Nevers in My Life

I find the word 'never' to be a dangerous one. I rarely use it because of it's broad reaching ramifications. Just one time, one choice, one slip erases the right to use it. But for now, I can honestly claim this list still to be in the 'N' column of my life.

Never had an affair. (32 years and still in love...)

Never did drugs.

Never had a major operation. (I don't think tonsil extraction counts.)

Never broke a bone.

Never been to Russia, Italy, Egypt or Scotland.

Never passed out.

Never worn a cast.

Never lived out-of-state.

A few I hope to change. Most I hope never do.

Surprises

Some are expected on special occasions.

Some cause fear from unexpected news.

Some are shocking especially when they concern friends or family.

Some inspire conversations that never would have happened.

Some nudge us toward our dreams.

Some strengthen our faith.

Some make us reach out to others for all the right reasons.

Some produce tears.

Some appear on our front porch left by an unknown hand.

Some give birth to life-changing moments.

Some offer courage in the darkest moments of our lives.

Some are forgotten....

... and some stay with us forever.

Stockport Mill Inn -- Best Kept Secret

If you ever need a really, really quiet retreat away from phones, people, the office, then this is THE place. Tucked away south of Zanesville in Morgan county, this renovated mill on the banks of the Muskingham River will perfectly fulfill your desperate desire for peace. Located on the left side of the bridge as you enter the village of Stockport, this historic landmark will serve up a slice of pure Americana. (And I do mean village -- a cluster of homes where curbs are at a minimum, yards are lovingly tended, and the baseball diamond serves as the neighborhood gathering spot.) I had ripped out a review of the mill from OHIO magazine some years back and stashed it in my travel file. When we needed a place to stay this summer as we meandered our way toward PA, I rummaged through all the ideas in said file and VOILA'! the inn got the nod.

Positives: A true slice of Americana. This place is solid as a rock. Every room has a view of the river. Neat as a pin. Perfect place to stay in the fall when the leaves are changing. Take a good book and just chill. Top floor has room for 6, complete with kitchen, dining area, hot tub and glassed-in rooftop sitting room. Great for a getaway weekend for couples or families.

Recommendations: Eat in Zanesville or McConnellsville. (There is one pizza place and one very small eating establishment that closes early. The mill's restaurant is only opened weekends.) Two convenience stores exist.

Check out the website at www.stockportinn.com.

It's a YOU Problem

Another concept label I heard recently while driving on the interstate. My interpretations of this phrase shot off in all different directions. If a person decides to commit a crime to get some kicks and gets caught or if someone thinks using foul language in front of children is acceptable t...those are definitely YOU problems. Pretty cut and dry. All of the responsibility is on them. Someone else. Your hands are clean. Whew.

Now the flip side. What's your YOU problem? Mine? Scenario: We recently changed churches. The people are fabulous -- outgoing, joyful believers; the minister gives the most incredible sermons; we use our Bibles every week; I am learning so much. Now the 'hitch' to this perfect picture for moi is when the folks walk in wearing clothes that look like they slept in them or just mowed their yard or think that ultra-casual is fashion chic. And in their hands they carry a diet Coke or a Starbucks cup. Call me snooty or a stick-in-the-mud or out-of-date... fine with me, I really don't care. When I or anyone else goes to worship the Lord in His house, my belief is that you should wear your best. If that is a pair of jeans, so be it. If that is the same pair of jeans every week, I understand . But that isn't the case here.

My argument: if you were invited to the White House to meet the President or if you were given the opportunity to spend the evening with the president of your company, would you wear your wrinkled-up cargo shorts and a faded Polo shirt? Would you saunter into the West Wing on your way to the Oval Office carrying your favorite latte? Do you think Joseph and Mary strolled into the temple donned in mediocre clothing, carrying a glass of wine taking Jesus to to be blessed? I think not. Yet here are people entering the house of the Most High displaying inappropriate laziness instead of showing the highest respect and awe for the privilege of entering into the presence of the Most High. (small print disclaimer: this is the author's opinion and she takes full credit for it)

I had never shared this with anyone until a friend and I just weeks ago were having a very special conversation, a real heart-to-heart exchanging life-altering situations we each have experienced. When I told her how I felt she totally agreed with me then gave me some very sage advice: Wear what you want. We all will answer to God for our choices. In other words -- shut up and let it go, girl.

