Button stories in Two Acts

March 31, 2020 – Button stories in Two Acts

         My Mom had two favorite stories that she told and retold often over the years.

Act One:

         One beloved story was her sewing a button on Judge Gould’s robe before he went to court.  She thought that fell under “special duty” as a legal secretary for Judge Gould.  Judge Gould was most appreciative and admired her handiwork.

         The week before Mom died, she must have told me that story a dozen times, and I listened to it again and again.  It never got old for me, and I’d say “Yes, Mom,” knowing it was one of several pinnacle moments in her chosen secretarial profession.

Act Two:

         Due to this coronavirus pandemic, I am reminded of another one of her favorite stories. 

         At the time, my mom worked at Amory Chemical & Plastics in Clinton, Massachusetts, as a correspondence secretary and receptionist handling incoming calls.

         It was flu season and the last thing one Friday afternoon at quitting time, Mom liberally sprayed aerosol disinfectant on all the mouthpieces and push buttons on all the telephones in the entire office.

         Mom had gotten this idea from watching a national advertising campaign on TV and felt the disinfectant spray could work its magic on all the telephones and kill any germs or virus by Monday morning.

         Monday morning came and as usual the telephones were ringing as she arrived.  To her dismay, she discovered she couldn’t answer any phones as all the buttons had melted; four incoming ringing lines couldn’t be answered.

          A father and son-in-law team managed the company.  The eldest boss-man upon arrival discovered the crisis and dashed off to the nearest coffee shop to report the phone trouble to the telephone company explaining what had transpired and to bring phones, lots of phones.

         Mom directed the repair man to each office and watched him replace each phone in turn, expecting to be fired any moment.

         Once the repair man finished his repairs, he spoke briefly with the eldest boss man and left.

         Later in the day, Mom braced herself as the elder boss man called her into his office.

         Mom, expecting a stern calling down, was surprised the boss man chuckled and smiled at her, saying,

         “The telephone repair man has been replacing phones all over town in the last few weeks because of that darn TV ad showing someone spraying telephones. Barbara, you had a good idea, about killing off the germs . . .”

         “But, I shouldn’t do it again,” she asked hoping she still had a job.

         The elder continued, “The repair man told me his company must have gotten a batch of cheaply manufactured phones, as the buttons should not have melted.  He assured me our new phones will hold up to disinfectant spray, so Barbara, you can Spray Away.”



         Because of Mom’s story, I’ve always hesitated to “Spray Away.” I don’t use disinfectant spray on my phones. I opt for wiping them carefully with full strength hydrogen peroxide or alcohol instead. 

         I don’t want “melted buttons.”

        

Stay at home Order

March 30, 2020 – Stay at home Order

         This weekend was interesting as well as historic in that our local county and local towns put in place a Stay at home Order until April 17^th, only to be “Trumped” by President Trump until April 30^th.

         Simply put my reaction was saying out loud, “Oh My!” filled with much emotion.  I, along with the rest of the world have a lot to ponder.

         Now this reminds me of an extraordinary moment when I heard the understated exclamation, “Oh My!”

 Travel back in time with me . . . 

         Once, when we were traveling from England to France [Dover to Calais] via the Hovercraft, [no longer in service]. We first had to queue into one line from two lines, as service was being reduced to only one crossing instead of two that morning due to raging seas in the channel.  From shore, we couldn’t assess how “raging” those seas were, as this was our first and only Hovercraft experience.

         We left the shores of Dover and I did manage to catch a glimpse of the caulk White Cliffs just as the swirl of wind-powered mist splashed up on the windows making it almost impossible to get a glimpse of anything.

         We were sandwiched in like sardines, not a seat vacant, which I was told by a lovely English lady seated beside me was unusual for that time of year, it being the first week of December.

         Once in the channel we caught glimpses of the white caps of the sea through water saturated windows, and we started to pitch and gully and then the bottom seemed to drop right out from under us.

         “Oh My!” the sophisticated English lady beside me murmured out loud in a startled voice and turned to me and pressed a reassuring smile at me. She added with aplomb, “We are in for a rough crossing this morning.”

