Elizabeth Wilder's Blog

*** UNDER TALL ***

Projects - projects - as one is crossed off another appears.  I have one project that has bounced around on my list for decades.  I truly think it is about time it got to the top of the list and stays there.  And that is me.

In some ways my recent cataract surgery helped open my eyes (pun  intended).  I finally may have the clarity to realize that it is about time that I work as hard on me as I tend to work on other parts of my list. 

With my new focus, I was laughing at the characters on TV for suddenly I could see the wrinkles on their handsome and/or beautiful faces.  Who needs HD - who would want to see them with more contrast anyhow.

Then, I got my first glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror - you know all those horrible lights and all.  Guess what - something happened overnight. I have wrinkles, spots and curious lumps that I never saw before.  I mentioned this to a friend and she said that she never had a wrinkle either until she had her cataract done.  That darn procedure - no one told me about that side effect.

It's about time I focus a bit on me - no not a bit but a lot. 

I have always been overweight but said I was just under-tall.  Guess what -  when you age, you tend to become more under-tall.  So that blows that theory.  I have never been fast (but I get a lot done in my slow methodical way) - guess what - when you age you tend to slow down even more. So looks like the first thing I need to do on my list of me is learn a new way of thinking  based on decades of trying to do it all.  I finally figured out that doing it all or at least trying to satisfy all will never happen so why continue to try.  Who knows, taking care of me might be satisfying to myself - what a concept!

I was raised in an era when you were taught that putting yourself first was selfish.  Number one was your husband, children, extended family, church, friendships, community, etc.  I was taught that if you are going to do a job, do the best way possible.  My poor children.  I have cursed them with the 110% attitude (and I have heard about it more than once).

This is going to be the hardest project ever started.  You've heard about teaching an old dog new tricks.  But I think I owe it to myself to try.  I want to concentrate on my health - mental and physical.  I want to concentrate taking it easier on myself and if the choice comes between making the bed or polishing my nails - perhaps it will be my nails.  (I'm pretty good at fixing them up in the car while riding to wherever and I actually finished up while walking to church awhile ago - try that one).  I don't need to do 10 chores if there is only time for 8.  And I certainly don't don't have to put my wants last - let's try first.

Oh, my - is this possible?  Well, I've declared that I want to try.  A less stressed wife and mom might be a nice gift to my family.  And if the bake sale has one less batch of cookies - so what.  The person that would buy them probably shouldn't be eating them anyway - so  that might be a good thing.

I plan to start this new way ASAP.  But first I have a busy weekend helping out on the annual Fall Festival (craft, bake, gramma's attic sale).  Once I get that crossed off the project list, I'll shake it up a bit.

It would be nice if you are looking for me I may be reading a book (or writing one), sipping a cup of tea, walking, laughing with friends, trying a new kind of fruit, working out in the gym (gasp)  --  gotta find some way to stretch out someone who is under tall.       

 

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO CS aka COMMON SENSE

I had my cataract surgery this morning (so I probably shouldn't be using my laptop) - but this gives me quiet time to get a few things off my mind.

So many times I heard my grandmother say, "Betty, just use your common sense".  And - most times situations were settled by taking time to do just that.  I hate to see it becoming a skill of the past.

I know you must of heard about the 6 year old cub scout that took his prize possession to school . a small camping eating utensil that he was using to eat his meals.  When the powers that be saw the little fold out knife part, he was suspended from school and faced 45 days in a school for trouble boys.  Could not the teacher have taken a few seconds to squeeze out a bit of common sense, take the utensil from the child and send him to the "office" to get a talk about bringing "deadly weapons" to school.  Seems to me that would have ended a lot of stress in the life of a  young boy who was so pride of his cub scout treasure.  I first saw this in the newspaper.

