By Loys Gilley Bolduc
Last week my friend, Lois Jamieson called to see how I was doing. In the course of the conversation she reminded me I had not contributed to her blog, Ageless at 80, in a while. She jolted my memory.
I’ve been busy celebrating my 88th birthday. I call it my unique birthday. Why? Look at the number 88. It is the same right side up or upside down, right to left and left to right.
I had a great birthday and I’m ready to stop celebrating and get on with other important tasks. How about if I start with writing something for Lois’ blog?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Happy April Fool's Day
by Lois Jamieson
I hope you had a chance to play a joke on April Fool’s Day before someone got you first.As teen-agers, my brothers and I loved to play April Fool’s jokes on our mother. She always believed us - or at least she let us think she did. Then when we had grandchildren it was always fun to play jokes on them.
Wondering how this all began I did a little research. Here is what I found out – practically nothing! Actually why or when the 1st day of April was designated remains a mystery, although historians provide ‘feasible’ explanations. I can tell you that there are clues in French history.
At least here is someone to blame if you have a joke pulled on you – Pope Gregory X111 and the Julian calendar. On this calendar, the 1st day of the year began around March 25th. France adopted the new Gregorian calendar in 1582 which made the new year day January 1st.
I hope you had a chance to play a joke on April Fool’s Day before someone got you first.As teen-agers, my brothers and I loved to play April Fool’s jokes on our mother. She always believed us - or at least she let us think she did. Then when we had grandchildren it was always fun to play jokes on them.
Wondering how this all began I did a little research. Here is what I found out – practically nothing! Actually why or when the 1st day of April was designated remains a mystery, although historians provide ‘feasible’ explanations. I can tell you that there are clues in French history.
At least here is someone to blame if you have a joke pulled on you – Pope Gregory X111 and the Julian calendar. On this calendar, the 1st day of the year began around March 25th. France adopted the new Gregorian calendar in 1582 which made the new year day January 1st.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
UNDER THE WEATHER
by Lois Jamieson
Now that I think of it, the phrase “under the weather” sounds rather odd. I guess it’s an old
expression from my youth, or maybe, I just made it up.
At any rate, that is exactly how I would describe both Phoebe and me this past week or so. Phoebe has had some serious eye problems and I just went through a cardiac ablation to regulate my irregular heartbeat, followed by a serious sinus infection. But so it goes, and we are both recovering nicely. You can’t keep us down, we have too much to do.
The heart procedure was quite interesting, although I probably wouldn’t care to do it again soon.
My doctor is a cardiologist who is also an electro physiologist. During the procedure small wires called electrodes are inserted into a specific area, or areas, of the heart. Energy through the catheter disconnects the sources of the abnormal heart rhythm. It took about 4 hours for my procedure and I was awake, but not feeling anything – I was in Happy Land. My real worry was that my white hair would stand out in spikes with all that electricity.
I can’t tell you much about Phoebe’s treatment, that is her story, but I shudder to think of having a needle poked into my eyeball. I’ll take the ablation!
NOW HERE IS A LITTLE WISDOM FOR YOU
TAKE TIME
Take time to work – it is the price of success
Take time to think – it is the source of power
Take time to play – it is the secret of perpetual youth
Take time to read – it is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness
Take time to dream – it is hitching your wagon to a star
Take time to love and be loved – it is the privilege of the gods
Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul
- Irish Digest
Now that I think of it, the phrase “under the weather” sounds rather odd. I guess it’s an old
expression from my youth, or maybe, I just made it up.
At any rate, that is exactly how I would describe both Phoebe and me this past week or so. Phoebe has had some serious eye problems and I just went through a cardiac ablation to regulate my irregular heartbeat, followed by a serious sinus infection. But so it goes, and we are both recovering nicely. You can’t keep us down, we have too much to do.
The heart procedure was quite interesting, although I probably wouldn’t care to do it again soon.
My doctor is a cardiologist who is also an electro physiologist. During the procedure small wires called electrodes are inserted into a specific area, or areas, of the heart. Energy through the catheter disconnects the sources of the abnormal heart rhythm. It took about 4 hours for my procedure and I was awake, but not feeling anything – I was in Happy Land. My real worry was that my white hair would stand out in spikes with all that electricity.
I can’t tell you much about Phoebe’s treatment, that is her story, but I shudder to think of having a needle poked into my eyeball. I’ll take the ablation!