         My mind said, talk about an understatement! But, she sounds like she is in the know about these things. Of course, my mind instantly went to the sinking of the Titanic and succumbing to freezing ocean waves.  We were passengers in a Hovercraft which in actuality was a giant rubber raft being powered by wind and the thought of simply being upturned by rogue waves or gale winds was vivid in my mind.

         A rough crossing was putting it mildly.  Soon, the dropping out and the lurching and pitching became constant and on each vicious drop or twist, the now silent occupants lost their modesty and decorum and gasped, “Oh my,” or “Bad one,” or grunts and squeals – not of delight.

         Up until then in my travels I had never witnessed those “barf bags” utilized that you see tucked into the back of every Airline seat. Luckily, the seat backs on the Hovercraft each held those same ubiquitous bags. Within moments many were being utilized by children and adults near me.

         When we landed in Calais, the Hovercraft eased onto the beach and landed, the flexible bottom deflated, the wind engines coming to a stop.  When we off-boarded I was surprised when I stepped off the stairway onto wet sand.

         “Oh, they landed us on the beach. . .” I commented to my husband, as I paused being in high heels, in fact my best pair of high heels.

         An English gent tipped his hat and said, “We are on the tarmac; last night’s heavy seas simply washed ashore sand,” in a matter of fact manner and he walked briskly forward.

 Back to the present 

         This “Oh My” moment in time due to Stay at Home will prove to be challenging, interesting, and memorable as this country proceeds to adjust, make-do, and get-on like we have had to do when adversity has struck in the past.

         It is “stiff upper lip” time and you can borrow my “Oh My!” anytime that suits you.

Best seat in the house and Catholic hand washing

March 26, 2020 – Best seat in the house and Catholic hand washing

         This is what I have been dealing with for the last few weeks.  I didn’t know Jasmine camped out so often in my easy chair when I was busy.  But, the rains have driven me inside and I have had to pull the pillow out from under my cat dozens of times in the last few days in order to get to MY CHAIR.  She has the love seat, and the decorative butterfly chair, but insists on camping out in MY CHAIR.

         And, lap time . . . has increased four-fold.  She is worried, she must understand what is being said on TV with all these briefings from our President Trump.

         Yes, I like his optimism.  Yes, this country needs to be at work in a safe way – it wasn’t made to be “shut down” or “shuttered” or “killed by the cure” as he is saying.

         And, all those journalists with their NASTY questions.  Can you just give it a rest?  It is something unexpected, unforeseen, unknown.  Would you all stop being so negative and pessimistic.

         If this does anything for this country, it will force people to re-prioritize their lives.  Re-think everything they do and maybe, just maybe, those that are atheist, or agnostic might just find religion.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Now for some fun:

. . . beacon of inspiration.

March 25, 2020 -  . . . beacon of inspiration.

         I get emails from many writing groups, but one caught my attention today.  It came from the Erma Bombeck site and it is as follows:

         "During this coronavirus pandemic we have a choice: we can spread fear or we can become a beacon of inspiration."

         I’ve never met a person who didn’t love Erma Bombeck who could make light of adversity.

         Yesterday I suggested in my “what to do if you are stuck in doors” that you clean your light fixtures or change your light bulbs.

         It is simply Murphy’s law – overnight I have three light bulbs dead out of a 6 bulb light fixture over the kitchen sink.  Of course, I buy them ahead in boxes of 3.  Digging out my special lightbulb boxes, my box contains only 1.  HMMMMMMM - I wonder which bulb I will replace.  And, they are specialty bulbs that you can only buy in one store.  Isn’t that my luck.  Break staying in place to get lightbulbs or not?  We’ve no confirmed cases of coronavirus as of this morning on the NC county map in our county – but should I chance it for lightbulbs?

         If need be, I’ll light a few candles to augment the kitchen lighting.

         The Erma Bombeck site also mentioned a Judy Carter and her two books:  The message of You and The Comedy Bible.  I clicked on the local library website to see if they were available and a huge red warning indicating the libraries are closed until further notice.  HMMMMMMMM, yes I had read that in the local newspaper, but I forgot it. 

