It’s Great to Be Needed

With hired staff to assist the more unfortunate ones here, I had a chance to help someone recently and it felt very good about it. In the activity room a woman in a scooter was not thrilled to try to learn a new game called Apples to Apples. She commented that the woman who had taken charge of teaching her and another woman present, was laughing and talking at the same time and that confused her. She thought it a silly game. We had less than an hour to play, for the Bingo lovers would start their game on time. So, our game folded without the woman’s really learning how to play Apples to Apples.

The one “in charge” left the table and I put away the game, which took about four minutes. When I passed our table to leave the room, I saw the woman in the scooter drop several cards from her billfold to the floor, plus some wee change she was trying to fetch to spend on Bingo. I pulled out the chair I had earlier vacated and sat down and picked up all her cards and the change and handed them to her. Then she wanted some Bingo cards to play that game with. I got her a stack of those. She did not ask me to do any of these things for her, but merely expressed the need. I walked down the hall, feeling wonderful by helping her.

That night at dinner, this same lady wheeled herself to our table and asked if she could join us. It was during the meal I learned she was without a family—she was the very last of it. How sad to be the last.

And how interesting that two more occasions I could help with came the next day: someone asked me to read and comment on a poem written by a teenager whom the lady does not know. That was easy. The other paper contained the résumé of a former journalist, for me to evaluate in preparation for our writing seminar. It took a magnifying glass for that one. Her handwriting is as bad as mine.

It’s great to be needed. ♥

Reading Session and House Sale

Today, when the lawyer arrived to read to us, he said he’d been working in his shop. I asked him when he was a lawyer.

He said, “On Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

His mother said, “Tell tem how long you’ve been a lawyer.”

He said, “Thirty-seven years. Two other lawyers work for me and are holding down the fort.”

So, that answers that question. He began today’s session by reading us a poem from his Blackberry (not his poem), or whatever gadget he held in his hand. I suppose Blackberries are out of date now, right? I can’t keep up with that kind of a world. And don’t wish to.

Tomorrow is Thursday, my day out. As you know from previous blogs, I look forward to those days out. It’s been several weeks since I had such a day. It is coolish here, rainy part of the day. We had a mild winter and it seems spring will also be mild, to the point of being late. That’s good for the sake of the lawn at the house I left. By the way, that house sold right off with two offers, but the one who got it is a woman whom I taught in College Prep English in Mountain Home years ago. It continues to be a small world. ♥

Grisham’s The Litigators

It’s been a while since my mentioning books read, for example, Grisham’s The Litigators. This is another great legal thriller that will make a hit movie, as did The Firm and Pelican Brief. Primarily, the cast consists of three white lawyers (two bad ones and one good one) and a black woman who works for them and enlivens the place. Near her desk lives a dog which seems never to go outside except for one occasion, I recall. Rochelle, the secretary, will be a movie role some actresses might fight for. Here’s hoping it goes to a fresh face, for the caliber of the role befits an Oscar and could make a newcomer a star.

As I’ve said before, Grisham is a great storyteller, perhaps the best we have today, but he is not a great writer. Too many times, at the end of a line of print, I knew what the next word or phrase would be, nothing exciting, as one might wish for, as by the pen of John Le Carré, but expressions bordering on cliché. But the story is indeed worthwhile and the reader can learn something about the world of law.

Currently I am reading Das Krieg Eis Fertig (The War Is Over) by Tom Young, a bomber pilot during World War II, who was shot down over Germany and taken prisoner by the Nazis. This is in manuscript form, for Young never had it published. He is an excellent writer, but his aim was not to travel around, signing books. He writes for writing’s sake, the very reason I write. [A note about the German title: “Eis,” here, is the first time I’ve seen “is” spelled this way. This must be Low German, for in High German it would be “Ist.”]

