Perhaps It Has Symbolic Meaning

           I don’t recall if it was last year or the year before when I received this Snoopy ornament. 

 

I didn’t have it on the tree for very long as it was underneath the tree or in my stocking.  I decided to hang it over my computer and have looked at it throughout the year.  I think it’s cute. 

          Roland and I used to hang our keys on the fireplace where the stockings would go but have gotten rid of the fireplace this year and thus do not have the hangers anymore.  He started hanging his keys with the coats and I put mine behind the Snoopy – which seemed to work out well until the other day.  When I grabbed my keys I had also grabbed my Snoopy.  When I set the keys down Snoopy fell and the words broke.  I was going to try and super glue them back and still may – but right now it seems to be a poetic justice type thing.  Instead of “Happy” my Snoopy is saying “HA” – like a mean trick because he had to share the spotlight with the keys.

Closing Our Economy

 

              Jenna used to return home from school by 3:15.  That seems eons ago as she often doesn’t get picked up from high school until 3:15 or later.  There has always been a shortage of drivers – but especially this year. The few bus drivers are given multiple routes now. Short staffed employment is common all across the nation.  Diners and other companies go out of business. Contractors are behind on their jobs as truck drivers are behind on delivering products that so often seem to not even exist anymore.

          Hospitals will never go out of business but they are short staffed also.  Schools are hurting for instructors.  It makes me wonder where our economy has gone.  It isn’t solely COVID that’s to blame.  I am so grateful for those that have sustained a positive attitude among so much negativity.  I am grateful to those who have endured in being there for others. I suspect the paycheck does not have near the value as the individual that said check is made out to.  What a challenging time we live in right now.

          I am grateful to those things that are available to us right now.  It makes me wonder for how long.

Look in your Shoe

              It’s always such a big ordeal to take the sheets off the bed, wash them, and fit them back to the bed.  Yesterday I did five loads of wash – three which included bedding.  As I removed the bedspread and blankets from the bed, I noticed the television remote and had set it aside – on the chair I thought.  Only Roland couldn’t seem to find it and I thought I would have to spend the entire day looking for it as I could only think of two places where it would be – neither which it was.

        This morning Roland was about to put his shoes on and found the remote had fallen into one of them.  Oh.  I had not put the remote in his shoe. I would have never thought to look for it there.  It must have fallen off the chair.  Weird.

Halloween Thus Far

            I had to make a few trips downtown yesterday.  The first was to mail a package to Roland’s mother.  Saturdays provide a two hour window between 11:00 and 1:00.  I’ve been told Myrtle Creek’s is the only post office in the county that is open on Saturdays.

          Jenna and her friend had wanted to go trick-0r-treating, but the event didn’t start until 2:00. It was crowded.  Each year the city has offered trick-or-treating to the businesses downtown – though they had changed things up last year and “spaced” apart those handing out candy in the park and kept things in the park and not the entire 8 streets that make up the downtown area.  It continued to just the park this year.  Jaime wore her homemade costume “Sam” from Trick or Treat and her friend had gone as “Red Riding Wolf”.  They spent their last day of school (Thursday the 28^th) as part of the Scooby Doo Gang.

          I had dropped them off at the hanger last night and they both participated in a spook alley.  Jenna said she enjoyed the first two hours but became weary before the night was up.  She plans on returning tonight though she said two of her friends have chosen not to return.  It’s been a new experience for her and I don’t think she has any regrets.

          It appears that the ward received a great turn-out at the Halloween party last night.  Now masks.  No social distancing.  I had a headache – still do – and will not be attending church this morning but have told Jenna that I will take her to go to Sunday School but will watch sacrament meeting virtually. I have been sneezing and would rather not be wearing a mask – unless they have done away with that.  I don’t know.

          Roland will be released as financial clerk.  He was told who would be sustained in his place.  Each of us was surprised.  It is what it is.

          Happy Halloween, everybody!

Halloween in the Hanger

       Since we moved to Myrtle Creek and Jenna had become a part of the young women’s program, she has suggested that the ward do a trunk or treat.  Our ward has never done anything for Halloween – which is okay – but it is, without a doubt, her favorite holiday.  This year the young women’s president has arranged a Halloween party – the event starts at 6:00.  Jenna, meanwhile, has made another commitment.  Roland is working.  I was not too thrilled with the idea mingling with 50 – 100 people that may or may not be in the tiny church building.  If neither Jenna nor Roland are not going to go, I’m certainly not going.  I do feel bad for not supporting our YW pres. though I’m certain there will be a good attendance.  I have had such a huge case of the pandemic blues right now that I KNOW I will NOT be of great company.

