THE MOCKINGBIRD

Now I know why the mockingbird sings.

Some of you may remember my love/hate relationship with the avian family that shares our location -- especially our back yard. (See Noise, June 15, 2015.) A native Texan, I've lived my entire life among mockingbirds, except for the long months we lived in Augusta, Georgia. I know mockingbirds thrive in Georgia, but in my world of city buses, a high-rise apartment complex and a noisy, crowded downtown office building, I never saw or heard one. They welcomed be back when we returned to Texas.

I've always loved and respected the mockingbird. I remember studying Texas history and memorizing the state song, flower, tree and bird. He has amazing intelligence, talent and entertainment ability. During daylight hours, I enjoy his companionship. Our battles commence soon after the sun sets and heavy darkness descends. If he is seeking a mate, he sings all night, hoping she will be drawn to his vocal range and extensive repertoire. If he has a mate and she is sitting on a nest of newly laid eggs, or if she is tending hatchlings, he sings all night to give her comfort and assurance that he is nearby. I get it. That's logical - even admirable. But if I'm desperate for sleep, and he is singing from a shrub beside my bedroom window, I lose all compassion and understanding and rush outside with a broom to thoroughly thrash his perch. 

But a little handicapped girl has shown me the error of my ways. She says the mockingbird sings because he is scared and lonely in the dark. He cannot see any of his friends. He's afraid they may have all flown away and left him. Sort of like whistling in the dark, he sings to bolster his courage until the darkness passes and daylight returns.

And so I've piled more pillows on the bed. I'm going to put them all over my head when the mockingbird sings at midnight outside my window.

Quote: God created the birds of the air and sees the fall of every sparrow.

WET NEWS

Our paper boy has unerring accuracy or dismal pitching skills depending on one's viewpoint. 

Yesterday morning he tossed our newspaper in the only 4-inch-deep puddle in our front yard. One foot in any direction and he would have missed the deep water completely. This rain puddle was part of the 12 inches dumped on North Texas by Tropical Storm Bill as he pushed across the state. The paper was in a plastic sleeve, but the end was open, so the water rushed in creating a dripping, soggy mass of recycled paper and printer's ink.

Refusing to be denied our daily dose of up-to-the-minute news, King and I spread the sheets all along the cabinet tops, washer and dryer in the laundry room. After plugging in my hair dryer, we took turns every time we passed by at the boring job of blow-drying the pages -- a job only slightly more stimulating that watching paint dry.

Yes, I know today's hepcats have electronic information available 24/7 on various devices. King and I could read our morning paper on the computer, I-pad or Smart Phone. But we're old-fashioned. We like to sit at the breakfast table and divide the paper into sections. He begins with Sports, and I choose Life and Arts. We trade back and forth until every word is read. King even reads the classifieds. Not me. There I draw the  line. I'm not seeking a job, a boat, a cutting horse or a supply of Mary Kay. 

King cannot start his day until he knows how the Astros' game ended. Also vital to him are the current levels of all the area lakes and which species of fish are biting.  I search for any item about the Cowboys or the Rangers, as well as what's happening at Bass Hall. I'm compelled to complete all three crossword puzzles, the Jumble and the Scram-lets before I undertake chores and errands.

By late evening, when the paper was dry enough to read, we discovered the ink had bled into a blurry mess. The only thing legible was the headlines. These included:

• Governor Abbott approves $800 million for border security
• TCU falls to Vanderbilt
• Cowboys face summer without Dez
• Trump boasts wealth as he launches a presidential run
• Former minister goes to trial for sexual assault of a child

 On second thought, perhaps the paper boy did us a really big favor.

Quote for today:
Love, not time, heals all wounds. ~ Andy Rooney 

NOISE

My ears are sensitive to noise. Noise bothers me -- unless it's the noise of a party and I'm invited.

Two neighborhood dogs bark incessantly. It's annoying. The engineers sounding the whistle on the trains that come through town at midnight, 2 am and 4 am cause me to sit up wide awake in bed. The thud of the boy next door bouncing his basketball from school's dismissal to bedtime makes me climb the wall. The wail of the fire trucks and ambulances sets my teeth on edge. But all that noise pales in the face of my new aggravation - a friendly, talented mocking bird.

This feathered menace is proud of the safe, twiggy home he established for his family high in a large nearby tree. His nest sways on a spindly limb that no predator can reach. I admit he's smart, has a beautiful voice and displays great imitative skill. During the daylight hours, I love to hear the many bird calls he copies flawlessly. I smile when he says, "Meow, meow."

After a long day of assuring his family that he is alert and on guard, he must rest his vocal cords and replenish his calories. Beginning at dusk, he is blissfully silent. But around 11:00 pm, just as my head hits the pillow and I seek sleep, he warbles again with renewed vigor. My tolerance for noise plummets.

