Unusual Thanksgiving List

            Around this time of year, i.e. the fourth Thursday in November, writers start writing about the things they are thankful for. 

            Yep, that means most of us go right near a whole 11 months without writing about what we’re thankful for.  `

            Well, I’m gonna be like everybody else and tell you some of the things I’m celebrating.

            I’m thankful for my arthritic fingers.  Most of them are right crooked.  They’re knotted and a little gnarled.  Sometimes they hurt like heck.  But I’m thankful for them because they still play the piano, type away on the computer, cook a bit and scratch where there’s an itch. 

            I’m even thankful for my head.  Oh, sure: it doesn’t work right all of the time; it’s even slow on occasions and it hurts from sinus problems and tension.  But it’s awfully good in bearing the blame when I forget things, when I mess up, when I’m wrong: it’s just this old head, you know.

            I’m thankful for my legs and feet.  For the most part, they get me around and get me where I’m going.  Sometimes they jump a little, quite unexpectedly.  Sometimes they don’t want to sleep when the rest of me does.  And then sometimes, they go to sleep when the rest of me doesn’t. 

            The feet are downright ugly.  An ex-husband told me there was no way God could have made up for what He did to my feet.  They’re also very flat.  Even so, I’m thankful for the legs and feet. 

           

         And I’m thankful for the rest of me.  Some of it isn’t exactly where it’s supposed to be anymore; nature took care of that!

            Oh, yes, there’s a lot more that I give thanks for – family, friends and all of those things most people write about. 

            And one more thing: that very first Thanksgiving – you know,  the one with the Pilgrims and Indians back in 1621?  It lasted three days.

            I am very thankful that our Thanksgiving eatin’ time doesn’t last three days.

            This ole body couldn’t handle that.

            Happy Thanksgiving, Y'all!

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PH: Decades Later, It's a Monthly Happening

"Monthly" is the theme for this week's Photo Hunt in the blogosphere. 

Below are a few of my high school classmates.  Thanks to Rita Kay Rodgers and a some others, as many as who can and want to gather monthly for dinner and fellowship.  I don't get to attend as often as I'd like because I live in a different part of the state.

Can you look at the faces (and bodies) and tell what year we graduated?

We are the Class of '67.    No guffaws, please!

To see other Photo Hunt participants, click here.

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God.com

The following was forwarded to me, and I thought it was worth sharing.

TO: God.Com  (God-dot-com)

Every single evening

As I'm lying here in bed,

This tiny little prayer

Keeps running through my head:

God, bless all my family

Wherever they may be,

Keep them warm And safe from harm

For they're so close to me.

And, God, there is one more thing

I wish that you could do;

Hope you don't mind me asking,

Please bless my computer, too.

Now I know that it's unusual

To bless a motherboard,

But listen just a second

While I explain it to you, Lord.

You see, that little metal box

Holds more than odds and ends;

Inside those small compartments

Rest so many of my friends.

I know so much about them

By the kindness that they give,

And this little scrap of metal

Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them

Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.

Please take an extra minute

From your duties up above,

To bless those in my address book

That's filled with so much love.

Wherever else this prayer may reach

To each and every friend,

Bless each e-mail inbox

And each person who hits 'send'.

When you update your Heavenly list

On your own Great CD-ROM,

Bless everyone who says this prayer

Sent up to GOD.Com

Just Got a Phone Call - Guess Who?

Just got a phone call from Joe Wilson. 

Yes, THAT Joe Wilson.  The congressman who yelled "You lie" - the yell heard 'round the world.

He is actually a long-time friend.  (More about our friendship of several decades HERE.)

Joe called to remind me that he had been reprimanded before, or perhaps chastised is a better word. 

It was back in 1970, back in the "ancient days" when we both were younger.  At that time here in South Carolina, our political party was small although growing fast, but small enough that we nominated by convention rather than by primary.  Also at that time, the minimum voting age was still 21.

