Nature Songs ~~~~
“Our happiness depends upon the habit of mind we cultivate.
So practice happy thinking every day.
Cultivate the merry heart,
develop the happiness habit,
and life will become a continual feast for us."
~~Norman Vincent Peale
December 1, 2000 What an accomplishment for one day! I did it all, but I’m not sure exactly how. Clockwork seemed to be the ultimate single factor that brought it all together. There was not much time between where I was at a given time and where I needed to be next. Quest, fill up with gas, pick up the boys, visit Mother, pick up the pictures of the dogs, stop at the grocery store, go to Morganton on a dry run, be home by five, Lady comes, Tbird brings a late supper for Lady and myself, and a few sundry things thrown in for good measure ,the day finally came to an end.
Dad forgot to leave the carseat for Giggles this morning. Instead of dropping it off for me to use, he came by and picked her up about ten minutes before I arrived. Tbird had to drive from Hickory back to Burke County to pick her up since he had something to do in the evening. She was late getting to my house with Giggles to pick up the boys.
I’m glad Thursday is behind me.
December is referred to as a month of happy times. It is a time for family and friends to share happy moments together in the spirit of love and fellowship. Parties are planned by groups throughout the month to celebrate, yet who and what is being celebrated? How many are actually happy? In reality, this month has more people with depression and loneliness than any other month of the year. Much has gone amiss in the name of happiness.
Perhaps if we could take the advice of the late Norman Vincent Peale and cultivate an aura of happiness around, December could be a happier time for all. In the process of bringing happiness into life, more people would find themselves involved with church activities because that is where true happiness begins.
I am not a believer or follower of Horoscopes, yet I do read them at times. Many of the things that are mentioned are only things that people should be doing regardless of what month or under what sign they many have been born. I was surprised and somewhat taken back with one I read for me once. (No, many of the things that are mentioned never occur even throughout years much less a day.) This one caught my attention because of the advice it offered:
... if you start to worry about something, however minor,
you will find it difficult to stop,
so force yourself to look on the bright side,
and, if there isn’t a bright side,
~~ invent one.
This caught my attention because it says to take things into your own hands by inventing a bright side. Who needs to rely on Horoscopes to learn this bit of living? It is sort of on the same line as Dr. Peale’s offering, except for the source from whence it came.
Two other quotes would work hand-in-hand with the search for happiness and contentment:
Happiness is not a horse;
you cannot harness it.
Russian proverb
Would not forcing oneself to look on the bright side be a bit like trying to harness a horse? Maybe working on the problem by changing the environment and finding someone to share occasions with would work better. Happiness requires more than one to be most success. How would one know the depth of happiness without some sort of barometer for comparison?
Only a person who can live with himself
can enjoy the gift of leisure.
Henry Gerber
Happiness and leisure are two activities that go hand-in-hand. While it is important to experience happiness in the presence of others, it is this same experience that spreads itself to a time of leisure. The memories of the happy times can only enhance the lastingness of leisure whether alone or with others. Genuine leisure is happiness.
My primary goal for this month is to encourage intervals of happiness and savor each duration for future times.
December 2, 2000 Looking back over the week, it seems almost like old times has come back again. This has been a week that reminds me of some past life I used to have if a few more events were added. However, the old vim and vitality to carry me through is missing. Search as I might, it isn’t in me any more. The pace is slower. The steps are smaller and a slight shiver of fear shoots through me when I may stumble or drag a foot. That fear of falling is still a part of my life.
On the happy side of life, when I went in to get my pet pictures, the lady started to ask my name and interrupted herself, “Oh, you have Charlie. I remember him. His pictures are so good. He was so well-behaved.” Everyone seems to remember Charlie. He has that spark that people are drawn to and treasure.
Cold weather has returned to Lenoir along with winds which drops the temperature even more. The winds bring down more leaves. My yard has been cleared of leaves three times - the last time was Wednesday - and it is covered with even larger leaves today. The buck oak leaves are in with the others and they are the h-u-g-e- variety. Time to bring out the leaf-blowers AGAIN!
Sad notes: The Mother of a dear friend has been told that her surgery for cancer has been canceled. The cancer is in her liver which modified her prognosis and abruptly changes her life.
Yet, another one: My cousin(younger than I am) had a light heart attack last night. Quadruple by-pass is scheduled for Monday before he has a more severe attack...
On the brighter side: Lady and I attended a program last night at the church Tbird and her family attend. It has to be the BEST program I have had the privilege to be a part of this year - and the year is nearly over. The church is new after being worked on for the past six years. Some parts of it are still being worked on. It was built to seat 1500 people in the sanctuary and 1600 tickets were sold. I think everyone with a ticket came for this event. There were folding chairs set up throughout the aisles and walls to help hold the mass of people, while all of us on the pews squeezed together to make room for more. I could have used a bench an inch or two higher, but it was worth struggling to get up to a standing position.
