Do or Die-t

That dreaded time of year has arrived.  No, I'm not talking about taking the rain machine noise maker (better know as our dead Christmas tree) down.  I'm referring to perky, slim, and forty years younger than I Jennifer Hudson pulling me into the"loose weight on Weight Watchers and you can eat everything you want and loose weight" drill.
But I already eat everything I want.  What I really desire is to carry on as usual but look like a pretty version of "This is what 64 looks like."
I recently read an article on Helen Mirren who looks fabulous in a bathing suit.  The interviewer asked her about her exercise regimen.  Crunches?  Weight lifting?  Marathons?
Oh, no Helen replied.  She hates to sweat and deplores exercise. 
She just........... get this............stands up straight!
Her mother drilled that into her head as a child and she has practiced it ever since.
I'm making a conscious effort to do the same and you know what?
I feel better.  I feel stronger.  I represent a more confident woman.
It takes a little practice and there is a definite rearranging of "parts".  But it has given me a little boost. 
That, a  boat load of lycra, photoshop,and hope springs eternal.

New Year - New Word

After a year of "leverage"-ing my  humble gifts, talents, assets, and influence it is time to come up with a new word to set my course for 2013.
I've been asking God -- where should I perch my heart this year?  And then this handsome fellow showed up in our yard this morning  - basking in the goodness of this place.





Right away I had my answer. 

BASK

 

Not "Brisk" or "Brash" or "Bossy" as I'm prone to be in the bustle of my life.  Just BASK. 

As my physical metronome adjusts to a slower melody I want to enjoy and take in the blessings in life by being truly present.

I practiced it yesterday at the movies watching "Les Miserable".  Two and a half hours of intensity and drama and beauty flew by because I basked in the moment.

The reward was my heart shifted.  I got it.  Grace, service, mercy are their own rewards.

So there it is -- BASK.

You'll be hearing more from me now.

I'll have reports on the journey.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.







So, There!

I don't know how you are commemorating 9/11 but I am boarding a plane to fly home.  It was a little unsettling to think about being on an airplane today, of all days, but I decided that if we alter our lives out of fear we allow ourselves to be victimized again.  So there!

As I sat in church this morning I was reminded of God's free gift of eternal life to all who call Him Lord.  Not based on our merit but on His.

If for some reason my plane doesn't make it home?  Think of heaven because I'll be SO THERE.

If You Can't Be The Age You Want -- Love The Age You Are

And get in the front seat!

Big Bang Therory

Have you ever tuned in your radio dial and found a connection so pure that it sounds like your radio turned into a Bose?

That is what home sounds like to me... usually. I love the sounds of being home.

I love the quiet of the pond in the early morning before the fountains swoosh on. The occasional fish making a belly flop after eating an airborne insect.

The pat pat pat of an early morning jogger making her way down the side walk.  Glorie Halleluiah's tail smacking on the wall next to the backdoor ready for her pee-walk.
Oh, the sounds of being home.
But there is one sound that will ring through our house no more. And it's a good thing.
That would be the sound of Papa Joe compliantly putting the toilet seat down ever so not delicately. BANG. 
He got points for replacing the seat but how many nights have I had a dream that I was shot all because  he threw down the toilet seat? One would have been too many.
Enter my hero and marriage counselor - the plumber.
Did you know that Lowes has a toilet seat that closes half way and then gently settles down?
Well they do and that little home improvement has added years to my ( and maybe Papa Joe's ) life.  Best part?  It costs a mere $14.95.
Soooooooooooooo much cheaper than a lawyer and anything that keeps me out of the criminal reports in the newspaper is a good thing.
Now you know.

Knee Replacement

It occurred to me today that I'm in need of knee replacements.  They just don't bend like they used to.  When I was a new Christian -- or even as (not so) far back as my latest crisis -- those knees bent down to the floor just fine.
"Oh, Father hear my prayers" I would say as I hit the floor kneeling. 
My understanding is that it is painful surgery -- this knee replacement. The incision goes in through my heart.   There is no guarantee of the outcome and the cost may be a limp for the rest of my days on earth.
Oh, but I need that procedure.  The pain of this stiff neck is just more than I can bear.

Words of wisdom from blog  http://quiddity2.blogspot.com/

Here's Looking -- Acch-Hoo!

