I started along my road with wonderful parents and I have always had the most excellent of life-long traveling companions by my side. The road has taken some twists and turns and I couldn't always see where the path was leading me. There have been stones and other impediments under my feet and sometimes I stumbled but I always picked myself up and continued on my way. My travels took me through different cities and many jobs and places that I called home. Sometimes another path would intersect with mine and then someone new would walk with me for a little while.
As my odyssey continued I found that the road got smoother and I began to see more clearly where I was headed. I noticed that some of the weeds that used to line my route had given way to brighter flowers with bigger blooms than ever before.
My long and winding road still stretches out before me and like every other traveler I don't know where or how the road will end. But the journey has been beautiful.
;-)
Yesterday Maya Angelou passed away so her words were remembered all over the Internet. Here are my favorites:
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
Thanks for the pep talk Maya. May you rest with the Angels.
A young man who worked for me had a child who was born with severe birth defects. The boy lived for 18 months. The father made daily trips to the hospitals and homes to see his son who only came home once in his short life and for only.a day. I tried to make every accommodation I could at work to help him.
At his son's funeral, the father included this at the eulogy he gave for his son: "It was because of one person that I had the strength to carry on, my boss, Evelyn. She told me I was strong, that I had accomplished so much in my life already, overcoming a wealth of obstacles to reach my goals, and that I would survive and handle and get through my son's illness." I was the only person he credited with this kind of remark, not even his religious leader. I was simply blown away.
Today I saw this quote posted on Facebook, the modern day source of Words To Live By. I took away two things: a warm and happy feeling that I can count myself as an inspiration to at least one person in this world and the realization that you never know the effect your words can have on another person.
;-)
Like all teenage girls and everyone else on the planet (it seems), I love to take selfies. I especially like to take them when I think I'm looking good but sometimes the camera apparently disagrees, hahaha. I found that if I face the light I look better in my selfie. If I try to smile too much I look like I'm grimacing. Usually my selfie reassures me that I am still fit to go out in public.
But sometimes I get a selfie that kind of takes me aback - what the heck is that old lady doing inside my camera?!?
;-)
Cousin Chuck called last night to say how much he wants us to attend the Simcha in Toronto in a few weeks. I am torn.
On the minus side, it is expensive to go for only a few days and a hassle to park at the airport, get on a plane, go through customs, rent a car, stay at a hotel and navigate around the city.
On the plus side, I see my relatives in Toronto so infrequently. The two remaining Holocaust survivors - my first cousins - will not be around much longer. Two of my dear cousins recently lost their husbands and I would like to hug them in person. The Simcha will be a Joy - a frum wedding with loud freilich music and more delicious food than one can imagine. Toronto in June is likely to have decent weather. The thriving Jewish population and atmosphere reminiscent of Chicago's Kedzie Avenue 60 years ago makes for fun cruising, shopping and eating. The people I would see are my closest relatives, a big tribe of smart, loving and beautiful people. I would dance like a crazy person.
What do you think?
;-)
Today is a reset day. I have them once in awhile when life somehow seems to slip away from me. The symptoms are usually the following: an inordinate amount of time spent on small tasks that mostly involve wandering from room to room, a spike in the scale due to over-indulgence and lack of movement, a general malaise and lack of energy and a dearth of inspiration for my blog. In this most recent case, these doldrums can be attributed to a recent bout with strep throat, a pinched neck muscle that I started thinking might be something more serious and a kind of let-down now that the house is completed and there's no more shopping or effort required.
The steps for the reset are as follows:
1. more caffeine and less sugar
2. filling the weekly vitamin container
3. calling the people I owe phone calls (or miss)
4. giving myself a pedi
5. doing something new
The something new? Well, last week hubby mentioned an interest in a free lunch workshop (and it just happens to be today) hosted by one of the many, many financial advisers here in TV. His interest was a big surprise as we feel we need neither financial advice or a free lunch. One could probably have free lunch everyday if one wanted to attend all these types of events! This one piqued his interest as its topics included Family Foundations and Charitable Trusts, something associated with the uber-wealthy and not with folks like us. But hey, live and learn and attending this workshop would definitely fit the bill of "doing something new".