The spot he chooses for his nighttime vocalization is a large shrub near my bedroom window. Banging on the wall doesn't faze him. Running out to the patio shouting, "Hush now! Do shut up!" only encourages him. Sometimes I take a broom and beat the branches of the shrub. Thankfully he relocates. Just as I'm back in bed, he returns to his favorite perch and tries out new melodies. That bird plucks my last nerve. What's a poor insomniac to do??  Suddenly I wonder if fried mocking bird tastes like chicken.

This morning I see that his babies have left the nest and are aligned in a row along the top of the fence. My heart melts and all is forgiven.
                                                                                                  *~*~*
Message to my grandchildren:

Keep the fire in the belly -- stay hungry. Stay humble. Kick butt.

ALAS AND ALACK!

The King of the castle is sick - long live the King.

To say my husband is ill is the understatement of the year. Over the past  five months, we've been frequent visitors to our local hospital. We had four trips to the ER - one by ambulance with flashing lights and screaming sirens. We hit every pothole and ran every red light in order to arrive in time. We've had two trips to the cardio/vascular department. The King has had a heart catheterization, worn a portable heart monitor and had a defibrillator implanted in his chest. He progressed (or regressed) from ingesting zero drug prescriptions to a total of seven.

With the heart problems under control, a semblance of order began to return to our lives. Then the other shoe dropped.

The King developed a pinched sciatic nerve. The unrelenting pain drove us to the ER once more. Standard pain meds were  ineffective.  Our primary care giver sent us to a center for spinal disorders where we received a glimmer of hope. The surgeon knew a procedure that might free the nerve from pressure and stop the pain. Eureka!  The downside is that the prescription meds soared to nine.  

We continue in a holding pattern - holding for approval to receive a myelogram - holding while the surgeon reviews the results - holding for his decision to operate or not - holding for a surgery date and location.

Meanwhile I'm dealing with chores and emergencies that the King would ordinarily handle. Things like lawn and garden care, automotive service, storm-damaged trees, a large swarm of honey bees all fall under my jurisdiction. And I'm unprepared!

Get well soon, King!! You're burning daylight!

Today's quote:
The surest way to destroy a man is to pay him to do nothing. ~ Anne Fortier
    

REMEMBER

As we approach Memorial Day, I've been thinking about Old Glory and the men who fought and died to keep her flying.

 In times of triumph, trial and tragedy, our citizens unite under our flag. Deep in our bones, we recognize the flag's meaning, the price paid for all it symbolizes, and the special place it occupies in our culture and conscience.

To commemorate Memorial Day, we're going to have a little quiz. Quickly, How many wars has the USA fought from 1775 to the present?  How many military deaths have occurred? What was the cost? That's a big challenge, so I'm going to supply the answer as presented by the American Legion Magazine, May, 2015.

WAR                                            AMERICAN DEATHS                                    COST
Revolutionary     1775-1783                 4,435               (1770's dollars)    $101 million
Barbary               1801-1795 &
                           1805-1815                      35                                            $l million 
War of 1812        1812-1815                 2,260                                           $90 million
Indian Wars        1813-1838 & 
                           1866-1890                 1,000                                              unknown 
Mexican              1846-1848               13,283                                           $71 million  
Civil                    1861-1865              646,392                                           $3,182 billion  
Spanish/Amer.   1898                           2,446                                           $283 million 
Philippines         1899-1901                  4,200                                              unknown
Mexico               1914-1919                       21                                              unknown  
World War I        1917-1918             116,516                                            $20 billion
Cold War            1947-1991                        0                                            $4.65 trillion
Berlin Airlift         1948-1949                                                                      $224 million 
Korean                1950-1953               36,574                                            $30 billion 
Vietnam              1965-1975               58,220                                            $111 billion
Lebanon             1982-1984                     265                                              unknown
Grenada             1983                                19                                              unknown
Persian Gulf       1987-1988                         0                                              unknown
Panama              1989-1990                       23                                             unknown
Gulf War              1990-1991                     382                                          $61 billion
Iraqi-Kurdistan     1991                                5                                              unknown 
Somalia               1992-1994                      43                                           $221 billion
Haiti                     1994-1996                        4                                           $2 billion
Bosnia                 1995-2004                        1                                           $14.83 billion 
Global War on
Terrorism             2001-present             2,355                                               unknown
Kosovo                1999-present                    5                                            $9.56 billion
Afghanistan          2001-present             2,215                                            $825.7 billion
Iraq                      2003-2011                 4,491                                            $820 million    
Operation Inherent
Resolve               2014-present                    3                                            $8.4 million

On May 25, 2015, respectfully remove your hat, place your right hand over your heart, lift your eyes to Old Glory and thank God for every person who has ever served in our military forces. 

Quote: 
A war by any other name is still a war.                    

