Author: Rene

…that’s the sign of a successful luncheon! That and 13 cloth napkins, a gunky soup pot, and an errant spoon needing a home.

The annual bridge “tournament” was a lovely event. I don’t know that my card playing has improved over the past ten years, but it sure has been fun to keep at it. Thanks to Mom for encouraging me, Parbara for teaching us, and the gaggle for making it happen.

Now the season has officially been inaugurated! Happy Third Week of Advent.

Remember writing prompts in English class? “Describe this photo.” “Tell a story using this photo.”

That’s what this strange image brought to mind. As I cleaned the window well in my new boots, having just returned from the hair salon, my live-in photographer thought to snap this gem. It’s so weird-looking, yet entirely plausible in the realm of Fall-duties-which-need-to-be-done-this-minute. No changing clothes or waiting a moment more. No going to a fancy dinner with a new hairstyle. Nope. Slap on a hat, find an old mask and climb in a window well with shiny new boots.

Thankfully, there were no rodent carcasses to deal with and only one threatening spider who now lives in the shop-vac. At least the boots and gloves matched.

Yes, you wait long enough and the trends return! Right, Pristina?

Curious to see what next year’s home designs entail, I read the “House Beautiful” article elaborating on what will be hot for 2023. The living room is going to be used for living! Surprise! We will now read there, nap, drink, and entertain. Interestingly enough, we have been on top of that trend for years as our shabby room has seen much wear. The muted colors for the new year are also evident in what we’ve lived with the past twenty years.

Now that I don’t have to redecorate, I can sit back and enjoy this cup of coffee before continuing with my domestic chores. I’m already feeling rested.

So, sometimes I am slow to move on unloading my car. I know when my haul needs to be taken out, and I also know that an early departure of said goods may be unfulfilling. Today I decided that task was necessary. I removed a few things and in the process found two champagne glasses from my weekend.

That discovery only made me appreciate my procrastination. I had totally forgotten that my daughter and I happened upon a “girl’s night out,” sales event. Free champagne and glasses? We stayed the extra 20 minutes at the retail establishment for the freebie. I don’t recall purchasing anything, (my daughter did) but that was a hazard for the store. I was one of “those people.”

I have two champagne glasses to replace the ones broken over the years, and obviously a better story. I’m putting the past weekend in my calendar for next year, anticipating the loss of more champagne flutes in 2023.

It sounded counterintuitive, but the concept of a silent disco was something we had to experience.

My daughter finds the most interesting events to attend! I jumped on this bandwagon Saturday during our mother/daughter weekend. I went to the silent disco party, thoroughly planning to break out my moves from eons ago.

We began by receiving headphones in exchange for our driver’s licenses. The headgear channeled three different DJs spinning their music. We could switch between stations and dance as we pleased, enjoying the other 100 or more people silently dancing on the floor with us.

It was definitely a unique experience, complete with electronic music. I argued that it wasn’t disco at all, but then, I was probably the second oldest person there. I might have been the only one who even remembered disco?

Thanks for keeping me young, Daughter!

Hm. I blame it on the sale happening at the shoe store. “Buy one get one half off.”

My daughter tried on boot after boot, finally finding one that supplied the proper comfort and fit. I sat and watched, not needing a shoe or boot and glad to be an observer. It was time to leave – our spa appointments were waiting for us. As I turned to depart, there they were. Pepto Bismol-hued pink boots.

Some things are just meant to be. I am now properly prepared for Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent. (Although “rose” is the proper liturgical color, not pepto-pink.) Lord knows I tried?

Reminiscing and weeding out brought me to the report cards issued during my grade school years. I noted that there was one area I seemed to struggle with more than others. Not English, Math, or even Science. Conduct.

I don’t remember which grade this was, but I know there was another report with that “C” marking. It’s possible that this third quarter grade is when my youngest sister was born? We can blame her for this one.

Along with the poor scores in behavior, I did manage to snag an Art award in the ever-popular medium of crayon, garnering a mention in the local newspaper.

Oh, there’s more to sift through. I haven’t even tackled the yearbooks!

My first airline boarding pass, complete with the service menu. It’s heading to the burn pile, but I thought I’d share the interest. See how fun history can be?

By the way, I had another bin with high school and college memories. Apparently I micro-managed the different clubs and activities with their individual scrapbooks. It definitely was time to sift through the years. Perhaps a spot of Bouillon to help me ease the pain?

Three bins of high school and college memories were opened, reminiscent of the scene from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The flurry of papers and long-forgotten mementos littered the family room floor, swirling everywhere, threatening to devour my entire day.

Thankfully, I had my sentimentality button on mute. Apparently I have always been an historian, always felt it necessary to preserve the past. My earliest attempts led me to keep every birthday card, letter, corsage, honor, program, ticket stub, entry fee, brochure, and a host of other odds and ends. After the first scrapbook, I returned to it and emptied it of anything truly meaningful, condensing my high school memories into two large envelopes. Then I got serious and quit reading everything I ever wrote or had written to me.

Here is the first attempt, which was fodder for the fire last evening. As much as I curse having a wood-burning fireplace, it does come in handy for sending up memories and thoughts and prayers. On to the college bin!

This was in my Pinterest feed.

I did not click on the article, deciding that the number one sign of intelligence was the ability to ignore articles like this in order to avoid receiving more articles like this. Yes, I am still “cleaning” the inbox and ignoring the extended Black Friday-and-Cyber-Monday-all-week-long ads. I was considering tidying my Pinterest page, too, but I got stuck looking for new recipes when this gem appeared.

The good news? This electronic cleaning has spilled over to the storage room yet again, and I now have two unused bins! I’m going for five, and it’s not even a New Year’s resolution. Simple goals.