This morning I've considered this world of permissions. You want permission, you have permission, you're allowed, you get what you want. When did this come to be?
When I was a child I looked to my parents, perhaps my mom the most. She was my example. The person I most wanted to emulate. As I grew I listened to friends and my siblings, but my mom still had a hold on me. As I grew to adulthood (or I presumed adulthood) I thought I'd made it. I could count on myself though now I realize I've never done it alone. I've always had support, even the Highest support.
Truly I do try to count on myself but I always have that support system. What I mean is, my mom is still there, my siblings have been with me through what was a very trying period in my life and my kids, my joy, are always there to support me. I've got my very own cheering section. I am one of the very luckiest ones. Even more lucky because I've counted on the Lord always. (I'll tell you sometime of the prayers He has answered that left no doubt in my mind of the giver.)
I saw kids growing up around me that didn't have my support system. They were left to themselves more than they should have been. They had permission to do things I would have never considered. I read about those kids. I saw them on television shows. I see them now as adults and wonder why. Why didn't they get support? Why didn't someone care? Why wasn't someone there to show them that sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes you have to work for the prize.
Has our society started to lose sight of what is right by forcing an attitude of political correctness of permissions? I think perhaps we have. At this time in our country's life we are seeing hundreds of thousands of people without jobs, we see women having children because they can make money that way, we see people with their hands out for everything and I wonder why someone doesn't say NO. I've interviewed people looking for jobs but I also think I've had a few that answered in such a way that would lead me not to consider them. I think my question is: are they proud? Are they proud that they can have what seems like everything without expending any energy, without leaving home? There is a lot to be said for sweat equity.
I think it's time for a new ethic. I think it's time for someone to say NO. I think it's time to stop political correctness and return to a time of responsibility and ownership. Life wasn't designed to be an existence of complete allowance and decadence.
I try to remember my every choice has an impact on someone other than myself. I am not an island. I have a cheering section to help me through the daily tribulations and occasional permissions and at the end of the day I am not alone. I am the compilation of all that is around me. Mostly, I'm responsible.
Long Live Texas
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
George Armstrong Custer
I love history. I love to read about the people in history but I'm not all that enamored with the dates. My brother knows all the dates. I cannot tell you how often we have gone somewhere or watched some movie on TV only for him to ask, "Now who was queen in England? or What was happening in America during this time?" I don't know. The movie is not about England or America. If you ask me a question about individuals I can respond (though not as completely as he). I know the little things are just as important but I like the living, breathing kind of history.
So you ask, what is living history? My favorite thing!
The first I really knew of living history was about 20 years ago. I went to an event at Fort Richardson in Texas. I was in the commanding officer's home and was mesmerized by a man who talked in first person. I could see the cocky young general, George Armstrong Custer, he spoke of in his custom made uniform. I could feel the cloth and see the gleam of his sword! That man made Custer a living person for me. He could have been in the room with us and I would have easily recognized his arrogance.
Now I have the joy and privilege of participating myself. To be honest I starting learning things right after that so I could play too.
I taught my Girl Scouts to sew so they could make clothes and go with me to the Fort. They taught kids how to play games of the period. That was such fun. I never chased a round hoop but I played with a hoola-hoop. It's just not the same as pushing a large wooden hoop across the rough ground. The girls learned to play jacks with a wooden ball. I wonder how many young girls today can play jacks or have even tried. We've lost many of the games children played in the past, including Graces.
This last weekend I went to the Fort. We had school kids come on Friday and the public on Saturday. About mid-day I had a 14 year old boy that challenged me. He was honest when he blurted into the south ward of the hospital that he was "bored". In my usual form I replied, "well let me see if I can change that for you." I started telling the most disgusting story I knew about the hospital. He perked up and by the time I'd told 3 or 4 we were best buds. OK, not really but he stopped complaining for the rest of the tour.
Saturday I got the compliment I have sought for all my years volunteering. One of the guys from the front office came to tell me they had received multiple compliments about the Fort but one particular compliment was for the woman in the red dress. Those folks said I made history come alive! I know those people from my tour will remember my little bit of history. It was life in the Fort. It wasn't about a battle; it was just life. People remember life.
It's my hope we all remember our own "living" histories. Nothing like sharing a story from your youth with kids to make you remember those good old days. We sure had some, didn't we?
Long Live Texas
So you ask, what is living history? My favorite thing!
The first I really knew of living history was about 20 years ago. I went to an event at Fort Richardson in Texas. I was in the commanding officer's home and was mesmerized by a man who talked in first person. I could see the cocky young general, George Armstrong Custer, he spoke of in his custom made uniform. I could feel the cloth and see the gleam of his sword! That man made Custer a living person for me. He could have been in the room with us and I would have easily recognized his arrogance.
Now I have the joy and privilege of participating myself. To be honest I starting learning things right after that so I could play too.
