Trying to Survive

When you are a child, how responsible can you be concerning your actions?

We teach our children the ABC's and 123's, 'please' and 'thank you'. But do we teach them compassion? How to be kind to others? How to be sensitive to another's needs when they are crippled, handicapped, or just plain different? How can children be held responsible for knowing how to act correctly, if no one (their elders) shows them?

For a child to really learn a lesson, they need to FEEL...feel what it's like to be berated, cheated, victimized. No one wants to berate, cheat, or victimize their children to teach them a lesson...do they? Not aware, kind, loving parents, no!

But the kids who themselves were berated, cheated or victimized know no different. They assume that is how you're supposed to treat your loved ones. And so the generational cycle begins. Some, though, are gifted with strength to change.

When you were a child, how responsible were you for how you treated others? Did you even know kindness, respect, value? Sometimes, we go through life just doing what we have to in order to survive. Sometimes, it's not pretty.

Sometimes, you find yourself at thirty-something, wondering why you ended up...

Precious Lilac

 

 

Lilac Cake Decoration

If you're an Allen-girl,
originally from Northwood,
you will understand the
melancholy memory
of the whiff of precious lilacs
floating in the screen window
overlooking the patio.

If you're an Allen-girl, you will probably enjoy
seeing this melancholy memory brought to life
in purple royal icing.

If you're not an Allen-girl,
originally from Northwood,
you may enjoy this anyway!

Click on the following Wilton site:
http://www.wilton.com/technique/Lilac?EMC-ewivc42010&link=lilacs-text

Pencils at Work...Functional and Fun!

I have come to find that some pencils are better than others.

In elementary schools teachers prefer students use #2's.

In high school and college I've noticed students, if they use a pencil at all,

use the refillable, retractable, ultra-thin lead pencils.

After 17 years at Tasker's Well, my ultimate favorite pencil of choice is: #2 SANFORD American Natural USA...the barrel of the pencil has no yellow paint...it is smooth, natural wood. I like this particular pencil so much, I requested my employer buy this exact pencil at Staples, so I could ALWAYS figure the books with my pencil of choice. Sitting in storage are about 50 of these. They may last me until I retire from this job...in about 10 years, give or take, based on need.

I must admit however, that I am having an affair, and loving a different pencil.

At the Easter holiday, in lieu of passing out calorie and sugar-filled candy to the children in my life, I instead handed out some pretty, painted pencils. There were some glittery gems, some pink, purple, blue, and yellow pencils that had festive Easter motifs painted on them, such as eggs, bunnies, and chicks, etc.

With two extra pencils left over, I decided to treat myself at work with some fun pencils.

Currently, I'm using a light blue pencil with yellow butterflies and white clouds. I attached a pointy, pink eraser to cover the blue eraser...so I don't wreck it's charm. I'm known to make changes often in my work, so a nice eraser is a must.

I will use this pencil until all the use makes me sharpen it into a stub.

Perhaps in four months time. Then I will toss it and begin using the purple pencil that has multi-colored, striped eggs on it. This will make my spring season at work light and comical...a stress reliever...and a welcome addition to my stash of writing utensils that grace my desktop...always within reach...for the next secretarial task.

It's true, I find that some pencils are better than others.

Some are functional and serious.

Others do the job and are simply fun to use.

I equally rely on both

and will use what best suits my mood at the time of use.

The BFF

What a ball of fire she is, the bff of my relative,

masterly educated and head of the class,

lecturing on the past history of the world.

What a hot chick she is, the bff of my relative,

giggling like a kiddo,

wiggling like jell-o shots,

retelling incidents of her adventurous life.

What a family member she'd make,

the bff of my relative,

she brings out the giggle and wiggle

in my once sober, solemn lad.

Once we were worried about the lad,

afraid he was too sunk inside himself,

rebellious and moody-black,

worries now fly away...........

........as the bff of my relative,

appears here to stay!

Neighboring Town's Stores

I love it when a new store or business opens up in neighboring small towns.

Be it a fabric shop...a grocery store...or a Planet Fitness gym...

The addition of life's convenience-stores, from my Point A to Point B,

enables me to hit the site of necessity on my way to or fro work.

No more organizing my days off around a trip to the city grocery store or just being plain chubby because I'm too cheap to pay for extra gas to get to a multi-use gym!

(Luckily, my health insurance reimburses me the monthly fee to the new gym just a few miles from my house. My thighs are looking the best they have in many, many years.)

When I hear of a new store or business opening up in my neighboring small towns I weigh their value to me, and then decide if it's a good idea or not.

I hear there might be coming to my local area...a Dollar Store!

That is very worthwhile and tailored to my needs.

Lord knows I love to shop!

Sassy Spring Day

(Photo by Lisa Allen-Kennard)

Whisper goes the wind on this sassy spring day,
all the bird and critters have come on out to play,
Fluffy are the clouds that dance in pale blue skies,
can't fully block the sun, though it's whiteness dutifully tries.

Lush now is the green of the grass and towering trees,
sun and rain and pure clean air and swarms of bumble bees,
Majestic are the mountains laying off on the horizon,
animals commune with nature to tell tall tales of where they've been.

Whisper goes the wind on this sassy spring day,
All God's creatures -big and small- want to laugh and play.