run on sentences

Last week I decided at the last minute to complete a 3/4 complete shawl for my future daughter in law, Scarlett, who will make me a grandma (with my son Billy's help) in a few weeks. I belong to a group that knits prayer shawls for people that need comforting and have thus far, only contributed one to church people for whom they are intended. One completed shawl went to my sweet father in law and one, knitted from my mom's old yarns, went to her. When she died, it went to my sister. (This is the last picture I have of me, my mom, and my daughter). I had decided to make one with my mom's old yarn and give it away to some deserving and needing person, who was not related to me. But then we bought Scarlett and Bill a rocking chair and as I ran last Saturday, I thought how nice that multicolored shawl, made of yarn from a now not existing Ben Franklin store ($1.69 per skein, back in the day) would look on the back of that Rocking Chair. So I came home from a great 8 mi...

"When a person thinks of a 56 year old woman, they usually don't think of someone who looks as good as you", my sweet spouse since I was way less than these years said to me one day. I thought it was a pretty nice thing to say except it did remind me that I am, indeed, a 56 year old woman (and almost 57). When I was in my 20's, I could not imagine being 50 anything. That was old. I did not appreciate my smooth unsaggy skin or my flat (well sort of) stomach. Of course, like most woman, I wanted to lose 5 more pounds....just 5 more and I would feel perfect. My mom was in her 50's when her first grandchild, my sweet daughter was born. I thought she was old and certainly grandma material. Now I am there - and about to be a grandma but inside I feel young. The wrapping paper has just gotten a little, well, crinkly. Can any of us ever appreciate how good we look wearing this very moment? I think not. Why is it that women, myself included, always find fault with ever...

There are people who make a difference to others without knowing it. Many of them are not rich, famous, or involved in work that others might consider meaningful. It isn't the work they do, but how they go about doing their job. We have had a housekeeper at work who is Chinese. Her last day was Friday and I will miss her. She had to do a lot of menial tasks and probably made minimum wages. But she always had a big bright eyed smile on her face and every time I walked by her, no matter how busy I was, I made a point to say "hi" to her because she made me feel better about life. Her smile made me smile back and slow down a little. I just could not ever walk by her without at least smiling and saying "hi". Sometimes I would stop and chat with her. She always had something nice to say to me "I like your sweater, it is so bright" she would say. Her English wasn't perfect but it was sure way better than my Chinese. I noticed she talked to...