November 28--Millions of Them!

To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.  --Oscar Wilde

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

    I have decided for the time being to use my morning prayer time to simply say "Thank You!" I typically run through a bunch of lovely visions I have for my loved ones and me. Spirit knows all that, and I figure must get bored with the daily repetition. A simple "Thank You!" feels good. 

    Yesterday I did my final lap swim of this visit, 11 days in a row, over seven miles total. Then I helped my niece with holiday prep, which wore us out, thus necessitating naps 😉😉 The big event of the day--niece Debi drove son Bryce and I to the Cleveland Zoo for "Wild Winter Lights." Being the light-and-color-freak that I am, it was heaven. The couple-mile trek around the Zoo was decorated with millions of lights, and even had a big field of light trees and displays set to music. It was chilly but dry and calm, so it was a super night to roam. We even saw two tigers. 

    Celebrate! Celebrate!

        Leta

November 27--They Add Up

How we spend days is, of course, how we spend our lives.  --Annie Dillard

    I'm going to be really good at eternity because I love to nap so much! 

    I suspect that most of us feel like our days are not that exciting. We hang out with loved ones, work, go to school, enjoy hobbies and activities, eat, sleep, shop, keep appointments, maintain a home, etc. It seems to me that the key to this, and to "how we spend days," is all about attitude. We can do our "stuff" with a good attitude or a bad one, and we are continually choosing. I've pulled myself out of many a funk with the question, "If this was my last day alive, would I want to be living it in this crappy mood?!?!" 

    My niece has the plaque shown below hanging in one of her rooms. I'd say it is a good way to apply Ms. Dillard's quote. 

    Prepping for Thanksgiving Day and family coming to town,

        Leta

November 26--Some Days (Years) Were Messy

These are the days that must happen to you.  --Walt Whitman

    A couple weeks ago, I was lap-swimming at the West Wichita YMCA and the (loving reference) old-lady water-exercise class was happening. The instructor plays oldies music for that class on Fridays, and I was amused to hear her playing "One Toke Over the Line" by Brewer & Shipley. Any individual in the class would have either been completely clueless, or like me, would have smiled thinking of the many times I was "one toke over the line." This song came out in 1970. I would say I was stoned at least half of my college years, 1973-1979 (that includes grad school). I could not run for president ever because I was smart enough to inhale 😉😉 I listened to the song's lyrics hoping that they were somehow profound in some way, but nope. 

    Yesterday's Ohio adventures included grocery shopping, lap-swimming, napping, and cooking tamale pie for supper. I must note the rare event that I actually beat my niece at Rummikub last night. Woohoo!!

        Leta

What could be more 70s??!?!?!?

November 25--Today--Please Be Kind

The greatest happiness is to transform one's feelings into actions. 
--Germaine de Stael

    Helping my niece put out Christmas decorations is encouraging my not-so-grumpy feelings about Christmas. I assembled a totally flimsy plastic old-time-red-truck-with-Chr-tree-in-the-back for her. I'm predicting that the squirrels and chipmunks will make a banquet out of it.     

    In addition to decorating, we were both motivated enough to do a 2-mile walk and an afternoon lap swim. Two college students live with my niece (her son and one of his friends). Last night we taught them Rummikub, so we have created two more addicts. 

    Today includes swimming, grocery shopping, decorating and cooking (tamale pie!). 

    Be kind today,

        Leta

This gorgeous hydrangea is
in my niece's neightborhood.

November 24--Cousin Fun

Love is [like the sea.] It's [a] moving thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from [the] shore it meets, and it's different with every shore.  --Zora Neale Hurston

    Love is different with every person, and that's a good thing. 

    The father of my two grandsons called yesterday. It was lovely to talk with him, but even better was hearing the squeaks and coos of baby Remy lying in his lap. 

    My niece drove us north to Beachwood where we picked up my cousin Marlene and took her out to lunch. Marlene's mother and my mother were sisters. It is comical in that each of us have less-than-Pollyanna feelings about our own mothers, but each of us thought the aunt was the best ever. Her mom bought me my first pair of overalls (RED!) which infuriated my mother because all she wanted to do was dress me up in frilly, scratchy dresses. Mom's plan mightily backfired as I hate to dress up to this day. 

    We visited a new-to-us brewpub and had a beer, which fortified us for a trip to Menards. Mostly we wandered around the Christmas decorations, and we both bought some cool lights. I will help my niece with her holiday decorations which will hopefully get me going in a positive mental direction for the season. 

    In shocking developments--it was a Saturday without a nap!!! But, of course, Rummikub finished off our day. 

        Leta

Been seeing lots of 
snowflakes here!

November 23--The MOST Christmas per Square Inch

We don't get to choose our own hearts. We can't make ourselves want what's good for us or what's good for other people. We don't get to choose the people we are.  --Donna Tartt

    I really don't agree with any of this Tartt quote. So there!

    To update you on recent Ohio fun... I have been doing my daily lap swim. On Thursday my niece took the day off and took me out to breakfast. Her oldest son came over later and joined us for a delicious meatball sub supper. We declined to watch the Browns game, and then were pleasantly surprised to see that the Browns won.     

    Yesterday morning after my swim I went to the Joann store. This is not just any store--this is the "world headquarters" store and it is HUGE. I spent over an hour roaming and all my purchases were on sale (BONUS!). I found all the stuff I need for my anti-grumpy Christmas project (see Nov 20 post) and a few more canvases to support this winter's painting hobby. 

    No trip to Ohio is complete without some Handel's ice cream. It was nasty cold and raining hard so that I knew I would find no line at the window. Bingo! One scoop of Salty Caramel Truffle on apple crisp makes a mighty fine lunch. 

    More food! Four of us went to Barrio for tacos and margaritas, yummy!!! Then the total amazement of the evening--we went to Hudson's for an after-dinner drink--this place is CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! Every square inch of the place has tinsel or lights or murals or something Christmas. 

    No day is complete here without Rummikub. We taught my great-nephew to play last night, so now we are creating another addict 😉

    The weekend, yippee!

        Leta

At Hudson's

November 22--Triple A's

You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. 
--Margery Williams

The test of a psychologically mature person and, therefore, a spiritually mature one, will be found in his or her capacity to handle what we might call the Triple A’s: anxiety, ambiguity and ambivalence.  -- James Hollis

    I was pretty fascinated by the Hollis quote. Initial glances lead me to think that I'm not very good with the "Triple A's." Let's dig deeper. Though I did not know what (clinical) anxiety was until a few years ago, that realization made it clear that I have been anxious most of my life. So I guess I've been handling it. 

    Ambiguity is "the quality of being open to more than one interpretation." I like to think I am open-minded, but I know I also have a very judgmental person within me. And yes I do like to be "right." 

    Ambivalence is "the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone." Geez, I could say this is the story of my life. It seems to me that any sort of close relationship is going to generate some ambivalence. I am currently ambivalent about playing golf. 

    I think the "Triple A's" deserve more consideration...

        Leta