Holiday List - January 2016

January 2016 

1 - Happy New Year!

2 - National Buffet Day

3 - Drinking Straw Day

4 - World Hypnotism Day

5 - National Bird Day

6 - Bean Day

7 - Harlem Globetrotter's Day

8 - Bubble Bath Day

9 - National Static Electricity Day

10 - Stephen Foster Day

11 - Milk Day

12 - National Poetry at Work Day

13 - Rubber Duckie Day

14 - Dress Up Your Pet Day

15 - Hat Day

16 - Appreciate a Dragon Day

17 - Popeye Day

18 - Thesaurus Day

19 - Popcorn Day

20 - National Disc Jockey Day / Penguin Awareness Day

21 - National Hugging Day / Squirrel Appreciation Day

22 - Answer Your Cats Questions Day

23 - National Handwriting Day / National Pie Day

24 - Belly Laugh Day / Beer Can Day / National Compliment Day

25 - National Irish Coffee Day

26 - Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement

27 - Thomas Crapper Day

28 - National Kazoo Day

29 - National Puzzle Day / Fun at Work Day

30 - Inane Answering Machine Message Day

31 - Backwards Day

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

More or Less...Some Resolutions

Happy New Year! It's a Sweet 16 year, y'all. This millennium can drive now! Really, if this year was a teenager, this year would be a sophomore in high school. No longer the baby of the bunch, but not completely wise to the ways of the hallway. Not looked down on because of youth, but not looked up to for wisdom. This Sweet 16 year is somewhere in the middle. Maybe going on a first date. Maybe getting a first kiss. Oh! The possibilities for the next 365 days!

As we go into this New Year, I'm going to try and look at it with a new and youthful outlook. I'm going to set my goals with the innocence and bewilderment that I can reach those goals

But, Oh! What He DID Do!

"Great men show politeness in a particular way; 

a smile suffices to assure you that you are welcome, 

and keep about their avocations as if you were a member of the family."

 - John James Audubon

Today, we lay to rest a great man. A son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a cousin, an uncle and a friend. He was so much to so many. Robert Lee Dehart was a great man. 

He never built  tall buildings or monuments, instead he built a foundation for his family of long-lasting, unconditional love. He never discovered a new world or a new drug or a new creature, however he discovered the good in almost everyone he met. He never became a millionaire, but he had wealth in love and in laughter. He never bestowed riches upon an institution, but he gave graciously from his heart to those in need. He never wrote literature or poetry that would carry on through the ages, but he wrote notes and letters to his sweetheart that she will keep dear to her heart always. 

His laugh was contagious. His smile was a mile wide. His heart was overflowing with love for us all. His life here on earth was brief, but he will live in our memories forever. 

His death was sudden and unexpected. It was a shock to us all. He will be missed greatly. 

He was a great man. 

Much love and many memories,
~ME:)

(For the Obituary, click <here>)

Dancing in the Kitchen

Photo by Joann Comeens

I ask if there is anything I can do. I really mean it, too. Of course, I have been sitting here doing nothing for ten minutes. She calls me hon and reminds me she does this every day. She tells me I’m fine just where I sit. Her sweet smile tells me she really means it, too.

So, I watch and sip my coffee. Good, strong coffee, too. Not that fancy coffee from the corner place. But then, here, there is no corner place. Small-town Alabama doesn’t have corner places.

She checks the bacon. It’s cooking on one of those indoor grills that boxer guy sells on television late at night. I wonder if she saw it when she couldn’t sleep or if someone else saw it and gave it to her for her birthday, or Christmas. Probably Mother’s Day. The bacon’s fine.

She moves across the floor. A measuring cup pours flour into a mixing bowl. A bit of milk, a pinch of salt (or maybe it’s a dash). Baking powder – the one with the girl on the can, I’m almost certain. Now, with the bowl in the crook of her left arm, and a fork in her right hand, she stirs vigorously until there is dough – sticky, but not wet. Her small hand spreads enough flour on the counter to keep the dough from sticking and begins to knead. A small, round cutter forms biscuits that go straight onto a baking sheet and right into the oven. 

