Elton John this Sunday!! I am really getting excited to see this larger than life icon. I'm so glad some of these performing artists hang around and do tour after tour....allowing us to hold on, in some small way, to our youth.  It seems like yesterday, but it was sometime around 1974..riding in the back seat of an old Dodge with my family and Melinda Kennel on our way to Myrtle Beach for vacation.  We called her "Tildy"...Tildy had one of those new fangled rectangular cassette players and we were listening to "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"....we were trying to learn every word. Did he say "horny back toad"?? Since she had recorded the songs right off the radio station (98 WYCR), it was garbled and fuzzy, and sometimes the DJ would cut in....then the next song would be something like John Denver singing "Thank God I'm A Country Boy"!  Oh those were the days......we didn't worry about sunscreen or, really, anything for that matter.
It was simpler then....no cell phones, no mp3 players, no ipods......and gas was around 39 cents a gallon..... Life goes on and things change and we adapt, but much remains the same. Like Elton John.

So, I got asked out for the first time since last August.....by an 80-yr-old! ( God has such a sense of humor! ) I never expected it, so of course I was tongue-tied....what should I say so that I neither encourage him, nor hurt his feelings???? Hopefully, the fact that I continued to call him MISTER So-and-so, helped him to realize that I didn't (couldn't possibly!) see him as a romantic interest.
I used to think --perhaps-- I might get married again, but I gave up on that notion years and years ago. I love and enjoy my single life. If I had to count, I'd say about 70% of the married couples I know are miserable. The lucky ones, Susan and Galen, Paul and Suzann, have found that middle ground which is fortified by mutual love and respect. God tells me on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis, that I am SUPPOSED to be single, He has a reason and wants me to remain that way. I truly am fine with that, but sure would like to go to dinner every once in a while....

Have you ever done something that for days (or years!) afterward, you still blush and feel a little sick? I had one of those episodes today.....I was nervous for days about being interviewed by the local TV station about my late friend, Tami, and our efforts to decrease breast cancer. Hopefully, everything I said will end up on the cutting room floor....my eyes were open so wide, and I talked way too fast, and said "um" way too many times, and even had a grammatical error (sorry mom). Ugh!!! There I go, blushing again!
Well, I can think of worse things......like the time when I was about 16 or 17....I was outside sitting on the curb by my house and two cute guys from school stopped to talk. I leaned back a little, and accidentally passed gas. Mortification!!!! Can't quite remember who the guys were now...I guess I tried to put it out of my mind. I think one was Roger Chenault, and the other might have been named Mike.....anyway, I hope THEY forget ME.
So this must be a lesson in how to laugh at yourself and not take every little thing so seriously....ha ha,  I think I know how to laugh at myself....it's just when other people laugh AT me that it stings a bit. At least I am smiling now instead of blushing!

Is anyone else finding it difficult to get the images from the disasters in Japan out of their minds? It's hard to fathom such utter destruction. I was just reading the Book of Mark two weeks ago....in the 13th chapter it tells of countries fighting each other, of great earthquakes, famine an pestilence. . . . . and then I thought, "There sure are a lot of people who have either never read this, or who just don't believe the Bible."  I mean, isn't that enough proof to anyone? The chapter goes on to say that these things do not mean the end is near, but it is like the first pains of childbirth.  Which means to me, that conditions are going to get a whole lot worse in the coming years. So, I beg of you, please get right in your hearts. Think on these things. . . are there things that you do that you know are wrong, but do them anyway because "society" says it's ok? I don't give a damn what "society" says.  Society is screwed up, man. Gosh, even pot is legal now in California. Think about it, pornography, gay marriage, abortion, drugs... . all legal, but morally destructive.  My sincere apologies to my gay friends. I love you so much, but cannot condone it. I do not judge you...it is not for me to judge. It may be your cross to bear, we all have them. Lord knows I have mine. But to all of us, please, at least try to do better. Be mindful, be prayerful...

I thought I'd try 12 miles today...and was surprised at how slow I was. On a good note, the dog that bit me last week was not waiting for me today, and I didn't start another stampede of black angus cows again. There was evidence of flooding out on East Loop road. The water had receded off the road, but was running high and fast just a foot or so from the road....and the road was muddy! Saw a flock of beautiful red-winged black birds and enjoyed the serenade. Nature's music was interrupted by 3 low flying helicopters flying grid patterns overhead from miles 5-9....was beginning to wonder if they were looking for an escaped prisoner or something...
 It was nice to get home and take a hot shower....now I have Arnold, the Cairn Terrier, for the rest of the weekend. He's a happy, loving doggie and I'm glad to have him around....(I hope he wants to go to bed early, though!)
Jordan hung out with me for a while after he got off work today. Such a great son...Tomorrow, I get to see my other love, son Sean.....he will be playing for the indoor soccer championship....expect blood! I'll let you know.

I would say that this was a stressful week, but stress is simply the devil trying to break us down.  Now that I know that, it makes it easier to smile and keep going (the devil HATES that!). Joyce Meyer says "When you feel like you can't stand any more, keep standing!"  Good advice.  Not that my week was catastrophic, it was simply very busy, and I logged many, many hours at work----and did not saw many logs, if you know what I mean. I feel I was able to reach a few patients this week in my quest to show love to all of them. That is success!  Missed my running program due to 3 days of heavy rain and snow, but be sure I will be beating my feet tomorrow, rain or shine.

getting started.....

These days I seem to be clinging to faith.  I'm so thankful that I was raised in a faith-based family, otherwise, I might be lost completely. Following the example of my parents I have learned that by having FAITH:
When you have nothing, you can look forward to abundance
 When you are lonely, you can look forward to company
When you are exhausted, you can look forward to rest
When you are sick, you can look forward to good health
 
 I have FAITH that all good things are coming my way! And that makes the drudgery of winter days full of hope and promise, and it makes me smile ...
Looking forward to tomorrow!