A few on Friday

I'm thankful ...

For being right down the road from one of the best medical institutions in the South.  The number of clinics and hospitals that make up UAB's footprint is somewhat overwhelming -- but I'm getting better, no longer afraid of losing my way.

 

According to Tom's doctor, his eye surgery went just as she hoped.  At first there was some concern about his low heart rate (46), but other vitals were fine.   Everyone was so kind, and I love how the nurses were flirting with him shamelessly.

The only downer is the Machiavellian-engineered parking garage.  Think for a minute: spaces more suited for a Ford Pinto than our truck   I nearly stroked out watching Tom maneuver his Tacoma in place. Not long after, I began fretting at the realization it would be up to me to back out.

  

Could I pay one of the employees to help?  "No, they're not permitted."  Several ugly scenarios begin playing out in my head.  In the end, I whispered a prayer for courage.   And you know what?  When I stepped out onto Level 6, those vehicles both to the left and right of us had moved out!

I've discovered ...

A carb-less snack whose sodium content isn't ridiculous -- and tastes great, too!  

And  REdiscovered ...

A love for hats!   Not so much for their looks, but their ability to diguise a bad hair day.  Most have gone the way of Goodwill -- but while at Target Wednesday morning I had a 'moment.'

All day Thursday I wore it:  Here, there, all around the town.  And no-one said a thing.  Not One.Stinkin.Word.  😕   

I'm reminded of the time mother and I discovered a cute pair of kelly-green sneakers in a trendy resale boutique.  I could tell she liked them; delighted to realize they fit.   

Weeks later I asked, "What do your friends think of your cute shoes?"  

Quietly, "No-one's said a word."

I wanted to go beat them all up. 

Please.  I'm not trolling for compliments, but I think I can count on y'all to let me know if I look like an old lady trying to look younger.  Ya know?

Have a super weekend, y'all ... 

Stay safe!

Hugs, Myra

   

Tuesday 4: Come and See

 

Thanks to our hostess, Annie -- and Pam Steiner for today's questions.   Anyone thinking, "Hey, these sound like something out of Ron Serling's Twilight Zone!"  Well, listen in part to what Pam has to say:

I came up with this idea after watching some shows on YouTube about people exploring abandoned houses.  There are many of them around the world, some as big as castles, and others just common humble homes. It is very interesting to see the kinds of things that have been left behind in these houses, as if the people just suddenly disappeared and no one ever went back to clean out the house or change a thing inside. 

This made me look at my house and wonder what people would think if they found my house in such a situation as this. Perhaps it will make you stop and think about just what kind of message we are leaving behind us here on this old earth... 

Let's pretend that it is 50 years into the future, and explorers have just discovered your house, "frozen in time" exactly as it is today. Everything is preserved, even the food, but of course no one has lived there for fifty years.  What do you think would be their first reaction as they walk in the door of your house?

Looks cozy -- but that carpet in the front room seriously needs professional cleaning.

 
2.  What would the things left in your house tell the explorers about you?

Someone loves music ...

their dogs, too!

Comfort's more important than style, and wow.

These people must sure love to eat!

 

 
3.  What kinds of books would they discover on your bookshelves or beside your chair/bed?

We've very few 'real' books anymore.  But those we do run the gamut from WWII aviation  ... to Christianity ... to mystery thrillers.

 
 
4.  What things would they discover in your closets or cabinets that would make them wonder why on earth you were saving it?

"Why on earth?" indeed!

That's what I ask myself everytime I catch a glimpse of my old formal gowns.

Oh and these!

Just for giggles last week I tried putting them on.  No way!   Between going barefoot and wearing tennis shoes the last 3 years, my feet have spread.   Just as well; I'd probably break a hip.

* * *

A little off subject, but may I add something else?

At Bible study yesterday the DVD's narrator (Amera Brown) spoke about a game she used to play when she was a little girl: House.

She imagined her body was a house.  Her heart, its center.  She'd ask herself: "Who in my life do I allow in my living room?  In my kitchen?"

Then,

"Who do I ask to sit out on the porch?"

Who's sitting in your living room?

As always, thanks for making time to visit me!

Hugs, Myra

Sunday letters: Episode 2

Dear Tennessee Ernie,

I hope you can hear me down here.  I just want to say, thank you for the music! 

The other day Macie and Grace were super agitated while waiting for their annual veterinary exams.  Don't ask me how these old songs randomly pop in my head -- but when I began singing, "16 Tons" they quieted right down.   (Huh?!)

A little while later, when Tom left us in the truck for a minute they began carrying on again.  I pulled you up on my cell phone -- and right away they sat down side-by-side, mesmerized by your voice.

