February Diversions

 

4 – Thank Your Mailman Day

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE to get cards and letters. That’s the reason I joined up with Postcrossing.com many years ago. Not only do I get postcards from all over the world, I’ve gained a couple of penpals along the way. Writing letters just for fun has become a lost art. It’s so much easier to do email or Facebook. But I like having something I can hold in my hand and look at again and again.

And who would be better at delivering those cards and letters than Mr. McFeely!!

 

 7 – Send a Card to a Friend Day

What a follow-up to the day above!! I love making cards and sending them. I usually go all out at Christmas, but I enjoy making cards for any occasion. Sometimes I will get some funny greeting cards at the Dollar Tree and make them into postcards. If you don’t want to make, buy or mail a card, go ahead and send an email card. That counts!

 

23 – In 1940 the movie Pinocchio was released

I was raised on Disney movies and the TV show. “When You Wish Upon a Star” was a wonderful song that went straight into my heart. I can listen to it over and over. Take the 2 minutes required and listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNtFRt8Qi4s

 

23 – Also on this day, U.S. Marines raised the flag on Iwo Jima (1945)

The battle lasted from Feb. 19 to March 26. God bless America!

 

28 – Final episode of M*A*S*H is aired (1983)

Great series. Very few better than this one. We watched the show every week and had a couple of friends over for dinner and watched the last episode together.

 

Random Ratiocinations

 

What mythical creature do you wish actually existed?

Dragons and unicorns, of course! Unicorns are just so darn cool, and I’d love to have a dragon like the ones in the Pern series by McCaffrey.

 

What animal would be cutest if scaled down to the size of a cat?

An adorable little elephant.

 

If you could domesticate any animal in the world, which would you pick?

Any of the large cats. Snow leopard, mountain lion, jaguar.

 

Would You Rather Look Like A Potato, Or Feel Like A Potato?

I would have to say I’d rather look like a potato, because…at least they have EYES!!! hahahahaha

 

What invention doesn’t get a lot of love, but has greatly improved the world?

Toilet paper. Toothpaste. Deodorant.

 

What’s something that will always be in fashion, no matter how much time passes?

What small change greatly improves a person’s appearance?

The answer to both of these questions is: A SMILE!

 

What’s the hardest you’ve ever worked?

Birthing two kids, both breech, with NO drugs. Gotta admit, though, it was worth it.

 

When was the last time you immediately regretted something you said?

I’m sure there have been many times this happened, but there is one time that I will never forget. There was a couple at church who had been married forever, and he died. It was maybe a couple weeks later at coffee hour after church that I was looking for Marv and scanning the room. The widow asked what I was doing and (without thinking) I said “Oh, I just lost my husband.” YIKES!! The woman got a kind of glazed look and walked away.

 

If you could change your name at this very moment, but it couldn’t contain any of the odd numbered letters in the alphabet, what name would you choose?

Since ALL the vowels are odd numbered, that’s a bit of a poser. I doubt that I could even come up with a Welsh name. So I went in the other direction and used only the even numbered letters. That wasn’t a lot better, but here’s what I chose: Susie McKay. Either that or M.C. Queasy.

 

Holiday Reflections

Usually, it’s Thanksgiving that is considered the start of “The Season” so that’s where I’ll begin. It’s usually just Marv and me at Thanksgiving. When his mom was alive, we always had her over, and sometimes Sarah and Lia were there as well. This year was different. Our church hosted a full-on dinner for the folks that would otherwise be alone. That was nice. All the trimmings and none of the clean-up or leftovers for days on end.

 

Depending on where in the week Christmas Eve and Day fall, it’s sometimes just Marv and me for that. We used to have a couple of friends we’ve known forever come to the house after the church service on Christmas Eve. Now they go to another church and also have the joy of a grandson and spend it with him. Marv and I have always been comfortable with being alone with just the two of us. This year was wonderful with both Sarah and Lia being here and then Lia staying on for an entire week.

 

A couple of weeks before Christmas, Rite Aid would usually have their Russel Stover boxed chocolates on sale for $5. I would get one of almost every variety and put them in the freezer. Throughout the following year I would get a box out of the freezer on occasion and those chocolate would last me until the next Christmas sale. I didn’t do that this year. My scale had become increasingly sarcastic whenever I stepped on it and I took the hint.

 

And no peeps this year!! No Christmas trees, snowmen, gingerbread men…I did find a lonely box of 3 snowmen peeps on sale at CVS after Christmas and got it. I think they might have been there since last year…

 

Also, no Baklava!!!! I would get a tray of that, usually at Walmart and make that last for quite a while. NONE to be found this year! Not even Raley’s! I was ready to pay a hefty price there, but there wasn’t any. I did pay for the ridiculously high-priced holiday grapes, but that was my special treat to me for Christmas. One bag.

 

So Epiphany has come and gone. Christmas is over. The boxes are down from the attic. The shepherds, wise men and the holy family will nap until next year.

 

I came across this article by Debbie McDaniel. Wise words on what to remember about this celebration of the birth of Christ, and the days following:

 

“Deep breath.

His reminder today, Christmas may be over, but He never changes. Though some days seem to have lost their shine, He's still the same.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. On all the big, celebration days and on all the days in between.

We still have such reason to celebrate, we still have reason for joy, today, and every day.

For He is with us.

Don't ever doubt. His heart is for you. In the times of joy, and the times of brokenness, through it all, He longs to give grace and pour out His love.

May His peace and joy fill your hearts and homes more than ever before, in these days after Christmas.”

https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/debbie-mcdaniel/one-truth-to-remember-when-christmas-is-over.html