P-U-R-P-L-E

When my oldest granddaughter was in preschool, the teacher taught the children color words by a singing rhyme.  "P-u-r-p-l-e...PURPLE...PURPLE" became one of my favs.  Now... the word purple has a whole new meaning.

I advocate PURPLE DAY...March 26th...because it is my cause...no matter what anyone says.  PURPLE DAY is the global day of epilepsy awareness.  Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide...about 1 in 100.  It is an often misunderstood disease which is sadly under-funded by our government.  Epilepsy awareness requires advocacy.

Support PURPLE DAY on March 26th.  Show those affected that you care.

I'm Just the Grandma

It disturbs me to watch parents either stand by and watch their kids be corrupted by other people, and doing nothing about it, or actually encourage those other people to take charge of their children because they are too busy or too much of a 'friend.'  I can't mention any particular subject in this blog, because I'M JUST THE GRANDMA.  If my fears do not have merit, then I guess I will just wait to see what happens.

'Back in the day' I was a latch-key child, because my parents both worked outside the home.  It wasn't a big deal to walk home, locate the 'hidden' house key, and walk into an empty house.  I was a good kid and never caused or got into any trouble.  That's the truth.  I left my own children in the care of women who did not work, and whom I trusted.  My children also had responsible grandparents, aunts, and uncles who made sure they were cared for in a well-balanced way. 

I wonder now how many children are latch-key children.  Some still have to walk home from school.  That is scary.  Do you know how many bogeymen are hiding in the bushes?  Most, if not all, are left to their own devices, whether it be entertaining themselves (oh, those electronic devices...such good sitters), doing homework, or doing 'chores.'  Those chores are supposedly to help mom and dad, but really...do you know any kid who really thinks like that? 

Because they have that all-important key to the house, they can pretty much come and go as they want, BECAUSE they also have a cell phone...those miraculous pieces of technology that you can take with you anywhere.  Leave the house...take the phone and the key. 

If the parent decides to take a peek at the children to see if they are home where they are supposed to be...uh oh.  I would still like to think that any children I know are safe at home after school (unless they have after-school activities) ... that they lock the door and don't answer the phone.  (Bogeymen call, you know).  Of course, I've had my head in the sand for years, so it may well be that those children are running the streets, going into strangers' homes to visit friends (with or without permission from the parent(s)), and/or causing all kinds of trouble.  Ask their parent...they know exactly where there children are.  Right.  And...I'M JUST THE GRANDMA.

Until next time..."To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while."  -- Josh Billings

Jingle versus Joy

We all like to have 'jingle' in our pocket.  We continuously strive to make the 'almighty buck.'  We think the more we have, the happier we will be.  For some folks, this is their life...all work and no play, as the saying goes.  I've been there, done that.  Now I am trying to live the simple life, and not by choice.  I was forced into giving up all of my 'things,' and doing without.


The only thing I am not without (and never will be) is my relationship with a friend who continues to stand by me no matter what the circumstance, no matter my mood, and no matter how productive I may or may not be.  That friend is Joy.  I can have Joy with me all the time, wherever I may be, night or day.  Joy is never judgmental, and is ever-understanding.  If you know Joy, then you understand what I am talking about.  If you don't know Joy, then you are only able to enjoy your jingle; let me know how that works for you.


Until next time..."A joy that is shared is a joy made double."  -- John Roy

My Christmas Wish

I wished for snow on Christmas Day

So I could watch the children play

The gently-falling flakes upon the roof,

Were as quiet as a reindeer hoof.

The sleigh made tracks around the chimney

As I looked out from the window dimly,

I saw the tail of Santa's coat

"Merry Christmas to all.."

Was what he wrote

in the snow that had drifted quite high

His laughter filled the dark starry sky.

The twinkle of the stars was oh so bright

As I heard him say, "Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night."

The lines of the poem then crowded my head

As the snow gave way to the green grass instead.

