First Turning Sixty As The New Beginning, Now Twelve Years Later

My 7th birthday

In seven days I'll be turning seventy-two.  This has been a monumental year and not all events were positive either, who knew or even imagined how 2020 would play out?  It has been a thinking year, my brain has grown at least two inches.  I say this because someone told me that when my thinking causes a headache it means my brain is growing.

In 2008 when I turned sixty, the first shock I dealt with was to accept that I don't have as many years ahead that I had in the past. In one day, being 59 and waking up the next day 60, I went from not even thinking about my foreseeable future to maybe fifteen or twenty years left. Retiring hasn't been what I expected. Before making my decision, I talked with retired people, my mom especially, and their suggestion was don't retire.  It gets boring pretty quick.  Yet, one morning in March 2016, I woke up and realized I was tired. I'm still nervous about the money, but God said "do not be anxious for He will take care of us", so I'm claiming that scripture. 

I enjoyed my work, I was the Secretary/Treasurer as well as the Accounting and Office Manager for the company, a plumbing supply house.  Of course, it helped to know my boss's daughter was hired to learn my job.  She expressed to me once that her working at the office during the summers with me is why she went to college and earned an Accounting degree. She will be a good accountant as she likes detail work as much as I do. She'll be good at the job.

Once I retired, my daughter wanted me to sell my house and come live with her. I would have liked that, except she lived in Oklahoma a long way from Alabama. My mother was still alive at the time and I felt that I needed to stay and help my brother take care of her. It was a good thing too as she had a mini stroke in 2016 and needed someone around 24/7. She moved in with me; at the time I didn't understand her delaying giving up her apartment. She died on September 10, 2017, at which point I decided to move to Oklahoma. It was traumatic giving up my home of fifteen years and going through everything I'd accumulated through my adult life, deciding what to sell, give away or just throw away. It was at that point, I understood why Mom delayed doing the same thing when she moved in with me. She married at sixteen and had accumulated sixty eight years of material goods as well as giving up her independence. In hindsight, the passing time seems like the blink of an eye, yet living it seemed like I would live forever.

As I look outside the sun is brightly shining here today, I have Baybay my cat laying on my arm while I type.  I'll be talking with my daughter soon; and I have wonderful memories, so all in all it's a great day. 

Shelby and BayBay

Sweetie Pie and BayBay

Why Do You Follow A Blog?

 

Bucks Pocket, Alabama

     I follow a blog because I find them full of information or interesting. But a comment caught my eye when they wrote that they appreciate my following and that I actually read and found their article interesting and useful. It never occurred to me there were other reasons for following a blog.

     I had to think hard on reasons for following a blog, so I Googled the question and found some good reasons on the following blog, Paper Fury

            The Design is fabulous 

            Friends with the blogger

            It has incredible photography

            The blog gives me something

            When someone I trust recommends the blog

     I also came up with a few negative possibles:

            Feigned sincere interest (make the blogger think I 

                  found site impressive and interesting (usually

                  someone known and usable)

            More blogs making higher numbers.

     Though the negative reasons seem such a waste of time. 

Desota Falls, DeKalb, Alabama

        

A "Rut" Feels like a Comfortable Place

Monarch on my Lantana flowers 2019

    Have you ever thought your life is on track when suddenly a light bulb comes on and you realize you're in a comfortable "Rut".       

     I noticed that something is missing in my life, each day is the same, no challenges.  I realize I'm living in a "rut". By not accomplishing anything, I'm restless with an undercurrent of stress. I need to climb out of my rut.

     For years I've written stories and even have drafts for two different books, one draft has 22,000 words and the other has 12,000 words; plus numerous short stores. Yet I've only tried once to publish a short story. I decided the way to climb out of the rut is to try to have something published.

