I Am Living In Denial

So, our weather man/woman/person has once again changed our 5 day outlook. Snow is in his forecast, along with temps between 30 and 40 degrees. I'm not sure, but I think he may be going into witness protection soon. I have already packed away winter items, doesn't he know this?  I realize that he is just the messenger, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow. I would like to say that if anyone has actually angered Boreas, please apologize so we may actually get on with Spring!

Yesterday was the first day in a week that I could function properly.  The old grey cells were finally functioning after a week of fibro fog. I thought forming complete sentences or having lucid thoughts were going to elude me forever. The cement feeling also seems to have subsided for now. I have been doing the flush/red face thing, but seeing as I didn't leave the house, no one knew I looked like I had been in the blusher with an oversized brush and a heavy hand at that!!

I finally was able to finish a book I had started 2 or 3 weeks ago. It was one of the 2 books that I really was having a hard time with finishing.  I did do it, if for nothing more than to say I finished!  I really hope the book I am starting tonight will not be like this. I may be stepping on toes, but this was a well known author.  I realize that everyone can misspell a word, get the punctuation wrong, etc. I would think that your proof-reader should catch that.  Again, maybe they just overlooked it.  What should have sent the red light flashing was when the book jacket had 3 misspelled words!  So, do you say something or not? I know that I would want someone to tell me.

I started a new crochet project today.  It will probably take me a few weeks to finish and when I do I will definitely post pictures. It is a big project, with a number of small things.  I really am excited about it and hope it turns out.

A friend of mine, Joanne Cage, was talking about the things she would like to do this next year.  Nothing to outlandish, just things most of us women may have always wanted to do, but never did. So, I searched for this and decided I would post it.  I'm sure you all know it.

Have fun, everyone!  What good is life if we are not living it!

Until next time,
Deb

Jenny Joseph’s “When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple”

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

It's Here!

Well, according to the calendar, today is the first day of Spring! While the birds are twittering away, the skies do remain rather grey and gloomy and the temp right now is 39.  It was said that we should see a high of 53 today, but as it is already 2:20 pm, I think we fell shy! Oh well, at least we can see the brown of the earth with only a small bit of snow.

Today is also shared with the late Fred Rogers.  Mister Rogers would have been 87 today. When Fred moved back to Pittsburgh, he worked with WQED to bring about Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.  The show first aired on February 19, 1968.  I remember watching Mister Rogers, mainly when my sister was small.  It was a morning program when I was young, so until it moved to the afternoon time slot, I only watched it during summer vacation.

The thing I remember the most is not his friends, human or puppet, the wonderful train or his field trips that we were included in.  The thing I remember the most is his sweater.  I loved that sweater!  There was just something about it. It made him real, like a dad was.  He would put that sweater on and, for me, he was a dad.  He taught you like a dad would.  He told you about scary things, whether it was going to the dentist or going to a new school. He let us know that there were scary, bad things in the world, but you didn't need to be afraid.  He taught us how to turn around our fear of things.  Mister Rogers made me feel safe when those scary things were talked about or were happening.

I think I was so mesmerized by him because he reminds me so very much of my own dad. My father was very tall and very thin.  My father and Mister Rogers had very similar mannerisms.  The way they talked, their movements, their dress.  Now, I will say that my dad vary rarely wore sneakers, even though he had some.  He did wear sweaters.  He loved to tell about adventures he had as a boy.  He loved children so very much.

Years later, even after I was an adult, I found out a little about that sweater of Mister Rogers.  You see, his mother made all of the sweaters he wore.  He once showed all of those sweaters to us, all out of the closet they stayed in.  He explained that she made those sweaters out of love.  Yarn, needles, her own two hands and love.  He said every time he put one on, it helped him remember his mother.

There are several videos on Vimeo.com about Mister Rogers sweaters and also Mister Rogers singing, throughout all the years, the opening song.  I will say that if you cry at the drop of a pin like I do, have some tissues ready!

I would like to end this by saying I am honored that Mister Fred Rogers allowed me to be his television neighbor for so many years.  I miss you so very much.  I still smile every time I hear that opening song.  Rest well, my neighbor.

Until next time,
Deb

Happy March!

I really did lose February along the way. Not sure how, but I only remember it having maybe 7 days!  Is that a sign of getting older?  I did turn older this year...55! Thinking of my age started Laura and I thinking about how old her sisters and nieces and nephews will be in correlating with our ages.  She'll be 16 this year, so sisters will be 36, 34, 26, 24.  Nieces and nephews, well that's a long list.  She mostly used Little B's age. When Laura is 20, Little B will be 5 and I will be 59, sisters will be 40, 38, 30, 28.  I made her stop thinking this out loud very soon after this! It was giving me headache!

What do you have going on this month?  I have several reading projects, as in finishing up 4 books, writing reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and on my book blog. No, it isn't up yet, but God willing and the creek don't rise (don't you just love sayings like that?), it will be very soon.  Speaking of reading, I have a question for you.  What do you do when you simple cannot read a book? I am trying to read this book and I am finding I would rather poke my eye with a stick than finish the book! I cannot get past chapter 3.  The book is by an author I have read before, just a different series. I have put the book away for several days at a time, but that has not helped.  If any of you have any tips/hints, please let me know.

I have realized of late how many people, I'm talking bloggers, that have come into my life.  Let's face it, most of us will never have the opportunity of meeting fellow bloggers.  To me, that is okay.  I look at blogging as writing a letter. You tell a bit about what is happening for you, ask questions, and sometimes, if you are lucky, you find out that both of you have things in common. Sometimes these are opinions, crafts, your reading genre (love the word genre!), health issues.  I have met so many people that have a place in my heart. I get excited when they receive good news, I cry with them when the world throws them into a tail-spin. I have found out about far away places and some very near home. Blogging reminds me of having a phone conversation with the world all at once!

I would like to leave you with this quote from Flavia Weedn.  I am not sure which of her books it is in, possibly Flavia and the Dreammaker. I am sure you have heard it, or a variation, before.  It is how I feel about all of you in blogland.

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.” 
― Flavia Weedn

Until next time, dear friends, stay warm and safe. Remember you are special and are loved. Smile at one stranger a day, as it may make all the difference to them.

With hugs and much love,

Deb