Welcome to the walk today. You know how you have heard that things go around and come around again..........well, that may not be the exact quote but I thought I would tell you about something I had to happen many years ago, dismissed and hoped to never see it again.....
My senior year in high school was 1958. All senior females were photographed with a black drape across our bare shoulders. A few weeks later we were given four proofs to view and pick one that we wanted to be placed in the annual. I picked one that was a front view and I had my usual smile. I never posed for a picture without smiling, usually showing my teeth. I was proud of my smile and had always been complimented on how happy I looked.
Imagine my surprise when the annual came out and the ONE picture I would never have picked for a permanent record in the annual was the one when I had NO smile and an expression on my face that I was probably caught off guard as the camera clicked. I don't know how this happened other than maybe I had chosen to swallow at that particular moment in time. Anyway there it was......never to be corrected and left to memory only......I hoped.
After I graduated, I forgot the incident and moved on. I had many goals to accomplish during the next three to five years so that picture was of little or no consequence to me any more. Good Riddance!
My life moved forward, I completed a three-year diploma nursing program, became a licensed registered nurse, moved back to my home with my parents, found a job in the local hospital, and began to focus on other important photographs that included my engagement picture to Paul and later, my wedding pictures. The high school senior picture that I hated long ago was replaced.
So, if that is so, then why did I choose to bring it up and share it with you today? You see, I never anticipated social media in the twenty-first century! I honestly did not think beyond the twentieth century. But now we have an amazing device that we call a cell phone, which is really a misnomer because it is actually a hand-held computer. Yes, I can make contact with others through the cell-phone in the computer, but it does so much more. This amazing device will allow people everywhere, not just my hometown, my state, and the United States of America, BUT the entire WORLD to once again view that horrible picture of me that I thought was gone!
I opened the social media page called Facebook last week and discovered that a former classmate had posted it. Again, I shoved that image to the lowest recesses of my memory area in my brain and accepted that it would be removed in three days. Relax, I said to myself, most of the people who knew you then are either dead or in a demented brain state. Forget it! So I did!
Well, this past Sunday one of my nephews who lives about as far away as you can get from me and still be in the US, was going through all his collection of pictures and guess what? You guessed it....there it was again. This thing will not go away!
I decided to go back and look at that picture again. The one on the facebook page. This time I viewed it through my almost eighty-year-old eyes. My memory had continued to remember how I saw the picture as a seventeen, almost eighteen year old. That stored memory held fast to the shallowness of appearances at that young period of my life. I stared at my picture for a long time, and as I did I added all those memories these past sixty years. This time I saw a young girl who was very naive, and who unknowing at that time would make choices that would help direct a path.for the remainder of her life. I wondered to myself, would I go back and change things, knowing what I know now?
Oh, I thought, how young I was. My hair was long and thick and the style was pretty. I did miss my smile but I had lovely young eyes. My eyebrows were natural, not growing in different directions as they do now. My skin was clear and not any evidence of those wrinkles that would surly be there in the future. My shoulders were round and firm, not bony and skinny as they are now. Another thing I noticed was an air of confidence that seemed to jump out of the still photo. The girl in that picture taken so long ago knew what she wanted to do with her life. She had already selected her professional vocation, her mate and she knew what she could accomplish because she was busy setting goals and she was not afraid of new challenges.
Would I go back? Would I make changes? NO , not a single thing, because I would not have my amazing family and all those wonderful people and experiences to look back on. The moment the camera shutter clicked, My life and all my experiences, good and bad began. I have been given and received the beautiful gift of memory that is so important in my life today.
Oh, my, I thought..................".beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder"
Just Pondering........................................................
Come Take A Walk With Me
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Tuesday, June 9, 2020
CAT HEAVEN
Sorry to leave you hanging on to my unfinished story about my cat, Tommy. Today I will finish the story about him.
