HAPPY HALLOWEEN

How and where on earth did this holiday become popular? Thousands of dollars and many hours are spent on the costumes for just one night's excitment.

Halloween is an anual holiday observed on Oct. 31st. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain, and the Christian holiday, All Saints Day but, today it is largely a nonsecular celebration.

The festival of Samhain celebrates the end of the "light half" of the year and the beginning 0f the"darker half." The ancient Celts believed the border between This World and That World.....became thin on Samhain, allowing spirits (both harmful and harmless), to pass through. It was felt the warding off of the harmful spirits could be done by dressing up in costumes and masks. All the elements of the autumn season such as pumpkins, corn husks and scarecrows are very prevalent.

Traditional characters are ghosts, witches, skeltons, vampires, werewolves, demons, bats and black cats. Black and orange are the colors of night and fire. Went to Pam's house to let her dog out last week and found the Panniers are really in the holiday spirit, (her house.)

Had a busy grandchild weekend: Took Kennedy to Speech Therapy on Friday and got to see my sweet Alex as he was trying to come around after having four wisdom teeth pulled. He was so funny. Saturday I was off to decorate for the Morp Dance at Brighton High for Annie and kept Scott that night. Sunday morning off to church for the Primary Children's Program and this morning off to watch Scott in the Halloween Parade at school. I cherish each and everyone of these encounters! Well, being the last day of the month, guess I better tackle the pile of bills next. Happy Halloween, having beautiful weather........

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

The circle of Life is made up of "Choices and Consequences." Every choice has a consequence to deal with, every consequence in turn makes you make a new choice! It is a never ending circle.

"Have you ever looked at a great farm gate that opens and closes? If you look at the hinge, it moves ever so little. Just a little movement of the hinge creates tremendous consequences out of the perimeter. That is the way it is with our lives. It is the little decisions that make the great differences in our lives."

Remember your mother said: Don't judge your days and life by how much you accomplish but by the kindness given and received. (I think of Margo's thank you note for making Christmas stockings for all her children when they were born and her son's request for her to do the same for his children. That thank-you note meant alot after 14 years of not hearing from her......and yes, I sent her my pattern.) As you pass through your years you will find the best thing to give your enemy is forgiveness (Don), To an opponent--tolerance, to a friend--your heart and to a child a good example. To live till you die is to live long enough! Just remember Elegant in the journey is Exquisite in the arrival......or whatever! As the years pass there is no time to deal in "if's" and "could be's"

Alex had his wisdom teeth out today and he was so cute as he tried to come out of the anesethic......he had Sherrie and I rolling. Took Ken in for speech therapy.

DAILY ROUTINE....

I love my daily routine! Yes, it is very dull and most people would opt out, but I feel very comfortable with it. Sleep in, yes I sleep in.....till about 7:30. I always got up and saw all my children off to school or got to work on time when I needed to, now I don't need to. I get my paper, turn on TV to CNN and have my first cup of coffee. The newspaper is getting to be a bit of nothing, but I need to see what is going on locally and internationally. I admit we have become scanners for information, picking and choosing from the media salad bar like finicky children. I check the headlines, Kirby, kinda skim over the usual killings, robbings and wrecks. I have given up the comics for the obituaries in my old age. I am not from Utah (I grew up in Colorado) so don't know many of the people that pass each day, but am interested in what year they were born so I see how old the average age is!!!!!! I read my horiscope and plunge into the daily suduko. Check out the new receipts, don't know why I have no intention of trying any of them.....cooking for one is no fun!

So far we have had the choice of 2 media salad bars, one what the Republicans are doing (voting for Mitt so don't even go there) and having to listen to or read about Obama's latest NEW PROGRAM???? Sorry I had to miss Elaine's funeral and party but just wasn't up to crossing paths with my X even though I have wrapped him in a box and dropped him into the bottom of -my emotional ocean.....And as I finish this I stare at the tired white-faced clock on the wall as it hands me the minutes of my life-----one by one----what do I do with them? Toss them aside or cherish them ....yes, I cherish them. Tomorrow coffee with Ruth and Patty!

