Written June 22, 2002

            “Inadvertently I’m in Retreat Status while home alone in my house, in my bedroom – totally alone.  (Keep in mind this is a flash back; reporting a day 15 years ago.)

            Last night I baby-sat at Darin’s so they could go to a wedding.  I was back home a bit after midnight.

            My plan for today was being with Galilee’s United Methodist Men on a bus trip to enjoy Atlantic City’s Boardwalk and shopping.   My legs (actually right leg) hurt too badly (actually from about 6 pm yesterday on through the night).  In a health care book at Darin’s I read the very best thing to do was the R I C E procedure.

 R – Rest

 I – Ice

 C – Compression

 E – Elevation

 I’m not doing C, no compression. 

I am reading.  I’m not telephoning anyone.  I started to earlier – felt I should call Sharon on her job.  She had called at 7:30 am to say she was on her way to work overtime at Coca Cola and wanted to wish me a fun day in Atlantic City.  I told my sister I wasn’t going – shouldn’t go and really couldn’t go considering how horrible my leg felt after yesterday’s active day.  I did take Ibuprofen after midnight.  It helped with the pain.  Anyway, the book said it was important to take.  Sharon agreed with my decision. 

 I considered calling her at work; give an update on my doings, but I didn’t.

I thought I would call one of my best friends and talk about the Yankee game we were going to on July 17^th, 2002 – but I didn’t. 

Two hours have passed and I’ve changed my mental attitude.  I am glad.

I’m reading the Oprah Winfrey- Bob Greene book.  I respected the author's prompt to stop reading and make notes to follow-up on later.

I was to Think Back and write down answers to . . .

#1 What are three unpleasant events in your life you most wish you could change?      (Answers were noted – therapeutic, even today.)   Nope, not telling you! 

#2 Three most pleasant events in your life?

     (I listed five…..encouraging to re-visit now, not to share)

#3 What are three things I like least about myself. 

        (Too self indulgent-can’t share!)

#4 Three things I like most about myself.  (Still true. Not sharing.)

I wrote down and answered these eight additional questions.  What makes you happy?  Sad?  What traits do you like in others?  Dislike in others?  Are you a patient person?  Are you judgmental?  What brings you joy?  What brings you pain? 

The thirteenth and final intrusion into my personal self was:  What are your spiritual beliefs? 

My scribbled answer - “The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want.”  Jesus is my role model." 

Still true fifteen years later this 22^nd day of June 2017.   I am grateful.

"Product of Mexico"

So reported the sticker on the tomato sliced onto the satisfying sandwich I ate for lunch today.

Reading, immediately my mind asked, will there be fresh tomatoes transported across the border next December?

Let’s see, today four vined tomatoes cost me $3.19.

I’m setting up a Suspense File to compare this tomato shopping data with the situation I find next December.  

Will Stop & Shop offer vine-ripened tomatoes “product of Mexico”?  If not, where will they come from?  It won't matter to me, I'm thinking.  However while the state of the Stock Market concerns others, it's the little things I know will make a big difference also.

Cost to the customer of tomatoes and other goods and services?

Will consumers in all neighborhoods have good quality product?

I’m thinking, with USA’s new government coming into power on January 20, 2017, ordinary folk like me will ease into day-to-day significant change and emotional disruption.  No fear here.  I’ll make it.

Professional media, journalists, news bureaus will keep all of us praising, lamenting, or ignoring major government engendered changes affecting our economy, sense of security, civil rights, and politics or democracy.

I’ll follow up on my tomato query.  Next December will they come into New Jersey from Mexico?  If not, where?  Would any be homegrown?  

I’m thinking, many years ago (perhaps when some folk thought America was greater than it is today) out of season tomatoes were labeled ‘hothouse’.  Mother wanted no hothouse tomatoes.  Thus, neither do I.  We’ll see.

I’ll let you know.

Blue Skies Inspire

"Stopped grabbing life.

Simply hung on.

Didn’t let treacherous turns

Take me down

Thus, defeat unknown.

I’m thankful

I’ve survived

I’m thankful

My children thrived

Dreams not ignored.

