Halloween & Partying

Halloween is one of those holidays that I think many people approach with mixed feelings. How much candy do I buy? Do I get candy I like, so that I can eat the leftovers? Do I get candy I don't like, so that I won't eat the leftovers? Then, there is the annual costume selection. One grandson chose a Swamp Thing outfit, only to decide it was pretty gross and opt for a skeleton costume instead. Our granddaughter was a KU cheerleader and our youngest grandson was a Baby Jayhawk complete with a great red hood and beak made by his talented paternal grandmother Oma. It's fun to have the kids come to the door with their parents watching from the sidewalk. The kids are so excited to be dressed up and they love getting all of the candy. It's interesting to check out the varied "bags" that they carry. We used to live in a community where the kids had to tell a joke before they got to select a treat. One neighbor gave out foreign coins collected on world trips and the kids loved those. I've walked the neighborhood in pouring rain just because you HAVE to trick-or-treat on Halloween regardless. Today I attend a fun luncheon hosted by a new Californian who has always had a party on Halloween. She invited her new friends she's met here and we all had a great time. It marked a special moment in a truly special day. Tonight we dressed up and the trick-or-treaters loved it! So, Happy Halloween. Celebrate all the fun memories from the past and the new ones that are being created today.

Friends

Throughout our lives there are people we meet with whom we share a bond almost instantly. When we move to a different community, everyone we meet is "new." Sometimes, our meetings happen by chance. Other times, they arise out of the circumstances that brought us there. We begin to participate in various activities that expand that circle of acquaintances. Friendships begin to grow. With them, we share a common bond of caring, genuine personal interest, personalities that "click," mutual hobbies, or community involvement in projects that matter to both of us. So, our circle grows and our lives are richer for the connections and the caring. Thanks to all my friends who grace my life with their love and their laughter and their insights and their good hearts and the fact that they give a damn about what matters in this life.

Garage Sales

What nutty people get up before dawn, post signs at the "right" places, set out tables, and place on those tables collected "treasures" from the homes of several friends? Yes, garage sale folks do it each weekend! This time we joined them at a neighbor's home and you know what? We had a great time! It was fun to see the people come, to visit with friends, to watch people shop, and last but not least to "shop" from our friends' treasures. Did we spend more than we made? YES!

House of Ruth's Moveable Feast

This weekend we co-hosted a Moveable Feast as part of an annual fundraiser for the House of Ruth. With good friends we had a fun evening serving our guests and enjoying their company. It would be great if we could solve the problems and eliminate the causes that create the need for organizations such as this. But, until we do, it's wonderful that caring professionals and supportive volunteers step up not only to provide services to families in need, but also to spread the word to all of us about what we can do to help create a climate of support and outreach.

Pictures of Cute Grandkids

Yes, I have to admit that I think all of our grandkids are really cute. They're bright and they're funny and they're loving and they're great fun to be with. We're richly blessed!

Getting in Touch With Friends from Long Ago

Serendipitously this fall, I have reconnected with some friends from childhood. One lives in New Mexico and one in North Carolina. We're catching up on our lives since high school and slowly sharing information that brings glimpses of who we are now. The internet is a fascinating vehicle that opens up such wonderful possibilities to all of us. And, the accompanying grace is that we can choose to pursue a connection or we can politely turn away. I feel a kinship with both of these friends and they are as real and present to me now as they were over 50 years ago. I eagerly open each email and as I read, so many questions come to mind about them and their lives. It's a newly found treasure and it's both exciting and heartwarming.

Keeping Grandkids

There may be a lot of special things to do in the world, but keeping your grandchildren has got to rank right up there at the top. This year we're keeping Luke who's 5 1/2 months old and Zac, who's almost 6 years old. Their mom drops them off 2 or 3 days each week on her way to school and to take Claire, age 3 1/2, to daycare. Why isn't Claire in "Grandparent Daycare"? Because Claire is a very social little girl and playing with others her age is VERY APPEALING to her. In fact, she has told her mother that sometimes she picks her up too early in the afternoon. Luke's a doll and he spends the day with us. Of course, his day revolves around smiling and eating and sleeping and smiling and eating and sleeping again, and some playtime thrown in around those other key events. Butch walks Zac to and from Kindergarten each day and they both love that experience. Zac talks nonstop both ways and Butch is getting a fascinating glimpse into the mind of an almost-6-year-old. Do we love it? You betcha! It's a special moment in time that we wouldn't trade for anything. Well, for sure we'd trade for world peace and a fair and equitable health care program for everyone, and some days maybe for ears that could better hear young voices, and for muscles that didn't "moan" and joints that didn't pop when carrying a big baby around. We only wish our other grandsons lived close by, so that we could spend more time with them, too!