A popular author around here is James Patterson. Yesterday, a woman at my dinner table (noon) brought up his name and I asked her if she had read Richard North Patterson. She had not heard of him. Today I will take one of his books to lunch and show it to her. It’s No Safe Place, which I’ve yet to read, not a new book, but a 1998 publication. This Patterson seems to be a bit more challenging to read than is James Patterson. If a book is good, it does not matter if it is new or old. ♥

A Great Literary Sentence

Today our reader-lawyer covered the first four chapters of a newly chosen book from the Martha’s Vineyard mysteries by Philip R. Craig. In addition to his having time to read to us, he pre-deleted the words he knew we might object to. We were appreciative.

I will not retell this story as it goes along—for you certainly can locate the series for yourself—but I want to cite (without knowing exactly the author’s punctuation for it) something the author quoted from Chesterton: “. . . a child, being innocent, wants justice. An adult, being sinful, wants mercy.” Chesterton, you may recall, wrote the excellent Father Brown mysteries. And this thought quoted is just a sample of his brilliance and Craig’s recognition of that brilliance. What a sentence it is! Even sermon material.

I learned today tornados touched down in a town in Kentucky where my son Mike lives and works. But the family and their properties are all safe. My childhood in the South was not noted for tornados. I recall one.

BonaV is such a busy place, there has not yet been time for real writing or real reading. More boxes to unpack but not boxes of books, at least. Tomorrow is trivia day. I’m looking forward to that. ♥

About Many Things

I’m an oddball, of course, but I like the words “things” and “stuff.”

The blog just below this one has an interesting comment about what I wrote. You don’t want to miss that. Bret Baier didn’t give the man much time, perhaps for that reason.

Today’s weather for a large area of the country has been horrendous, and I have family and friends in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia. I have e-mailed them all the same message, wanting news from someone there in each place, and if I don’t hear that way, I will try to call them tomorrow.

Three boxes of books yet to unpack, from the original 12. I would prefer to relocate some of these beautiful volumes with my family members, but they don’t stay put long enough in this area and they won’t be adding them to the cost of their airline tickets. So, BonaV gets more yet.

Someone asked about the lawyer who reads to us. I have heard him read twice, and he is an excellent reader aloud. But I did not know till later that his mother is one of us listeners too, a charming lady. I met her and she said her name is Maxine, but I did not know then she was his mother.

Someone asked about the writer who lives here, named Tom. Tonight I returned his material he gave me to read and got the manuscript of his book about his experience in World War II. He was a bomber pilot who was shot down over Germany and taken prisoner. Officers seemed to have had better treatment than what enlisted men received. I asked if any French prisoners were there (I was thinking of MV’s husband Robert), and he said no. Tom is first of all, an artist, a very good one. Instead of drawing an illustration to go with his writing, he writes something to go with the drawing!

About MV again. Some interest has lately picked up on those blogs concerning her book Yours Is the Earth. I cannot tell which country is reading which blogs, but Canada has been busy with my postings, even busier than the States, and more have come from France and from Australia than what would seem to come from my family there.

It’s going on midnight in Mountain Standard Time. Goodnight. ♥

Can You Tell Me?

Those of you who know about checking on a TV program that has already aired and watching it belatedly, or again, will you please check on something for this blog? The program was Bret Beier’s “Special Reports” on Fox News today. Not really concentrating on his exact words at the moment, I think he spoke about a sheriff somewhere, who told something new about the investigation into that man in the White House. If I heard correctly, he said the paper on which the president’s birth certificate had been issued had not come from the place—country, I think he said—in which the certificate had been produced. He added the investigation is ongoing.

In addition to that information, several e-mails have brought more news on the investigation, which need to wait for future blogs.
This is all for tonight. ♥

During These Few Minutes . . .

Since I last posted a blog, I’ve donated twenty-five or so of my books to BonaV’s library, with more to donate, when they are unpacked. But let me tell you about my cushion. Because my fractured spine is not 100% healed yet, I take a cushion from my apartment to almost every activity I attend. However, I did not take one to lunch today, but when I approached my walker parked near by (which I actually don’t need), someone had placed a cushion there, one of mine that I had apparently left somewhere else. I think I’m the only one here with a fractured spine, not that anyone can tell it, for I still stand up straight.