P.S. - I'm sorry for all the times Young Myra thought you were annoying.

Dear Scotts Auto,

Thank you for always providing honest, reliable service - not even a mile down the road!

What a relief to discover my Camry's transmission isn't dying.  Rather, you said the fuel injector had lots of carbon build-up.  Whatever that means.  I was just delighted I don't have to start car shopping!

Dear Kimberly at the VA -

Wow, girl!  You've single-handedly eliminated all most of my reservations about dealing with multiple agencies' red tape.   The eye hospital where Tom's slated to have surgery was adament -- they had to have written authorizations -- performed after June 29 -- from both his primary doc and cardiologist. 

Thankfully, you were able to schedule the exam and lab work AND fax the results to Birmingham, as required.  But! When we learned they also expect us to hand-carry that paperwork with us, I did an eye-roll.  (You, too?)  Nevertheless, you were happy to provide a copy.

I know the VA's taken a lot of heat the last few years.  But you guys set the bar for customer service.   Please enjoy the Edible Arrangement I'm sending your way!

Dear Barbara,  

Thank you for the necklace you crafted!   I don't know, is random gifting a thing in ladies' groups?  I sure feel blessed, being at the receiving end of my friends' thoughtfulness.

Looking at some of the little goodies I've been gifted this year -- now I'm wondering how I can step up to the plate!

 

Finally, to my fellow citizens of Blogland, 

Thank you for being you!  Your support and comments never grow old ... and well, I think you're better than peanut butter!

Have a great day!

Hugs, Myra

Friday lite

Stacy?   Linda?   Anyone?

This is SO me whenever they play, 'Sweet Home Alabama'

Also me 🠇

Finally this, from a friend's FB post:

I needed a laugh this morning.

But on the other hand this is sad if true.

A group of 12 women were at a seminar on how to live in a loving relationship with their husbands. The women were asked "How many of you love your husband?" All the women raised their hands. Then they were asked, "When was the last time you told your husband you loved him?" Some women answered today, a few yesterday, and some couldn't remember.

The women were then told to take out their cell phones and text their husband "I love you, sweetheart."

Next the women were instructed to exchange phones with another woman and read aloud the text message they received in response to their message.

Below are 12 actual hilarious replies from their husbands. If you have been married for quite a while, you understand that these replies are a sign of true love.

Who else would reply in such a succinct and honest way?

1. Who the hell is this?

2. Hey, mother of my children, are you sick or what?

3. Yeah, and I love you too. What's wrong?

4. What now? Did you wreck the car again?

5. I don't understand what you mean?

6. What the hell did you do now?

7. Are you sure this is for me?

8. Don't beat about the bush, just tell me how much you need?

9. Am I dreaming?

10. If you don't tell me who this message is for, someone will die.

11. I thought we agreed you wouldn't drink during the day.

12. Your mother is coming to stay with us, isn't she?

Stay safe, and don't forget ...

Hugs, Myra

Sheri and me

"Thanks, but I don't feel up to it."

That was me, when Sheri called to see if I would be meeting her at the Embers for drinks and dancing.  She was having none of it.  "No, you're coming. There's someone I want you to meet.  He's looking for a secretary."

As it turned out, the proposed salary was laughable.  But our attraction, instantaneous.  Two years later we married.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏼

I first met Sheri at a sorority barbeque.  Everyone was attracted to the charismatic young widow.  Maybe because I was newly single and our little sons were the same age, our friendship took off.   Because she was beautiful and connected, I probably hoped some of the 'it' factor might rub off on me. (LOL)

How she'd get us onto Dyess AFB with barely a wink at the gate, I've no idea.  Yet, each Friday night we'd waltz into the 'O' Club for their shrimp peel just like we belonged.

We used to dream of visiting Jamaica, then kept tabling the idea.

I refused to fly.  Sheri was terrified of being on an ocean liner -- convinced that in a previous life she had perished in a calamity not unlike the Titanic.

{{Ready for this?

I've since learned she worked as a dancer on several cruise ships for 2+ years!}}

In a rare display of restraint, during our conversation I didn't bring up the subject of her last husband.

About the same time as R. and I were preparing to marry, she fell in love with Richard who swept her away to Atlanta. 

There was a card at Christmas, then nothing.

Rumor has it, Richard was wildly jealous and forced her to abandon her friends, destroy photos, etc.  It was a couple years before she and the children escaped his nut house.

Anyway!

Perhaps the biggest surprise of this tele-reunion was when Sheri asked, "Where are you with the Lord?"

I didn't shy from her question, but suspect she was looking for an opportunity to share her own experience.

