COLD TURKEY

We've had it. Up to here. (pointing to throat!) Thanksgiving dinner, that is. And it was wonderful. My daughter, with her husband's help, prepared almost all the meal. He is a great help in the kitchen. I had volunteered my assistance but I had a bad night with very little sleep (arthritis, that has been aggravated by our latest cold spell). I fell asleep sometime around daylight and it was ten o'clock before I arose. Thankfully, I had already prepared my part of the feast before bedtime. I had cornbread stuffing, broccoli casserole , and a fruit tray in the fridge. (I thought I was getting off easy with the fruit tray, but I realized later how time consuming it is to prepare one. But it was pretty, colorful and appreciated. My picky grandson so loves all fruits and melons. This week I went through my Lecture #12, (according to my daughter) about being frugal and not preparing too much food, as we usually do. With the economy being so scary, I doubled up on the intensity. To which Kammy replied, "Now, Mom, I only have one way of cooking for company, Food and lots of it." And she is a great cook, taught by my mother. I can't take credit for that. And what a spread it was! Turkey, ham, smashed potatoes/gravy, stuffing, cranberry salad, chicken tetrazzini, green beans, corn, birthday cake( my sweetie's), pumpkin and apple pies, rolls, and punch. She had asked what my boy friend likes and I had said sweet potato casserole but she forgot to buy them and made a whipped carrot casserole that tasted almost exactly like the yam one. Even fooled my sweetie. Did we overindulge? Of course! But I observed my daughter loading up the left-overs so that each family could take some home for supper. They took plates to their bachelor neighbor, and still had enough to eat for a day or two for themselves. It may have gone to waist, but for sure, it did not go to waste. There was a feeling of great thankfulness for the years bounty and God's blessings for us. We prayed for the safety of the twin son who is now is Iraq. Hopefully he will be there with his brother, who has already returned from Iraq, next Thanksgiving. A career man, this is his second tour there. We had dinner on Sunday, instead of Thursday, so that some could be with parents on that day. One parent just got out of the hospital, and could not come but they will be with him on Thanksgiving. I am re- minded by my children that the last ten years of my mother's lifed, she sweetly told us that each holiday might be her last one to spend with us. Until it finally was. However, my parent's presence is felt, in observing the rich traditions and warm family fellowship that we cherish so much.

(That warm turkey was wonderful, but

I am looking forward to sandwiches for

lunch today, and I haven't even had my

breakfast yet.) Happy Thanksgiving, to

all my friends and journalers, where-ever

you are. Give thanks!

ODDS AND ENDS

You may have guessed from the title that this will be a scatter-brained posting, for lack of a major topic. My mind and conversation often flit from one unrelated item to another and this is one of those times. Fair warning! Why do appliances pick the worst times to go beserk? My water heater is out. I think it needs new elements and the plumber I use is very busy at this time. Two days now, I have heated water on the stove for dishes, sponge baths, and the constant hand washing that occurs so much. They say you don't miss the water till the well runs dry. Well, I can attest to the fact that I miss HOT running water very much. I finally figured out that my dishwasher heats the water itself if it isn't hot enough. I'm tempted to climb in for a hot shower. Anyone that wants to go back to the good ol' days, be my guest. I'll stay mod, thank you! My daughter informed me that my grandsons are going to the football game Saturday with their hot-blooded Dad. (Cold weather does not phase him in the least.) Plus , he has the theory that his boys need "toughening up". Gr-r-r! I objected, of course, even though the game is against their major rival, who is the only team to defeat the boy's school team all year. It is the play-offs, but not worth getting sick for the holidays. Last week they parked on the knoll overlooking the stadium and tail-gated. The boys soon got cold and wisely watched most of the game from the truck. When I fret about the boy's nonchalant father, my honey chides me about being "over-protective", and I get to hear once again how he was sent by his mother ,as his father lay dying from double pneumonia, to cut the ice in the pond so that their animals could get to water. (This was a FIVE-YEAR OLD BOY!) I questioned the veracity of this tale until his eighty-seven year old mother told me that it was true, indeed. She must have seen how incredulous I looked, because she went on the tell me that it was January, and she was expecting her third child at any time. They lived on a remote farm and the doctor had not been able to get to them. Penicillin and other antibiotics were not even discovered until years later. Neighbors tried to carry his father out to the distant highway that day, but sadly, he passed away that day at age twenty-eight. His mother said, "I had to think about the living. My three young children depended on me. (HIs youngest sister was born three weeks after her father died.) and they would need the animals desperately." I admired the bravery of this woman and she worked all her life, (with the help of that dear little boy) , and raised three fine children. You have to admire the spunk of these pioneer women. And sixty-plus years later, I still see signs of the courage, bravery, and character that was instilled in them. He also said that the only store-bought toy he ever owned was a Red Flyer wagon his dad had bought him the year he died. He hauled firewood for the family for the next ten years in that wagon. Are we not a spoiled generation? Yes, I admit I paid sixty dollars for a video game for my boys last night for Christmas. And it wasn't even an educational one at that. (Sigh!) I guess we all do to the best of our abiliy at the moment. I also contributed to the Needy Children fund at the church last night and so I feel somewhat vindicated. We have taught the boys to be givers also and they pass on toys and clothing. Times are getting rough for some again and we may see a return to the frugal ways of the past. In the meantime, on a lighter note, I do so enjoy these things: 1. Big navel oranges and tangerines. 2. A warm house instead of winter woolies. 3. Truffles and Lady Godiva instead of chocolate covered cherries that I always got from the Christmas name-drawing. 4. Soft-soap and Caress bath bars, (tropical scented) instead of home-made lye soap, even though it cured everything. 5. My sweetie, (who just now called to say that he is on the way over to my house with two new elements for the water heater.) I have a lot more to be thankful for, that I will write about later, but for now, one thing is FOR SURE and certain" "LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT". Bless your heart!

