Getting things covered

Many women I know "collect" a signature item. Robyn went for cows, Sister Graham did chickens, Tina had the Scotty dogs. And much later I jumped into the fray collecting ceramic pitchers.

After a while, it became somewhat unwieldy, so I stopped buying them. I still get them as gifts - and so when I get a new one, I get rid of one so the collection stays stable. They are useful, and I use them often.


A few years back I started acquiring vintage table cloths. I like using table cloths, and the newer ones just didn't appeal much to me. So I look wherever I go and find lots of pretty ones. I use them often too - and just recently used every last one of them at our recent women's conference.

A major plus is that they are much easier to store.

I had vowed to "pare down" this year. Not doing exceptionally well on that score since I went and got two more for the conference, since I didn't have enough.

But I have discarded a few other items in my linen closet - have been using my collection of vintage tea towels to wrap gifts in for example.

At least I'm not collecting soup tureens!

What is it about collecting anyway??

At the end of the day!

I don't know who this child is, but he looks plum tuckered out!

That's how I'm feeling right now.

The Women's Conference was a HUGE success!! Over 150 attended - a record for my presidency. We hardly had any food leftover: homemade hamburger vegetable soup, homemade bread, homemade jam, sliced apples - with fortune cookies for dessert. It was all served family style in a plethora of lovely soup tureens provided - like the soup, bread, and jam - by the wonderful women of my stake. (Sitting on tables covered with a plethora of my vintage tablecloths that I love to collect - and use!)

The keynote address was EXCELLENT. The classes were SUPERB. Everyone loved the new method of everyone attending every class in a three class rotation. The translation for the Chinese sisters went well and they truly APPRECIATED it.

The choir sounded GREAT. The women LOVED looking at the displays of vintage clothes, hats, baby clothes, dolls, pictures, books.

Now we need to plan next year!!

But I am going to bed first!

"Grow old along with me . . ."

I have read and studied some about Robert and Elizabeth Browning. I'm sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but their love story is indeed a fascinating one.

I had the Browning quote on our Christmas cards this year, but I was off - I quoted "Grow old with me" and it's "Grow old along with me." Sister Gibson, the widow of Harry's mission president in Bolivia, was still touched by it - and actually I have had quite a response from many folks about the old wedding photo of us with the Browning quote beneath it. Looks like I called that one right!

At any rate, she wrote a letter to us including a piece she had written right after her husband died. It was called "The Best is Yet to Be." It was very moving. She wrote, "These experiences have given me a different understanding of Browning's words Death is 'the last of life, for which the first (birth) was made,' but death is more than dying. It is an induction into what Browning terms an 'adventure brave and new,' that which the scriptures call eternal life. At the end of the essay she wrote, "I am confident that we will be together again for age approved the most important choice of my youth. (Her reference to how she met and fell in love with her husband.) Love is eternal as well as infinite. Yes, the best is yet to be!"

It was a crazy, hectic day - the women's conference is tomorrow and the attendant frenzy was wearing me down. So it was nice to stop and reflect on a positive, happy thought.

I will give a report tomorrow on how the day goes.

Or I may just collapse!

When the "stars" from your era start disappearing!

I was driving home from school today and heard a brief bio on Gladys Horton, lead singer of the Marvelettes, who died today in a nursing home in Sherman Oaks. According to one report, she was born in 1944 and in another it said 1945. Either way, she was a contemporary. And I just can't imagine being in a nursing home at my age!

The Marvelettes' big hit was "Wait a Minute Mr. Postman" and "Beechwood 4-5789," both faves of mine. They are considered pretty significant historically, but they never had big hits after their first flash of fame. Apparently Gladys Horton left the group in the late '60's to have her first child. She had two sons, and one of them was handicapped. The info I read said that she never really got back into the music scene very much, since she felt she needed to care for her son.

It's a little thought-provoking to reflect on those long-ago years, to look at the hair styles, the dresses, to hear the songs once more.

And to think that it's been all those years ago!

My how things have changed!

Ouch!!

Our own Miss Annika has been having headaches, so she's having a CT scan to see if the tumbles she took at Christmas time and after have caused something like a concussion.