I’m thankful

Their children

Joyfully live forward

Prepared for – working toward

Meeting each career goal.

I am thankful."

                              - - - M.L. Stith

Praying you’ve had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving 2016 and I'm Not Happy

“Too many Thanksgivings have informed me. 

Current foolishness – painful to see,

A wannabe thespian,

Realized a dream,

Executive produced,

His one-man show,

Entertainment brash, shock,

Smirk, bloodless gore

Say you love me.

Say you love me.

I love you.

I know your pain.

I’ll take you back,

To times gone by,

When America ignored,

Freedoms denied.

We’ll thrive; you and I

Vote for me; never again cry

I’ll get us there,

Trust my family and me.

Thanksgiving Happy? 

No.

He holds the prize,

Our Nation.

While media reasons

We must be decent 

His show continues

Supporting cast staged.

Velvet curtain frames

Patrons front and center

Audience in the dark

It’s no longer a lark.

Exchange his prize.

Hand leading man the Oscar

And for Heaven’s sake

A resounding Good-Bye. “

                            - - - M. L. Stith

Reality

This morning began with a troublesome glitch.

My folic acid pills toppled into the sink.  If I chose to turn on the water and wash them away it would be a mere $14 into the drain (a prescription – milligram not offered over the counter).  Thus, money wasted; yet not more than my meager resources could handle.  But no, I’m a problem solver; turning my back from anything valuable, possibly salvageable, is not in my DNA.

Therefore, my morning was immediately improved.  My mind was detoured from troublesome facts flying around in my brain over which I have no control . . . president-elect issues, of course. 

Employing diligent patience I’ve saved most of the medication.  God is good to me.  More evidence He will stay by my side as my intellect emotionally maneuvers these troublesome times, from which my stubborn sense of right struggles to find solace.

Keep in mind God is also blessing America.

Gotta' Get It Together

The nation has a new president-elect.

I’m angry recalling his nasty, mean campaigning.

Forever it seems, he baited President Obama’s ire with unbelievable nonsense questioning his birth certificate.

News conveyed his insult of the father of a Medal of Honor patriot . . . and snarky commentary regarding the dead hero’s mother.   Their young military man sacrificed his life for America, and his never wavering response was to insult them and their culture.

He demeaned women, I think.  He met the negative reaction to reports of his invasive liberties toward women with cavalier disregard for the inappropriate behavior, even piled on more demeaning comment in support of his actions.

To me, he was a shockingly disrespectful, uncouth campaigner.

NOW, he’s the winner of the election process.  

These days I am challenged to forget all of the emotional terror he caused and respect him.  My common sense mentality rankles at this responsibility to do so.

They say he will change; latest interviews give a glimmer he may.  If he doesn’t ease up on a few dire promises, millions will be devastated.  I want to believe he will bring all of us, this world, this planet a better presidency than his campaign rhetoric unrelentingly assured.

Yes, the election is over yet his campaign strategy continues to feed my emotional unrest.  How much was a strategic threat?  

Today I continue to work through ANGRY.   I wait for the latest news born from deliberations led by a powerful celebrity who was marketed, for sure to the masses, as thoughtlessly divisive and self-serving.

It’s another America’s turn to serve this diverse nation. My spiritual undergirding assures God is in charge.   Thus it will be good – painful perhaps, but good.

Will You Vote?

2016’s Presidential Election Day is tomorrow, November 8^th,     6 am – 8 pm in my neighborhood.

History may be made - and, it may not.  

My candidate’s opponent is not receiving my vote for several reasons.

For sure, I wouldn’t want a child of mine, any child, even an adult to emulate what I've learned about him.  A good role model – not!  I couldn’t vote for him.

I’m one of many millions who don’t escape paying income taxes.  It saddens me to think, if elected, he could decide how to spend what we pay to help run the government.  I couldn’t vote for him.

And, it seems a number of his largest support groups have ingrained biased views that have persisted throughout my lifetime.  They see me and others coming, and decide who we are, who we can be and what we should be.  It’s a painfully offensive reality.  I surely couldn’t vote for him.

  

I will vote for her.   I’m impressed with her commitment, stamina and record of service over the years on behalf of others.

God Bless America.