As you remember, Tommy is a beautiful white male cat, who arrived at our home when he was a young abandoned kitten. He is now approximately six years old. In January I moved to another location some 50 miles northwest so I could live closer to my children as I age. I knew that Tommy loved the farm and his best pal Bella, a large, gentle giant and mix of mostly golden retreiver. They spent almost every day and night together, especially during the cold winter months. It was with trepidation that I decided to find him another home, and that was with my niece who absolutely adored cats, having four of her own. She and her husband wanted Tommy.
As you recall, the first week he disappeared and we were so sad thinking about him being lost and trying to find his way back to his friend, Bella and the farm. After about a week, he suddenly reappeared at my niece's house and was very hungry. They made him a large, soft bed and fed him "fancy feast" cat food as often as he wanted it.
About three months after this royal treatment, Tommy became "the king of the road". He ruled over all the other outside cats and had become THE cat. He now had his own special place to sleep inside the garage; however the fancy feast meals had to be downsize to reduced portions and from canned to dry food. Tommy was getting so fat that his legs were beginning to disappear under his enormous belly and white fur.
His new family has a lawn beautifully landscaped with large stones, flowers and walking paths. Tommy has enjoyed many days lying on the warm stones and smelling the flowers. When the winter flowers had to be removed to make room for the Spring and Summer flowers, Tommy appeared to be saddened for their loss. On the day that my niece's husband arrived with the new baskets of flowers, Tommy was so excited he jumped onto the truck where the flowers were, and curled his body among them. He now loves his new yard!
Tommy also has two sweet little grand-daughters who love to pet him and rub his tummy. As soon as they arrive the first thing for them to do is pet Tommy and the last thing they do when they leave. They begged to take him home and keep him but his new family loved him too much knowing he would run away again.
I stopped by to visit my niece for the first time last week and was looking forward to seeing my cat again. When I drove up, he was in a very comfortable position as cat guard of the front door which was the main entrance into the house. I approached him, expecting to see him respond not only to my voice, but to my touch. To my surprise, he nipped at my finger! He wanted nothing to do with me. I think he was afraid I would take him away from his new home!
I left knowing that Tommy is very happy where he is. He resides with a very loving family and definitely belongs to them. Yes, Tommy the cat, is in"Cat Heaven"!
See you on the next walk...............................................B
The unusual funeral reception
Hello dear friend, so glad you stopped by for another walk on this beautiful June day. I think you will enjoy this story I want to share with you.
This particular incident happened about ten or twelve years ago. At that time my husband and I were living in a large rural community approximately one hour's drive from my former home town. My husband was still self-isolating from a lung transplant and not traveling very far from our home. It was during this time that I received a call from my sister who lived at the end of that one-hour drive. She called to invite me to accompany her to attend a funeral for the wife of a former doctor we had both worked with at a small hospital during the 60's. He had asked some of our former co-workers to contact both of us because he had not seen us in many years. This doctor was now 85 + years.
The day arrived when I was to pick up my sister and we would go together. Prior to my departure, my sister called and said she was taking a cold and felt it best for her not to go. I continued on my journey and fortunately found my three friends and former co-workers inside the church. When the family came into the church I hardly recognized the former doctor whom I had worked with for about five years. Entering the front of the church was an elderly man whose appearance was unlike the younger doctor I had worked with many years earlier. I remembered he always had a receding hairline, but now he was almost bald except for a few stray white hairs along the back. He had trouble walking and his appearance was that of someone who had possibly had a stroke, especially since one side of his face was drawn to one side. I noticed that his sons aided him in walking. How sad, I thought, He must have been through a lot these past years. My heart was filled with empathy for him.
Immediately following the funeral, we gathered along with the family and other church members and friends in the garden for the entombment of his wife. It was a very moving ceremony. We were all invited to join the family in the reception area immediately adjacent to the garden. As we followed the crowd our first pause was to meet the family, who formed a semi-circle around one side of the very large room. My friend, the doctor/now widower was first, then his daughter, her children, the three sons, and their families.
I was the first to greet him as I accompanied my three friends. He looked at me and asked who I was. I told him my name and what my last name was prior to my now marriage. He responded with a very loud Oh Yes! Did I heart that your husband was very sick and may not live long? He then leaned closer to my ear as he hugged me and said .......".you know, I am available now"! Well, I stood back and looked him straight in the eye as I released his hug and said, "well I am not!"
