Post Oak Chronicles

How few, how little time

2012-01-21T13:03:00.000-05:00

Have I injured a Jewish person today? Or anyone else? Never intentionally. But if I remain silent when someone else does, am I guilty, too? To some degree, depending on what is within my power to do or say. Below is an excerpt from a message that hit my inbox yesterday. I was nine days from my third birthday in 1942 when this event took place. An event which resulted in millions of deaths in addition to the Nazi's desired 'final solution'. I'm not three years old now and I have a voice and platform of sorts.

Mike Evans: I will never forget my mother’s words, “Christians hate Jews. Christians kill Jews.” That was all she knew from her family’s history.

It was seventy years ago today that the “Final Solution” was proposed and agreed to at the Wannsee Conference. Ninety minutes—a mere ninety minutes—was all it took for Adolf Hitler’s henchmen to determine the fate of six million Jews. During that period, roughly the time it would take to drive from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv during peak traffic, the Holocaust became a heinous reality.

The date: January 20, 1942.

The place: a beautiful villa in a serene lakeside suburb of Berlin.

The objective: to find a “Final Solution to the Jewish Question.”

Presiding over the conference was SS-Lieutenant General Reinhard Heydrich, Chief of the Security Police and Security Service. In attendance were fourteen high-ranking German military and government leaders, among them Adolf Eichmann. Imagine, over lunch fifteen men in ninety minutes changed the world forever. January 20, 2012 marks the 70th anniversary of that fateful conference. We dare not let this dubious anniversary pass without marking how little time it takes to alter the course of history.

Not green? Puh-leeze!

2012-01-12T20:23:00.002-05:00

Time for a rant, I guess. This piece is not original with me, but I think it bears wider circulation. I could be that 'older woman', minus the apology! Comments in parentheses and italics are my own additions. If anyone is offended, talk to me after you've hung a couple dozen diapers on a line in winter as your fingers freeze or washed dishes by hand for fifty years.

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own reusable grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this 'green thing' back in my earlier days."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the 'green thing' in its day.
(We just 'got 'er done'!)

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn't have the 'green thing' back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right.
We didn't have the 'green thing' in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. (Been there, done that!) Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right.
We didn't have the 'green thing' back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, (if that) in the house - not a TV in every room (plus a computer in every room and several laptops and smart phones). And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right.
We didn't have the 'green thing' back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the 'green thing' back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the 'green thing' back then?

Never Forget

2011-12-27T15:07:00.001-05:00

Some with four legs and a sensitive nose

Christmas Blessings

2011-12-24T13:55:00.008-05:00

Looking back over this year I seem to have lived in a kind of fog for most of it, doing whatever was necessary in fits and starts. A little lonely, in spite of having people around most of the time. How do you learn to be a single again after more than fifty years? Like most things, put one foot in front of the other, then do it again.

Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I love the carols which remind us of the reason for the season, decorating the tree. Cleaning and straightening the house, not so much! The last three Christmas seasons were hard with my husband bedridden from a stroke and in a nursing home under hospice care the last one.

But those three years brought blessings, too. A special joy was great grandson Tyler, whose smiling little face and burbling laugh brighten the darkest day. I pray that as he grows up, Tyler will look to the Jesus whose birth we celebrate for guidance. And that we, his parents, grandparents and great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins will be examples of those who also look for that guidance in our lives.

Much as we love Christmas, Jesus did not suffer arrested development and remain a babe in Bethlehem. He grew up and accepted the suffering, death and separation from God that His human body would have to endure to save those who believe in Him from eternal death. And because the Holy Spirit raised Him from that death, we can now celebrate His birth and His life and the life we ourselves live and will live after our last breath on earth. My Christmas may be a little more subdued this year, but celebrate I shall. Because I believe our loved ones in Heaven celebrate with us when we remember the
Reason for the Season, Jesus!

Some Favorite Christmas Tree pictures

2011-12-22T20:54:00.008-05:00

I love to look at pictures of Christmas trees and have a bunch on my computer. Above are two favorites. I found the unusual second one a few days ago on Mary Murtz's blog and she graciously said I could repost it here. See the original on her Blog, http://http//marymurtz.com/2011/12/12/wherein-i-build-a-christmas-tree-out-of-books/, and instructions for making it.

Coming up for air!

2011-08-22T12:24:00.003-04:00

Maybe I'll be posting a llliitttle more regularly now! Have been pretty busy working with others on a couple of projects for writing group.

I was mad at Blogger because I couldn't see my 'Followers', along with other users. We (dozens) lodged complaints, all we got was suggestions to change Browsers (preferably their Chrome, which few wanted to do). I knew I probably needed to upgrade my Internet Explorer 7, but didn't need my computer to be down if something went wrong so put if off.

