Walking . . . What a Great Invention

Since my car is in the shop today, I found myself having to run errands on foot. Fortunately, most of my errands involved retailers near my house. The weather today wasn't too bad, so I put on a warm coat and started on my trek. Little did I know what a wonderful world awaited me.

You never really realize how much your car isolates you from the outside world. We get caught up in our own little worlds and never truly notice things, places, or people as we drive by. Once the car "shield" is removed and you are faced with the outside world, perspective changes.

My hike started with Overland Hardware. Had to pick up a few things there for the old coal bin/new pantry that I was determined to finish. I had time while walking to think of questions about electrical wiring (don't know a thing about it except it doesn't like water). Overland Hardware is located in the heart of downtown Overland and I took notice of a new restaurant at the old shuttered Hacienda Restaurant trying to get ready to start business. A new paint job, new sign, looked like they were doing something with the roof. Hmmm. Hope the food will be good. Passed the vacant Overland Medical Building. Nothing new there. Ritenour School District offices were on my right and I noticed a historic marker that told me the original Buck School was located there before the Civil War. Very cool. Noticed the new gaming store still hadn't reopened since a planned remodel. Looking through the window, I didn't see much evidence of remodeling anything nor any life in there at all. What a shame to see it die before it had a chance to take off. It was a great idea. Maybe location issues? Guess I'll never know.

I conducted my business at Overland Hardware and got answers to my electrical questions. Need a contractor to solve the problems - no money, but they gave me a recommendation for someone. Began to head back towards home and Walgreens along the way. Had to wait for one of Jack's prescriptions, but that was okay. Not really used to walking that much, so the rest was welcomed. Bought a small bag of peanuts and perused through the Christmas merchandise.

After Walgreens, I began the second to last leg of my journey to Dollar General which just recently opened. I can see their store from my house. Along the way, I passed a small tailoring shop. I've passed this shop at least a million times in the 20-something years I've lived here and never really paid any attention to it. Since I'm in the process of selling my mother's tailoring supplies, I thought I would stop in to see if this business person knew of anyone needing a sewing machine and/or serger. This idea would never have occurred to me if someone at Macy's hadn't suggested I talk to the alterations department about my sewing machine dilemma.

The tailor was working with a customer, but she talked to me while she worked. It turned out that she is in the market for a new serger and wanted more information. Of course, I didn't have any info to tell her and being without a car today prevented me from running to Mom's apartment to get the serger. I promised her the info by tomorrow. We traded business cards and I happily went on my way. Hope this lady buys the machine.

Dollar General would be my last stop before home. Along the way, crews were working on the sidewalk. Looked like something to do with the sewer system. A big mess. A small shop was vacant. The old Overland Ice Creamery had been purchased by someone else and they made it into a pizzeria. Wonder if they are any good. Don't know anyone who's been there. Cut across the parking lot and arrived at Dollar General. Wandered around the store a bit, gathering things that we needed. I love Dollar General - it's a fun store.

Paid for my purchases and headed home. Had a choice of cutting through a couple of yards to get to my house or just being polite and taking a little longer route. I chose the longer route. I saw fences and wasn't sure if I could get over them without looking ridiculous. As I passed the neighbor who lives behind me (I'm on their street), I saw the front of the new shed they were building. Nice little shed. I  had to laugh since they were building it out of wood and it looked pretty similar to ours. If I think we inspired them, I'm afraid I'll give us way too much credit.

My adventure came to an end when I arrived at home. Hopefully, I'll sell a serger. If I like this lady, I might send some business her way. Now, I need my car back.

The Vacant House

Since the start of this disastrous Great Recession, the news has been rife with record numbers of home foreclosures. As with many things, the reality of it seems very far away until one day, it parks itself squarely in front of you. No, we aren't losing our house. Yet. But a dear friend and her husband just lost their home of many years to foreclosure.

As I pass their former home, I'm struck by the memories and what had been the comfort that they were always there. Our friends knew our children since babyhood. Both families watched each others children grow up. Her kids moved on and started their own families. Mine are finishing up school and taking those first steps into adulthood.

In the twenty plus years we knew each other, there were births of children, litters of puppies, deaths of loved ones, illnesses overcome, swapped recipes and garden tips, prom nights, graduations, Christmas decorations and Halloween candy. A ready and helpful hand was only a phone call away.

The empty house echos its past. And like all empty houses, it awaits another family to claim it as their home and begin a new set of memories.

Our beloved friends are starting a new chapter in their lives. Even though they no longer live nearby, they will always live in our hearts. We miss them terribly and hope that their path becomes brighter and better with each passing day.

Talking to Teens About Current Events

The mess in the Middle East, the global economy, the Great Recession, unemployment, the presidential race, and a host of other big news are all over the TV, Internet and radio. While adults don't have trouble talking about the news, how do you get your teens to talk about it?


Right now, teenagers are really still children. They don't have to worry about current world events because, well, it's our job and world events are, like, totally boring. (eye roll here) To a degree, this is true. However, if parents are to teach analytical thinking, discussions of current events need to take place. These discussions ideally should happen at the dinner table, but can happen in the car or any other place where your child is a captive audience.


Some schools are encouraging teachers to engage students in these discussions. My own daughter came home and told me of the debate in class on the Republican presidential candidates. Talk to your child's teacher and see if conversations on current events are taking place in the classroom. If not, find out why. 


It's really amazing how teens interpret the world around them. It makes them feel valued when you ask their opinions on issues in the news. Those opinions may or may not necessarily match yours. That's okay. Respect your child's thinking and have a great, insightful conversation. It beats nagging about homework.

Why Am I Scared of 50?

Okay. This is it. I'm going to admit it. I'll turn 50 this coming May. Already some of my friends have reached this milestone and they are handling it very well. Okay, maybe I'm a big chicken. Maybe I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I will have existed on this Earth for a half a century. AUGH! I'm freaking out already! A Half Century! That's soooo OLD! That's, um, 50 years! Okay, give me a minute. Calm breaths, calm breaths.

Okay, I can do this. 50 isn't so bad, right? Afterall, I've seen some big culture changes in just the short amount of time I've existed. Microwave ovens, personal computers, cell phones, color television, remote controls, recliners, Facebook, texting, gas at almost $4.00/gallon, video games, VCRs and DVDs. Not sure if that compares to what the Greatest Generation (my parents) experienced, but it feels like it's pretty close.

Tonight while I was slicing apples for our dessert, I wondered about my grandmother. How did she feel about turning 50? I wasn't even born yet. I was just a kid when my mom turned 50. I don't remember how she handled it. Of course, my mom likes being old. Sometimes she's very strange like that. But this raises an interesting question - each generation has it's own definition of "old." Just a few generations ago, if a woman lived to see 50, she was lucky. Now 50 is considered the new 30.

Another friend of mine posted on Facebook, "If you haven't grown up by age 50, you don't have to!" Maybe that's the mindset I need to take. Okay, ladies, who wants to go cruisin' with me on my birthday?