Tuesday, January 27, 2009

JANUARY 2009

I started January off with a resolution to lose weight and I have been successful. As of this date, January 27th, I have lost 8 lbs. and I am still losing. I have 7 lbs. more to lose to get back to my September weight. I have many more pounds to lose after I do get back to the September weight. These birthday dinners and holidays do it to me every year. Then comes the new year and I start the cycle all over again.

January has had its ups and downs. The weather in Oklahoma has been very good up until yesterday and today. We started out with rain turning to ice yesterday and today we are having all kinds of weather, thunder, rain, sleet, and snow. There has not been an accumulation but driving conditions are treacherous. We Okies are not prepared for winter conditions because the temperatures are above freezing most of the winter, but today it is 18 degrees. Brrrr, it is cold!!!!!! This weekend is forecasted to be in the 50's.

There have been numerous birthdays of family and friends so far this month. My brother-in-law, cousin (today), and nieces had birthdays, and my neighbors, Ellan and Chris celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations to both of them. They have been wonderful neighbors to me.

It hasn't been a good month for some of my friends and their families. My McAllen, TX, e-mail and instant messaging buddy's daughter, Jo Lynn, was hit by a car while bicycling with her son. She was not injured badly but was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She has an injured ankle and there is still swelling and pain. The driver of the car turned left on a red light and hit Jo Lynn. Luckily, her son was not injured. My niece, Sara, had a second operation on her ankle and will not be able to return to work for several more months. Sara was injured delivering mail when she stepped in a hole in a lawn.

I attended a Memorial at the 45th Infantry Museum on Friday for my good friend and co-volunteer on Saturdays. Leon's death was a shock to the close knit volunteers and staff at the museum. Although he had been in deteriorating health for several years, we still did not expect the end was near for him. Leon brought donuts and rolls for the volunteers on Saturday and when he did not show up on Saturday with our weekly treat, we all started saying, "Where is Leon?" Sharon, his wife, called with the bad news a few minutes later. Leon had served as staff sergeant in the 245th Armor Battalion out of Healdton, OK, as a part of the 45th Infantry Division. Much of his free time was spent volunteering at the museum where I met him. His Memorial was beautiful and fitting for a man who had served in the military. Taps was played (a bugle call that beckons us to remember patriots who served our country with honor and valor, it is the most familiar call and one that moves all who hears it). The American Flag, held by the military honor guards, was then folded into a triangle reminiscent of the cocked hat from the American Revolution and presented to his wife. Leon, I will miss you!!!!

What will the last few days of January bring? No one knows, so before it is too late, I want to tell all my family and friends how much I love them. I wish I had told Leon how helpful he had been to me and how much I enjoyed working with him. I am telling him now!!!!!

Monday, January 5, 2009

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING

I am happy that the old year has ended and the new year is beginning.

2008 was a good year for a lot of us, but for others they are definitely looking forward to a new year and a new beginning.

Several of my blogging friends were ill or had family members ill during the holiday season. I pray that it is all behind them and once again all is well with them. I especially hope Judy in Kentucky and her grandson, Thomas Wyatt, are on the mend.

I became a computer and blogger addict during 2008 and the computer has brought me so much pleasure and enjoyment. E-mails and instant messaging have connected me to old and new friends all over the world. It is a lot of fun to receive those e-mail jokes that you wonder who has so much time to think them up and the e-mails that inspire you to become a better person. And there are also those that are educational. Of course this year has been a banter year for political jokes, some funny and some not so funny, if they were about your own political party. My son called this to my attention, since we differ in our political views. The President Elect will be the brunt of these jokes during 2009 and years to come.

It has been especially a good year for me. My family and I have all experienced good health and the economy has not been as bad for us as it has for others. My son and Kelly (his fiancee) did not marry in 2008 and everyone is wondering when and if 2009 will be the magic year. It will be especially wonderful for me to know that Keith has found such a warm, loving and giving woman. I couldn't have chosen a nicer person for my son. Our family has known Kelly for approximately eighteen years, ever since her younger son, Kenneth, was a star on Keith's soccer team. Keith coached the four year olds (both girls and boys) and my grandson and Kenneth were both on his team. Kenneth became engaged during the holidays to a very nice girl. Wow! Two engagements in one family. Like mother, like son.

I had a lot of company over the holidays and now that everyone has left and the Christmas decorations are boxed and stored, the house seems rather empty and lonely. But don't misunderstand me, silence is golden!!!!! It is always such a relief when life gets back to norm, whatever norm is.

I started volunteering during 2008 at the 45th Infantry Military Museum and I have met so many courageous men and women who have been in the various wars and battles. It has been such a pleasure to get to know them and to listen to their personal stories. Many of their stories will never be told. Some just cannot speak of the atrocities of war. Recently there was a local TV documentary that highlighted one of our older volunteers (91 year old Army veteran). I have the pleasure of working at the museum on Saturdays with him and I must say what stories he can tell. He was able to bring back some artifacts of Hitler's that are prominently displayed in the World War II artifact display cabinet. The museum exhibits items liberated from Hitler's Munich apartment, his alpine home and the Berlin bunker.

I made my New Year's resolutions and they are the same each and every year, lose weight and exercise more. So, today was the beginning of cutting back on eating and to begin walking at the mall. I walked one mile in twenty minutes today. I have eaten like a pig since Thanksgiving and have packed on unwanted pounds. I will keep my resolutions, I will keep my resolutions. Maybe if I say it enough, I can keep them. Why do we let ourselves regain our old eating habits when we know what will recur?

I followed the Oklahoma tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. The tradition says that eating them will bring you good health and prosperity during the year. I should have a lot of each because I ate so much of them. Did you have your traditional food on New Year's Day? I wish you all good health, happiness and prosperity during 2009.