If you build it...they will come!

As an AARP volunteer, I teach the 8 hour safe driving class[ in two 4 hour sessions]. I set up a class for two consecutive Saturdays from 10:00 'til 2:00 because the employees at the town hall [where I held the classes]expressed a desire to take the course. They said that it was difficult to find a course offered that regular Monday-Friday working people could enroll in. So I agreed that I'd do two Saturday sessions.

It didn't occur to me that the first session was on Easter Saturday. Only 8 people signed up. So I cancelled Easter Saturday and advertised the following two Saturdays. The next

phonecall that I got from the town hall was left on my voicemail, and it said:

"We've got 42 signed up...what's the cut-off number?"

"Well, Hell's Bells...it's 35. And the last two groups of 22 were a little of a tight squeeze in the room provided."

One thing led to another. People got involved to figure out a solution...and 'Voila!'

There are now 50 people coming to the fire house [next door to the town hall]where the seating is more spacious and the TV/Projection system is so-o-o cool!!

50 people saving $10,000 of their insurance premium money back into their pockets-is a good thing.
The fact that someone may change a potentially dangerous driving habit and lives will be saved-is an even better thing.

Being the facilitator who helps that combination happen- is the best thing!

Time Waits For No Man...better yet...Man Waits For No Time!!

I volunteer at my local hospital at the One Day Surgery[colonoscopies, cataracts, laser eye treatments,etc.] Waiting Room. I really like it, and I meet all kinds of people. Sometimes it is a person I know. Depending on how well we can joke with each other, occasionally I take the liberty to say,"Hey! You must be here to verify whether or not you really are a perfect ---hole!! And when they are leaving, I get to laugh, " This would be the ONLY time that we know for sure that you are not full of sh-t!

So, today, there was a 17 year old kid who had been admitted from the emergency room for a surprise appendectomy. I was chatting with his mom, the doctor had come out and said all was well, and she could head up to his room on the 2nd floor. As she left, she shared that the boy's father might appear in the waiting room, and would I please tell him the room where his son would be staying. I said..."Sure thing!"

15-20 minutes later

The father appears and wants to know where the kid is, and I share with him the room number where he can go and wait for his son until he is released from the recovery room. He goes out the door and it's 3 steps to the elevator. He pushes the button, and looks all around, and looks back to the elevator status.

He spouts out, "Where are the stairs?

Does this elevator work?

Does this place have stairs?"

He spots a hospital maintenance young adult and vents, "This place is like the Bates Motel! Are there any stairs in this place? The elevator doesn't work...I see no stairs...what's the story??

The young man directs him to the nearest staircase, and comes over to see if the elevator is broken. He pushes the button, and 'Voila!' the door opens instantly!!

The worker looks at me with a puzzled look and we both just smile.

While I realize that "Perspective is Everything", it was too bad that the man couldn't see just how ridiculous he looked and acted! Really...the Bates Motel?

I guess how long a minute is depends on what you are waiting for.

Easter Peeps To You!!

Halleluia...Halleluia...let the holy anthem ring!

Beautiful sunny day.
I played Flo's homemade tape with 'Let There Be Peace On Earth'.
Then Flo, Gracie, and I watched Easter Mass on TV.
You should have seen G'ma's face when the priest was circulating among the congregation flinging holy water....
And Flo got wet!![from my nightstand water!!Fun, fun, fun]

We had traditional hot cross buns, hot chocolate with whipped cream, and
followed up with peeps and jelly beans.
I did have a chocolate egg under the peep's birth canal!!

Make it a 'smiles and laughter' day.

Touched By An ANGEL

I met my friend Kate at Lewis' Restaurant for some breakfast and conversation. We sat in the middle row of tables in between the counter and the row of booths. Kate and I talked about many different topics ...kids, childhood, dr. appts, Easter dinner ,...as we chowed out on egg sandwiches and coffee.
It was getting to be time to go and I said outloud,"OK Marianne"as if talking to myself to get up and get going! Standing immediately to my left were a couple of women waiting to slide into the booth. When I said,"OK Marianne, " the woman closest to me turned around and looked at me.
"Is your name Marianne? [I said to her.]
" Yes it is.. "
"So is mine!"
Kate says,"Pay no attention to the fact that she was talking to herself!!"
I asked her how she spelled her name, as it is not a common name.
She went on to tell us that her mother[who had passed on] had prayed for a girl and when a girl was given to her, she named her"Mary Ann" in honor of Mary and her mother Ann. She said that she had taken good care of her mother for a while, and that she heard"Mary Ann" called quite a bit!
I told her that I could relate to that as that is what I'm doing now.

It occurred to me that it really was quite a fluke that first of all...I said my name outloud, and secondly that the woman standing next to me answered me[ being an uncommon name].
What a strange set of coincidences!
So, I touched her arm and said," You know what?
I think it's your mother saying hello!"
Recognition and a nod of her head said it all.

