Forgetfulness

Back again to offer a confession. For seven and a half years, since I quit my last full-time job, I have done all of the laundry on Mondays and then done our clothes again on Friday. For seven and a half years. Until this month. I guess making that big leap to 51 did me in. The first Friday in February, I forgot the laundry altogether and had to do it on Saturday. Luckily, though that had been my daughter's laundry day, she now works most Saturdays, so I got away with it.

The next week, I remembered about 4pm on Friday, and it was certainly past dinner time before I finished but I got it done.

Last week, I was delighted because I remembered and got it started on Friday morning. Unfortunately, I got it started, but forgot with one load still in the dryer and the other in the washer. It was late getting finished again.

So this morning, I am delighted to say that my second load is already underway and there's hope that I'll get it all done in a timely manner this morning.

And you thought you had problems. Don't you feel better about yourself? No matter how bad off you are, remember someone else is always in worse shape. Go and have a GREAT day!

Gaming in the Real World

I am 51 years old. I look around me at my daughter and son and their friends and I am grateful not to be that young again. Something has happened to our society and it isn't good. Like the studies that show prolonged video game playing can de-sensitize children, and adults, to pain and death, I see a generation that is so wrapped in themselves, they have no clue how their actions affect other people.

No doubt, everyone has to spend a little time thinking of self and about self-preservation. But I am amazed that otherwise "good" people, particularly professing Christians can justify bad behavior and heartless actions.

Under the guise of "honesty", one person feels perfectly free to insult and condemn anyone in her path. Forgoing direct instruction from the New Testament, she can use any foul, profane and derogatory language she chooses in her rant. I'm sorry, I believe I need to strive for the prize at all times. I need to be aware of how my actions and words appear to others because I am ALWAYS a representative of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Whether I reflect well or badly for Him is my responsibility every moment of my life. It's a huge responsibility.

In addition, in an effort to remain pure in today's single society, and I'll grant you that's a difficult task today, many are striving for physical and emotional purity. But in so doing, some have taken callousness to a new height. If you read my daughter's updates on Twitter, you know that she sent a friend, not a boyfriend, not someone she is dating, but just someone she had befriended a card with a funny hat photo in it. He decided the communication was "unhealthy" and led to his being "unfaithful in thought to his future spouse". What a crock!

Apparently, friends are not allowed in this person's life. And I don't know how most people feel about finding a spouse, but I know from experience that first and foremost, I am married to my friend. Some days we are better friends than others, but there is no one in the world that I depend on more or cherish more. I know I can count on him and trust him, and that came from years of developing that friendship. We fell in love first, then became friends. Believe me, it would have been easier in reverse. I have encouraged my children to develop friendships and know that at some point, God will reveal to them the stronger emotions and commitments to grow out of one of those friendships.

In the meantime, there is no cause or excuse for being cruel. My daughter's "friend" actually returned her card with his note. It arrived on Saturday. She thought, "How fun. He sent me a card too." What a blow! Throw it away and send the note to arrive today. That would have been understandable and acceptable. But his way was just uncalled for. The realization that this young man was capable of such a selfish and mean action told her that she didn't want to have anything else to do with him. And I concur. She deserves better than that.

Someday, she hopes to marry. I continue to pray for her to find that special person God has set aside just for her. I hope she never has to go through such pain again, though I realize that pain is a part of life on earth, but I hope she builds friendships with people who are real and attempt to act as Christ acted while on earth. I hope she finds people who can be honest without being cruel. I hope she concentrates on what she brings to the table as a friend and looks past the ones who have hurt her and learns from the experience.

And I told my son he'd better not ever do anything so hurtful to a young woman in his life. I feel just as strongly about the way in which he conducts his life and friendships. Some tough things have to be said in life, no doubt. But the same things can be expressed with tact and grace and still be effective. It's time to put "piety" aside and recognize that we live in the real world. Everyone has feelings, and unlike a video game, hurts don't last for the few seconds it takes to reset the game and start again. Every action we take has a reaction in the world. Every word we speak has a consequence. Every hurt we inflict leaves a scar.

Finally, the words "I am sorry" carry great weight. Even hearing those words from the two people who have recently hurt my daughter would not wipe out everything. In the case of the young woman, my daughter would probably pick up the pieces and remain on friendly, though guarded terms. Nothing would change the situation with the young man, because the hurts inflicted are indicative of a heart problem that she needs to steer clear of, but all of us need to learn the fine art of apologizing for our actions. We owe it to the ones around us and to ourselves.

