Aug16

I Will Always Call Her Kimmy

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I Will Always Call Her Kimmy

When my daughter was born, I was surprised, no let’s call it shocked. You see, I’d had the same difficult pregnancy, had carried the same way and was positive that it was going to be another boy. I recall a nurse asking me what name I had chosen, and I recall blurting out Kevin Matthew. She reassured me that I had just given birth to a girl and that I needed to think of another name.

So I did. I called my daughter Kelly Melinda, at least for the first twenty-four hours. But then I caved. Family all chided me and said I couldn’t have a Kyle, Kelly and Kelsey. They all sounded too alike. Kyle was my son and Kelsey was my dog.

After a somewhat tense discussion, my ex and I decided on Kimberly instead of Kelly. Mara, her middle name, was my ex’s idea. He didn’t like Melinda. So now I had a Kimmy instead of a Kelly.

And it was all good until she announced that she wanted to be called Kim, not Kimmy. Okay, she’s in her forties now and she made this decision when she was only six or seven, but I still call her Kimmy. And when Kyle and I talk about her, it’s always Kimmy.

The other day I was doing a video call with my granddaughter Madeline. She pouted annoyedly and said to her mom, “Did you hear what Grandma just called you?” Out came the guns; once again my daughter criticizing me for calling her Kimmy. Apparently I’m the worst mom in the world because I still call her Kimmy.

I don’t care. Judge me all you want. It was hard enough giving up Kelly. But don’t ask me to give up another name. I will always call her Kimmy.

Aug7

Thursday Musings

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Thursday Musings

The other day I was talking to a friend about how our lives have changed since Covid. While I don’t hide inside, I don’t over program myself the way I once did. One activity goes on my calendar a day. Then whatever happens…well, it happens.

Today is August 7th and the activity on the calendar was book club. We met at a park near the Pybus Market in Wenatchee and had a lovely picnic. We had a beautiful view of the river and the boat launch which added to our enjoyment.

But the day was far from over. After a delicious lunch and lively discussion of books, Joanne and I were off to Cashmere. We volunteer at the library for kids’ events. Today was the party for the end of summer reading program. I helped the kids make party poppers. They then went to another area where they got to play games with their party poppers. There were also other tables with more crafts for the kids to make.

After the party, we wandered over to the Methodist church for a community dinner. I met new people and even invited one of them to attend the next meeting of our writers group in Wenatchee.

Last stop was Bath and Body Works at the mall in East Wenatchee. I love my Champagne Toast! It has replaced my all-time favorite of Warm Vanilla Sugar.

It’s after seven and I’m finally home. And it’s reflection time.

On August 7th, 1992 I lovingly held Kelsey in my arms when he took his last breath. He’d led a happy and healthy life until then. Although it’s been years, I still think of him often. And I imagine him surrounded by other furry playmates up in doggie heaven.

Jul31

Tsunami. Flash Flood. Cinnamon Buns. Gnomes. Costco. Yale.

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Tsunami. Flash Flood. Cinnamon Buns. Gnomes. Costco. Yale.

The week began with tsunami warnings for the coastal areas in Washington State. Flash flood warnings for the northern Cascades. Heavy rainfall in the northern part of the state. Hence the flash flood warnings. Hopefully no thunder boomers. Lightning tends to hit trees and start wildfires.

Tuesday morning. Stopped in at the Sure to Rise Bakery in Cashmere for a cinnamon bun. Strode down to the Spirit of America 9/11 Memorial for some quiet contemplation.

Gnomes. Cashmere is known for its gnomes. Pick up a brochure at the visitor center and go on a hunt for these creatures. I actually did that once. Now I just glance at them along with their cute little homes.

Did I say gnomes homes? On Tuesday afternoon I volunteered at a program at the library where I fired a glue gun for a couple of hours. Kids eagerly built homes for gnomes. This is an annual activity at the library that is always so well attended. There was an abundance of craft materials ranging from birchbark to feathers and everything in between. And these kids are all so creative!

I did it again. I signed up yesterday for another online course from Yale University. Psychology this time. The videos this week are all about the brain. Interesting and at the same time a little scary.

Extremely hot and muggy here in East Wenatchee. Rain early this morning. So far just isolated drizzle this afternoon. And the 90 plus degree heat wave is forecast to continue for another few days.

On a cloudy and gloomy afternoon it’s a good day to go out for lunch and then cruise through Costco. So we did. Fall clothes and Halloween decorations have no appeal to me, not where I go in October. But I do enjoy browsing. It brings back fond memories of when my kids and I used to decorate our house for Halloween.

Bye Bye July!

Jul28

Winthrop WA

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Winthrop WA

Winthrop is a delightful mountain town located in the Methow Valley. From the wooden boardwalks to the rustic storefronts, the downtown area has the authentic feel of a town right out of the wild west. The shops are filled with interesting souvenirs ranging from western gear to fridge magnets. The art galleries and the bookstore were also engaging.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Three Fingered Jack’s Saloon, a midpoint of our stroll through the downtown area. We passed on the chocolate at the candy store as well as the ice cream. It would all melt far too quickly in the 90 plus degrees on this sunny Saturday.