MISS LIBERTY.....

These two ladies viewing this very famous lady standing guard in the harbor came from different parts of the world. Little did we know growing up in the small town in Colorado that some day together we would meet Miss Liberty. Leslie and I spent two fun-filled days in New York enjoying her many sights. The statue has to be a high-light of any trip to New York. This is a view from the Staten Ferry, but you still get the meaning of the wonderful poem written about the the people who first sailed into the harbor and into freedom. Lady Liberty is getting high-tech gifts for her 125th birthday; web-cams on her torch that will let viewers gaze out at New York and read the tablet in her hands or see visitors on the grounds of the island below. The statue, designed by sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, was given by the French government to the U.S. as a token of friendship between the two countries and dedicated by Pres. Grover Cleveland. She has a very impressive poem in her honor: "THE NEW COLOSSUS" Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land, Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand. A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lighting and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command, the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores. Send these, the homeless tempest-lost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Emma Lazarus 1883. Had a nice lunch with Kortney today.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

I didn't know that! They have same-name clubs........Having the name Betty is the only requirement to join the bevy of Bettys who belong to 15 regional chapters across the country and gather every April for camaraderie and companionship with their namesakes. Their names tie them together. The first Betty Club was founded in Hastings in 1994. The conventions are a hodge-podge of vintage aprons, reports on individual chapters, charitable projects, group portraits and the club's anthem "Betty's a Star" written by member Betty Surls 73, of Lincoln. Celebrating their old-fashioned name is important to Bettys. During the 1920s and 1930s, Betty was one of the most popular names in America, glamorized by cartoon character Betty Boop, homemaker Betty Crocker and Hollywood starlets Bette Davis, Betty Grable and Betty White. "Years ago, men used to say, 'She's a Betty!" which meant 'Wow, She's a hottie!' All of my almost 8o years I felt Betty was a very common name, but was called Betty Ree. Now I can feel when I was hatched my parents went for one of the most popular names of that day......born in 1932.....I don't think they even name cats or dogs Betty today. Oh yes, they do have Bob clubs, Linda clubs, there is a Jim Smith Society. Most of the same-name clubs can meet anywhere, but the Phil Campbells head to Phil Campbell, Alabama (pop. 1,148).

NO MATTER WHICH ROAD I TRAVEL....I'M GOING HOME.

FUN WEEKEND

Been home from vacation for a week and enjoying the fun memories. New York is still my favorite stop, the energy you feel when you stand in Time Sqauare is hard to explain, but our last stop Halifax, Nova Scotia was very interesting. This is a picture of Peggy's Cove and Light House. The famous lighthouse is surrounded by the raging seas of the Atlantic Ocean, and sits on solid granite at the entrance to St. Margaret's Bay. The original lighthouse, built in 1868, was replaced by the present one in 1914. During World War II, the lighthouse served as a radio station for the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1973 the lighthouse officially became a Post Office during the summer months with its own Cancellation Stamp. This area is one of the most picturesque harbours in Atlantic Canada. There are a few summer residence dotting the area, but no one stays around during the winter.

Another very interesting bit of history was visiting the Fairview Lawn Cemetry where 200 passengers from the "Titanic" were buried 100 years ago. Happening 20 years before I was born I have always known of the "Titanic" and it's terrible fate. On April 10, 1912, the Titanic left on her maiden voyage with over 2,200 passengers and crew members aboard. Four days later, she struck an iceberg south of Newfoundland. She sank in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Just over 700 survivors in life boats were rescued by the Carpathia and taken to New York. Newfoundland was closest to the ship but had no facilities to bring in the bodies so Nova Scotia went out and got as many as they could find. The grave stones in the cemetary are placed like a ship. Each head stone has a number, indicating when it was taken from the water, some have names, many could not be identified. No, it is not just a "Movie" .......it really happened and the cememtery brings it back to you. Tonight is Spegetti Factory Night! Celebrating Scott's BD.

