Good to go

According to the retina surgeon all is good to go ahead with the cataract surgery in the fall. One step in the right direction. While waiting I had a conversation with a gentleman who had the surgery years ago in the hospital. They actually removed the cataracts. He said now it is a breeze, according to his wife. It appears things have improved over time. Now I just need to find someone who is willing to take me and stay with me during the surgery. Still working on that one.

New Info?

Tomorrow I get to see what the retina doctor has to say about my vision. The cataract surgeon needs to know if there is anything that will interfere with his scheduled surgery. I certainly hope not. One thing at a time is enough to handle.

It's time

I made a decision today to close one of my groups.I have tried to keep it alive for some time and even changed the name, thinking it might help.The day has come when it is time to give it up. I can't help thinking about a quote that came to me several years ago. It was, "Quietly leaving makes the biggest noise."

I made the announcement to the members today and tomorrow I will follow through with my plans. I still have the group, "Open Hearts and Minds" and for some reason I don't believe I should close this blog.

A good question

A question came through on Facebook today that I didn't hesitate to answer. It was, "How would you change your wedding?" Without thinking my answer was, "Not show up!"

I was actually thinking about my second wedding, but it applies to both. The first happened 6 weeks after we met, bowling I think. I found out he was a womanizing jackass, but I married him anyway. I stuck it out for 13 years and had two children.I finally said enough!

My second wedding took place about 6 months after we began dating. He was Catholic, I wasn't. He was also an alcoholic, I wasn't. The one thing I asked of him was don't drink before the ceremony. As the Priest said, "You may kiss the bride." I turned towards him and smelled booze. I stuck it our for 27 years and had one child.

I suppose if I had not shown up I would not have children, grandchildren or great grandchildren.

A new store

As I again ordered an item from Amazon that should be available in Grants,NM, I thought if someone wanted to open a store that would have a ton of customers, a craft store would be ideal.Walmart is the only option and it sucks! They closed their craft department years ago and there are no other options, unless you want to drive 100 miles East or West. There are plenty of buildings just sitting there waiting to be occupied. I know there are zillions of craft people living here. Come on someone make a move in the right direction!

I also know of a large building, only used two days a week, right in the middle of town. It could easily be shared, by let's say, a badly needed optometrist.I don't understand what is wrong with people. We have great weather and the rents are cheap. Come on down or over or whatever, just come! 

Remembering the past

I remember the last day I saw my mother alive, well sort of. She was in a coma and the nurse said, "Tell her you love her, she can hear you." I did nothing. I felt she was already gone. My grandfather wanted them to remove the tubes, but they didn't. She apparently didn't have a living will. It was the last time I saw her as I needed to take care of her belongings and apartment.

It has been 36 years since that event. Today two of my three children and four grandchildren do not speak to me. I am wondering if it is karma? Is it something I deserve? I distinctly remember all the times I gave to them and put them first in my life. If they don't remember, I do.

Happy Mother's Day to my daughter and granddaughter. I hope they have a better day remembering the past.

Just for fun, a last picture of my mother and her mother. Also my daughter and granddaughter

 

Opportunities

I was thinking this morning that even though I don't have a college education I have had my share of writing opportunities. I have published two hard cover books, four Kindle books and one that is available as a paperback. Impressive right? But that's not all! I have led two local writing groups, from the young to older members. Hopefully, I have inspired someone to write. I can't forget the four years as a columnist for our local paper, or the 64 interviews I was able to do. Wow that's a lot of writing!

It has never ever mattered to me that I have not earned much money with all this writing. My purpose has been to inspire others to do their best. I really hope I haven't reached the end of my opportunities because I would like to keep going, if I only knew how.  

Who is to blame?

After checking on my online checking account I noticed that I was being charged $44 more for my car insurance. At first it made me mad. It even made me madder when I discovered I hadn't been sent a new card. I literally had no way of proving I had insurance if I was stopped. I tried to access my online car insurance with no luck. They wouldn't accept my password. The only option I had was to call the company.

Since I needed to go to the grocery store I decided to do that first. The first person I saw a I entered the parking lot was of course, police. I made really sure I didn't do anything wrong, as I knew I didn't have proof of insurance, even though I knew I did.

As soon as I got back home I made the call to the insurance company. I did find out that the reason for the hike was due to an accident I had last November. It was my fault. It takes six years for it to get off your record. That answers that question. Since the car is a 2004 I only have liability on it, so it can't get much lower. It doesn't matter how few miles I drive it. 

The increase is actually my fault but, there is still no excuse for them not informing me of the premium increase or for not providing a current insurance card.