Papa Joe is allergic to cats. Or so he has said for lo these many years as we've left elegant dinner parties to his chorus of sneezes.
But he has shown no aversion to feminine wiles and practically purrs himself while being gushed over by a pretty girl.
Enter "Ali Cat". (above)
It seems that while I was away in January she took up residence under a slip covered chair on our porch. She was a scaredy cat and her timidity touched his heart so he began to feed her twice a day.
She batted those eyes and flirted with him shamelessly.
When he was outside she was right by his side.  She was a fine outside cat.
Fast forward to May and my ten week absence while tending to my mother.
Buy the time I returned home Ali was:
*Living inside the house
*Sleeping with my husband
*Napping on the white couch
*Enjoying a scratching pole in the middle of the living room that clearly does not match the decor.

This little hussy just looks at me, smiles and says with her eyes; "You're not woman enough to take away my man."
I guess love conquers all
-- Even allergies?

You Only Have One Life --



But if you live it well -- one life is enough.
The task of clearing out my mothers home has been daunting.  What to save -- what to toss?  A lifetime of letters, photos and keepsakes that all seem too precious to discard.  Tangible big moments and ordinary days. 
I asked my mother's advice on how to approach this chore and she said the most amazing thing.  She told me "Don't worry about letting go of any of it.  The house or the things inside.  I've used them up."
She told me she has spent the last few months rereading and touching her life.  Sitting in chairs, eating off plates, and looking at the artworks in her home. 
She said "Goodbye" and let them go.
What a lesson  to me.
Me who polishes and clings.  Me who thinks I own a thing or two of value.
My mother who is now in a nursing home never says; "I wish.............." because she did.
She crafted a home full of memories.  She cultivated dear girlfriends.  She packed her bags to see the wonders of the world and she made her bed.
She used up this life given to her .  And she is still using her days to teach -- me.

Who Is Rich?

"A Friend Remebers Your Song and Sings It Back To You When You Forget"

As we have cleared out my mothers home preparing it for sale I have found her life's paper trail in boxes tucked into her tidy shelves.
Boxes of letters, cards and notes.  Books filled with quotes she has gathered and articles from long extinct publications.
They are a mirror of my mother.
They speak well of her.
Her humor, service, loyalty and her faith.
I have gathered them up and shipped most of them home to be sorted and assembled into a book of comfort for those whose lives have been graced by hers.
But nursing homes are places where it is easy to forget who you are.  The world gets small and is full of rituals that begin to strip you of your sparkle.
So each evening while we visit I take stacks of her paper trail and read them to her.
Her eyes begin to focus.  She sits up straighter in her bed.  We count our blessings while recalling memories.  And because she is Loie -- we laugh hard.
A couple of highlights from last night:
"You don't stop laughing because you grow old -- you grow old because you stop laughing."  Michael Pritchard
"You know you're old when you've lost all your marvels."  Mary Browne
I leave my mother's care on Thursday and it makes me tear up to even type that.
I struggle with feeling I'm abandoning her.  But she is safe and secure and I have others depending on me.
When I wondered what will fill her evenings now I thought -- I'll bundle up little packages of her life (old notes and letters from loved ones) and send her a packet each day to reminisce over each evening (After Wheel of Fortune of course!).
A life well lived deserves to be reviewed and celebrated.



Guerrilla Love -- Taking It To The Streets

My friend's son told me a story that caused me to reflect on the quality of my unconditional love.

A family in his neighborhood was away from home last week when a crew came to put their home in foreclosure and evict them.
The neighbors watched with aching hearts as their friend's tangible lives were set out on the street and lawn. One of the neighbors who hosts a Bible study began to rally the neighbors and find temporary homes for the displaced stuff.
She stood in the yard like a NYC traffic cop and directed who was to rescue what and ultimately the house was empty but so was the yard.
Now that is an impressive demonstration of loving your neighbor.
But what she did next exhibited a rare example of Guerilla Love.
She ordered pizza for the men who were on the crew that moved everything out.
When it came she fed those men.
The leader said; "Lady I've been doing this job for years and NO one has ever even been cordial to us let alone feed us lunch."
All she said was she is a Christian and wished them a good day.
I wonder if our church would fill up if I preached more sermons like that?