Blog

About 40 years ago, I was missing my favorite restaurant in the world, Cretin’s on Fourth Avenue in Yuma, Arizona. My regular meal there was a smothered bean burrito. Made with freshly made tortillas (oh, they are so much better than store-bought!), filled with flavorful beans, and topped with a sauce and loads of cheese, it was the sort of meal only a teenager with a racing metabolism could eat and not gain weight.

Knowing I could never duplicate that delicious burrito and really didn’t need to indulge, I created a healthier version, tweaked it over the years, and entered my recipe in a contest sponsored by “Prevention” magazine. Mine was one of 150 selected to be in the cookbook that came out in 2008. You see the cover and my page in the photos.

Nutrition information (compiled by the experts on the magazine’s staff): 347 calories per serving, 16 grams protein, 43 grams carbohydrate, 11 grams fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 902 mg sodium, 8 grams fiber. Serves four.

Prep time: 10 minutes  Cook time: 5 minutes.   Bake time: 18 minutes

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons canola or olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped red or yellow bell pepper

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 can (16 ounces) fat-free refried beans

4 whole wheat or regular flour tortillas (8 inches diameter)

1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes

2 jalapeño chile peppers, finely chopped and seeded (wear plastic gloves when handling)

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 13 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a small, nonstick skillet over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onions, bell pepper, and chili powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about four minutes or until the onion is softened. Set aside half (about 1/4 cup of the mixture) in a bowl, Add the beans to the skillet and break them up with a spoon Add a few tablespoonfuls of water, if needed, to loosen the mixture slightly.

Lay the tortillas in a single layer on a work surface. Spoon one-quarter (about 1/2 cup) of the bean mixture on each tortilla, then hold opposite sides of each tortilla to meet in the middle. Fold under the top and bottom of the roll to form a compact bundle. Place the burritos seam side down in the dish.

Add the tomatoes with juice and the chile peppers to the reserved onion and pepper mixture. Stir to mix. Spread over the burritos. Sprinkle the cheese on top.

Bake for about 18 minutes or until the cheese melts and the mixture bubbles.

Diet exchanges: 0 milk, 1 vegetable, 0 fruit, 0 bread, 1 meat, 1 fat

3 carb choices

This recipe can be modified and made less healthy/low calorie by adding browned ground beef or cooked chicken. Or, to keep it healthy, add Morning Star Grillers Crumbles (fully cooked soybean crumbles, look just like ground beef).

Also, I now like to add garlic to the mixture. If using minced garlic, use 1/4 teaspoon. Powder version just a couple of shakes.

This is a homemade salsa recipe that was not in the cookbook:

1 large can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes

1/2 tablespoon chopped onion

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 tablespoons picked jalapeños, juice drained

Place in blender, pulse once or twice until made liquid, although there will be a few chunks. Do not blend until smooth. Place in a bowl and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Sometimes I use this salsa on top of the burritos before adding the cheese.

 

 

Yep, that’s right. We’re fixin’ to talk Southern. I just put the photo in to grab your attention. I had this photo made in 2007 or 2008, can’t remember exactly, with a lady from Mississippi who dated Elvis and wrote a book about it (I think her name is June Juanico, but I will have to do my fact checking after I’m through with this post). And that’s a blonder me (when my hair got done a little earlier, the hairdresser and I got a little carried away with the highlights).

Now, if you are NOT a southerner, you probably noticed several things in my post already that are not exactly accepted English. If you’re a southerner, you’re likely scratching your head and wondering what on earth I’m talking about.

Allow me to explain. First, southern lingo is as varied as any other, because the way we talk in Tennessee is not always like they talk in kAlabama, and we definitely don’t talk like Georgia folks (think Jimmy Carter). We actually pronounce our “r’s” in Tennessee. I hate it when Hollywood makes all southerners sound like Georgians.