Teach me

Teach me

In flipping through an old file I found a picture that I had been looking for. It was taken in 2001 at the wedding of my daughter’s best friend. I know it was 2001 because my daughter was pregnant with my youngest grandson. The picture was of the grooms father and a young grandson. They were sitting on tree stumps facing the water in the Riverwalk.

The young man had just been reprimanded by his grandfather for throwing sticks into the water. This resulted in the two quietly watching the fish. Perhaps they were also learning that love for another does not require a ceremony?

 

Don't believe it!

Awhile ago my son told me that cassette tapes get old and won't play. Not believing him I played an old one on an old machine. It worked, but the sound was a little off. I ordered a new cassette player because I wanted to listen to my all time favorite, Yanni. I had the tape for at least twenty years and didn't want to throw it away. The new player came today and I inserted the old tape. Just as I thought, it sounded like new, proving once again- listen to your intuition not what anyone else has to say! 

Nobody asked me

I think the coronation of Camilla Parker Bowles is about as disgusting as if Donald Trump managed to be elected our next President. Nobody asked me but...

Patience

 "Patience will allow the tiniest of seeds to grow giant trees." On the left are Joshua tree seeds my son brought me from a recent trip. On the right are seeds from a lemon. I had no idea they would grow.

Checking things out

I have been looking through some saved info that I have. It seems it is time. I found some legal papers that I forgot about, but now needed. I decided to write a new will because things have changed since I wrote the first one. I also decided to write a Living Will, which I didn't have. I invited two friends to act as witnesses and a friend who is a Notary to join me for a late lunch last Sunday. Everything is now up to date and saved in my file cabinet.

I had also been checking out some tapes I had sitting around. I previously mentioned the three interviews I did for "Write on Four Corners". I was happy they still worked. I also found one called "God Can" by Mary Manin Morressey. Amazing that it still worked. I had actually forgotten that I had personal contact with her when I wrote my first book back in 2004. The last thing I found was a tape of my poems and inspirational sayings from 1999-2000.

Interesting what things pop up when it is again time to check them out.

Pride comes first

One of the books that I am most proud of writing is the Kindle book, "Spirits of Cibola County". It includes all of the personal interviews I did with the people who live here. Some of them are friends and neighbors. Here is the introduction.

 

Spirits of Cibola County

 

Introduction:

 

            Cibola County, New Mexico has been my adopted home for 42 years. It is as close to a hometown as I am ever going to have. Being Anglo, moving here was an eye opening experience. It was the first time in my life that I felt like a minority because the area is predominately Spanish and Native American. It took years for me to actually feel at home. It only happened when I began to look around and appreciate what I had been offered.

            The census puts us at over 10,000 residents. I began interviewing some of those souls as a columnist for our local newspaper in 2000, recently adding new stories to reflect the growth of the county. These personal stories make up the contents of this book. I am grateful that my subjects shared the details of their lives and trusted me to write them down so that others might benefit from their unique experiences. These are the Spirits of Cibola County; many of whom I count as my friends.

            Cibola County is located halfway between Albuquerque and Gallup. It is the home of four Indian pueblos: Acoma, Laguna, Zuni and Navajo. Chaco Canyon is the site of the ancient ruins of the Anasazi Tribe. Other historic sites include the Sandstone Bluffs, El Malpais National Monument, Acoma-Sky City and several mesas and lava beds.

            The town of Grants, where I live, got its start in the early 1880s as a railroad camp and prospered as the result of logging in the Zuni Mountains. In the1930s it gained fame as the “carrot capital” of the U.S., as the volcanic soil provided ideal conditions for farming. Paddy Martinez, a Navajo shepherd, discovered uranium ore in the area around 1950. It led to a mining boom that lasted until 1980. The Guadalupe Vineyards in San Fidel, NM were added in 2000 by a former priest who believes God chose him to plant the vines and make wine. The county is currently being promoted for its historic attractions and for the beauty and spirituality it offers.

            The major employers are three prisons, Cibola General Hospital, New Mexico State University Grants Campus, Grants Good Samaritan Center and Wal-Mart. The rest of Cibola County and the town of Grants are much like any other small town in southwestern USA.

            Our most renowned event is the Winter Quadrathlon held in February. It attracts participants from all over the world. The start to finish race is 44 miles and includes biking, running, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. It begins in Grants, goes up Mt. Taylor (elevation 11,305 ft) and back to town. Participants are exhausted when they finish. Many residents hold their breath at the beginning of the year as they look up at the mountain and pray there will be enough snow for the Quad.

 

            Getting to know the Spirits of Cibola County begins here just follow me…