PALO PINTO PARK

Once fully developed, this 4000 acre tract, rich in wildlife and botanical diversity, will join the more than 90 parks in the Texas system.

About 50 miles down the interstate from our home is the turn-off to the newest state park in Texas -- the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park.  "Mountains" might be a slight stretch for these hills and canyons, but hey, this is Texas. 

Texas Parks and Wildlife purchased the land with the intention of attracting visitors to camp, hike, stargaze, mountain bike, fish and ride horses.

Over the last 5 years, state park visitation has increased 10 percent. In 2013 alone there were more than 8 million visits to our parks. A recent impact study by Texas A&M showed that Texas parks generated more than $774 million in sales and supported about 5,871 jobs within the state in 1913. The state spent $74 million for state park operations, and $44 million was recovered by earned revenue. So the state's net investment was roughly $30 million which is the equivalent of about $1.13 for each Texas resident. Our parks help support our economy. 

A recent poll found that 92 percent agree that parks are important to families needing an affordable recreational outlet; 84 percent view parks as essential to healthy, active lifestyles. Also 80 percent acknowledge the need to protect natural areas. The majority agree that we must do what we can to sustain a viable parks system. The poll showed that 70 percent of voters support a constitutional amendment to permanently guarantee that revenues generated from the sale of sporting goods will go to support state and local parks. 

Ensuring proper, consistent funding for our parks is good for Texas and for Texans.

Quote: The best way to solve your own problems is to help someone solve his.

SEROTONIN

Do you suffer from "moderate to severe" sadness, tension, lack of energy or motivation? Countless Americans do.

Mood-related issues keep doctors, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists busy dealing with suffering patients. Why?

Modern life dictates that many people are exposed to almost constant stress.  Our electronics are always on stimulating our minds day and night. We deal with increased traffic congestion, the roller coaster stock market, the possibility of terrorist attacks and the whims of Mother Nature. Our bodies are constantly revved up and ready to take action.
Health experts believe that the results of this unrelieved pressure is that our supplies of serotonin -- the brain's feel good hormone -- are constantly depleted. A lack of serotonin allows anxiety and worry to take over.

To help you stay calm, positive and focused, try these natural serotonin boosters:

1. Get some sunshine. You need at least 20-30 minutes of sun 3 times a week. Take a walk outside if you can.
2. Exercise. Aerobic exercise triggers serotonin production.
3. Eat fatty, cold-water fish like salmon or tuna 2-3 times a week. Or take a high-quality fish oil supplement. St. John's Wort works for some. And serotonin is available over-the-counter in tablet form. 

When you shop for groceries or health supplements, don't forget the importance of serotonin.

QUOTE: For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe. 

LUCKY ME

I'm happy that I had the privilege of living during the time of Walter Cronkite, Bob Hope, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Mickey Rooney, Esther Williams and Reverend Billy Graham.

 I well remember the Sunday in December, 1941 when President Franklin Roosevelt announced in a voice of determined reason that Japanese planes had bombed the U.S. fleet in Hawaii. He told the people of our nation to unite in a common cause of work and sacrifice so that our freedom and way of life could be preserved. He said every man, woman and child would do their part to win the coming war, and they did. Our young men joined the military services in droves, and our women learned to use rivet guns.

President Harry Truman kept a sign on his desk that said, "The buck stops here." He lived his life by that motto. When his term ended, he packed Bess in their own car and drove to the house in Independence, MO that Bess inherited from her parents. Air Force 1 and the Secret Service were not required.

After the defeat of Germany in WWII, when the Nazi prison camps were inspected, five-star General Ike Eisenhower told the photographers to take pictures of every detail from every angle. He feared people in the future might say the atrocities never happened.

Walter Cronkite, the legendary news anchor for CBS 1962-1981, always signed off,  "And that's the way it was." With integrity and accuracy he reported the facts without self-aggrandizement. We could trust Cronkite.

Bob Hope's family never celebrated Christmas on December 25. Bob was always away entertaining the troops. He took the stage and the microphone and made them forget about pain and loss and death for a brief time. And he did it with no clanging, crashing band or almost-naked, screeching vocalists.

Mickey Rooney gave us wholesome movies with a moral message like Black Stallion, Boys Town, National Velvet and the Andy Hardy series. This pint-sized, giant box office star's career spanned 80 years. He made almost 20 movies -- none of them were X-rated.

Esther Williams, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's sycronized swimming star, taught us the artistry and skill of performing in water. The studio spent a fortune on creating an elaborate pool where her movies of grace and beauty were filmed. Her costumes were elegant, flattering one-piece swimsuits. She said she had no wish to appear in "two Dixie cups and fishing line."

The life of Rev. Billy Graham, an unwavering man of God, speaks for itself. No comment from me is necessary.