I am sure that his children heard him say that and I was very embarrassed. We had nothing more than a professional working relationship during the five years we worked for the same hospital. I avoided him during the reception, and as I was preparing to make my exit, I decided to go over to his table ( where he was seated with one of his sons and some friends). Once again I expressed my condolences and wished him well. He pulled our a pen and piece of paper and asked me for my phone number and e-mail and proceeded to write his information. As he finished this task of another humiliating moment, he once again stated. "I am available now, you know, and let me know when your husband dies!"
I literally ran out of the reception room! Any empathy I had was replaced with surprising disappointment. I wished I could have been spared that experience and held onto the memory of the young doctor, husband, father of four that I had once had the pleasure of working with.
As I reflected the events of the day on my drive home, It changed from shock, surprise and some sorrow to a hilarious time in my life, and another great story to tell. It was totally unexpected and I could not wait to tell my husband that story! As I expected, he joined me in a great laugh for the day, especially when he added, "Go, with my blessings, honey"!
This particular incident happened about ten or twelve years ago. At that time my husband and I were living in a large rural community approximately one hour's drive from my former home town. My husband was still self-isolating from a lung transplant and not traveling very far from our home. It was during this time that I received a call from my sister who lived at the end of that one-hour drive. She called to invite me to accompany her to attend a funeral for the wife of a former doctor we had both worked with at a small hospital during the 60's. He had asked some of our former co-workers to contact both of us because he had not seen us in many years. This doctor was now 85 + years.
The day arrived when I was to pick up my sister and we would go together. Prior to my departure, my sister called and said she was taking a cold and felt it best for her not to go. I continued on my journey and fortunately found my three friends and former co-workers inside the church. When the family came into the church I hardly recognized the former doctor whom I had worked with for about five years. Entering the front of the church was an elderly man whose appearance was unlike the younger doctor I had worked with many years earlier. I remembered he always had a receding hairline, but now he was almost bald except for a few stray white hairs along the back. He had trouble walking and his appearance was that of someone who had possibly had a stroke, especially since one side of his face was drawn to one side. I noticed that his sons aided him in walking. How sad, I thought, He must have been through a lot these past years. My heart was filled with empathy for him.
Immediately following the funeral, we gathered along with the family and other church members and friends in the garden for the entombment of his wife. It was a very moving ceremony. We were all invited to join the family in the reception area immediately adjacent to the garden. As we followed the crowd our first pause was to meet the family, who formed a semi-circle around one side of the very large room. My friend, the doctor/now widower was first, then his daughter, her children, the three sons, and their families.
I was the first to greet him as I accompanied my three friends. He looked at me and asked who I was. I told him my name and what my last name was prior to my now marriage. He responded with a very loud Oh Yes! Did I heart that your husband was very sick and may not live long? He then leaned closer to my ear as he hugged me and said .......".you know, I am available now"! Well, I stood back and looked him straight in the eye as I released his hug and said, "well I am not!"
I am sure that his children heard him say that and I was very embarrassed. We had nothing more than a professional working relationship during the five years we worked for the same hospital. I avoided him during the reception, and as I was preparing to make my exit, I decided to go over to his table ( where he was seated with one of his sons and some friends). Once again I expressed my condolences and wished him well. He pulled our a pen and piece of paper and asked me for my phone number and e-mail and proceeded to write his information. As he finished this task of another humiliating moment, he once again stated. "I am available now, you know, and let me know when your husband dies!"
I literally ran out of the reception room! Any empathy I had was replaced with surprising disappointment. I wished I could have been spared that experience and held onto the memory of the young doctor, husband, father of four that I had once had the pleasure of working with.
As I reflected the events of the day on my drive home, It changed from shock, surprise and some sorrow to a hilarious time in my life, and another great story to tell. It was totally unexpected and I could not wait to tell my husband that story! As I expected, he joined me in a great laugh for the day, especially when he added, "Go, with my blessings, honey"!
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