         Then I received an email from a new acquaintance who is a school teacher and she will be out of work for at least six weeks.  She is cleaning up a storm and driving her other half crazy.

         I suggested to her “write your novel – they say you can write a novel in six weeks”.  We have it made over that couple – we live out in the country and they live in a condominium in a city.

         Then I turned to checking the coronavirus map by county again to see where we stand in this situation.  398 confirmed cases in this state and no deaths with a buffer zone of no cases in counties to the east and west and north of here. 

         Then I turned my attention to where my brother lives.  Massachusetts is about one-fifth the size of North Carolina [10,565 square miles versus 53,819 square miles] and has 1,159 cases [in all counties] with 11 deaths.  Didn’t that scare the hell out of me – yes it did.   Maybe too much information isn’t a good idea at this point.

         I need to get a grip on this – the best thing I can do is go play outside in the emerging gardens as it looks like the sun is trying to come out.  It is wet, and there is nothing slipperier than wet red clay – I have a yard full.

         Part of me is actually looking forward to slipping and falling in the mud and wallowing around like a hog in order to get up.  At least I will be able to laugh at myself.

         It could make a wonderfully funny blog to share with you.

         Then I checked my emails and got one that made me laugh that I need to share with you.

[Note to Joe. K.  Thanks for the above picture, sounds just like your management pep talks to the troops.]

Everyone is wondering what to do with themselves?

March 23, 2020 – Everyone is wondering what to do with themselves?

         GOSH, I’ve never heard so much complaining about “What are we going to do stuck at home!”

My motto – Cleanliness is next to Godliness!

If you are stuck inside because of the weather:

         1.  Read a book.  There should be a bible in every home – have you read that lately?  Family bibles, like the treasurer I have is loaded with color pictures.  Start with reading the pictures if you think it is too much for you.  Write in additional births and deaths in the back of your family bible – update it for prosperity so that it is accurate when you pass it to the next generation.

         2.  Clean your medicine cabinet – find that thermometer before you need it.

         3.  Clean your pantry – check the dates – rotate the stock – write down what meal you can create with what you’ve got.  Put your spice cabinet in alphabetical order.

         4.  Scrub the bathtub(s), re-caulk the edges.

         5.  Is there more than one of you in the house – turn the mattress – wash the mattress cover, vacuum up the dust bunnies under it.  Make a fresh bed, tight enough to bounce a quarter off it.  You’ll sleep well tonight!

         6.  Clean behind and under the refrigerator – you’ve got someone to help you move it.  Clean inside and out, don’t forget the top.

         7.  Clean the ceiling fans and the glass globes on the light fixtures. Change blown out light bulbs.

         8.  Turn off the TV, dig out the CDs and play the ones you haven’t heard in years.  Decide to keep or donate to charity – that’s a nice way to reduce your clutter.

         9.  Write a “What my Family Should Do in case of Death” notebook. Write down everything someone will need to know when they handle your estate.  Write your own obituary – you think your kids know what you want?  Wrong. Include where you keep your Will, insurance policies, your previous taxes, and etc.

         10.  Write a love letter to your spouse, if he or she is stuck home with you.  Make it a surprise by affixing a stamp and mailing it through the post office so that it arrives in a couple of days.  Watch the reaction – it should be priceless – if you’ve written a good letter.

If the weather is nice outside.

         1.  Wash and detail your car – it has been a long winter – probably grubby.

         2.  Sweep the steps, front and back, including walks and patios.

         3.  Pick up fallen limbs and haul to your compost pile or stack to take off. Rake off the last of the fallen leaves.

         4.  Get out your garden hoses [they call them hose pipes here in the South] and check your connections and see if any need replacements.

         5.  Plan your VICTORY garden – that is your vegetable garden – we will be VICTORIOUS over this CORVID-19.  Hand turn with a spade for good exercise.  Research your planting dates on the internet.  Plant only what you like to eat.  Be sure to plan on some flowers from seed  – those are food for your soul. [I suggest marigolds or zinnias, they are easy.]