Last week I finally upgraded. Guess what? I can now see my (all 4 of 'em!) followers! Welcome, Gina. Thanks for looking me up. Hey, Corey and Richard. And, of course, my baby sister always supports me! Hope to see you sometime next month, Sis!

Great grandson keeps growing and getting sweeter! When they visit he toddles in to GGMa's office and tries to pull all her books down and climb on all the 'stuff' that has accumulated in here. Ya Ya, (my daughter, his grandma) mostly takes care of him when we have him here on days his parents' shifts overlap. He loves to ride in a car. I have a car seat in my car and was going to take him home. We put him in the seat but found we needed to adjust the straps and took him out for a moment. He screamed and tried to get back in the seat. Memo: don't put Tyler in the car seat unless you're ready to go!

Frustration

2011-06-10T14:34:00.006-04:00

If I ever run into Mr. Murphy, of Murphy's Law fame, he will get an earful from me. If he had never come up with the idea that 'if anything CAN go wrong, it WILL go wrong,' would it still be true? Guess we'll never know. He opened the can of worms.
A while back my Followers stopped showing up on my Blog. All 3 of them! Though my Dashboard shows there should be 4. Have been reading Blogger/Google help files and posted my own question. Apparently it's something about Security settings on my computer. I've changed this and that, put Blogger and Blogspot in my allowed websites. I thought I might get a clue if I changed 'cookie' settings so I have to allow each one, resulting in having to allow or deny a dozen or so for each website I go to. Now if that was chocolate chip cookies - but I digress. Now I read it may be something about the handling of 'scripts' in my Internet settings. What I need is a computer wizard. Lacking one I guess I'll set the cookies loose and let them accumulate as they will and peruse my script settings. Wish me luck.

Wonderful

2010-12-05T15:41:00.002-05:00

Now I'd like to be around when a 'flash mob' like this formed!

Hallelujah Chorus

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-26T12:36:00.030-05:00

Tyler's first Thanksgiving. Though if you can see the cups clearly, you'd think it was Christmas! Jessi, Bryce's wife and Tyler's mother, made the dinner including turkey and pumpkin pie. I went to nursing home and had Thanksgiving dinner with my husband, stayed a few hours. Got back home just as she and Liz, my daughter and Jessi's mother-in-law, had our dinner on the table. It was so delicious. Think I'll let her do it every year! Of course, we all had to take naps afterward. Maybe we should eat turkey more often.

Beautiful time of year

2010-10-16T10:40:00.004-04:00

Autumn has arrived in East Tennessee. I don't have to go any further than my own backyard to see the beautiful evidence! I thought we wouldn't have much of a leaf show this year due to the lack of rain all summer. But from this and other pix I've seen on the local news show they are going to be pretty spectacular. Especially in the higher elevations. Would love to drive over to Roan Mountain, that's where some of the great shots were taken that they have shown on air. Guess I'll be content to see the season change from my back porch.

Oh no, moment

2010-08-23T12:09:00.003-04:00

I was relaxing in my hotel room for a few minutes between sessions of the Killer Nashville Writers' Conference. The sound of a siren came through the window, not unusual, emergency vehicles had whizzed up and down Cool Springs Blvd. regularly since I'd arrived. The hotel being just off I-65 probably contributed to their frequency. I got up, walked to the window and saw a fire truck, lights ablaze, coming up the driveway of the hotel. Uh oh, not a sight you really want to see when you're looking down from the 11th floor. I'm pretty sure their ladders don't reach that high. I was somewhat reassured that I wasn't hearing any alarms going off inside the hotel. A few seconds later an ambulance with flashing lights came up the driveway behind the fire truck. I watched for several minutes but saw no others screaming up or down Cool Springs. Okay, I know when a large structure like a hotel, hospital or high rise office building is involved they usually send people and trucks from every station for miles around. And in many municipalities fire departments send out a truck and firemen/women trained as paramedics as first responders. So probably no fire. Someone in the hotel must have fallen or had a heart attack. Unfortunate and I hope they're okay, but I am relieved I don't have to grab purse and rush to the stairway.

Me and my sister

2010-08-11T16:51:00.003-04:00

Three years and we still miss you, Sis.

Founding Fathers twirling

2010-07-04T13:31:00.009-04:00

I'm ticked off. This must be the only country in the WHOLE world where governmental and other entities deem displaying the country's flag either illegal (CalTrans, Sonol, California), large flag painted on cement retaining wall after 9/11 and overlooking Interstate painted over with gray paint. Or 'against regulations', (Homeowners' Association of Northern Virginia so-called upscale subdivision), where a 90+ year-old veteran was taken to court to try and force him to remove his American flag flying in front of his home.

