My contribution to honoring our veterans this year is to host an AARP Safe Driving Class.  They are offering the course to veterans and their spouse for free in the month of November.  Some sort of military ID is required and it generally adds up to a savings of $200 over a three year span. I advertised the class online and sent the info to the local newspaper.  Well, just as in 'The Field of Dreams' quote states:
"If you build it [a baseball field], they will come."
There were so many responses that not only did my 2 day class fill up quickly, but I went online to find other courses being offered in the surrounding area so that I could refer the phone calls that kept on coming for people who wanted to register. 
[google:  www.AARP November Safe Driving class ...and your zip code].
It was kind of humbling to check the identification info and fascinating to hear about some of their travels.
"Twenty years in the Army."
"I was a Marine.
"Navy...Air Force... "
One man brought in a framed document that he had taken off of his wall!!
God bless them one and all.  They have my respect and gratitude.

She Who Laughs...Lasts.

It has been mentioned that I can be entertaining....sometimes on purpose in the form of a practical joke but quite often without any prior planning or assistance... and the joke is on me.

For the past two Saturdays, I had scheduled another two session Safe Driving Class. They were a week apart so that people who work Monday through Friday can sign up to 'think safety' as well as 'save money'. I know that the true motivation is to save money, but that's okay with me.

On the first Saturday, it was evident that my arthritis was in a flare. I explained that my right knee was pretty annoyed because of the lack of arthritis meds, along with my failed attempt in auditioning for The Rockettes.[kidding.] The people that I meet in these classes are always so kind and helpful, and this group of drivers was no different. They love telling scary driving stories.

By the time that the next Saturday rolled around, I had resumed all of those wonderful medicines that help me function better. Everyone was genuinely glad to see that I was doing better, and I did a couple of Rockette kicks to show them how flexible my right knee had become.[ for real] One man even 'brought the teacher' a chocolate donut as a kind gesture.

We had just come back from a quick break, and I had directed them to the next page when from the back table, I heard...

"Mare, you have a green sticker on your face!"
"What? I do? Where?"
"Right under your chin."

I reached under my chin, and there was a round 'fluorescent green' sale sticker that had 40 on it. I immediately recognized it from a salesman's sale that I had gone to on Thursday, and then I had removed that sticker off of the box that I purchased. That was done in my dining room. How it became affixed to my chin...is a mystery.

When I aked how long it had been there, she said it was on my shirt and she thought maybe it was a part of the design. When it appeared under my chin, she knew it wasn't supposed to be there.

There I was...on sale for a mere 40...what a bargain!!

We all got a good laugh at that. It was quite the unscripted break and I thanked the woman for telling me that it was there. It is similar to a good friend who will tell you if you have broccoli in your teeth or maybe need to use a tissue. It is good to know.
There are always a laugh or two in these classes. This one was right up there with the time I told the people that there were some Ritz Crappers on the back table for anyone who would like some.

Thank goodness that I am able to laugh along with the people even when it is at my expense. A whole room full of people laughing...fun, fun, fun!

Speedbumps!!

Today was the first day of two of the Safe Driving classes that I host/teach. There were 33 people enrolled and their smiling faces and cooperative nature helped to take the edge of a kind of a 'bumpy start.'

I headed to the car this morning with my arms full of the registration forms and instruction books, and I unlocked the passenger door with the remote on my keyring. I placed all the materials on the seat, tossed the keys onto the driver's seat, closed the door, and headed around to get going.

The driver's side door would not open...it was locked. My keys were on the seat.
I quick stepped to the passenger door...it was also locked.
Everything was locked and the keys were inside. Damn!

I was praying that the spare set of keys in the house would be easily accessible, because I knew that at least half of the participants would arrive early. They always do!I I had planned to be 45 minutes early.
Thank ya, Jesus! Whew! On my way again.

Five minutes to the church auditorium where 7 tables and 35 chairs are generally set up and ready.

Wrong!!...4 tables and 20 chairs. Thankfully, those early birds pitched right in!

Then the TV/VCR was waist high instead of the regular high one. They said that the tall one was set up for something later, but when I couldn't get the short one to work...and they couldn't either...

They wheeled in the tall one. Whew!
Meanwhile, 33 people to register and get 'rollin' along'...I had worked up a bit of a sweat!!

We got right into it, and because I had prefilled out 60% of each form, we lost no time.

Did I mention that in the whirlwind of chaos, I managed to leave my pocketbook at home?!!

Tomorrow is Day 2 followed by lunch with a couple of friends.

Life is good.

And there ya have it!

Shooting the Breeze'!

A dozen or so 'wise old birds' gathered at the usual watering place to brush up on safety techniques and learn anew the ways to avoid crashes. A couple of highlights would include the discussion that ensued about the many ways that life has changed since we were kids. It got me thinking about my childhood and playing in the park with friends and other kids from the surrounding neighborhood. There were the usual swings, slides, a huge sandbox, basketball courts, and tennis courts which were purposefully turned into ice skating rinks in the winter. I can vividly recall the smell of smouldering mittens as we huddled around that warm barrel of fire. I'm thinking that would never exist in today's litigious society. The pavilion type clubhouse was the center of attention in the summer when the talent show was organized to present to an audience of our siblings and parents. We also wove baskets and created colorful lanyards. I also remember taking tap dancing lessons for a bit. Lots of fun stuff to do.

There was a very tall iron maypole with about six chain link individual 'hands-on' bars. Everyone would grab one and begin to run in a circle and then as our feet came off the ground...we were flying. I haven't seen a maypole in 50 years!!

The strange thing within its borders was a real air plane that we climbed all over the wings, the engine areas, etc. It was like an old blue war plane. I can't imagine how it came to rest there, and now as I think about it, I am shaking my head and thinking it was relatively strange as I see it now.

One of the participants in the driving class whose name was Elsie raised her hand and shared...

"Speaking of seeing, my sister took her husband and his brand new glasses back to 'Lens Crafters' and began to complain. "

The clerk asked what the problem was, and her sister answered,

"These are brand new glasses and he still doesn't see things the way I do!!"

The twenty three of us laughed together as we shared the homemade brownies that were brought in on the second day by a very thoughtful baker among them.

I had to ask Leonard how tall he was because at 87 he was still a very tall glass of water!

"I am 6ft. 3 in. tall. I was 6 ft. 7in. tall but I have shrunk over the years!"

I wonder if I will see Leonard in three years for the next driver safety class. He would be 90 then and probably still sporting that very friendly smile and genuine sincerity in his eyes.The paperwork is done, and mailed to the two places that process the receipts.

The next class is the next two Saturday mornings from 9:30-12:30 at the local firehouse. It will include people who work during the week and have trouble finding a class to fit their working schedule.

Most likely there will be a different perspective to 'aggressive driving' and occasional 'road rage' that might occur getting to and from their jobs. There are 30 people signed up so far. Quite a robust flock that will gather together to 'shoot the breeze' while saving money on their car insurance. Better yet is that they may be saving lives...their own and possibly others, too.