As you go through this week, remember that we live in a real world and don't fall into the temptation of "gaming" your way through it.

Truly Musing Today

Haven't thought much about what I'd say today, so I'm truly just musing "aloud", so to speak. First of all, it's Valentine's Day. The origins of this holiday are a bit sketchy. One version is a Roman citizen named Valentine was scheduled to go into the coliseum with hungry lions because of his beliefs as a Christian. Before going, he tore pieces of paper into heart shapes and gave them to his Christian friends and supporters as an encouragement. I don't know if that is true or not, but I like the story.

I buy small gifts for my family on Valentine's Day, but I actually send cards to a few friends just to encourage them and let them know that I think about them even when I don't see them for awhile or get to talk to them. I usually don't send cards to the same people each year - and I'm not doing it for anything in return - only to encourage someone and say they are special to me.

I've had a cold this week. I hate feeling like this. I have no energy and no desire to do anything. My family has to deal with weird meals - many of them provided by them or if I cook anything, it is extra spicy because I'm longing to taste something. We had a good soup last night, and it was pretty spicy which felt great on my throat, but was probably more spice than they actually wanted. Today is an old-fashioned roast because it is easy and can cook while I'm gone to see the King Tut exhibit with my son this afternoon.

Anyway, it isn't fair that a "simple cold" makes one feel so rotten.

Meanwhile, the weather in Texas is warm and pleasant. We had one storm this past week, but apparently, I slept through the worst of it since people were talking about it the next day and I have no clear recollection of it at all. The power didn't go off, and for us, that's a miracle, so how bad could it have been? Our power goes off even when there is nothing going on.

A momentary rant: The post office is preparing to raise rates again. I am not happy about this. Our service is abominable. It is way too hard for one of my carriers to lower the flag when he picks up the mail. One day this week, I had four pieces of mail in my box addressed to my neighbor. If I put outgoing mail in the box, it may or may not be picked up - even if I get mail. All these things that are "courtesies" and not requirements, you know. It is also impossible to predict when my mail will arrive. Anytime between 10:30 and 7, apparently. In short, they cannot find a way to do their jobs better, so they'll just cut back on what they do. I propose a boycott of the postal service. Use UPS, DHL or FedEx instead. I understand letters will still need to go by postal service because so far, the other carriers are not geared to deliver those economically, but for everything else.

And don't waste money on USPS tracking. I recently sent something to the major city near here to save myself a trip of driving up there to take it. I used tracking because it was more valuable that most things I send. Checked online a couple of days later and got the confirmation it had been delivered. Good. Imagine my surprise then four days later, when the item was in my own mailbox again stamped "Undeliverable as addressed." What? I won't make that mistake again. I can tell the instant something is delivered, especially with UPS. They know how to track their items.

Well, maybe musings is a misnomer. I think this was rambling. So much for what is on my mind today. Have a great Valentine's Day and make someone happy today.

First Week of February Notes

Discovered today that someone actually reads this site occasionally, so I guess I need to do a better job of updating.

Things are settling down. My son is here for an extended visit and we are all enjoying that. He and my husband along with my brother-in-law spent a few days in Las Vegas at the end of January for a convention. My son did not attend the convention. He just enjoyed their amazing suite, the empty pool deck and the shows. They also happened upon one of my best friends who was there with her family coincidentally, so they spent an afternoon together. All-in-all, it was a fun trip for them.

Now my son is on a campaign for the four of us to go back next month. We'll see if he pulls it off, but the major purpose is so we can all see the amazing performance of "Phantom of the Opera" playing at the Venetian. He says it's by far the best he's ever seen. And he loves that show, so he's seen every performance he could. I don't care about going to Vegas per se, but I do want to see the show.

It is so nice to have my daughter up and running with her spa because I am reaping the benefits. Have to say, what she does is nothing short of astounding. My face looks SO much better after her treatments.

We went to dinner last night. The restaurant is "Catfish Plantation" in Waxahachie and is supposed to be haunted. We've never seen any evidence of that, but the food is really good. Consistently. Only open four days a week, but worth the stop. It's a little tough to find, but you'll be glad you persevered. If you go, save room for the bread pudding. The only place that has it better is Dinger's - a now-closed catfish restaurant in Dallas. On our way home, my son asked us trivia questions to see who knew the answers. It was hilarious. It's funny how our minds work. The little bits of nothing that we retain while we lose big chunks of important knowledge as soon as the test is over. Ha!

Have a good weekend. I'll try to be back soon.