There’s also a variation in rural southern and city southern. My Memphis relatives don’t talk quite the same as we do. Their accents are not as pronounced, and they don’t put quite as many extra vowels in words as we do.

Remember: no one in the South owns a cat. They own a ca-at. Or in some parts, they own ca-ya-ats.

So this blog is for you non-Southerners who might be planning a trip to our neck of the woods. That’s rural talk, by the way. Memphis and Nashville don’t have real woods. Knoxville and Chattanooga, maybe.

Here’s my disclaimer. Because I spent nine years of my life in Arizona, I am accused of not being completely, truly Southern. I pronounce words a little differently at times. But that doesn’t mean I can’t understand and translate Southern. I do have trouble with British accents, but that is another blog. Let’s just say I have to rewind a lot when watching “The Crown.”

My list, then, is southern rural speech, specifically in west Tennessee. Interested in learning more? Then continue to read.

Words and phrases we use that maybe you don’t, or if you do, it’s different where you are:

1. fixing — usually pronounced fixin’. This can mean repairing (He’s fixing the lawn mower) or preparing (she’s fixing supper.) However, it is frequently used instead of “about to.” (We’re fixing to eat supper, she’s fixing to go to the store, they’re fixing to get married.)
2. supper — the evening meal. Some of us eat breakfast, lunch, and supper. Older folks eat breakfast, dinner, and supper. Many eat Sunday dinner around noon or 1:00, but it’s lunch the rest of the week. However, formal evening meals are dinner. This rule may vary from family to family.
3. Bless your (his, her) heart. This very important phrase has numerous connotations because it can be a kind, loving remark or one that hides sarcasm as something sweet and sugary. Examples: 1.”Did you hear about Bill? He was injured in a car wreck.” “Oh, I’m so sorry. Bless his heart, I hope he’ll be okay.” Translated: “I really am sorry and hope he’ll recover soon.”  2.  “Mr. Harmon, I didn’t get my homework.” Mr. Harmon (my senior English teacher whom I respected but mostly feared): “Well bless your little pea-pickin’ heart.” Translated: “Why are you telling me this? You’re getting a zero anyway.”  3.  “Did you see Mikey ram his head into the lockers to show off?” “Well, no. Bless his heart.” Translated: “Bless his heart for being so stupid.” 4. Nurse: “Dr. Johnson, Mrs. Miller is here again about feeling tired a lot.” Doctor: “She’s 98.” Sighs and shakes his head. “Bless her heart.” Translated: “Actually, bless my heart because I’m tired of dealing with this over and over.”
4. loaf bread or loaf of bread? — My husband and I have this discussion. I grew up hearing my parents talking about buying loaf bread. He never heard that, even though he grew up in Tennessee. Guess my folks were more country than his.
5. Those -oi words. Many Southerners are unable to pronounce these words correctly. (My Arizona upbringing prevents me from talking this way.) They put ole in the car, bole water, use aluminum fole. So, if you hear this, just translate that “o” sound to “oi,” and you will do just fine.
6. Pin and pen, tin and ten — no different in southern jargon. Use context clues to figure it out.
7. “I’m” and “am” — very similar. “I’m leaving” sounds very much like “Ahm leaving.” They (we) really do intend for a subject to be in there (I). It just doesn’t sound that way.
8. On.– Some Southerners pronounce this word like “own.” It sounds like “Dinner is own the table.” I don’t know why they do this. They just do. Once again, use context clues.
9. We was, you was, they was. Ouch, ouch, and ouch. I won’t elaborate. But you’ll hear it. They know better. They know it’s supposed to be we were, you were, they were. It just doesn’t come out that way. Bless their hearts.
10. Have your picture made. — Yes, we have our pictures made in the South. Yes, we know a lot of people, if not most, say “have their picture taken.” We use “made.” I don’t know why. We just do.
11. Mr. or Mrs. (Ms., Miss) before a first name. — This is a sign of respect. Think “Driving Miss Daisy.” It means “I know you better than I know Mr. or Mrs. Jones, but I think it’s disrespectful to call you Bob and Mary, so I’ll call you Mr. Bob and Mrs. Mary as a sign of respect.”
12. Ma’am and sir. — terms of respect. It’s acknowledging that someone is older or in more authority. If someone uses “ma’am” or “sir” to you, be honored. That means they are treating you with respect.
13. Y’all. — There are debates about the correct spelling of this term, but it is a contraction of “you” and “all.” Therefore the correct spelling is “y’all.” This is a casual, plural term, used as “you guys” is in other parts of the country and in parts of Appalachia, “you ‘uns.” It is never considered correct in a formal paper or formal speech, but it is the norm in colloquial speech. So if you are alone and someone asks ,”How are y’all doing?” that person wants to know not only how you are doing but also your family.
14. Finally (for now), the difference in “Yankee” and “Northerner.” — I do not think of myself as a resident of the former Confederacy. That time in the history of the south is a black eye on our history. I can’t help what my ancestors did (but mine were all poor farmers who didn’t own plantations or slaves or anything much), and from what I can tell from family research, my ancestors didn’t get caught up in causes, working all the time to scratch out some kind of living from the soil. But part of the South’s history is not so pretty. At the same time, it’s not all ugly. We have certain customs and traditions. We want to welcome newcomers to our community, but (I speak here on behalf of myself, not others) there is a difference in a Yankee and a Northerner, a Mid-westerner, or a Westerner. Not sure if all of those terms should be capitalized, but I did anyway. Here’s the difference: A Northerner (Mid-westerner, Westerner) moves here and lives among us, assimilating our way of life with theirs. A Yankee, on the other hand, moves here and tries to change us and our way of life. We don’t like that any more than you’d like it if we moved into your area and tried to change your culture. Change can be good, but don’t force it on us. Get to know us. Give it time. Observe. Maybe we need to change some things. But, in some ways, maybe you do.

