More Random Thoughts

I eat so much fish that when I die, my body will radiate a red glow from the grave.

"That's not aura, that's the mercury she consumed in all that fish!!"

Or not!!

Something to lift the spirits on a blue day!

It's a blue day.  For no good reason.    Sorting and organizing "stuff," I ran across these lyrics:


IN THE PRESENCE OF JEHOVAH
In and out of situations
that tug of war at me
All day long I struggle
for the answers that I need
But when I come into His presence
All my questions become clear
And in that sacred moment
No doubts can interfere

In the presence of Jehovah
God Almighty, Prince of Peace
Troubles vanish, hearts are mended
In the presence of the King

Through His love the Lord provided
A place for us to rest
A place to find the answers
In our hour of distress
Now there's never any reason
For you to give up in despair
Just slip away and breathe His name
You will surely find Him there

In the presence of Jehovah
God Almighty, Prince of Peace
Troubles vanish, hearts are mended
In the presence of the King

In the presence of Jehovah
God Almighty, Prince of Peace
Troubles vanish, hearts are mended
In the presence of the King

CONVERSATIONS IN THE NIGHT

Sometimes I worry about the weirdest things!   After Kanye's (Kanye Who?) fans erupted on Twitter saying "Who's Paul McCartney," I awakened at 4 AM worrying that I couldn't name all the Beatles. 

"Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison."  Desperately I tried to remember the 5th Beatle.

"Are you awake?"  

"Yes."   (He wanted to say, 'I am now.' but he didn't.)
 
"Were there 5 Beatles or only 4?"

"5."  (Anything to keep get her to be quiet!)

"But I can't think of the 5th one.   Can you name them."

"No."   (Pleeease, Quiet.)

I really tried to go back to sleep.  Failing that, I put on slippers and went to find my phone.   Googling "Beatles" the first article was "Fab 4."

Back in bed:  "There were only 4 Beatles, not 5.   Why didn't you know that?"

"I don't know that kind of stuff."   

"You always know information like that."
 
"Not about music.  Maybe something like Geography."

"Okay.  What is the capitol of Bahrain?"

Without missing a beat the answer came in the dark, "Cumbaya!"

For about five minutes I could barely breathe, I was laughing so hard.  (Remember, this is at 4 AM.  Lots of things are funny at 4 AM!)

Eventually I went back to sleep.  And so did he!!

When Every Day is Saturday!!

PJ
 


 

 

OUT TO BREAKFAST

Why is it that everywhere I go, there are mostly old people?   Two PM at Costco.   Most customers have gray hair.   Not employees, but customers.   At the diner across town for breakfast at 9 am, two people were under the age of, oh, say, fifty-five.  Seriously.  A woman with a young son.   And the seniors.   

Oh, and us.  We were there too! And we are seriously young!!

Now this morning we made a quick run to a fast food spot at 9 AM.  There, we were definitely NOT surrounded by seniors.  There was a sprinkling of gray hair among the customers, but mostly dark hair.   Mostly 40-something, mostly male.  We fit right in!  Just a sprinkle of gray!  Hmmmm!


When every day is Saturday . . . 
     PJ

FIRST STEPS

My grandmother would never say the word "pregnant."   Even "expecting" was too explicit for her.  She'd rarely use "in the family way."    In those days, the young couple didn't make a public announcement.  It was spread through the family by way of the kitchen.   I remember my grandmother heralding the news to several women who were helping in the kitchen.  

"Jean is, well, you know. . ."

One of her younger daughters blurted out, "Mom, just say it.   She's pregnant.  She's pregnant."

That's how I'm feeling now.    No!!  Not pregnant!!  Reluctant to make the announcement.   I prefer to call it "A New Phase of Life", "Closing one door," "Making a change."   But, truth is, I've retired from my beloved profession of teaching.  It's not a joyous moment for me.   I'm faced with the fact that perhaps my strength and stamina are declining.  Okay.  My strength and stamina ARE declining.  I rarely even pretend to multitask anymore.  One thing at a time is more than sufficient.  Yet, I'm not ready for the rocking chair.   Nor the senior center.  If I spend too much time contemplating, I drive myself into a mild depressive state.  Today was one of those days.   Blah.  

Isn't it marvelous that God always knows what I need?  So today, he sent several angels of encouragement.  One after another, each reminding me of an era, people that I had helped.  Two of the four overtly thanked me for my help, influence in their lives.  The other two greeted me happily, in such a way that it left me with that warm fuzzy feeling of having made a difference in the lives of people.

Within the space of an hour, a senior citizen, a twenty-something, a thirty-something, and a teenager stopped to greet me.  All from differing eras,  each expressing appreciation for my contribution to their lives.  It was as though it were a "This is Your Life" episode orchestrated by God.  One from teaching, one from my years as an immigration specialist, one a former church member, and the other a random stranger whom we invested in.   Not an accident, I think.   God has a sense of humor.

And, I still can't say it without making an apology or an excuse.   I have retired from teaching.  But I shall continue, possibly in another profession, possibly teaching in a different capacity.   Certainly I shall remain open to the guidance of the Lord.   If he can pull such diverse people together in such a sort time as a reminder to me of his hand in my life, he certainly can guide my next steps.

I am retired. . . or am I?  (June 2013)