by Lois Jamieson
Sometimes I miss the days when our three grandchildren were little. Two boys, two years apart, and one beautiful little girl. Lots of baby sitting and many hours of enjoying them. Now those three are adults and I find there is just as much joy in spending time with them.
This has been a special summer in that regard.
Our 27 year old grandson lives and works in San Diego, California. We had some time with him when we were vacationing nearby. It was very special to hear him talk about his life and where he would like it to lead.
Our 29 year old rock climbing grandson is in the process of moving back to Arizona and we will be visiting with him this month. He is settling into his career.
Our 18 year old granddaughter recently moved into a dorm at Arizona State University. I had the pleasure two weeks ago of meeting her for lunch and shopping for lots of small items she needed to furnish her dorm room.
I am finding that happiness comes in little packages and big ones too. I feel blessed to have had grandchildren to care for when they were little tykes. Now, as maturing adults, I am blessed to share their dreams and aspirations and to have a loving relationship with them.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Ladies Day
By Lois Jamieson
My husband and I just returned from a beach vacation in Southern California. I read the local paper every day, not that it was a great newspaper, looking for interesting articles to share with you. I hit a gold mine!
I read that the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, at the Del Mar Race Track, had scratched “Ladies Day” from the event card. Well, they didn’t really ‘scratch’ the name, they just added to it. It seems that the National Coalition For Men complained that a Ladies Day violates the law regarding equal treatment of the sexes. They complained that this was discrimination against men and they found it offensive.
So now it is called “Ladies Day (and Gentlemen).” Let the race begin.
Now don’t get me wrong. I love men. I have always enjoyed being around them. But this struck me as being a big fuss over nothing. In my own life, I have witnessed many discriminating circumstances against women. At the country club we almost joined there was a Men’s Day and was on a choice day of the week, while the Women’s Day was second choice and God forbid if, on any day, women got to tee off before men. And then there is the “Men’s Grille” found at most clubs. I have never seen a Lady’s Grille at any club.
On the other hand, I remember when my husband’s fraternal club, by law, had to include women. The problem arose when the women who joined were aggressive types. They soon worked their way into leadership positions. In one year the club’s membership was falling.
So I say, let the gentlemen have some time together to just be guys. And let the ladies have their day to spend time with the gals
My husband and I just returned from a beach vacation in Southern California. I read the local paper every day, not that it was a great newspaper, looking for interesting articles to share with you. I hit a gold mine!
I read that the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, at the Del Mar Race Track, had scratched “Ladies Day” from the event card. Well, they didn’t really ‘scratch’ the name, they just added to it. It seems that the National Coalition For Men complained that a Ladies Day violates the law regarding equal treatment of the sexes. They complained that this was discrimination against men and they found it offensive.
So now it is called “Ladies Day (and Gentlemen).” Let the race begin.
Now don’t get me wrong. I love men. I have always enjoyed being around them. But this struck me as being a big fuss over nothing. In my own life, I have witnessed many discriminating circumstances against women. At the country club we almost joined there was a Men’s Day and was on a choice day of the week, while the Women’s Day was second choice and God forbid if, on any day, women got to tee off before men. And then there is the “Men’s Grille” found at most clubs. I have never seen a Lady’s Grille at any club.
On the other hand, I remember when my husband’s fraternal club, by law, had to include women. The problem arose when the women who joined were aggressive types. They soon worked their way into leadership positions. In one year the club’s membership was falling.
So I say, let the gentlemen have some time together to just be guys. And let the ladies have their day to spend time with the gals
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Together But Apart
By Lois Jamieson
Remember how special it was to walk to the park - to the store - to school with a friend.
Remember the joy of walking and talking and laughing together over silly or serious things. I do.
Yesterday, I was out driving and I saw three kids walking together, but with space between them. One was playing a guitar, another staring stonily ahead and the third as in a dream world. They were oblivious to those around them and to each other. They were obviously together but just as obviously apart.
I worry about our youth today. They often seem isolated even when in a group. With texting so popular, I fear the art of conversation is being lost. I can’t believe that receiving a text from a friend that says, “Was up?” can replace an actual conversation between two people.
At least I fervently hope not.
Remember how special it was to walk to the park - to the store - to school with a friend.
Remember the joy of walking and talking and laughing together over silly or serious things. I do.
Yesterday, I was out driving and I saw three kids walking together, but with space between them. One was playing a guitar, another staring stonily ahead and the third as in a dream world. They were oblivious to those around them and to each other. They were obviously together but just as obviously apart.
I worry about our youth today. They often seem isolated even when in a group. With texting so popular, I fear the art of conversation is being lost. I can’t believe that receiving a text from a friend that says, “Was up?” can replace an actual conversation between two people.
At least I fervently hope not.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Moving - Part One
By Phoebe Maurer
We moved from the East 25 years ago.
We moved into a lovely unusual patio home in Scottsdale, Arizona. We thought, “This is it, home sweet home.” Somehow, we never anticipated reaching the ages of 89 and 90 so rapidly, and yet, we do not feel or look ‘old’. Our aging bodies betrayed us!
Now our middle aged children, 57, 61 and 64, arrived at a unified decision. Herb and I suddenly became their charges. However, we were not quite willing to accept their thoughtful decision to have us moved into an independent living facility.
We did not acquiesce easily. We did agree to visit two of the best ‘hotel resorts’ to be convinced.
Helen Keller wrote. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
To be continued…
We moved from the East 25 years ago.
We moved into a lovely unusual patio home in Scottsdale, Arizona. We thought, “This is it, home sweet home.” Somehow, we never anticipated reaching the ages of 89 and 90 so rapidly, and yet, we do not feel or look ‘old’. Our aging bodies betrayed us!
Now our middle aged children, 57, 61 and 64, arrived at a unified decision. Herb and I suddenly became their charges. However, we were not quite willing to accept their thoughtful decision to have us moved into an independent living facility.
We did not acquiesce easily. We did agree to visit two of the best ‘hotel resorts’ to be convinced.
Helen Keller wrote. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.”
To be continued…
Sunday, August 14, 2011
The Green Thing
by Lois Jamieson-from an e-mail
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today, your generation did not care enough to save our environment.” (If I had been there, by this time I probably would have banged the guy over the head with my purse.)
She was right our generation didn’t have the green thing in our day
Back then......
We returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building.
We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
Yes, we didn’t have the green thing back then.
In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.The woman apologized to him and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today, your generation did not care enough to save our environment.” (If I had been there, by this time I probably would have banged the guy over the head with my purse.)
She was right our generation didn’t have the green thing in our day
Back then......
We returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building.
We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes.
When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.
Yes, we didn’t have the green thing back then.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)