I think my bathroom needs something.  With that in mind, I have just a bit of redecorating to do.  In all honesty, about all it really needs is a new shower curtain.  I found some perfect shower curtains online.  Now I just have to figure out which one I want.

I love shopping at SHOP.COM because just about anything you’re looking for can be found there.  I have it marked as one of my favorites so when I’m in the mood for a little shopping, that’s where I like to start.  It’s a huge help and really saves you a lot of time because they have already done the looking for you.  Know what I mean?

Well it’s about time for those cute little ones to come knocking on your door in their costumes saying “Trick or Treat” when you answer the door, just hoping for a piece or two……..more like a hand full………..of candy.  What I love more than that is dressing up too and scaring the pants off of those little darlins when they ring the door bell!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y’ALL!!!!

I got this from my sister because she thinks Maxine and I are a lot alike.  Well after reading this one, I have to agree!  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Maxine on – Retirement as a Wal-Mart Greeter

Unfortunately, as I have gotten older, I have become a little less sensitive. So, after trying my new job as a Wal-Mart greeter, last weekend (a good find for many retirees), I lasted less than a day……

About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud, coyote ugly, nasty woman walked into the store with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance.

As I had been instructed, I said pleasantly, ‘Good morning, and welcome to Wal-Mart. Nice children you have there. Are they twins?’

The ugly, nasty woman stopped yelling long enough to say, ‘Hell no, they ain’t twins. The oldest one’s 9, and the other one’s 7. Why the hell would you think they’re twins? Are you blind, or just stupid?’

So I replied, ‘I’m neither blind nor stupid, Ma’am. I just find it hard to believe you got laid twice.

Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.’

My 25 year old supervisor said I probably wasn’t cut out for this line of work…….. soooo maybe I’ll go fishing.

My sisters only daughter is an absolute ski nut.  I don’t mean water skiing either.  She loves snow skiing, snow boarding and anything that has to do with sliding around in the snow.  She’s always looking for ski deals.  Me personally, I don’t care for snow at all.  But this is one part of skiing that has totally surprised me.  She won’t go out skiing unless she has the latest fashions for skiing or snow boarding for the new season.

See all of this time I thought the main thing was not to break your leg or neck and stay warm.  Well not anymore it seems.  You also have to be in the latest fashions for that year too.  Personally I know absolutely nothing about what’s hot and what’s not in the latest and greatest ski apparel but I did learn a lot when I was searching for a graduation gift in the form of ski deals for her.  It’s absolutely amazing what you can learn about on the Internet.  Not to mention, who would have thought an old lady like me would be surfing the Internet for ski fashions for my niece either?  I would have never dreamed a couple years ago but I think I’m as addicted to the Internet as she is to skiing.

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes… I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.  I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.  Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

‘Hello Barry , how are you today?’

‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.’

‘They are good, Barry.  How’s your Ma?’

‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’

‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’

‘Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr. Miller.

‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.’

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’

‘All I gots my prize marble here.’

‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller.

‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy..’

‘I can see that.  Hmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked.

‘Not zackley but almost.’

‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy..

‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller .’

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.  When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts…all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller , standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.  Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.  I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size….they came to pay their debt.’

‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.’  With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:

We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath…

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles, an unexpected phone call from an old friend, green stoplights on your way to work, the fastest line at the grocery store, a good sing-along song on the radio, and your keys found right where you left them.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!

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