Category: Daily Prompt

Overstepping

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Daily Prompt:  Meddle

There is a fine line between offering advice and meddling in someone’s business.  I am sure that we have all gone through the over zealous advice of parents, parents in law and friends.  Everyone thinks they know what you should do.  Unfortunately, if this behavior is not put into check, relationships can be affected and even destroyed.

I remember when I was young and getting married.  Of course I had my own ideas of how I wanted things done.  My mother in law did things completely different than the way I had been taught.  Something as simple as how I washed the dishes was called into question.

For years I bit my tongue.  I was reluctant to speak my mind.  But the day came when I had had enough.  Maybe it was because I was tired from being up with the baby and was also working.  I can’t remember the specifics of that day except I was told, in my house that I wasn’t doing something the way she would have done it.

I exploded.  I had had enough.  I told my mother in law that although I loved her, and she was my husband’s mother, she needed to back off.  I also told her that unless she wanted to support me and take over my bills, what we did in our home was really none of her business.

Needless to say, she was hurt.  I was immediately sorry that I had told her off like that. Unfortunately you can’t un-ring a bell.  She left and we didn’t speak for a few days.  My husband had spoken to her and she told him about the incident.  You can imagine how that conversation went.  I have to say that he did back me up with the unwanted advice, but was sorry it had come to a head the way it did.

Finally my mother in law and I had to see each other.  It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but we found our way back to a good relationship after a long time.

Now I am a mother in law and a mother of grown kids.  I catch my self starting to offer advice that is not appreciated and I stop right away.  I have explained to my kids that they will always be my babies no matter how old they get and that I will always want to help and protect them.  Then I admit that I need to back off and shut up.  They give me that tolerant smile that all of us get from our grown kids.

My point is that I would not even realize what I was doing if I hadn’t gone through a very uncomfortable issue with my own mother in law.  So, I am eternally thankful to her for teaching me the boundaries I need to respect when I deal with my grown kids.

Wanda

 

Reluctant Release

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Daily Prompt:  Relieved, Bottle

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I was walking along the beach one sunny afternoon.  It was before the beach season opened so I had Gracie with me.  She’s my Cairn Terrier mix and my constant companion.  As we were walking we noticed a group of people standing around something on the beach.  

Of course Gracie thought she needed to voice her opinion of what was going on.  We approached the group.  All of a sudden I saw a sea turtle.  What a wonderful surprise. Gracie continued to bark and I was afraid it would upset the poor turtle.  

I was so relieved when Gracie finally stopped her barking.  She realized she wasn’t going to have a new playmate in this interesting animal.  I asked the gentleman who seemed to be in charge what was going on and where the turtle had come from.  He explained that this turtle had been rescued several months ago and was being released from the hospital.   

I looked down at this wonder and noticed she was missing her back flipper.  I was concerned that she was not going to be able to swim.  The nice man informed me that the turtles are able to swim very well without a flipper.  I was happy to hear that the turtle should do well back in her home.  

The gentleman told me that her name was Fluffy.  I chuckled because it seemed to me an animal with the name of Fluffy should be a cuddly sort not a turtle.  I guess with all of the turtles they have rescued through the years they are running out of more appropriate names.  

Fluffy would start to go out into the surf then turn around and come back toward shore.  After repeated attempts to get her to go out into the ocean, the decision was made to return her to the hospital for the day.  I felt really bad for the turtle.  She didn’t realize that it was her time to regain her independence.  

The group of rescuers told me that they may possible take her out into the water much farther and release her from the boat.  If that release was unsuccessful, they would bring her back and look for an aquarium that would be willing to take her.  Of course the best solution is going back into the wild.  

Gracie and I continued our walk along the beach.  As I looked out to the surf I spotted several bottlenose dolphins romping in the waves.  Our walk was just full of surprises. I really hated to see it end.  It’s not everyday you get to see a sea turtle on the beach and dolphins in the surf.

I really am blessed to live so close to the beach.  I feel close to God when I am standing on the sand lost in the beauty of creation. The vastness of the sea makes me realize that I am a very tiny part of this world and am nothing without the Lord.

