* "I WONDER" - AN OLDIE BUT A GOODIE *

If you've read my blog for a long time, you might remember my "I Wonder" posts. I scrolled through my blog looking for one of these so I could go back and see if Rose Petals from Heaven was still blogging, because she made the beautiful background to my photo! Thanks again, Mo!

This particular post really made me laugh out loud because the conversations continue to be this annoying, aggravating, etc. 

BUT, I've learned to just agree and keep quiet. 😇

I Wonder

Oh, how annoying it is to suffer from lethologica, especially when you're a writer....

I wonder how many of you have heard of this word? I certainly hadn't until I accidentally came across it the other day. And oh, what a perfect word for so many of us.....   

Lethologica -  noun: the inability to remember a word or put your finger on the right word.

Ah yes, and sometimes it's worse being on the receiving end of a conversation......

~~~

The Ronald: "Look at the guy in this commercial."

Becky: "Which one?"

The Ronald: "That blonde guy. Wasn't he in that TV show that used to be on?"

Becky: "What TV show?"

The Ronald: "Oh you know. That one about cops and detectives. We used to watch it all the time."

Becky: "We've watched lots of shows that sound like that. Can you give me a little more information, like what decade it was??"

....and my exasperation goes on...

"I always have trouble remembering three things: faces, names, and -- I can't remember what the third thing is." -- Fred Allen

* THOUGHTS ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON *

Recently, I've scrolled through my blog looking at photos I posted, and the topics I wrote about. 

And I gotta say, I wrote some pretty darn good blog posts! 😀

It almost makes me sad that those days are gone now, for me anyway, 

and I can't seem to get back into it.

Some people are still blogging just as much as they did long ago. 

I noticed most of my posts were done from 2009 to 2013.

Those were the years I was so passionate about writing; Working to get my memoir completed. Submitting stories here and there for possible publications. 

And the beginning of some wonderful relationships with blog friends. 

Many I still have. Many I need to work on.

I did complete my memoir and published it in November 2013. 

A lot has happened between then and now. Some good, some bad. Some happy, some sad. 

Here it is...the year 2020! That really does sound odd, doesn't it? 

I don't make bucket lists or predictions or promises, but I can say this...

I'm going to do everything in my power to live this year, the best I can.

And this guy here, who is smiling, brings me happiness every single day. 

"Charlie's the name. Bringing joy is my game!"

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
― Oscar Wilde

* ROSIE'S CAN DO COOK BOOK *

Rosie's CAN DO Cook Booklet has been available for a while now, it is such a delight and selling like hotcakes! It's full of true stories about women during & shortly after WWII. Each short story comes with a recipe the author is familiar with, either by preparing, eating, or hearing about from relatives of those days.

It's such a bargain, too, at only $7.50 and with FREE shipping anywhere in the USA. What a great gift, especially for your mother, grandmother, aunts, etc. And of course, for yourself! (And don't forget about the older gentlemen in your life. They would surely enjoy reading the stories, possibly reminiscing about those days, and whipping up some of the recipes for themselves.)

It is sold on ETSY and I'm very proud to be part of it!

https://www.etsy.com/…/rosies-cook-booklet-vintage-homefront

* READ CAREFULLY *

 ♪♪ ♪♪   

I've begun to come up with some pretty funny phrases when reading too fast. In fact, I think I should start keeping track of them! Just now, while glancing at the information on a Christmas song being played on TV Music Choice, I thought the title was: "River Rose and Magic Laundry." (kind of strange for a Christmas song, huh?!) So, I looked back at it and this is what it really said: 

"River Rose and Magical Lullaby."

I'm so glad I wasn't with anyone at the time, or I might have asked them if they'd ever heard of that river laundry Christmas song! 😁 

(Another good reason as a writer to edit my work, myself, 

and not just count on document check, etc.)

What about you? 

Do you glance at words too quickly and "see" the wrong words?

* SAD NEWS CONCERNING A DEAR BLOG FRIEND *

Years ago, when many of us were blogging all the time, we met so many wonderful people who had our same likes & hobbies: Baking, Decorating, Painting, Writing, Knitting, Photography, Tea Time, etc. etc.