I'm grateful to have witnessed and been a part of the accomplishments of these members of the Greatest Generation.

QUOTE: It's the little things of life that determine the big things.

STEROID TESTING

It's time to end steroid testing in high school athletes.

The state of Texas knew years ago that its program to test high school sports participants was not a fruitful use of resources. The program was well-intended, but its execution was ineffective.

In it's first year, then Sen. Dan Patrick called the program "a colossal waste of taxpayer money." He was right.

Since the program began in 2008, the state has spent $10 million to catch only a handful of students, after testing more than 63,000. Despite the hefty price tag, critics point out that the Texas plan made mistakes early on, failed to test for many common kinds of drugs and was too easy for cheaters to exploit.

Others argue that the testing results prove that steroid use among teens is not a widespread problem. Indeed, it is far less common than other kinds of drug and alcohol abuse that pose far greater risks to a larger universe of teenagers.

$10 million would go a long way toward adding classrooms to our crowded schools, repairing roofs and updating bathrooms and cafeterias. 

It's time for the Legislation to put those state dollars to better use.

CINDERELLA, SNOW WHITE, RAPUNZEL, ET CETERA

If you rub elbows and toes with children, you will learn that a "princess fixation" runs rampant in the land.

As an aunt to five, mother to three, and grandmother to nine, I can recite whole chapters about fairy tale princesses and other beloved children's heroes.

More than 70 years ago, I began with Three Little Pigs, Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Bean Stalk, Charlotte's Web and The Little Engine That Could. While the boys enjoyed these, the girls were indifferent. But when I added the stories about princesses and magic kingdoms, the girls became big fans.

Now I'm once again reading about beautiful, mistreated young maidens who eventually triumph over cruelty and hardship. As I read these old fables to three great-grandchildren (three more are on the way), I acknowledge that fantasizing about being something we will never become is not a bad thing. These make-believe tales carry lessons that transcend cultures and generations. The beloved stories are a way to teach our children that they can remain unbroken even in the most difficult circumstances.

As all my girls grow up, they aren't concerned about the arrival of a prince, a glamorous ball or even living happily ever after. Yes, they play dress-up with wands and high heels. They covet Rapunzel's long hair and Queen Elsa's voice singing "Let It Go". But as they grow older and experience more, they know these pretend kingdoms are not the real world.

Every generation eventually learns the normal constraints of a normal life. By first grade most of us know to leave fantasy behind. So why clip wings before it's time?

BATTLE AT THE ALAMO

It's been almost 180 years since the historic battle at the Alamo that led to Texas' independence from Mexico.

Another sad battle has been brewing since the Texas General Land Office took control of our No. 1 tourist attraction from the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). The Daughters were the sole custodians for 107 years.  During that time, 30,000 artifacts, books and papers were given to or purchased by the Daughters.

In 2011, ownership of the old Spanish mission changed to state possession with the DRT continuing to handle day-to-day-operations. That arrangement ended this month when new Land Commissioner George P. Bush decided it was time to sever all ties with the group.

At issue now is the extensive library and displays that the DRT say they own but that the state is now claiming. Many of these items were donated by the Daughters' own ancestors. Now the DRT has drawn a line in the sand. They have filed suit, saying the move by the state is an unconstitutional seizure of private property.

This schism among people who love Texas and her history is unfortunate for the Alamo and Texas. Surely there can be a mediation process by an independent person or committee who can help decide which property belongs to the DRT and which is owned by the state.

Remember the Alamo! 



Today's quote:

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion. ~ Alexander the Great 

FAILING SENIORS

Have members of the Texas Senate Education Committee lost their collective mind?

Senate Bill 149, which would let high school seniors who fail state tests graduate, was approved by a 28 - 2 vote and sent to the House. Texas has 28,000 students in the Class of 2015 who have failed one or more of the five state exams in U.S History, biology, Algebra 1, English 1 and English 2. Educators all across the state agree that after 12 years of education, students should be able to pass those exams. Especially considering all the time teachers spend preparing the students for those tests.

Bill 149 would allow panels made up of educators, counselors and parents to weigh factors like grades, college entrance exam scores and attendance to decide whether a student should graduate despite poor performance on state standardized tests. Do you see a possibility of bias or favoritism here?

The plan has received criticism from many alumni groups, Chambers of Commerce, the Texas Association of Business,  college administrators and parents. The consensus is that if all the 2015 seniors who failed the state exams are given diplomas, Texas will have an additional 28,000 unprepared people seeking advanced learning or careers. What are their chances of success?

One can only hope that  Senate Bill 149 will fail as it passes through the Texas Legislature.

SAVE THE MONARCHS

Imagine driving the interstate highway between Texas and Canada without plenty of restaurants and gas stations along the way.