I taught my Girl Scouts to sew so they could make clothes and go with me to the Fort. They taught kids how to play games of the period. That was such fun. I never chased a round hoop but I played with a hoola-hoop. It's just not the same as pushing a large wooden hoop across the rough ground. The girls learned to play jacks with a wooden ball. I wonder how many young girls today can play jacks or have even tried. We've lost many of the games children played in the past, including Graces.
This last weekend I went to the Fort. We had school kids come on Friday and the public on Saturday. About mid-day I had a 14 year old boy that challenged me. He was honest when he blurted into the south ward of the hospital that he was "bored". In my usual form I replied, "well let me see if I can change that for you." I started telling the most disgusting story I knew about the hospital. He perked up and by the time I'd told 3 or 4 we were best buds. OK, not really but he stopped complaining for the rest of the tour.
Saturday I got the compliment I have sought for all my years volunteering. One of the guys from the front office came to tell me they had received multiple compliments about the Fort but one particular compliment was for the woman in the red dress. Those folks said I made history come alive! I know those people from my tour will remember my little bit of history. It was life in the Fort. It wasn't about a battle; it was just life. People remember life.
It's my hope we all remember our own "living" histories. Nothing like sharing a story from your youth with kids to make you remember those good old days. We sure had some, didn't we?
Long Live Texas
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Just got the call that my car is ready. Can I just say I find insurance people to be nearly as slimy as used car salesmen and attorneys!
I took my car to get it repaired after a recent fender bender. The first repair guy I met was so friendly, even telling me to call on Monday to see if my car is ready. OK, nice. Then I call Monday. The guy on the card says I didn't order parts for you. Really, you told me you would. Well it doesn't matter we can get them right away anyway.
I take my car in after work. It's not the same guy. He wants to know who was handing out his cards. Obviously someone who didn't want to be bothered with a phone call on Monday? This fellow is very nice though I'm palmed off again to someone else.
Everyone tries to convince me that they are working for me and all will be new again. So why don't I trust these people? Maybe it's because they are all so nicey nice and ever helpful if you don't need to know their real name.
I'll go look at my car today. I don't know if I can trust them or not. Did they check everything? Is the spare tire which was moved almost through the back door in the same spot? I know they replaced the molding but does it have wind noise like it developed in the last week? I guess I have to trust people who I already know don't identify themselves accurately. Not a lot of confidence in my corner.
Even more bizarre is the woman who was the third in line of my accident. She's admitted she's responsible for the kid who hit me but there is a caveat - a phantom 4th driver hit her. Really? When was that because there were only 2 impacts. According to her story someone hit her so hard they knocked her into the kid that hit me and was busy texting! Let's revisit this for just a second, the "phantom" hits her so hard it pushes her into the boy's car which then pushes into my car. WOW! I like phantom cars! Wonder if it was a new model or something more classic. She doesn't recall because of course being a "phantom" she didn't see it!
I will be totally gray headed before some of these folks learn to tell the truth.
PS We had some nasty storms yesterday and of course my luck has not changed. The rental is covered in golf ball dimples! I just can't win.
Long Live Texas
I took my car to get it repaired after a recent fender bender. The first repair guy I met was so friendly, even telling me to call on Monday to see if my car is ready. OK, nice. Then I call Monday. The guy on the card says I didn't order parts for you. Really, you told me you would. Well it doesn't matter we can get them right away anyway.
I take my car in after work. It's not the same guy. He wants to know who was handing out his cards. Obviously someone who didn't want to be bothered with a phone call on Monday? This fellow is very nice though I'm palmed off again to someone else.
Everyone tries to convince me that they are working for me and all will be new again. So why don't I trust these people? Maybe it's because they are all so nicey nice and ever helpful if you don't need to know their real name.
I'll go look at my car today. I don't know if I can trust them or not. Did they check everything? Is the spare tire which was moved almost through the back door in the same spot? I know they replaced the molding but does it have wind noise like it developed in the last week? I guess I have to trust people who I already know don't identify themselves accurately. Not a lot of confidence in my corner.
Even more bizarre is the woman who was the third in line of my accident. She's admitted she's responsible for the kid who hit me but there is a caveat - a phantom 4th driver hit her. Really? When was that because there were only 2 impacts. According to her story someone hit her so hard they knocked her into the kid that hit me and was busy texting! Let's revisit this for just a second, the "phantom" hits her so hard it pushes her into the boy's car which then pushes into my car. WOW! I like phantom cars! Wonder if it was a new model or something more classic. She doesn't recall because of course being a "phantom" she didn't see it!
I will be totally gray headed before some of these folks learn to tell the truth.
PS We had some nasty storms yesterday and of course my luck has not changed. The rental is covered in golf ball dimples! I just can't win.
Long Live Texas
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