Once again.. dancing as fast as I can

Once again.. dancing as fast as I can

We are in the mode of helping family..  which usually runs into what I call the DANCING AS FAST AS I CAN..  MODE..

This time it is rotation of vehicles..   giving mine to our granddaughter so hers can be fixed..  Now we have to hit the pro’s as the guys can’t figure out why it chose to run some times and not other..   Ruling out bad battery,  it is not..  bad connections to the battery.. it is not..    So today, her car goes in to the shop..  So yesterday the King traded out cars, so she can get the boys to school and her to work..  while the car is in the shop. 

In the meantime the brakes have gone out in our big truck.. so appt. for it is on Thursday..  After having it the shop last week, for transmission flush that was due..  Plus picking up boys ..from school..  making sure Dad picks them up and brings them back the following day..  So Mom can get them to the next program..

On top of all this.. we are dealing with dr. and hospitals and etc..  phone calls going back and forth.. as THE KING twisted his back 2 weeks before Christmas..  Only to find out he can’t get an MRI until he has a Xray..  according to insurance rules.. Which by the way they advertise on TV… no referrals needed..   you know the ad where the woman is at the dr.  and he ask her why she was there.. she said to get a referral.. he says she doesn’t need one.. she says “yes, I do” after 3 rounds of that… he says, “with PACIFIC SOURCE YOU DON’T NEED A REFFERAL…  AND SHE SAYS… I don’t have Pacific Source, so I do have to have a referral.. and then the ad goes on to repeat that..   THEY LIED… The King needed not only a referral.. but he needed a Xray one first before they would consider a MRI.. all of this we found out 4 days of going down to the hospital..  and then phone calls. Then going down to the dr. office getting the referral from the dr. and back to the hospital to be told that is fine.. but we need the insurance co .. ok..but they would contact the dr. office to get that.. and get back to him..   they didn’t  .. he called. Finally it came down the line.. Xray first. And yes. Go get it NOW.. 15 minutes before they closed …with the slowest check in clerk ever, before he can actually go to the xray dept..   Trying to keep him calm as he is upset at the slowness…  I asked her, if I could stay and do the paper work and let him go.. NOPE.  Got a routine.. going with the routine..  HUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..  FINALLY..  the paper work is done.. AND I,  the old nurses aide who never dies.. took him on the faster wheelchair ever to get to the dept.    Have to wait until today.. for Dr. report..  but Nurse did l tell him, when he called AGAIN.. it involves his L 3   L4  vertebrae … PATINENCE IS NOT MY HUSBAND’S FINEST POINT.. 

 SO… TODAY ..  is my husband waiting for a call from the dr. to find out what to do now?  MRI?…  physical therapy? Or what? And also waiting to hear what is wrong with the granddaughter’s car and please LORD.. have it be less than $500..  

 

DANCING AS FAST AS WE CAN..

We have nothing to FEAR but FEAR itself.. words by Franklin Roosevelt

We have nothing to FEAR but FEAR itself..   words by Franklin Roosevelt

The count down is coming…  January 20, 2025 ……  

Two weeks… 2 weeks more for those to be fretting..  to be scared of what will happen once Trump is in again.. And this time a bigger potential of doing harm as he has nothing to fear. Before he tried to be fairly decent..   (I know that is questionable by a lot of people, who endured his last time around) .. after all he was hoping to be elected in 2020, so had to be somewhat decent… in order to win.    This time.  there is no reason to fear, as he KNOWS he won’t be elected again.. ( I know in his mind and some other, they think they can bypass this.. and it is a reality…. as look at the Congress we have, the weakest, no back bone one I have seen in … like forever..)..  So he will wreck havoc .. with all the changes he will make.  So there is a lot of people who are truly in FEAR…. 

But as Franklin Roosevelt said..  WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF.  I hope he was right.  

I use to tell my kids..   to NOT TO BORROW TROUBLE.   .. meaning not to worry about things until they actually happen. It is ok to be ready for it.. to figure out what is the worse that can happen..   and what would you do if…. If it did?  Because if you have a plan on how to face the worse that can happen.. you are ready..  if it doesn’t happen.. no problem.. and you did not waste your time being fearful. 

