There’s A Rat In Separate
In my younger days I’d get confused with spelling the word separate. To me it should be spelled seperate. But an older, wiser, co-worker reminded me of the little saying, “There’s a rat in separate” so, I now never forget it, and you probably won’t either. But this story is not about spelling, it’s about separating.
It was brought to my attention yesterday that a family member is separating from her husband. Her husband that barely goes to work, doesn’t have much to do with their beautiful little girl, and is drinking more than he should. He actually shouldn’t be drinking at all from past behaviors.
So when contemplating their “separation” that old saying about the rat came to mind. Yes, there is a rat in there, and it only takes one rat to clear a house. Some folks can live with rats, some folks don’t see the rats, and some folks pretend the rat is a cuddly, sweet kitty-cat under it all. Hmmm, can you smell a rat?
It’s such a shame when these things occur, and they occur everyday, everywhere, and in all families. It happened with my parents, it happened to me, and now it’s happening with the next generation. It’s a sad fact in today’s world, but I do believe that something good, something unseen and somehow wonderful will emerge from this situation. From all these types of situations. Our growth, our lives, our journeys. May they never stop.
This article has taken on a much sadder feel than I intended, so I will leave you with the little Irish saying that is in an 8″ x 10″ frame in my front hall. Here goes:
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face. May the rain fall soft upon your fields. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Don’t Do Anything
When you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything. For a spazzy-type person such as myself, that is so much harder than for regular folks. Doing nothing is so much work. It really, really is. I’m not always patient - instant gratification takes too long. I always have to be doing. If I’m not doing, then I’m sleeping.
In 12-Step Programs they have a a great acronym: H.A.L.T. - and that’s what you’re supposed to do if you are, Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Some of us can bounce through all four of these emotions in one day - I can! And it is true that you really cannot, should not, and try not to make any (and I mean any) decisions when you are in a spazzy state of mind. Those are always the wrong decisions with dire consequences on more people than we care to admit.
So deep six the growing idea that feels like if you don’t do it or say it than you’ll spin off the earth - northing’s ever that dramatic anyways. Doesn’t hindsight suck?
When in doubt, don’t do a damn thing except maybe, take a walk, exercise, read something, play with the family pet, play with your kids, take a nap, watch a movie . . .
Want Fries With That?
Why is this question such a joke? I don’t get it. Working in the food industry is not easy work; would you want to wash the floors and toilets in a McDonald’s or Burger King bathroom? I wouldn’t.
Though I don’t frequent these establishments too often (I prefer Pizza Hut) they are a staple on many folks’ eatery lists. My daughter used to get a Happy Meal at least once a week - bad mothering? No, just busy, single and lazy.
I’d like to think we eat much better now (we actually do) but we’re just one small family, in small-town America. There’s tons of people who eat at these places, daily and I’d never, ever want to clean-up after them, nor take their orders. In general, people are nice enough, but sometimes you get an obnoxious, persnickety person who just wants to cause trouble. And taking it out on a fast-food worker is right up their alley.
So, next time someone jokes around and says that flipping burgers is a joker’s job, you remind them that those “jokers” feed many of us every single day, and that swinging a mop is honest pay.
Good Coffee
What constitutes a good cup of coffee? Is it the beans, or where they come from? Makes no matter to me. I just want a good cup of coffee. I don’t go in for all the bells and whistles. No flavors for me. No espresso, cappuccino, spices, nutty flavors, etc. I just want Juan Valdez, his poncho and donkey, to stroll in and bring me regular, coffee- flavored coffee.
I peruse the coffee aisles in our local club warehouse and there’s Hawaiian Coffee, Seattle Coffee, decaf (why bother?) coffee, a “master blend” flavored coffee, hazelnut, vanilla, but no coffee-flavored coffee. What is going on here?
My husband drinks his black, I add a bit of plain half-n-half to mine. I don’t walk nor drive around carrying a lidded paper cup. I have a travel mug that stays at work on my desk for insulation purposes. I have a fancy, shmancy coffee bean grinder that I so badly “needed” a few years back, but wound up grinding cloves in it instead. Oh well. A word of caution: don’t grind spices in a coffee grinder if you ever again want to use it for coffee beans.
Aaahhh, I now smell the fragrant aroma of my Mr. Coffee calling to me. Gotta run!