NOW HERE IS A LITTLE WISDOM FOR YOU
TAKE TIME
Take time to work – it is the price of success
Take time to think – it is the source of power
Take time to play – it is the secret of perpetual youth
Take time to read – it is the fountain of wisdom
Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness
Take time to dream – it is hitching your wagon to a star
Take time to love and be loved – it is the privilege of the gods
Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul
- Irish Digest
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Never Again
by Phoebe Maurer
Being caught in a Long Island expressway traffic jam means being late to work, dinner is overcooked, and everyone is cranky. Having a snow and sleet storm descend without warning is a living nightmare. I had lunch in Manhattan with my husband when a few snow flakes floated down."Get the car and go home now." I listened and drove through the Lincoln tunnel expecting to arrive home in Great Neck ,Long Island within 30 to 40 minutes.Was I wrong!
This was no ordinary snowstorm.The road out of the tunnel metamorphed into a sheet of ice. Traffic plowed to a crawl, stopping and starting, sliding and skidding. The radio blared the terrifying news that a huge storm had blanketed New York and all points east, west, north, and south, crippling traffic and causing power outages. I switched stations, hoping to find soothing music. No luck. The speedometer was stuck at 5 miles an hour-or less. A bus was sliding treacherously close to me. Fear sent my heart racing. I took deep breaths, there were no cell phones to call Herb at home. The Long island commuter trains were running on time. The windows fogged and iced up. Thankfully the defoggers were working and warm. I held my breath as my car skidded close to a concrete barrier. The car in front started and stopped. It was nerve wracking. The clock on the dashboard said five-thirty. I was moving on glass for five hours and nowhere near my exit. I whistled, sang lustily, and glanced at expressions of close drivers faces to cheer me.
The gas gauge was less than a quarter of a tank, six-thirty and at last my exit. I slid onto the road leading home through more traffic jams and maneuvered up the steep hill to our home with difficulty. Foolishly I, a good citizen, stopped at a stop sign without another car on the road, one block from our driveway, and went into a long skid. I kept the steering wheel from hitting a huge tree. The yard had a glorious wonderland canopy of glistening white branches hanging low. Our house a glow of lights as Herb opened the garage door, his face a mask of worry. The embrace was what I needed to calm my nervous system. That plus a double scotch and soda.
Never again….I will take the train!
(a note from Lois to Phoebe….Maybe that is why you moved to Arizona!)
Being caught in a Long Island expressway traffic jam means being late to work, dinner is overcooked, and everyone is cranky. Having a snow and sleet storm descend without warning is a living nightmare. I had lunch in Manhattan with my husband when a few snow flakes floated down."Get the car and go home now." I listened and drove through the Lincoln tunnel expecting to arrive home in Great Neck ,Long Island within 30 to 40 minutes.Was I wrong!
This was no ordinary snowstorm.The road out of the tunnel metamorphed into a sheet of ice. Traffic plowed to a crawl, stopping and starting, sliding and skidding. The radio blared the terrifying news that a huge storm had blanketed New York and all points east, west, north, and south, crippling traffic and causing power outages. I switched stations, hoping to find soothing music. No luck. The speedometer was stuck at 5 miles an hour-or less. A bus was sliding treacherously close to me. Fear sent my heart racing. I took deep breaths, there were no cell phones to call Herb at home. The Long island commuter trains were running on time. The windows fogged and iced up. Thankfully the defoggers were working and warm. I held my breath as my car skidded close to a concrete barrier. The car in front started and stopped. It was nerve wracking. The clock on the dashboard said five-thirty. I was moving on glass for five hours and nowhere near my exit. I whistled, sang lustily, and glanced at expressions of close drivers faces to cheer me.
The gas gauge was less than a quarter of a tank, six-thirty and at last my exit. I slid onto the road leading home through more traffic jams and maneuvered up the steep hill to our home with difficulty. Foolishly I, a good citizen, stopped at a stop sign without another car on the road, one block from our driveway, and went into a long skid. I kept the steering wheel from hitting a huge tree. The yard had a glorious wonderland canopy of glistening white branches hanging low. Our house a glow of lights as Herb opened the garage door, his face a mask of worry. The embrace was what I needed to calm my nervous system. That plus a double scotch and soda.
Never again….I will take the train!
(a note from Lois to Phoebe….Maybe that is why you moved to Arizona!)
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Gift of Friendship
by Lois Jamieson
“A constant friend is a thing rare and hard to find.” -Plutarch
Yesterday I met with some writer friends. But let me start at the beginning.
Fifteen years ago I felt the need to get back to writing after some years of sporadic work.I had the good fortune to find a Writer’s Work-Shop at the local Senior Center. I had attended many creative writing classes and seminars, but never a workshop – and there is a difference.
The workshop offered three sessions a year – fall, winter and spring. As luck would have it the instructor was a wonderful writer and teacher, Marilyn McGrath.
