July 2011

July 13, 2011: Oh My God, it is so dang hot! It is nearly like having a "hot flash", except it just doesn't go away.

I've found that as I get older, it is harder to adjust my inner core to extremes of hot and cold. Living in Florida, anything below 70 degrees is sock and long sleeves for me. Anything above 73 degrees is "strip it all off" weather. So as you can see, I am limited to a few degrees of change. I hope as the years pass that the margin doesn't decrease any more, because I will be very confused about proper attire for the day. I don't want to be one of those old ladies that has to wear socks with sandals.

I have also found that I perspire a lot more than before. As with "hot flashes", my face seems to take the brunt of the sweat. OK, so some time soon, I expect to see myself with socks, sandals, and a terry cloth head band. What a lovely sight that would be!

I just don't remember ever being this dependent on Air Conditioning. When I was little, our family had a huge window fan that pulled cool air into the house. I remember, on sultry summer nights, there would be a pallet made on the floor in front of the front door and we would sleep there. Odd, people don't know what a pallet is anymore, or make them on the floor. I would bet that if you asked anyone under 50 they wouldn't have a clue as to what your were talking about if you said, "I made a pallet on the floor".

The other thing about summer heat is that even though it is unbearable at 60, I still look forward to warm days and nights. I seem to have this fantasy about enjoying the summer evenings on the porch. People just don't sit on the porch anymore. Or there are planned communities that emulate the old neighborhoods, where it is fashionable to sit on the front porch. Disney has one in Orlando. I don't like that you have to plan to have a real neighborhood. It is a shame that folks just don't enjoy their communities, and neighborhoods.

So, grab a glass of lemonade or a beer, and go sit on the front porch and give folks something to talk about. Like, did you see that old woman, with the socks on with her sandals, sitting on her front porch.

July 1, 2011

July has arrived. The heat and humidity is now a fact of life. It seems a good time to celebrate our nation's birthday, however, I prefer to just celebrate my youngest son's birthday. He is much more important to me.

I look at this boy (man) and am truly amazed by him.

Timothy, from day one, has been a smile in my heart. He has always seems to have a smile within him and a sense of goodwill that is unbounded. So, I am wishing him a wonderful day. As, I talked to him this morning, his daughter was hugging him and I could hear her laughter. That is what I remember most from his childhood, the hugs. Nothing better.

So, yes, we are celebrating our Nation's birthday as well. While we have the most wonderful nation, I see that those on the right side of the debate want to destroy all that has made it one of the best countries in the world. Astounds me.

This will be 60 years of enjoying the 4th of July. Mostly, I remember family get togethers. At Grandma and Grandpa Best's farm. There would be the most wonder fried chicken. I don't know how Grandma did it, but the chicken was perfection. At the end of the evening, there was homemade ice cream and a cake. Or watermelon. Now, you have to understand, for 60 years, I've tried to like watermelon. Every summer I convince myself that this will be the summer that I will finally understand the wonderfulness of the melon. Then, I try to eat it. Ugh, the smell, the texture, the taste, is all wrong. Do you think that makes me nearly un-American?

Another 4th memory is with my sister and her family. There were battles with the next door neighbors. They would fly the Confederate flag and we would fly the Stars and Stripes. Whoever, using whatever means possible, stole the others flag won the bragging rights. Now, these battles would get out of hand sometimes, depending on the amount of beer consumed. Also a bit dangerous. Firing bottle rockets at the opposition camp, sent many a running for their lives.

Another 4th memory, is my hometowns fireworks celebration. It was always held at the lake. The "audience" would sit on the rolling hills surrounding one side of the lake and the fire department would be on the other side of the lake, at the Country club to fire off the display. And every year they would catch some part of the woods around them on fire. Almost a tradition in irony.

The celebration still continues in a more calm way now. My niece saves her Christmas tree for the 4th and it is entwined with thousand of firecrackers. Just at the right moment it is set a blaze. Tree recycled for yet another year. I wish I could be in Illinois one more time for the 4th. It is such fun.

My 4th will be very quiet. Probably watch the fireworks on T.V., as most of northern Florida has been on fire for a couple of months, no fireworks are allowed.

I will also hope that this year brings an end to two made up wars, and peace. All we need is love.

Education (yes, again)!

June 30, 1951 the NAACP begins their push against segregation in the public school systems. With some success the goal has been met, however, it all depends on how deeply you look.

Here in Florida and much of the south, there are private schools that cater to a segregation of sorts. Some are Christian schools, others are just very private and uppity. There are those districts, that because of the area they are in, are afforded to only those children whose parents live in mini-mansions, gated communities. Other less fortunate kids are stuck with inner-city schools that continually fail to perform to some perceived goal. These schools are not supported by a wealthy tax base.

So, I guess it is how you look at the topic of segregation to see if the lofty goals of each child getting their deserved education really has taken place in the last 60 years. I don't think it has.

60 years of trying to solve larger questions than the human mind can comprehend. Until, all people are seen as equals, treated as equals, true goals will never happen.

As a 60 year old, I don't know why such things bother me. My kids are grown and out of the school system, even my grandchildren are nearly done with the Public education system. None the less, it does indeed bother me. Every child should be given the opportunity to succeed, no matter his economic standing. Arrrrgh! I want to scream!

At 60 years of age, I think I see the injustice more clearly. Not just of education, but basic human rights.

