Three Days

Three Days

            My husband has a cousin who said throw out company and fish after three days. Now Shaw would come in on Monday night and leave Wednesday morning. He said that was three days. My husband never kept fish after a meal. So what is your limit for a stay?                                                                 Going some places and staying the night can be a real ordeal; you can’t wait to get out in the morning or worse yet, they suggest you stay in a hotel. So what do you do? Stay in a hotel. Other places feel like you have not been there long enough when it has been two weeks and time to go. What makes the difference? The people and their attitude to spending time with family. If we treat our family like friends would they stay be easier? I’m not sure but I do know that some people have a different relationship with friends that leaves them wanting to spend more time together.                                 When my kids were in college, we took turns finding a place to meet. If you could make it fine, if not, there was next time.

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day

My mother has been gone for over thirty years.

Sometimes I look back and realize that the issues

she had; were part her own doing and part of her medical history.

I think she did not take care of herself like she should have.

Easy for me to say as I have been there. When you care for others

you often put your own needs last. It is very easy to do

if you have young children or are caring for someone who is ill.

I have a short guide to help you.

The ebook will be released as soon as I can work out some technical

difficulties.

Look for the Samll Things

My grandsons ages 3 and 5 were sitting in front of the oven door
watching the cup cakes rise; the anticipation of fresh cupcakes only heightened
by the prospect of a birthday party.

I was told this was much better than watching paint dry as there
was an end point and action along the way as the cupcakes did their thing.

Have often we miss opportunities to enjoy the wonder  around us even if
it is a small thing.

By the way, my youngest grandson who turned three said the cup cakes
were delicious.

Am I Ready

Am I Ready?

At the turn of the century, one of the glossy magazine came out

with 100 things you should do before the end of the century.

I thought I was pretty square; however, I did read through

and discovered I had done all but three.

That's not quite correct.

I've never driven down the coast in a red convertible

but I have ridden down the interstate in a convertible with the

top down. Those who know me know that cruising the coast

is one of my great joys.

Does that qualify?

Take Time for You

                        “Take time for yourself,” I tell caregivers. The usual response is a shrug of the shoulders and a ‘How?”Some recognize the need to take care of self. Others never see the need because they are so busy being a martyr taking care of everyone but self. It does not make an impression when I mention, “If you go down, who takes over?” These caregivers assume they are invincible, like teenagers, they believe they can handle anything that comes along. I stand in awe of them. When they fall, I hope there is someone to help get them back on their feet so they can go back to their passion with a new attitude.                                                                                                     

                For me, I found that I could make it six months going full tilt. Now that I am a bit older, I give out a lot sooner. Like on an airplane, you are told if the cabin looses pressure, put on your own mask. What will it take to make you realize that you cannot do it all? Maybe I can give you some hints to help make your life better, even if you don’t think you need it. Give it a read.                                                                                              You cannot be on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is not possible. You have to sleep sometime. You need to rebuild yourself so you have something to give. If your bucket is empty, you have nothing to give to the one you care for. Replenish yourself.                                                                                        So you don’t feel you can take off an afternoon, can you manage ten minutes? Get up early in the morning and take some time for yourself. Make you feel better? Then find other ten minute segments to take as your own.  

Where Do I belong?

            We walked into a restaurant in the community where my husband was born.
I noticed he fit right in with the farmers gathered around the tables drinking coffee
and chatting. With their work boots and cowboy hats to shade them from the glaring
Kansas sun, you could tell they spent a lot of time outdoors. A few had caps on but all                      
shared a common lifestyle. My husband even drove a pickup. This place represented                                     the life he led.
What about me? I didn’t dress like the few women in the place. I don’t own a pair                    
of blue jeans. Where do I belong?

Good advice

            ARGUING

            People argue about the strangest things. I remember watching a TV show where the husband and wife were arguing about which way the toilet paper should roll, up or down. They even included other people in the argument. It got to the point of ridiculousness. If all you worry about is which way to put the toilet tissue on the holder, you have no worries. Still we as humans want to be right.

            Bud and I had a disagreement about a stop light. He said it was a certain way. 

I knew he was wrong and said so. Then I got to thinking about it. I discovered two things: 

1. How could I prove him wrong? 

The light had been changed so there was no way to prove either of us correct. 

2. In the grand scheme of things, what difference did it make?

            My younger brother gave me some advice: “Pick your battles.” Amazing since he did not have kids and he was always picking fights; I knew he was right. Let the small stuff slide and don’t compromise on the big stuff.