I think society has lost its collective mind! (How's that for a hook?) That statement may be a little bold, so let me clarify. Several members of society have lost their minds! If that's better for you, read on! :)
Last Wednesday evening I was a spectator in the bleachers at a local softball game. I was there because our youngest son was asked to fill in for another team in the league. They needed the extra players to avoid a forfeit. Ben and two of his teammates were happy to oblige.
I was the only fan representing Ben's "adopted" team, but don't feel sorry for me. I enjoy softball and have no issue sitting alone. It was a cool, comfortable summer evening in Wisconsin. Perfect for spectating!
As I sat in the bleachers, I found myself sitting among players from one of the teams that would be playing the game after Ben's. Not a big deal. However, when one of those players lit a cigarette it became a bigger deal. You can probably guess where this little story is going! That second hand smoke was blowing in my direction and I wasn't happy!
Happens all the time, it seems. A single smoker's cigarette smoke can pollute what would otherwise be 'fresh' air. What's a girl to do? In my younger days I might have asked him, in a nice way of course, to move. In this case, I coughed and moved my little self up three bleachers where I was free of the smokey air.
The point of relating this incident is to plead with all of the smokers out there. Please don't exercise your "right" to smoke in public. By smoking in public you jeopardize my "right" to breath smoke free air! Smoke at your home. Smoke in your basement. Smoke in your yard. Smoke in your garage. But don't smoke in public and public includes the ballpark! It will never be okay with me!
In case any smokers out there aren't convinced, let me just say that my non-smoking in public changes nothing about the air you breathe. This is my blog so I think that statement is worth repeating--My non-smoking changes nothing about the air you breathe! Therefore, my non-smoking does not infringe on any of your rights! Period. End of discussion.
“"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.” --John Wooden
Monday, June 30, 2014
Friday, June 20, 2014
All my life's a circle
Two things happened to me this week that are, in my humble opinion, remarkable.
Last weekend my daughter asked if I had saved her cabbage patch infant doll. She is expecting their second baby in October, and her fifteen month old is showing an interest in Leah's growing belly and the baby that's in there! Leah thought it would be a good idea to give her a "baby" of her own to care for. I went to the basement and found a white plastic bag closed up tight sitting inside the blue baby crib Leah "played house" with many years ago. Inside the bag was an assortment of Leah's dolls and among them was her cabbage patch infant. I was thrilled. I boxed it up, along with the adoption papers Leah created some 15 to 18 years ago. "Katy Ellen" was on her way to her new home. Two days later, Leah sent a picture of her sweet daughter holding and mothering the cabbage patch doll. I sent Leah this text message, "Isn't it amazing that you just sent me a picture of your daughter playing with your doll? Full circle moment for this grandma!"
When I graduated from UW-Madison's graduate School of Social Work in 1984, one of the first purchases I made was a Kimball upright piano. I had grown up in a home with a piano and decided that I wouldn't be without one in my adult life. That piano went with me from Appleton to Kimberly to Green Bay to Madison to Wausau back to Appleton and finally to Kimberly. Two of our three children learned to play on it, and it was well-used over the years. In 2008, Mark and I had an opportunity to get an antique baby grand piano for a pretty good price. We gave my piano to a local family whose daughter was looking for a reasonably priced piano. Needless to say, the price was right for her!
We have decided to sell our baby grand piano. I want a little more space and plan to purchase an upright once we sell. I listed it on Craigslist and within a few days, we had a couple interested parties. One particular person responded and proposed a swap. He said he had an upright that he would trade for our C. Kurtzmann & Co. baby grand. I made arrangements to meet him at his home so I could play his upright and decide if a swap would be fair to both of us. When Mark and I arrived at his home, I realized I knew his parents. His mom was in the yard mowing and I recognized her immediately. We got out of the van and walked into the garage where the piano was being stored. As I approached, I said to Mark, "Gosh that looks a lot like my old piano." When I got next to it, I knew it was my old Kimball upright. The gouge in the right leg, the key that still sticks and a few other markings proved beyond a doubt that it was mine. Turns out the current owner is a cousin to the husband of the sister of the girl we gave the piano to back in 2008. Unbelievable!
All my life's a circle, indeed!
One of my favorite songs by Harry Chapin is called Circle and I've included the link. You might find yourself singing along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW0vjZiu_rw
Last weekend my daughter asked if I had saved her cabbage patch infant doll. She is expecting their second baby in October, and her fifteen month old is showing an interest in Leah's growing belly and the baby that's in there! Leah thought it would be a good idea to give her a "baby" of her own to care for. I went to the basement and found a white plastic bag closed up tight sitting inside the blue baby crib Leah "played house" with many years ago. Inside the bag was an assortment of Leah's dolls and among them was her cabbage patch infant. I was thrilled. I boxed it up, along with the adoption papers Leah created some 15 to 18 years ago. "Katy Ellen" was on her way to her new home. Two days later, Leah sent a picture of her sweet daughter holding and mothering the cabbage patch doll. I sent Leah this text message, "Isn't it amazing that you just sent me a picture of your daughter playing with your doll? Full circle moment for this grandma!"
When I graduated from UW-Madison's graduate School of Social Work in 1984, one of the first purchases I made was a Kimball upright piano. I had grown up in a home with a piano and decided that I wouldn't be without one in my adult life. That piano went with me from Appleton to Kimberly to Green Bay to Madison to Wausau back to Appleton and finally to Kimberly. Two of our three children learned to play on it, and it was well-used over the years. In 2008, Mark and I had an opportunity to get an antique baby grand piano for a pretty good price. We gave my piano to a local family whose daughter was looking for a reasonably priced piano. Needless to say, the price was right for her!
We have decided to sell our baby grand piano. I want a little more space and plan to purchase an upright once we sell. I listed it on Craigslist and within a few days, we had a couple interested parties. One particular person responded and proposed a swap. He said he had an upright that he would trade for our C. Kurtzmann & Co. baby grand. I made arrangements to meet him at his home so I could play his upright and decide if a swap would be fair to both of us. When Mark and I arrived at his home, I realized I knew his parents. His mom was in the yard mowing and I recognized her immediately. We got out of the van and walked into the garage where the piano was being stored. As I approached, I said to Mark, "Gosh that looks a lot like my old piano." When I got next to it, I knew it was my old Kimball upright. The gouge in the right leg, the key that still sticks and a few other markings proved beyond a doubt that it was mine. Turns out the current owner is a cousin to the husband of the sister of the girl we gave the piano to back in 2008. Unbelievable!
All my life's a circle, indeed!
One of my favorite songs by Harry Chapin is called Circle and I've included the link. You might find yourself singing along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW0vjZiu_rw
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