Wonder if Jon Edwards started like that??!!

Friday. March 21.2008




A DOZEN DEER...ROMPING ACROSS THE CREEK,

A TAX REFUND...SMILES WAY BEYOND BELIEF!!

USING ALL SEVEN LETTERS IN A SCRABBLE WORD.

OUTSIDE THE PICTURE WINDOW...A BRILLIANT RED BIRD.

LAUGHING WITH FLORENCE IS HEAVEN ON EARTH...

THE BEST PART OF LIFE....APPRECIATING THE SMALL THINGS' WORTH!




AND THE QUOTE OF THE DAY...ON THIS FIRST DAY OF SPRING:

A little bit of sunshine, freedom, and a few flowers is the prescription for the day.
Bavid Baird

Guess Who's Delivering Your Lunch...

One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.
Iris Murdoch

An unsuspecting Florence watched as her lunch was delivered by...

" Who is that?"

It's the Mayor!!!

And then a photo op...

Seems it's a 'national' Mayors/ Meals on Wheels Awareness Day!

If anyone is worthy of a 'Queen for a Day' Moment...it's definitely Flo!


Her response when they had left ...upon hearing that' we 'knew it was coming and 'we 'didn't tell her...was...
"You can't trust anybody in this house.
The mayor of Auburn just delivered my lunch!!
And you both knew about it?
Trust no one!!!"

Smiles

What sunshine is to flowers,
smiles are to humanity.
They are but trifles, to be sure;
but, scattered along life's pathway,
the good they do is inconceivable.
Joseph Addison

Have you had your smiles today?

Wahoo to you on this fine day!

Cheerfulness is contagious, but don't wait to catch it. Be a carrier!


Best of St Paddy's Day to y'all!
Flo has on her shamrock socks and Quacker Factory green valour shirt...
I put her face in the sunshine[get some vitamin D], brushed her hair for 10 minutes, and a helicopter flew over the house. [Not a regular occurence]
She's way more alive than this morning when all she said was "10 minutes....10 minutes..."
It was 10:45 before her feet touched the floor.

Tonight Dancing with the Stars begins.
Good luck to all in the pool.
Peace.

Deja vu- fun again too.

It's a Saturday in March and Flo and I are watching Duke basketball. G'ma and Grace[G&G] are bonding.They are so good for each other. It's fun to watch.

I went to visit a friend whose 2 kids grew up with Jeremy as if family. Kathleen has an almost 2 year old[Maggie] and is expecting her baby sister[Anna, Lilian, or Grace...name still pending] to arrive around April 24. I had't seen Maggie[1st born] in about a year. When I walked in, and we looked at each other, I immediately saw her mother as a baby. It was dejavu some 26 years later...but where were Nick and Jeremy[now 28]?

Isn't genetics an amazing thing!!

I was pretty much a stranger to Maggie, and Kathleen began asking Maggie questions to get her to talk to me. Seems that we were both friends of Sesame Street[ dejavu all over again!]. When it was mentioned that Cookie Monster was her favorite, I immediately launched into:

" C is for Cookie..it's good enough for me" in my Cookie Monster voice while swaying back and forth.

Maggie's sports a big smile and says, "Again!"

I sing it again and we are kindred spirits[ a leftie and daughter of a leftie].

She says,"again."

Kathleen lowers Maggie from her pregnant shelf to the floor, and Maggie reaches her hand out to me, grasps my hand in her little hand,and leads me into the living room. Priceless!!



It reminds me of a response that one of my students[5th grader] wrote to me in a note that the thing that she liked best about me was that I was like one of the kids.

I believe she was right.

I've been a kid for 'bout 58 years now!!

Lucky Lady

Well, Flo won a gift certificate at the hospital card party/fund raiser for the Blarney Stone[a local restaurant]. Appropriate for her...since she HAS kissed the REAL Blarney Stone.

Sunday Morning March 2...
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood....sunny and wildly cold!!
The living room furniture has been rearranged and Mom's chair now faces the road. She has a better view of the great outdoors. She's always looking for birds [she has seen robins, cardinals, finches, and more]squirrels, and most especially wanting to see those elusive deer!!
So last night, I was in the kitchen preparing some supper, and I hear her begin to scream in a high-pitched 'Edith Bunker' wail. Thinking that the evil cat was chewing on her extremities, or worse yet...eating her chocolate turtles...I went flying into the living room to save her!
"Look! Look! "
"WWhat?What??" I answer.
"A deer...And you were going to miss it!!!"

After I recovered from the almost paralyzing spike of blood pressure[mine!], I reminded her that they usually travel with friends. Sure enough, another one appeared, came right up to the road, and crossed the creek at the 'Dead End' sign.
She was thrilled!! Ask her about it.
And so now ...on her bucket list...we move to...
winning the lottery!!
Stay tuned.