I hope these hints help, and if you’re fixin’ to visit Tennessee, I hope y’all will have your picture made in front of Graceland or at the Eiffel Tower replica in Paris or even on the steps of The Parthenon replica in Nashville and post it to Facebook so all your friends can see where you’ve been.

Until next time!

Autumn is my favorite season. The sunny days with low humidity, the cool sometimes chilly evenings, and the turning of the leaves are refreshing to me. To some people, fall can represent something negative. The plants are dying or going dormant. Cold weather is not far off. School is back in session.

Negative things. But to me, it is an exciting time. High school and college football! Long walks in the crisp air. New seasons of television shows (lots of good ones this year!). And, I must confess, when I was growing up I always looked forward to the start of a new school year. Why? Because it represented a new beginning, an opportunity for change, a chance to make new friends and to reinvent myself.

So when I was asked to speak at our church’s quarterly WINGS (Women in God’s Service) event about being in the fall season of life, I couldn’t help but think how appropriate it was. I was asked to do so because I recently retired, so because of my age and my circumstances, I am truly in a new phase of my life.

And, believe me, I am loving it.

But I don’t view my fall season of life as a time to sit back and do nothing. Instead, I view it as a time to do the things I never had time to do while working. Things on my bucket list.

No, not sky-diving or traveling the globe or anything out of the ordinary. But things like jogging/walking (mostly walking) the St. Jude half-marathon in Memphis on Dec. 1. It’s been my preferred charity since I was in college, and I registered as a hero, pledging to raise $600. Thanks to generous friends and family, I reached that goal by the end of July.

Things like volunteering more. When my dad was in hospice care and spent the last four days of his life in a local nursing home, I noticed the residents who seemed to have no one visiting them, residents who couldn’t do simple things for themselves. I pledged then, in 2012, to become a regular volunteer, to “adopt” residents who had no family or friends. Three weeks after I retired, I went to the nursing home, filled out the paperwork, and had the background check. Maybe, just maybe, I can bring a little comfort and companionship to the lonely.