We send her our best and hope she's feeling better soon. As a child, a teen, a young adult, and a regular adult, I have been plagued with headaches - so I totally sympathize. I used to bombard my mom with requests for trips to the eye doctor - I was sure I needed glasses (I didn't need them until I was 37!) I often was sure I had some rare disease. As I have grown older and wiser, I have found some of the triggers - anxiety, not enough chocolate (seriously - I seem to need a caffeine kick sometimes!!), not enough sleep, and allergies - which trigger post-nasal drip which wreaks havoc with my sinuses.

So I hope it's something simple - or at least not something major. Although a diagnosis of "we can't find anything" isn't very comforting.

I was going to post daily on a resolution I was going to make and keep, but I seem to have strayed from my intended plan.

Not unlike other years and other resolutions.

I'd rather send my good wishes to Annika anyway!

The Grandmas we know and love

The big item consuming my week is getting ready for the Women's Conference this Saturday. I'm always worried that no one will come!!

But maybe I should be worrying about other details - like how I am going to sound in the choir! (They were desperate and insisted that I participate!! Not to worry though - I mostly lip sync!!)

Our theme is a Woman's Heritage as a Daughter of God, and we have asked the women in our stake to bring us old dresses, dolls, photos, needlework, quilts, etc. for a display. I think it will be lovely. (Maybe I should be worrying about how we will get everything back to everyone in case they forget to take it with them when they go!)

Anyway, my good friend Kathleen brought this photo of her maternal grandmother - and I love it! What a beautiful young woman she was - and so evocative of the era she was from.

This is a photo of my maternal grandmother - when she was 18 - maybe a bit earlier than Kathleen's grandmother's time. But also evocative of her era.

I love old photos - I don't even have to know who the person in the photo is.

But it's nice when you do know the person. Or someone connected to them.

A wonderful heritage is a great gift! (Nothing to worry about there!)

Aother day in the life . . .

I am in a collaborative teaching assignment with the general education 8th grade science teacher - and in California anyway, 8th grade science is chemistry and physics. (I know some of you are wondering how I can do chemistry and physics - remember it is tough, but it is only 8th grade. And I have the answer book!)

So I thought this was pretty funny.

Maybe you had to be there!!

Forever Friends!

I have a good friend named MarDel. Her dad's name was Delmar - hence her name. I always thought that was kind of cool. Her sister is Moyne - you probably remember her more than MarDel, because MarDel only lived with me for one semester during our junior year and then went back to UCLA. She didn't like BYU. (And Moyne lived with Alice and me for a year.)

Alice was Moyne's age and MarDel is exactly one month older than me, so we spent time together at church and at Girl's Camp. There were some good times.

She was Joy's friend too - hence we were both attendants at her wedding. It looks like both of us are not too excited about the event. Maybe it's the headpieces we had to wear!!

Anyway, MarDel and I maintain a correspondence of sorts. There will be a flurry of emails or letters back in the old days - and then silence for months. But we seem to pick up where we left off every time - my definition of true friendship!

Her latest - "I broke my wrist playing tennis so now they are making me take Boniva . . . just me and Sally Fields. So I've taken up raquetball. Zeno's in his 4th bishopric. I told him to get it right this time." (Zeno is her husband - he's from Cache County - where else would you find the name Zeno? He is very cool too.)

I have always enjoyed MarDel's dry wit. So when her card came last week, it brought a smile to my face. And made me wish all my friends lived on my street!!

I think I will start another flurry of emails.

After the Women's Conference is over!

A couple of "bag" ladies!!

Frances and I go way back. You can tell that from this picture alone!! But from the moment I met Frances, I liked her friendly, easy-going, very sensible manner. When we have cooked together, or sewn together, or took care of kids together, or cleaned together, or just sat and talked together, I am always impressed at her excellent advice on a variety of topics.

Camping with Frances in 1971

She and Dee were here last week, and I was folding some laundry while we visited. I commented on a pair of frayed pillow cases that I was loathe to toss because I loved them. She immediately said, "I know what you could do with them.We were told this in a meeting I attended. They said to put a pair of pillow cases in your top drawer and if you had to leave quickly in an emergency, you could stuff clothes and things into a pillowcase and just carry it with you."