That's the dilemma facing the monarch butterfly during its annual migration from Mexico to Canada and back again. Sources of food and rest stops in the natural environment are becoming scarce. The number of monarchs in north America is shrinking at an alarming rate. 

Many groups, some in my home county, are trying to reverse the decline by establishing butterfly gardens and Monarch Way-stations to help the butterflies feed and reproduce along their journey. In my area, two Way-stations have been certified that include native milkweek, nectar plants, flowers with red blooms and other resources vital to the monarchs. Six more Way-stations are in the works and will be completed and certified this year.

All across the U.S. along the migration route, master gardeners and conservationists are conducting seminars and programs to inform and educate local residents about butterfly gardens, a butterfly habitat and a Monarch Way-station. Many such facilities are needed to save the monarchs from extinction.

We, too, can make a difference. If all of us dedicated just one flower bed or patio planter to plants benefiting this colorful insect, we would receive satisfaction and pleasure.

A world without monarchs would be a drab and dull place.

OH, NO! SAY IT ISN'T SO!

The world is running out of chocolate. How will I survive?

As a woman who believes chocolate is the third major food group, preceded only by meat and potatoes, this news is devastating.

The shortage is caused by many factors, one of which is that we are eating too much chocolate. Last year we ate more cocoa than we produced -- 70,000 metric tons to be exact. In five years the shortfall will increase to one million metric tons. By 2030: two million
 metric tons.

Like all goods, chocolate is subject to the law of supply and demand, and the demand is skyrocketing in places recently introduced to chocolate. Blame the Chinese.

Chocolate sales in China are expected to grow almost 60 percent in the next four years. People in the Asia-Pacific region are eating twice as much chocolate as a decade ago. Even that amount does not match Western Europe's consumption.

Another problem is that disease has destroyed all the cocoa trees in Costa Rica. An additional blow is that global warming is wreaking havoc with rainfall in West Africa.

I'm trying to do my part to conserve this resource. I eat only milk chocolate which contains about 10 percent cocoa and ignore dark chocolate which contains up to 70 percent.

Industry insiders and commodity brokers predict scarcity and higher prices will soon begin.
They also fear hoarding.

I really don't like standing in line or paying a higher price. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I cannot, under any circumstances, give up chocolate.



Quote of the day: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. ~ Aristotle

WHAT A WOMAN!

Since March is National Women's History month, I've been researching notable women from the past. When I found Stagecoach Mary, I found one in a million.

Last year Mary was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame. A bronze marker, telling her story and fashioned after a frontier marshal's badge, was placed in Fort Worth's Stockyards National Historic District. She joined people like Charles Goodnight, Quanah Parker, Fredric Remington, Zane Grey and Roy Rogers.

Mary was born a slave in Tennessee around 1832 and orphaned by age 14. She learned to read and write, and after her father was sold, her mother gave her the surname of "Fields" because that's the area of the plantation where her father worked. She never married and had no children.

At age 30, she and Dolly, her slave master's daughter, who was born within two weeks of the slave girl, went to a mission in Montana to establish schools for Native Americans. The Indians, who loved her and were in awe of her, called her "White Crow" because they said she "acts like a white woman, but has black skin like a crow."

Mary became the first African American and the second woman ever hired to deliver mail. Wells Fargo, which had the mail delivery contract, hired her at age 60. That was when she earned the nickname "Stagecoach Mary." Standing six feet tall and weighing more than 200 pounds, she could switch out a team of six horses faster than any man.

Despite the harsh Montana weather, this strong, gun-totin', cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking, swearing woman did an excellent job for Wells Fargo. Using horses and her mule, Moses, she was known as one of the most dependable mail carriers ever.  When the snow was too deep for the horses, she walked in snow shoes, carrying the mail on her back.

She died in Cascade, Montana in 1914.

Stagecoach Mary Fields broke all the barriers of race, gender and age. The world needs more folks like her.


Today's quote:  A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. ~ Elbert Hubbard

IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?

We seem to be a society obsessed with this question. We take the pursuit of happiness very seriously.

Very often a friend confides, "I'm considering divorce. I'm just not happy." More often a parent says, "All I want for my children is that they be happy." We want happiness to come in a bottle like perfume so we can just spray it on. But sometimes, we just have to wait out or wade through the sadness, anger or discontent.

Thousands of dollars are spent on counselors, psychologists and support groups as people seek to be happy, or at least content,  24/7. Publications from Good Housekeeping to The
Wall Street Journal exhort us to "be happy."   Polls and surveys are conducted to see how well we are measuring up. The Gross National Happiness index is one. The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being index is another.

The 2014 Gallup National test, recently released, was based on more than 176,000 phone interviews. It rated each state on five elements of well-being. Alaska was named number one. Next in line were Hawaii, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana. I'm skeptical of these findings. (I thought Texas would be No. 1.) Happiness is not something we can appraise, like a house. Neither is it a goal unto itself, like loosing five pounds.

