It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

Returning home from our wine tasting tour we disembarked and cheerily asserted that, “Yes, we have all of our belongings.”

I did not. My wallet was AWOL. There was a five-minute check and recheck and scramble, but alas, it was absent. Thankfully one of us had the phone number for our super-chill driver and we called him. Although not thrilled to return to us in rush hour traffic, he did stop his van, locate my wallet and bring it back. A lovely cash donation made it worth his time and my peace of mind.

The real question is, “Why do my friends allow me to carry the only access we have to our abode, the garage door opener?” (I failed to inform them of the time I left my purse hanging on the back of the bathroom door at a rest stop on the interstate.)

It always works out. We’re all combobulated again.

When I traveled in times of yore, I traipsed through Europe with one pair of shoes for a month. I have no idea what they were, but I know they weren’t tennis shoes because I didn’t own any.

For a few days in sunny SoCal, I have four pair of shoes. Needless necessity as we need beach shoes, wedding shoes, walking shoes, and a frivolous pair. I only packed them because I had room in my suitcase. If this were a serious month-long mission I probably wouldn’t have packed any and just bought a pair if I needed them when I got here.

It’s interesting to look at what we think we need when we’re on the road. In reality, we need nothing but the clothes on our back, a water bottle, and a credit card. I’ll take comfort in that as I repack the mess I threw in my bag, knowing it’s all fluff.

My fluff and I shall be touring the area today.

After another snowy and cold April day, I had to dig up a laugh. Mother Nature does have a sense of humor.

This might have been an earlier notice in my blog, though a fashion one. I recall the high-end designer stores showing mannequins with “large blanket-like stoles” wrapped around them. I wrote about it. However, this morning there was a lovely gaggle walking to the local high school. We are enjoying a warm, slightly blustery spring day or two. Would you wear a jacket or not? No. You would not. You are young and daring. You would eschew the common sense of your forefathers. You would not succumb to a fashion statement, but create your own. You would wrap yourself in a crappy blanket.

This stole was a culling from the pile in the family room of those fleece-tied gems of yore. I’m pretty sure the teen had access to a coat. Probably many of them? But she chose a blanket for her walk to school.

The more I thought about it the more I admired her.

“Everybody Loves Raymond.” I never watched the show when it first aired, but in reruns – it’s a hoot!

It’s taken me many, many episodes, but I finally noticed an item of decor in the wacky styling of the Barrone home. Right there in the wallpapered kitchen with a 1950’s aluminum dining table and chairs, Marie and Frank have a three-foot wood spoon and fork set. I happen to have those same oversized utensils.

If you watch “Little Miss Sunshine,” the dishes used by the wacky family in that film are the same as a set I have. I’m not sure what to think about this reflection of my personal taste.

Apparently I have a sitcom-esque style? Surprise!

Laundry is certainly easier than it used to be! I remember my grandmother putting the washed items through the wringer before we’d haul the basket out and hang them on the line. And then we could run through the sheets as they dried! Good times.

Of course, the kicker was ironing whatever dried – like sheets. Yuck. I never could understand why that was important. Yes, they felt good, but they just got wrinkled after you slept in them?

This only comes to mind as I’m ironing a linen tablecloth, also a pain. I only finished half of it yesterday, saving the rest of the joy for today. At least there are birds chirping and flying around the window in front of my board. I can taste a bit of spring and smell that sun-drenched laundry on the line.

Oh, never mind. I’ll finish ironing tomorrow.

The silver is polished and put away,
China restored to its place.
Glassware is gleaming once again,
Back in its cupboard space.

Tablecloths ironed, napkins stored,
Recipes back where they’re kept.
The oven is clean, stove pristine,
The floors are cleanly swept.

All is in order after a beautiful day,
With friends and family,
Though it feels kind of nice, I have to admit,
It’s much too quiet for me!

Bring back the laughter, the jokes and the fun,
Bring back a child’s delight.
Let the joy of Easter continue
Ever within my sight. 

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 illimitably 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)

e. e. cummings

Nothing is going to scream, “Resurrection” like the temperature swing from 15 this morning to 70 degrees this weekend. I love how Mother Nature reflects the beauty of God and mirrors His majesty.

My tulips, which were about five inches above ground, will be rejoicing this weekend. Perhaps my cherry trees will begin to bud as they are later than normal this year. The little hyacinth might show her colors with the warmth to come. And if we’re fortunate, the fox and her kits could make a visit to our neighborhood again, strolling around their former stomping grounds.

Preparing heart, mind and soul for the Holy Days to come and rejoicing in the warmth that shall cloak us. Enjoy your holi-days.

Yesterday I played a game which I’ve played before. It’s called, “Leave the grocery list on the counter.”

For once I actually had a decent list going, semi-organized and worth the effort. Arriving in the parking lot I fished around for it to no avail. Taking a cart I proceeded to visit every aisle, hoping to jog my memory. When I returned home and checked I found that I had I only forgotten two things. However, I had some fun conversations with people which made the extra miles of aisles worth the ambling.

Now I get to play a new game, “Hide and Seek,” as I’ve lost the list and can’t remember what the two missing items were. We’re keeping the entertainment alive!