That's just one example of how Frances continues to be someone I love to hang around with!! (Dangling preposition or not!!)

"A rose by any other name . . ."

Much of my life seems to revolve around school. Not so odd really, since I spend 5 days a week, 8 to 10 hours a day there for about 9 months out of each year.

This is a photo from 2 1/2 years ago - I look much thinner. Probably because I was much thinner. Maybe this will inspire me! Or not.

But I can only remember the girl next to Beth, not her name. And the girl next to me doesn't even look vaguely familiar. Maybe she was not a student of mine and just got in the picture.

I see former students all the time around here. And it's always "Hi Mrs. Terrill," while I just say, "Hi!" with as much emphasis as possible so they don't notice that I'm not saying their name. And I think that maybe I should have kept a log or a journal or something so that I could review former students occasionally. (I could buy a yearbook, but they are up to $45 now!!)

Dad feels that way about all the missionaries that have come through over the many years that he has been Ward Mission Leader. We should have set up a log or chart or something with a picture and their name under it. (We have lots of pictures, but not all of them are identified!!) We get wedding invites and baby announcements and Christmas cards. Elder Thomas has a ring to it that doesn't seem to mesh with "Hi Nathan!!" It feels like they will always be missionaries.

We had Sister Keller here for three weeks and I called her Sister Keller the whole time. I felt like I was breaking a rule calling her Julie Ann! But then Julie Bourgeous Sears still calls me Sister Terrill whenever she sees me.

Funny how that works.

Just an FYI

An FYI to all you reunion fans out there - this is the year for the Clayton Reunion - Saturday, August 6th at Huntington State Beach.

It seems like we just had one - but I think it was my mom's 90th b-day party that makes it seem that way.

But they do seem to come around more rapidly each year.

They are work and worry - but they always seem worthwhile. So spread the word and come if you can!

Friendship

I am having dinner tonight with my good friend Norma. Norma is the friend I met 30 years ago who said, after I'd known her for a couple of years, "You are the first Mormon I met that I liked." Needless to say, I was glad I'd managed to make the cut!

Norma and I at her daughter Jill's wedding - 2008 I think.

We both had 3 year old daughters when we met. We were both from the same era. We had both been raised in Southern California. And we were both Parent/Teachers at SMCNS. The similarities ended there, however.

Along with the teacher in the group where we parent taught, and another Parent/Teacher, we started meeting monthly for lunch. This didn't last long, but Norma and I kept on getting together. Some years the meetings were just quarterly. And often we included our husbands - Harry and Larry get along famously.

And of course, for a few years, our girls played together until they went into the public schools - where new friends and activities soon took over. But Phoebe and Jill still consider themselves friends I think, even if they don't stay in touch.

What Norma didn't like about Mormons was, "They don't support the ERA, and they have too many kids!" In spite of her stance, she continued to stay in touch as I had 3 more children. And she seemed genuinely happy for us too. She remembers all the details about our kids that I have shared with her. In fact, she remembers things I have told her about my siblings too.

After a few years, Norma went back to school - she had been a social worker and a former Peace Corps worker - and got a special education teaching credential. A few years later, I followed suit. In fact, during the time I was subbing, I did a long-term sub assignment for her when she had hip surgery.

There was a period when we were both in Weight Watchers too - we'd go weigh in and then go to dinner together!

When I gravitated to Special Education also, we found we had lots to talk about - and our meetings were fun and therapeutic!!

And now Norma is going to retire. I'm happy for her. And I'm sure she will still have lots to talk about with me. But I think I might be a bit envious too.

Although according to her, she won't be in a position to travel lots or do exciting things because of budget issues.

Maybe she will get some grandkids though - and we can talk about that too!!

And we'll always have Sierra Madre!!

Be good to your feet and they'll be good to you!

I have learned that if your feet hurt, everything else goes badly. You just can't have sore feet and feel successful!!

