Things we do in Cars

The older we become, the more we appreciate the joys we took for granted in our youth. Cruising the streets in cars filled with 23 cent gasoline and pulling into a drive-in restaurant for soft drinks and fries. We spent many hours just occupying the space and visiting with friends indulging in the same summer pastime. It occurred to me just yesterday, that the owners of Stanley's Drive In might have preferred to have a customer willing to buy more profitable foods and leave when the meal had been consumed. We usually spent at least an hour sipping and nibbling after spending less than a dollar. I don't think we tipped the car hops either. Oh yes Stanley's Drive In was the place to learn the latest in relationships, activities, upcoming events and newest drama. Some even stole the salt shakers. I can remember going into a friend's bedroom and seeing a collection of a dozen or more of the little cheap shakers brought out on the tray with fries. She was not a bit chagrined by my horror, in fact, she couldn't understand why I hadn't entered the race to collect more than anyone else. It wasn't long after that Stanley's stopped automatically including the shakers on the trays. Today salt comes in tiny little paper packets and no one notices if you take them with you.

All these little snippets of memories sneaked into my consciousness yesterday as Ol' Abner and I walked around a car show featuring restored and updated cars from years past. He found a 59 Chevy in the same color he once drove proudly. His first car was a '55 Chevy and he saw several of the same body style but not the same paint scheme. He remembers the cars themselves. I didn't know him then...but I remember many fun times in cars like those.

Blooms

Things that bloom always make me smile. This week I've been reviving my front porch with fresh plants, some returned from indoor wintering and others new to the mix. The scent of growing geraniums always gives me a happy clean feeling. I love the tall spiky salvia, and better still, the deer do NOT! Marigolds have to be dotted in several of my pots because deer find them particularly abhorrent, and I do like their perky gold and orange blossoms. I've added a couple of hanging baskets near the porch containing coleus interspersed with a number of dusty miller sprouts...since deer aren't fond of the grey green fronds.

All this attention to the front porch gives me a glorious excuse to avoid the weeding of the daffodil bed and deciding what to do about redecorating the treehouse. Last year simple ferns graced my favorite outdoor sitting area, but I'm thinking a bit of color may be in the mix this season. Maybe a few coleus can be added. Nothing with too much maintenance will be tolerated. Guess I better avoid things that need to be deadheaded. Maybe a tall palm for the corner...hmmm, gonna have to worry this one a bit. Meanwhile Ol' Abner brings my wheelbarrow of dirt to the front and returns it to the back when I've used what I need. He doesn't get the same thrill with blooms that I enjoy, but he indulgently backs up my efforts.

Around the Mountain and Through the Woods

A couple of days ago I attended a morning gathering of women with a friend. I knew no one else when we arrived yet welcoming smiles accompanied warm introductions. Driving through the woods to our destination revealed a couple of houses along the road. A dozen or so women were in attendance, all from the surrounding woods. The beauty of this area lies in it's seeming isolation in a populated area. Most of the inhabitants delight in the ability to live where no neighbors are evident, yet are comforted by the spirit of community among neighbors. Conversation was lively as the ladies updated one another and moved from topic to topic smoothly with no one at a loss for words. Even though Mountain Girl had brought me along uninvited, I never felt like an interloper. Is this sense of commonality the result of shared love of these mountains or is it from the attainment of retirement age? Each of us mentioned a love of some kind of craft, joy of reading, and delight in this beautiful place where we live. While I may not cross paths with these women again, it seems kindred spirits abound in these hills.

Rising Water

Our lake is within a foot of it's all time highest level. The spring rains have filled the creeks, flowed into the river and made the lake full. Our lake is the last of the chain of lakes on the beautiful White River and thus the final barrier to downstream flooding in Arkansas. The lake level has been just at the edge of the flood gates for the last week and power generation gates are running in an effort to release some of the pressure from tributaries flowing into the lake and create much needed renewable energy. Reading and hearing about the flood ravaged lowlands makes me glad we are above the wetness here on the mountain. On the other hand, returning from the drought stricken Texas hill country, I couldn't help but wish this water could be redirected that way. The excess forty or fifty feet of water in our pond would spread quite well along the Lake Travis waterfront and no one would complain at all. I really do understand that seldom are all things kept equal, and it isn't my role in life to determine where rainwater should fall. That still doesn't keep me from offering a prayer to my maker to send a bit of this water to my beloved Texas.

Never say "NOT"

Today I have my annual preventive care exam. My doctor insists I schedule the usual battery of tests followed by poking and prodding, weighing and measuring to determine that I am indeed still alive and well. As I complain about this intrusive process, a bit of gratitude is always present that good health has been mine to enjoy throughout my long life.

At the same time, a bit of ironic frustration rears it's ugly head. My own words have again, cursed me. When I called to schedule the appointment, the staffer asked what my appointment purpose might be. My response "there's not a thing in the world wrong with me", as I complained that my doc just thinks I should visit once a year whether I need it or not.

Later that day and each day hence, a crushing sinus headache has plaqued me at some time in the afternoon. The headaches have been migraine-like in intensity. Some days my left eye reddens and swells from the pain. Nothing I try seems to prevent the onset, and no amount of denial keeps me going. My only relief seems to come with come with sleep after heavy medication, cold packs, and nasal rinses. Technically, I am NOT ill, just uncomfortable...no, miserable for two or three hours each day.

My dilemma? Since this is a preventive care apppointment, paid at 100% by my insurance, do I ask that my doctor search for the cause at this visit or endure the elusive search for the usual suspected causes of degeneration and schedule an appointment tomorrow to diagnose and treat my sinusitis or cause thereof? Maybe I'll just leave that to the doc, after all it's his paycheck we're providing here.

Leggy

I spent most of yesterday cleaning out my closet. Such a shame to have more clothes than I can possibly wear in the course of a year, yet somehow the one pair of well fitting slacks, capris, jeans, still seems elusive. Such is the curse of living in a six foot tall body with 36" inseam. Tall sizes have always been ill-fitting on my frame. Either the crotch hangs to my knees or the waistband pulls up to support my bra. With the crotch at the knee, the hem graces my ankles nicely. Pull the waistband up so the hips fit properly and the pants become more like capris, not pleasant in cold weather. Worse yet, slacks shrugged up into the upper regions eventually slide back down to allow the saggy baggage that flatters no one.

Long legs have always been a feature I consider an asset. So why do I complain? Usually I don't. I just keep searching for the perfect pants, thus, a closet full of ill-fitting leg coverings. The local charity thrift shop gladly accepted my rejects from yesterday. I will suppress the urge to continue my quest, summer's coming and shorts are much more forgiving in length.