HAPPY HALLOWEEN .... BE SAFE OUT THERE

HAPPY HALLOWEEN .... 

I am truly blessed..

I am truly blessed..

20 Grandchildren.. 24 greatgrand children, most who know me.  I am blessed.  I  really understand how blessed I am this past weekend.

We went to a funeral of a lady at our church.  As her sons walked down the aisle with their small children.. it sadden me to think about what all she is going to miss… But being I believe grandparents who pass, become guardian angels… then the thought turn to, she will watch them from above…

But then the words my granddaughter who on the social media… hit home. 

See both of these women who passed.. the one from the church who passed last week.. and my daughter who passed 2 years ago.. were both born in 1960. So leaving small grandchildren..

What hit so hard was not that the woman would miss out.. but the children will miss out.  My daughter left behind a granddaughter who was like a second skin. When Julie wasn’t working, my great granddaughter would be with her.. making cookies, doing yard work, doing garden work, going to lunch… they were always together.. My daughter even had a conversation with my GGranddaughter about how there would be a day that Nina (as she called her) would not be around anymore.. but she would look down from the sky, and be her angel…

What is heart breaking, is her brother won’t have the memories… See he was born just a week or so before his grandmother passed.  There is a picture of Grandma with her arms outstretched together, with the baby laying on her arms.. the look of love on my daughter’s face… she had been waiting for 6 years for him.  She couldn’t be at the hospital when he entered as she was home taking care of the sister who was sick.  There was a lot of loving in those weeks… but Grandma pass suddenly.. in moments..   So great grandson will only have stories from all of us about his grandmother… He misses out on the chase thru the house, the working in the yard, the lunches, and all of the hugs and kisses… 

It isn’t us who miss out.. it is the kids who miss out.. and that really hit home when I saw the children walking up the aisle, hand and hand with their parents..

I am so blessed..  My grandchildren know me.. they have memories of me.. out of the 20 …only 3 are under the age of 21.  And those 3 are old enough to have memories.   I have great grandchildren who are 4 months to 17 years ago… Some are closer so know me.. but those far away, don’t know me..  I have a lot of memories made with my local 3 years old.. riding horsie back on Nana, running races on the sidewalk .. yelling I won… I won… playing with play dough.. but will he remember that 20 years from now.. when I am long gone.. Time makes things fade.

So while you have a chance… make memories with your grandchildren.. there is no promise of how long we will be here..  And if you are really lucky, make them with your great grandchildren….

The Fixer….

The Fixer….

I have always been the fixer … at least thru my adult life.. don’t remember in my child hood.. 

I fixed cars, I fixed house hold things… and also try to help out by fixing  people’s lives…  especially my kids until they became adults… 

If I saw a need and I had something to fix it with, I did. Lots of times, when I knew that the person needed something and could not afford..  If I had it.. it was theirs..  If I could find a way to get it to the person without them knowing where it came from.. all the better.

I am sure over the years, that fixing things for others may not have been the most welcome or maybe embarrassing to them..  that was not my intention.. I just wanted to help.. 

Finally about 10 years ago, I decided, not all help is welcome.. or needed… or was helpful for that person.. so I came up with 4 questions. 

Is this my problem or did I cause it>>.. the answer is no 99% of the time.

Am I financially responsible for it… 99% the answer is

also no.

Was I asked to help… 99% of the time the answer is no..

And if I helped financially, would it be helpful?  And that answer is 99% of the time… no…

So the best thing is.. to remind myself that it is not my rodeo and not my pony to ride..

Obits are not free.....

OBITUARIES ARE NOT FREE….

As we open the paper each day.. we all look thru the obituaries….  I jokingly say, to make sure I haven’t died yet. 

Some are sad, some are funny.. and some are short and some are long.  You learn about the person, even ones you thought you knew them… the history of their lives.

Today, there was a few.. most of them with the words “obituary will be printed later”. And one.. well, it was almost half a page.  I thought wow.. who is this person?  The person did do a lot with his life. 

But sadly, after writing the obituary for my brother in law… I now know that Obituaries are not free. 

The smallest, with just a little information cost us $125!!   So sad to put a price on ones last act of their lives.  And especially if the family is tight on funds and can’t afford one. 

I wrote mine years ago… I took a class in Hospice, when I was working at the nursing home. One of the assignments was writing your own obituary.  I tried to add humor..  Don’t know if the family will use it or not.

Sure hate to have them use up the whole life insurance to write a decent obit.  And I firmly believe everyone should have one written about them. It shows that the person matter to others.. that they lives mattered.   

Maybe when there is a cold and wet winter day and you have nothing to do.. you might think about writing your own… It is kind of fun… when you know it isn’t going to be use for a while.  Ha ha

The Difference is…. The difference…

The Difference is…. The difference…

We have become such a judgmental nation.

We judge everything we do, that our family does, our friends and of course the nation.

Most times…  95% of the time, arguing about it. And more so in the past 12 years… actually I think it started with Bush jr. election… The Democrats types arguing about his character as well as his Presidental part.  Heating up with Obama’s elections.. and now it is like the oven of hell with Trump elections.