         6.  For exercise, walk around your property and admire the awakening spring growth. Plan a route to do daily, then make several laps – at least 20 minutes.  The fresh air and sunshine is good for you.

         7.  Open all your windows in the house and air it out while you clean all the exterior windowsills of fall and winter dust and debris.

         8.  Clean the garage or shed.

         9.  Wash the outside windows on the house and/or any mold on the side of the house.

         10.  Uncover and clean the gas grill – get it ready for you next bar-b-q adventure.  Get out the lawn chairs and tables, wipe them down and set them out – spring has arrived.  You can sit and relax and enjoy the moment.

The above list should keep everyone busy for a few days at least.

        

The Daily Courier – free digital during the pandemic

March 20, 2020 – The Daily Courier – free digital during the pandemic

         The Daily Courier has taken an unselfish move and made The Daily Courier digital edition free of charge during this COVID-19 situation.

         So, my friends, those of you who no longer subscribe to The Daily Courier, let all your friends know that they can access updated information at:

www.thedigitalcourier.com

         Be good citizens and splash that news around on your Facebook too, so that the word gets out.  We are all together in this war against this devastating virus.

         Stay well.

Every private citizen

has a public responsibility.

– Myra Janco Daniels

Is that snow?

March 19, 2020 – Is that snow?

         You know how it gets quiet at night when it snows.  I woke up this morning much later than usual now that the schools are closed and the buses no longer lumber up and down the subdivision road.

         Then I remembered, not snow, just the absence of school buses waking me up.  I glance out the windows on the way to the kitchen and notice we have a dense fog hanging low to the ground.  I don’t see a sunrise as there is fog.

         I pop a K-cup into the coffee maker and check the water level.  Then suddenly I re-think the quietness and glance out the kitchen windows.  Is that snow on the windshield of my car that the feral cats have slid down leaving long streaks?

         To get a better look, I actually pull open the lace curtains  – not snow – last night’s rain has covered the car in Bradford Pear blossoms.  Those cats sure had a fun time sliding down the wet petals on the windshield.

         It has been hard looking for charm or amusement during this COVID19 CRISIS.  Yes, I would say it is a crisis – trying to stay out of harm’s way by shopping ahead and shopping at odd times and trying to slip into small establishments and keeping one’s distance.

         The angst that hangs in the air as I try my best to stay at home, except pharmacy or grocery shopping, but I have to get a couple of things in the mail, entities not set up for on-line banking.  Schools closed, libraries closed, churches closed.  Brave cashiers at the stores that have remained open.  GOD save them I think when I see them and press on my brightest smile, their return smiles are fleeting.  They’ve got hard duty, they may be young, but you can still see the stress on their faces.

         This uncertainty and stress level is almost palpable.  I remember when I was a teenager in high school and the stress then was the death toll of the Vietnam war plastered on the front of the newspaper with a map of Vietnam and the DMZ marked that drug on for months on end.  That same uncertainty, the hearing of the “death toll” of those that have died in the United States in the last few weeks.

         This is a different type of war, this is on our doorsteps, in the shadows of every place we venture out temporarily.  I’ve cancelled routine dental cleanings, I’ve turned to the computer dozens of times, but can’t seem to eek out much of anything fun or clever to say. Who would have thought I would become speechless - mark that on your calendar.

         I heard about the death of a dear friend and her funeral is being postponed until a better time, due to this situation.

         I wonder, when that will be.

         Meanwhile, I do a lot of Suduko and my cat, Jasmine, seems to be always in my lap – I guess she can sense my nervousness, my concern.

         And, then the rains, seem daily and when the sun comes out, the ground is wet and slippery and I am picking up the endless limbs and clearing away the fall leaves that haven’t been swept aside by the winter winds, being extra careful not to slip and fall and break something.

         I have daffodils and tulips up cheering me.  I planted out the broccoli, cabbage, spinach and Swiss chard transplants last week.  They love this cool, rainy weather.  The roses have been cut back, and all but four of the Maidenhair grasses have been cut back.  I usually sit on the ground doing that, but I'll have to try a stool on the last group as the ground is wet.

