Something’s not right. . .

Have you ever read or seen something and thought it was FAB ULOUS, and then started to think that something really wasn’t quite right?? I’m always thinking that it’s just me, and that I’m just cynical, but in this case, I think I’m right.

 

I read lots of blogs.  I don’t agree with every word of every blog I read, but I  love to read and I’m fascinated with people, so reading blogs is like people watching, at home in your pajamas.  In my opinion, that’s the best of both worlds. I get to peek into people’s minds and can do it sitting on my couch, in my pj’s, and not look like a stalker.  Sweet, isn’t it??

So a friend told me about this particular blog that she likes to read. We like different parts of it, and for a while, I was kind of hooked. I added it to my Google Reader and everything.  But, all of a sudden, I read something that made me go “HUH?, how’s that work?”  I can’t remember one thing in particular that seemed “off” but all of a sudden, some stuff doesn’t make sense to me. 

So, I started poking around some online.  (Remember, I’m trained to be an information specialist – I love saying that!)   I found several other websites that reinforced what I thought, that something was rotten in the state of Oklahoma, I mean Denmark.

Here’s my dilemma – I read blogs of people I disagree with on many issues – politics, child-rearing, social issues.  I don’t have to agree with people to appreciate what they write. So what is it about this one blog that makes me insane?  I know the simple answer is just not to read it anymore.  But, it’s like a car wreck,  you really don’t want to look, but it’s hard not to.  I think it comes to this: don’t pretend to be one thing and be something else.

I’m weird – and it doesn’t take much reading of my blog to get that.  I’m bossy, and opinionated and think that everyone should agree with me. I admit I’m a terrible house-keeper, and I’m a terrible sport. I’m a bad loser.  I can’t keep plants alive and sometimes  I don’t think I should be allowed to have a cat.  At school, I’m one of the “mean teachers.” I get that, and I’m OK with that.  But here’s the thing --  I don’t pretend to be anything different – and I don’t want to read a blog where someone pretends to be something they’re not!

My Granny

Today is my Granny's birthday. She's 91. We saw her two Saturdays ago.  She's confused sometimes and she says mean thing sometimes. I'm not sure she means to be mean, she just doesn't have much of a filter left.   Last year we had a big birthday party for her.  I posted this blog post after her birthday. 

http://jim-merson.blogspot.com/2010/10/grannys-birthday.html

She doesn't live alone any more -- she's had to move in with my Aunt Cecelia so she can take care of her.  She has moments of confusion, followed by moments of absolute clarity. She asked us 10 times if that was our car in the yard, but then asked my sister if she still worked for Hospice. She asked me "what grade are you in again?" but knew I'd been there for a long time.  She asked if I got a job in a library yet, but asked Robyn if Josh was "her boy" about 6 times.   She has to use a walker and doesn't eat much, but still has these moments where she seems just like she always has. 

A Love Story

Have you ever wondered how different today would be if something hadn’t happened yesterday,  or the day before or a year ago or 10 years ago?  I do.  But, every now and then, I KNOW how a day would be different.  For example, I know as sure as I know my own name that if my mom hadn’t passed away in 2001, that today would be a very different day than the one I’m going to have.  Let me explain. . .

(By the way, I’m telling this story, so I’m telling it like I’ve always heard it.  This may not be the truth, it’s just what I’ve heard! So, if you know different, so sorry. It’s my blog and I’ll tell it like I want to!)

 

So, sometime is April or May, 1961  Betty and Bobby BOTH went to Belle Glade High School’s prom.  However, they DID not go together.  Betty’s daddy took her – she was a senior.  Bobby had graduated from Pahokee High School a few years earlier and he was someone's date (named Sylvia,  Bobby was quite the “player” and I’ve found several prom pictures of him and several young ladies.) He was apparently a good catch – he had his own car, had a job making decent money and the job provided a house and a work truck! What more could a girl want in 1961??? 

There was some hanky-panky going on, as before Bobby went to the prom with his date, he came to Betty’s house. 

