Do you remember…

I know a lot of us are thinking about how much the world has changed in the past two years, but the other day I was thinking back past that. Mollie mentioned that she just couldn’t imagine how the world worked before cell phones. Did you have to sit at home just to talk to your friends? 

What if your plans changed after everyone left home? What if you had car trouble in the middle of nowhere? How did we live? Although it was certainly normal enough when I was a kid, I had to admit I’m not sure how we managed.

 

It got me thinking of a couple of other small things that have changed so very much. I remember going to the grocery story with my mom. Getting the groceries was much the same as now, but our kids would never recognize the check-out procedures. Usually, mom would place me on the little conveyor belt and I’d ride a few feet laughing with the check-out lady. 

No one worried about me pinching a finger or worse or about my folks suing the store if I did. As soon as I got down the eager bag boy was taking everything from the cart and placing it onto the counter to be run up. The customer never did that. Then the boy bagged your items in tall, reusable brown paper bags and placed everything back in the cart. Then, smiling at me, the boy would wait until I had the privilege of jumping on the gray mat at the door and watching it magically open by itself. As Mom and I walked hand in hand the young man rolled the groceries to the car and put them in the backseat. It’s a wonder he didn’t come home and unload them for us. The customer service back then was great.

 

 Another place this was more than evident was at the gas station. Now I stop to get gas in the rain, cold or wind and I get out and pump it without a thought, except that I wish it wasn’t raining, cold or windy. The station that my parents went to when I was little was a bit different. 

When we pulled in the young men – usually two, ran, they actually ran to our car. One would say ‘Fill ’er up?’ as the other one began washing our windshield before he popped the hood and checked the oil. One of them then ran to the station and back with our change. 

 

All this now seems like fiction from a 50’s movie, but it all really happened. Do you have memories like this? Some things that your kids or grandkids hear you saying and think you’ve finally lost your mind. Share them if you do.

A visit with Sunny and Ray!

I’ve been to see Sunny and Ray and I made it back in one piece. I had a ball. Although I hate flying, I have to say it went very smoothly. Sunny picked me up and we went to one of her favorite spots – an outdoor restaurant where I could put my toes in the sand as I sipped my peach margarita and watch the water. Every now and then a pretty lizard climbed a palm tree near us or ran across the sand for atmosphere.

The next day Sunny’s brother and SIL took us out on their boat. That was so much fun! We saw some boats – huge boats, expensive boats … ridiculously expensive boats! I have no idea how much, but you could just tell from looking. They were amazing. Sunny’s brother’s boat was smaller, but I don’t think I could have enjoyed the larger one anymore.

We went straight from the boat to another restaurant right on the beach, fantastic view, great food. I did not go hungry on this trip!

 

On Friday we did a little shopping in an interesting antique shop. I love looking through antique stores in the hopes of finding something like Cassie’s ivory brush – but so far, no luck. We went to Sunny’s clubhouse next – they really have a great place to live. Baker mentioned that she wouldn’t feel comfortable in a place with so many alligators or crocodiles. I have to say I didn’t see a single one, but I did sent Baker this sign. I stuck to both rules.

Sunny sent me this picture later, so I know they’re there, but I still didn’t get to see any.

That night, Sunny cooked and WOW! Who knew my friend had so many talents? That roast, cooked as perfectly as any I’ve ever had was done so simply, I think even I can do it. If it turns out as good for me as it did for her, I’ll give you the secret.

I really loved my trip, but as always, I’m happy to be home. Now I need to get back in the groove of writing, both posts and books.

Nearly out the door

I’m flying out to see Sunny in the morning. I have to say packing is a trial. I’m used to traveling by car. Need an extra pair of shoes or two, toss them in. Want to take a coat or heavy sweater, go ahead, there’s plenty of room. I can take my big water cup, my travel blanket, my pillow… but not on the plane. I’m not checking a bag so it’s only what I can carry. It’s a good thing I’m not into fashion. It’s mostly shorts and T-shirts.

Thankfully I believe my cold has run its course. Of course, the cough still lingers, and may for months. It’s so strange. I can go all day without coughing and then it’s like a switch has been thrown and for a short time it sounds, and feels, as though I’m trying to cough up a lung. Then it just stops. If it can do that it should be able to stop all together.

In other news. LJ is looking to change jobs. He’s working nearly sixty-five to seventy hours a week, week after week. But what’s worse for him is that his superiors won’t listen to him about policies and even small changes to be made that would make the place run so much more smoothly. He has feelers out and a good network of people who are feeding him tips and suggestions. All I want is my son to be happy. Hopefully something really good is heading his way.

 

Mollie went to a party last week and has one to go to this coming weekend. She’s still not found anyone to date (not sure she’s really looking) but at least going to parties is better than just staying home or being in her classroom – there are so few eligible men in either of those places. Next week is a Kentucky Derby party - she already has her hat.

Nick and I are plodding along as any sweet little old couple should. Since I’m traveling to see Sunny on my own, I’ve told him to pick a spot he wants to travel to, and I’ll be right by his side. Any traveling is a little hard for me, homebody that I am, but I know it will be good for the both of us.

 

I’m not taking my computer as I fly off to the wild blue yonder, but I’ll be in touch soon after I get back. Hold a good thought for me as I travel, I’m not good at navigating by myself but I can do it!

