This is a fun rerun…appropriate for today’s events.

…Lately I’ve been feeling down. Something’s causing me to frown.

A smile can’t be that far away. What would make me smile today?

It can’t be food, I’m on a diet. I found a hat, should I buy it?

I just got rid of so much stuff. I still have way more than enough.

I’ll phone a friend. Will I feel better? Better yet…I’ll write a letter.

I can’t call or write today. That won’t chase my blues away.

Should I nap or read a book? Or figure out whose frown I took?

I have nothing much to gain if I take on another’s pain.

Drive me crazy?…It’s not that far, I often ride in the crazy car.

Talk to me and tell me more. Listening is what friends are for.

No one else can live your life, solve your problems, feel your strife.

I can’t take away your frown. It will only double down.

I’ll have one and so will you. Then what are we to do?

I’ll sit with you and hold your hand and really try to understand.

There’s one who knows what’s in my head. Should I talk to Him instead?

He’ll give me answers and if I listen… the sun will shine, the stars will glisten.

Think of things you’re thankful for, but never try to keep a score.

You shouldn’t give your frown away and ruin someone else’s day.
.

A cheery smile is what they need. When we smile, we plant a seed.

So do not give your frown away. Save it for another day.

Give your smiles away instead. Nothing more needs to be said.

A smile is just a frown turned upside down

My brain is deader than a door nail today. Hmm, I thought door nail was one word, but spellcheck tells me no. I used to think spellcheck was two words, but spellcheck told me it’s one. Sometimes I get tired of spellcheck being so much smarter than I am. The only voice that makes me feel dumber than spellcheck is that of the GPS lady. If I decide to deviate 2 feet from the route Ms. GPS has me on, she gets very excited and says things like, “Make a U-turn in 400 feet!!!” At that point bells and whistles go off, and the screen starts going in circles and flashes, “Rerouting! Rerouting!” I know she’s thinking, “I gave you a route AND an alternate route, can’t you just pick one and stick to it??”

I don’t like my every move put into question. In the first place, it’s rather unsettling to have inanimate objects telling me what to do all the time. Kip and I find ourselves whispering if we’re contemplating an unexpected stop. Is it really worth it if it gives the poor woman a coronary? Do I really have to go that badly? (Shh)

Truth be told, I’m worried that I can’t live without GPS or spellcheck. It all sounds like an example of a sick and twisted relationship doesn’t it? (According to spellcheck, I have misspelled 4 words so far.)

I think that I am pretty even-tempered. I don’t get ruffled too easily. I have tried to be really good-natured about all the age related teasing. (Spellcheck tried to change natured to matured.) I have listened to all of the advice of well-meaning people who seem to think it’s time for me to change my ways. This all became more of an issue when I reached the age of 65 last week. (This is a rerun. I just turned 69 last week.)

I was standing behind a woman in line at the supermarket checkout yesterday. She was leafing through a health magazine. I guess she thought I needed some helpful suggestions because she said, “Do you know that regular exercise is the best thing you can do to promote longevity?” I said, “I’m over 65. Pushing 70 is exercise enough for me.” Then I added, “These Jelly donuts are for my 102 year old sister.”

I just spelled exercise incorrectly 3 times. I’m glad I finally paid attention. Spellcheck changed it to supersize, then to oversize. Sometimes it tells me, (not in so many words), “Hey, I got nothing for you.”

As far as GPS goes, I can be standing in Walmart and look at my phone to see what time it is, and there will be a message that says. “You are in the Walmart store in Gun Barrel City, Texas. Would you like to add a photo?” Why would I want a photo of myself standing in Walmart? What I would really like to know is why am I there? Please don’t tell me where I am unless you can tell me why.

The way I look at it, middle age is always 10 years older than whatever age I am. You are old if you add, “God willing” to every statement. One of these days I’m going to get brave and drive somewhere without the GPS lady. If I have a map, I know I’ll be able to figure it out, God willing.

For heaven’s sake, our ancestors lived without all the electronics hystrionics. (I spelled hystrionics wrong, but I like it better my way.) I carry so many devices and chargers everywhere I go, I look like I’m ready to climb a telephone pole. Do we even have telephone poles anymore?

