Insight and Out-of-Sight

© 2012 by Danna

These two opposites came to me in different ways but on the same wave length and as I put them together, I realized they are very reflective.

Insight is to have vision, awareness, intuition, instinct, perception, and discernment. All of these are turned inward so that we may reflect upon and study through our own cognizance our surroundings, our character, our virtues, our beliefs, and eventually come to a philosophy of life.

The toddler is intuitive when surrounded with his blocks and the genius when surrounded with his thoughts. Both produce from the result of insight. The toddler assembles, builds, and stacks his blocks. The genius creates, generates, and produces scientific breakthroughs, technological advances, and medical miracles. Both, whether for amusement or for humanity, bring about their desired result through insight.

Out-of-sight is an old expression I remember from the 60s. If something was out-of-sight, it was very cool or out of this world. It was not an inward reflection but an outward joy.

What was out-of-sight then?

The Beetles, the Rolling Stones, and Rock-n-Roll

The Twist, the Jerk, the Pony

My High School

Pep Rallies on game days

and my current crush ♥

What is out-of-sight now?

My Children ~ My Grandchildren

THE JOYS OF MY LIFE

   

  

Getting Away With Murder

© 2012 by Danna

That old expression “getting away with murder” just wasn’t true in my world. I grew up with Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Lone Ranger, The Rifleman, and Hopalong Cassidy. Even Sheriff Andy Taylor from Mayberry always got his man. There was not a whole lot of investigative skill or forensics involved but life lessons were taught in a thirty-minute segment and the good guys always triumphed.

Fast forward to today—Television is not quite so sweet and innocent, not quite so black and white, because the good guys are now a little gray around the edges.

I enjoy programs that show the investigative proficiency of the main characters but sometimes, unfortunately, I have to wade through a grisly murder to get there. It’s strange that I can view murder and mayhem but can’t abide the pointless skin scenes and profanity that producers feel they have to include. I cringe and cluck my tongue and want to cross that program off my list. These offenses don't change the story line and it’s certainly not missed if it’s not there.

I also enjoy a good “sting” operation but that doesn’t mean the Hallmark Channel with its romantic comedies doesn’t capture my heart.   

And then there’s the Antiques Road Show, If Walls Could Talk, and all things HGTV: Curb Appeal, Color Splash, Design on a Dime, Yard Crashers, Income Property, etc.  . . .

I like to watch a kitchen, bath, or yard transformed . . .  

I like to see the girl win the guy and vice versa . . .  

I like to see the good guys triumph and the bad guys get their comeuppance . . .  

I like to see the underdog come out on top—but with an unexpected twist . . .  

In my world no one gets away with murder . . .     

   

Sorry, I don’t watch politics . . . too scandalous for me!  

Do I watch too much television? Probably! Read any good books lately?

Short story for Creative Writing Class at Bartlett Senior Center, Bartlett, TN

Get a Little Respect

© 2012 by Danna

As we grow older, our bodies become sluggish,

We can’t leap, or jump, or run as fast as when we were young,

We drop like rocks into our seats rather than sit down gracefully,

We rise up pushing against the arms of our chairs rather than jumping up quickly,

If we sit still for any length of time, we take a power nap.

As we grow older, our bodies begin to break down and we need medicine,

Medicine for ailments like arthritis, indigestion, and high blood pressure,

We need glasses to read, and drive, and see our medicine bottles,

We need hearing aids to listen to the radio, the television, and our grandchildren,

Every movement may cause a symphony of sounds, creaks, and groans.

As we grow older, our minds slow down and our memory escapes us,

What happened fifty years ago is vivid but yesterday is lost,

We recollect names but only after going down the roll call,    

We enter a room and forget what we went for,

We start a conversation and then exclaim, “Oops, I lost it!”   

I heard a wonderful senior saint comment recently,

I’m eighty-two years old and I respect my age,

I get help to walk down stairs or step off curbs when I need it,

I pray every morning that my eyes will see and my ears will hear,

That my mind will remain sharp and my thinking lucid.

So, as my senior years come upon me (and they are advancing at breakneck speed),

I want to approach my life with those same words of wisdom,

Give myself every opportunity to be safe and healthy in body, mind, and spirit,

Avoid bringing calamity upon myself and heartache to my family who loves me, and

RESPECT MY AGE

Invasion of Privacy

© 2012 by Danna

In January of 2005 I had my purse stolen in a downtown Nashville parking lot while attending a show at the Grand Ole Opry. With all the horror stories told of people who have had their identities stolen I naturally and immediately reported a fraud alert to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. I guess the culprit took only my cash and threw my purse away because nothing was ever reported against my credit. I should have left it at that and considered myself fortunate.

Over six years later I am still dealing with the fraud alert that was posted with these three agencies. Every time I try to get credit, the fraud alert pops up and interferes with the process and my credit is delayed, if not totally denied.

The final straw was when I applied for a Chase Credit Card through Southwest Airlines. Part of the package deal was to receive two free travel tickets when opening an account. I thought that was an excellent offer because I travel to CA quite often and could definitely take advantage of those free tickets. Soon I received a letter from JPMorgan Chase Bank saying, DENIED—UNABLE TO VERIFY FRAUD ALERT IN CREDIT BUREAU!

