Independence

As I was walking Sheba, today, I wandered further than I had planned. The winter winds had subsided and the icy paths were cleared. Before realizing the distance, it was too late to retract, so I marched on at a summer's pace. It felt so good. I ended up at a pond that was only slightly frozen. The big "Thin Ice Do Not Skate" sign shouted mercilessly, so I obeyed. The Canada geese, however, did not head to the warning and seemingly enjoyed their frolic in the cold water and on the slippery ice. All of a sudden, I had a flashback to my childhood days of winter. It was 1954. The snow storms were frequent and school seemed to be closed more often than open during January and February. In walking distance from our home, sat a pond. It belonged to a golf course. This was the kind of pond that I, for one, would never be able to drive a golf ball across. There must have been a million golf balls in that pond over the years...fodder for some enterprising young boy who would be courageous enough to wade through those merky waters in his gathering of merchandise. That pond was the neighborhood gathering spot during the winter. I remember carrying my ice skates over my shoulder, as I skipped through the snow covered streets...always with my big sister along, so that I shouldn't be alone. After all, I was only eight years old. But I was alone as my big sister would find her friends and skate off with them...way over to the other side of the pond where the big kids skated. Undaunted, and full of resolve, and being a middle child who learned at an early age to be independent, I put on my skates and skated the pond happily. It wasn't long before I would come across a friend from school or a friend from the neighborhood. I wasn't reallly alone. Today, I saw myself, at the pond that can not be skated upon, alone...yet, not alone. I am grateful for the good and loyal friends who keep a watch over me either by phone, email, or in person. I have a loving family who support me in whatever decsion I make for myself. I am an independent person. I may be by myself as I lace up my skates, but rarely do I skate alone. Know what I mean? Karen

Mid-life, a story from Anonymous

This is not an original How I See It. It is from our favorite author, Anonymous. I've seen two shows lately that went on and on about how mid-life is a great time for women. Just last week Oprah had a whole show on how great menopause will be... Puhleeeeeeeze! I've had a few thoughts of my own and would like to share them with you. Whether you are pushing 40, 50, 60 (or maybe even just pushing your luck) you'll probably relate. Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down. This gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache. In mid-life women no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag. Mid-life is when you can stand naked in front of a mirror and you can see your rear without turning around. Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless. Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, 'Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too.' Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones. Mid-life is when you look at your-know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: 'For this I have stretch marks?' In mid-life your memory starts to go. In fact the only thing we can retain is water. Mid-life means that you become more reflective...You start pondering the 'big' questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice? But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important. We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it! Until then... Karen

Life in the 1500's

True, or not, the information satisfies my curiosity. How about yours? Here are some facts about the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water. Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs ) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying It's raining cats and dogs. There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence. The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a thresh hold. In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.. Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat. Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake. England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all n ight (the graveyard shift). to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer.. Like I said, don't know if it is true, and who cares? It's fun to see it this way... Until then, that's how I see it, Karen

It must be Spring!

Believe it or not, I saw 8 robins peking away at the dirt on the baseball field where I walk Sheba. It was 33 degrees, but it didn't keep the robins away! I think I might have seen a cardinal, too. Of course, I didn't have my camera...not in the habit of taking it with me. It must be spring...such hope and newness in the air! Mom is being discharged, after 6 weeks of illness. She goes home this Monday. I have seen to it that her aide will be available, the refridgerator full, the heat on in her apartment, and generally that the house is in order. Do I hear chirping? Friends, you have sent me wonderful words to live by. Thank you for taking time to express them here. When I get like this, depressed and lonely because life is throwing punches too often and too hard, I retreat to my spiritual side and get strength. Your words, my blogger friends, helped me get there. Thank you! I am feeling strong and purposeful, grounded and focused. My substitute teaching credentials are in order and I begin work, if I want to, next week. I plan to do it just a day or two a week, maybe a few days in a month...just enough to bring in some spending money to pay for my outings with the girls. Well, the sun is shining and Sheba is whining. The day is new and I feel true. Stay in the present, you can't go wrong Life, my friend, is a dance and a song. oooh...did I just write that? yes, I did! Until then, that's how I see it, Karen

Life

In a sermon, I heard, "Life sucks". The clergy apologized for using harsh words, but said it was the perfect word for the description of life. The deal is...knowing this...make the best of it, in whatever manner you choose. I liked that. The acceptance of life being difficult, and the permission to do whatever one needs to do to make it work. I am being challenged by life these past few months. Wish me luck with making the best of it. Until then, that's how I see it. Karen

Who am I? How am I doing? Where am I headed?

Who am I? How am I doing? Where am I headed? These are the checkpoint questions I have learned to ask myself as a result of many years of personal growth and spiritual development. I didn't get where I am by accident. I believe in destiny, fate, God's plan, call it what you may. Each life experience taught me lessons from which I can better myself. The recent breakup with my boyfriend is yet one more experience from which I can take time to reflect on who I am and how I am doing, then decide where I am headed. I am a single mother. I have lived, other than the eleven years I was married to the father of my children, as a single woman. It has been a difficult journey with many ups and downs. Raising my children, as a single mother, was the most challenging and most rewarding part of that journey. They have grown into productive, joyful, healthy individuals and they are a source of great pride. I look forward to enjoying many years with my grandchildren helping them grow into happy and healthy adults. I am an educator. I have taught in public and private schools and am now retired. However, I continue to tutor and am going back to substitute teaching. My journey as one who is gainful and productive continues in a positive manner. For this I am grateful. I am a friend. Thank goodness for the girlfriends who have supported me through the last few months of struggle and suffering. I return their friendship in many ways and with that we continue a lifelong relationship. I am a daughter. I am not doing too well with this part of my being. Watching mom in her illness saddens me as I can not make her well. I try to concentrate on the gifts she still has which is a sharp mind and good counsel. My journey with her is treasured and I try to remain present and focused when I am with her. I am single and available. I am forever the optimist maintaining a hopeful outlook that one day my true love will come. As I get older, I question such frivolity of thought, but it is who I am. I maintain a good figure, healthy outlook, and keep myself active and interesting as I seek a life partner who is in sync with my being. All in all, I am pleased with who I am and how I am doing. The journey through life is always going to be filled with ups and downs, but those are the checkpoints that keep me strong. So I ask of you...how are you doing? where are you headed? I look forward to your comments. Until then, that's how I see it, Karen