     I have been following a blog by Rachelle Gardner since the first part of the year. She is a literary agent with a very helpful blog Rachelle Gardners well as offering services, particularly an Author's school. At the time, there was a waiting list, so I signed up. At the first part of September I received notice that a space was available. I thought about it and decided that if I didn't publish now, I never would, so I'm now a member of the Author School. And it is so worth it! The main focus in the first two sessions is sitting down and writing. There are links to help us overcome the obstacle of procrastination! Learning our temperament so that we can learn to work around what causes us to put off writing. Such as being a type of person who will do anything for others but not schedule time for myself to write; or if I schedule the time, sit there and organize my desk, my notebooks, anything to not write. Starting on October 1, I decided that I would try to write 500 words four days a week. I haven't been successful every day, but it has encouraged me to start blogging again as a way to write 500 words a day. 

Shelby and BayBay

 

     

     

Growing Up In Rural Alabama and Georgia: How To Plant A Garden OR Stubborn As A Mule!

Mule pulling a plow-Googles free pictures

     I remember when we first moved to the "Big Woods" at New Home Community, Georgia Daddy planted vegetable gardens. Now we didn't have a garden tiller, I don't even know if they were invented at that time. One of our neighbor's had a mule, he was a solid bay color and I can attest to the phrase of "stubborn as a mule". Daddy always tried to borrow him first thing in the morning because the more work he did before we got him, the more likely he would balk at pulling the plow, as he was tired and didn't want to do anymore.

Notice the ears! Googles Free Pictures

     Thankfully we didn't have a large garden! Now my Uncle Lloyd truck farmed. He grew strawberries and potatoes. During the summer when we visited, we tried to help with the strawberries, but I'm afraid we ate up the profit. Later on, after we moved back to Alabama, we helped gather up the potatoes to take to the potato grader shed where they were sorted, washed and boxed to be loaded on trucks that carried them to trains and to the market. You were given a basket, sack or bucket. and we went along the rows where a tractor had plowed the ripe potatoes up. You dumped them into a truck or wagon which brought them to the potato grader.It was hot and dusty work! 

     Of course, one of the fun perks of having a garden was helping pick the vegetables and fruit to can. Freezing the food wasn't popular at that time and the meat was kept in a smoke house. Electricity was hard to come buy and most of the wiring wouldn't support a freezer. Though I seem to remember Aunt Jessie having one on her back porch, at sometime, plugged into the light fixture outlet with an extension cord.  There was usually only one plug outlet to a room; talk about extension cords. I hated shelling blackeyed peas and peeling peaches. The peach fuzz made my hands itch! But I have to admit, the food was delicious in the winter time.

Memoirs: First Memories

Me, my brother and our dog Poochie 1952

Not for sure about cat's name, maybe Cat.

     What were the first memories you recollect? When I told Mother mine, she said I was around two and a half when that happened. Which brings to mind that a traumatic episode (not life or death, though that might work too) sometimes sets a memory.  Mom said I was on the bottle until I was two and a half (so I was a big baby, it was my new brother's fault, lol), when I broke my bottle and she told me that was going to be my last bottle; that was my memory, jumping up on a stool, hitting the bottle on the wall and it breaking. I wonder if this is why I take things so personally? Sometimes doing that wears me out!

     Where did you first live? Who were your first friends? When I sit here thinking about this, it does bring back the memories. Also, what about the different family members versions? Does your Mom's agree with your Aunt's, if not what's the difference and why? 

     Keep in mind that I'm writing down the answers to these topics as my memoirs in Word, or if you don't like the computer, you can create yourself a journal. Just set the memories down.

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2. Borrowed from  Google Free Pictures

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Memoirs: Recreating Memories

Me , 1 year 8 months

     Rather than sharing my memoirs, I'm going to share what step or how I'm coming up with what to write. I just can't imagine anyone but me and my family being interested in my memoirs.

     What I'm doing is writing down what I remember at each age of my life, plus going through pictures and recording what I know about the picture, such as who the people were, what we were doing and when this happened.This week I'm continuing with how my parents met, where we lived and the occupation of my parents. I knew that my Dad had just returned from World War II, he was an MP stationed in the Philippines, but it surprised me that when he returned home, he drilled wells, water wells. It seems that in the middle 1940's, people were expanding their farming acreage, adding running water, which increased water demand. You would think in Alabama and Georgia it would be easy to dig wells; not so, there actually were shell rock and red soil that caused problems. He and the men he worked with, traveled across Alabama and Georgia digging wells.