And the ONLY one where this would be allowed, ANOTHER country's flag flying above our own upside down flag. Words cannot express the outrage I felt when this happened and even now.
On this birthday of our country and the freedoms it gives us, bought with the blood of men and women willing to die that we might have and keep those freedoms, let us see a new outpouring of patriotism and love of country. Let us not wait for another 9/11 to make it happen.

Honor our Veterans

2010-05-30T11:30:00.009-04:00

It used to be called Decoration Day when I was young. After church there would be 'dinner on the grounds' and then flowers placed on graves. Now on this day we honor those who have fought and many died for what we seem to value so litttle and will barter for 'political correctness'. Our American freedoms. Farmers and businessmen laid down their plowshares and ledgers, picked up arms and fought the Revolutionary War to secure that freedom for us . I pray that they and those who have died for that same cause since then, did not pay that ultimate price to leave us the precious legacy of freedom and we let it slip away.

God bless all our veterans, those who live and those who rest in the places pictured here - Honor them

And the beat goes on ....

2010-05-15T15:58:00.003-04:00

Seems a long long time ago this picture of six young girl cousins was snapped and yet it doesn't. Some are many miles away from where it was taken, including me. I rarely see the ones who are not my siblings. I hope they're doing well and as happy as they can be. I may have missed a chance to see one just a week ago!

Ahhh, spring!!!

2010-04-15T10:40:00.005-04:00

Oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day! Mother loved nothing better than to be out digging, transplanting flowers and plants in her yard on a day like this. This is a Sweet William plant I brought from her yard in Georgia. It has mostly thrived in Tennessee's higher elevations, spread out and came up in several other places along my carport. Then for a couple of years I thought I was going to lose it to some kind of fungus or blight. Tried different things but the thing that cured it was good old vinegar and water sprayed on the leaves. In a few weeks it will be blooming like this picture again.

Everybody talks about

2010-03-28T22:29:00.006-04:00

the weather, but nobody does anything about it. I think that's a Mark Twain quote, not sure. But I am one of those talking about the weather! One day of sunshine, two or three of clouds and rain, or oh, no! possible snow! We've all heard of a rain dance, is there a sunny day dance? If so, bring it on. Daffodils/jonquils are popping out, that's a good sign. April 1st is coming up, surely we'll start getting more sunny days. Then, Easter and that dreaded traditional Easter cold snap. I've gotten so tired of being cold I've said I would not complain of the heat this summer. I hope I can stick to my word. Gonna try and have a small raised bed garden this year, I'm itching to get out and dig in the dirt. Country girl coming out, I guess.

Anthology with my story -

2010-03-13T20:14:00.012-05:00

The long wait is over! Over a year ago a short mystery story of mine, Reservoir of Death, was accepted for publication in the commercial anthology, The Mystery of the Green Mist from L&LDreamspell Publishers. The book includes great stories from nine other talented L&LDreamspell authors. It is available for purchase on Amazon or may be ordered from your favorite bookstore if they happen not to have it in stock. It is available in paperback and Kindle editions. Here's the link.

Mystery of the Green Mist

House on highway

2010-02-28T13:36:00.014-05:00

Several years ago when I drove down to Georgia for a family visit I would go off the Interstate at Cleveland, TN drive twenty or so miles east and take Hwy 411 to Cartersville, GA. This was partly to miss all the highway construction going on in Chattanooga and partly nostalgia. Before multilane traffic arteries crisscrossed the country US 11 and 411 were two of the main north-south routes into the GA/TN Appalachian region. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say northeast/southwest routes through the region since they follow Tennessee's slanted eastern border. So when I headed south to Georgia I actually drove in a westerly direction for much of the way. But I digress.

One spring some few miles after crossing into Georgia on the non-interstate leg of my trip I noticed an unoccupied house on the side of Hwy 411. It had some fairly large writing spray painted in red on the side facing the highway but I could only read one word, "Keep - ". I figured it was vandalism. But on another trip in winter when the vegetation had died back I could make out that the words were "Keep out" and "Not for rent". I had my camera with me on that trip so I pulled off and took some pictures. There had to be a story there. I always thought I might dream one up incorporating the house but so far have not.

After Christmas

2010-01-12T21:54:00.004-05:00

Link the kitty liked it but putting away the decorations is not as enjoyable as getting them out. And even that has lost some of its charm for me as I get older!

2010-01-01T22:31:00.003-05:00

Well, it's not quite gone. Hope everyone has a happy and prosperous New Year.