Happiness is a state of mind. Every morning when we wake up, we must choose to be happy that day.

Perhaps the question, "Are you happy" should be replaced by "How happy have you chosen to be?"

Quote of the day: Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. ~ Abraham Lincoln

OUR OWN ACCOUNTABILITY

Apparently people believe everything they see and hear in the traditional media.

So when the leading news anchor of today, for whatever reason, reports something other than the truth, it matters. The Brian Williams saga has captured public interest since he admitted overstating the truth about his covering a war story from an Army helicopter.

Now that far more than one episode has been exposed, the fallout is affecting not only the anchor, but a major television news network, journalism across the board and the whole concept of preserving our democracy through freedom of the press.

But wait just a minute! Do we ignore good advice like "Don't believe everything you hear" and "Check it out." Must we blindly absorb everything we hear on the boob tube?

Most of us carry around a small device with which we can access almost the entirety of the world's knowledge. Whether breaking news or historical events, we have access to it all.

So instead of watching a reporter doing his thing that may include shameful self-promotion, we can pick up the smart phone or the tablet or the laptop. By hitting the search box with a question or two, we can watch the documented data as it spreads out before us.

Then with knowledge and understanding acquired on our own, we won't be misinformed by anyone. Now we have the power to discover the truth and decide for ourselves. We should use it. 

Daily Quote:

If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under. ~ Ronald Reagan

BABY BLESSINGS

Our great-grandson from Houston recently came for a several-day visit. When we can again walk normally and speak coherently, I'm sure we will have fond memories of revisiting the joys of having a baby in the house.

Aidan, age 15 months, is a world-class walker and an accomplished climber. He requires 3 meals and 4 snacks daily to maintain his preferred level of activity.  Knowing all this, I prepared for his visit with a giant, economy bottle of multi-vitamins and a case of energy drinks.

One complication is that we cannot speak his language. He says the same words repeatedly and uses emphatic gestures and facial expressions. We still don't get it. After several minutes of deep concentration and profuse sweating, we finally understand and rush to obey. However, by that time, his focus has shifted and he bombards us with a new encoded message.

Aidan enjoys playing with Nannah's toys. He carefully examines each one searching for a button to push or a lever to mash. He turns the toy over and over as he checks every seam and part. He seems to be trying to learn how it is made. He loves books and always selects the same three for me to read. He stays in my lap for all three books - only if he is allowed to turn the pages.

He is not rough or destructive - never bangs toys together, doesn't throw them or hit them on the floor. His play-time seems to be a very serious learning experience.

He takes a two-hour nap every day and sleeps 10-12 straight hours each night.  We used that down time to fortify ourselves with the vitamins and sports drinks.

Aidan doesn't like to wear shoes. We were not surprised that his new, big-boy shoes could not be found when the visit ended.

For days we will reminisce about his every cute action. And we look forward to a longer visit this summer when his sister-baby arrives. Our sincere  hope is that he is speaking Texan by that time, or that we are able to decipher his special language.

How we love and cherish that delightful little boy!!



Daily Quote:

Socialism is great until you run out of other people's money. ~ Margaret Thatcher

OPEN CARRY DEBATE

There's a reason some of the loudest activists want Texas to do away with handgun licenses.

Many of the protest leaders favoring "open carry - open campus" cannot get a license because of their past crimes.

One activist from Houston arrested last week outside a Texas Capital hearing has a long criminal record, including convictions for deadly conduct, criminal mischief and drunken driving.

A protest leader in Tarrant County has an extensive record of misdemeanor arrests including a guilty plea and time served for theft. He is an elected precinct chairman and an outspoken proponent for "constitutional carry" of handguns, meaning without a license. He considers licenses an unjust interference with what he calls his "God-given rights."

Another pro-advocate's violent threats and menacing behavior shocked the Texas Capital into installing panic buttons. Investigation found he had a long record of burglarizing vehicles.

One Open Carry Texas chapter leader was arrested by troopers at the Capital entrance on charges of criminal trespass. The troopers had warned him not to come in carrying what appeared to be a plastic toy gun. He was identified as a Marine who had spent 60 days in jail on charges involving deadly conduct and possession of amphetamines. 

Do these people sound like "good Texans" eligible to carry handguns? They're not the only ones. I could list many more, but you get the picture.

Today's Quote:

God gave us memories that we might have roses in December. ~ Sir James Barrie

A CHANGED PERSPECTIVE

For many years, I dreamed of owning a Fiat - a white one with red upholstery.

The Fiat's compact size always appealed to me as did the conveniently placed dashboard instruments. Speed was also a factor. The gas pedal responded to a slight push with instant acceleration and the hum of the engine spoke to my heart.