In February of that year, I announced as a candidate for the SC House of Representatives.  I was a junior in college and only 20 years old, not yet old enough to vote, although I would turn 21 eight days before the election in November. 

Joe is the one who made the nominating speech for me at our county's political convention.  He did a great job. 

In his phone call today, Joe reminded me that he was chastised, fussed at, berated, etc. after his nominating speech.  Didn't he know I couldn't win? he was asked.  Didn't he know I wasn't old enough to vote?  And, worse yet, didn't he know I was a girl?  

Thanks to Joe and hundreds of other brave, energetic volunteers, we pulled through and won the election.

A lot has happened in the ensuing years, but some things haven't changed.  Joe is still getting fussed at, and I'm still a girl, although a much older one.

News Clipping from February 1970

How Close is Too Close for E-mail???

New neighbors are moving in next door.

When I met the husband half of the couple two days ago, he mentioned that his wife was looking for employment. I suggested a particular link on the web that might be beneficial and said I would e-mail the link to them, which I did.

I just received a reply from the wife half of the couple. She thanked me, then said she felt silly e-mailing someone who was just next door.

This reminded me of something.


My ex-husband and I met on the internet but not on one of the dating sites or anything similar. Somehow, we just ran across each other accidentally when we were involved with or researching the same topic somehow – history, politics, government; I don’t remember exactly what.

Shortly, we were e-mailing each other back and forth about things going on in South Carolina, where we both lived. This went on and on – about state politics, shipwrecks (his ventures), word oddities and more – for hours and hours, then days and days, then weeks and weeks. We figured we logged over 500 hours chatting with each other on-line before we ever had a first date.

After we got married, we sometimes e-mailed each other from within the SAME house! Isn’t that crazy? It’s much sillier than neighbors e-mailing each other.

Of course, this may be one of the reasons we are now exes; we communicated much better online than in person, I guess.

(In case you’ve read much on this blog, yes, he’s the same one who is now married to my cousin, so he is now my cousin-by-marriage!)

It's Time for Honey and Pleasure and Even More!

(If you're reading this on Facebook, click on the link to get the full post.)

This is National Singles Week.  For some folks, that's cause for celebration; for some, it's angst.   And for some, it's just wishful thinking!

Forget the week; I think I've just begun Singles Decade/Decades - depending on how long I live!

Ironically - or not - today is National Love Note Day, so celebrate!  Send a love note to someone you love.  You could even send a nice note to someone you just sorta like.  You know, spread a little kindness, spread a little love.


Of course, it's also National One-Hit Wonder Day.  Now, I don't know if or how that fits in with any of the other observances, but I have thoughts about that one that I'll keep to myself!

All of September is One-on-One Month and it's also Pleasure Your Mate Month.  No comments from me on either of those - not on this blog.  That's 'cause my momma sometimes reads this stuff.

National Honey Month is going on as well, but I don't know if that has to do with the food, bees or the endearing term. 

It's also Healthy Aging Month.  Finally, one I can observe and celebrate!

I Remember Hugo: Twenty Years Later

Twenty years ago tonight, Hurricane Hugo came ashore in coastal South Carolina and then moved inland.

At the time I was a member of the SC state senate. The district I represented bore the brunt of Hugo. It was a long but relatively narrow district along the coast, including McClellanville, Awendaw, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Mt. Pleasant, Folly Beach, James Island, Johns Island, Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island and surrounding areas.

As much as I like to write, I just can’t think of the words to adequately describe how ravaged the area was, how extensive the damage was. It was just beyond comprehension.  In South Carolina, 13 lives were lost.

Where there used to be a home, there was a single chimney or perhaps just the remnants of a bathroom. Another house was literally split in two. There were mattresses in what used to be front yards. Thousands and thousands of trees were upended. Trees made holes in rooftops – where rooftops remained. The only bridge leading to Sullivan’s Island and on to the Isle of Palms was damaged and could not be used. People could not return to their homes, or even visit to find out if their homes remained. Water flooded many homes that actually remained standing.