I now have time to do editing for Mantle Rock Publishing during the daytime hours instead of nights and weekends. The same for taking care of my 91-year-old mother’s needs. I have more time to write.

But autumn also represents harvest, a time to reap the rewards of hard work. Crops are gathered and sold or stored for winter. In retirement, I am reaping the rewards of working at least part-time since I was 12 years old. My dad was in the newspaper industry. I had a paper route for three years. I worked part-time in the summers at the “print shop” beginning at `13. During high school and college, I had jobs at the newspaper, Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Pacer Pantry on campus, and a local bank.

Full-time work? Eight years in banking/lending, 25 years teaching, and seven years as principal.

But I have a confession to make. I worked in education for 32 years, but I never wanted to be a teacher. At least, not in the way that it was my life’s goal.

No, I wanted to work in corporate America, in a large city like Nashville. I majored in Spanish and minored in French and took classes like business law, foreign relations, and accounting to prepare me for a job in international business.

But life has a way of throwing some curve balls, so that goal was never realized. Instead, I ended up teaching so I would have more Mom-friendly hours, not knowing that during the school year I would be putting in fifty hours a week or more. I struggled at the beginning. I had no idea how to manage a classroom, no idea how to teach high school students.

But my father, whom I admired more than any influence in my life, taught me to do my best at any job I did, whether I liked the job or not. So I did the best I could. I tried to become the best teacher I could be.

I loved the students. But I hated the job. Although I am passionate about public education, I became discouraged too easily. Negative attitudes from students, though few and rare, bothered me. I battled discouragement. But dealing with student misbehavior, students’ complaining about work they were expected to do, student apathy, creating lesson plans that took hours to plan but only minutes to present, grading all those papers, and other things were a far cry from the life I had envisioned for myself.

So now, I am reaping the rewards of sticking with a job I never intended to have, a job I did because of family. And what am I reaping? A decent pension. Sleeping past 5:30 If I want, although I’m usually up by 6:00. Time to do things on my bucket list. And the great connections I have made with students, teachers, administrators, and parents.

Even if you have your dream job, you wil likely tire of it someday if you work at it long enough. I realize that. But I do take some comfort in knowing that, even if I didn’t get a chance to pursue, let alone accomplish, my goal, maybe I played a small part in helping others reach theirs. Not that my students ended up using Spanish or French in their jobs, but maybe I influenced them and helped them somehow along the way.

In the autumn of my life, my dreams have changed. They are no longer focused on self. My dream now is to be a blessing to others. Whether it is raising money to fight childhood cancer, helping out at the nursing home, doing what I can at church, and continuing to take care of my mother, it is a time for new beginnings. A chance to reinvent myself to become the person God has always wanted me to be.

Is this how you think of the upcoming school year? A year to meet a testing goal? A year to hit those learning objectives so that the students will do well on the spring tests?

If it is, let me offer this bit of advice: don’t. Don’t think about the tests.

“But, Pam,” you say. “You don’t understand. You taught non-tested subjects.”

You’re right, I don’t know what it is to feel the pressure you do. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t think about the objectives. You should. After all, that’s what the students are supposed to learn.

What I’m saying is, don’t think about the test itself. Each day, when you’re making plans, think about the kids instead. You’ve got lazy kids? Then figure out how to engage them. You’ve got smart kids who already think they know everything? Then figure out a way to challenge them. You’ve got kids who learn more slowly than others? Figure out a way to reach them so they can perform to the best of their abilities. They may not score as well as others, but if they have learned at all, that is an accomplishment. By both of you.

I guess my point is this. Most of you in this profession chose it because you are passionate about kids and learning. You love the subject(s) you teach, and you want the students to love it too. At one time, you were excited about getting your room ready, creating lesson plans, working with students, and being the best teacher you could be.