Shortly after, I saw on the television a story of parents that applied for a health care plan for their 4 month old son.  The insurance company refused the child as he weighed 17 pounds and this was too heavy for his place on their charts.  It seems that obesity is considered a pre-existing condition and thus he could not have a policy.  Come on now!  Perhaps there should be a column on the charts with a common sense clause.  Thank goodness, this was not  a problem when one of our sons was born weighing 11.5 pounds. That sure was over the chart numbers.  Today, would they have refused him a place on our family plan? This morning on TV, there was a little girl that is not qualifying for a health care policy because she is considered too thin for her young age.   Perhaps there should be business seminars in CS.

A few days ago. I saw this with my own impaired eyes.  I was driving into the parking lot at the local grocery mega-store and as usual stopped at the crosswalk at the front door to make way for any pedestrians.  Now most of the people here seem to do that but there are some that just go zipping through perhaps not even seeing shoppers because they driving while using cell  phones.  When I was stopping, this father came out of the store pushing one of those shopping carts that look like a bright red car.  This was a double seater with two adorable towhead boys steering their way out.  Well he went directly into the walk, not looking one way or the other as while pushing his precious load with one hand, he was texting with the other.  Now where was his common sense?  What if I had been one of the zipping through drivers - what a tragedy that would have been.  Perhaps an addendum should be added to the proposed law that you can not use the cell phone while driving a car to include no texting while pushing one.

Lately I have seen dear old common sense losing the battle in many areas and that has been with one clear eye.  I dread to see what I may see with two.

 

LOVELY OCTOBER SURPRISE

This is our first Fall as residents of PA.  The days are becoming crisp and the sky seems more blue.  Some days have no clouds and the blue is actually brilliant.  Summer blooms are fading and are being replaced by gold, rust, and purple mums.  On my patio table I have an arrangement of small pumpkins and gourds.  We actually found our decorative jack-o-lantern in the storage area (miracle or sorts) and it is ready to go in the window to grin at passers by as we get closer to the end of the month.  (As a side - I'm waiting for the best time to put up a Halloween decoration and at the grocery store I am being bombarded with Christmas stock including lit trees - what is wrong with that picture. Just venting - sorry!)  We are beginning to get a bit of color in the trees.  So glad to see it for for I will miss the foliage in Maine.  Raking however we will not miss.  Nice bonus for us in this senior community - that chore is no longer part of our job description.

My little flower garden is getting close to be put asleep for the season.  Until a frost comes along, I will enjoy what hangs on.  There are impatiens of various reds and pinks that still delight.  Foliage plants are still deep green and in the middle of it all is a beautiful fringed purple iris.  SAY WHAT!  Is mother nature playing tricks with my brain.  At my age, my brain plays enough tricks on itself.  I don't remember clicking my heels to be carried back to Spring.  Let's look again.  It's still there in all its glory and there are two more buds ready to burst open.  I did what I usually do first - grab the camera!  I have enjoyed neighbors going by and doing a double take.  One walked by, stopped short and backed up to look again.         
 

I'm not sure why this treasure decided to bloom in my garden but I am so happy it chose me.  I shouldn't be too surprised as I have a Christmas cactus that has bloomed at Halloween for years.  I am the type that tends to walk to a different beat so why not my plants.  I want to leave it outside for all to enjoy as long as I can but if a killing frost is predicted, I'll pick it and bring it inside to live in my Ikebana (simple Japanese pottery dish with a frog pin that holds a single stem and keeps it fresh for much longer than the average bear) and of course, I will take a picture.

My final words on Fair foods (at least for this season).  Thousands of this burger were sold recently at a large fair in Massachusetts.  It consists of a fried burger with cheese and strips of bacon that was served in a buttered split Krispy Creme honey dipped donut.  It seems the perfect complement to the blooming onion for lunch with a deep fried oreo cookie for dessert.  I read that the batter on the cookie is just wonderful. 

I am one that can not say much as I have been overweight since I was 6 years old (long time) and have struggled with it my entire adult life.  Darn that ice cream after my tonsils came out!  But I do think there are some things that push the envelop (or the arteries) a bit too far.