I could go on and on and on about the devastation, because it certainly went on and on; it was widespread and far-reaching. Instead, I want to share three particular remembrances.

Within days, I went up in a Black Hawk helicopter with Billy Graham, Gov. Carroll Campbell and Rep. Harry Hallman. We looked at the destruction from the air. What a view that was! Billy Graham, who certainly has traveled throughout the world, said it was the most extensive destruction he had ever viewed.

A second vivid memory is the spirit of community that came out of this terrible event. People helped each other. People worked together. There was a charitable, giving, caring, helping spirit among all. For weeks many of us didn’t have electricity and water. We were all dirty together. Neighbors shared food, chain saws, the much-treasured ice and water. It was a heart-warming experience.  At our home, since we had a large outdoor grill, families gathered nightly for food.  People brought food from freezers that were no longer working and we all cooked and ate together.  And churches that could be used were used.  People returned to worship services in tremendous numbers.

The third memory is of a sight in the small fishing village of McClellanville. In the midst of piles and piles of rubble that used to be homes, someone had planted a large American flag. It represented the epitome of the American spirit. It said, “We are going to be okay.”

It took many, many months, even years, but, yes, we eventually were okay. People joined hands and made it through those times which, at first, seemed overwhelming and almost insurmountable.

 
 
 
Flickr photos by scmikeburton, band4atl, japee and michelinecallicot.

Uh-oh! Wrong Word

Sometimes I get my words all mixed up, which means that sometimes I make absolutely no sense!

One day a friend and I were discussing pet peeves. One of mine is people who talk with food in their mouths.


When I was growing up, I used to get so irritated by smacking. For some reason, it just turned my stomach. Now, I get the same feeling if someone at the table talks with food in his or her mouth. It’s just gross! And impolite. And improper etiquette. (Can you tell it bothers me???)


But, when I went to tell my friend about this pet peeve, I got my words mixed up and said: “I can’t stand it when people eat with food in their mouths.”


Um, yeah. How else do people eat? Isn’t having food in the mouth a part of eating?



Nancy, a long-time friend, and I were at a conference several years ago. We were having dinner at a round table with some attendees we didn’t know. Nancy crossed her legs under the table and accidentally kicked someone, then said, “Excuse me. I just have long knees.”


Long knees? She meant, of course, long legs.


Can you just picture someone with long knees? Such a person probably even eats with a mouth really full of food!

Bride-to-Be with Cancer Needs Your Help!!!

This is a note from a friend and former co-worker about his daughter.

On Jul 30, 2009, at 11:32 PM, David Wright wrote:
Dear Friends:
As you know, just a bit over a month after her engagement to Cecil Bradstreet of Chapin, SC, my oldest daughter Kimberly (age 27), was diagnosed with Stage 3-C colon cancer. Most of you know that Kimberly started her first chemo treatment today. She did well considering. However, we found out today that Cecil had entered them in the WIS-TV Holiday "Dream Wedding" contest. He got the call today that they are chosen as one of the four finalists!


... The voting has already begun. Please go to http://www.wistv.com/ or the direct link at: http://www.wistv.com/Global/category.asp?C=172216 and read their information and we would love it if you were to cast a vote or two for them!

...Voting ends and the winner will be announced on August 10th!
Should they win the public vote, the WIS-TV "Dream Wedding" for Kimberly and Cecil will be held in December of this year at the Mitchell House and Gardens of Lexington when Kimberly is just half way through her chemo treatments. (We will have a special reception on June 12th of next year to celebrate their happiness and the end of Kimberly's treatment for colon cancer. More details on that will follow later!)

In the meantime, please help me help Kimberly and Cecil's "Dream Wedding" plans come true by going to the WIS-TV website and vote for Kimberly Wright and Cecil Bradstreet!
Thanks - and God Bless!
David Wright
~ ~ ~ ~
Hello Everyone!
Kimberly finished week #1 of chemo Saturday morning. She is having the expected side effects, which aren't a great deal of fun, but she is dealing with them. (I can remember from my own experience last year.)