And feet are funny things - they do so much for us - but they can also sabotage our best laid plans.

I have learned this hard lesson countless times in my life. I have worn unbroken in shoes and suffered with blisters for days afterward. I have worn high heels out of sheer vanity - and been miserable. I have worn the wrong pair of shoes for whatever reason and when that happens, you can't forget that you have the wrong shoes on - they keep "calling out to you" how miserable they are.

I have issues with my feet these days - I won't bore you with the details. But I am determined to search for a solution.

That's even a resolution!

Staying in touch

When we have guests here, they often leave a message for us - especially if we are not around when they leave. I love these messages - it's like having the person there once more.

And I like to keep in touch with people too. I've always enjoyed notes and cards. And now I enjoy emails and blogs. Facebook is not my favorite, but it's better than nothing I suppose. (What I don't like about Facebook is all the stuff you have to wade through to get to the meat of the message.)

Staying in touch is rewarding - the older I get, the more I value connections.

So come on over for a visit - and leave a note on the whiteboard when you go!

1955 - a good year for needlework!

When I was a girl, the levels in Primary for girls were called Larks, Bluebirds, and Seagulls. You had certain tasks you had to accomplish at each level also.

One of them was to embroider this sampler. If it was 1955, I was 10, so I suspect this was maybe a Bluebird assignment - since Larks were 9, Bluebirds were 10, and Seagulls were 11.

I spent a summer completing it. I did lots of the work while sitting up the discarded treehouse that my brother Lyn and the neighbor boy Freddy Vergine had built. Then they built a better one and gave it over to us younger kids.

I have never been a real star at embroidery. I don't do it often now - mostly just doll faces in fact. I'm not sure why I chose those colors either. I suspect someone gave me the thread. This one is attractive by virtue of being pressed and mounted and framed - and vintage!

But the message certainly does have merit!

It's the end of January - and you know what that means!!

I am once again preparing for the annual Arcadia Stake Women's Conference. I should have my data straight, but I don't, but it's been a fixture in our stake for over 20 years. I remember attending the first one.

Bonny teaching a class at our women's conference 3 years ago??

It has gone through many variations as our stake has shrunk in size and as our demographics have changed.

This is the 5th one we have done as a presidency. And my first counselor and I are the only ones left from that first presidency. It does not seem to be as much work as it has in the past. Or maybe all the "wear you out" work gets done the night before and the day of, and I'm not there yet!

But I'm starting to get excited about it - now that I have a moment to breathe!! I'm not sure why the end of January was initially chosen as the date - it has not changed in 20+ years. Our pattern has been to meet in the summer and brainstorm ideas for a theme so that we can ask women to be the speakers and presenters. Then we meet in November with a representative from each ward and brainstorm particulars - food, decor, programs, hand-outs, set-up and clean-up. Then we don't meet again until the 2nd week in January, when we make specific assignments for food and decorations.

So far it's worked out.

Don't need any resolutions here - except maybe to try to "breathe" the day of so that I can enjoy it!

Long ago and far away - in memory anyway!!

This is a standard title for me and blog posts. This month my theme is reflecting on the year to come and thinking how I can best use it to good advantage. Doesn't seem to have much to do with remembering long ago times.

But it does. It helps me see that everything changes. And it's good that everything changes - I'm pretty sure the above pictured kiddos have no desire to have been frozen in time.

I'm thinking many things in my life need to change. I'm encouraging myself!!

I'll try to let you know how I'm doing. I haven't walked to work since I walked those 2 days the first week back. Not sure what excuse I dreamed up - I think I had to bring something to school. I mostly think I get up too late to walk.

I haven't sorted any photos either. But I have missed sending a few birthday cards!! And I haven't bought any books!!

Nestled in the forest!

Tonight at dinner, Dad said, "It will be nice to be at a point where we are grinding our own wheat and making our own bread once again."

He was referring to when we retire, when we will settle down to thrifty ways and provident living, when we will have a garden and compost our own fertilizer.

One of our goals this year is to "practice" being retired. That is, look at what we need and what we just want. Look at where our resources go and if there are better places - or fewer places - for them to go.

