Changed By Change

So here's the thing...

Change happens.

I tell you what, I'm always shocked when I walk past a mirror and see my image. I think, "Who is that and what happened to HER?"
Oh.
Then I stop and look closer and recognize some of the original parts are still somewhat recognizable:
The brilliantly white teeth,
The sparkling eyes
The crazed expression on my face.

The changes are just as obvious, especially the 'platinum highlights' I've embraced these last few years.
My taste has changed as I experiment with this 'old is the new black' lifestyle. I take risks (like leggings-they are easy to wear if you don't mind feeling like you forgot to put your skirt on before leaving the house). I have also gotten a real kick out of watching the reactions of my friends and family when they see what I'm up to next.

Wait, I've ALWAYS gotten that reaction....

Change means we move toward positive stuff  like fun, personal interests, exploring new places and things.

Change also means we move away from downers like stagnation, boredom, routine, stale mindsets, and lack of imagination.

 I think it's okay to reinvent yourself occasionally. What's the worst that can happen?

You can always go back home and get your skirt.

Pinterest Postings Tell All

I love Pinterest.

It's like shopping without the clutter.

You don't have to dust it, move it, pull pages out of it.

There's no need to purchase different colored folders to keep the articles for 'someday.'

Heck, they do it for you.

I've spent hours and hours daydreaming, snickering, pinning and emailing different pins.

Instead of 'honey do' lists, hubbys now dread hearing, "Dear, wait till you see what I found on Pinterest."

They cringe, I tell you.  More eye rolling husbands exist today due to Pinterest.

I learned something else interesting about Pinterest: What you or your friends are interested in is posted there in plain sight for anyone who wants to get acquainted.  Or stalk.

Talking to a friend the other day, she shared that she had very few pins on her health board, but over 100 pins on her recipe  board.  Mine is glutted with cute pets  and rude sayings.  Very few (if any) recipes.

So I came up with a great way we can interact with other pinners like my friend.  She is more than welcome to try her recipes on me.

I, in the meantime, will play with and pet any available cute animal while making rude comments.

More Mis-Adventures

I promise you the stories I share with you are real.

When I describe clumsy, distracted, unbelievable situations that happen to me I ain't lying.

So here's a new one for you:

This past week I really tried to buckle down and get some paperwork done.  Yes, I procrastinate, mostly because I forget what I'm supposed to do until it's almost too late to do it.

Not THIS time- I promised myself.

So I settled down at my desk, got my files ready, charged up my cell phone and began returning phone calls to insurance companies I was supposed to contact weeks earler.

I certainly didn't think I'd misdialed: I mean, they give you many many (many many) numbers from which to choose.  Certainly ONE of those numbers would start me in the right direction.

I should have known something was wrong when the voice that answered the phone was one of a young lady who just sounded too happy.  No insurance company really has employees that sound that chipper, do they?

I became suspicious when this young lady asked me if I like to have fun.

Have fun?  I'm calling an insurance company.  They don't really care if I have fun.  They want my provider number and any other number I can come up with.  They mean business.

Ooooohhhhhh....I listened further.  This young lady was suggesting I didn't need to be lonely tonight.

I hung up.  And started laughing.

OF COURSE I dialed a 'dating service' number instead of an insurance company!

No lie.

Sisterhood of the Silver Foxes

I have a new club to which I am a proud member.  Forget hair club for men.
What I have is a sisterhood of gray haired ladies.

It seems like since I've embraced my white hair (dear hubby calls it 'platinum'.  I think I'll keep him) I've had many random conversations with other white-haired gals I don't know. I've met 'sisters' in public restrooms and checkout lines. I even had a woman stop me outside a fancy mall during my LA visit.  And we all act as if we've known each other for years.

The opening conversation is always something about whether the color is natural.  Then how long we've worn it this way.

Then it gets down to what products we use. "Do you use the purple stuff?"

We look at each other knowingly and then walk on, knowing we aren't alone in this brave quest of letting the world see us as we really are.

That's scary.  It's been interesting and challenging to let go of the past (hair color) and embrace the future (me as I really am).  My whole attitude about myself and where I fit in has changed.

I kind of like it.

My point is that when we recognize something with whom we identify, it's okay to cut through the clutter of small talk and get to the important things (apparently there's a hair product for my crowning glory that will make it look EVEN BETTER at the beauty supply store).

You may be the founding member of your sisterhood.  Whatever it is, believe me, you aren't alone.  Think of all of the future sisters just waiting to find someone just like you.