Now in the winter of my life, I accept the fact that I will never own a Fiat. I no longer want one. I'm totally content with the calm dependability of my ten-year-old Honda Accord.

A dream from childhood was to pilot a plane. I visualized myself at the controls of a sporty little Cessna soaring high above the mundane ties of Earth. Now I carefully plan my trips to the gym, grocery store and beauty salon to avoid rush hour and the opening and closing of schools.

As a young wife and mother, I purchased a Julia Child cookbook determined to master escargot, soufflé and quiche. Today, I'm thankful for the opportunity to purchase a rotisserie chicken at the market. I also pick up a loaf of pre-sliced garlic bread and a cellophane bag of washed, ready-cut vegetables for a salad.

 I recognize and embrace a changed perspective. Now I value easy convenience and labor-saving short-cuts. I find that I enjoy a life of no sweat, no strain, go-with-the-flow daily living.

Quote for the day:

A party without cake is just a meeting. ~ Julia Child

LIFE'S LITTLE PLEASURES

This beautiful morning, large patches of clear blue peek through cumulus clouds as they change shape and move high overhead. We're happy that the cutting cold wind has died down and the temperature has risen 20 degrees.

It's a few minutes past eight and my husband and I, wearing gardening gloves and sturdy shoes, stand beside our cherished small garden plot. In the barrow rest a hoe, a trowel, a spading fork and six dozen onion plants.

Since the King of the Castle recently spent several days in the CCU of our local hospital, I take charge of the spading fork. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure and A-Fib, the King's strenuous activities are strictly limited. As I thrust the fork into the good fertile Texas soil, I notice the pleasant aroma wafting up and see the decomposing leaves that enrich the soil. "This is good dirt," I remark. That has not always been true.

After we signed all documents making this small space of North Texas our home, we discovered that our property was built on soil consisting primarily of ugly, dense, yellow clay. The lawns had been improved by loads of loam and plats of St. Augustine grass. But the little garden spot was ignored. The King soon remedied that with a large compost barrel and multiple bags of peat moss and fertilizer thoroughly worked into the soil.

We both appreciate a good country meal of black-eyed peas with lots of snaps, stewed okra, and a platter of sliced fresh tomatoes and onions. Special accents are cantaloupe and a pan of hot cornbread. In a few months, all these delicacies will be available to us any time we wish. We will purchase only the cornbread ingredients - I refuse to grind corn.

Valuable advice from Will Rogers:

Never squat with your spurs on.

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

AN ICEBOUND DAY

When Winter grips North Texas in a strangle hold, she often gifts us with a solid sheet of ice covering every surface. On those icebound days we stay busy with indoor activities and avoid the streets and highways.

What shall we do on an icebound day? Watch the icicles form on the trees' shivering limbs? Enjoy the cardinals' investigations of the bird feeder? Watch the birds skating on the former birdbath that is now a rock-solid ice rink?

I chose to curl up in my favorite chair wearing heavy socks and bundled in a warm acrylic throw while reading Jan Caron's novel, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good. Twenty years ago Caron began her Mitford series, and this is her 10th and newest book. The beloved Father Tim Kavanaugh and his wife, Cynthia, have returned from an extended trip to Ireland when they learn that Mitford's newspaper has questioned whether the town's citizens are still concerned about those less fortunate.

Father Tim is busy dealing with troubled youth, police involvement and town gossip. There are also tears, divorce, adultery, death, illnesses, an arthritic dog and attempted suicide. But he still finds time to motivate and guide the townspeople to prove that the community can indeed take care of its own.

The hilarious Christmas celebration in downtown Mitford (pp. 448 t0 conclusion) is a splendid commotion in which the citizens demonstrate, through their generosity and love, that they still take of all family, friends, neighbors and Mitfordians.

If you haven't read these treasures by Jan Caron, I recommend that you begin with At Home in Mitford and read all the way through Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good. Then an icebound day will feel like springtime on the Big Island.

Quote of the day: When you base your life on principles, most of your decisions are already made before you encounter them. ~ Shared by Chuck from Phoenix

TELL IT LIKE IT IS

The English language is complex, confusing and fascinating. I love its cadence, inflections, twists and turns and double meanings. The tiny word "in" placed in front of familiar words changes the meaning and tickles the funny bone.

Regarding chocolate, I'm in Satiable. I prefer milk chocolate with nuts, but I enjoy all varieties.

People who are in Considerate upset me. I prefer polite kindness.

I've been in many places, but I've never been in Kahoots. You can't go alone - someone has to be in Kahoots with you.

I've never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

However, I have been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven, and I've been there several times.

I've also been in Doubt. It's a sad place and I try not to visit there often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense. I head straight for that section in the library.

I may have been in Continent, but I don't remember what country I was in.

I try not to be in Tolerant. You can lose friends there.