No more! I decided to remove the fraud alert and take my life back. I went online . . . nothing was user friendly and there were no options to remove a fraud alert. I called the 800 numbers and was left on hold for hours (well, not hours but it seemed like it), until I finally decided to just write them all a letter (8/19/10). Their replies gave me specific instructions on what information was needed for them to comply with my request.

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

One copy of a government issued identification card with picture

One copy of a recent utility bill displaying name and current mailing address

I received a nice email (8/26/10) from Experian saying that the fraud alert had been removed from their agency but that I would have to contact Equifax and TransUnion directly, which I had already done. I never heard from either of them. I guess I was lulled into a false sense of security that all had been done when I received Experian’s email.

Last week I had a Sears representative, Thomas, give me a quote to replace the windows in my home. He hauled in samples of windows, samples of cut out corners of windows, brochures, and made an excellent sales pitch which included an offer of eighteen months interest free. Not bad . . . I like to pay for things over time on their dime.

So Thomas called in for my credit report on his cell phone. Citibank then called me on my house phone to ask a few questions because there was a FRAUD ALERT on my credit. I thought, been there, done that . . . so I said, “No problem; ask me some questions!”

“What was your license plate on your 1997 Diamonte?” and she gave me four choices.

“WHAT!!! THAT WAS FOURTEEN YEARS AGO — I DON’T REMEMBER FOURTEEN YEARS AGO!”

“I’m sorry we can’t continue because you answered incorrectly.”

“Wait, ask me another question?”

“I’m sorry we can’t continue. We’ll be sending you something in the mail. It will tell you what to do and then we can proceed with your application.”

I looked at Thomas. He was downtrodden that his three hours spent with me did not bring fruition. I showed him my credit file where I had tried to remove the fraud alert. He just shook his head.

I showed him a copy of my excellent credit score. He shook his head and started packing up his window samples.

“Well, now what?” I waited for the letter from Sears, which came in the mail one week later. Equifax was the culprit who had never removed the fraud alert from my report. The letter gave an 800 number to call and a notice that if Sears did not hear from me within 10-14 business days, my application would be declined.

I do understand that these precautions are for my own protection but what is so hard about removing a fraud alert? Is this an invasion of my privacy, too?  

CAN YOU CURL UP WITH A GOOD COMPUTER?

© 2012 by Danna

A person with books is wealthy. Oh, I don’t mean in the sense of financial wealth. I mean wealthy in knowledge. I’m sure there has been at least one book written about anything you would ever want to know . . . even an instruction booklet on how to use a can opener!

A lover of books savors every page. Books reveal a person’s interests and sometimes their personality or character. As guests enter a home, they have a very good idea of the kind of person who lives there by just perusing their book shelves. Valuable books would be on display in the best bookcase. 

There is a difference, though, between valuable and valued. One of my most valued books is my mother’s Bible given to her by her parents the Christmas she went off to college in 1937. Another is a storybook my mother read to me as a little girl. The cover is missing and the pages are yellowed but I value this book not just because I have fond memories of the stories, but because my mother valued it enough to keep it for me until I was grown. When she presented it to me recently, I teared up and went straight to my favorite story, which I still remembered—“Quack, said Jerusha.”

There are books that have changed through their publication history, especially history books. Fifty years ago historical accounts were depicted quite differently than they are in present publications; that is why I collect older history books. I like to compare the differences (some not so subtle) and to take note of something that was considered quite important to be taught about history half a century ago to what is considered important today. As times change and books are “updated” to reflect current conditions, culture, and attitudes, something is lost if no accurate record is kept of the past. 

To own a first edition is a real treat. First editions are collector’s items, especially if signed by the author. I have a few signed books by current authors but I will never see their value in my lifetime and signed classics I could never afford to have on my shelves.

I regard my books as I do my children—treasures! I love snuggling down in a big comfortable chair with an afghan over my legs and just get lost in a good book. A book can hold me satisfied for a very long time. I don’t mind sharing my treasures but I can’t bear not having them returned. 

When I am dead and gone, I hope my books are valued by my children and grandchildren. Not just because they are books but because of what they had to say. There is always a message and a lesson to be gained through someone’s story. Biographies are quite interesting; the telling of someone’s life, their ups and downs, their joys and sorrows (we all go through them), and the lessons life has taught that they are willing to pass along to the reader. Life’s lessons taught from someone else’s crisis helps us to avoid them for ourselves—hopefully!

Now, what if there were no more books to hold, collect, and cherish? The world wide web (www) has almost eliminated the need for books. Just the flip of a switch and the click of a mouse and information needed on any subject appears before our eyes. The flickering of the light from that screen and the incessant click, click, click of movements are bothersome. As research has become instantaneous, books have become obsolete . . . almost! 

Can you curl up with a good computer or lie back on your pillow at night with a computer on your chest until you fall asleep? Can you sit in a waiting room for your appointment and bring along a good computer to keep you company? And, oh, the tragedy to get stuck in traffic waiting for the lanes to open and not have something to read! 