         When the sun pops out again I will need to attend to the dandelions that need to be carved out – bright yellow blossoms – making a showing in drifts here and there.  I can see from the house white violets dotting the back property line near the Kudzu zone.

         The mail delivery is now the highlight of our day as we are hunkered down and staying out of the public.

         Yesterday I had a surprise package.  I’ve had a flurry of ordering things on line that I couldn’t get in local stores a few weeks back, but I wondered about this big box as I thought I'd received everything.

         The substitute mail carrier brought it.  I hadn’t meet him before, he pulled in the driveway as I was loading our trash in the trunk of my car.  Wasn’t he surprised at the stack of magazines and catalogs he handed me.

         “I have a package for you, too,” he said.

         He climbed out of his car that was packed to the roof with multiple trays of mail and I noticed the back of his hatchback was stacked with boxes. 

         He handed me a big box and I read the label, Yup, had my name on it and then I looked at the return address.

         “Littleton, Mass.,” I said aloud as I pondered what I might have ordered.  I didn’t have anything on back order, and Littleton, Massachusetts was “home country” for me – my grandparents lived there their whole life.

         “I can’t image what this is . . .”

         Cheerily the mail carrier said, “Must be a gift then,”  with the voice of a mischievous leprechaun. He closed his door and backed out of the drive.

         In the house I sorted the mail, then took the rest of the trash out to the trunk of my car and came in and opened the box.

         “Oh, pigs!  They are silly, they are cute, and I didn’t order them.”  I fished out the invoice and looked at the packing slip from whatever works.

         Ken, my brother in Massachusetts, ordered them.

         I showed my husband and we chuckled and were delighted with them.  I have them on the floor in front of the TV so we can admire them.

         What an uplifting surprise during this gloomy climate of the unknown.

         Thank you, dear brother Ken.  Now to decide where to put them outside in the spring.

The light in your heart – Book review

March 9, 2020 – The light in your heart – Book review

         I just finished The light in your heart, - inspirational thoughts for Living your Best Life, by Roy T. Bennett.  It is a treasure of 246 pages of quotations by Roy T. Bennett.  ISBN No. 978-0987917768.  As they say – It is a keeper!

         This book will always be in my library – on the shelf close by where I can pull it often.  When I am having a bad day, it will be a welcome friend and inspiration.  When I’ve missed a goal, I’ll dive between the covers and see if there is something that will kick me in the pants and get me moving forward. 

         When someone phones me and I don’t have any solid advice, I will pull this book, read the whole thing, and then drop that person note with a couple of quotes from Bennett that might help.

         I suggest you buy more than one copy.  One for yourself, one to give to that friend that is going through a rough patch, one for each of your children to inspire them, and then one for someone who has attained a significant goal in their life to plant the seed that they are not done climbing to their full potential.

         The book is a quick read, perfect for re-reading every so often.  Most quotes are on their own separate page with lovely scrolls or trim work around it.

         I turned down the corners of three pages on this first read through which I will share with you:

To have what you have

never had, you have to do

what you have never done.

Roy T. Bennett

The level of success you

achieve will be in direct

proportion to the depth

of your commitment.

Roy T. Bennett

You were born to

stand out, stop trying

to fit in.

Roy T. Bennett

         If you like any of these – go to the link below and browse a little bit, I am sure you will find something you want to share with your friends.

        

https://www.pinterest.com/roytbennett/the-light-in-the-heart/

Something new in a cleaner

March 4, 2020 – Something new in a cleaner

         This time I am ahead of the curve.  When Dawn ultra-Platinum powerwash dish spray was advertised recently on TV I took notice.  When I arrived at the store and looked for it, I bit my lower lip and hesitated only a moment on the price.

         In the South they have a quaint saying:  Better get it before it gets gone.

         Since there was only one sprayer assembled product and one refill left on the shelf I ignored the price tag – this time.

         Upfront, the product does have a redeeming quality – you can buy refills at a lower cost and earth friendliness.