I quickly signed up for the first session and that was the smartest “writing” decision I have ever made. I didn’t know anyone in the class of 8 writers and I’ll admit I felt a bit awkward at first. By the end of the first six week session I was in my comfort zone, mostly because of the talented and very kind men and women in the class.
I signed up for the next two sessions and was delighted to find many of the same faces. By the end of that first year, we had bonded with Marilyn and decided to carry on for the next year’s sessions. Amazingly, we all continued in the workshop for nine years, until finally Marilyn told us that she had no more to teach us and she was retiring. We moaned and groaned to no avail, and then decided we would continue meeting. Marilyn decided to join us and the Via Linda Writer’s Group was born.
We have encouraged each other in our writing and have developed a strong friendship along the way. My co-blogger, Phoebe has published a book,as have Marilyn, Dana and Jim. Tova has a book of published poems to her credit. Mary has written a little children’s book with her granddaughter and shares it each year with the kindergarten class at StarShine Academy.
I blog with my daughter – www.kidswithoutstuff.com as we write our book Kids Without Stuff, and , of course, Phoebe and I have our blog Ageless At 80, which we hope to turn into a book.
Yes, good friendships are a rare and wonderful thing.
“A constant friend is a thing rare and hard to find.” -Plutarch
Yesterday I met with some writer friends. But let me start at the beginning.
Fifteen years ago I felt the need to get back to writing after some years of sporadic work.I had the good fortune to find a Writer’s Work-Shop at the local Senior Center. I had attended many creative writing classes and seminars, but never a workshop – and there is a difference.
The workshop offered three sessions a year – fall, winter and spring. As luck would have it the instructor was a wonderful writer and teacher, Marilyn McGrath.
I quickly signed up for the first session and that was the smartest “writing” decision I have ever made. I didn’t know anyone in the class of 8 writers and I’ll admit I felt a bit awkward at first. By the end of the first six week session I was in my comfort zone, mostly because of the talented and very kind men and women in the class.
I signed up for the next two sessions and was delighted to find many of the same faces. By the end of that first year, we had bonded with Marilyn and decided to carry on for the next year’s sessions. Amazingly, we all continued in the workshop for nine years, until finally Marilyn told us that she had no more to teach us and she was retiring. We moaned and groaned to no avail, and then decided we would continue meeting. Marilyn decided to join us and the Via Linda Writer’s Group was born.
We have encouraged each other in our writing and have developed a strong friendship along the way. My co-blogger, Phoebe has published a book,as have Marilyn, Dana and Jim. Tova has a book of published poems to her credit. Mary has written a little children’s book with her granddaughter and shares it each year with the kindergarten class at StarShine Academy.
I blog with my daughter – www.kidswithoutstuff.com as we write our book Kids Without Stuff, and , of course, Phoebe and I have our blog Ageless At 80, which we hope to turn into a book.
Yes, good friendships are a rare and wonderful thing.
Ageless Quotes
by Lois Jamieson
I found these wonderful quotes in a little book called “Old Age Ain’t No Place For Sissies”.
I think Mark Twain had it just about right when he said:
“Life would be infinitely happier if only we could be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.”
“If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart.
The spirit should never grow old.” -James A. Garfield
“Outwardly I am 83, but inwardly I am every age, with the emotions and experience of
each period.” - Elizabeth Coatsworth
“The great comfort of turning 49 is the realization that you are now too old to die young.” -Paul Dickson
“Middle age: when you begin to exchange your emotions for symptoms.” –Irvin Cobb
“Retirement must be wonderful. I mean, you can suck in your stomach for only so long.”
-Burt Reynolds
“Women are just beginning at forty. At fifty, you hit your power.” –Lauren Hutton
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” -Muhammad Ali
Phoebe and I hope you have enjoyed these quotes. Watch for more next week. Have a great day. -Lois
I found these wonderful quotes in a little book called “Old Age Ain’t No Place For Sissies”.
I think Mark Twain had it just about right when he said:
“Life would be infinitely happier if only we could be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.”
“If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart.
The spirit should never grow old.” -James A. Garfield
“Outwardly I am 83, but inwardly I am every age, with the emotions and experience of
each period.” - Elizabeth Coatsworth
“The great comfort of turning 49 is the realization that you are now too old to die young.” -Paul Dickson
“Middle age: when you begin to exchange your emotions for symptoms.” –Irvin Cobb
“Retirement must be wonderful. I mean, you can suck in your stomach for only so long.”
-Burt Reynolds
“Women are just beginning at forty. At fifty, you hit your power.” –Lauren Hutton
“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” -Muhammad Ali
Phoebe and I hope you have enjoyed these quotes. Watch for more next week. Have a great day. -Lois
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