Fly fishing, hiking and mountain biking are popular activities in the summer months. Cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing attract visitors during the winter months.

There are also a variety of quaint options for lodging in the area, many of which are located along the river. A short drive takes you to Twisp, a town that boasts a senior center and thrift shop as well as a marijuana outlet. Another short drive takes you to Pateros, another small town with a marvelous bakery as well as a waterfront park complete with boat launches.

I highly recommend this day trip. The scenery along the way is quite spectacular. Mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Washington is such a beautiful state.

Jul23

A History Lesson

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A History Lesson

Wenatchee is the city with the largest population in Chelan County in the state of Washington. It also houses the county seat.

The name ” Wenatchee” is derived from the Sahaptin language spoken by the Yakima Indians. This dialect defines the term as “river flowing from a canyon.” It originally referred to the village where the Wenatchi people lived which was located at the confluence of the Columbia and Wenatchee rivers.

Yakima is another interesting word. One theory about the name of this city is that it is based on an old legend that an Indian chief’s daughter broke the tribal rules and ran away. She then settled along the river called Yakama. So it follows that the most widely accepted meaning of Yakima is “runaway.”

Where did these Native American people come from? Archaeologists and tradition suggest that they came from Siberia and first settled in the Puget Sound area, where they adapted to the local environment. The tribes included the Suquamish, Snoqualmie and Nisqually.

Many federally recognized tribes still live in the state of Washington today. Their traditions and history have greatly impacted the culture. They operate successful businesses, such as seafood processing and casinos. The Puyallup Tribe is the largest and has more than 4000 members.

And now for the name “Washington State.” The original name was Columbia Territory. It was changed to Washington Territory in 1853. In 1889 it became a state called Washington.

That’s it for today’s history lesson.

Jul21

You’re Never There

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You’re Never There

I disagree. I can’t say I’m never there, but I definitely can say that I’m seldom there. And just where is there? Why, it’s Facebook of course!

Just why am I seldom there? Because life is to be lived. That means up front and personal. That means interacting with other people. It doesn’t mean staring at a screen on my phone or on my laptop all day. That isn’t living.

Basically, I share my WordPress blog on Facebook. I belong to three writers groups on Facebook which I don’t always check out as often as I would like to. I’ve learned a lot about writing and publishing from these groups. As I’ve said many times before, send me a private message if you want me to be aware of something important going on in your life. With hundreds of friends on Facebook, I don’t have time to waste scrolling and sifting through far too many shared posts every day to find the ones that may truly be worth reading.

Occasionally I read posts on Facebook from a group called If You Grew Up In Winnipeg. There are two types of people who post here…those who still live there and haven’t experienced life outside of Winnipeg and those that have escaped Winnipeg when they have discovered the adventures that can be found elsewhere. However I must admit that I do find some of the photos quite interesting.

I had a stimulating conversation with a friend in Winnipeg last night. We’re both divorced, have adult children and grandchildren. We both concluded that our lives have not turned out the way we envisioned them years ago. But we do find our lives challenging as well as fulfilling.

And I wholeheartedly continue to embrace this philosophy…………………. First Coffee, Now What?

And you?

Jul15

July

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July

“Be yourself; everyone else is taken.”

That’s one of my mantras, for both living and writing. So here goes….

So far it’s been a good month. I haven’t had any alerts blaring at me on my phone about wildfires or child abductions. And the month is halfway over.

Of course that doesn’t stop me from reading about wildfires in other areas of the state. And then there are the devastating flash floods and the vicious tornados attacking several states in the south, the Midwest and the east coast.

Aside from the high temperatures, it’s been pretty tranquil around here. Later this week I’ll be in Leavenworth up in the amphitheater enjoying another excellent production of The Sound of Music by Leavenworth Summer Theater. This is always one of the highlights of my summers here. And I’m thankful that it isn’t smokey this year. My stock of I-95s is still tucked away in my closet.

I’m planning on going up to Winthrop in a couple of weeks barring any wildfires. It’s a small town known for its Old West theme, including wooden boardwalks and saloon-style buildings. Quite a contrast to the amphitheater or the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth.

Pangborn Airport is slated to get new runways and will be closed for about a month beginning in September. I sure hope it will reopen by the time I need to fly back to Mexico in October. TSA at Sea-Tac is no fun.

Dead Dog In The Freezer. That’s the title of the piece I’ll be reading at writers group tomorrow.

What has an eye but cannot see? A needle.

Time to end this post. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day.

Jul8

Beam Me Back

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Beam Me Back

My childhood was in the fifties and my teenage years in the sixties. I never thought about it back then but when I look back at it today……….”Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end,” sang Mary Hopkin. But those days did end. I look around me and can’t believe what I see today.