SIBLING RIVALRY

My grandsons never cease to amaze me! The sibling rivalry that seems to motivate them to excel is so strong that while it can be exasperating when it becomes intense can at times be humorous, even touching. Rivalry is never more evident than when they are confined together in the back seat of a car. The close quarters brings on the bickering and boredom adds to the mix. McCaleb, the younger, is always competing with his three-year older brother. Always trying to measure up to his brother in sports and academics puts him on the defensive. A sample of this was observed last week., when they were being driven to one of their many after-school activities. After they had indulged in a little good-natured thumb wrestling, a moment of quiet ensued. Then, McCaleb observed seriously, "Tyler, I know that I am going to be rich when I grow up, but I am not so sure about you." To which Tyler replied , a little annoyed, "That really boosts my confidence, Bub, glad you shared that with me." Their mother had to smile wryly in the front seat, while trying to maintain her composure. This is the kid who pestered his Nana into agreeing to buy him a Lotus Elise if he gets into Harvard. He may have illusions of grandeur or else he is a dreamer. Anyhow, he has plans and for now anyway that keeps him focused. His brother is more the realist. He wants to be a doctor after a camp experience that let him observe two weeks in a local hospital. Another time, McCaleb told him, "Tyler, you don't have much imagination. I believe I have twice as much imagination as you do." ( He is forever drawing the interior of buildings, or spacecraft or such.) They are both great kids. I look at them and try to imagine their future. I hope to be around to see them succeed and live out their dreams. If possible, I will be there one way or the other. In the meantime I am looking around. Do you know anyone with a Lotus Elise for sale at a give-away price? I could store it away for a few years.

SPOIL SPORT!