We have fear of how it will effect us.. our jobs, our state, our lives on a daily bases..  Fear of our country, fear of our Congress..  and fear of what the other countries will try to do. Fear of the Republican party…. Fear of the Democrat party.. Fear of losing our home…  Fear for our family… So much, we humans fear.

Maybe a quote that would help…. Dune’s quote by author …..  Frank Herbert     “Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

 But myself..  I have someone who will walk thru this with me..  Will he be able to keep the nation on an even keel?  Will he be able to have a better Congress elected in 2027?  I do not know.. 

But I do know..  he will walk with me thru it.  Even if he can’t change things..  He will stay by my side, as I endure it..

And for some..  that is not enough…  sadly..   But  me… my God will comfort me.. walk beside me..  some times with his arm around me..  And I and my family will survive..   At least that is how I will handle the fear that comes my way.

 

 

 

Happens every year at this time…

Happens every year at this time…

Every year at the beginning of the year..  I start having thoughts of ending the blog..   and yet after a week or a month.. before March 5^th.. I make the decision to continue.. one time deciding to do it twice a week instead of every day or 5 days a week.. But this time is different.    See .. come March 5^th.. it will be 20 years..  And to be honest with you… 20 years is more than enough.  My reader ship has changed over the years..  In stead of 40 to 60 readers in the beginning..   and with the help of Dave Oliveria ( who got me into this mess..  along with Marianne Love) and his HBO. Column/blog.. sending many of them..   I now have an average of 8 to 11.. and once in a while I will hit up to 20 or even 30.. but those days are really rare.  Some of them coming from my Facebook page.   There has been some who have come and gone… actually I would be totally surprised if there was anyone who actually has been reading this from the beginning.   There are those who went away, but check back a couple times a year..  There are a few new ones who come across my name of the blog on Google.

 

So you see.. it is time to go..  time to still be kind of a winner.. after all if there is still 11 of you out there who actually read this.. maybe not each day I put it up.. but maybe once a week or once a month?  So,   boy I use that little word a lot, SO.. this is going to be the last two months.. After all this is January 6^th.

Hopefully I can still find something of interest for you to read.  I am always grateful for those who do follow me. Don’t want to let you down at the end.   I started it for a soap box.. but also for source of sense of humor about my life.. as I screw it up from time to time..  So hopefully some of it you found funny. So hang in there.

a foot note..  as I published this..  the past couple of weeks came up.. and the average was acually 15!!!  some were 22..  some were 12..  but wow..  No, still time to go.. 20 years is enough..

OH, 2024 WHERE DID YOU GO?

OH, 2024   WHERE DID YOU GO?

THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR… THAT LAST OF 2024… AND TO BE HONEST..   I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU GO,  2024..  

As the old saying went..   “ANOTHER YEAR DOWN THE TOILET, AND HERE IS ANOTHER TO TRY TO LOUSE UP”

So as you walk thru this last day of the year…  Have you learn any thing about yourself?  Or just learn anything in general?

What do you plan on taking into 2025 and what are you going to leave in 2024?

Do you have a list or agenda of what you want to get done in 2025? Any plans…  anything you have put off for way too long? And this year of 2025 it needs to be done? 

I am not talking about NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS.. that people promise themselves.. and goes to the way side by January 10^th..

Do you have traits that you want to strengthen?  Like to be kinder to those you who you deal with?  You know where it is irritating to deal with certain ones..  and how you can be kinder, even though they are not..  and probably never will be?   Are you going to take the high road..  and  let go of the bad side of things..  just because people don’t follow the rules.. your thought of the rules.. doesn’t mean we are not to be kind..  Just because they are asses..   we still can be kind…  Just because their road is not travel like ours..  doesn’t mean we should not be kind..   because you see.. you should not be kind for others sake only..  you should be kind.. for YOUR sake ..it is easier on your nerves. 