         I find it is the perfect cleaning product for the clean-up as you go housekeeper who doesn’t want to waste regular detergent with a squirt on this, then on that [wasteful] or maintain a half-sink full of hot soapy water waiting on prep dishes.  That was their advertising ploy and it sold me before I even went to the store to look for it.

         I am pleased with it for the clean up as you go, but this morning I tested it out on the top of my black enamel gas stove top.  Mind you – you can’t over spray because then you have to wipe and rinse and wipe – but it did an outstanding job.  Less was better in that case.  But, sparkling clean was the objective and I got that with a wet rinse towel and a towel to buff it dry.

         Then, I had a bright idea – wonder how it works on soap scum on my fiberglass shower door. 

         I sprayed a bit and worked it with a dry magic eraser and it looked good.  Then I did the rest of the door and rinsed it off.  I am satisfied with the results.  I found I had better results than Scrubbing Bubbles  product and used less of a cleaning product – that is a win-win.

         I've  had this product in the house for about two weeks and it is only down one inch from where the nozzle meets the clear bottom part.

         Now I will be on the lookout for dirt and scum to tackle – looks like my Spring Cleaning will go faster this year thanks to Dawn’s new powerwash.

         So, if you are hesitating on purchasing this new product – go for it – it is worth the price.

Some Spring Cleaning fun quotes:

Against:

Both of us can’t look good at the same time

. . . it’s me or the house.

Spring cleaning never killed anyone,

but why take the chance?

We dream of having a clean house

– but who dreams of actually doing the cleaning?

– Marcus Buckingham

In honor of this beautiful spring weather,

I would like to invite you over to complain about allergies,

reminisce about spring break trips

and help me clean.

Advocate for:

What I know for sure is that when you declutter –

whether it’s your home, your head, or your heart –

it is astounding what will flow into that space that will

enrich you, your life, and your family.

Peter Walsh

Have nothing in your house that you do not know

to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

William Morris

You have got to clean your own house first

before you tell other people that they

aren’t doing it right.

Dan Webster

Spring cleaning the house is easy.

Spring cleaning life is tough.

Cleaning anything involves making something else dirty,

but anything can get dirty without something else getting clean.

Laurence J. Peter

Don’t Look Back

March 2, 2020 – Don’t Look Back

         The other day I noticed an embroidered pillow at a gift shop that said:

Don’t Look Back



you’re not going

that way.

         It made me stop and think about looking forward is a good way to live one’s life.  The past is the past and the present is today – a gift for all of us to take advantage of.

         I am looking forward to spring and planting flowers.  I am looking forward to finishing the ninety percent complete driveway and back patio.  In fact, this afternoon looks like it might be mild enough to get out in the yard and pick up another load of downed limbs.

         There are daffodils blooming that are quaking in the breeze, I’ve changed my Valentine’s decorations over to St. Patrick’s Day decorations and the grass in the lawn is starting to turn green.  I am looking forward to mild weather and spring.

         Looking forward is looking good today. 

         Right now, I am multi-tasking – I’ve the doctor’s office on speed dial and I was supposed to call first thing at 8:00 for an appointment in May for my husband.  YEAH – me and the other 100 people trying to queue up for an appointment at the cardiologist’s office, we seem to have so few doctors these days.

         Every other minute I push the re-dial button and every time I get a busy signal.  I am keeping track how many times I have called just for “sport”.  So, I am tied to the telephone until this “appointment” is made.  I am up to seven fruitless calls so far – should I place a Las Vegas Casino bet on how many calls it will take me?  NAH – no money riding on it.

         Now I am on hold – there are 13 calls ahead of me. Oh, there are 8 calls ahead of me. 

         Eureka! Appointment made – yes, that is looking forward – now I can do the rest of my looking forward projects . . .  put the washed dishes away and get to today’s “to-do” list.

         I will leave you to have a wonderful day with a few more inspiration quotes:

Life is about accepting

the challenges along the way,

choosing to keep moving forward,

and savoring the journey.

– Roy T. Bennett

The past is a place of reference,

not a place of residence;

the past is a place of learning,

not a place of living.

– Roy T. Bennett