Oh, Christmas Tree

2009-12-26T20:01:00.003-05:00

Originally the tinsel was spread more or less evenly on and around the Christmas tree. Then a pretty little tortoise kitty with the unlikely name of Link, who loves to eat tinsel, came to visit. Not good for kitties. She could jump on the table whose corner shows in the bottom right of the picture and nibble away. So we denuded that side of the tree and piled it all on the other side. Most likely she is capable of jumping to the mantel on that side but it's crammed with decorations.

Link, Rosebud the Chihuahua and Monkey the current 'twenty pound kitten' in residence have also been learning the basics of co-existence. After a few days the sound of hissing and barking was not the automatic response at sight of one of the others. Perhaps Peace on Earth is not a pipe dream for humans either.

Jingle Bells and snow

2009-12-13T19:21:00.006-05:00

This time of year I always keep car and home radios tuned to WTFM 98.5 because they play continuous Christmas music, many long series of songs without interruption. Evidently this is economically profitable since they do not seem to lack for sponsors. A perennial favorite seems to be Jingle Bells, as it has been since I was a child. Whenever I hear it I'm reminded of one of the two room schools I attended. The school went to 7th grade and I must have been in 4th or 5th which was included in the older student room. When school resumed in January after Christmas break one year, the student body assembled in the primary grade room and the teachers asked us what song we wanted to sing. Many kids called out Jingle Bells. "But it's after Christmas," teacher said. "We don't care, Jingle Bells," we insisted. And so we did, 30-35 rural Georgia children belting out the lyrics describing a sleigh ride over snow covered fields. Snow was a sight half or more of the group had never seen and as of that time, I was in that number. Nowadays it seems as though every winter my sister-in-law is posting a picture like the one above of snow at their house in midwestern Georgia. Hmmmm, does global warming cause snow in Georgia?

Cats and contractors

2009-12-09T20:23:00.004-05:00

Monkey the cat does not suffer strangers gladly. This was the last of the various hiding places he resorted to while the contractor installed new doors a few days ago. He'll enjoy the full view storm door next summer as will Rosebud, the Chihuahua.

2009-12-04T11:07:00.001-05:00

For some reason I love this picture, have had it saved on my computer for a long time.

Rain

2009-07-31T11:03:00.003-04:00

Last day of July. Rain. I was just thinking as we ate breakfast and listened to the heavy downpour how thankfully different this summer has been from the last five years or so. Plenty of rain, lovely bright green trees, bushes, grass everywhere instead of tired, dusty semi-green. Wells and ponds must be full by now. Haven't watched the local weather recently, but we should be well into a surplus instead of adding digits to a double digit drought. Guess our farmers will be helping farmers in other areas with needed hay for livestock this winter instead of being on the receiving end. Good deal. And good for the folks who make a living mowing and landscaping. Their business suffered during the drought, I'm sure.

20 lb. kitten

2009-07-19T12:17:00.004-04:00

When my grandson came to live with us late last fall, he brought along his cat, Monkey. A pretty gray striped tabby with some noticeable marking showing he has Siamese somewhere in his lineage. He was standoffish with me at first, would run when I wanted to pet him, never mind pick him up. And we have a loud-mouthed Chihuahua who wasn't about to give ground to a cat, even a cat bigger than her. She'd run at Monkey to let him know who was boss and he would run to my grandson's room.

Fast forward a few months, Monkey hangs around my office, loves to lie on my desk whenever there's room among all the papers and flotsam. If there's not room on the desk, he finds an empty box or something else of mine to lie on. At some point, if I'm working at the computer for a while, he'll get out of the box and come to my chair, meowing. If I don't pick him up immediately he'll paw at me to get my attention. Both arms are required for me to pick him up as he's about two feet long and heavy. Ever try to type while holding a 20 pound purring kitten on your shoulder?

I'm being followed!

2009-06-11T13:05:00.003-04:00

Hey, I've got a follower! Welcome, Corey. Been meaning to call you. Hope you had a good birthday. You and another young woman I know are movin' right along, kid. Call me sometime.

Between caring for Nick and trying to finish up a couple of projects related to writing, I don't have time to get out much, but I can talk on the phone.

Respect

2009-05-26T10:34:00.003-04:00

Seems hardly anyone nowadays knows the meaning of respect. Rodney Dangerfield didn't know the half of it.