Until next time..."As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is."  -- Eric Sevareid

Birthdays and Nutcrackers

I just had a birthday, and, while it was memorable in its own right, it lacked the luster of birthdays past.  My expectations were not too high, I hope, but, in a sense, it was truly 'just another day.'  That phrase was coined by my husband many years ago, and I've never believed it, until this year.  So many things have changed, and, along with my usual birthday gift to myself (a ticket to The Nutcracker), most have fallen by the wayside due mostly to the lack of dinero in everyone's pocket.  Bah, humbug.

Family is missing...logistically...mentally...physically.  I don't want to join their ranks.  Holidays are going to be quiet because the symbols of any joyous celebration will be shelved due to the humdrums, possibly.  Everyone is in need, and for some reason we feel we cannot express ourselves without the means to shop/drop, decorate/just because, and/or rally around the tree with the 'nog.  We shouldn't give up trying to instill what we all enjoyed as children into the hearts of remaining family.  

'Silver bells,' 'deck the halls,' 'grandma got run over by a reindeer,' decorated tree, cheese ball (if you are so inclined), and The Nativity are all very important parts of our society's celebration.  Don't let your circumstances dictate the mood or festivities.  Enjoy the JOY!

Until next time... "It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." -- W. T. Ellis 

Economy Size

Yesterday I ate SOS.  How many of you know what that is?  Creamed beef on toast was originally an Army favorite, served up during the war years.  My folks lived during those years, and probably were glad to be able to eat SOS, among other things.  Ranks right up there with beans and cornbread...which, in the south, is in addition to the meal... NOT a meal in itself.  It's a good thing my husband likes SOS...don't know many men who would eat it.

The economy has hit the fan.  Yes, the economy is in the toilet.  There are more unemployed in my family now, and I don't like it.  Some who have more than one educational degree are searching for a job.  I thought it was bad for my high school diploma self.  I'll stop whining about my age being a factor in being unemployed.

The new wave of hiring practices still has me baffled.  I feel sorry for folks who don't have access to a computer, because that's where it's at, folks.  You send off a resume via e-mail with the appropriate 'key words,' and if you're lucky ...and I mean REALLY lucky, you might get a face-to-face interview.  Of course, if you know someone, you stand a good chance of getting a job.  All the state resources are overwhelmed...they don't even answer their phones or return voice mails.  Newspaper job ads have been reduced and combined with internet-based job sites.  

It's too bad our communities do not operate on the principles of doing for each other...community gardens, more food pantries, shelters, mass transit. and the like.  If you live outside a large metro area, you're SOL...same noun as above.  I may not have lived during the first real depression like some of my family, but I'm learning how to live in this one.  And, yes, I am thankful...don't even go there.  This is my blog.

Until next time..."Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor."  -- James A. Baldwin

Encompassing Hope

Form a circle, everyone.  Hope in the middle.

November is Epilepsy Awareness Month.  Approximately 50 million people worldwide are affected by this condition.  Yes.  It is a condition, not a disease.  However mysterious, it represents a change in lifestyle for all of these people.

I am an Epilepsy Advocate.  Did you know that every one of us has a seizure threshhold?  An estimated 1 out of 10 people will have a single seizure at some time during their life.  However, more than half of the cases of epilepsy are idiopathic or have no identifiable origin.  Many are believed to be genetic.

Be aware!  Even if you do not know anyone with this condition, you might witness or be called upon to administer first aid to someone having a seizure.  Learn seizure first aid.  It's easy...

PLEASE... do not put anything in the person's mouth 

                  (they CANNOT swallow their tongue ...a myth);

                  do not give the person anything to drink

                  do not restrain or hold the person down

DO...                   

• If the person has a warning, it is best to get him or her to a safe place like sitting in a chair or lying on the floor.
• Once the seizure starts, turn the person to one side.
• If you can't turn the person, try to turn the head to one side or turn the person as soon as the seizure is over.
• Look for medical identification jewelry.
• Loosen tight clothing around the neck. Remove eyewear.
• Move hard objects, like chairs, out of the way.
• If you can, put something soft - a pillow, your hand, etc. under the person's head.
• Stay with the person until the seizure is over, and he or she is fully recovered.

For more information:   www.epilepsyfoundation.org