Thanks for your help so far in helping make Kimberly and Cecil's "Dream Wedding" wish come true, but I have an updated request. Things appear to be going well, but we have a week to go and we have been told that you can vote once a day!

Please help me help Kimberly and Cecil by doing just that! Please go to http://www.wistv.com/ or the direct link at: http://www.wistv.com/Global/category.asp?C=172216 and read their information and we would love it if you were to cast a vote or two for them - once a day until Monday if you can!

Remember - The public will choose the winner. The winner will be announced on August 10th!
What is happening here is proof that God answers prayer and provides! Thanks for everything!
David Wright

PH: Entertainment

This week's theme for blogland's PhotoHunt is ENTERTAINMENT.

What is your favorite kind of entertainment?

Swimming with sharks?


Archery?

Trying the trapeze?

Singing like these members of a barbershop quartet?

Walking on the beach?

Playing "footsie" under the table?

Watching a ballgame?

Playing cards? Reading? Working crosswords? Playing a musical instrument? Watching movies?

What is yours?

Other PhotoHunt participants.

Ever Had Fun With An Answering Machine or Voice Mail?

Answering machines and voice mail have become a way of life. That doesn’t mean we have to like them or even enjoy them, but we as a society still use them.

Because they are so prevalent but so disliked, I’ve tried to always have fun messages for people who called me.

For example, one time the message to callers was to leave name, phone number and shoe size.

You wouldn’t believe the number of people who actually left shoe sizes. One caller even explained that it depended on the style of shoe and described which shoe meant which size!

One of our pastors asked me if I had a collection of shoes I was trying to match up with people.

Years ago, the message was to leave name, phone number and favorite television show. Boy, did I have fun with that! There were some really interesting answers to that question!

A friend from church called and left his name, phone number and said his favorite show was “Baywatch.” Yep, that’s the one that featured shapely females who were somewhat scantily clad. Then there was a second call from the same man; this time he said, “Sherry, don’t tell my wife what I said about my favorite show. P-l-e-a-s-e.”

The first President Bush – George H. W. Bush – called when he was still vice president but running for president. Along with a message, he left the name of his favorite show. No, I’m not revealing what it was.

After that call, I changed the message for a while to the following: “Hi. I know you don’t like answering machines, but if the vice president of the United States can leave a message, you can, too, so please leave your name and number.”

Declaration of INTERdependence?

Yesterday was full of celebrations. Fireworks, food, families, friends, music, flags. We Americans are proud of our independence, as well we should be.

Sometimes, though, I think we ought to recognize and celebrate our interdependence as well. We wave our flags and celebrate independence, but, in reality, we are truly an interdependent nation, an interdependent people.

In other words, we depend on each other.

We depend on the military to protect our freedoms and independence.

Think about just one routine day. Most of us depend upon the person who delivers the paper, the person who delivers the mail. Perhaps we depend on those who write the news articles in the newspaper. We depend upon those who deliver the news on radio and TV.

We depend on other drivers to travel with care.

Generally, we depend on teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers. We depend on farmers, wholesalers, retailers.

We depend on friends and family to be there for us, in good times and in bad. We rely on doctors, nurses, hospital personnel; cooks and chefs in restaurants; employers and fellow employees.

We depend on architects to design and engineers to build safe buildings, bridges and roads. We rely on inspectors to look out for consumers. We depend on bus drivers, pilots, train conductors.

We trust and depend on counselors and religious leaders.


We depend on others and others depend on us. After my husband - The Dawg - died ten days ago, I depended on many people - and still do. In his last weeks, he depended on me to do things he had always done for himself. We depended on our own prayers and on the prayers of others.


It’s fine to celebrate our independence, but perhaps we ought to take time to reflect on just how interdependent we are as well. Can you think of several people who depend on you? How about people you depend on? Who are they and why you rely on them?

We can’t do without each other, can we? As John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.”

How fortunate we are to have each other! How fortunate we are to have not only our independence but also our interdependence.