There isn’t much time for writing, even the blog. I doubt I’ll be able to enter the IWL’s contests this year. I’m sure no one in the League will feel too bad about that, for it leaves them more space for winning the prizes themselves. But one story was almost finished before my accident occurred. Maybe there is hope for that one.

It’s time to get ready to go to supper. Seems we eat all the time here. ♥

All in a Day’s Run

Cable One advertises on the telly with the promise you’ll get a live person on the line. You should try it if you like frustration. I dialed the number on their billing statement, which is the one in the telephone directory, and heard four options. None fit my intention, and so, I clicked on each of them and got nothing but the same options going around and around. With the 800 number, I got an ear full of music for a very long time before that live person came on. She explained the HD cost only $5, and that the rest of the high amount was for the Internet and my phone. The Executive Director of this place said those were supposed to be included with my lease here. She said she would call them and set them straight. I’ve been too busy to check on that.

Yesterday I took part in the Tuesday Trivia. I love that sort of thing. I answered more questions than anyone else. For example, I knew the Weimar Republic was in power in Germany just before Hitler. I don’t like it if someone thinks I learn such answers from working crosswords. I know this sort of thing because I had a good education. But I did learn “ort” from crosswords.

A lawyer reads from a book aloud here two afternoons a week and I hear he has a lovely voice and does a great job. I asked how a lawyer had time for that. He makes time, for his own mother is too blind to read for herself. (I don’t know if she is living here or not.) I trust next week I’ll be among his listeners.

I met an author today, a Tom. I was introduced with just my first name too. He wants us to talk about our writing. Friday the recently new residents will be honored at a Happy Hour at 4:00. I’d rather be writing instead. Besides, everyone seems to know who I am already. By the way, I am furnishing tomorrow night’s entertainment, my DVD of the newest version of “The 39 Steps.” It’s not really a popcorn type, but there will be popcorn. When will I get all those boxes of books unpacked? ♥

The Current Political Scene

What kind of convention the politicos will have this election time remains to be announced, but I hope it’s open to nominations from the floor by its delegates. Months of vitriol from both parties just might culminate in a brand new candidate to head the GOP ticket, such as Jeb Bush. How refreshing that sounds and so far as I know, he has no skeletons in the closet.

On another front, I awoke this morning at 3:40, and stayed awake. Too much is on the schedule today and that causes delaying what I really need to get done within the apartment. A few books are unpacked but many more are waiting in their own clutter. A maintenance man hung pictures and clocks for me yesterday and Shella arrived to hang more. I love clocks and want to see one wherever I am located in the place.

Bonaventure is beautiful. Someone has said, it looks like a country club. All woodwork is white and that makes for a more cheerful place. The halls, even this distant one on third floor, are inviting with breaks with sitting areas tastefully decorated. We do not hear our neighbors in their quarters. Few have computers, and no one else, I believe, has HD television. “Everything is furnished with your fee, except your cell phone,” was the official message, but I’ve learned now HD is not included. So, that shall be removed as soon as I can arrange for it.

It’s tine now to start my day. ♥

Greetings! I’m Back.

How I have missed blogging! As I saw a bit of a special tonight about Glen Campbell’s Alzheimer’s, and his wife’s saying his singing in the current tours seemed to be beneficial to his disease, I believed her, for I think my writing makes me many times happier and therefore, healthier.

What about you? What do you like to do most in the manner of actually accomplishing a useful job? For one lady I read about years ago, that happy chore was keeping her new stainless steel refrigerator shiny! She said she’d rather polish it than watch television.