We are all guilty in different degrees. The hatred that follows is horrible.  Sometimes…hurtful… as it is a friend or even a family member.  I think most of us, or at least my circle, doesn’t get so angry about the nationization of it.

It was hurtful for me.. hearing my friends voices get louder and louder… while sometimes questioning my intelligence…  While I would talk back.. I don’t believe I ever raised my voice… and I purposely did NOT question my friends intelligence verbally… I question their judgment or choices, in my mind.. but not verbally.  And then last year, I finally was able to find a place to put all of it…  

For those who are friends.. still… not by me dropping them.. but them dropping me.. I just stay away from politics, with those who get loud…  and if I can.. stay away from the subject of Trump… all together.  Especially family… Those I have let ramble on.. even when I know for a fact, that their facts are wrong… I let it go.. not worth the hassle.   Then change the subject to grandchildren.. or their health and etc.

What has help me is….. the words, different,  difference and differences…   Just because a subject is debatable, doesn’t mean you should… Once you tell yourself.. it isn’t a matter of one being right or wrong.. it is the matter of there being differenct views of subjects.

So you can listen if you chose to… to maybe even hear something you might not have thought of before… because you were so busy preparing your answer to their view.   So if I feel up to it.. I listen and then change the subject…  Knowing.. I have a different view.. and there is no way they are going to change that view.. just as I know there is no way they are going to listen to me…and I won’t be able to change their view.    

My listening ears shuts down when they get into the name calling or shaming of others… I don’t go for that at all.

Remembering...

Remembering

As I stood at the mirror in the bathroom last night, I thought about years ago, when I was doing the same.

I stood there, with my finger on top of my head…and the other hand twirling my hair around that finger… then reaching down, picking up a black pin, and trying to open it with my teeth so I could keep the curl I had made.

Yep, for those women who are reading this.. the routine many of us went thru each night.   Using bobby pins, to keep the circle until the next morning. And if you were lucky, you did not have a bed full of

Bobby pins …some sticking you.

Been about 60 years since I had done this..  as a young adult I used just about every curling machine or curlers you can think of..  Even the one with the studs that the curler sat on, until it got hot.  Seems to me there was a dot on top that let you know it was hot enough.. and if you were good at it.. you didn’t burn your fingers on the steel ends..

Years of late, I have spent the money every 3 months to go down and get it curled.. Last Fall decided to keep it short… then this May I broke down and paid for it to be curled…  And found out I have been priced out of going to have someone perm it anymore.. Just can’t justify $60 and then another $10 for tip.. $70 is out of my league.

So figured I would give it the old try again of bobby pins..  to my surprise as I tried to separate them with my teeth, they make them a heck of a lot shorter.. Well at least the ones I bought.   I have curlers but no matter how I try, my hair looks like it is trying to take flight. Standing up high off my head… end up wetting it down to calm it down.. 

Hair has never been my thing.. For many years I wore it long and in a pony tail with bangs.  Maybe that is what I need to do.. only trouble is.. my hair is not thick anymore..  so it is a sad state of a pony tail, in deed. 

Worse comes to worse, I will make my trip to Priest River and have the other Cis cut it short again..

by the way, forgot to mention the bobby pins didn't do it either.. yep.. going to get it cut

Missing the old days…..

Missing the old days….. 

I saw this cartoon on Facebook and it make sense to me… as I do remember when my kids sat in front of the tv with their cereal in their old yellow butter bowl.(remember using them?), looking intense at the cartoon of the hour..

Oh, simpler days.  Innocent childhoods. No one talked about shooting in schools, or having their eyes fixed on their hands with a phone or tablet.  The kids use to watch cartoons until about 11am.. as in those days they went off at that time.  See there was only 3 channels during that time.. And where we lived we got 2 for sure and an extra one after the leaves fell off of the trees, letting in another signal.

Kids went out side.. played with all kinds of stuff that was not a store bought toy. Using their imagination, with all kinds of wood and anything they could find. The boys were always working on their bikes. Not the glory bike of today, but a striped down rendition.

Yes, simple times..  as I read the paper or watch the news… watching as people are running from their country, being run off by tanks from another country. Women and children being killed.. as well as the men. Knowing that 99% of it is caused by a man they call President in my country.  A betrayal of a country who stood by us, for many years.

This is not my time .. this is not my life… at least I wish it wasn’t.. Yes there have been wars since the beginning of time.. Guess having national news .. news now.. right now.. it is in my face. 

I have to keep reminding myself.. my hiding my head in the sand of today… my life is here and now.. in my neighborhood.. my husband.. my immediate family.. Dealing with that.  Burying my brother in law this past week end..  yes that is about all I can handle these days.  

Are we the Jonah?

Are we the Jonah?

The phrase use to be that one was a Jonah, when one cause bad luck for others… 

I got to thinking the other day.. are we Jonahs? As it seems like death follows us…  We have had 4 just this year so far.  My sister, my cousin, Ken’s cousin’s wife, his brother.. are ones I can name off the top of my head.

Been this way for 4 years.. Started when his sister commit suicide after dealing or lack of dealing with depression…  After that was the King’s best friend of 45 years.. Gord.  Then the next year was our oldest daughter,  and then there is our son in law.. and sprinkled in and out of those years are some very good friends.. 

