Gratitude

I've been suffering from 'writer's block' for some time now.  A friend complained to me last week that when she checked my blog, the posting was old.  I decided to do something about it. When I saw the date of my last posting, I was shocked.  So much time had passed.  But, with my Words with Friends, photography, volunteer knitting of baby beanies for a local hospital, 2 - 3 mile daily walks, checking Facebook, Twitter and my emails, etc....what to do....what to do.

I decided that I could think about all the things I take for granted and those things for which I should be grateful.  I'm always verbally thanking the good Lord for all my blessings, but haven't put it in writing in a while.

When I complained about something a number of years ago, a friend said, "You should be thankful that you got out of bed this morning."  I immediately thought of his massive heart attack.  That statement jolted me into changing my perspective, that is, until I began to take it for granted all over again.  We do many things unconsciously until we're unable for whatever reason.  I guess that's just human nature.  We should be thankful we can see, talk, walk, and generally use all our senses.

This past May I traveled to New York for my grandson's graduation from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.  Even though it was rainy in Worcester with the cold temperature of 46 degrees, and I had not brought a coat, I was certainly grateful for the opportunity to attend.   My visit seemed to whoosh by me.  While I was in New York, my son-in-law pointed out the baby Robins nesting in behind their basketball backboard.

Being short of stature, this was the best photo I could get.  The baby robins were calling to their mother.  I suspect they were hungry.  However, a short time later, there she was sitting in the nest.

Brings me back to being thankful.  Thankful is a state of mind.  It's a choice.  Instead of concentrating on wants and perceived or real needs, it's best to think about our current situation and choose to dwell on what is good about it.  It's work, I will admit.  Frustration does rear its ugly head, but the practice of expressing gratitude is fruitful.  At least, I'm back to writing.  I still have a host of things I want to accomplish as well as a host of things I'd like to have.  I believe that there's nothing wrong with that as long as I maintain a balanced perspective. Thanks for letting me share.

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Perhaps by Catherine Hall (on Kindle and the Nook) 

The Book of Micah by Catherine Hall (on Kindle and the Nook) 

Candy

During my visit last Spring to New York, I observed one of my daughters asking her son if she could borrow his cell phone.  Then, on another evening, she asked her daughter the same thing.  Then, my daughter would proceed to do something on the phone.  Finally, she told me that she was playing a game that she wasn't able to get on her own cell phone.  So I watched this go on and on, night after night.

Then, as I moved to another New York daughter's house, I discovered she used a tablet to access the same game.  I was curious so I asked her if I could try her game.  Before I knew it, I was hooked and she was without her tablet.  I would wear down her battery with this game.  It was mesmerizing.   Everyday, the same question.... "Can I please use your tablet?"  My daughter all but lost her access to her own tablet....her own tablet.  Imagine that.  How do you tell your own mother "No" for such a simple request to use her tablet?  After all, her mother's life was so small.  Her mother needed the intellectual stimulation.  When I finally left to return to San Diego, I'm sure she had a "Candy Crush" party.  I always tell my sons-in-law that they probably have a "Lower the Heat" party in the winter after I've left to return to San Diego.  They always respond, "No, no, there is no party."  But, I don't know because I do know that they raise the heat regardless of the expense of more fuel just to make me more comfortable.  They are so good to me.

Well, back to Candy Crush.  I've been bitten.  The day after I arrived home, I set myself up with this game.  I saw how a number of my Facebook friends were entrenched in it as well.  In playing the game, after 5 unsuccessful tries, there is a waiting period before playing the game again.  However, sometimes the waiting period is 25 minutes, but other times it is 3 minutes.  When it is as little as 3 minutes, I can do something else and then, in three minutes, get back to the game.  Whoever designed this game was expert at keeping you engaged if you were so weak-willed, which I discovered I was.  The only strength I've been able to muster was in determining that I would not pay for the tools that appeared for sale when you could not win that level in the game.  I am now at level 80 waiting for some of my kind friends to help me across a bridge so I can proceed with the game.

Yesterday, though, I had an awakening.  Every morning I have my coffee while checking my emails and friend's posts on Facebook.  Then, I always break away to read my Bible.  You see, in my estimation, it's okay to be half-awake reading my emails, etc.  Don't get the wrong idea.  My friends and what they have to share with me are very important.  I just feel I am awake enough for incoming correspondence, just not my daily calling in relation to my Lord and Saviour.  The Bible is a "mainstay" in my life.  Then, later in the day, it's back on Facebook again to play the game.

Yesterday, I got so engrossed in Candy Crush that I had no time to read my Bible before I had to leave the house for an appointment.  At that point, I decided I had to resist the lure of the game from now on.  After all, is a game really all that important?  Actually, at this point, "Yes."  But I will endeavor to put first things first from now on, even though I still hear the music in my head.

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FACEBOOK

I’m so excited.  Today, on the first day of its IPO (Initial Public Offering), I purchased one share of Facebook stock.  I put the bid in and clearly expected it to be ignored because I was only buying one share, where most people buy much, much more.  Before I knew it, I had received a “trade confirmation.”  Yahoo! (no pun intended).
          

 I heard on the news that Institutional Buyers were expected to pick up a great amount.  I don’t know about that because some of the news statements said the earnings for the first day were a disappointment.  Some experts were advising beforehand that the little guy couldn’t get in on this because of Institutional Buyers.  But I beat the odds.
         

True, I paid $40.40 from my meager trade account.  The stock closed at $38.23.  So, initially, I lost but I don’t care.  I wanted the experience of buying in on the first day of offering….all one share of it.  I’ve wanted to buy on other businesses' first day of an IPO, but my timing, as well as spendable cash, was out of sync each time.
          
Professionals put my kind of buyer in the “Fools” category, but I’m a happy fool.
        

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