I am a spoil sport. I have been accused of it, I admit it, guilty as charged. Relegated by age and physical condition to enjoy only spectator sports, I am a fan of basketball, baseball, and even football, provided I can watch from the safety of my seat in the stadium or my comfy living room. I have watched hockey and rugby a few times, but they have become too rough for me. The sight of blood alarms me to no end, and an ambulance parked at a sporting event chills me to the bone. I have not encouraged my son or my grandsons to participate, fearing that academics might take second place to sports. All three have played team basketball, while Nana cringed at flying elbows, and falls, not even to mention unsportsmanlike behavior. I have been regaled with the possibilities of getting big scholarships and handsome salaries as a professional, but I, for one remain unconvinced. Okay, so I am a scaredy-cat. especially where my kiddos are concerned. My husband had to persuade me to allow my son to get B-B guns and motorbikes, well past the age that his friends aquired these coveted possessions. Needless to say, I said, "I told you so", when he got a broken arm playing baseball and got hit by a car on the dirtbike. (MEN! And their toys!) I told the above so you would understand how unsettled I became to hear that my son, now a mature adult, had made an effort to conceal the fact that he had gone on a hunting trip this week. From me, at least. He told me that it was because he knew I would worry. I did not tell him that I worried anyway, thinking he was being evasive because he was going to a doctor for tests. Overactive imagination. He said, "I killed a deer." I thought to myself, "Is this my son who cried his eyes out at eleven when he shot at a bird and accidentally killed it?" I said "Oh, no! You killed Bambi?" I implied, "How could you?" He knows that I cannot bear to kill anything, even an ant. He asked me if I thought it was wrong to hunt, even if the meat was dressed out for food. I told him, "No, the Bible says it is lawful to eat meat, except for creepy, crawly things." The dietary laws of the Old Testament were given for the good of mankind, in a time when there was no refrigeration and sanitation. I think they still may be a good thing to follow. Some were ethical, such as not stewing the meat of an animal in its mother's milk. Noone likes a good hamburger, steak or poultry more than I, yet I do feel we would be better off to be vegetarian and legume eaters. I fear that hormones and chemicals used in animals are threatening to our health. I told my son that I read recentlly that pregnant women and children under six should not eat venison killed with lead shot. I asked, "Do you enjoy killing a helpless animal?" He said, "Of course not, even though I am pretty good at it. a lot more get away than I kill, and I must admit that I was glad I did not get that big buck with the huge rack." He said, "It is more about the camraderie, friends telling tall tales at the lodges." I knew in reason that was the true reason for going. Since he lost his father, I feel he yearns for male com- panionship more than before, even though his father had an aversion to hunting similar to mine. I even at that time felt a little smug pity for "hunting widows" because their husbands were absent so much indulging in that sport. I realize that without hunters the game would overpopulate and become a nuisance or a threat, but I still cannot help but be repulsed by this sport. Some may consider it akin to bullfighting, gamecock fighting and such. Am I being hypo- critical to feel this way, while still eating meat? I do not eat fish, but I enjoy fishing. (I rationalized that Jesus had fisherman disciples, and fed the multitude with loaves and fishes.) I just do not like fish, but I think it is a healthy choice to substitute for meat. I have always prided myself with the idea that my children could tell me anything. The lines of communication were always open, and we shared good news along with bad. I do not want them to keep secrets from me because I am judgmental. However, they know how I feel about certain issues, and if it is important enough to them to disregard my wishes, then more power to them. I raised them right, Now they are adult and make their own choices. But , Please, God, guide them and direct their paths.

BLESSINGS ABOUND!

Doom and gloom in the news has many of us wearing long faces and moaning and groaning about the prospects ahead. You notice that I included myself in that category? I received my "comeupance" at prayer meeting last night. I had allowed fear to creep in ( that old demon), and I was falling into the habit of counting my problems instead of my blessings. That is easy for me to do with winter coming on, which brings an automatic greyness to my moods. Bu-u-t--------------------- ! The first thing that happened was so uplifting that my bleak outlook changed instantly! The sister of my dear friend and co-worker got up first to testify. She had wonderful news! My friend, stricken with Legionairre's Disease and complications, had been comatose for two months. Little hope for her recovery had been extended to her spouse and son. The dreaded words, that I despise,"just a vegetable", were even uttered. B-u-u-t............. Praise be to God, she awakened and told her son that she had to get home and take her sister to Wal-mart! Naturally, her son, our little preacher at church, was so exhilarated he could hardly contain himself. On further conversing, it was determined that her memory of several years was affected. She thinks her son is her brother and that she is still a young, unmarried girl, but, the hopes that she can regain those years and be restored to health are just bubbling over in all of us. It was a joyous prayer service and I felt like I was walking on clouds of glory! The pastor stressed that much as we all want to be independent and self-sufficient, we are really dependent on God's mercy for even the next breath we take. When we surrender our will to His, He is able to accomplish great things in our lives. We are truly blessed as a people in a great nation and we need to return to an attitude of gratitude for the privileges that we enjoy and often take for granted. We have received a wake-up call with the failing of monetary things and institutions. We need to get back to the basic ideals that made us a great nation. The very idea that the words "In God we Trust" be taken off our money is indicitive of the decline and erosion of our values. We respect freedom of worship and all beliefs, but our founding fathers built this nation on those very words. I may have to battle depression in the months ahead, but I am not alone. God did not promise that we would not have trials, only that He would sustain us and help us to overcome them. I believe that everything works together for good to them that love the Lord and obey his Word. In the still of the night,, when I am burdened with issues that seem to have no answer, let me count my many, many blessings, and trust God in all things.

