Gone are the days of the full service gas station.
I remember sitting in the front seat of the car with my mother.
We would pull into the gas station and an attendant would immediately come out.
Fill ‘er up? he would ask enthusiastically.

Yes, please, my mother would say as she rolled her window back up.
Rain or sunshine it was the same.
There were a few attendants ready to serve each of the cars at the pump.
There were not as many pumps as we have now but enough to keep them busy.

Read More...

There is a cynical statement that is often heard.
Education is wasted on the young.
Though I believe that statement is false, I can understand the sentiment.
The disciplines that are needed to be educated successfully are often missing.

Poor study habits, procrastination, missed assignments are too often true.
An attitude of indifference, viewing learning as more of an assignment than an adventure.
Learning is something you do for a test, not something you do for life.
A ho-hum experience that is usually described as boring.

Read More...

This is the season for school plays.
Many of the area high schools put on elaborate performances.
They incorporate the talents of musicians, artists, and costume designers.
They tap into the talent of the actors, actresses, singers, and dancers.

I have fond memories of being in my high school productions.
I was usually part of the chorus.
I loved being dressed in costume and see the lights come up and the audiences fade.
Being part of the play required commitment.

Read More...

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
The old adage is correct and a bit daunting when you consider its truth.
The impression may be the physical way you present yourself.
It may be your demeanor and attitude.

Studies have been done to determine the timing of a first impression.
You have exactly 7 seconds to make a first impression.
What can you possibly discern in 7 seconds?
If we were honest, we would have to admit that a sizing up happens very quickly.

Read More...

It was something that I was taught as a girl.
It was practiced and expected.
You never ate in front of someone if you were the only one eating.
If you had something to eat, you must have enough to share with everyone.

I remember playing outside and getting hungry.
I would go inside and grab a snack.
Before I even got to the door, my mother spoke, Do you have enough for everyone?
I would look down at my hand that just had enough food for me.

Read More...

They took it out of the bag and unfolded it.
A beautiful quilt that my husband’s sister made for her youngest brother.
We were all amazed at the beauty of the quilt and its significance.
Each square was actually an old jersey or t-shirt from a sports team.

She made the quilt for her nephews.
She used their old baseball shirts and even their dad’s coaching patches.
The quilt was colorful, stitched with precision, and made with love.
They will have it as a memory quilt for years.

Read More...

I have not seen any green grass since the beginning of December.
Two months of looking out the window and seeing nothing but white.
It has been a monochromatic winter.

Between the gray skies and the white ground, I long for color.
I long for spring when the world comes alive.
I long for splashes of color everywhere.

A friend of mine and her three children were tired of seeing white as well.
They decorated the snow with food color and water in spray bottles.
The result was a lovely work of art that they can view from their deck each day.

Read More...

I’m sitting here with a box of tissues next to me.
I have been struggling with a head cold for the past five days.
Sneezing, watery eyes, a different sounding voice.
More of a nuisance than anything.

I do not like to take medicine, but I relented and began to take something for this cold.
However, no matter what you do, colds just have to run their course.
They will end as long as we rest, drink fluids, and not overdo.

Read More...

My daughter and I went to our favorite place for lunch.
She had a day off from school and we planned a lovely morning together.
The restaurant was crowded and there were no tables to be had.

I saw a couple with a toddler waiting to sit down.
They had their eye on a particular table for four.
As soon as the people got up from the table, two women with many packages sat down.

I could see the frustration in the father’s eyes as he tried to hold his little son.
Another table became available.
From across the restaurant, I motioned with my eyes and hands for him to grab it.

Read More...

A famous childhood actress has died.
Known for her dimples and curly hair, she was loved by all.
She single-handedly turned a bankrupt studio around with her movies.
Even at the age of five, she was the actress everyone wanted to see.

Her movies made you happy.
Life, for the time you watched her films, was a song and dance.
She brought smiles and laughter to our country during hard times.

Read More...