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

Monday, October 19, 2015

Two-hat days

Years ago there was a large mental hospital just east of the town of Alton on IL Route 40. It employed psych nurses, doctors, psychologists and housed hundreds of patients. Some resided in "cottages" outside the main building, six or eight sharing a so-called homelike situation. We knew a family... Sign in to see full entry.

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Scribbles from a notepad at the bottom of a file

As the girls finished their homework at the kitchen table, Stell went outside. Sara turned to look out the window. Her mother hadn’t gone to the garden. She got up and looked through the kitchen door. There she was, standing next to the wire chicken pen. Five bantam hens and the rooster were... Sign in to see full entry.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

The Dreaded Blue Screen of Death

There I was, happily getting ready to post to Blogit. I'd just finished forwarding an email from son John in Seattle to his sister Robin in Florida - the first email he's initiated in a month of Sundays. He responds, usually, but doesn't reach out - he's been dealing with a series of physical and... Sign in to see full entry.

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.

About this Blog

Sometimes you have to write it down in order to learn what you really think about life, what it means, how to do what's best. Sometimes you need feedback from someone else to put things in perspective.

People

Blogs

Headlines (What is this?)