I went to the retirement party for one of the district employees. A number of friends who have already retired were there too. One commented that right after she retired, the mother of her beloved grandson lost custody - and her son wasn't in any shape to raise the boy - so now she and her ex-husband - who appear to be on good terms - are raising the boy. He's in 1st grade and she goes every day and volunteers for 2 hours in the classroom - to be sure he's getting a good education.

Doesn't sound to restful to me - so I'm not getting my hopes up.

I think it will be "different" to be retired - not necessarily "easier!"

Random photos

Every year I resolve to get my photos in order - and every year they are not in order!! Over the years I have tried different approaches but am never consistent, so the chaos continues.

One year - oh, maybe 15 years ago - everyone was gone for about a week. I can't remember exactly where everyone was, but some were at the Kerksieks, some were at EFY or something, and I think Noah was at Cub Day Camp - and I spread all our photos out on the dining room table for a week and picked away at getting them in order. Dad would walk by and figure out some now and then.

No one is here most of the time - I'm not sure why I don't take that approach again. My current fave excuse is to say that as soon as Dad moves the cabinets and counters from the back room office to the sewing room, I will have the facility to spread them all out and get to work once more. (I could spread them out in the back room office, but when it rains, it leaks back there - so I'm afraid to try it there.)

A better approach - which I have actually started - would be to just grab a box of photos and start sorting into the large file boxes I purchased for just such a task - when I had a moment or when the mood struck me. Once again, those boxes are in the back room office - covered with black plastic trash bags to keep them dry in case of rain. Somehow that doesn't inspire me to pull off the cover and sort a few photos whenever I have a spare moment.

So tonight I just grabbed a box and scanned the above photo in - it's Phoebe's 16th birthday party - who can name the others in the photo??

It's a start!

Do it now!

I had a roommate named Marlene, whose last name started with a C also, so we would tell people we were fraternal twins!! (Back then, everything at BYU was done alphabetically.)

We divided up the kitchen chores - we pooled our money and took turns buying groceries and fixing dinner. We also took turns doing dishes. Marlene was in the habit of sitting on a kitchen chair after dinner, when it was her night to wash dishes, and saying, "I really need to get started." She'd sit there for quite a while before she finally did get started. Usually one of us took pity and came and at least kept her company so she'd feel motivated to get going.

Marlene graduated with a teaching credential, married and had 9 children, and is now on a mission with her husband - who is not the guy in the photo by the way. It is apparent that she learned how to get motivated to get things done!

She told us once that she'd put her kids to bed and then sit on the floor in the hall and read to all of them at once. She also said that the only way to get things done was to get up and start doing them - and not worry about showering and getting dressed before you got started.

I'm sure there are many methods we all have for getting things done in a timely manner. I personally seem to need a deadline - that is almost the only thing that works for me - at least consistently.

But that doesn't mean that I'm planning to give up trying to get organized so I can get things done in a more timely manner.

You will note that I have managed to post daily this new year.

But then blogging is not the problem.

Hmmm??!!

14 years ago this month!!

14 years ago this month I was sustained as the Young Women President. This is not a photo of my presidency, but it does include 2 of them - at least at one point. I had the calling for 4 years and went through a number of counselors and secretaries!!

I learned a lot from this calling. But much of it I only learned in retrospect. Harry was the bishop at the time, and he tried to clue me in on some things, but I wasn't very receptive.

He mostly tried to get me to delegate more. I did lots of things myself. Not because no one would help - I just would do things myself. Kacy and Tricia in the photo above were especially valuable to me because they would do lots by themselves - they wouldn't wait to see if I would do it first!!

I learned though - I'm the delegating queen now. I'm not sure why I finally got smart - maybe I got old and tired and said "Here, you do it!"

Mostly I've gotten some great counselors in my current and recently past callings - and they pretty much won't let me do it all.

It's a lesson that has many implications - no one can do it all. And no one should. Meetings should be held, assignments should be made, everyone should do their part.

Even in families and jobs and neighborhoods and clubs and book groups.

I'm better at this now - and it's my resolve to "Keep up the good work!"

"Soup's on!"

