wisdom she left behind.

 

Joy and sorrow, laughter and tears…our lives are balanced by experiencing both…not seeking one and avoiding the other.