The Garden

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Daily Prompt:  Blossom

Image borrowed from The Sacred Art of Gardening

I love this time of year.  Every where you look there is a blanket of green in various shades.  Blossoms of beautiful color and scent in bright oranges, reds, purples and soft peaches, yellows, and lavenders invade the earth after winter’s cold storage resting their roots.  Even the weeds sprout little flowers.  I can spend hours outside taking photographs of these wonderful gifts to our world.

This calls to mind that just as these blooms are all different colors and sizes, they live together in peaceful serenity.  Sharing their resources with each other, while enjoying a give and take of space and time.  What a wonderful concept!

We should take a lesson from these lovely little blossoms.  We should be willing to give to each other at least as much as a flower is willing to give to its neighbor in their garden. Just imagine what a world we would have to live in if we did.

This is one of my most favorite quotes.  I think it puts things in perspective.

“The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.  If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”
― Thérèse de Lisieux

Wanda

Fins, Gills and Arks, Oh My!

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Daily Prompt:  Create

OK,  it’s getting really old.  The rain is still coming down in buckets.  It’s raining cats and dogs.  And…the plans for the ark just arrived by messenger.  Oh sorry, this isn’t weather Saturday is it?

On top of this earth shattering news, I broke my laptop.  It was sitting next to me on the sofa last night when the dog jumped onto the sofa and knocked it onto the floor.  It didn’t hit hard, but it did break off the end of the charging cord that was attached to it.  I tried to get it to turn on, but no luck.

There are many things I can live without, but my computer isn’t one of them.  It is my outlet to create, communicate, educate, and the dreaded pay my bills.  Thankfully, Dottie has a laptop I can use until I can either get a new one or get mine fixed.

What can’t you live without?  Dishwasher, dryer, washing machine?  I am always amazed how we take take things for granted.  Then I read about communities still in existence today who don’t even have running water.  It makes one think doesn’t it?  It becomes my wake up call to realize how truly blessed I am.

Wanda

The Patient In Room 209

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5f152b31630e960c9cde611e770646a0Daily Prompt:  Total

When I was in my twenties I went through a practical nursing program  It was a year long course that was very concentrated and we had very little time off during that year. We had a couple of women who had raised their kids and had put off doing something outside the home.  One of those women was Mary G.  

Mary was in her early fifties.  She was down to earth, had a great sense of humor and very little rattled her.  There were a few of us on the orthopedic floor doing a rotation. Now, when people are injured or sick it either brings out the very best behavior in them or the very worst.  

We were having a run on young guys in their late teens to early twenties who had been involved in motorcycle accidents.  There was this one guy in Room 209.  I don’t think I will ever forget him.  He was a nasty cuss and thought he had no responsibility in his care.  Anyway, one of the younger girls in my class, Betty,  had been assigned to him. Every time she went into his room, he exposed himself to her.  He did everything he could think of to embarrass her.  She would come out of his room so upset.  He even threw his bedpan at her.  I felt so bad for her.

One day he was just merciless to Betty and she was ready to throw in the towel saying she could never get through the program if she had to deal with patients like that.  Mary got wind of what was going on.  The next time this patient rang his bell, Mary said I’ll get it.  Well Betty and I followed her to his room and stood outside the door so we could hear if he was just as inappropriate to her as he had been to young Betty.  

Sure enough, Mary approached the bed and he pulled the covers off of himself to embarrass her.  Mary didn’t miss a beat.  She looked at him, very straight faced and said, “Oh that’s nothing, the guy in the next room has two of them.”  This kid just shut up and covered himself.  Mary was able to totally befuddle him.  Needless to say, Betty had no more trouble with her patient.  

True story!

Wanda

 

Blessed Mother

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Daily Prompt:  Paragon

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In the Catholic faith, you are named after a saint.  I was named after my Great Aunt Wanda.  There is no Saint Wanda.  But my middle name is Marie.  Marie is a form of Mary.  Mary is the mother of Jesus and so I have always felt that she is my patron saint.  

My earthly mother was an alcoholic and was abusive.  I started spending a lot of my Saturdays at the convent where I went to school.  The sisters were wonderful to me. They would give me little jobs to do for them.  I felt useful and loved by these wonderful women.  