          As I had mentioned in a previous post, the pandemic seems to have resorted me back to my introverted ways.  I think I have allowed myself to become more introverted than I was before we moved to Oregon.  It’s not that I’m staying holed up in my house necessarily.  I get out and walk Bonnie.  I have visited with others off and on.  I have been somewhat on the blue side.  I’m not depressed necessarily but I am definitely not ecstatic.   Just blah, I guess.  Not at all social able.

          Jenna, on the other hand, has been helping to set up and practicing her part for a haunted house type thing that I have never seen advertised.  I wouldn’t even know about it if she wasn’t involved.  But I have driven her out to the airport a couple of times.  Or near the airport.  I don’t know if the building is part of the airport or if it just appears to be – after all there is a different entrance – maybe even mailbox.  I had turned into the airport the first time, and it might go around to where the building was located, but barriers had been put up.  I already felt like I was trespassing.

          We had Bonnie with us the first time I dropped her off.  We walked around to see if there was another opening.  Jenna would have climbed through the barbwire fencing if I hadn’t stopped her.  We loaded back into the car and looked for an alternate route.  This is what the airport might look like from the building we drove to.  

That’s where Jenna will be tonight and tomorrow night.  Meanwhile I will probably keep the lights down or off, ignore the door, and watch sappy Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel.

          Roland said he initially had tomorrow off but requested extra hours.  Great.  Not quite Anakin Skywalker who appeared to have good intentions for going to the dark side. This article gives examples of both being a hero and a villain.  There are many parallels about direction that I’m reminded of.  Did I mention that I really hate Roland’s job?  I hate that he seems to depend more upon himself than upon a higher power.  I can see it going either way.  I don’t expect that he’ll ever turn into Darth Vader.  He’s more of a storm trooper at times. That annoys me.

We Should Travel - at least when it's safe enough to do so.

         My youngest son seems to be making more money than he knows what to do with.  Boo hoo, huh?  His wife's family has paid for a few outings for the entire family - like going to Mexico.  Recently he just purchased tickets to go to Hawaii.  Roland and I never traveled.  We barely had enough to feed the family.  

        There was one time we had gone to Logan to see my brother's performance in something.  I can't even remember what.  Each of the boys had made arrangements to sleep over with various friends and had not shown any interest in going to the play.  Since none of the boys were at home and Roland felt too tired to drive back, we just got a room to spend the night.

        Our youngest (the first to have made sleeping arrangements) calls about midnight to find out where we are.  Apparently the sleeping over plans had fallen through and he was alone in the house and had fallen asleep in our bed waiting for us.  I related this to Roland just a few minutes ago - though he says he doesn't remember.  I doubt Randy remembers either.  But it really did happen.

        There was a time when I thought I would enjoy traveling.  I suppose road trips are okay with the right companion(s) and car.  But I do not want to fly again - especially while there is still the pandemic.  Nor do I wish to gamble on staying at motels or hotels that may or may not be taking precautions for their guests. Too big of a gamble right now.

        I'm okay exploring places virtually - or reading about them.  Less costly and not so physically demanding.  Perhaps one day.  Perhaps not.  And it's okay either way.

I am so NOT a Materialistic Person

               I think I must have mentioned that Roland accepted a position at a jewelry store – supposedly local but has been training in both Eugene and Medford in addition to “visiting” in Roseburg.  He has used me as his sounding board before whenever he has been assigned to give a talk or lesson in church.  I would rather listen to it fresh than to hear him rehearse it – but I understand.  My mom did the same thing.

            Well, now he wants me to be a sounding board for his work and I am SO UNINTERESTED in the quality of diamonds or the luster of diamonds or what makes them what.  I really don’t care.  And it gets harder to listen each time he tries to practice as I become more and more uninterested.  I used to wear costume jewelry all the time – until my mission.  Haven’t worn much since. 

Roland would like to go out and make nice purchases for both Jenna and me and it’s just not practical.  I know I should be more grateful that he thinks that is the way to show me off.  But I would rather not be showed off for what is around my neck or on my finger.  Rings aren’t even a part of the ceremony that takes place within the temples that are part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

They’re symbols.  Funny thing is those things I am truly attached to are for sentiment and usually have no financial value.  Perhaps I should be more sentimental about jewelry given in sentiment – but I’m not.  Currently I am wearing a locket which he gave me. He always asks when I’m not wearing – which is often.  It’s expensive!  And I tend to be careless and misplace things all of the time.  I told him not to buy it or even the wedding band (number three at that) that continues to fall off my finger. 

They should be reminders of how much he loves me – but material items don’t express love to me.  They have become reminders of how our money could have been better spent. I suppose it seems callous of me.  Our communication skills are still something to behold.  At least Jenna and I get one another.