 

Some sources say their first date was actually in February – they rode around with some friends in the car.  I’ve heard it this way: the tradition in Belle Glade was the day after the prom, everyone went to the beach.  Sylvia kept hinting that she wanted to go to the beach. Bobby kept saying he had to work. But, as the sun came up, there they were, Bobby and Betty on the way to the beach. 

In August they were married.

The next June, they had a baby girl.  A few February’s later, another baby girl.  Several October’s later, yours truly.   

Almost 40 years later, they are together, at the beach and Betty has a heart attack.  One of their first dates, at the beach. Their last date, at the beach. 

 

 

 

 

Now, here’s how I know today would be different.  Today, would be my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary.  If things were different, we’d be having a BIG party.  Mom was most happy surrounded by lots of people. for their 25th anniversary,  we  had a party for them.  Mom made dresses for all three of us, and one for herself.  Everybody came – it was a big deal. My nephew Ken was a baby, rolling around in a walker.  I was still in high school!! I don’t know how we managed to do it!   I can only imagine what kind of stuff we’d have to do for this one!! The fact that today is a Saturday would have made it much easier for everyone, but we’d be running around like crazy this morning, getting everything ready. 

Not many people I know  had parents who were still  married to each other and only to each other.  In a high school class once, I was the only one.  I am very blessed to have parents who loved each other, truly, until “death did they part.” 

Tummy Trouble Part 2

So, after my doctor did blood work, he sent me for an ultrasound.  You need to understand, I have been mostly healthy except for a small round with hepatitis when I was in the 7th grade – many moons ago.  Except for that, I’ve never even spent one night in a hospital, so this whole testing thing was new to me.  Additionally, I had to go to the Regency for my ultrasound, which is where babies are delivered. I was sure that someone was going to see me going into or coming out of the Regency and put two and two together. . .and get FIVE.  AND it happened. I was telling people at church about my ultrasound and someone asked “Are you expecting?”” NO, NO, a 1000 times NO!!!

The nice thing was, the lady who did my ultrasound warms her gel. I had been warned to watch out for cold gel, but she keeps her nice and warm.  It wasn’t very bad, she just runs that little thing all over you. I could have fallen asleep. I kept trying to see the screen – I wanted to see what she was seeing. . .

After my sonogram, my doctor sent me to a surgeon. He thought it was my gall bladder and needed to come out.  But, we all know how that turned out.

An Experiment

Hey, I'm trying something I read. If you work at my school or even if you don't, but work at SOME school, please take this little experimental quiz for me. Thanks!!

Being “Un-Friended”

I know in the whole scheme of the world, this probably really doesn’t matter, but it bothers me.  I HATE it when people “un-friend” (de-friend??) me  on Facebook.  It hurts my feelings.  I’m not sure why. I notice my friend count sometimes and notice it’s gone up or down. . .  but I notice it most when someone comments on something and I go to their home page to check on them and I can no longer see it and it says “ADD FRIEND.”  Sometimes I think people un-friend me because they are doing things they don’t want me to see they are doing.  My first thought is always “Oh no, what did I do to hurt their feelings bad enough for them to unfriend me?”  I always blame myself.  Maybe it’s really not about me. 

Tummy Trouble Part 1

A few months ago, (I’m thinking April) I felt really sick while I was eating my lunch at school and felt sick for about an hour later.  I felt nauseous and just “icky.” I assumed it was just school lunch – not so much what I ate, but the fact that we eat lunch in 22 minutes, including travel time back and from the cafeteria and restroom time! 

A few days later, it came back.  Eventually, it got so that every time I ate, I sick.  So, I decided, this is a good way to lose weight, I just won’t eat.  Unfortunately, even if I didn’t eat, I still felt sick.

I tried to notice if any food in particular was any worse.   The only thing I can determine is that tomatoes seem to cause the sick feeling to last longer. 

I kept trying to decide if it was just stress from school, or what.  Finally, I made an appointment with the doctor. I went to see my doctor on June 13th, the first Monday we were out of school.  My doctor drew blood to see if there was anything weird in my blood.  Apparently, if I had an ulcer that would have shown up in the blood. He said if the blood shows up normal,  I would have an ultrasound.