Life in the fast lane--where's the on ramp?

By Pat_B - About Me - E-mail this page - Add to My Favorites - Add to Blog List - See other blogs in Journal

Friday, October 16, 2015

Have You Ever Wanted to Slap a Senior Citizen?

Chances are, your answer is “No! Of course not.” But you probably haven’t met K-Brat. (Name changed to protect the guilty.) She’s a big ol’ cranky baby who expects to be waited on and coddled, and the least little frustration will send her into a snit, if not a tantrum. She’s too stiff and... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Out of the Blue

It's been 25 years or so, I'd forgotten the girl's name entirely. The late '80s and early '90s were the years my kids tried their wings and flew away from the nest. My daughter went to Carbondale to enroll at SIU, got a dorm room with her high school bestie and settled in. Then the bestie’s... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Historical Novels Are Her Favorite

On Sunday afternoon, beautiful October weather outdoors, I figured nobody would visit Carnegie’s used bookshop at the library. I’d have to spend the whole two-hour shift finding something to read. But as I went about the opening routine, unlocking the cash register, making sure there was water in... Sign in to see full entry.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Just Another Boring Day at the Bookshop

Didn’t feel particularly well on Sunday after a spell of repetitive BM syndrome that made me turn down breakfast with the boys. So I wasn’t eager to head for the library at 2:00, still a bit fuzzy-headed. The weather was beautiful, some trees along Brick Street have begun to show their fall colors.... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

This is the day that The Lord has made. Rejoice and be glad in it.

"Sufficient unto the day are the sorrows thereof." I believe Jesus is quoted as saying that. It seems to me the words mean we should let go of the crap that happened yesterday. It's more useful to concentrate on today - to live it as best we can. But some people can find the cloud behind every... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Pat's Hats

Friend of mine named Gaye, a retired nurse who comes to The Center from time to time, is on the fund-raising committee at her church: First Christian I believe. She calls herself a hippie, one who's never adapted to cultural norm. I think of her as one of the "everyday heroes" who live amongst us.... Sign in to see full entry.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Ex-Con Structors, Day 2

In spite of my son’s trepidations about the background of Mr. G., who offered a pretty reasonable price on some much-needed work around the old homestead, I went ahead with the deal. Guy admitted the contractor’s rap sheet might have been from years ago – the result of youthful criminality that he’s... Sign in to see full entry.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

A Little Help Around The House

Couple weeks ago there was a small crew working on my next door neighbor’s house. They’d tuck-pointed the chimney and patched the stucco, did some painting to refresh the green trim along the back sunporch windows and painted the house white. I had noticed the guys working, but I had hats to... Sign in to see full entry.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Funny how it works...

Funny strange, not funny ha-ha. Sometimes the way everything is connected is invisible to us, and we don't see the links at all. And sometimes we get one of those aha! moments when it's patently obvious. This past couple of weeks I've been thinking of how to organize the writing group at The Center... Sign in to see full entry.

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

The Tangled Web We Weave...

It's not as simple as cheating. Bob and Joann ARE divorced after all, and have been so for seven or eight years. But Joann has Alzheimer's, and despite the legal severance of the spousal stuff, they've shared a domicile. It's not for the sake of the children - Bob is 80 and Joann a few years... Sign in to see full entry.

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