Today we honor our fallen military whether they served in war time or peace time, they each gave of themselves to protect and defend this country and our freedoms. Somehow a thank you just doesn't seem enough for some and yet we are all very thankful and grateful for their service and their sacrifice.
My husband, a veteran, was proud of his service and it reflected in the life he led as well as the teachings he gave to his daughters and grandchildren. His hope as with all of us is that one day our children and grandchildren might not ever have to face the enemy on foreign ground. But should they have to serve, they will do so with dignity and the knowledge that they are serving their country and their families and will be proud too.
Just as we have faith and believe in God, we know that he is with us and with our fighting men and women. They fight for all our freedoms including our freedom of religion and the right to believe in God.
My daughter and I went to visit my husband's grave and I always get that feeling of patriotism and pride as we approach it seeing the flags and the decorations. Today we were honored to see the fly over as well. It was a lovely day so many families were out to attend the memorial service at the cemetery and to visit the final resting spot of their loved ones. Being a national cemetery, it gives a person a sense of pride and to know that those there have been honored so. It tugs at the heart as well knowing the loved ones are now away from us. The Ft. Gibson National Cemetery at Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma is like all the other national cemeteries but this one is more special because our own loved one is there.
I commend the commander of the cemetery and the staff and workers as they make sure that everything is clean, the grass mowed and each grave marked with its own personal flag. The drives are lined with flags and the Officer Circle is lined with the largest flag in the center flown at half staff. A person cannot visit there and not feel the love and devotion that has been given to each and every grave and the grounds.
As this day ends, I salute all our military men and women who are serving now and may God be with each and every one of you. And I salute those who have served in the past. Thank you just doesn't seem enough but it comes from the heart and may God keep you in his protection.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Decision
Lately I have been trying to make a big decision. A very hard decision. My daughter will be moving back to Tulsa soon so that means I will have this big old house and large yard all to myself. It takes two days and sometimes two and a half days just to do the mowing and trimming and with my asthma and allergies, I have thought that I might try to sell the place and move into an apartment in town. I won't move to Tulsa but there is a nice little town about 8 miles north of me that has everything I need and since I already bank there and do most of my shopping there, it would be the ideal location.
But my dilemma is that for the last several years and mean several, I have always lived in a rural area away from town and always had a lot of room on each side so my neighbors weren't right next door. I've enjoyed the solitude and when my husband was here, we both enjoyed being out away from the hustle and bustle.
But now I am left with this big house and yard and outbuildings and I really don't need all this space or the maintenance that comes with home ownership. I've put the figures together several times and I could live in a rented apartment for about the same that it costs me to live here. Of course, this house is paid for so there is no mortgage payment but there is insurance and taxes and high utility bills plus all the maintenance, so I would be transferring where the money is spent, primarily.
The next big obstacle in this decision making is what do I keep and what do I dispose of. I have a houseful of furniture and most of it has to go. Along with all the little knick knacks I've collected through the years and assorted junk. I've walked through the house making note of what is absolute in keeping and what is on the questionable list.
I definitely will keep all the family pieces plus a couple of the antiques we have retained and there are a few things my husband made that I just can't part with but again something will have to go. I don't want to rent a storage shed as that is just another cost plus the security isn't all that great unless it is one that I can see personally.
So that means that I am thinking of a 2 bedroom even though it will run a little more, but I really need the extra room for storage and will be used for the computer and my sewing machine and all my fabric and yarn and thread for my crocheting. I will still have some things that I will have to store, like the Christmas and other holiday decorations.
And speaking of Christmas decorations, since I go all out and really light up the place around here. I have at least 10 if not a dozen tubs full of decorations and lights, cords and outlets and you name it, I have it. That will have to be cut down and again, there are certain things I will keep so it will be hard to dispose of the others. My daughters will have to take their share of the china. Once I pack it up for them, I won't store it for them so it will be up to them to take it and store it or use it or whatever. I have several other things I was going to pass down so they will have to take them or they will be put out at the sale.
And that is another thing. The sale. I can't decide if I should use an auctioneer and keep my fingers crossed it will be a good sale or just try to advertise and sell it all myself. I could have a weekly yard sale and still have stuff left over so it is a big problem. We downsized when we moved here but we still brought a lot with us and as it goes with everyone, we have added to it as well.
So what to do? I've had someone show interest in the house but doesn't mean they will buy it or when. And I'm not sure if I could sell it. I'm going to ask a ridiculously low but reasonable price and it will be a bargain if someone pays what I'm asking. We bought it more or less on a "fire sale" basis and so that is what I will try to sell it for. And I'm throwing in a few incentives to make it more attractive, like the golf cart, riding mower and even the generator if they will pay my price. If not, then we will have to negotiate.
As I told my oldest daughter last night, I think the reason the decision is so hard is that I have never had to make a decision like this by myself. My husband and I always made the decisions together but now I don't have anyone but myself. I don't want to feel I made a mistake after I've done it but at the same time, I'm not sure how long I can really stay here and keep it up.
This was our retirement home and it has a lot of good and bad and sad memories. I will have to part with a lot of things I've enjoyed through the years but maybe it is time for it. Sooner or later, it would all have to be sorted and gone through and sold or what ever and it would be up to my daughters to do all of that, so maybe I should do it now and give them what I want them to have, keep what I absolutely need and want and let the rest go.
It is a decision that is hard to make and I go from day to day trying to make up my mind. Looking at the pros and cons and trying to see what is the best solution.
But my dilemma is that for the last several years and mean several, I have always lived in a rural area away from town and always had a lot of room on each side so my neighbors weren't right next door. I've enjoyed the solitude and when my husband was here, we both enjoyed being out away from the hustle and bustle.