     I have a question, are memoirs recreating my memories or is it okay to bring in what I learned in my research, such as where we lived and my Dad's occupation, memories that I don't have but that affected and shaped my life? I'm going to go with I'm recreating and they make what I'm writing interesting.

Col Mustard 2009

     

About That Try To Fix It Thing!

Laptop keyboard

     Did you know that the newer laptops are manufactured so that you can't pop off a key and fix it? I wish the guy on YouTube had known this! I found out the hard way, thinking it would save me a trip to the Geek Squad, silly me. I worked for thirty minutes trying to place those little loose wire thingies back on; but they wouldn't stay, kept moving around, or as the song says "slip sliding away". Finally I called the Geek Squad guy and set up an appointment.

     The first bit of information I discovered was that the $300.00 dollars I paid for support didn't cover hardware support and supplies. I would have had to purchase that when I purchased my laptop. And the second information was, can you guess it, the warranty has run out! I'm standing there looking at the item, when I suddenly asked, "if I bought a regular keyboard and attached it by USB, would this solve the problems I was having?". His response. "Yes". So I went and picked out a $10.00 Insignia keyboard, with raised keys, like a calculator. This is the first time since I've been using the laptop that I've typed with all ten fingers, not looking; talk about speed and less, a lot less, misspelled words.

Life Can Throw You For A Curve With It's Ups And Downs!

     I  worked for this company where the owner flew helicopters into Vietnam and rescued wounded and fighter pilots who had crashed. He was shot at, wounded and still went back. Naturally, after he was discharged he had to seek treatment for Post Traumatic Stress. After having to go back several times after he thought he was cured he asked his therapist, "How come life can't stay on a flatline, stay on an even keel? Why does it have to be up and feeling good, then drop and feel like the world is ending?" 

     The therapist's response was, "The ups and downs of life is what lets you know you're alive. If you are having flatlines, then most likely you're dead. You don't want life to be flat and always on an even keel. Then you're not living, learning and growing."

     I do understand how he feels though. You're on an even keel and suddenly a curve is in front of you. Sometimes so fast the only thing you can do is run off the road, praying that the wreck won't be too bad.

     Did you know the women in South Korea keep their last name after they're married? I'm going by what my family doctor tells me, she's South Korean, though she's become a hyphenated woman. She used both her last name and her husband's whose also is a doctor. Over the last couple of years, she's taught me a lot, one being that prevention is better than letting an illness happen. She's one of these rare doctors who spend a lot of time with me. Stress, overweight and lack of exercise are her biggest soap boxes! 

     Her biggest push is that stress can cause so many problems such as producing too much of one chemical that can cause havoc with so many parts of the body. Her favorite saying is "Get Off The Couch! You need a life." And this doesn't just mean exercise, she literally means turn off the TV, get in the car and interact with people.  

When I Hear A Train, This Is What I See.....

Larry, Susan & Judy 1954

     It is current day, when I'm sitting at my desk eating lunch. As I munch on my sandwich  I hear a train off in the distance, immediately, I'm transported to Rossville, Georgia when we lived across the street from Ceder Hill school, about 1954.

     My minds view is that of a swing hanging down from a tree limb. It must be spring, not summer as I don't feel hot. It's one of those bright crisp days with a clear powder blue sky and the air is cool. It reminds me of a day when Mother did the washing, hanging the freshly washed bedsheets on a clothesline.

     This has happened to me before, I've heard a train and again I've been transported to this same scene. I wonder why, what is the connection to hearing a train and my moment in time?

     Has this ever happened to you, a sound will bring back a past memory?

Friends Who Died Today, Annette Funicello. !

TMZ pictures

     I remember watching the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello, then the beach party movies. It's like an end to an era.  She was such a brave person dealing with MS. You can go here to read some of her struggles. 

Best Friends and Stuff Like That!

