Losing Library Books

I love reading – but not fiction and novels like others. I enjoy autobiographies, how-to books, books of fact. My father was an insatiable reader and had book cases of engineering and math texts and would read the newspaper daily from cover to cover beginning with the comics which he we hand over to his children. He would read at the kitchen table, in his study and in his bed. The only time I didn’t see him with a book in his hand was when he was doing yard work, sailing or hiking. He even had a book in his hand when he was fixing the car, the plumbing, the lights – then it was a how-to book. The children in my family enjoy the series books of vampires, lost loves, and mythical creatures. My husband likes mysteries, westerns and short stories from Readers’ Digest. He also collects books and videos for children and young adults to read and watch on their visits to our home in the summertime. The first book I really enjoyed reading was Cheaper By The Dozen. I have remembered that book with fondness for 60 years even following movies of it through my lifetime. First was the 1950 version with Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy. The second was the 2003 & 2005 version with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt - Cheaper by the Dozen I and II. Now back to losing library books. The first ones I lost were back when I had preschoolers. I know I have paid for my share of them. That was the time pre-computer era when I was certain that I returned a number of books. They were checked in by hand using the cards in the back of the books. Early in the 80’s, upon receiving an overdue phone call, one day, I stormed off to the library. The librarian told me those books were not in and I would keep paying fines or have to pay for the book. I opted to look for the books on the shelf, so I proceeded to sit on the floor and go thru the books a dozen at a time taking them off the shelf and putting them back on again. Sure enough, after almost an hour, I found them both on the shelf without cards. Now, all books that come in and out are scanned by the computer. Millions of books each year go in and out of libraries. Even though there are still books that are lost, librarians are angels that help families who have lost family withdrawals. I’m sure there are still some books unaccounted for on the shelves or in toy boxes at home but the computer era has caught many more than they caught 3 decades ago.

Valentine's Day 2017

It was Valentine’s Day morning and I was on my way from one little town in southern Alberta to another. The morning was beautiful as I passed field after field of stubble and straw bales. Even though it is still winter here, it was 1 degree above freezing with the slight Chinook breeze brushing against the trees in the distance. There was snow in the borrow pit on each side of the road glistening in the sun. The music was softly echoing through the car with the occasional update of time. As expected, the car was running well and there were only a few cars and a farm grain truck going in either direction. Then, without warning, there was a large bang it my windshield like the sound of a shotgun during duck season. It is February and I was not expecting a sound like that even to be part of my world. It was so shocking that it made me flinch. A large boulder about 3 inches in diameter had hit the glass just on the outside of the rear view mirror attachment. The haphazard, half circle rings layered out from the center of the target and spanned a distance of about 8 inches. I have laughed as one car repair advertisement on the radio was calling something like this a smack or a kiss. We have had dents and have had rock chips and the like which maybe would have been classified as a kiss or a smack but today, this was a whopper of a jolt. What a Valentine’s Day present! As I looked for a wide section of the road, my first thought was to stop the car. As soon as I did so, I began to cry, not heavy, just a tear. Then, I called my husband to tell him what had happened. I had to share my experience with someone. We have been helping a brother and his wife who are over 70 and 85, worried about them passing and assisting them in these latter years, but I realized my own mortality was too close for comfort today. Had the rock been 12 inches more to the driver’s side, and had it gone through the window, it would have hit me in the head. So, I am just glad to be here. Every day is a miracle to be alive. Each of us has been endowed with a certain number of years on this earth. None of us knowing how many years or how we will go. We just know that we are blessed by that number. Each one of us should take advantage of every opportunity to be grateful for each new day. Counting all the things I am grateful for, I am grateful for the wonderful people and things in my life. I truly love and am grateful for my family, my extended family and my friends. I am grateful for my membership in my church and for my special church leaders. I am grateful for honest and upright political leaders and local civic and organization leaders, who serve tirelessly in our community. I am grateful for my neighborhood. Tonight as I received a dozen red roses from my dear husband and as I handed him a card and some candy, we are grateful for another day with each other to share our joys and sorrows, our good health and our aches and pains, our accomplishments and our down times. We are truly grateful for this day, Valentine’s Day, 2017.

A Mother Has Needs

We know that when everyone has a holiday, a mother doesn't. When everyone wants to take it easy, a mother: feeds people all day long, tends to little ones who are up at 5 am, talks to teens until way after midnight, helps look for lost items, helps to refill air in soccer balls or bike tires, plans activities, greets extra friends at the door and cleans up those extra spills on the kitchen floor.

Christmas is especially difficult because a mom is expected to do more fancy baking, expected to decorate, expected to buy the presents, expected to do the wrapping, expected to help kids to purchase presents for siblings or great aunts.

