It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

Of course it sounds like a perfect dichotomy. Get rid of stuff, but buy my stuff! I’m talking Marie Kondo here. I did hear about her decision to start a line of her “favorite things” for consumers, which seems to go against her ideals of paring down your life to necessities and getting your act together organizationally.

So I’m seeing the article in the paper, and in spite of what I think of her, I am bidding a fond farewell to the needle-less Christmas tree we’ve had for 28 years. And although she’s into making a religious rite of saying goodbye to inanimate objects, I will be unceremoniously either donating or crafting with the beast.

I’d rather have a welcoming party for the new tree which graces my living room this morning!

If you’d like to begin the day with a cheerful and happy voice, just call my dermatologist. The receptionist, Diane, has the most amazing “welcome” on the phone. Her voice gives you some pep and inspiration, truly! I felt as if I were the only person important to the world at that moment. Amazing voice. She made my day and it was only 9:30 am, and then I apparently made her day when I told her she made my day. I am now the president of her fan club.

With that spark to the day I was determined to place my vocal energy on bringing a bit of joy to others. You know, smiling, giving compliments, not getting too bent out of shape. I did fairly well until the last family of the night showed up at the book fair. Parents who cater to a bratty child always makes me cringe. Children who are over-indulged can make it difficult to remain cheerful. However, not leaving when we are closed really irks me!!! Now, I have no trouble playing “bad cop,” and indeed, I gave that little pipsqueak the two-minute warning. However, her mother ignored me!

On the half-full glass side, it was the last sale. And tomorrow I am calling Diane again for another dose of uplifting comfort.

Today I did two things I rarely do, and have maybe only done twice this year. I drove without sunglasses, and I wore jeans. It truly was strange.

I can’t go outside without sunglasses or I squint so severely I can barely see. I don’t remember wearing them as a child, just like I’m sure I didn’t wear sunscreen – a fact keeping my dermatologist in business. Thankfully, it was overcast. My squinting was less dramatic and I could make out the traffic light colors just fine.

Wearing jeans is just not my thing. That goes back to childhood for sure. I didn’t own a pair until I was maybe 14, when my mom decided to sew my sister and I our first pair of denim jeans. My sister chose a blue denim, quite apt. I chose green denim. Seriously? Did I think I would be auditioning in the near future for Captain Kangaroo’s sidekick, Mr. Green Jeans? To top it off, we even had jackets to match our jeans. I was a walking lima bean, and by choice!

I blended in a little better with the general public today, even though my jacket was green. Some things remain immutable.

It’s probably a good thing I got married when I did. If it were today, I’d be dyeing the bottom of that beautiful white dress so that the colors would run up the skirt and look like a Monet painting. I might even match my hair to it! Actually, I most certainly would do that.

Instead of slapping a potted plant on the tables at the reception, I would be out in the wood shop crafting elaborate centerpieces gleaned from my hours spent on Pinterest. They might even match my dyed hair! Okay – of course they would.

However, I was a pre-Pinterest bride and had a beautiful wedding, perfect in all the ways it is supposed to be. I was thankfully ignorant of so many things! (As we all were as brides and grooms)

Wonderfully, those decisions are now in my daughter and her fiancée’s realm! My husband and I are so excited for them.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

It’s cleaning day. Prepare for the storm and flurry of activity.

But first, a cup of coffee to set the pace. Well, two cups will be better than one. Next, a healthy breakfast for the energy required. Leftovers qualify, right? Third, a list. Ready to go!

Oops. Car maintenance appointment required immediately or a transmission issue will keep someone grounded. What? You only have a stick-shift loaner car? Well, who doesn’t like a little danger in their day? Wow. Now the sun is shining brightly encouraging a walk before returning to the list. Wait! I forgot to do my homework! Let’s get that out of the way. What is this delivery person doing in my driveway? Oh yes…forgot about that detail…and my accidental “Prime” purchase. Do you suppose the mail is here, too? Look! The leaves have finally fallen completely. I can get them off the driveway now and sweep out the garage, especially since I’m down one car. (Let me go write that on the list first so I can cross something off.)

Dinner? I forgot to think about it. Thank you, Progresso. Is there still a load of laundry in the washer? Who is at the door at this time of night? And where is my list?

Oh. Well, there’s always tomorrow.

One of my favorite poems, which popped up in my paper feed. (I’m still cleaning out files!) It’s better suited for spring, but it feels right today. Here you go with Mr. cummings. (His name is supposed to be all lower case, but I sure can’t get this high-tech app to make it work every time. Forgive me.)

i thank you God for most this amazing
day;  for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;  and for everything 
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings;  and of the gay
great happening illimitable earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any—lifted from the no
of all nothing—human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

This will be swift. I craft. I am a Pinterest fan. I have been doing quite a few unsolicited crafts, endured by my loving and adoring neighbors. (You know who you are!)

FYI…everything I do is either totally burnable in your wood-burning fire pit/fireplace/campfire, or made of recyclable plastic. I prefer wood, because I know it can warm the soul.

If you are going to craft…please do it responsibly.

(Sung to the tune of another classic, “Lightly Row”)

Tuna fish, tuna fish
Sing a song of tuna fish
Tuna fish, tuna fish
It’s my favorite dish

Everybody likes it so
From New York to Mexico
Tuna fish, tuna fish
It’s my favorite dish

Every time I make tuna noodle casserole, which I did for lunch today, (I know it’s a Friday NOT in Lent) I have to sing the “Tuna Fish” song. This is a piece learned early in my piano lesson days. I can still play it, along with other inane ditties. Norma, my instructor, is smiling now, unlike the times I arrived at her house unprepared and unrehearsed. Actually, I always did the homework and I could muddle through lessons quite effectively.

Anyway, I had this silly tune in my head all day. It’s probably the reason I do not make tuna noodle casserole often.

The flooding in Venice brought to mind three other worldwide incidents occurring shortly after my visit to a country.

The first substantiated claim for not inviting me to your country is the subway bombing in London, about 15 years ago. Our family had just been to England the previous week. Of course we had been on “the tube” that was targeted. It was working fine when we were there.

The second – oh, a little thing called the “Arab Spring.” That happened upon the family’s return from Egypt. We had just visited the beautiful Egyptian Museum and had been lodged in the square so widely seen on television a few months before. It was sad to see the violent destruction of history as reported.

The third was a little jaunt to Greece where buses were rerouted or not running in Athens due to protests. Of course, my sister was with me, and we decided to venture “downtown” for the sake of history. We were in the crowds. Did you see us on national news? We were there!

And, a mere two months ago, my family and I stood in San Marcos Square and in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy. It is now flooded by a storm surge, prominent in the world news regarding global warming. Once again, a tragedy from which my family was preserved.

I’ll probably still visit your country, so don’t get too excited.

No, you have not seen everything or heard of everything, though you might wish you had. I spent the morning contemplating how I could share this exciting new product with friends and family. The makers assure me that it is not a gimmick – whew! I want the real stuff.

I share our morning chuckle with you.

Don’t worry though. I did spend the rest of the day crafting, so you may be getting something else “lovely, wooded“ and potentially “earthy.“