Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

I received this in my email. It makes sense to me. How about you?

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.

This year will be different.

This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans.

There is no longer an excuse that, at gift-giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificatesfrom your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about somehealth improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American-owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking downthe Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half-dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip.

Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and potteryand beautiful wooden boxes.

And, how about going out to see a play or ballet atyour hometown theater.Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away, to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

This is a revolution of caring about each other,and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Hmmmmm . . .

I read blogs by friends and loved ones and see how much music is an influence or a commentary on their lives. And I wonder when that stopped being true of me and my life.

And then I realized, the music pretty much went out of my life when I got married, and got consumed by my husband's life and family and concerns, and I lost myself along the way. I thought that was part of (finally) growing up and caring about things other than myself. And I worked SO HARD to be worthy of that new family.

Never questioning if they were worthy of me, just accepting that I had to live up to them.

Well, that was my mistake.

Time to cue up some Buffett and be me again. Feels good.

Incommunicado

Grenada Wildlife

My cell phone won't work there and I have no idea what the chances are I'll be able to hop online (since we don't have the latest gadgetry and I'm not sure if the hotel will have a public computer).

So even though I won't be facebooking or emailing or even texting until at least the 28th, please know I am thinking of you and wondering how you're doing (in between beaching, snorkeling, sight-seeing, touring that rum factory and hopefully not dodging any hurricanes ('tis the season, you know) . . . Oh! And I hope we see the monkeys again!

Stay safe!

By the way . . .

Never mind. I was going to rant, but luckily saw the futility in that.
I've given the frustration of you to God. Hopefully He'll see fit to make you easier to be with. If not, well, maybe that's a blessing in disguise for me. It only makes me stronger.
I trust you, God. It's in Your hands.

American Gothic (2011)

BUT . . .

We gotta be us!

testing!

Hello?

Today I am thankful for:

• reconnecting with God after too long a time


• my cuz & her daughter


• my friend Linda surviving breast cancer--she's my bestie and I have learned so much from her!


• the miracle who stole my heart the first time she belly-laughed as I tickled her tiny fingers with my tongue


• the friends I made after several years of living in a new place


• finally growing up and knowing when to ignore people and their opinions of me when I should


• beautiful days


• family and friends


• being able to do things for others


• finding things to be thankful for tomorrow

What are you thankful for?

It's us . . .

against anybody else.

They can join us if they choose to. We will help and embrace them for all we are worth. We understand and live human frailty and derive strength from each other and our faith.

Faith is our strength.

Really?

I offered my help. You said, "No, never mind. I'LL handle it."

You called me for help. Immediately, I got what was needed and began the drive.

You called me again. "Don't bother. I'm okay. Go back home." I said, "But I'm almost there." You said with heavy sarcasm, "Well, I'm SORRY your life was disrupted."

I was pulling into where you were when you called again. "I need help." I was right there and had what you needed. And followed you home to make sure you got there.

"Thanks" would have been nice.

It's been so long . . .

but tonight my heart aches for a friend. He has had a loss that no parent should have to endure.

Peace to you, Bob.

Honey, I'm home!

Sorry I haven't posted for MONTHS--I'm sure there are only about 3 of you out there after all this time. My bad. Profuse apologies.

First, I got a job with the 2010 Census. It was one of the best jobs I've had. Very fast-paced, very detail-oriented, and since the economy put so many highly-educated and highly-qualified people out of work, I was able to learn so much from people I would never otherwise have met. God blessed me! And our local office actually placed in the TOP TEN of the entire country for meeting deadlines, accuracy, etc. It was a once-in-a-lifetime coming together of positive, action-oriented, think-outside-the-box, get-it-done-right-the-FIRST-time group of people. We rocked that Census!

I was also blessed to come away from that experience with lifelong friends. I moved to California, got married, and worked in the family business since 2003. Not a lot of opportunities to meet non-family members. Now I have several friends and at least 3 I know I will hold close forever.

Since the job ended, I have been spending my time with those new friends! They are teaching me creative things--knitting, scrapbooking, photography, card-making, etc. I'm learning to go with my imagination, something I never really did before. It's good. I'm seeing parts of the area I wouldn't otherwise see, with our photography sessions and hiking. I'm starting to feel like a real part of a community.

I also got to go back to Ohio in January to visit with friends there and most important, my family. Because of the census job, I missed my usual summer visit, so I was anxious to see everyone. It was, as always, the icing on the cake of my year. This time I did something new: I drove down to Sunbury to spend a night with my cousin's family and meet a facebook friend in person that she introduced me to online. I feel I've come away from that evening with another lifelong friend as well. And another creative outlet--zendoodling!

Another big event in my life since I last blogged: the birth in June '10 of my husband's 6th grandchild. She has absolutely stolen my heart! We have the privilege of watching her on weekdays while her parents are working. She's my first experience with day-to-day contact with a baby (never had kids of my own). Of course she is the most *insert positive adjective here* baby on the planet! Shehas taught me unconditional love.

So here I am back again after some awesome times. And some sad times, too, but I try not to dwell on negatives these days. Life really is too short.

And on that note: pray for Japan.