Is there things you want to do, so you are going drop the usual things?...   I have threaten and thought about it, over and over.. and yet… went back to what I should give up..  And I think this year of 2025 is the year to stop..  Like I said.. I have threaten to stop before.  Thinking I had nothing else to say..  at least of interest to others…   I have done it so that I have always an open soap box to spout off…  But this is the year to say..  Thank you for being there over the years.. those who stuck it out for that long.. and even for those who only joined the past year or so.. THANK YOU… I see the numbers .. so I know there are  several..  8 to about 12 on an average day..  once in a while hit the 19 to 20..  but not the 30 or 40 in the beginning.   So I am releasing you as of this March.. March 5 will be the last day of the FROM A SIMPLE MIND.. it will mark the 20^th anniversary when I started this blog.. 

I don’t do this lightly..  and it isn’t because I think I have so much great things to write about… because I don’t… I am almost scared to quit…   Why is that?  Because I am 84 now..  and doing this twice a week.. puts me on the line to do something..  a deadline so to speak…   and without its… is the part that scares me..   When you are elderly.. and you don’t keep your mind active… you slowly lose it..  Not just the mind, the activity.. the power to do SOMETHING.   So if I quit and I am sure I will… At least on a weekly routine…  what will I fill that space up with.. that will keep the mind thinking?    Will dementia slowly take over?  I have senior moments as it is..  (who doesn’t at 84?)   Surely hope I have something up my sleeve to fill the void..

Well, we still have 60 days … before that happens..  so 16+ pages to fill with nonsense of Cis… 

So again.. what are you leaving in 2024….  And what are you opening up 2025 with?

As we unwind the last of 2024….

As we unwind the last of 2024….

We have had blessings..  we have had heartache… 2024 Definitely has tried us…  and great joy… as the roller coast of 2024 had taken us thru the time of life.

We have had the lost of good friends.. But that is what happens, when you get old.. meaning over 70… 

We have heart aches as we watch a family member go off the beaten track.. and no we are not sharing that one.. 

We have had great joy…   that spread across several areas…..   an insurance company that stood by us..  even when the faulted insurance did not..   the family that stepped up and said. No problem..  bring her own down (our truck that was smash because of another person)….   And the side effect for the King who got to see new born great grandchildren… as well as son’s and daughter in laws.. and grandchildren galore.. 

And then the news flash that we will be come GREAT GREAT GRANDPARENTS in 2025!!    How can you beat all of that..  even with the roller coaster of life..

 

 

Found in my Document file... and the answer is no.. not yet

 

I was looking for something in my Document File and I found this..  just for the record.. 

NO I HAVE NOT LEFT YET..  Just figured I would put it out there, in case some of you don't make it after me..  or the kids forget to put it in the paper, the way I want..  a controller over my own life to the end..

 

Cis's Obituary

 

Well, if you are reading this Obituary, it must mean that I have grabbed

my last cup of coffee and maybe a strawberry, and my ashes are blowing

with the wind, as I say WOO, HOO, that was a hell of a ride...

So I guess we better get on with the serious stuff.

 

I was born in Newport, R.I. and raised by my parents, Gilbert and Mary

Richardson, along with a kid brother Roy.  I cleaned stalls, weeded gardens and

help put up hay, as I trolloped thru school, graduating from Rogers High School in Newport.  Later in life, learning of a half sister, Sandra Cooper in South Carolina.

 

I worked at the Naval Exchange after high school.  First in general office and then

in ordering and shipping.  Having the experience of going out on strike one lunch

time, because the supervisors wouldn't let us go out and see the arrival of Dwight

Eisenhower, who was our President at the time. This is before protesting was cool.

But was fired from there and sent home to look up the word ...insubordination...

as at the age of 18, I had an inquisitive mind and wanted to know why things were

done the way there were, questioning things that didn't seem right at the time.

 

I was shipped off after high school/job to spend some time with my grandfather,

Leroy Kaull, who had lost his wife. Then jumped across country to San Diego, California. To join friends of my mother, and  my favorite Aunt Harriet's family.

Holding down varies jobs, of sales person, payroll in a men's suits factory, and

also a bit of short cook. 

 

It was there I met my first husband William Worel, and we moved to Washington

State. After a short marriage of 8 years and 7 children, we divorced and I met

Marvin Hughes, who became my second husband.  After 17 years of marriage, and

one daughter, he passed away in 1986.  

