How Did we Live in 1979? A 2009 Perspective

Usually every Sunday morning as I am getting ready for church I watch a program called Sunday Morning. It has been on for many moons but somehow I could hooked into watching. They without fail have interesting stories about different people, places and things from around the world.

This past Sunday I didn't go to church because of the massive amounts of wonderful white snow we had received on Christmas Eve but I managed to wake up and switch on the TV, much to my husbands dismay as he wanted to get some extra sleep.

One of the stories that really caught my eye was one of the reporters was trying to explain to his very young granddaughter about what life was like way back in 1979. She was a young child of 3 so she wasn't fully comprehending the full extent of the conversation. He ticked most of the things we did or didn't do or have and it did put things into perspective as they say.

Obviously we didn't have cell-phones. Most of us still had what they called in the old days a rotary dial. Most of us couldn't afford microwaves. When we wanted to heat our leftovers we either put them in a plastic bag in water or we re-heated it in that object called an oven.

The internet. We didn't have that either. My first knowledge of a computer was a room that had floor to ceiling large boxes that made alot of noise and let's just say you couldn't have one on your lap as we do laptops today.

Car's didn't have GPS to find your way along life's highway. You had what we called a Thomas Guide a book that you opened and tried to find where you were going.

The largest television set you could buy that I could remember was a 25 inch. Now I have seen a 72 inch flatscreen. A flatscreen was what you go if you broke your television back in the day. You didn't have remotes (at least we didn't) you got up and changed the channels yourself. If we did that today alot of us would be in far better shape physically.

The list goes on and on and on. When you put it in the perspective the reporter did you wonder how we were able to survive? But the same could be said if you go even further back to the horse and buggy days, the days with out electricity, or when heat was wood in a stove.

We have definitely came a very, very long way. We have a long way to go too. But it is oh so wonderful to have all the terrific memories as we go into 2010. I really wonder what the New Year will bring??

Random Acts During the Holiday Season

The holiday season shouldn't be the only time of the year when you take time to do random acts of kindness but it is probably the most prevalent time that we hear about them. It makes your heart feel joyful that their are still very good people in the world during this time of economic strife and at a time when some people feel at their lowest either because of having lost a job, a loved one or just because they chose to be Scrooge.

Today when I checked our local paper on the internet their was a story of how a kind soul gave a little extra to their waitress after eating a meal at a local restaurant. This person would probably not been able to give a gift to their kids if it hadn't been for this kind gentlemen. It's not the only story I have heard in the past few months but as Christmas is just days away it makes you take time to think about how luck we are on a personal level.

Our family has been lucky in many ways and we have given to others throughout the year and during the holidays. The saying "what goes around, comes around" has significant importance for me in many respects on a daily basis. Whether it be good or even bad karma you just never know when you might need that helping hand. Their are those that will appreciate it without a word or those that take advantage on a daily basis. We all know such individuals. But, during this time of year I chose to have a heart that is slightly bigger.

I have had Christmas holidays in the past that made me wonder if things could get any worse than what was happening right at that time, but with a little prayer and believing that it would get better managed to pull out of the bad times. I do remind myself of those times, unfortunately during this time of year and count myself and my family as being blessed.

Surround yourself with good things, leave the negativity behind you during this time of year as best you can.

If you are out and about and feel that special sensation in your heart to give something to someone else here is a few tips: when you are in line to buy that cup of coffee, pay for the person behind you too, while you are at the market--give an amount of money to the cashier and tell them to put it toward the next person who comes through, do this at the gas station..

Random acts of kindness can be a good thing during the holidays or anytime of the year....

As the World Turns, Everything Else Must Change

, Another piece of history is going to bite the dust. This week another of the daytime soap operas said it will call it quits next September. As the World Turns was another of the long running daytime soap programs that started many moon's ago and will cease to be a part of women's and men's lives on a daily basis. Just this past September another of the daytime soaps bit the dust. Guiding Light had started on the radio as a 15 min program way back in the day when people who listen to the radio as we today watch our televisions.

My grandmother did it, my mother did it and I have to admit soaps have been a part of my life since I was little. I can remember both my mom and grandma ironing clothes and watching what the lives of the Bauer's from Guiding Light or the Hughes families from As the World Turns fame and others and what turmoils their lives were in.