But now I am left with this big house and yard and outbuildings and I really don't need all this space or the maintenance that comes with home ownership. I've put the figures together several times and I could live in a rented apartment for about the same that it costs me to live here. Of course, this house is paid for so there is no mortgage payment but there is insurance and taxes and high utility bills plus all the maintenance, so I would be transferring where the money is spent, primarily.
The next big obstacle in this decision making is what do I keep and what do I dispose of. I have a houseful of furniture and most of it has to go. Along with all the little knick knacks I've collected through the years and assorted junk. I've walked through the house making note of what is absolute in keeping and what is on the questionable list.
I definitely will keep all the family pieces plus a couple of the antiques we have retained and there are a few things my husband made that I just can't part with but again something will have to go. I don't want to rent a storage shed as that is just another cost plus the security isn't all that great unless it is one that I can see personally.
So that means that I am thinking of a 2 bedroom even though it will run a little more, but I really need the extra room for storage and will be used for the computer and my sewing machine and all my fabric and yarn and thread for my crocheting. I will still have some things that I will have to store, like the Christmas and other holiday decorations.
And speaking of Christmas decorations, since I go all out and really light up the place around here. I have at least 10 if not a dozen tubs full of decorations and lights, cords and outlets and you name it, I have it. That will have to be cut down and again, there are certain things I will keep so it will be hard to dispose of the others. My daughters will have to take their share of the china. Once I pack it up for them, I won't store it for them so it will be up to them to take it and store it or use it or whatever. I have several other things I was going to pass down so they will have to take them or they will be put out at the sale.
And that is another thing. The sale. I can't decide if I should use an auctioneer and keep my fingers crossed it will be a good sale or just try to advertise and sell it all myself. I could have a weekly yard sale and still have stuff left over so it is a big problem. We downsized when we moved here but we still brought a lot with us and as it goes with everyone, we have added to it as well.
So what to do? I've had someone show interest in the house but doesn't mean they will buy it or when. And I'm not sure if I could sell it. I'm going to ask a ridiculously low but reasonable price and it will be a bargain if someone pays what I'm asking. We bought it more or less on a "fire sale" basis and so that is what I will try to sell it for. And I'm throwing in a few incentives to make it more attractive, like the golf cart, riding mower and even the generator if they will pay my price. If not, then we will have to negotiate.
As I told my oldest daughter last night, I think the reason the decision is so hard is that I have never had to make a decision like this by myself. My husband and I always made the decisions together but now I don't have anyone but myself. I don't want to feel I made a mistake after I've done it but at the same time, I'm not sure how long I can really stay here and keep it up.
This was our retirement home and it has a lot of good and bad and sad memories. I will have to part with a lot of things I've enjoyed through the years but maybe it is time for it. Sooner or later, it would all have to be sorted and gone through and sold or what ever and it would be up to my daughters to do all of that, so maybe I should do it now and give them what I want them to have, keep what I absolutely need and want and let the rest go.
It is a decision that is hard to make and I go from day to day trying to make up my mind. Looking at the pros and cons and trying to see what is the best solution.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
May Day - a remembrance from the past
MAY DAY! Does anyone remember how we used to celebrate this day?
I can remember when I was in grade school and we were divided up in teams and given pastel colored crepe paper streamers. The tether balls had been removed from the poles and our teacher would take the end of our streamers to tape to the top of the pole and then helped guide us as we wove in and out. One group would go clockwise while the other went counterclockwise. The streamers made a colorful braided affect on the pole and we would stand back to admire our decorated pole and clap.
Every year we looked forward to the May Pole dance as we called it. If May Day happened to fall on a weekend day, we always decorated the poles on Friday before so when we drove by the school, we could admire them.
But the fun part came from the week before as we cut and pasted pieces of construction paper into little baskets. We might decorate them with crayons or pieces of lace or trim our mothers had. Sometimes we would cut up the lacy looking paper doilies to use for decoration or to cover the outside of the basket. Once the baskets were all made and of course we knew just how many to make as we would make a list of those we wanted to "hang" the baskets for.
We would sit around the table under the supervision of our mother so we didn't put too much or too little in each basket. We always had the small pastel colored mints and spanish peanuts. After the baskets were filled with the goodies, my brother and I would scour the yard picking every wild violet we could find so we could add the tiny flowers to the baskets.
My mother would place all the baskets in a small box or sometimes on a cookie sheet and we loaded up in the car as my dad began driving around our small town stopping at the houses my brother and I wanted to "hang" a basket.
We would get out of the car and carry the basket to the porch, set it down and then yell out "May Basket" and run as fast as we could back to the car, hoping to get back safely before we were caught by the receiver and given a kiss. Of course, sometimes we wanted the kiss so didn't run as fast as other times. HA!
It was such a fun and exciting time and the thrill of sneaking up to leave the basket on a porch or step and then yelling out and running was the most fun. Perhaps that is one reason the holiday which is sadly forgotten now, was one of my favorites.
When we would return home, there would be several baskets on our porch which was delight and then we could take our turn at standing near the door to watch for those who were yet to come so we could chase them and hopefully catch the ones we wanted to catch.
It is a remembrance from the past and one I wish would be revived today. We were so proud of our little baskets we made and the rewards of receiving a lot of baskets ourselves. Maybe it was because we did live in a small rural community but I would still like to see it happen again, even if it is just the neighborhood. What a pleasant surprise to find a small basket with a few mints and peanuts and of course the beloved wild violet.
Happy May Day everyone!
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