Tom's

There was a corner store at the end of the street that I grew up on. It was just a little wooden structure built onto the house of a family from China. The store was called "Tom's" after the owner.

I can still hear the "clop clop" of my shoes on that wooden floor as I entered the dark little store, which I did many times over the years. Tom knew me, and most of us, by first name.

There was a small section of grocery items, a freezer full of Popsicles, and a fridge with bottles of pop. What drew most of the kids to the store was the glass counter into which we could peer at the assortments of candy. There were many that were five for one cent, or three for one cent, in addition to the more expensive one cent each items. I can remember going into that store with a quarter and coming out with a bag full of candy!

Every so often, my Dad would have a craving for a candy bar, and he and I would walk down to the store together for treats. We usually got the same things; a Cherry Blossom for my Mom, an Eat-More for Dad, a Mackintosh Toffee for my sister, and a Jersey Milk for me. The cost for all of these treats? Forty cents!

Simpler times....

It's just wrong.....

My protectors

Last evening Gerry was out at a meeting and the dogs would just not settle down until he came home. I've noticed that when he's not home and if I am upstairs they, Maya especially, sits at the top of the stairs where she can look out the window. I can get annoying as she barks at everyone who walk by the house, but I know she feels that she's doing her "job".
Last night I crawled into bed early planning to get in some good long reading time. Usually Gerry and I go to bed at the same time, and the girls settle in with us. Last night they were having no part of settling down without Gerry. They stood on the end of the bed looking at the bedroom door. Every few minutes they would jump down and go to the top of the stairs and wait for a few moments before running downstairs to the back door to see if he had arrived yet. Then, back up the stairs and on to the bed where they resumed their post at the end of the bed. Back and forth, up and down, all evening until Gerry finally got home and they were able to settle down and sleep.
My yorkies...my companions....my protectors!!

More questions than answers

The world is changing, and with change comes a new set of questions.

I have started using those reusable bags for my purchases when I get groceries. (well...when I remember to bring them in from the car!). I have a few from two of the places where I shop most often, but I find myself with a dilemma. If my reusable bag says "Fred Meyer", is it okay to use it in "Top Foods"?

If I get to the point where I am using the reusable bags exclusively, what am I going to use for garbage bags?

We use disposable "pee pads" for our yorkies. Are they just as bad as disposable diapers as far as spending eternity in the landfills?

We're trying to print documents only when absolutely necessary at work. I find, and I'm not alone in this one, that a printed document is easier for this fifty year old brain to process than trying to read from a computer screen. Is the potential for decreased comprehension worth the price of a piece of paper?

Do I have to take my own cup to Starbucks in order to feel environmentally conscious? I really like those disposable cups they give us - its part of the Starbucks experience for me.

Despite warnings to cut back wherever possible, are we helping or hurting the economy when we stop doing things that support small local business? I think of all the nail salons that are lost business lately because women are cutting back on manicures and pedicures. Are we making things worse by driving people out of business?

I certainly don't have all the answers. I'm just thankful that I know the One who does. It's true that some of these questions are tongue-in-cheek but I really have spent time thinking about these things.

Do you every have questions about our ever-changing world?

On vacation.....in my mind....

It snowed again today. Sigh. I wish Gerry and I were sitting in these chairs on the beach in Playa del Carmen where the picture was taken a couple of years ago.

Gerry would have his book of Suduko and would be working on a puzzle. I would be reading one of the books that I had saved just for this vacation.

Now and then I would look out at the water or I would put my book down for a few moments and just watch the people walking by on the beach.

Before too long, Gerry would suggest a dip in the ocean to cool off. I would follow him, somewhat reluctantly, as there would be small fishes that would come near us when we entered the water, and I wouldn't like their proximinty. I would also be somewhat uncomfortable with the waves, but Gerry would hold on to me and we would explore the waters.

After our swim, we would take a long walk on the beach, holding hands and talking. Eventually we would return to our sanctuary on the beach and perhaps close our eyes for a nap. No phone calls to return, no work needing to be done, no emails to answer.

Did I mention that it snowed today?