In 2004 -- following a speech she'd just made on behalf of M.A.D.D. -- her vehicle was struck head-on by a drunk driver.  Critically wounded, she was unable to speak -- but vividly recalls seeing the uniformed arm of a firefighter working to free her ... her son watching and crying ... then her deceased husband.  The love of her life who was killed by a drunk driver while she was pregnant with their son.

While being loaded into the chopper, she asked, "Where is the boy?  You know the one with copper-colored curls?"

"Ma'am there was no boy there."

I can't think of the exact term, but Sheri died that night in the trauma unit.

Continuing, "I know it sounds like a cliche, but I remember being above and watching this young red-headed doctor working to stop the bleeding."

It was 'beautiful', but no.  No bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Instead, she kept wanting to run to Lewis, to hug him.  But he said, "No. You can't."

"Who are all those people behind you?"

"You'll find out someday."

Because of that, Sheri says she no longer fears death.

Even 2 years ago when, at age 74 she suffered a massive heart attack.

She begged God, "Please let me have 10 more years.  I want to see my gr-granddaughter grow up."

The cardiac surgeon who agreed to perform surgery wasn't known for his bedside manner: "I've done 3 of these procedures. 2 died; one didn't.  Let me know your decision."

She had the surgery -- and the following day when he walked in her room, the first thing he said, "I just gave you 10 years."

Tell me God's not still in the business of miracles.

💛

Hugs, Myra

  

 

Dem phones

 

I know y'all can identify many 'worst feelings in the world.'  Today I'm thinking of the helpless feeling, watching your phone's battery icon grow smaller and smaller and....

It all began Tuesday night.  Tom went to plug in his charger and the phone began making obnoxious noises.  A tear-drop icon, together with a warning:  "Moisture detected. UNPLUG CABLE!  NOW!"

I went to Google and learned, this is not an uncommon issue with Samsung phones.  Do it yourself remedies?  Wrap a toothpick with tissue paper and stick up the port ..... use a blow-dryer ..... put the phone in a bag of rice.

Did it all -- to no avail.  "Bleep! Bleep! Bleep:  Unplug cable. NOW!"

Off to our provider Wednesday morning.  (Not naming names, but it rhymes with horizon.)  The associate was polite, but not so sympathetic.  He blamed the ambient humidity.

"Um, excuse me. This phone is only 8 months old! Aren't we eligible for a warranty replacement?"

That would be a no.  "That's for a manufacturer defect, ma'am."  What to do?  "You can call Samsung."  (I don't know about y'all, but that's like someone suggesting I call General Motors.)

😫

Thankfully(!!!) someone suggested we stop at Batteries Plus Bulbs.

I'd barely begun to explain our situation when they started nodding.  They've been dealing with this issue for months now and knew exactly what to do.

Said one: "Yes, you can call Samsung -- but pack your patience and get ready to yell a lot."

In the end, we bought a wireless charger and paid $99 to have a new port installed.

The part arrived yesterday morning, and in less than 2 hours Tom had his phone back in perfect working order.  I'm not happy about spending the money, but neither was I in the mood to get into a spitting contest with the manufacturer, wherever in the world they are.

Tom was so pleased, he suggested lunch at Longhorn.  Woot!  Not sure what makes me happier -- their salmon or the awesome tableware.  THIS is the kind of knife I've been coveting.

 And this poster at a nearby dental office cracked us up:

"We believe in strong, solid teeth. Whether they're your own or adopted."

😃


But wait, there's more!  Guess what?

I was sitting here at the computer when my phone rang.  Unknown number.  Ignore.
But something made me Google the area code.  Lubbock, Texas.  (*goosebumps*)

It rang again.  Just in case, I hit the Screen Call feature: "State your name and the reason for your call ..."

Well, what I heard next spiraled me back to 1975.  I recognized Sheri's voice immediately.  She'd just received the letter I sent and was so excited. "How on earth did you find me?"

We would up yakking for almost two hours, ending with "I love you's" and a heartfelt promise to keep in touch.  (Tricky, as she only has a flip phone -- no internet nor computer.)

There's more to tell next time. This is already becoming too long.

'Til then, sleep tight ... don't let the bed bugs bite!

Hugs, Myra

 

 

 

Flashback Friday Fotos

 

Thanks to you amateur Barbara Walters out there!
I don't think my asking for questions last time was particularly courageous ..... but neither did I worry it might turn into a game of Truth or Dare.  (I've never played that. Have you?) 

ANYway.  Cathy, you and Lisa asked about travel.   Yes, I was very fortunate to have travelled here and there -- before my skin and joints went south.   99% of those trips were great.  Then there was Greece.  The irony being, when my mother asked where we most wanted to go, I was the one who chose that destination.

No regrets; in fact, sometimes it's fun to look back.