The occasion was the appearance of Chonda Pierce who does stand-up comedy and does it extremely well. Quoting from the Charlotte Observer:
"Chonda Pierce thinks faith can be funny ... She pokes gentle fun at the church in a squeaky-clean routine that draws material from everyday life and growing up in the church, a preacher’s daughter.
In addition, the show will feature the Burchfields who will perform selections from their CD ‘Walk in the Forest.’ The duo combines classical guitar and an electronic marimba to create a blend of Smoky Mountain jazz and Appalachian gospel."
Chonda also sang some wonderful songs throughout her program. She is a very talented person. The Burchfields are two brothers that have worked out some marvelous sounds and combined them in unique ways. We went an hour early in order to have a good seat. (I had parked my car there several hours earlier since there would be so many coming for the event.) It was after ten p.m. till I got home. The program began at seven, sharp.
S - N - O - W IS IN THE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT AND ALL DAY TOMORROW.
December 3, 2000 All the predictions were for large amounts of the white fluffy stuff. We watched and waited, but in vain. Maybe more so, with delight and relief, because as it turned out, it stayed away from us here in our valley. There was snow up the mountain and snow all the way to the coast, but only a few flakes made their way to out area. Watching the television reports, the radar pictures showed the storm as it split and always managed to go around us.
Some of those planning to attend the first year anniversary party at Quest chickened out because of the call for bad weather. Those of us that attended had a good time together. Quite a few of our water group came and we enjoyed hanging out together during the evening. Refreshments were the best! The music was great as was the company we kept. None of our group won a door prize, but that was okay.
I chose not to go to church this morning. Guess I should have, but ... I just didn’t go. I had lunch with Tbird and her family. After lunch I stopped off at a dollar store to check the price of Christmas wrapping paper. I got one roll of 80 ft. paper for two dollars and some more rolls of 40 ft. for one dollar each. I should have stopped by to visit with Mother, but thought I’d go later in the afternoon.
With the phone calls coming in to me, Wes and BusyKid coming by, and my slowness of the day, I made it over that way about six p.m., and needed to be gone about six fifteen. NascarKid and DynoKid were in a Christmas program this evening and I promised to come to church and take in the results of their efforts.. This was the same church I was in Friday night, and I knew that I would have to be there early enough to get a parking space close to the door. I had to park along the side of the main road in order to “make room” for a space for me and my car close to the front of the church.
The program was excellent and my boys made me proud. All the children were dressed in satin robes as they portrayed angels way back before Christ was born. NascarKid was the angel, Moses, and did a great job. DynoKid was one of the angel choir who’s halo slipped down on his head almost hiding his eyes as he sang. The huge screens on each side of the front of the sanctuary gave close-up views of the speakers, special songs, and choir. I found myself watching the screens more than the actual program because of the close-up views of the children. (There was even an “Elvis” portrayed.)
Now to mentally get myself in shape to face the cold, cold nights and mornings of this coming week. Winter is here with all its explosion of strong, gusty blowing. bone-chilly winds.
December 4, 2000 Yesterday while Wes was here, he opened and checked all the boxes of presents that arrived last week for me. Everything but ONE was accounted for. When the boxes came I wondered how they were able to fit the item in one of them since it was so long and skinny. It was listed on the invoice as being in the larger of the boxes, but it was not in the box. I emailed the company about the problem and can only hope that the present arrives in time for Christmas - with my luck sometimes, it’s likely that it is out of stock at this time. How many other Pogo Sticks have been ordered?
We brave and dedicated ladies of the water exercise class showed our willpower today when we ventured out in fourteen degree weather to workout this morning. Fourteen of us gathered together in the pool. We were kidding each other about coming out in the cold just to get ourselves wet. At least the water was a tad warmer this morning for our enjoyment and our joints.
After an hour and forty minutes of working out this morning, I was heading back home near noontime. Along the shaded sides of rooftops, trees and other areas where the rays of sunlight had not yet touched, the ponderous frost glistened like a featherweight fleece of snow. It is a cold beginning for the week.
Again, I was close to not going out this morning, but managed to since Ms. Jay called to see if I was going. Moving was on the prainy side of life once again. The benches at the church I attended twice this week had not gotten any higher on the second night. I was stiffer because of Friday night’s getting up and down. I took Tbird’s Berber jacket and folded it to sit on which raised me up a little. I sat for all the program, only getting up when all was finished, but it was still difficult to accomplish pushing up with my knees from such a low position and no close object to hold on to for support. The way the pews are designed and placed, it is difficult to use the backs of the pew I’m on and the one in front of me. The seat itself gives some when I press down on it to push up. I have to go back again in three weeks for Tbird and the choir Christmas program. Me thinks it is time to search out a good sturdy cushion to carry along next visit.
I took Mother her Christmas dog that plays a lot of the songs of Christmas yesterday. We changed the batteries in it so that all would work well for her. She has had this dog since she was in bed back in 1985 with her back. I’m not sure what we would do if something happened to it, because we have not found another one that plays three tunes each time the paw is pressed and at least 15 different songs play. The nose lights up and flashes while the songs play which brings a smile to everyone’s face.
NEXT
©2000 by Stormy Jeanne