Palled around with a friend for about 13 years and then made an honest man

out of him and married him, Kenneth Gors in 1999.

 

After Marvin passed away, the Johnson's, who owned Sandpoint Manor, decided

I was worthy of a job there after taking some certified nurses aide classes in 1986.

I worked there for 17+ years, retiring in 2003.  Taking care of the elderly was an

enjoyable job most of the time. It was a great generation to take care of.

 

After 2003, I dabbled a little in some home health care, when friends had a need

with their parents. But by 2011, I was done.. after all I was getting closer to their ages.

People would ask me what I did in retirement. Told them I did nothing, and found out

that I was very good at it, and it was a very busy time doing it.  Actually I did small

things here and there, yard work in the summer that was fun.  Spend weekends going

to yard sales with my daughter, buying up what I called yard art. Which could be

anything from a weird statue, to lights that lit at night by solar, and wind socks and

flags.  Seem to always have a project to do. And a side line of writing a blog for over

10 years.... called From a Simple Mind.

In 2010, my children surprised us with a trip to Hawaii, for 10 days.. To celebrate my 70’th birthday…What a wonderful time with great people.  There was 12 of us. 

In 2015, There was a joyous gathering in Seaside Oregon, called MEET ME AT

THE BEACH… where my family joined me to celebrate my 75^th birthday. Over

35 join us.  A truly joyous time.

 

So here I leave you, leaving behind a wonderful fun time husband, Ken Gors, who

made me laugh, even when I threaten to kill him, because of his practical jokes. He

still treated me like a queen, when another word that rhymes with witch would have

been a better description.

 

Also leaving behind some the kids, who live in the Longview area... A daughter,  who beat me to the pearly gate… Julie Cook   with her husband Miles in Vancouver, Wa. A son William Worel II, and his wonderful wife Elaine, who live in Castle Rock, Wa. . Gilbert Worel and his lovely wife, Terra, who live in Kelso , Wa. ...Bradley Worel and his loving wife Patty, who live in Castle Rock, Wa. Stan (the man) better know to me as Daryl Worel, and his new wife Terry, who lives in Yelm, Wa. And last but not least.. my daughter and best friend, Jeanette Haines and her wonderful husband, who also beat me the pearly gate…Tim  who live in Sandpoint, Idaho. And two daughters, Patricia Harriet Worel and Sally J.Worel in the Longview area.

Also in this tribe of many, too many to list... is 20 grandchildren, and at last count 36 great grandchildren... spread out from, Washington, Idaho and California.  Throw in a few cousins in Ca.,  Virginia, Wa. and nieces and nephews in R.I., Fla., SC. Minn. ... And some pretty darn good friends..partner in crime over the years, Cherie, and most recently Lorraine Allen.  Art and another who beat me to the pearly gate is wife, Betty and Austin and his wonderful wife, Lynn  ..So please,  take good care of the old man.

 

and  a special one..  my grandchild from another mother, who has gotten me out of more computer trouble than I want to admit... Lexi and her sweet boys..         

A life well lived.. I have no real regrets..  

And all of you left behind... live well, love lots, and keep the faith.

 

 

   

 

 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE 

to you all... 

wishing a great day with your family..  and for those who are alone..  may you find peace and even joy to not be part of the hoopla... but to enjoy  one's self . 

I know there are a lot of lonely people.. so if you know one in your neighborhood, then an invite or take a plate of food over to them..  especially the elderly.. 

and may the kindness of today..  be shared the rest of the year and into 2025

LOOKING BACK (to my Brother Roy)

LOOKING BACK (to my Brother Roy)

See today would have been my brother’s  80^th birthday.. 

Knowing him, he would have had it full of laughter.  He and his buddies would be downtown Jamestown, R.I.  (even tho he moved to Portsmouth in his later life, when he inherited our folks farm)

Having coffee and laughing up the place.. then His kids would have had a Hell of a party.  And by now a great granddaughter running around..  to the gee of Grandpa’s antics.. .. 

But sadly God had other plans

10 1/2 years ago, God decided he needed Roy more than his friends and family did. Just 6 months before his 70^th birthday.