Kitty, Judy, Poochie and Larry 1952

     Some people find it difficult to believe that I'm a shy person and at one time stuttered when I had to say something in class, cute guys and strangers. I would turn red and stammer as well. The reason for saying this is that when I was in the tenth grade, we moved from the Big Woods of Georgia (New Home Community on the mountain above Trenton, Georgia) to Henagar, Alabama. I remember arriving for the first day of school, after finishing registering for classes. My first class was English with Miss Blansit. 

     The bell had already rung, so the halls were empty and I had to search for her room since there was no one around to ask for directions. Opening the closed door to her room, or what I thought was her room I walked into the front of the class, a class full of nothing but teenage guys and a female teacher sitting at her desk. I stopped, backed out into the hall, closed the door and looked at the number, yes, I had the right room. The teacher opened the door and said, "This is English, is that what you're looking for?" I nodded my head as she took my class assignment card. 

     This very dignified lady guided me into her class and introduced me to everyone. It seems that the first English class was for the schools varsity football players as they were in practice her last class and couldn't attend then. So I was the only girl in first period English. Talk about a dream come true! 

    

How Does Your Mind Work?

     What's the difference between the brain working and the mind working? Is there a difference? 

     My brain isn't a smooth working one. Sometimes it spurts along, sometimes it's at a standstill, what I call vegging out. At other times it's at a clickity, click pace. I hate this pace because my thoughts are all over the place. I also notice at this pace my thoughts and emotions tend to empathize rather than sympathize, which is very draining emotionally. Example, have you ever been around people you feel as though their energy drains you? Their thoughts invade yours and they try to control you. I just reread what I wrote and it makes me sound weird, are there any others who feel this way? I guess another way to say this is being introverted and extroverted. Introverted you have a list of what you need to do; you follow through in an orderly fashion and check off when completed. Extroverted is hopping, when you see this crisis you handle, then there might be an interruption, so you switch. Rather than following a course, it's go here, go there, very tiring. It's allowing someone else to control you. Though that still doesn't explain the energy drain. 

What About Stereotyping People?

 Colonel Mustard

     Today on Huffpost Celebrity, there was an article about the young man Shain Gandee from MTV's "Buckwild", being found dead out in the woods with his uncle and another person. From reading the article, it stated that the West Virginia senator Joe Manchin had tried to get the show cancelled due to "it's ugly, inaccurate stereotyping of the people of West Virginia".

     I wonder if people think all southerners are like the people in "Buckwild", Duck Dynasty, Dallas and Malibu Country? Or even the old Beverly Hillbillies and Gone With The Wind? Surely not. 

     The South has come a long way from "uneducated,chawing tobacca and being barefoot. Well, uneducated and chawing tobacca anyway. I'm afraid I have to confess the first thing I do when I get home every evening after work is take my shoes off and breathe a sign of relief feeling the cool floor against the tired feet. But then, I know other people from all over the world who do the same thing, take off those tiresome shoes!

Desota Falls, Fort Payne, Alabama

  

A Snippet in Time-1952-It Had To Do With A Chicken!

Vernell Turner, 17-1947

Judy, Kitty, Poochie and Larry 1952-53

1940 Packard-The Car

1940 Chevy-The Car

     I don't know where we'd been, but we were headed home when it happened. I remember the car being maroon in color. Mother was driving, with me by the window and Larry in the middle. The windows were rolled down, with the wind blowing our hair across our faces. I was sitting on the car seat, slid back against the door. Larry was standing and leaning back against the seat.We must have stopped at a country store, because he and I were intent on peeling off the candy wrapping so we could eat it.  You remember the old kisses, pink for strawberry, brown for peanut butter and yellow for banana. Suddenly Mother slammed on the car brakes, reached her arm across Larry and me to keep us from falling against the dash. Larry still bumped his head with a plunk. It hurt him enough that he cried and I was scared.

     "What happened", I asked.

     "A chicken ran out into the road", Mom said.

     "Are y'all okay", she asked, as she picked Larry up and hugged him close, checking to be sure he was alright.

     Then she smiled and placed Larry on the seat, put the car in gear and continued down the road.

     "Next time, we'll just hit that ole chicken so you won't be hurt."

     In unison, Larry and I both nodded our heads and said, "Yeah, just hit that ole chicken."

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What about you, do you have a "Snippet in Time"?