Not only did I miss the writing, but also the reading. I wasn’t in a good environment for reading, mainly because of poor lighting both day and night. All the bright lights concentrated their beams over the corner basin, rather than any location where one might read. But you’ll hear about those last six weeks soon, when I’m more adjusted to my new apartment. Thanks to several of you for writing to me, wondering about the blog. I had almost 100 e-mails to check out and will admit, I deleted quite a few with little attention. I hope to write at length of my experience at a care center for these six weeks. When I complained to the Administrator of the place about the food there, he said, “I bet you’ll be writing about it.” How right he was. Watch for it. ♥

Our Fourth Greatest President

It could have been easily missed on Bill O’Reilly’s show last night, or the night before, for he didn’t stress it. If I heard right, he said that Obama named the three greatest presidents the USA had had. Their names slipped by me before I realized what O’Reilly said. Then Obama added he himself was the fourth! O’Reilly said, “George Washington was not in the list.”

Well, Obama ranks first on another list of presidents: the First Most Unbalanced President, full of egotism and hubris. ♠

Newt Is the One

While I recently predicted Santorum would win the Iowa caucus (and came within 8 points of doing so, and that count is questionable), I’ve also said Newt Gingrich is the only one of the GOP candidates who can possibly defeat Obama. I now say Newt will likely win the New Hampshire Primary next Tuesday.

Some of you might have just now seen and heard what I saw and heard on C-SPAN2, when Newt had a highly successful and rousing town hall meeting-type gathering in New Hampshire, that cinched my decision. Without teleprompters he talked about an hour, covering every important aspect of what’s wrong with the present administration and what he could do and would do to fix it. He spoke in mainly long sentences of which every one was greeted with enthusiastic applause. His short sentences were cleverly pithy, interspersed at just the right time. This is the first occasion—it seems to me—that he has actually had the opportunity to speak at length without media interference. He’s still there, accepting kudos and photo shots.

Tonight’s debate will be an important one and there’s another one tomorrow morning. I do not know which channels these are scheduled for. I hope you will make an effort to take one of these in. ♥

Two Winners in the Iowa Caucus

Well, I picked a winner, didn’t I? Santorum got only eight fewer votes than Romney received. Both of them made great speeches afterwards, but if anyone is dreaming of following in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan, Santorum comes closer to that goal, as far as speech-making is concerned. Both Candidates have lovely families. It will be interesting to watch those young people, if they end up in the White House.

Santorum also proved it does not take a fortune to maintain an organization to get elected. Or a bus! A truck can get you there.

Two of last night’s candidates seem to be about to drop out of the running. But in the case of Newt Gingrich and his rivals, we are told to expect fireworks in New Hampshire, starting today. I don’t anticipate watching that but catch some of it in reruns.

I am having a particularly painful day, otherwise, with my injuries. ♥

The Iron Lady

Michelle Bachman said today in Iowa that she wanted to be America’s Iron Lady. If she is elected president, what would her husband be called? First Gentleman? First Man? First Husband? I prefer First Man of these names, but then he would be nicknamed Adam, wouldn't he?

I figure this is already decided and just not revealed yet.

If all these uses here of the Passive Voice annoy you, you can rewrite the blog in the Active Voice. Thanks. ♥♥♥

A Nice Surprising Find

Today, an interesting link (to my Lindsley family) showed up on my blog work page. If you Lindsley cousins have ever wondered about the origin of the name Adrian Van Sinderen Lindsley, here is something to check out:

http://www.bing.com/search?q=Adrian+van+sinderen%2C+esq+nashville

I first learned of AVS, without the surname Lindsley, in a Ford magazine over 50 years ago. I think the mag was called, perhaps still is, Ford Times, subscriptions given to customers who bought a new Ford. AVS was a wealthy man with splendid stables and carriages in the northeast, Connecticut, I think. I have no idea, at this point, the connection between AVS and our own g’g’grandfather Philip Lindsley, that the latter obviously named his eldest son, my g’grandfather, for this AVS. When time allows, I’ll read the link material. ♥