These sisters taught me to love Mary.  She is, after all the mother of Jesus Christ and also our heavenly mother.  When Christ was on the cross, he gave his mother to all of us when he told John, “Son, behold your mother.” They taught me she is the paragon of virtue.  One I could look to as the example for my life and through her I would learn to love and forgive my mother.  I developed a deep and lasting devotion to the Blessed Mother.  

There is often confusion about the Blessed Mother by non-Catholics.  We do not worship her.  We venerate her.  There is a huge difference.  Only God is worshiped and adored. Mary, however, is a wonderful intercessor for us.  She willingly goes before God and her divine Son Jesus Christ to ask for our needs.  

Now many feel that since Mary is not mentioned much in the bible that there is error in our beliefs.  However, I am confident that when you ask something of our Lord, He listens.  But, when as at the wedding at Cana, Mary was an advocate for the wedding couple and Jesus said His time had not come, he did as His mother asked and performed His first miracle changing water into wine.  

I am blessed to have been raised Catholic and to have this wonderful relationship with Jesus and His mother.  

Wanda

Rain, Rain, Go Away

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Daily Prompt:  Puncture, Taper, Volume

I have been in Orlando for a few weeks now and I know that it rains almost every day at this time of year, but we have had voluminous amounts of rain.  I am beginning to think I should be growing gills and fins.  The swimming pool is overflowing, there are streams between the houses and it’s generally depressing.  I sure wish the rain would taper off.

I just listened to the weather report.  You guessed it.  Rain for the foreseeable future!  So much for my sunny Floridian vacation.

Maybe someone will invent a tool to puncture this muggy, dreary, cloudy, rainy bubble that has encased the Orlando area.  Of course, I don’t have it too bad.  I don’t have to work in it.  My poor friend Dottie works at Animal Kingdom at Disney and she works rain or shine.  So, even though I may be getting a little tired of the rain, I am not getting soaked in it.  he is.  So enough of the complaining.

I should be thanking God for the nourishing rain to the area.  It had been so dry and with people not using their head with matches, the danger of fire was really growing.  Now, the grass is growing and a beautiful shade of green.

Wanda

The Little Batter

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Daily Post:  Triumph

The little boy slowly walked up to the plate. He could barely swing the bat he held onto. It looked so big against his shoulder. He was nervous. He had never been able to hit the ball before and he was tired of being the only player on the team not to be able to do it.

The pitcher wound up. The ball wobbled across the plate. The little boy swung the bat. Strike one!

The pitcher wound up. Looked down at the batter, shook his head. The ball moved a little quicker across the plate. The little boy swung the bat. Strike two! The little boy shook his head. He couldn’t believe he had missed the ball both times.

I just can’t strike out again. he thought. Come on now, keep your eye on the ball. Remember, that’s what the coach said. Ok, here it goes. I’m ready. The pitcher wound up. He stared down at the little boy and threw the ball. The little boy swung the bat. Crack! The ball connected with the bat. The ball was sailing our over the field. Run, run the little boy heard his coach say. The little boy took off toward first base. Safe! Cried the umpire.

Everyone in the stands was clapping and cheering for the little boy. He had finally triumphed over the pitcher. His smile went from ear to ear. He looked at his dad and said “That’s how it’s done dad” and the coach just chuckled.

Wanda

 

 

Trains

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Daily Prompt:  Tender

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My husband collected model trains.  His favorite line was the Pennsylvania Rail Road. He had so many locomotives with their matching tenders that he used to keep by themselves to display along the walls of his train room.  My favorite line is the Chessie System.  it’s no longer called that, but it’s logo used to be a kitten.  So, Gary also had several locomotives and tenders in that line as well.  A tender is the car that was right behind the steam engine which held the coal that was used to fuel the fire for the steam.

He had his train from when he was a child and I had mine.  Both of us grew up with trains being a part of our Christmas holidays.  So, when we had children, each of them got a train set for their first Christmas.  Every year we added to the layout and the rolling stock.  My son got trains at Christmas for several years.  All of our kids love trains just like Gary and I do.

We have four grandchildren now and they love trains too.  We got the boys several sets over the years and both girls got a set for their first Christmas.  I am so happy that the kids have the trains their grandfather got for them.  They will have memories of their Pop Pop and their trains.

I have so many memories of Christmas’ and trains through the years.

Wanda