A "Sound of Music" morning

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens!"  My guess?  That's all that's needed to know where this is headed!  Having frosted and wrapped the six pork loins for supper tonight, waiting for the first load of clothes to come from the dryer (that would be the first OVERSIZED load [of two!] of sweats--guess what time of the year it is?), I have a wondrous event--time to contemplate my favorite things.  If I were to list them in order of favor, I could give you number 1, and from there on, they simply exist to give my life meaning and joy.  And if you have read this blog before, you will know #1 is the woman who continues to amaze the world (and me) by loving me!  And I shall list!
Health--enough to do the things I want and enjoy the process of doing.
Wealth*--see above.
The opportunity to perform.
My dual fuel professional range.
The puppy (that would be the almost 17 year old puppy!)
All puppies!
Chicken--fixed any way.
Truly funny movies.
Well written literature.
Smutty literature!
Travel.
Playing bridge.
Playing all sorts of other games.
Our families.
Home made caramels.
Pie.
Okay, most anything sweet and/or salty.
French Fries (once a year!)
Growing older.
Not getting old.
Christmas.
Trying something new.
Warm sandy beaches and crystal clear warm waters.
The snowblower!
Isn't it amazing?  The load of clothes is done.  In that short amount of time, I've listed 25 of my favorite things.  Think what it would have been like if I had just started the load?!  Sometime today, between the rush of events that is norm and the chance to refresh tonight, allow your "hills" to be alive with your sound of music!  And realize that I lied.  Just a little.  If I had to order my favorite things, I could give you one and two.  You know one.  And with any luck at all, you know two.  You!  And you know you are loved!

The power

It was cooking class day.  Christmas goodies.  Truly a two day process.  A good two days!  But I'm tired.  A good tired.  It started with breakfast with amazing friends.  Then off to work.  Great group of "students"!  New faces!  Old faces (oops, I mean faces I knew)!  And a young lad who was back for his second class!  Cool!  But among the blessings that overflowed, I was reminded of the power of friendship.  My boss is an amazing young lady who makes the process so enjoyable.  The returnees support the class and me give me reason to continue.  And the lifers who were there made the day special.  You know the type.  If you need a look of encouragement, it is there.  If you need a kind word, it is there.  They are a part of the joy of living.  And the hugs.  Oh, the hugs!  Christmas music plays in the background as I write.  Appropriate for the day and the mood.  I am blessed, and you are loved!

you are loved

To me, the most amazingly healing statement you can hear...and say!  We celebrated the life of a good friend's mother yesterday.  I never really knew her, but she raised three amazing children.  The friend of whom I speak--we'll call him Gary--lives a distance away from South Dakota, and we don't get to see him often.  He was a classmate of Cath's, and we had his children in school.  Amazing kids!  The bonus to the celebration was his son (another good friend) stayed with us while he was here.  The story of his arrival is best saved for another time.  This particular episode is about his father.  Gary is the type of friend that whether you are actually in his physical presence or not, you know he has your back!  You know the type.  You don't see them for months/years and when you do get together, it's as if you lived next door?  Anyhow.  He makes me laugh.  His sense of humor and his obvious compassion and zest for life are legend.  And, he gives me crap!  Knowing how I sign off on my facebook page, he teases me about the titled phrase.  But here's the deal.  When it came time to say goodbye, he looked at me with the one serious bone in his body and said, "You are loved!"  It made the day better.  The world was brighter.  And I?  I'm still smiling.  Say the words.  Live the words, and know you are!

God bless the inventor of...

adjustable waist slacks.  You know of what I speak--the kind that have an elastic insert so as I meander between "you look great" and "you ate great", I can still be somewhat comfortable.  If I were to find one specific descriptor of my size guise, it would be Yoyo!  Like the ursine creature that I resemble, I apparently have decided that hibernation is in my future and have packed (the body) accordingly.  I blame it on my doc.  He said not to run any more.  That was 10 pounds ago!  And I ain't speaking positively.  Okay, in truth, it has been  positive gain, but only on the scale.  Mentally?  Not so much.  It has nothing to do with the caramels.  It has nothing to do with the bread (which, by the way, is utterly amazing!).  It has nothing to do with the almonds that jump into my hand.  It has everything to do with the no!  All I have to know...is no.  But, it's Christmas.  And there is that insert....  Have an outlandishly good holiday, and know you are loved!

They also serve who sit and wait

The car needs attention.  Oil must be changed.  Signal light must be replaced.  Tires must be balanced.  Bill must wait.  This is not Bill's forte!  So off to the mall goes I in search of a particular Christmas gift.  No luck.  Stop at Hy-vee for Chinese lunch.  Luck!  Now, I'm back at the dealer.  And I wait!  Family Feud is on. Doesn't help.  Hence, the blog.  Ms. Loosewheel used to say "Wait for it. It will be better."  One could only hope!  You don't have to wait to know you are loved!

A hairy situation

I always thought I would be able to definitively determine when I was old.  I would talk at length about my bowel habits.  I would share stories of my colonoscopies.  I would prefer talking to doing.  All, perhaps, are yet to come.  But today I was reminded I was old.  It started out like any normal day.  Coffee and crossword puzzles, followed by a few minutes (okay, a few more than a few) of on-line bridge with my favorite partner (in every sense of the word!).  It was she who suggested road trip.  I, of course, acceded.  Now understand, this road trip was with a specific goal in mind.  She needed a hair cut, and the best barber we know used to be married to my sister and lives in Milbank.  Into the car, and on the way up, we do a little Christmas shopping!  God, how I love that mobile hot spot!  Anyhow, we arrive.  Cath's hairs are cut.  Then, it was my turn.  Here's the rub.  The process took about 10 minutes.  8 minutes were spent cutting the hair in my ears, on my ears, in my nose, and trimming my eyebrows.  Yup.  Old.  And you are loved!

Twice as nice

Ever since I had my slice and dice (I believe the correct term is Radial Keratotomy), I have relied on mono-vision.  My right eye was for reading.  My left eye, for distance.  Enter the cataract era.  Right eye was amazingly blurry.  It became next to impossible to read things in smaller than 18 point print.  Colors were faded.  Life was not fun.  Magic.  Cataract removed.  Clear.  Beautiful.  Stunning.  One hitch.  Now, my right eye can see at any distance.  So when I look into the distance, both eyes focus...unfortunately, they seem to do so independently.  If one distance item is good, two must be better, right?  I'm working on retraining the devils to work in synchronicity.  I'm not being very successful.  And when I get tired, they get tired, and forget about working together.  Sounds like a return trip to my miracle worker to see what cure he has!  Until then, if you want to be twice as good, stand at a distance from me when I'm tired, and as much as I love you, it will be doubled!