ARE YOU LEFT HANDED?

Just read an interesting article about being left-handed. All my life before marriage I only remember one person who was left-handed and that was my favorite Aunt Betty Keller. I have since learned a lot about left-handed people as I married a man who was left handed, and two of my three daughters are left handed and my first grandchild is left handed. I remember when my first daughter came home from school in the first grade she apologized for her messy paper, because the teacher made her use her other hand. I went to school the next day and informed the teacher, I did not want them to try and change her from being left-handed. From then on there never was a problem at school. When the twins were born 11 years later, they ended up being "Mirror Imagine" twins. One is right handed and one is left handed, so when they face each other they are using the same hand. School had changed by the time they started school and no one suggested Karrie write with her other hand. Many famous and talented people have been left handed. Their advantage is scientifically based on how the brain works. Each side of the brain specializes in different activities, a process called lateralization, which has been researched for 35 years in Md. Lefties have more bilateral brain activity, which can be an advantage in visualizing and solving problems. Klar's research suggests that a single dominant gene determines right-handedness. People who don't inherit the right-hand gene have an equal chance of being right or left handed. Lefties take pride in being themselves, while acknowledging the aggravations of our right handed world of fountain knobs, regrigerator doors, can openers, pruning shears, guitars etc.
My sister informed me she read my last blog and I put Mike's first wife Lauren in instead of his second wife Andrea. Sorry Andrea, old habits die hard, especially when your pushing 80. I tried hard the whole cruise to get it right!

EVEN A STOPPED CLOCK IS RIGHT TWICE A DAY..........

BIG DAY FOR SCOTTIE.....

Last night was bridge club for me, so I was sleeping in this morning when I got a call from my youngest grandchild......"Hi grandma, it's my birthday!" It was my Scott Calvin Cook to remind me it was his birthday.....big #10.....I sang happy birthday to him and promised to be over after school with a present for him. He even invited me to come to his sleep-over with his friends, now how many grandmothers get an invitation like that from their cute grandsons? We are very good friends. I think when your grandchildren love you and enjoy having you in their lives then your life is a success. He was and is the cutest thing with a personality that doesn't stop. He plays football, basketball and Lacross and swims and loves being with his friends. I look forward to more years of fun with my last grandchild as I watch him grow into a great young man.

Life without God is like an un-sharpened pencil.........It has no point!

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER.......

Just spent a week on a cruise with a whole bunch of relatives. You can choose your friends, but you just inherit your relatives. After seven days you pretty well see a lot of moods you were not aware these people had. Most of us got along, but there were a few marital spats.......most of the group were a lot younger than I was and keeping up was a bit of a struggle at times. I am still trying to get rested. We started in New York as I wrote about in my last blog then boarded Carnival Glory for a 7 day Canada Cruise. It stopped at Boston MA, Portland ME, Saint John New Bruswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. I had done all that once before, but was desperate to cruise again. We had the above picture taken the dress-up night, (Leslie almost cut off) Seemed everyone had their own itenerary. Jim liked movies and ball games in his room, Linda wandered. Tami and Kevin and Leslie kept heading to the casino. Mike and Lauren wanted to go somewhere quiet and dance (and be alone). K0rina and Bill kinda went their separate ways. Bill didn't like the big group and kept disappearing, leaving Kina alone. But I was pretty much alone so we hooked up alot. We all met for dinner at 6, and then we were on our own! The weather was nice the whole trip which makes cruising more fun. It was a long day at Kennedy Airport waiting for our 7 PM flight home. Pam and Rob met me in Pam's brand new Lexus, dark blue, with all the trimmings. Talked to Karrie , loved Gigi and fell into bed.

I AM HOME!