When I was faced with a move recently, I knew I would have to downsize my belongings, as well as my books. As I faced the challenge of going through my shelves deciding what I would keep or donate to the church or Good Will, I felt such a sorrow in having to give up even one of my books. 

Sometimes when I’m in conversation with a friend and a topic is mentioned, I think to myself, I have just the book she needs! Of course, since I’ve unpacked and shelved my books, I miss those that I gave away and I think, Oh, I wish I still had that one so I could share it. I have purchased several copies of some books so that I can have my own copy and give away the others as special treats.

No, I don’t think we will ever be without books. There are too many booklovers in the world to allow that to happen. I can see all of us hoarding our books in vaults before we would ever let them be lost.

Have YOU read any good books lately?

P.S.

Kindle E-Reader’s have now entered our lives. I don’t own one and don’t know if I ever will. I guess I’m from the old school. I don’t like change . . . although, cut and paste and highlight and delete are pretty wonderful over manual typewriters. J

Book quotes:

If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.--Toni Morrison

“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” –C. S. Lewis

“No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.” –Confucius

“After a couple minutes of reading, the words disappear and a movie with every detail plays in my head.”

“There are certain fictional character’s deaths you will never recover from. Ever!”

“Novels aren’t just happy escapes; they are slivers of people’s souls, nailed to the pages, dripping ink from veins of wood pulp.”

“I always buy another book when I still have ten to read.”

“The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.” –Albert Einstein

“I’m not to be trusted in a book store with a credit card.”

“There is no such thing as too many books. However, there is such a thing as not enough room.”

“Dear people who put STICKERS right across the synopsis of a book. There are no words to describe the SEVERITY and EVILNESS of your deeds.”

“If I’m ever stranded, I hope it’s in a bookstore.”

The Pleasant Tense

© 2012 by Danna

The past you cannot change,

. . . the future you do not know,

. . . but the present tense can be a pleasant tense

. . . if you will make it so.

Who wouldn’t want to live a life friendly, agreeable, and satisfied?

. . . to be considered happy, jovial, and fun-loving?

. . . to be described as amusing, cheery, and good-natured?

. . . to desire to have your present tense a pleasant tense.

All wonderful words that could be spoken in praise and tribute,

. . . that should be spoken in admiration and acclamation,

. . . why wait to share love with your loved ones,

. . . just make your present tense a pleasant tense.

It’s all in your attitude and application,

. . . your approach and presentation,

. . . be measured as a best friend among friends,

. . . and create a pleasant tense with your present tense.

The Death of Print

© 2012 by Danna Shirley

          Society has moved into the twenty-first century with a vengeance. Everything is technology. What is a blog, anyway? Or a blackberry? Or a podcast? Or a text message? Facebook haunts me and Plaxo won’t leave me alone.

          I realize that e-mail has made me lazy. A quick message, usually with only a few errors, is speedily sent to its recipient. Not too much later a reply, usually with only a few errors, arrives to my ‘Inbox.’ Questions are asked and answered. I hit the delete button and the print is dead.

          My letters of correspondence are typed. My annual Christmas letter is typed and then sent by e-mail. A quick signature on the bottom of a greeting card wishes Happy Birthday, Get Well Soon, or My Sympathies. A telephone call to a friend or loved one is easily made and instantaneous—no waiting for snail mail, and no record of the subject matter for posterity. I may write one or two checks a week and then my hand cramps from holding the pen. 

          Manuscripts written by famous authors, with the cross outs and arrows are worth a small fortune because they are intact, tangible, and can be framed and displayed for the world to see. Writers today easily delete or cut and paste their changes and no one is the wiser. Their work looks like every other author’s work—Times New Roman, font 12. No writing analysis expert can examine loops or swirls and determine who wrote anything.

          And look at the treasures that are found in attics or basements fifty or a hundred years later; not only written documents but old photographs that tell a history or a mystery. I love watching the Antiques Road Show just to hear the stories of discovery. “I bought this picture for $5.00 at an estate sale,” and a letter written by Abraham Lincoln to a mother of a wounded Civil War soldier is discovered tucked behind the frame.

          Where have all the letters gone? No one hand writes anymore. When I do receive a letter from a family member, I save it just to preserve the handwriting so I can tell my grandchildren, “Your Nana wrote this when she was eighty-nine” or “This is your Pop’s handwriting. He died before you were born.” 

          A few years ago my mother handed me a pile of letters I had written to her in 1970 and 1971 describing my pregnancy with my first baby. Long distance telephone calls from Mississippi to California were rare. I could only afford a stamp in those days. I have passed these letters on to my daughter because they document her life and my aches and pains during her first nine months.  Thirty-seven years later we see the wisdom of my mother’s actions. Thirty-seven years from now, will there be anything to pass on to my grand and great-grandchildren?

          Today I am writing stories of my life growing up; my life with my husband and children when they were growing up. It has been fun to recall different events. I’m leaving these for my descendants to enjoy so they will have an idea of who their Mimi was and what her life was like. Unfortunately, these stories are typed, not handwritten. Oh, well. I can only do so much with carpal tunnel syndrome . . . and my handwriting gets worse as I get older!