We are serving soup at our upcoming Women's Conference this month. The committee opted to go with my recipe for Hamburger Soup, so I had to write up the recipe. Problem is, I don't use a recipe to make it!! So I had to make a pot today and measure what I put into it!! An interesting process to be sure!!

Baking Brownies for then Elder Terrill - BYU 1965!

It got me thinking that we do lots of things automatically, without much thought sometimes. That can be fine, when it comes to soup or salad, but it can be disastrous when it comes to other things - like friendships, family relationships, and other human interactions.

Some food for thought here!

Sisters!!

Our friend Evan is here from Pittsburg - watch for a blog post on that - but at dinner tonight he said that a study he'd read about reported that those who have sisters live longer!!

I knew it was great to have sisters!!

"I hope you dance . . "

I used to listen to country music all the time - at least all the time I was driving around in the car. I haven't listened to it for several years though. But the other day, I was driving and the song "I Hope You Dance" came on. I was impressed that I remembered the words too!

Ry and I at Wade's wedding - don't ask me what year it was!

I like the idea the song embodies - life may throw you curves, but if you get a chance to go out and have some fun, or participate in some meaningful activity you enjoy, or go somewhere new and different, by all means take the chance and go and do!!

I'm thinking I need to be more proactive about providing myself with opportunities to dance! I am often quick to say that I'm too busy, that I'd better stay home and finish the laundry, that I'll take a raincheck on that one.

For example, I saw the pictures on Hannah's blog of their day trip to Olvera Street. Actually I had a task I had to perform that day, but I'm wondering if I would have gone along even if I hadn't had the task.

When my children were younger, I'd encourage Harry to go to events with them and leave me home alone so I could catch up or rest or do any number of things that needed doing. I saw my own mother do the same thing. We often went places with my dad - fun places too - and I'm sure my mom had him take us alone so she could have some kind of break.

This isn't a bad way to divvy up the responsibility for childcare or housecare or jobcare or church callingcare. But I'm thinking you have to be careful it doesn't become a habit that keeps you from other pursuits - pursuits that just might bring you great joy.

And there's nothing quite like enjoying something that brings you joy!

Mary and Martha

So, I'm not too sure I can express this somewhat complex theme that has been going around in my brain all day, but I am going to try.

As you may - or may not - know, my mom had surgery on Monday to have her left eye removed, due to ocular melanoma. The surgery, if you can believe it, is outpatient. She came through fine, and medically she is continuing to do well. She is little "down" however, and we can all understand that too. But it isn't the Mom I'm used to seeing, so it's a little sad. And a little scary too.

We try to remind ourselves that it's only been a few days. That it is a normal kind of grieving and getting used to kind of process. Mom is a strong woman who has pretty much just dealt with everything that came her way. And she pretty much expected us to do the same! And like Harry said, "I'm pretty sure I'd be feeling down if it was me - at any age!"

Christmas just ended - you knew that - but it was a crazy, busy, crowded holiday. Lots of people came and stayed - we even had an RV in the driveway to handle the overflow. Most nights we were feeding a crowd. The dishwasher died on Christmas morning. The washer and dryer were running 24/7. We had the Terrill Family Party, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and all the other nights in between. Our tree is still not down - but not to worry - we aren't turning on the lights! The last houseguest left today - Eliza and her kids were here this week - and now it's a little too quiet for my blood! And I miss my kids coming in to say goodnight too!

But in spite of my great love for our kids and grandkids, I'm something of a neat-freak, and I tend to follow after people and pick up toys, books, mail, dishes, food - whatever has been set down - and then I put it away somewhere. It's true - I'm renowned for this quality. It's a quality not appreciated by very many either. Phoebe would say, "I could find it if you'd leave it where I put it!"

I honestly try to not do it. I think, "When everyone's gone, Barbara, you are going to miss them. Just let it be. Sit down and enjoy everyone." I'm not real successful in that mode however. I'm pretty sure I miss out on some good moments because of this attitude of mine. Sometimes I just get tired and sit down. And the world doesn't stop or anything!! Why can't I learn??