In 2011, I bought a birthday card that you will see here. And he decided to send it back to me on my  birthday and said we should just sent it back and forth to each other.. just adding a few words..   And we did.. as you can see…  but in 2014… after my birthday,  he passed..  so he had the last word. I take it out every year on his birthday and then in April to read what we wrote.   I use to tell him each year in our phone calls, what to look forward to when he arrived at each 5 years..  and I had a doozy ready for his 70^th.. of all the good things that happen in your 70 and not to fear it but embrace it..and passed on my questionable words of wisdom, of things he would face that year.  But I  never got to write it. Looking back, maybe when I got it out, I should have added to it.  See I am 4 years older than he.

See, Roy, as you would have turn 80 this year.. all the good times of 70 .. well, they are gone and you had fun, right?.  WELL, 80 is starting of the pits.  That is when the legs let you know you can’t walk a mile anymore..  that walking around the grocery store can be marathon.  And aches, pains, you blew off before.. well, they nag the hell out of you… letting you know you are not macho man anymore.. But the sense of humor gets even more sharper.. And YOU can rass the heck out of the younger generation..  And teach your great grandkid all kinds of stuff..    But guess you are going to have to sit up there in heaven and watch..  but at least you aren’t lonely anymore.. with your wife joining you,   with Mom and Dad there too. 

God Bless…. Kid..  happy 80th

 

 

 

 

The best that money can buy….

The best that money can buy….

We have all heard the old saying… “he is the best congressman that money can buy”…  that was back in the 40’s or so..  Well, that saying should come back.. because Trump is for sale..  and he has gladly accept all fees coming in. Mostly from Computer company's…  Like Facebook.. then there is Twitter now call X ..  both have given Millions and more..  to Trump’s organization…  it is public knowledge.  Meta president has donated 1 million dollars to Trump’s Inaugural party.  You can find the story .. with these kinds of reports from the Wall Street. and etc..

The Wall Street Journal, which broke both stories and revealed the Meta donation late Wednesday night, said the corporate handout was a departure for the Zuckerberg-run company, which had previously refused to endorse a candidate in this year's presidential race. Zuckerberg had met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago compound in Florida last week, speculatively the precursor for the million-dollar gift.  Coming up right behind him is Amazon’s CEO..  Jeff Bezo…

And we know how much MUSK  has gave already.. and more to come..And this is ok?  There isn’t a law against that..  Influencing and buying the  President office?   Some where I thought that was illegal.. but who am I to know such things..   And the Republican party .. Senators and Representative seem to be ok with that..  I can just imagine what would be splashed across FOX NEWS if it was  Democrat President … say like Obama, or even more so Biden.. 

The winds are changing.. it isn’t for the good.   But I am sure that the Trump group is ok with this..  Maybe this is normal.. after all who has paid for the inaugural parties in the past.. I thought it was the party themselves..  Meaning the Republican’s for a Republican's President and Democrats for the Democrats Presidents..   maybe I should go Google it. 

 https://www.marketplace.org/2017/01/18/let-s-do-numbers-cost-inauguration/

I tried to find out how much Kennedy’s cost.. but guess there were more closed mouth in those days about it..  So I guess the bragging rights goes to Donald. 

 

Words on sorrow.. when they say.. LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

Words on sorrow..  when they say.. LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

 This is a rough time of the year for many.. some hide.. some take a way out that is so mind blowing for the rest of us.  Some of us don’t see it coming..  some of us worry about our love ones.. be they a friend or family..  and yet can’t find the magic words to say..  to keep the person thinking that their lives are such a black hole, they can’t take it anymore. 

We had a family member.. who did on the 7^th of December. Don’t know if she was thinking about how she could not face Christmas, even tho it was one of her favorites in the past years..  We knew she was fragile.  She had been fragile before.  She had a wonderful boyfriend, who was by her side 99% of the time.   Yet, she found a way to divert him, and did the deed…  to our horror..   And she left a note…  with the words above…  LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH..  How can you fight that?

So even those were her words, I pray that your love one.. that Love IS enough..  and you can help..

If the worse happens.. there are groups to help you..  Find them..  because you will never understand and they can help you try.   Google the suicide line.. in your area.