My kids can remember a time when their babysitter would watch soaps feed them their lunch, put them down for naps.

Some think it is a waste of time but those that do are usually closeted watchers. I have to say over the past several years my watching has decreased. Oh yes you really don't have to watch on a daily basis because truly the stories really don't ever change. This one sleeping with that one, but over the years the storylines have gotten more steamy and subject matter that fifty or sixty years ago wouldn't have even be uttered is now not as big a deal. Gay partnerships, addictions, abuse the list goes on.

It will be sad because it will be another link to what my grandma and mom's had in their lives so long ago. But times must change. Just keep telling yourself that and maybe you will get used to it.

I will enjoy what little time is left of As the World Turns.

First Holiday Weekend

Well I can safely say I made it through this first weekend. I certainly wondered when the week started if I was. For some reasons the first weekend of any month for me is always filled with alot of things but this one because of the holiday coming up was extremely full. With all of my extra curricular things comes with monthly meetings and events and usually with all of these comes with either a luncheon or dinner. I actually had to think back and I couldn't remember if I even ate any meals at home except for breakfast everyday. I know for sure my diet seems to have flown out the window. And then the proverbial gift exchanges. I enjoy this except when I haven't had time to really shop. I do like to put a little thought into this because who doesn't like to get a gift? But unfortunately, I had barely even done any Christmas shopping as of yet by the time the first time for exchanges came along. I am way behind this year. By the time Thursday's meeting came along I was just glad the weekend was coming so I could plan a true trip to go Christmas shopping.

Some girlfriends and I decided to kick off our weekend by going to the movies on Friday night. Let me tell you I haven't been to the late movie and I don't know how long but after a long, long day I wondered if I would be able to keep my little peepers opened that long.

We decided to see "The Blind Side". I am not really sure the reasons other than it had great reviews and Tim McGraw was in it, along with Sandra Bullock. In a nutshell the story was about a young man who was taken in by a family because he didn't have anyone who wanted him.

His mom was a drug user, he didn't know where his father was and the system had pushed him from place to place. You might think this is a typical plot line but this one was a little different.

This young man is now a pro football player with the Baltimore Ravens and on the road to success. All of us decided it was a great movie and would recommend seeing.

The rest of the weekend was busy with my booth at the craft show and then I actually got to spend Sunday afternoon shopping. I didn't get all of it done but made a significant dent in my gift giving.

I am sure this week will be a little slower, hopefully but let's not be "blind sided" by what the true meaning of the holiday is. It's not just the gift giving, but the time we can spend with our love one's, and also the birth of Jesus. It is is the reason for the season.

Thanksgiving Weekend Caught Up to Me

It seemed like only yesterday that I was out in California enjoying my two week getaway and now we have raced through Halloween and Thanksgiving without a turn of the head it seems.

Now we are in day two of December and I kinda wonder, how did the Christmas Rush creep up on me? I had every intention of starting my shopping yesterday. I got David off on his December run, went to a monthly meeting and as I was sitting in the meeting I was plotting my route to where I would start my Christmas shopping in town. After a few minutes I felt like the room was spinning a little. By the end of the meeting all I wanted to do was get in my car and get home, hop into bed and close my eyes. And that's exactly what I did. I just felt plain icky. I think it may have been all the excitement of the past week with Thanksgiving and all the excitement with having company at home. And today was actually my first day back to my reality. I guess it was just too much to handle. So needless to say I spent the rest of the day in bed, not answering phones and catching little naps. By later in the evening I felt lots better and managed to fall asleep by 10:00 p.m.

With the 23 days that I have left, I guess I must use my time a wisely as possible. Christmas is meant to be a time of remembering so many things, the birth of Jesus, giving to others, spending time with family and friends and reflecting on how special our live are. It is a wonderful thing to do all these things, but least we forget our lives seem to go by warp speed almost on a daily basis. We must take time for ourselves, no it's not selfish, because if we don't how can we be of any use to anyone?

Countdown to Christmas. Happy Holidays to all. Always remember those who are least fortunate.