Then on Sunday, in his Gospel Doctrine lesson, Harry the son asked me to share my favorite story from the New Testament. I immediately thought of Luke 10:38-42. And I thought that I was Martha - that I was "cumbered about much serving." And I thought that I'd rather be like Mary, and "have chosen that good part."

All these ideas have been tumbling around in my head today. I know the connection - but I'm not sure I've explained it very well. We are all concerned about my mom. We are all a little worried about the long-range effects of her surgery and cancer. We are all thinking of her - and we are thinking about how all this effects us. In the grand scheme of things, the important things are not things. And they are not tidy houses. And they are not beautifully spread meals or gaily wrapped gifts or new pajamas. They are not homemade treats or crafty surprises.

What matters is love and caring and concern and faith and hope.

All qualities my mother has demonstrated for us.

And her name is Mary.

"Walking Tall"

No one can ever accuse me of being an athlete! The most athletic thing I do is walk. I have walked a number of 5K races. I was in the habit of walking to work and back for many years, until I got sidelined with knee surgery 2 years ago. And I walk up and down the main hall at Clifton Middle School countless times every day.

Nowadays young women are encouraged to go out for sports. I'm not sure if I would have done that when I was younger or not. I did jump rope with a lot of skill - and enthusiasm. I could ride a bike up and down the foothills of Granada Hills when I was growing up. I was a roller skating fiend. I was hard to beat in foot races. And no one could beat me at dodgeball!

I was never a fan of P.E. Back in the day when I went to school, P.E. grades were based on skill tests. I could never hit the ball or make a basket, so even though my gym clothes were sparkling clean - and ironed - every Monday morning, and even though I got perfect scores on the written tests, I always got a C in P.E.

One year I got put in "Corrective P.E." because of my bowed legs and pronated ankles. Everyone else in there was seriously disabled and I often felt like a fraud. But I got an easy A. Of course, that was the year I had Trig, so I got a C in Trig. Straight A's always eluded me!

Since my knee surgery 2 years ago, I have not walked to work. And I haven't done any other kind of exercise on any regular kind of basis. So in the spirit of self-improvement that the new year always brings, I did walk to and from school today.

One step at a time!

"There is no frigate like a book . . ."

I love books. I love reading. I love libraries and books stores. I have spent many happy hours browsing in library stacks and bookstores.

But a few years ago, when I discovered Amazon.com and used books therein, I started buying used books. And I don't spend much time in bookstores anymore. And even though Monrovia boasts a beautiful new library, I hardly spend any time there either.

But mostly, I now have far too many books. Even though I "purge" my own shelves on a regular basis, I still have too many books. And far too many of them are second rate. Or I haven't even gotten around to reading them.

Last week I read an article in Sunset magazine about a family that has taken recycling to almost the ultimate end - among other things, they take glass jars and cloth sacks to the market and don't buy anything that comes in packages, they get compostable toothbrushes from Australia, and they don't own any books - all their books come from the library.

Well, that is too extreme for me. But it got me thinking that since my over-arching goal for the new year is to simplify my life, it might be prudent for me to get back into the library habit. Or get back into the habit of borrowing books from other people. Or if I'm going to buy books, buy them from a used book store that will buy them back from you!! (and we have one just 5 minutes from our house!!)

Right now I am reading a very good book - On Gold Mountain by Lisa See - that a man at church handed it to me one Sunday - his wife and I often discuss books - and so I started reading it. It's a memoir about Ms. See's family and their life in California - most particularly Los Angeles and Chinatown.

I would say I'm off to a good start!

A fashion resolve

I keep resolving to get my wardrobe under control. I know the stats that say we all wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time - and I truly believe. But I wish there was some fool-proof system for identifying that 20%!!

It didn't used to be so complicated. People had fewer clothes - they truly did. It seemed outrageous to have 12 pairs of shoes - as in, "Oh my gosh she has a dozen pairs of shoes!!" And now it doesn't even seem outrageous to hear that someone has 3 or 4 dozen pairs of shoes!