Back to check the bacon. A few flips of the wrist and all the strips are sizzling on the flip side.

I like my eggs fried, over-medium, so that’s what I tell her when she asks. A small skillet. A little shortening. Not oil – actual shortening. She says she’s not sure how the eggs will turn out, but she’ll try. I know they’ll be wonderful, and I tell her so.

Grits are a southern staple. My mouth is watering already. She measures water into the pan and adds the ground corn. The water boils, the ground corn becomes soft. She adds butter and salt. I wonder if it really can get much better than this.

The bacon is done. She moves it onto a plate near the stove to keep it warm while the eggs cook. She makes fried eggs, over-medium, for each of us girls. He likes his scrambled. He eats them the same way every day. I tell her she should have told me he was having scrambled and I would have had the same. I don’t want to put you out. She smiles and says if she didn’t want to know how I like my eggs, she wouldn’t have asked. She eats hers hard boiled. 

She spoons the grits into a bowl that goes directly into the center of the table next to the bacon. She sets each plate with eggs in front of each of us. Jelly – apple, strawberry, peach, plum – all homemade, all stored in the jelly cabinet, for the biscuits. Oh, the biscuits. Hot, soft, delicate. She asks if we need anything – more coffee? Juice? Milk? I’m not a milk drinker, but I do take more coffee.

She moves to the table and finally joins us. She passes the biscuits. There is grace in those biscuits – her warm hug, her easy laugh, her gentle way – all right there on the table to share with us. As I fill my plate, I know, yes, I am just fine where I sit. It’s the finest seat in the house. Front row, center. I am in the audience for one of the most beautiful dances I’ve ever seen. I almost weep. I don’t know if I will ever again see a dance so breathtaking.

Much love and lots of biscuits,
~ME:)