Well, Bless Your Heart

As far as I know I’m one of very few southerns blogging these days. I know of many bloggers from the New England states, and some in the mid-west. I have a friend in the central part of the country and several on the west coast but not many others here in the south. And I know several from other countries. But I felt I was in a good position to answer this question.

I was happy to get an email from a good friend the other day. She was asking about the phrase, ‘Bless your heart.’ My daughter-in-law says it's a Southern thing and it is not sincere.  But I never doubt your sincerity when you say it to me.  What's the deal with this expression?  We never used it in where I came from.  My DIL was the first person who ever said it to me and she had to tell me it was a snide remark.  

 

I was delighted by her “bless your heart” question. I’m guessing she isn’t the only one confused. It must be instinctive in southern women because any southern woman (well, any female over the age of two) know which way ‘bless your heart’ is intended. It’s like understanding that ‘y’all’ is singular and ‘all y’all’ is plural.

There are three basic ways bless your heart is used. The first is absolutely sincerely. If you say it to someone face to face, or in a text or an email we are truly asking God to bless you. You say this to friends and loved ones who might be going through a hard time, large or small. Anything from a dinged fender to the death of a pet and it’s meant as a comfort to a person you care about. 

The second use of bless your heart is probably used the most often. It’s way of negating something insulting you’ve said about someone. Southern women are taught to be polite. So if you say something unkind about someone you can use the all covering, ‘bless their heart.’

 

 

Examples:  She’s as ugly as homemade sin, bless her heart. 

 

That boy’s dumber than a box of rocks, bless his heart.

 

That school choir sounds like somebody trying to baptize a cat, bless their hearts.

 

You see, it’s not insulting if you bless them afterwards.

 

And then there is the angry ‘bless your heart.’ Suppose a friend tell you she overheard another friend saying your baby is ugly. Your response might be a steely eyed stare and, “Did she now? Well bless her heart.” Which translated for non-southerns would read, “She said what? Well she can kiss my fu*kin’ ass!” Remember one must be polite at all times.

 

I hope this lesson is a unique southernism has helped. It was fun to try and explain. And just as a bonus lesson - 

Trippin'

I’m tired of writing about being sick. I’m kinda tired of being sick too, but I do think I’m getting better. So as long as I’m getting better, I’m going to do something with this impending good health. I’m going visiting. I’m hopping on a plane and going to see Sunny, you remember Sunny … from Aimless Rambling.

Sunny and I met in person may years ago. We decided to meet up in Las Vegas. Mollie was not thrilled that I was heading off by myself to meet up with someone she assured me was probably an axe murderer. But actually, it turns out Sunny was not an axe murderer after all and we’ve taken several trips together over the years. I even got to meet her husband Ray on one of these trips.

 

This time I’m heading to her home. We talked yesterday morning. I don’t know what we’ll be doing so I was asking what kind of clothes to bring. Ray said I’d for sure need some formal wear, but Sunny assured me that a tiara would be optional. And Ray did indicate that he probably wouldn’t be wearing his tux.

Maybe something like this.

I hope that they’ll be about to cope with me wearing shorts and T- shirts and such. Maybe I’ll grab a pair of capris for a ‘formal’ evening. It they want to go somewhere really fancy they can leave me home with the cat. I’m really easy to please. I just hope I can get rid of this cough so she won’t make me sleep outside.

Still around

This is one lousy cold! Do colds get worse as we get older? I know when I was teaching, if I had a cold, too bad. Suck it up and go to work. But I don’t think I could have worked through this one.

Wednesday was the worse day. I got up and came to the living room before I took my first nap, about 8:00 AM. I never really felt awake all day. And the coughing is horrible, it makes my whole chest sore. But I got through Wednesday in a fog and ended up sleeping pretty well that night. 

 

Thursday morning I woke up feeling a little better. I was congested and coughing, but I still felt better. I decided to put a little Vicks under my nose, they say that can help. Opened my little jar of Vicks and … nothing, no odor at all. 

Now you know you can smell Vicks from the next room without trying. But I was getting nothing. Not being able to smell was screaming Covid at me. So I tried something else. I detest peanut butter and I can smell it a mile away in cookies or candy or anything. I practically stuck my nose in the jar, but again I could smell nothing.

I decided it was time for another Covid test and too one. It still said negative. I had my sense of taste, but not smell. I called my doctor who sent me to an urgent care for another test. This third test said negative also! Thank goodness. The PA feels it’s just a bad cold combined with the ridiculously high pollen count. She said this combination could block your sense of smell – maybe, but it’s never happened to me before.

This is where I stand on my fight with this cold. Feeling some better, taking three over the counter meds that the PA suggested, and still napping often. Just checking to make sure the Vicks smelled as it should I gave Nick a whiff. His head jerked back and he asked, “You can’t smell that?” I’m guessing the Vicks still smells. I can get the faintest odor now, it’s like the jar has been empty a couple of years but just the tiniest odor remains. Hopefully my next post can tell you I’m completely back to normal… well, normal for me.

COLD

No, not outside, in my head and chest. I’ve tested negative for Covid – it’s a cold. But I haven’t had a cold since 2015 or 2016, since way before I retired. I was hoping my streak would go a little longer. I forgot how crummy a cold can make you feel.

 

I’m planning to spend this week coughing, sneezing, trying to breath and working on getting rid of a headache. If I think of something to write about, I will. But don’t expect much.