No More Dancing with the Stars for Me

I could not believe it when my sister called last night to tell me the winner of DWTS. She always calls me from her time zone to let me know how the show was and also calls me on the results night. Thank Heavens she called me last night because I would have been more disgusted than I am now if I had watched for two hours to hear the announcement of the winner .

This season was weak because they really didn't have anyone that entertaining on the show. I longed for Cloris, Jerry or at least someone with talent or wit. Nevertheless, without a doubt, Mya was heads and shoulders above all of the dancers throughout this season. Donnie was a very good example of a "has been" trying to be a "now is." He stepped on his partner's dress and tore it--how great was that? I think that the Osmond family and all of Utah probably called all night!

They were all on GMA this morning and I muted the show so I wouldn't have to listen to anything he had to say. Of course, he was trying to take over--interestingly enough, he fell while performing one of his dances. I would not have even minded if Kelly won--she really represented growth. She had a lovely personality and tried really hard and it showed.

Perhaps there should be some kind of safeguard in which the judges have the final say. If they are really "danceamaniacs" as they seem to be, they should be as disgusted as I am. They know that Mya was the best.

I will not watch next season, even if the President and First Lady are contestants.
No more Dancing with the Stars for me.

November 3rd, November 3rd

Yesterday I had lunch with a friend I have known for almost 50 years. We were Peace Corps Volunteers and also trained together at the University of New Mexico. She was also one of only two people I knew when we moved to San Diego. We share the same birthday--she was 86 and I was a few years younger :-). She is a marvelous woman, so full of life and wonderment. Deeply religious; a walker of religion, rather than a preacher of religion.

My friend has been a long time volunteer at the Veteran's Home near her home. She always told me about it and wanted me to visit the home with her and meet some of her friends. Those of you who know me, know that I am not a military aficianado and prefer making love to making war.

Anyway, I expected to see a dilapidated home with people in wheelchairs. I was so surprised--It looked like a resort, houses over 400 (and 180 in the nursing unit)and rivals the best and most expensive assisted living complex. There are several dormitories, a nursing section, for those who need constant medical care, a library, beautiful furniture, beautiful, well kept grounds and yes, people in wheelchairs, but the fancy scooter kind.

My friend told me that there is a cap on what they pay per month, but it is far, far, below what one would pay in a comparable non-military facility.
She knew everyone there and introduced me to everyone. There were women who had been pilots and men with all kinds of experiences. It was lunch time so we were able to see many of them socializing with their friends in the very nice cafeteria. There were women doing karaoke with the activities director, and even a few with jobs on site.

It was an extremely interesting afternoon--I am amazed by what I am able to see in my "Freetirement." It is so marvelous to be able to spend time doing and seeing things that I didn't have time to do and see before.

On this November 3rd, this experience let me know what may be ahead on another November 3rd down the line. I am thankful for each November 3rd and in this season of Thanksgiving, thankful for health and friendships like the one that my birth mate and I share.

Where The Wild Things Should Be!

I have always believed that wild animals belong in the wild. I also believe that pit bulls, chimpanzees, and other potentially vicious animals should not be household pets (Those of you who know me know that I am not an animal person--especially cats--but this is a different issue). We often hear of pit bulls attacking and killing babies. The "tiger trainer" in Las Vegas was viciously attacked by one of the tigers.

Yesterday, I saw the interview with the lady, Charla, who had been attacked by her friend's chimpanzee. This chimp had lived with the other lady and from all appearances, had been treated like a "member of the family." Charla, called by her friend to help her capture the escaped chimpanzee, was viciously attacked. Her face was torn off,her arms and fingers looked as if they had been "in a food grinder." She has undergone over seven months of treatment and yesterday was the first time she showed her face in public. In the hospital, she always wore a hat and veil. It was an amazing visual and a courageous act. Interestingly enough, the more you listened to her, the visual image became less shocking.

The spirit of this woman is incredible. She is looking beyond her current condition and still believes that who she is internally is what is most important. This seems to have been a year where people continue to surmount what seems like insurmountable challenges. She was asked if she worries about what people think about her face. Her response suggested that that is not her problem, but theirs. She understands that she is the same person she was before the attack, she just "looks different."

Once again, we are reminded of what is really important--we must always call on that human spirit, remain strong, keep strong spiritual ties and cultivate friends who will also support us in times of need. This lady's daughter has remained faithful to her mother. I'm not sure about the owner of the chimp--her lawyer issued a statement saying she hoped for a speedy recovery.Charla is suing her friend and former boss, for millions. She said she "knew" the chimp for years and was always afraid of him.

If human beings can turn on one another, surely wilds things can also turn. Keep the wild things at bay, human and otherwise.