Into the Madness

After dealing with two different appliance repairmen, the carpet cleaning people and at least twelve phone calls, I thought perhaps I should venture out and get a few gifts for Christmas. I have a few that I've purchased early but that's it. I've managed to pull it together for a couple of parties but my time is running out. (Although I avoid shopping, this is NOT me. I can't figure out when I became this person.)

Since I am always destined to run into someone who knows me or the husband, I decided to shower and slap on some make-up. I hate to give people a Halloween scare during the Christmas season.

I planned two stops. Shopping and the grocery.

On the way to shop, I realized I was hungry so I stopped for a sandwich. Do you think I was putting off my duties? Once inside the store, I started tailing people. They would say, "I think this is the best one." If they put it in their cart, I put one in mine. Then I got distracted with interesting conversations around me so I pulled out my notebook and jotted some writing thoughts. In the midst of this, I answered my cell phone at least three times. At one point, I considered sitting on the floor while I was making my notes and talking on the phone but I decided it might draw undue attention.

I was in the aisle with discounted Christmas decorations and an oldie came up to me with a wad of things in her hand. She thrust them upon me and explained that she has a gift exchange with ... pick one -- her bowling group, her card group, her living will club -- I didn't quite catch it. But, I gave my opinion and helped her pick some other things.

It's official. I am an oldies magnet.

I left the store and it was dark, drizzling and a little foggy. The grocery will have to be taken care of tomorrow. I came home and left everything in my trunk.

I'm having a little Scarlett moment -- Tomorrow is another day.

Choices for the Day

Today, I choose to be happy, be grateful and find humor in situations where I might have resorted to anger or frustration.

Today, I choose to see the blessings in my household instead of asking the oldies, "what are you going to do today?' and then smirking when they say, "Nothing."

Today, I choose to be supportive instead of judgemental.

Today, I choose to see the rainbow instead of the rain.

As Scarlett O'Hara said, "After all, tomorrow is another day." I'll keep you posted.

Pick Three Books

I contemplate the dumbest things. Here's one:

If you were stranded on an island and could only have three books, what would you choose? I asked the oldies this question and they looked at me as if I had just stepped off a different planet.

Two of my three choices never change. I would want a bible and I would want my combination dictionary/thesaurus. The third should be thick, engaging and something you would enjoy reading over and over. War and Peace,? Jane Eyre?

Right now, I'm going with Gone With The Wind. I read it once a year anyway. If I were on that island, I could recite it. If I'm ever stranded, I hope I would have reading glasses. Otherwise, I would be like Burgess Meredith in that Twilight Zone episode. He survives the nuclear attack and he's safely in the library. Then, he steps on his glasses and can't read a thing.

What would you choose?