Holiday List - December 2015

December 2015

1 - Basketball Day

2 - Giving Tuesday / National Mutt Day

3 - National Roof Over Your Head Day

4 - National Cookie Day

5 - Annual Day of the Ninja

6 - Mitten Tree Day

7 - National Cotton Candy Day

8 - Pretend to be a Time Traveler Day

9 - Weary Willie Day

10 - Dewey Decimal System Day

11 - National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

12 - National 12-hour Fresh Breath Day

13 - National Cocoa Day

14 - Monkey Day

15 - Cat Herders Day

16 - National Chocolate Covered Anything Day

17 - Wright Brothers' Day

18 - Underdog Day

19 - Oatmeal Muffin Day

20 - Games Day

21 - Crossword Puzzle Day

22 - National Haiku Poetry Day

23 - Festivus

24 - National Egg Nog Day

25 - Christmas

26 - National Whiner's Day

27 - Visit the Zoo Day

28 - Card Playing Day

29 - Tick Tock Day

30 - Bicarbonate of Soda Day

31 - Make Up Your Mind

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

Holiday List - November 2015

November 2015

1 - Give Up Your Shoulds Day

2 - Cookie Monster Day

3 - Sandwich Day

4 - Use Your Common Sense Day

5 - National Men Make Dinner Day

6 - National Nachos Day / Saxophone Day

7 - Sausage and Kraut Day

8 - Abet and Aid Punsters Day

9 - Cook Something Bold & Pungent Day

10 - Area Code Day

11 - Veteran's Day

12 - World Architecture Day

13 - World Kindness Day

14 - National Pickle Day

15 - National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

16 - Button Day

17 - Homemade Bread Day

18 - Push-Button Phone Day

19 - Have a Bad Day Day / World Toilet Day / Great AmericanSmokeout Day

20 - Name Your PC Day

21 - World Hello Day

22 - Mother Goose Day

23 - National Cashew Day

24 - Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day

25 - International Hat Day

26 - Thanksgiving / National Cake Day

27 - You're Welcomegiving Day

28 - National Day of Giving

29 - Electronic Greetings Day

30 - Stay Home Because You're Well Day / Nat'l Meth Awareness

Aaaand, here is the disclaimer. As I've said before, I do not make up these holidays. These are all real holidays, celebrated somewhere in the world (mostly the US, and when at all possible, Texas - I like to keep it local). Some days have more than one holiday - I am aware of this, and I have chosen the one I like best. It was my idea to post the holidays for you, so I get to pick. Mainly though, because, which would you rather celebrate, World Choral Day or Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day (Dec 8)? Sure, about three of you said World Choral Day because you have really nice singing voices and like to sing in public (sorry). The rest of us will be acting like we just showed up from the future and are looking for a flux capacitor. What I mean to say is, if you don't like the holiday, just wait until the next day - I'm sure it will be better suited for you.

Why I Wear Pink in October

In case there is anyone still out there who doesn't know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a pretty big deal, really. EVERYONE wants in on the PINK. We have Pink Out Nights during our Friday Night Lights. Firefighters & police officers all over the place are wearing pink t-shirts. There's the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Susan G. Komen organization. You can buy pink ribbons, pink headbands, pink necklaces, pink t-shirts, pink koozies and pink license plates. Heck, even the NFL gets in on it with their players wearing pink cleats. And yes, I wear pink in October. 

Some of you may be asking yourselves, "Does she wear teal in September for ovarian cancer, or blue in March for colorectal cancer, or white in November for lung cancer?" No. I do not specifically wear those colors for those cancers. Should I? Maybe. Probably. Yes. But for now, I don't. But I'll tell you why I do wear pink in October. 

It's about women and cancer. I am a woman and I hate cancer. Cancer is a hateful and horrible and indiscriminate disease. Cancer doesn't care who you are, where you're from, what you do for a living, whether you're married or not, how many children you do or don't have, or whether you prefer Dr Pepper or Coca-Cola. Oh, and cancer really doesn't have an opinion on whether to attack a woman's ovaries, her cervix, her lungs, her brain, her bones or her breasts. The moment a woman hears "you have cancer," where the cancer has taken up residence in her body isn't much the issue. The "where" will become important, because some cancers are more receptive to treatment than others. But what does that have to do with why I wear pink in October? 

I wear pink in October to Save the Boobies! Why the boobies and not the ovaries? Well, because boobies are glamorous. They're fascinating and alluring. We can see them. They're right there in front of everything. Everybody knows about boobies. Ovaries? Do you even know where they are? Of course you do. That was a joke. Really, though, in the wide world of things anatomical, ovaries aren't just right out there for us to think about. Seldom do people talk about saving the ovaries. Save the Boobies - that's where it's at. 

I wear pink in October to remind women to get a mammogram. And, if you give a mom a mammogram, she's gonna get all kinds of other tests. (Not just moms, of course, it just sounded more fun that way.) Because a trip to the doctor to get the order for a mammogram is more than just that. Usually, that annual doctor visit is an exam to check for cervical cancer. It's a time to talk about those weird things that have been going on in the past few months in one's "lady-life" that could lead to a test for ovarian cancer. It's a really good time to ask about that spot on the back that's been itchy and changing colors and maybe get a biopsy to check for melanoma. Early detection is the key to cancer survival, so Save the Boobies can Save a Life. That's why I wear pink in October. 

As a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and Relay For Life, I fight the fight and put forth the effort to raise money to fund research to find a cure for all cancers. I share information with those who have all cancers about services that can make their lives a little easier. I help to educate others about ways to protect themselves from certain cancers. I am an advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I don't discriminate in my fight against cancer - I'm against all cancers. I hate cancer. That's why I wear pink in October. 

If you haven't had one this year, schedule your annual exam today, and wear pink in October. 

Much love and lots of PINK,
~ME:)

P.S. - If you also hate cancer, and you'd like to make a donation towards cancer research, education, advocacy and services, click <here> to check out my Relay For Life website.