California Dreaming

Hi Everyone!
I just got back from a week in California where the average temperature was 75-80 degrees.

Jealous?

Wow, I thought St. Louis drivers had a death wish.  Drivers in LA must do the 'bumper car' method of navigation: just keep going until you 'bump' into something.

Of course, that something could be a trash can, pedestrian, or another car.  It's all the same to them.

Fearless, that's what they are.  Or clueless.  Or just so self-absorbed and distracted they don't even know that their lives just passed before their eyes.

But I knew! It was amazing how many drivers tried to get into the same small place on the freeway.  Then I discovered that my braking foot was less cramped when I spent the ride either looking at the houses built high up or by staring at my knees.I cleaned my purse several times, too.  And checked my cell phone.

Don and I went to CA to visit dear daughter Kari and her hubby Gareth.  Plus our two grand-kitties.  We drove around locally in Sherman Oaks and went to the Santa Monica Pier.  There Kari and I watched both Don and Gareth take surfing lessons.  Poor Don was the oldest student on the beach and he worked so hard to keep up with everyone (personally, I thought he did great; I don't think I'd have even survived donning the wet suit...).

Of note was all the quality time I spent with my baby girl.  We shopped ourselves to death and I even tried on jeans (now THAT'S love!).  We talked and talked and caught up on life.  I bet we shopped everyday for at least 3 hours, more on other days.  Normally I would start whining about 2 hours into a shopping trip but this time I had the stamina of 10 men (or a mom with a preschooler).

It got me to thinking about situations we get ourselves into and how difficult the journey can be.  We feel isolated, exhausted and hopeless crawling through the challenges.  Sometimes even having 'encouragers' along doesn't help much, especially those who spout platitudes about how we need to trust and pray more.

But put us with someone who is meaningful in our lives, someone who knows us and is willing to travel with us and we can find that extra ounce of strength and courage to keep going. Those friends/relatives are few and far between but well worth hanging on to.  I hope you have such a person in your life.

Even to trying on jeans.

Indelible Words

Let's talk about tattoos.

In the 'olden days' only circus performers and military personnel got tattoos.

Now, it's rare that anyone over 18 is tattoo-free.  I find myself 'reading' people all the time; I figure if they went through all that discomfort to get the artwork done it's up to me to admire it.

But I can't imagine ever being committed enough to a design to have it permanently etched on my skin.  If I can't decide what earrings to wear with an outfit, I'm certainly not ready to pick out a tattoo.

However, many folks are more than eager to pick out something meaningful to carry with them the rest of their lives.  That's cool for them; I, on the other hand, am thankful I never got a picture of Donny Osmond inked onto my torso.

My computer recently displayed a photo that I can't get out of my mind.

The photo simply depicted a graceful woman's arm and hand, fingers apart. On the arm and hand was what looked like delicate lines of writing of some type.  The caption, paraphrased, said,
"Imagine if every word you spoke was tattooed on your skin."

It struck me that I was guilty of having a bad tattoo.  The words I speak at times are frivolous and meaningless, intended merely to take up space in a conversation.

Other times my words can be sarcastic or biting.  I would hate to have those words permanently displayed for the world to see.

But I also thought of the words I DIDN'T say- those words of comfort or encouragement.  The times I should have spoken about the Cross but I didn't.  I imagined blank patches of flesh unmarked by any words at all.

So my personal challenge is this:  I must be aware of my words, whether I say so many foolish things that the tattoo would have to be compressed and squished together so that they all fit in the area.

But I must also be mindful that not enough of the right kind of words can be a sterile slate.

Think about these things.

At the end of the day, do you want your indelible words to be beautiful or an embarrassment?

Ode to a Sister-in-Law

Ode to a Sister-in-Law

Oh, masterful sister-in-law!

Gracious hostess, provider of playing cards

And massive slabs of barbecued meat.

How can I describe your many talents oh

Thou rememberer of all things directional?

Thou fair includer of friends olde and newe

For playing games and telling stories, embarrassing

And non.

Sharer of refrigerator, camper, and picnic table.

How does one describe thy virtues, thou

Leader of overboard outhousing?

Thou guider of husband, however futile.

Thou listener of father-in-law, however eternal.

Thou director of sisters-in-law whose only desire is

To lighten your load and receive your praise?

We bless you and praise your name to the heights

As an anchor in the householde of Sir Ronald.

Let me ring out the words of our hearts.

You done good.