I went away to college with a planned wardrobe - 3 or 4 wool skirts, 3 or 4 wool sweaters, 3 or 4 blouses, one or two pairs of jeans - which you have to remember people really didn't wear jeans or even pants all that much. The photo above is an example of the way I thought then - "separates" that worked with other things. The skirt had a jacket to match (both made by Alice!), the vest went with 2 other skirts I had, and the blouse also went with a very cute jumper I really loved. Sweatshirts were in, as were cut off jeans and Bermuda shorts, but tee shirts were only for very casual.

I think that has something to do with it. The fashion industry has made casual clothing very acceptable for all occasions - a trend I enjoy and appreciate. But it's pretty easy to acquire lots of tee shirts and jeans - whereas it doesn't seem quite so automatic to get lots of wool skirts and dresses.

I purge my closet all the time, but it still seems to grow anyway. My fluctuating weight doesn't help matters either. I feel like I should discard "big" clothes so I'm not tempted to put on weight - then I do put on weight and have to get some new clothes that fit! (Actually the converse can happen too - I seem to have lost 2 or 3 pounds this holiday season - there has been some stress and with stress I don't eat. And so the 3 new pairs of jeans/pants I got to accommodate my bigger size are now somewhat large. Do I get rid of them and forge ahead with weight loss - i.e. hope for the stress to continue so I won't eat? Or do I keep them "just in case" and go get something a tad smaller?)

(I think I will just move the buttons over!)

I also forget what combinations I've made in my closet - and often am stymied in the early a.m. about what to wear. Fewer choices would make life a lot easier. The weather plays a role, what I'm doing that day at school plays a role, what is clean plays a role, and of course, what fits plays a big role. It often hinges on how I feel when I see my reflection in the mirror!

When I was a girl - I don't want to sound like I'm really from the "olden days" - but I had a school dress and a Sunday dress. When I got home from school, I changed into play clothes and hung up my school dress to wear the next day. It got washed once a week. At Easter and Christmas, when we got new Sunday clothes, it was nice because for a few months, the old holiday dresses could be school dresses for awhile and I could wear two dresses to school in one week.

Perhaps there is some merit in that plan!

I have read articles and blogs about women who strictly limit themselves to a certain number of tops, pants, skirts, dresses, and shoes - and if they get something new, something is discarded. And there was that blog about the woman who wore the same dress for one year - no kidding, it was a pretty fascinating story - I'm thinking she made money doing it - what else would motivate you to do that? And we even have a family member who went one year without buying any new clothing - but he may have done thrift stores. (and my take on that is - what if no one bought new clothes, the thrift stores would soon be out of merchandise!!)

I guess it could be worse - although I'm not sure if living where they have true seasons makes it easier to keep your clothes "categorized" or not.

But I'm working on it. Paring things down that is!

Starting the New Year right!!

Well, here it is January 2nd, and I have not only not posted yet, but I haven't made any progress on improving! Here it is, after 11, and I'm still not in bed. (I was resolving to get more rest. I am no longer the spring chicken who could grab some shut eye on the side of a highway near the Bonneville Salt Flats - and then continue on the journey with verve and enthusiasm!!)

We had a great lesson in Relief Society today - the "r" word was not used, but we all knew what we were talking about!! I liked the teacher's approach - talking about seeing the big picture, letting go of the past to move forward, having faith in the future, breaking down goals into doable increments, not letting the minutiae take over our lives.

Harry pointed out to me last week that many of the actions and activities that cause stress for me are things I like to do, things that are good things to do, but things that add up to stress nonetheless. I think I have not been willing to acknowledge this truth. And I am going to try to not only acknowledge it, but act on it - and feel good about that action!

For example, I am often called the Birthday Queen because I send everyone birthday cards. I've done it for years. It's good to remember birthdays - but my circle of family and friends grows daily - and remembering all the birthdays past a certain point in the circle may just end this year. There are certain birthdays that will still be remembered - and not sending a card to someone will not diminish my regard for them. But getting the cards, keeping track, buying stamps, sitting down and writing them - it all takes time - sometimes it's time I don't have - and I stay up late getting caught up and then I'm tired. So I'm rethinking this one.

It's a start anyway!