But then again, so would seeing Godzilla 2014 in 3-D...
Reset!
;-)
I just received this email from the Temple today stating that the congregation plans to affiliate with the URJ. I received this news with great happiness, even if it means including a few extra dollars in our annual membership check. I am pretty sure this action is the result of our wonderful lay leader choosing to retire soon and our impending need to hire a Rabbi, something we'll need help from the URJ to achieve. Sheldon does a wonderful job leading the services but he does not perform the teaching and counseling duties I associate with a Rabbi.
With our burgeoning membership (over 700 and growing), an active Brotherhood, Sisterhood and Hadassah, and even serving younger congregants from the area through Bar and Bat Mitzvah training, it is definitely time for a full-time Rabbi (probably even two!) Our Temple has certainly evolved from a "community of Jewish friends" into a full fledged congregation in need of all Rabbinical services.
But most important of all, at least to me, is the need to affiliate with other congregations throughout the USA. In unity we can find a stronger voice and a shared purpose. We will no longer be a lone band-of-brothers in a very gentile land. It's calling "belonging", the same feeling one might get from their affiliation with the military, a sorority or one's extended family.
Shabbat Shalom!
;-)
Here's the skinny on getting old(er) from my humble perspective:
The Bad News: Sagging body parts
The Good News: Who Cares?
The Bad News: It's harder to lose weight
The Good News: Screw it and have another brownie
The Bad News: You lose some friends along the way
The Good News: The good ones are still in your heart and you won't miss the bad ones
The Bad News: Bedtime is earlier
The Good News: So is dinner
The Bad News: Wrinkles and gray hair
The Good News: You can't see them without your bifocals
The Bad News: You forget a few details
The Good News: They probably weren't important anyway
The Bad News: You don't care about the world news as much
The Good News: The world will go on anyway
The Bad News: You don't care if your house has the latest furniture, decorating and appliances
The Good News: Everything you own looks just fine to you
The Bad News: Long distance travel is a hassle
The Good News: Home is where you want to be
;-)
Scott and Family will be here next month!
I am compiling a list of things to do to make sure the littlest members of the family have a great time. Assisting me is Camp Villages (Destination Fun!)
I'm not sure we'll take advantage of any of its offerings this year but the catalog is filled with ideas and I'm adding some to my own list. It's also good-to-know just how much is offered for all kid ages, like Buckaroo Arts and Crafts (ages 3-6) to Cooking with Top Chefs and Kayaking (over 13). Hopefully these will entice the kids to stay even a bit longer as the years go by.
One of my Big Ideas is a day trip to Weeki Wachee. Yes THAT Weeki Wachee where the (now nostalgic) mermaid show has been delighting audiences since before I was Carter's age. They have added a river boat cruise and a beach and an animal show so I am sure it will be a hit.
There's a boat ride on Lake Sumter and of of course the three Town Squares and Uncle Donald's Farm and a replica of the White House and Mount Rushmore nearby. My list also includes the funnest eateries in the area like Eaton Beach Sandbar Grill and Southern Cotillion. Best of all, I rented a deluxe four-seater (we'll squeeze the kids in) golf cart to cruise around TV in style and get to the family pools.
I'm getting excited! I feel like a kid again myself!
;-)
Back in November I blogged about a word that was new to me: schadenfreude, the pleasure one feels from another's misfortune. German, but I won't pursue that fact unnecessarily.
Today, thanks to a Facebook post, I was reminded of a wonderful word that I use frequently: firgun (I pronounce it "furgeen"). A beautiful sentiment that means the pleasure one feels from another's good fortune. Hebrew, but I won't dwell on that fact unnecessarily.
Like many other words I borrow from Yiddish, Hebrew, French or the Urban Dictionary, there is no one word equivalent in English.
Here's the proper way (my way anyway) to use furgeen in a sentence: I love the Desigual handbag that I picked up in Puerto Rico on our last cruise! Surely you don't furgeen me this small pleasure?!?!?
;-)
I wandered into Chicos while hubby was at his dentist appointment. It was busy and filled with with women of a certain age seeking fashionable clothing at outrageous (IMHO)prices.
