"I've Got a Bracelet Too"

Last night as I watched the debate in our $5.00 a night room at the Sheraton on Harbor Island (more about that later), one statement intrigued me. It was Barack Obama's response to the other candidate's rant about the bracelet he had been given. Barack replied "I've got a bracelet too."
That "bracelet" represented to the other candidate, a sense of entitlement--only he was worthy of having received a bracelet. That "bracelet" has been kept away from many in this society because of the tight rein others have held on it. In Tyler Perry's latest movie, Mr. Cartright Jr. received a "bracelet" even though he wasn't very bright. The "mooseburger eater" also has been given a bracelet even though she just received a passport last year and thinks that living near Canada and Russia give her great international insight. All of the "bracelet wearers" of the past, must now understand that "We all have bracelets too." Let us rejoice in our "bracelet wearing!"
The local evening news advertised a special rate at the hotel this past Monday. I ignored it, but was surprised to see it on the early morning news Tuesday. I called and was told a room was available. I then emailed several friends--two booked immediately and one told another friend
and she booked as well. It was a fabulous room with a view--larger than most rooms for which we have paid much, much more. Our total bill (including $20.00) for overnight parking was $25.63. Soooo--seize the moment--you sometimes have to trust that a good deal really is a good deal.

CASENIORS

This unusual title refers to Seniors at the Casino. I went with two friends to the casino yesterday and it was a great learning experience. I picked them up on opposite sides of town and we arrived at 9 a.m. It was the earliest I have been in my car since last fall. The entire place looked like a Senior Day Camp. People seemed to know one another and I was convinced that it was not about the gambling, but about the camaraderie. They played bingo, slots, and a very few were at the table games. The lines for the complimentary continental breakfasts were very long. The coffee, tea and soft drinks were complimentary throughout the entire place. Many "regulars" had coupons for free breakfast or free lunch. At first, I thought, who will still be here for lunch?--little did I know about early morning Caseniors.
There was a slot machine section set aside for those in wheelchairs--it was filled. there was a non-smoking bingo parlor, and one for smokers. There were television screens on the automated bingo screens. The days of daubers and paper are almost past. The screens required very little monitoring--the numbers are automatically placed on the scream at the sound of the caller's voice. You are simultaneously able to talk to your neighbor, play bingo, and eat .
I thought we would be there for a short time--after two sessions of bingo, we did not leave until after 2:00. I am convinced that some adult children drop off their parents and pick them up after work--it is probably cheaper than senior day care.
I played a few games of blackjack because i am a card player. My goal is to never spend any more than I would for dinner, and I should at least come home happy because the investment was small. Successful to me is being able to buy gas with my bounty--I was able to do that.
I am looking at the Casenior day in a new light--the crowd is quite different from the night time crew. I saw four people I knew, two of them from church :-).
Senior time is indeed the time to do what you want, when you want, and where you want.

I Hope You Dance: My Freetirement Song

The last week of school, as the seniors were giving their "moment in the sun" speeches, one student asked if she could play a song on the computer--it was a song her dad played for her whenever she began a new era in her life--middle school, high school, graduation. The song was Lee Ann Womacks's "I Hope You Dance." It was the song the students used when they had a celebration at school for my fretirement--it was the background music to the video presentation. I asked that it be sung at the freetirement gala, but the singer wanted to sing another song (which was fine).
Then----I went to see Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys Together" and to my surprise, the song was featured in the movie. I was ecstatic, because I knew the power of that song. I came home so elated that my dear husband recorded the song by three different artists for me. Then last night he brought me the words to the song (I was already in bed). I want to share these words with you (if you can find the music, you will be thrilled). (I am a closet country music lover because of the great stories).

I Hope You Dance
by Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
Hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin'
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance
I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Dance I hope you dance

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone
I hope you dance
Hope you dance

O'Thoughts on The Election

I am getting more and more irritated with the state of affairs in America. I cannot believe that people are really becoming enamored with a caribou killing mooseburger eating woman and a 72 year old man who is giving "old age" a bad name.. It is time for America to show its true colors--I don't want to hear any more talk about which "ism" will make or break this election. I am still optimistic enough to believe that the candidate most qualified will succeed. I am optimistic enough to believe that the "true colors" of America will not have been "colored." I know people who are going to leave the country if the election results don't suit them. I know others who will "drop out" and garden and refuse to engage in political activity. It is time to do all we can for the clear choice--the smart one, the polite one, the one epitomizing real family values. I can barely stand to see the moose eater on television--it's surreal--I shudder to think of what the fallout would have been if it had been Obama's daughter pregnant and unmarried. We all know what it would have been--we would have heard statistics on black baby mamas and black baby daddies--we would have heard about the sad states of the black family--Oh, America.

New Growth

Growing things has not been my forte, although when I think of it, I have grown many things, but not in the traditional way. Hopefully, I have grown minds and values, and have gotten my hands dirty doing it. Now I am literally getting my hands dirty by planting my begonias, gardenias, impatiens, winter vegetables, and other winter plants. I am learning that gardening is another one of those metaphors for life. We plant, we nurture, we watch the growth, we harvest. I'm sure that I will get back to this--my new growth.

Friendship Song

Someone gave me an article some time ago about the song "Let's just kiss and say goodbye." I don't know why I was given this article, I thought her intent was to give me something which related to the class I was teaching that night. When I read it when I got home, I realized that the song had a new meaning. One of the secrets and joys of life is knowing when to "kiss and say goodbye." Some things are for a season, others for a lifetime--the trick is knowing what/who to keep and what/who to let go. We need nothing which aggravates, irritates, or in any way is contrary to our core beliefs. Friends are wonderful--true friends, even more wonderful. Two Years, Ten Years, Thirty Years, Forty Years--all meaningful, all teachers, all worthwhile in some regard. I am thankful for those kept and those unkept.

Still

One thing I learned today is that whatever I used to be is what I still am. As a freetired person, I cannot be identified as "I used to be what I was." I am still, today, whatever I was, and will be whatever I will be. It is very freeing to know that everything is exciting when I don't have to do it. There is great joy in freedom--I am realizing that joy at this stage of my life. Joy comes in all kinds of ways--joy of work and the joy of free time. So, I am STILL.