We can’t blame everything on the availability of technology, although many would prefer to do so. Kids today aren’t nearly as carefree as we were back then. Fire drills have been replaced by other drills in the classroom; drills that were unimaginable when I was young.

My own kids came along in the eighties. At a very young age they were playing games like “Don’t talk to Strangers,” not Cowboys and Indians. They learned to decode alarm systems instead of coming home to unlocked doors after school. The internet was at their fingertips to read about war and violence. As a child I wasn’t even allowed to watch the 11 o’clock news as my parents thought it might give me nightmares.

Today it’s worse. Here in the Wenatchee Valley crime rates are higher than the national average. We are all still reeling from the tragic death of three sisters at the hands of their murderous father. And he is still at large. This is something that should be reserved for a Lifetime movie. It shouldn’t be happening in real life in our own backyard.

As a child, we played outside with friends until the streetlights came on. Neighbors looked out for each other and someone was always checking up on the kids, whoever’s house they happened to be playing at. The front porch was a popular place to sit. Today people back out of their garages and don’t even know their neighbors. Backyard decks allow for even more privacy; or is it seclusion?

Hitchhike? Accept a ride from a stranger while waiting at a bus stop? Unheard of today. I wouldn’t even want my child to use public transit so those options are definitely eliminated. The term “helicopter parent” would absolutely apply to me. And that isn’t good parenting either. Kids have to learn to make choices, preferably good ones. And they don’t have the opportunity to do that if they’re overprotected.

And then there’s the opposite. There are the kids who have too much freedom, the kids whose parents are too wrapped up in themselves to notice the warning signs that their kids are struggling and getting into trouble. And when they finally do notice a problem, the blame is more often than not put on the teacher or the coach instead of the parent.

Dick, Jane and Sally. Spot and Puff. Where have you gone?

Jul4

It’s The Fourth

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It’s The Fourth

The first week in July has been a busy one with friends, writers group and book club. But the highlight is definitely the time I spent volunteering with VBS (Vacation Bible School) here in East Wenatchee at Breath of Life Church.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to spread God’s word to so many kids by engaging them in fun activities that included skits, songs, games, crafts and even snacks. A few years back I wrote a blog post about my wish to have my own granddaughter attend one of these events. It hasn’t happened yet but I still hope that one year she will make it down here from Canada.

Today is the Fourth of July. While many associate this day with barbecues and fireworks, the history behind it is important. This is the day when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress back in 1776. The thirteen American colonies were now officially separated from Great Britain.

Later on today we’ll be going out for dinner and then over to a friend’s to watch the fireworks. I’m certain we’ll enjoy a spectacular view of the display from the deck. And it will be a pleasure to avoid the traffic and congestion at the park below.

Happy Fourth!

Jun27

Writing Prompts

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Writing Prompts

Here on WordPress, writing prompts are suggested for those days when you want to write and are struggling to come up with a topic of your own. I scrolled through a few today and I’m not inspired to write using even one of the suggested prompts. And I think back to that creative writing course I took back in college. The prof’s advice….Write about what you know.

Having been around for more than a few decades, I think I know a lot. Yet I also believe that there is still a great deal for me to learn in my lifetime. After all, you can never know too much.

Or can you?

I have gingerly gone back to reading daily newsfeeds. Locally, the news is all about the ongoing manhunt for a father accused of murdering his three daughters. Nationally, the headlines deal with the political situation. Globally, all eyes are poised on a potential World War lll.

On a happier note, I attended a luncheon the other day for a woman in my book club who was celebrating her 99th birthday. She is moving to the other side (a Washingtonian knows this means to the other side of the mountains) this week. We’ll all have to travel next year if we want to attend the 100th.

I’ve learned a lot about American history in the past few months. Book club has focused on historical fiction. The current read is all about Patsy Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson. I find it to be lengthy and long-winded, although a few others find it most interesting and a delight to read. However, I must admit that I do find American history to be much more colorful than Canadian history.

I wonder what the history books will say twenty or thirty years from now. It will depend if they’re written by a Democrat or a Republican; or in the case of Canada, a Liberal or a Conservative. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine the world I’m living in now. Enough about that.

Back to happy. Come to Cashmere this Saturday for a Founders Day celebration. I’ll be volunteering at a book sale organized by Friends of the Cashmere Library. Other events include a classic car show, a parade, games for kids and entertainment.

I decided to end this post with a Johnny joke, because we can all use some humor in our lives.

Teacher: “If I gave you 2 cats and another 2 cats and another 2, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Seven.” Teacher: “No, listen carefully… If I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Seven.” Teacher: “Let me put it to you differently. If I gave you two apples, and another two apples and another two, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Six.” Teacher: “Good. Now if I gave you two cats, and another two cats and another two, how many would you have?” Johnny: “Seven!” Teacher: “Johnny, where in the heck do you get seven from?!” Johnny: “Because I’ve already got a freaking cat!”

Groan………..