Yet, I watch the rants of the Right and am amazed at the narrow little minds that prevail in the world.

Please, someone tell me that I am not the only one who sees that to survive, we must now think of humanity and not nationality, religion, or gender.

Ahhh, the rants of an old woman!

Last day of school

Today is the last day of school for my grandkids. No more getting up early, no more stresses about classes, grades or peers. An entire summer before them.

I was remembering what the last day of school was like for me. In grade school, there was always the class picnic. Everyone brought a lunch to school and we went to the park for the afternoon and played games, such as Red Rover, Tag, and such. The school always provided the Orange Soda. Today, I can not stand Orange soda. It reminds of school picnics.

I hope my grands have some wonderful memories of the past year. Something to take away and store in their memories about the year and what they have accomplished.

Memories of their school years will be vastly different from the 50's when I was in school. The learning and school experience is very different. The summers are vastly different from the 50's. It all seems so very structured now. Seems so little freedom is now given to kids. I wonder how much more structured my youngest granddaughters school years will be. Worries me.

I've known kids that are home schooled and yes, they have more freedom, but somehow it seems, that not a lot of learning happens. So I don't think that is the solution to giving our kids more freedom or learning.

I guess if I could figure this all out I would win an Education prize of some sort. No one seems to be really thinking about kids as people. As well, rounded people. While we emphasize math, science ,and literature, we seem to have lost focus on Art and Music. I would like to see a inclusion of all things into schools. I would start with history. If you are going to teach about the French Revolution, include not just the history, but the art, the music, the math, the science, etc. of that period.

Oh well, I hope my grands have a wonderful summer. Hope my readers also have a wonderful summer.

Remember, your last days of school years with fondness.

June 1,2011

It is lovely this morning. Sun is shining and so far it isn't very hot. Not much was happening in 1951 on this day. The first titanium plant opened in Henderson, Nev.. I guess that is worth mentioning for those of you who care about such things.

I remember, June, as being the first full month of summer vacation. Summers filled with swimming and playing. I don't even remember thinking about anything else. There were bike rides, friends, and just having fun.

This summer, one of my Granddaughters, will be in Drivers Education. While I love the woman she is growing into, I sure miss that little girl that she was. Another Granddaughter, is off to several camps and serving communities through her church. Again, I can see them both swirling in fancy dresses for a wedding, and being thrilled that the dresses swished. Sweet cherub faces aglow with little girl things. Yet, there still is one Granddaughter to discover swirling fancy dresses, dolls, and such.

One Grandson (now all grown up) is off doing Army stuff. He is fulfilling a dream and I wish him well. But I miss the sweet little boy that was always thrilled to see Grandma. Another Grandson has a few jobs here and there to keep him busy, but he did tell me that he would like to spend most of his summer with me. I know that would last about a week, as I don't have a gaming system, or first run movies on the t.v., but I would love to have him here.

I remember spending time at my Uncle Wayne's farm in central Illinois. Oh, it was truly magical for me. My cousin, Larry, had horses and I would spend lots of time talking to his horse "Rascal". My cousin Linda was, to my way of thinking, beautiful and wonderful. Uncle Wayne let me hang out with him, ride the tractor and help build a fence around the farm. My Aunt Geraldine, was a wonderful cook and I helped (?) there. There was always something wonderful going on at their house.

Well, here is to summer childhood memories. I hope my readers have their own

May 2011

Well, we were all supposed to be "raptured" yesterday. I'm still here and all my favorite folks are still here, as are all my favorite dogs. Guess, maybe, they had it all wrong. This prediction was supposedly based on mathematical predictions from the Bible. I was never any good at math, so like me maybe they just did the math wrong.

The same folks predicting this "end of the world" scenario also got it wrong back in the 90's. I do hope that he/she doesn't try again. I guess, though, as long as there are fools, someone will take advantage and offer to be the bigger fool.

I did like all the anti-rapture stuff on the internet. Some of it was just to funny.

So now we move on the end of world scenario of the Mayans. I tend to think that they just couldn't (again with the math) figure out what came after 2012, or they ran out of space on the rock calendar they were using to keep time.

There have always been predictions of the end of the earth and it certainly won't end with this silliness.

Seems to me the more likely scenario is that we will be our own demise. Our minds and beliefs are narrow. Until we can see the "big" picture we are surely doomed.

So here we go on to 2012 and the hope that the Mayans were just as bad at math as I am.

May 15, 2011

Beautiful morning. The Endeavor Space Shuttle launched this morning. Usually, I can see it streak across the sky but I missed it this morning.

The Endeavor will resupply the Space Station and run physics experiments on the origins of the universe while in space.

I got to thinking about the space program and how my generation is the first to experience the wonders of space travel.

Sputnik was launched on Oct. 4, 1957. I was six and remember sitting on the trunk of our 1951 Ford watching it fly across the sky. My Dad was thrilled to see it. I thought it looked like a falling star and wondered if I should make a wish on it.

When I was a senior in high school, NASA landed astronauts on the moon. I remember watching it on television. It seemed miraculous that they really had gone to the moon.

Now the last of the shuttle missions has happened in my 60th year. I do wonder what will come next. I hope that we will never give up the exploration of space. I guess my Star Trek is showing. I really would like to know what is out there. I may never know, but hopefully my grandchildren or great-grandchildren will know.