I am home after my 10 day trip......and there is no place like home. We popped off to New York City two days before our cruise and had a great time. Leslie and I saw the "Book of Mormon", which I adored and cannot see why part of the Mormon community refused to see it! I could see why it won the the Tony Awards. The music was fabulous. Then the second night we saw "War Horse" which was great with it's mechanical horses. The guys liked it. Leslie didn't, but I did. Hey, any Broadway Show is a thrill to me. We walked a hundred miles and I am still paying for it. Didn't realize we needed a ticket to see the Reflection Pools at Ground Zero, so couldn't get in. I was very disappointed. We toured the Trinity Church and St Pauls, Hiked down to the dock and took the ferry to Staten Island so got good pictures of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Saw the demonstrators in front of the Stock Market exchange. Loved Time Square at night with all the bright lights. Our hotel was small, but we had a great location with a wonderful Deli next door. Five people in one room was very cozy.......I didn't get much shopping in as I was with a bunch from Winslow that don't shop. They did feel sorry for me and found a small shopping corner with many Kiosks. Yes, I love New York and the shows. The last time the three girls and I were there, we saw Wicked and Moma Mia, another memorable trip. Some bad news today a very good friend Elaine Sorsenson died. She was my sister-in-law's sister, Elaine was 92. I will get to the cruise next time.

Counting the hours.....

Well, the big day is almost here and counting down the hours now, not the days before I'm off to New York City for a couple of days before boarding our cruise up to Canada with my sister and other family members. We ended up with a fun group of 10 family members, some never have been to New York and several have not cruised before so that makes it even more fun. We have tickets for the Mormon Musical and for War Horse and a fun day of sight seeing. Karrie weighted my suitcase tonight and I was only at 35 pounds so that means I can shop 15 more pounds. I have done this cruise only from Quebec to New York, but cruises are fun no matter where you go. I will miss my Gigi, she looks so beautiful after her grooming at Petco Monday. She loves Karries house and her two big dogs.
It turned cold and rainy today but I think we are going to have cold weather back east. Well, guess I better get busy and finish my last minute chores, tomorrow will be a long day.....More when I get home.

LISTENING CHAIR.......

Every house should have a "listening chair". A chair can be of any size, form or color, but it needs to be tucked into a quiet corner and very comfortable. It should be available most any time day or night. No TV, records, family traffic and the cat must know it is yours......When you are in it the person must have your undivided attention. Be made to feel loved, important and special. The old chair will never tell the secrets it hears or spread the troubles of the house. It always welcomes some laughs along with the tears. Where is your listening chair? When I think of listening chairs I think back about the big rocking chair in my grandmother's front room. In fact there were two big rocking chairs, one for grandma and one for grandpa. They would pull them up near to the old pot bellied stove and read or listen to the radio. One was always available to us children who lived down the street and when things didn't go right it wasn't far to grandma's house where she always listened to "our" side. By the time we had cried it out and told her our sad story, along with a nice fresh roll and butter we would be sent back down the street to our home feeling much better. Leslie got grandma's old rocking chair, but lent it to me to rock the twins when they were babies. I don't know who got grandpa's chair. I think this is such a good idea and should extend into all families and all ages. Feeling a little better today, hope the medicine is working as I only have one more day to get better before my trip! Finishing up the packing and last minute chores.

BEAUTIFUL OCTOBER

September seemed to fly and October just slip in. October is special because I got my second granddaughter in October and my last grandson. My second son-in-law, Darren has a birthday as did my wonderful father. At the left is Nicci and since day one was always a firecracker. She has a very nice boyfriend, Bill which we all love and a new puppy Oliver! Happy Birthday Nicci......whose birthday was yesterday Oct. 2. All week I have really felt crappy and finally the girls talked me into going to the doctor today only after spending two hours sitting, I found I have an ear infection. I am leaving on a 10 day vacation Thursday and do not want to start out sick, so I am on antibiotics for 10 days. Here's hoping I get better fast. Gigi had her first trip to the groomers today and looks beautiful. Clean ears, clipped nails and a good brushing and a bath. She smells and looks very nice, but isn't too happy with me. Went up to the Christenson's cabin yesterday with the Cooks, the fall leaves were so pretty around Park City. They had their horses there and they had a fun horse ride. Today has been my start of count down to get packed and ready for my New York trip and cruise up to Canada. Yea!