Ready for Some Good News?

I sure am, and so for a few days I'm gong to avoid the Internet and cable news - I've had enough of the negatives, especially the never-ending political blather spewed forth 24 hours a day. I'm more than ready to turn away from the negatives and concentrate on the positives: our four grandchildren, good health, and the upcoming holidays.

And all the while I will thank God for our blessings of family, friends, and the freedoms we should never take for granted, because the world it is a changing. 

Over the last few weeks I have witnessed the best of the fall season with amazing colors, bright blue skies, and warm temperatures. Most days have been picture-perfect. 

So my advice is to look around you and rather than focusing on the endless news cycles, pop in seasonal DVDs, make some popcorn, and hug your family.

New Year's Day 2012 - a Blip Between December 31 and January 2nd.

Ordinarily, New Year's Day is a tribute to New Years, complete with college Bowl games, party food, and get-togethers with family and friends. Sunday, January 1, 2012 held none of that at our home. It was a Sunday like any other and I'm no college football fan, but I missed the bowl games that play on January 1st.

Today, on January 2, we had company over we and watched one of the best bowl games ever: a game between the University of Oregon and Wisconsin. The Ducks v.s. the Badgers - back and forth, matching touchdown for touchdown, field goal to field goal. It was a nail-biter right down to the last second when Wisconsin spiked the ball to stop the clock. But time ran out for them and for the first time since 1917, and several trips to Pasadena, the Oregon Ducks won the Rose Bowl. The score was record setting - 45 to 38.

The holidays are officially over now and we'll get back to our routine. And even though I graduated from a different Oregon college, I rooted for the Ducks. Ducks - a funny mascot for a football team, but fitting for Eugene, Oregon. It rains enough in Eugene to float a flock of them.

Between Holidays - Suspended Animation

It's hard to put into words, but I'll try. The week between Christmas and New Years always holds me in a state of suspended animation. I can't help but feel something's coming, something big - right around the corner; like Tony sang about in the musical, West Side Story. 2011 has been a year of surprises, change, challenges, happiness, and hope, with the promise of more to come.

People ask, "What are your plans for New Year's Eve?" We plan on going out to dinner, not partying, just the two of us enjoying each other's company and then coming home, in the event family stops by. Family, that's what it's all about, for us anyway.

As each new year approaches, I marvel at how quickly time seems to fly by; and as far as New Year's resolutions, I guess they're the same as my day to day goals. I have a big stack of books to read, several writing projects to finish, family to spend time with, and the outdoors to explore.

I'll finish by wishing everyone, many I don't even know, a very Happy New Year and blessings for 2012.

Thankfulness is a State of Mind

Periods of relative peace, prosperity, and thankfulness can be fleeting. When I find myself in the "eye of the storm", where all is calm, I want to savor every moment. Thanksgiving is an official North American holiday set aside for us to gather with family and focus on our blessings. Tomorrow most of us will spend the day with loved ones and do just that.

Many will devote their energies to devouring turkey, potatoes and gravy, pumpkin pie, and then watching football and perhaps falling asleep in an arm chair. I remember those days at Grandma's house - full from the year's best meal and me falling asleep in front of the t.v., or at the foot of my granddad as he smoked his pipe.

We didn't rise early the next morning to wait in line for Black Friday bargains. It was a simpler time, less materialistic in many ways.

Life is complicated this year for me, stressful on several fronts.

But I'll take a day off, maybe a whole weekend, to energize. That's what Granddad would advise. He witnessed plenty of tough times, but he was optimistic and tried to live in a Thankful state of mind.

Labor of Love

Labor Day is coming! As a youngster I enjoyed the last holiday weekend of the summer. It meant potluck picnic-time at Duke and Velva's rambling log house in Estacada, a sleepy town just east of Portland. Velva, my grandma’s niece, was the most interesting lady I had ever met; in my child mind, she was unparalleled. She had flaming red hair, an exuberant personality, and would scoop me up and say, "Well here you are, Donelle! You've grown so much, hardly recognized you!" Velva hosted a mouthwatering spread of food that guaranteed an afternoon nap in the hammock or under a tree if you ate too much. But I couldn't help myself and ate one too many pieces of Grandma’s pie and Velva’s fried chicken, as well as an extra helping of Mom’s famous potato salad. Good times.

Labor Day was officially the end of summer vacation; school started the next day. Between bites of lunch and races with the cousins, as we hid from each other in the dense forest and behind the barn or woodshed just beyond the yard, thoughts of the first day of school would crop up. Nervous butterflies took flight and collided with the lunch in my full tummy as I thought about the next day; what teacher would I have? Would it be the dreaded Dragon Lady? Would my best friends, Linda and Kathy, be in my room? Would the cool kids and the cutest guys be in my class? Important stuff for a kid of any age. It would be a long school year.

Labor Day means as much to me today, but in a different way. I can savor the good times of the yesterdays and remember our beloved relatives who have passed on. Gone are the "first day of school" jitters, but they have been replaced with new feelings. Today, I treasure our family: grown kids and their children, and anticipate our grandson who will join us in February. This weekend promises to be chock full of new memories. and I will enjoy every moment of summer's last hurrah. Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.