I used to try to say growing up in Murdo did not prepare me for automation. Then someone provided me with a list of all the people who graduated from Murdo High School and went on to do things I can’t even pronounce. The list was 3 pages long.

Oh, hello teachers who taught me in High School..Oh, hi John (Thune). Did I ever tell you about the time I won the coveted Miss Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Award?

You were awarded what?

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I do have something exciting to tell you about. A few days ago I received a package from Billy’s wife Liz. I will tell you more about the contents another time, but one of the items was the William Francis Plumbing and heating pink porcelain, toilet stool ashtray someone gave Billy several years ago. I only know of three of them still in existence. One belongs to my cousin Greg Miller and one of my Murdo Girl readers has one. There used to be bathtubs too, but I don’t know of any that have surfaced.

Liz said in her note to me that she knew how sentimental I was about such things, and Billy agreed that I should have this tangible reminder of days gone by. She said she knew I would welcome this treasure back into my life and that I would appreciate it and give it a great place of honor. I’m trying out a few places. Don’t you think the commode bowl displays my crown perfectly? I think Dad would like the idea, but I will try out a few other places before I decide.

Anyway

The degree of my success will be a moot point as soon as I get my water tower collection ready to show. Who doesn’t like viewing water towers? I’m sure “The Collection” will finally and forever put my name wherever they put the names of successful people.

Here is just a sampling of those submitted by Murdo Girl readers. If you highlight the photo you will see what I have named each of my beauties and who submitted the photo. I will include the locations as soon as I have them all alphabetized..With the help of spellcheck of course.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Some tell a longer story.

The image… person, place, or thing, is never ordinary.

While looking through a lens, someone makes a snap decision,

And forever captures everything within that narrow vision.

Decade after decade can come then disappear.

Everything is different, but the vision remains clear.

Most pictures tell a story that will change with each new teller.

It might bring few words to mind… or be a new best seller.

I treasure all the pictures I found from my childhood.

Stored in a little wooden box, their quality’s still good.

These days we snap hundreds but we barely take a look.

We don’t save the special ones in a photo book.

We store them on the web where they remain neglected.

And never look again at those treasures we’ve collected.

If you lose those precious visions someday you’ll be sorry.

Because without the vision you might forget the story.

Yes a picture’s worth a thousand words to you and those you know.

They bring back all the memories of good times long ago.

A favorite picture of two of my granddaughters, Olivia and Charlie

Ryan Constance, granddaughter

Grandson, Hudson with my hat on.

Billy and I flew to California after I ran the Boulder Bolder in Denver. Mom snapped this picture of me with Gus when I got off the plane.

Thankfully, we can hug again. The poem contains some rules.
I still like hugs and I can’t wait to hug again someday. That’s not going to happen until COVID goes away.
I dreamed that I forgot myself and tried to hug someone. I heard the whole world shout, “Here she comes you’d better run!”
Rules before COVID
Hugs are not for sissies. There are rules you need to know. It’s not the way it used to be many years ago.
I learned the rules the hard way, though I still don’t know them all. I’m here to help you hug right, so wrong hugs aren’t your downfall.
I saw a friend walk towards me, and I struck a huggers pose. He saw my arms wide open, and suddenly he froze!
It was an awkward moment. A situation to appraise. Should he walk into my waiting arms, or approach me from sideways?
(My cousin, Mark and me…the sideways hug.)

(Another sideways hug.)

Standing with my arms outstretched, I felt like such a fool. How could my friend know I didn’t know that hugger’s rule?
Unless they’re related, (less than twice removed), guys don’t give girls two armed hugs, unless they’re preapproved.
There is more you must remember. Age comes into play. If hugees are old and feeble, you can hug them the old way.
Wrap your arms around them. Just don’t squeeze too tight. A right hug could go wrong and they might put up a fight.