She is expected to go to concerts at school, to be a party organizer, and to dry winter-wear overnight. As well, she tries to keep up with the mounds of laundry, normal meals, and the monitoring of the comings and goings of each family member.

A mother needs a maid to come in to clean up so that she can see the floor in the bathroom or find things in the closet. The maid also has to do laundry and windows.

A mother needs a cook to come in and put ready-to-eat meals in her freezer and make cookies for after school snacks.

A mother needs a busboy to come in nightly to clean the kitchen, empty the dishwasher and fill it so that her kitchen is clean the next morning.

A mother needs a plumber to fix leaks, take hair out of the sink drains and help with flooding toilets.

A mother needs a cosmetologist to fix her hair, her nails and her make-up so that she feels beautiful when she is home or out.

A mother needs a wardrobe consultant to advise her on her choices for the day - especially when things are too tight, baggy or out-of-date.

A mother needs a Pilate’s instructor to help her to exercise to feel rejuvenated.

A mother needs a spa coordinator to give her back her serenity with a full body massage and a facial to help with worry lines and crow’s-feet.

A mother needs a dental hygienist to clean her teeth when she goes for days not finding her toothbrush.

A mother needs a chauffeur to run the kids to school or a ball game that someone has to be to “NOW” and she is not dressed.

A mother needs a psychologist to advise her on how to handle a moody family member.

A mother needs a personal shopper to buy groceries without 3 in tow and little fingers putting extras into the basket. That shopper must also make some late night trips to the store for last minute project supplies or for the forgotten office potluck salad.

A mother needs a babysitter to keep the 3 kids from killing each other, tearing the house apart or coming in and out when she is trying to take a bath to relax.

A mother needs a smiling hologram of her standing in the middle of the house reassuring her family that they still cares in spite of being passed out on the bed from exhaustion.

A mother needs a vacation without the kids - to take a deep breath & to celebrate that she is still alive.

A mother needs a partner to love and cherish her and tell her that she is worth the sun, the moon and the stars and that raising a family is worth it.

That partner will also be there to make sure it all works out.

Beauty: In Frustrating Moments

Value: Beauty It was early Monday morning and my husband’s alarm on his Samsung Tab 3 went off just before 3:00 am. He was totally annoyed and couldn’t think why. Sometimes, we touch knobs and buttons by accident and we are altogether in the dark as to why things happen. So, as he wandered around the house seemingly wide awake he took a picture out of the front door to record a snow fall the day after Mother’s Day. It was only a skiff of snow, but the glistening of the streetlights and the powder white substance on the front lawn was a beautiful site. He was wide awake for several more minutes, but he soon was fast asleep again with his photo - a special prize! How many of us see beauty in our frustrating moments. Value beauty!

Nature: How serene!

Value: Nature To Hadley, solitude is yoga. To Emily, solitude is reading the scriptures. Today, my solitude is sitting in my car at the park under the shade of a tree with a warm breeze whispering through the front windows. The cottonwood leaves were shimmering high above where wispy and powder-puff clouds hover above. The birds are chirping in the distance accompanied by the whiz of vehicles about 300 yards away. The squeak of the playground swings are accompanied by father and child interacting and mother and son playing catch with a beach ball. Sounds echo close by in the slam of a car door and the conversations of two cyclists swiftly passing by my car. How serene! Two roller bladers pass by on the walking path 30 yards away. A flag waves proudly in the distance on the top of a tall building and some quail run swiftly across the pathway and grass into the bushes by my side. Nature is serenity - beautiful and peaceful. Value Nature!

Positive Reinforcement: You're A Good Breather

Value: Positive Reinforcement Have you ever told a co-worker “Good Job?” Have you told your son or daughter lately that you appreciate their help (no matter how great or small)? Have you smiled at a store clerk and thanked them for their assistance? Have you patted your dog’s head and said “Good Dog?” OR Have you ever had someone complain to you, yell, throw a pen (or something bigger) at you, scream, or hold up their “one” finger salute? I’m sure you would have preferred a positive comment rather than a negative one. We all need to use positive reinforcement even if it is only to say “You’re a good breather!” In our homes now, we are rushed to get off to work and school. We are stressed at the end of the day because of commitments, homework or a home that needs repairs, cleaning, or just everyday meal preparation. How many of us tend to find fault with or criticize our family members/friends or rag on them for things done wrong or not at all? Strive each day to find something nice to say. Find ways to complement each other. Find ways to bring kindness into your conversations. Find ways to reinforce good behavior in your children and loved ones. Value positive reinforcement!