I was in Consolable when the Cowboys lost to the Packers, but then I said, "We'll take 'em next year."

Another fun activity is making a list of ordinary words preceded by "en." You'll be en Grossed for a long time.

Quote for the day: To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. ~ Thomas Acquinas

PET PEEVES

I have several, but the one I'm steamed about today is the irresponsible action of people who forget, refuse, or never learned to use their vehicle's turn signal.

Every time I'm out and about, whether in a small town or large city, I see this lazy behavior. How hard can it be to flip the lever? It happened again today. 

I was returning from a 10-mile drive out of town when a large vehicle pulled out of a side road in front of me. It was one of those heavy pick-up trucks with huge tires much loved by Texas cowboys and sportsmen. Traffic was light, and I had no trouble observing the driver's driving habits from one side of town to the other. We drove on a county road, an interstate highway, city streets and through residential areas. He faithfully stopped for red lights and stop signs, but NOT ONE TIME did he use a turn signal-- neither left nor right. And he had at least 12 opportunities. I lost count after that. Why? Does anyone know why?

Between the gun rack in the rear window and his Stetson, I couldn't see his face well, but he appeared well-barbered and clean-shaven -- sober, capable and competent. No tats or piercings were visible. He was so thoughtful and well-mannered that when he tossed his Styrofoam cup full of chewing tobacco juice out the window, he made sure it hit the pavement then bounced on out into the ditch. He tipped his hat to people in cars who passed him. Evidently his mama did a good job instilling proper consideration of others.

So how did she miss the turn signal instruction?

Quote for the day: Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

A $4 MILLION DOLLAR TEXAS PARTY

That's the price tag for the Inauguration shindig in Austin when Greg Abbott accepted the governor's reins from Rick Perry. Folks in my area who attended are still talking about it.

Eddie Deen and his crew fed about 17,000 people after the inaugural festivities. This was Deen's sixth inauguration in a row, and the past experience came in handy as he and his staff prepared about 4 tons (8,000 pounds) of beef brisket, 170 gallons of barbeque sauce, 17,000 yeast rolls, 4,500 pounds of potato salad, 340 gallons of beans and 2,500 pounds of coleslaw. Also there was 1 ton of smoked chicken and 1,700 pies - half chocolate buttermilk and half vanilla buttermilk.

A crew of 150, which included 50 students from Carter High School in Dallas and 50 employees from the Travis County Sheriff's Department, served the food in about one hour. The servings were generous and the cost was $10.00 per person. All leftovers were taken to the homeless shelter in Austin.

Deen, from Terrell, Texas, has served his barbeque to tens of thousands including presidents, Olympians and Texans. "It's a lot of responsibility," he says. "But if you set the stage, it will unfold, and it's just a beautiful thing."

The tab was picked up by the taxpayers in Texas, but they believe they got their money's worth.

A TRUE GRIT GOVERNOR

New Texas governor, Greg Abbott, gets his chance to write Texas history his way, reflecting on the Lone Star State's past and redefining its future as he becomes our 48th governor since statehood.

Abbott, age 57, has a personal story of pain, sacrifice and determination like few others in American history.

Paralyzed from the waist down at age 26, Abbott not only continued his Houston law office career, but also won judgeships and eventually statewide office. As an American governor with disabilities, he is already an inspiration to thousands and will bring new hope to Texans every day.

Abbot's governing style will not include knee-jerk decisions. He is more deliberative and wants to hear the case for all sides before passing judgment.

He must deal with possible expansion of Medicare health care benefits, school finance and policies, illegal immigration and Texas' transportation needs. Abbot must face all this and more. Along the way he must inspire Texans to do the most they can with the abilities God has given them.

We don't know much yet about how he will govern. But we do know he will not give up.

Quote for the day: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

INTO THE SUNSET

Don't expect Texas' ex-governor, Rick Perry, to drift quietly into obscurity.

The boy from the cotton fields of Haskell County, who set an unprecedented 14-year tenure as governor, has miles to go before he sleeps. His legacy of limited regulation, low taxes and business-friendly policies, which boosted the state's economic health during periods of uncertainty, will always be remembered. Under his leadership, scores of businesses moved into Texas, diversifying the economy and supplying decent-paying jobs to millions of Texans. Perry's love of and dedication to Texas are unquestioned.

His laser-like focus on economic growth was occasionally distracted by confrontation with the federal government over environmental regulations and immigration. His characteristic swagger and conservative views often eclipsed his ability to appear thoughtful. But in his departing speech, Perry said, "There is room for different voices, for disagreement. Compromise is not a dirty word if it moves Texas forward." He asked Texans "to dream boldly, to act boldly, to live boldly."

Rick Perry has learned many lessons during his governorship -- lessons he may apply to his own political future.  His future is unknown, but this is farewell, not goodbye.