Memory trigger

2009-04-24T10:55:00.001-04:00

I walked our chihuahua, Rosebud, through the dewy grass on this beautiful April morning. A cold drop of dew touched the top of my foot triggering a flood of memory. My sister, Doris, and I followed Daddy and the sledge, what we called the sled-like conveyance pulled by Maud, the mule, to our back cotton fields. Sometimes Daddy let us ride on the sledge, which he used to haul the mule-drawn plow to the fields, probably after we were out of sight of the house and Mother. The sledge was just a few wide slabs nailed together with a couple of two by four runners on the bottom. Mules don't hurry, so Maud didn't drag it very fast over the rough ground, but if we'd fallen off we could have been injured. Lost a foot or hand if those digits had been caught between the sledge and the ground. We weren't real keen on going to the field to chop cotton or hoe corn, but it had to be done if we wanted to eat. Doris died almost two years ago and unexpected tears welled in my eyes as I realized only she could have shared that sixty-year ago memory with me. One of the sadder aspects of growing old, and maybe one of the reasons elder folks dwell on their memories. If they don't those days will be gone as though they never existed. If I have no memories, what am I? Just a speck of dust passing through the cosmos.

Whew, done it

2009-02-14T15:42:00.000-05:00

Finally got http://www.ramblinscribe.com/ website coordinated with this blog. Working in like, 15 minute or so increments of time. In between getting husband recovering from stroke out of and into bed, checking his blood sugar, preparing three meals a day, washing dishes and doing laundry, answering his calls for help in changing audio book disks, driving grandson to work and back, and answering phone and door to physical and occupational therapists and bath nurse. Makes me tired just talking about it. I think I'll go lie down.

Monday, Monday

2008-11-24T10:25:00.000-05:00

Anybody remember that old tune? I can't remember the artist, but the first few notes stick in the mind.
Rainy, today. Glad it's not snow and hope it doesn't turn to snow. Even grandson has said he hopes it doesn't snow anymore. And he wanted it to, at first!
Need to get out and do some errands instead of procrastinating at the computer. Not even writing on what I need to write.
New phone line filters supposed to arrive today. I noticed when installed new modem and had most of phones unplugged computers were faster. Guess bad filters were causing errors on the line. So hopefully new filters will allow phones and fast computing.

Cauliflower ear

2008-11-20T14:01:00.000-05:00

My left ear should be flat as a pancake. Spent more than two hours on the phone with tech support getting new DSL modem set up. Old one was going bad. Seems all my line filters had gone bad also, which causes errors on line and unstable connection. They're sending new ones. Ah, the joys of modern technology.

Now waiting for plumber to come and replace two water faucets. Both have been leaking for sometime but got worse, I dread to see my next water bill. Ah, the joys of home ownership.

But I am thankful for the blessings of surfing the world via Internet and having running hot and cold water. Among many more blessings, totally undeserved on my part, that God has graciously given me. Not least of which are friends. I do believe I would forego the Internet, with sobs, of course, and hot and cold water even, before friends.

Comment form has been reset, if any reader cares to comment on this syrupy post. I didn't realize what the comment setting was on.

Brrrrr

2008-11-19T12:27:00.000-05:00

Winter has finally come to East Tennessee with a vengeance. Brr, have to leave a warm house first thing when I get up to take my husband's dog out. Upper elevations have gotten snow but us at lower elevations only got a few flakes. For which I'm glad myself. Grandson wants to see more snow. He'll change his mind when he gets a job. Not having to drive to work in snow and ice was and is one of THE best parts of retirement.

Roads

2008-11-13T10:54:00.000-05:00

I received this picture of a road from two sisters-in-law along with several other striking road pictures. This is my favorite. I love roads, even named my memoir 'Eight Miles of Muddy Road' (blatant self-promotion!) The book can be ordered from moi, with new cover, left; through Amazon, with original cover, or any brick and mortar bookstore, also original cover. I wrote and self-published it just to see if I could do it. I really consider myself a mystery writer and have a full-length mystery novel about ready to submit. Several of my mystery stories can be read online, at the ezine sites where they are archived. Links to these sites can be found on my website, http://www.sylvianickels.com/writingcredits.html

Me, myself and I

2008-11-13T10:10:00.000-05:00

Yet another one. Blog, that is! I always spread myself too thin. Maybe it's because I've reached the age that I know life is finite and I better make the most of what I have left! I have too many interests and my mind clamors to explore them all. I'm almost envious of those people who are obsessed with one thing and devote their lives to it. They accomplish more than I seem to, in their chosen field of obsession, but then what if something happens and they can't do it any longer? If they are unable to switch to something else, life is to all intents and purposes, over for them. I've always seemed to 'march to a different drummer' which puts me out of step with many people. It was a happy day for me when I hooked up with several writers' groups. By definition most writers seem to march to a different drummer. Being crazy helps, too. Why else would we, as my blog question asks, keep pounding our heads against a wall in our attempts to snare a publisher for our deathless prose?