So I wear my 'Sunday clothes' and feel good about my choice. And the folks surrounding me wear not-so-Sunday-clothes....and I am at peace. (let's see... I can cross 'Church clothes' off the list....what's next? hmmm...maybe cell phone etiquette.....)

A PUSH present

All right. I get that labels change. But this is icky. Really. A push present?

I'm sorry but that is just absolutely disgusting. Sounds like you're being gifted for your role as a brood mare. (I can almost hear the stable groom yelling "NEXT!!!") Where's the love and gentility in that label? Ewww.

It's downright degrading, don't you think? Totally tacky and way too visual for me. It's probably one of the new vocabulary terms being introduced into the 2011 Urban Dictionery being prepared for print. I can just imagine the entry: Push present ( n. poosh prez'ent) 1. a gift given to a woman upon the birth of a child 2. better make it expensive 3. jewelry is always acceptable as well as expected 4. make that 'preferred' instead of acceptable

Think I'll stick with New Mother's gift, thank you very much. Might seem old-fashioned and clumsy to you but conveys the above coarse message in a much more beautiful and feminine and meaningful way, n'est se pas?

Behind the Comma

Listening to 'Mike and Mike In the Morning', I heard Greenberg say something about what appeared behind the comma concerning someone's name that I didn't quite catch.

Whether you're a doctor (... , MD) or a doctor (... , PhD), an accountant (... , CPA) or a gemologist (... , GG) there are professional designations you may use to label yourself.

Then there are the prizes and achievements earned/rewarded such a Nobel Peace Prize winner or Olympic Gold Medalist or Sole Survivor.

What about titles like President or Senator or Professor?

But my personal favorites are the ones that come with no extra letters. Or fanfare. Or headlines. Mother and Father. Friend. Soldier. American. Confidant. Neighbor. Mentor. And maybe we should add a propriate descriptors after a person's name that describes them like Mary Smith: Trustworthy, quilter, genealogist or Joe Brown: Storyteller, Civil War re-enactor, chef.

Because what you have filled in behind your name is all the really good stuff, isn't it??

Your Currency

I was reading my niece's Facebook page recently and a message from one of her friends caught my attention. The subject was potty training and the friend suggested using 'the currency' which would appeal directly to the child, influencing this three-year old to get with the program.

I had never thought of personal motivation as currency before and I'm loving that concept because it pertains to us all. ( I think most of us adults have been asked what makes us work harder on the job sometime during our working careers. Money, vacation time, free lunches, all fit into that scenario.) But every last soul on this planet has their very own 'something' that speaks to them on a whole different level and can work what may seem like a miracle when nothing else will. In this child's case it may be as simple as alone-time spent with her mother or a bowl of Captain Crunch cereal or a new coloring book. And logically that currency can change over time. Maybe that bowl of tasty breakfast food has become a box of Junior Mints or a pair of new shoes or an hour in a bookstore along life's path.

It is what it is. There's no judgement called for. No opinion wanted. No excuse necessary. No law to follow. It is truly the epitome of that old saying "To each his own".... to savor, to delight, to claim.

Paris and Lindsay -- Two Playground Bullies

Remember your mother's sage advice when you told her about another kid who was bothering you at school? Picked on you during recess or laughed at your mistakes or tried to intimidate you? She gave you a comforting hug and told you to "just ignore them and they will go away, Honey". Seemingly so simple yet so hard to put into practice when you're a child, your feelings and emotions stretching to cope with those stomach-in-knots situations. Eventually you and your adversary follow divergent paths and that contentious relationship dissolved into a distant memory......

Why don't the press, the paparazzi and the public apply that same logic and simply turn their backs on these two? Are we really so needy that we have to watch two women constantly embarrassing themselves?

I don't know about you but I get worn out by the feeding frenzy the rest of us are subjected to surrounding their sad life choices. Maybe realizing their behavior is not acceptable would be the best way to save them. Maybe being left out of popular publications and tell-all television shows would be the best life-changing rehab program of all.