I must apologize to the men who felt anxiety, when I hugged them without knowing, the degree of it’s propriety.
My hugs are often longer than what’s acceptable today. I only know it’s too long, when my huggee pulls away.
Though I hope all of you know, I think hugging is quite harmless, I’ll follow all the rules or someday I’ll be armless.
So if you’re walking towards me and you think something’s amiss. Stop before you get there and I’ll just throw you a kiss.
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I have fun posting fictional stories about old buildings. I always wonder what their real story is. I believe Dianna Kenobbie Diehm took this photo.

Time Well Spent

I remember sitting in this old school house. I could look out the last window in the back and see the changes in the seasons. Since it doubled as our country church, I spent six days a week here. On Saturdays I did my homework, so I was being truthful when I told everyone I was here every day of the week.

In this little building out in the middle of someone’s pasture, I learned about life everywhere else. I learned how to count as high as I would ever need to, and I learned to count my blessings.

I learned how people survived hardships and how some did not survive success. I learned the happiest people are those who truly care about others. I learned how to pray for strength, courage, and wisdom. I learned how to be humble, grateful, and compassionate.

I learned that nothing is forever, and life would be better if I learned to embrace change. I figured out that we all come from a long line of people who aren’t with us anymore, and we should be proud of our heritage.

This old building shaped my life. I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t come here when it was too cold, or too hot. I learned everything from how to tie my shoes by watching my classmates, to what love is and isn’t from reading 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.

Yes, I learned important lessons here. Living what you learn isn’t always easy, and saying and doing are two different things.

My mother was sickly, but she always said, “Living ain’t easy, but life is pretty sweet, so I hang on and thank the good Lord for every day that I can feel the sunshine on my face and look into the eyes of someone I love.”

This is not a story about our dog named Lilie Dale. I have always liked the name since Kip bought the album by Daryl McCall with the song he sings with Willie Nelson called Lilly Dale. I wrote this a while back. It’s another example of a photograph of an old building with a story…

I’m getting some great contest entries. I can’t wait to put the book together. Email kmtexas2@gmail.com or message me on FB. You may enter up to three pictures of barns or other interesting buildings. You have until February 5th, 2021.

My name is Lilly Dale and I’ve come to see this house. I wanted to see if what mamma said was right. She said, “Don’t waste too much time chasing dirt around yur house. It will still be standin long after yur dead and buried.” I guess she was right cause we buried mamma five years ago and this old house is still standin.

My mamma was born and raised here. In fact, she lived inside those broken down walls most all her life. I was born here too. I lived with my mamma and granny till granny died. Mamma got too sickly to take care of herself let alone a little kid, but we managed til her lungs got so bad she had to go to a sanatorium in Colorado. I got sent to live with the man mamma said was my daddy. He must a been, otherwise I doubt he would have been agreeable to that arrangement.

I’m 15 now. School got out for the summer two days ago and instead of going home, I took a bus here. Mr. Jim doesn’t know I come here. I call him Mr. Jim. It just don’t feel right to call him Daddy. He don’t like my name Lilly Dale either. “Why would yur mamma give you a pretty woman’s name and a 2nd name of Dale?” When he does use my name, he calls me Lil, which I don’t like.

You see that window that’s got cardboard over it? It’s been like that for as long as I can remember. Granny said some mean boys threw rocks at it til it busted. She didn’t see no reason to fix it cause she didn’t enjoy looking out that window anyway.

Mamma said the house was kinda pretty once. I think she was dreamin that don’t you? She said they had good times here when her daddy was still alive. He kept things up. You know..fixed things when they broke down. I don’t know about that. I never saw this house with a lick of paint on it, inside or out.

No, It’s been a long time since anybody chased dirt around this house, but I guess it did what it was supposed to. It was a roof over people’s heads. We always stayed warm and had food to eat. That’s better than some have it.

Now that I look at it..That front window might a been kinda pretty once. If a person ever lives here again, they should tear the old lean-to that’s hanging off the side door down. It’s nothin but a place for rats and snakes to live under.

Well, I’m guessin it’s time for me to catch the bus back home. I just wanted to make sure mamma was right. The other thing she always said was, “Lilly Dale, you gotta put up with trash to rise above it.” I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I think I gotta go to school til I get my certificate. Mamma sure did want her daughter to get educated.

“Goodbye house. You did what you was supposed to do, now that’s what I’m gonna do too!”