Chicos has seemingly zeroed in on an under served market - the 50+ woman who seeks a little more spandex in her pants, a bit more color in her tops, and more forgiving interpretations of cute things currently in the Junior departments of trendy shops. Obviously, The Villages is fertile ground for their efforts and even the area consignment shops boast that they have lots of Chicos resales.
They must have guessed I was not Chicos material when I walked in because no one offered to serve me immediately. Perhaps their clue was when I headed for the clearance rack. I found a pair of jeans in size 00 (Chicos has their own sizing system so their patrons will avoid seeing double-digit numbers on their selections) marked down from around $100. to $59.99 and I could take another 50% off making the final price around $30. They were a little too loose and all that spandex made them feel like pajamas. I found a cute pair of comfortable shoes, also marked down to only $50. but decided to escape while the getting was still good.
Definitely NOT Chicos material am I!
;-)
I was so very, very impressed (and I still am) with the fabulous Netflix series House of Cards and was in awe of the brilliance of the writers. Who came up with such riveting plots, insidious sub-plots and tangled webs of deceit?
Yesterday I viewed the first four episodes of the BBC House of Cards and I got my answer. The BBC drama debuted in 1990, twenty-four years ago. AHA! Although brilliantly re-imagined and crafted for today's audiences, the Americanized House of Cards is basically a knock-off!
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Homeland, Showtime's mega-hit, has its roots in Israel's Prisoners of War. In the 80's every girl tried to style her hair like Farrah Fawcett's (good luck with that). Lawsuits between companies for pilfering technology abound. I remember the tiny company that invented spray-on shower cleaner was trampled on by Big Companies stealing their idea (and formula too?)
It's getting harder these days to separate the pretenders from The Real Deal, people as well as handbags.
I, of course, am an original! Only one of me!
;-)
I knew for a fact hubby was getting better (see Prednisone) when he staggered into the garage to re-establish his Man Cave: the workbench and its associated components, the giant rolling tool chest and utility shelving.
The Man Cave is filled with strange, unidentifiable gadgets and implements. They somehow magically appear whenever they are needed to fix something that is very wrong with the house but that of course I never noticed or imagined was in dire danger of collapse. Recent fixes have been the repair of some kind of strange hole up around the roof line that covers the lanai, some kind of loose wire in an outdoor landscape light, something weird with the light-sensing lamp post that occasionally requires banging to get the light bulb to turn on and the replacement of a "low class" hall ceiling fixture that I honestly thought looked just dandy. In the "honey-do" list - compiled by the "honey" and not by moi - is the adjustment of the air vents so I won't say "I'm freezing" whenever the AC kicks in and the installation of a whole house surge protector.
Hubby is contemplating waiting on the last project until Scott arrives next month. It will be like old times he thinks and of course it is never too early to introduce Carter (he'll be 4) to the joys, the wonders, and the secrets of The Man Cave.
:-)
In three days Jack Will Be Back!
How I missed 24 - one of the greatest TV series of all time. After spending 192 hours (8 seasons of 24 episodes each) with Jack I can't wait to spend another 12 holding my breath on the edge of the sofa.
Thanks Fox, Thanks writers and actors, and Thanks Kiefer Sutherland for 24:Live Another Day.
I'm counting the hours!
;-)
Tonight is the First Annual "Royal Oaks Got Talent" Show at the beautiful Mulberry Recreation Center. While it is true that some of my fellow neighbors have real talent (as witnessed in the rehearsal) most are like me who are taking part in the more comedic portions of the show.
If you ask Retired Me if I have any talent I will say Absolutely Not. I cannot carry a tune or play an instrument or create culinary or artistic masterpieces and I can only do the Electric Slide and the Macarena when I dance at the Village Squares. I just hope I can carry off holding a sign, shaking my booty and turning around at the appropriate time with three other ladies tonight on the stage!
But if you would have asked me 60 years ago if I could sing or draw or dance I would have said Yes!! Either I had much more talent then or much more confidence.
I hope it's Little Evelyn, not Big Evelyn, out on that stage tonight...
;-)