DAWN OF A NEW ERA

Do you feel a little letdown after all the adrenaline rush of yesterday? I do, and even though it is a relief to have it decided and over, having all the hoop-la end is kinda an anti-climax. Of course, we were a little oversaturated with political propaganda. The media blitz is over, so what are they going to talk about now? Back to poor ol' Brittany, I guess. I called my daughter to see how they were taking McCain's defeat. She said that the boys were quite disappointed, but their appetite for politics had been whetted and she had no regrets. She said they would always remember seeing "A real American hero"! I told her that I thought Obama's victory speech was very eloquent, as great as any I had ever heard, to which she replied, "Oh, yeah! There's no doubt that he can "talk the talk", now if he is just able to "walk the walk" and fulfill his campaign promises. We had a hard time believing he could do all that and NOT RAISE TAXES, for the middle class. " We shall see! Her brother, a Democrat, is biding his time before venturing a little political ribbing for her. I told her to expect it. She said "Well, at least, we have griping rights now. We've had to listen to it from them for years now. I am hoping a Democrat president with a Democrat Congress can work wonders with the economy, the wars and health care. AND NOT RAISE TAXES for the working class. McCains speech was very gracious, also. Plus, we haven't seen the last of Governor Palin.". I'm glad they have important jobs to go back to. This election has really been an experience. I'm glad I voted.

IT'S BEEN FOREVER!

Well, it seems like it has been forever since I have been able to sit down and post in peace. October was such a hectic month, it always is for me. It signifies change, and I do not handle change very well. Is that a sign of getting old? If lack of flexibility is an indication, I certainly fit the bill, whether I admit it or not. I did not expect to be as upset by my journal on AOL closing as I was. I procrastinated about transferring it all month while I lollygagged around, thinking I had plenty of time. The month went by so fast that the dreaded day arrived before I was out of denial. Faintly reminescent of my cancer surgery which took place on a Halloween evening some fifteen years ago. (Praise God that I did not put that off too long, as I am in habit of doing! After the ten year time elapsed I finally believed that I was free of it. ) I am digressing from the subject of my lost journal. As I tried to save it on the last day, the tears flowed freely, to no avail. It may be floating somewhere in cyberspace, now, and I am left with my memories of time spent creating it. Strangely, I felt like I had lost a child, an imperfect embryo, but a child of my heart, no less. I grieve. Nuff sed. We, as a nation, are also approaching a new beginning. The outcome of the election, tomorrow, will be a fork in the road. Hopefully, we will not have to regret the road not taken. We will live with our choice for at least the next four years, God willing some unforeseen circumstance. I will pray for the victor, as he faces an awesome responsibility of guiding this nation back to prosperity and peace. May God grant him wisdom and honorable service as he makes decisions that will impact all of us. My daughter is now at the airport in Tennessee to welcome a visiting Senator McCain and she invited me to go. I declined in deference to preserving my voting privacy. As usual, I have not even told the children how I intend to vote. My privilege and they respect it , ( not beyond trying to influence me in this divided family.) I always tell them to just vote their conscience, as I do. On a humorous note, this little tidbit from Halloween. My eleven year old grandson debated about trick or treating this year, but finallly decided to go with his little friend. One street in town is always deluged with costumed kids and notoriously treats generously. (The city blocks this street off as a precaution to autos so it is known to be a safe place to allow kids to treat.) When the two little boys came back to their waiting mothers, the friends mother peered into his plastic pumpkin and said, "Well, Thomas, I think this is the least candy you ever got trick or treating." To which he replied seriously, "It's this dog-gone economy." That sent the mother's into gales of laughter, until they soberly realized that the dire predictions had even filtered down to the children. Next year, they will be too old to go, and I suppose like many, the age of innocence is over all too soon. When they told me about it, I reasoned that the residents on that street, besieged by ghosties and goblins, had to limit their treats. My son had a table set up in the park and his office gave out 800 treats before they ran out. He was some- what overwhelmed by the turnout. Since the churches have gone together (and businesses) to have games and treats in the park (trunk or treat) I do not get the trick or treaters like I did. That is a relief since I worry about the children. Sorrowfully, I heard about a pregnant woman in a nearby town who was taking her small daughter and was killed by a car. I will be glad that my grandson will not be going next year, even though\ wistful at the passing of this tradition. I have never been a fan of Halloween. By the way, my grandson was dressed up as a wolf, so I guess the folks he went to visit really thought that THE WOLF WAS LITERALLY AT THEIR DOOR!