And we shared happy & heartbreaking incidents..... 

Some of you may already know this as I do because of reading about it on Facebook.

Our dear friend, Kathy Matthews' husband passed away
in his sleep either last night or the night before.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy: 

The Online Diary of a Central Oregon Grandmother

http://oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy.blogspot.com/



Kathy hasn't posted on her blog in FOUR years,
so I don't even know if she'll be looking on here,
 but I wanted to share the sad news in case any others wanted to reach out to her.

They just had Thanksgiving together....but now won't share Christmas. Truly sad....
She always said her husband, Cary, was her love and best friend.

* IT'S THANKSGIVING TIME AGAIN! *

Happy Thanksgiving a couple of days early. 

Below are some photos that have appeared

 on my blog over the years, mostly on

Thanksgiving posts.

I've been feeling a bit melancholy...

As we get older, the holidays just aren't what they used to be, are they?

My siblings and their families live in separate parts of the US.

Iowa, Minnesota, Georgia, Oklahoma

Mark is in New Orleans so we won't see him, and Scott is unavailable...

So it's just Ron and me, but that's OK! 

(Mark IS coming home for Christmas!!)

I really am thankful for my life and all that goes with it...

but sometimes the thankfulness just kind of hides, ya know?

WISHING EVERYONE A HAPPY WEEKEND. 

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday!

I did a little much-needed shopping for myself yesterday and had partial good luck. Bought a pair of shoes I'm going to return. (I just knew they weren't right for me!) I just want casual and comfy. All I could find in 2 large shoe chains were winter boots, high heels and athletic shoes. Grrr...

But I did have good luck in finding...uh...women's undergarments! 😀 If you're like me, you just hate to spend money on that kind of thing and keep wearing old ones until they're thread-bare!

So, what does this have to do with a Nostalgic Sunday post? I missed not having my wonderful friend, Sherry, with me. We always have a great time usually shopping and eating out. We see each other about once a month because she and her husband moved quite a few miles away a couple of years ago, but she has some family here still, and of course ME! 

I also thought about my sister, Marian, who is the sweetest, nicest person I know and it's wonderful being her little sister. But just like Sherry, she doesn't live here either, and we're lucky if we see each other every couple of years. (She and her husband and two little daughters moved to Atlanta way too long ago.) Years ago, when we were younger, Ron and Mark and I would drive to their home, or to the Florida gulf to meet them and other favorite relatives there and visit for a week. Marian and I would always go to at least one mall to do some shopping and although she is 14 years older than I am....she could out-shop me any day! She's always been blessed with lots of energy, and I have just about none. As soon as we'd get to our next destination, I'd say, "Marian, can we stop and get a soda and sit down for a while?" That would just crack her up. (I'm glad I can always offer comic relief!)

And, in addition to missing Sherry and Marian, I ran into an old friend who I hadn't seen in years. She and Sherry and I all worked at the same company in the 80's. We talked and laughed for quite a while, and then it was time for me to start heading home. 

I also had some fun and interesting encounters with strangers that I'll write about some other time.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

I know I did, and I'm so grateful for all the good in my life.

“Some people have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder, and even ecstasy.” -- Abraham H. Maslow

* Life is Good *

Tomorrow, Friday will be November 15th. The month is half over already! I can't decide what month or season it feels like. Cold and snowy. Warm and sunny. Sheesh!

Although our Thanksgiving this year will be even less normal than usual (for us) we have so much to be thankful for and will have our turkey dinner with all the trimmings even if it's just the two of us.

I LOVE to bake the turkey. I always practically smell the aroma just thinking about it. Mmmm!

This is another short post and I apologize again for not getting around to reading all of yours.

And thank goodness for all my crazy friends!