Author: Rene

While walking out of Wal-Mart the other day, the greeter thanked me for my beautiful smile. What a lovely thing to say, since it was only the eyes smiling, even though they aren’t even Irish! We had a nice little conversation, and it was a good reminder that we can still enjoy others behind the cloth, even if we greatly dislike wearing it. (And, as I learned from Biondi Jewelers, you can “bling” your mask with a brooch! I seriously can’t believe I didn’t think of that on my own? I’m off my game.)

Later that day I received this cartoon via “Parbara,” which aptly embodies the challenges of masked conversation.

And then this prayer came from my friend, “Pat.” Sometimes the messages are not masked, but are rather loud and clear! It seems an appropriate reminder for the Sunday leading to Thanksgiving.

A Prayer for Putting on a Mask

Creator, as I prepare to go into the world, help me to see the sacrament in the wearing of this cloth – let it be “an outward sign of an inward grace” – a tangible and visible way of living love for my neighbours, as I love myself.

Christ, since my lips will be covered, uncover my heart, that people would see my smile in the crinkles around my eyes. Since my voice may be muffled, help me to speak clearly, not only with my words, but with my actions.

Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my ears, remind me to listen carefully – and full of care – to all those I meet. May this simple piece of cloth be shield and banner, and each breath that it holds, be filled with your love.

In your Name and in that love, I pray. May it be so. May it be so.

Reverend Richard Bott

Peace and blessings this week.

So true! “Can you hear me?” “I can’t see you.”

There was that time, years ago, when I was hired to discreetly pilfer from my friend’s store. The intent was to discover whether or not a specific salesperson was actually paying attention to those who shopped there. It was a high-end store frequented by tourists – assumably sneaky tourists. It was also in the sketchier part of the city. Espionage at a low level! I was game.

Unfortunately, it was too easy, the clerk was too inattentive, and I was just too believable as an honest customer. I regretted reporting my success to my friend.

Why did this story come to mind? Because one of my friends – the one who initiated a trip to the local jewelry store – reminded me of how I surreptitiously absconded chocolate candy from this willing-to-put-bowls-of-candy-on-display jewelry establishment. In my defense, it was offered freely, and I was always willing to take some off of their hands.

We are going tonight by appointment once again to check out the gems. Hopefully they still have refreshments and chocolate. My Halloween candy stash is almost gone.

Watching every British-inspired series and movie possible in the last months, the obvious former use of Dippity Do-like products has come to the forefront. And, with the pink foam rollers I still claim, I am considering curling my hair ala Queen Elizabeth, just for the heck of it.

Remember that styling gel? It allowed a user to adhere pink tape to the skin in order to hold a pin curl in place. Perhaps Bobby pins in the traditional “x” application were also applied – but without Dippity Do, the curls would not last.

My goal this past week has been to NOT wash my newly coiffed and colored hair. However, “newly coiffed,” is now six days ago. Maybe it’s time to cave in and consider shampoo in the hygiene routine? After watching an episode of “The Crown,” I do think I’ll whip out the foamies and see if I can get some curls going, too. (I did some research and the Dippity Do of yore is still available for purchase!)

My goals are definitely different than they were eight months ago.

My hair stylist chopped the tresses last week, and while doing so we shared sewing stories. She had just entertained her eleven-year old granddaughter and taught her to sew! Wisely, she introduced her to an easy craft – a pillow. This brought our conversation around to easy patterns I might own for her to use in other projects. As I relayed the story to my daughter, she reminded me of the “Great Snake Sewing” enterprise.

Years ago, my children in tow, we went to the zoo. The zoo tour ends with a gift shop, replete with stuffed animals every child needs to own. My kids each wanted a snake. I don’t know that we even visited the reptiles that day, but the toy snakes were colorful and fun. However there was no way I was going to buy a skinny piece of stuffed fabric when I knew I could whip up an even more colorful and LONGER snake!

Thus began the snake sewing era. I don’t have a pattern for them, but if you can make a pillow – you can make a snake. And they’re so cuddly!

This cracked me up.

Just a little reminder as I force myself to run my errands today, including a jaunt to the local Target. Chances of being waylaid by Debbie are slim on a Monday!

This is my Thanksgiving display, conveniently located on a tray and totally portable from basement storage to kitchen counter. I decided to de-acorn this gorgeous work of art, as the 30 little acorns I had thrown in there were hiding under pumpkins, no longer visible to my eye.

I was aghast to find popcorn, a marble, and a St. Michael the Archangel token hidden in my festive mess. It’s been a few years since I cobbled this together, but I had no idea I was tossing other non-Fall ordained items in there. (Well, other than that feathery thing, which came from I know not where.)

Being a decorating guru has its challenges.

We spent a lot of money on those textbooks, so some of us kept them! I don’t think we had the option to resell eons ago, although maybe we did and I was just too attached to my world history books. I loved all of my literature books, too. They were the good friends. However, they were becoming increasing expensive for me until I found a way around the ownership.

I would visit the college library to checkout the books professors had put on the list two weeks before the start of the semester. I just kept renewing them until the semester was over. Once or twice I had to return them after their six-week period, but then I’d just turn around and reacquire them for the rest of the term. I made it through a whole year without the texts.

As I peruse the bookcases in the basement, I can honestly say I don’t miss those particular textbooks. Maybe I’ll grab an old one and brush up on the Franco-Prussian War of 1870?

As I was cleaning my mess in the basement, I glanced at the wall where my African memories of almost 20 years ago are mounted. I yanked one off the hook and wore it at lunch. My necklace yesterday was this lovely warthog snout, beaded and sold by local women in Zimbabwe years ago. The inside of the snout still has the hairs! It’s an odd thing.

I don’t think warthogs are endangered – they weren’t twenty years ago. The necklaces were plentiful, and my husband and I were helping the local economy by purchasing something we weren’t going to ever wear. Until yesterday, of course!

My necklace is not going back on the wall as a souvenir. It is now a reminder of the wonderful years we took for granted when we could travel freely and mingle with other cultures. I may sport it again today.

Thanks, Mom! I laughed my head off watching this! I won’t forget the mask!