The way we were:
August 1984

I'd like to say, dinner aboard TWA was delicious ... but I wouldn't know.  The whole time I was dead to the world, thanks to a powerful sleep aid I'd requested from my doctor.  

I apologize for the poor quality of these pictures.

They've been sitting in a scrapbook, largely ignored for years.

I know there are those who'd disagree, but we thought Athens itself was disappointing.  But there were some humerous moments.  For example:

We kept calling down to the front desk for ice.  Except, when the bucket would appear, it wasn't even half full.  Lessons learned; they're not so fond of icy beverages as we Americans.  

Then there was the first night's dinner.  R. found a neighborhood cafe within walking distance -- but no-one spoke English.   He was invited into the kitchen and minutes later returned with a grin and a thumb's up.  Except, what they put out in front of us were fish -- with the heads still on.  Those eyeballs!  Thank goodness, I'd brought along a big container of Extra-Crunchy JIF peanut butter.  Troy and I ate out of the jar 'til our tummies hurt.

Oh, and I can't forget the time mother tired of shopping and said she was going back to the ship.  Except she mistakenly boarded the wrong ship!   That would never happen in today's security-conscious world, but my mind still spins at the idea of her sailing off to parts unknown.

Have you ever suffered a painful toe?  (Sure, you have!)  Well, prior to vacation, Troy had surgery where they removed his big toenail.   Wouldn't you know, shortly after we arrived at the Acropolis someone accidentally stepped on his foot!

My mother wasn't normally known for her wit.  But when our guide mentioned how many thousands of people visited annually, she remarked, "I think they're all here today."

The highlight of our trip was a 4-day cruise to the islands.

One little old lady passenger took a real liking to Troy.  She asked him to call her 'Grandma Edith' and kept slipping him money to gamble.  How I wish I had a picture of the two of them!  

Port of Piraeus

Actually, Troy was the only one among us who instinctively grasped the drachma and dollars exchange rate.   Much to the dismay of the Turkish rugs' merchants in Ephesus, we weren't much interested in souvenirs. Talk about hard sell!  I suspect timeshare salesmen must apprentice under those guys.

There was a decided Soviet presence in Rhodes.

Things may be different today, but the merchants didn't much care for American tourists.

But Mykonos was wonderful ... as was Santorini.

600 steps to the top --

R. and mom took the cable car, but Troy and I elected to ride.

Doesn't this random Greek make you want to break out in a chorus from Mamma Mia?

I remember saying that a LOT!

Home again, home again to the Oceanos

It's always good to go ...

Better to come home to the U.S.A!

 💛

Epilogue

8 years later THIS happened to our ship.

Amazingly, all 571 passengers and crew survived -- no thanks to the ship's captain who, together with a few of his cronies, had abandoned ship! 

The ship's entertainers -- including guitar players, magicians, musicians and cruise staff, ran a successful rescue of every soul aboard.  In the dark they launched the life boats.  Then, as dawn broke, they helped the amazing helicopter crews to airlift the last 200 to safety.

Ordinary men and women  doing extraordinary things. I love that.

Thanks for visiting!

Hugs, Myra

 

Water Cooler Wednesday

Today I'm stealing from Martha at Seaside Simplicity.

(Sorry, Sandra!)

I think some of y'all already know all there is to know about me. Then again, maybe not!

Like Martha, I'm inviting you to ...

Ask me anything!

I'm an open book, but please. Be kind. 🤣

Within reason, I promise to answer honestly.

 

Hugs, Myra

 

Let's go to the Movies!

Hello friends!

Welcome back to Tuesday 4 -- maintained in honor of the late Toni Taddeo.  Thank you, Anne!

This week's posers --

A movie theme song will play every time you walk in the room.  What is it?

I love this so much I made it my phone's ring tone.

I don't know that it defines me, but ya.  I'd be proud to hear it.

What movie, book or TV program could you live in?

I started to write Gone With the Wind -- then remembered they didn't have air conditioning.

Let's go with

Is there a book/movie/TV quote you often think about or that effects you in some way?

Bridges of Madison County

OK, friend.  It's your turn to organize our Blogger Movie Night where we get together as a group for snacks and movies!  What movies have you planned for us tonight, and what snacks are we going to have?

I'm probably overthinking the movies' selection.  My tastes run to the intense that might not sit well with everyone.  Besides, if people started talking in the middle there's a good chance I'd get cranky.

Let's keep it light and uplifting --

Mamma Mia, Return to Me, even Sound of Music

Snacks?

Everything from garlic popcorn and pistachios .... to antipasto skewers .... to Conecuh sausage sliders and 'mater gravy.

BYOB!

I'd love to hear your answers!

Hugs, Myra