I know they say that when you get old, that you start losing people in your life.. But some of these were young.  And also they have passed the 3 series a long time ago……  you know when they talk about well that is 2, and death comes in 3’s…

So you might want to think twice about being friends with us.   Lol..   And we are starting to get numb from it. .. just enduring the time.. and pray.

Blame it on Archie…

Blame it on Archie…

We have become such a judgmental world, such rude world,  naming things… when not needed… still raciest after all these years.. and that actually goes both way..  Sit in our living rooms and become judges of all people..  be it clothing,  what jobs they have and etc.. Now it is called shaming..

I was thinking when did this all start?  I wasn’t raised that way. My parents weren’t one to put others down.. Yes, my mother had strong opinions, but she rarely shared them in mixed company, as they use to say… And of course polite people don’t have conversations about politics and religion.  As the saying went.

And children were to be seen and not heard… Meaning while adults has conversations we were not to join, and to disappear to your room or outside.. would be to your advantage.

So what the heck happen?   Then I was watching a show about the ALL IN THE FAMILY SHOW..and all the first that were on there. The first  toilet to be flushed and etc… 

AH, HA, I thought… that is where it started… well, probably not.. but it sure rev up the conversation, even with Gloria and Meathead trying to keep it civil…

So we will blame it on Archie..

GONE FISHING....

Randall Richard Gors, 66

Randy R. Gors of Post Falls Idaho, passed away surrounded by his partner Tammy, and his brother Ken Gors and Cis Gors, On September 29, 2019.

Randy was born on June 18, 1953, Oakland California.  To Edward and Mary Gors.  

Randy moved from California to Vay, Idaho as a child with his family

His greatest love was fishing the Hoodoo Valley creek.

He is preceded in death by this sister Tina Gors, and their parents Edward and Mary. And nephew Travis Gors of Oregon.

He is survived by the love of his life… Tammy Metzer …his brother Gary Gors (Sandee) of Kennwick, Wa.   Kenneth Gors (Cis) of Kootenai, Idaho and Jeffery Gors (Debbie) of California. And nephews Jacob (Kari) Gors, Josh (Kelly) Gors and niece Andrea Gors of  Sandpoint area.

Numerous nephews and nieces, and cousins in California and other areas.

Maybe instead of raising the bridge we should lower the water..

Maybe instead of raising the bridge we should lower the water..

In the news for the past few years is the minimum wage fight. Depending where you work, what type of work you do.. it will effect your wages.  If the product that is made, goes across federal lines/ state lines..  OR  is sold to the federal group.. it has to go by Federal guide lines and wages… If not, then it goes by State guide lines for minimum wage.  And if it is neither then you are at the mercy of the employer..  One of the ones who falls into that valley is wait service..  waiters, and waitress…  Some have been paid as low as $2.50 and then they count in their tips. Which can be ok, or it can be lousy.. Some employees have gone home with less than $5.00 on their checks because of the shuffle of tips and wages. It is so complicated, I can’t keep track of it.. when my granddaughter was a waitress.

So anyway… the hassle is over the raising of the minimum wages.. I am not sure what the minimum wage is anymore. I was to say $12.   Going thru the hassle of the pros and cons, the graphics have showed that with the cost of living.. meaning rent, food and utilities, that takes two to work to break even.  That isn’t even counting medical, or a car loan..

So I was thinking.. instead of raising the bridge of wages.. why not lower the water… the cost of living..  As rent is judged on cost…. cost of the loan of buying such building, property taxes (no deductions as it is not the prime resident of the owner). And some owners, just because they can ask.. And people have to pay. Because of the supply oppose demand numbers.  So it isn’t completely the owners fault.. but if they lowered the rent, it would help the workers.. And yes, I know it is a living hell to rent your property to some people.. I get that.

Then there is the product… the price of the product, especially for bigger business, is high for high profits..  Once again.. I know there are some reasons..  There is regulations.. there are health insurance, the deductions for their share of unemployment, SS, and Medicare and etc..  That is why the small business are not as well off as bigger business…  

If we were to cut or limit, or even take away a lot of the regulations, and other things that get in the way of the product or service being so high… the higher wages wouldn’t be needed..

One of the biggest gouges is the CEO bonus.. They are thousands and in some, millions a year, on a lot of the companies.. Bonus of that portion should be eliminated all together.  No, you do not need the bonuses because it is your job to do what you do.. AND you are being paid way more than the workers under you, for your job. And said workers do not get the same portion of bonus if they get any at all..  stop and think about it.  If those workers did not do their job well,  you would not have a job.. It is the workers who get the service done, get the product out in a timely manner, made the best they know how… If the CEO office is empty.. the rest of the company can still continue… Because the supervisor know how to do the CEO’s job.  The ideas come from the lower end.  The CEO’S job is to delegated work. 

So if we get rid of a lot of the bloating on the bottom of commerce, maybe the wages would be fine…  because as I see it.. the higher the bridge goes, the higher the bottom has to go.. it is a catch 22 situation. 

But then again.. everyone thinks my thoughts on this is old fashion.