Then the data got in your way. Your teacher effectiveness score discouraged you. Blame the state department of education for this. I get it. Data is useful. Data tells us what we need to know. So use the data. It is a tool you can use to improve your instruction. But don’t let it become the focus of your days.

If you struggle with this, try focusing on each day, one day at a time. I’d focus on what needs to be taught, what needs to be learned, what methods would work the best. Don’t be afraid to ask to observe other teachers who seem to have high scores every year. Don’t let yourself get in a teaching rut, doing the same things year after year, especially if you don’t like your past test scores. If what you’ve been doing hasn’t been working, be open to new ideas.

Anyone that knows me knows that I often say teaching is the hardest job I’ve ever had. Harder than working as a loan officer at a bank. Harder than being a principal (really, although the principal job had longer hours and was stressful in different ways.) Harder than my newspaper job. Harder than working at Kentucky Fried Chicken in high school, LOL.

You have a challenging, often thankless job. You create lesson plans and give your best effort to engage the students, yet some refuse to become engaged. You have students who defy you when you push them to do the learning activities. You have students who are rude to you at times. On top of that, some of you have administrators who can be harsh, temperamental, or distant. (Hint to administrators: If you want the best out of your teachers, a personal touch and expressions of praise and gratitude go a long way. I will go the extra mile times ten for a boss who acts like he/she appreciates my efforts and recognizes my few accomplishments, whereas a hard-nosed boss with a harsher style (think of coaching) just discourages me. I will not work as hard for that kind of boss. I’ll just change jobs.)

But you also have those kids who are soaking in what you are teaching, kids who are trying to learn, kids who want to make good grades. You have those students who give you respect and who appreciate you, even if you don’t know it. I know how hard it is not to become discouraged by the few kids who misbehave or are rude. They can ruin your whole day.

If you are dreading going back to work, I hope you can recapture the excitement you once felt about teaching. I hope you have the most incredible, wonderful school year ever. And I hope that you make a positive difference the lives of your students. You never know what your influence means to them.

So this year, don’t focus on the tests. Focus on the kids. I have a feeling that you will have a better year because of it.

Note: next week I will write a blog directed to parents. 🙂

 

 

 

This is a photo of our park, one of the gems in my small town. It has multiple softball and baseball fields, a walking trail around a large pond (in which you can fish), a basketball area, a dog park, a playground, and  pavilions for get-togethers. Even public restrooms and water fountains.

A great asset to our town, although it doesn’t seem to be utilized that much. I like to go there to walk, and no matter what time I go, there are usually fewer than ten people in the entire park, unless a ballgame is going on. But maybe that’s another issue. Like heat or cold or people preferring to go to a fitness center rather than be outdoors.

I remember there was opposition to this park, but in may opinion, that opposition was very short-sighted. Don’t spend the money on a park, some said. Don’t increase our taxes. Kids don’t need a park and ball fields. Use Harmon field. Use the old fields behind the elementary school.

I won’t debate any of that, but I tend to believe our town has benefited economically from the park because of the tournaments hosted that bring in people who need hotels, restaurants, gas, and even a run to Dollar General or Walmart or E. W. James.

So what else is needed in our town? I recently posted the question on my author Facebook page and received a variety of responses from people in other towns as well as my own. Even from big city folks.

First, I’ll list the improvements that the city/town itself can make. Then I’ll list the improvements that individual businessmen could consider. Whatever the suggestions are, the truth is, most of it boils down to money. Most of it.

1.  Better codes enforcement. Unfortunately, we do have people who don’t care about how their yards look or how junky they keep them or how often the yard is mowed. Their lack of attention affects their neighbors. If you want to junk up your yard, please move outside of city limits. But if you live inside of city limits, you need to be respectful of your neighbors. I don’t know, maybe you’re the same people who are too lazy to put your shopping carts in the corrals at Walmart or the ones who leave that loaf of bread you decided you didn’t want on the shelf in the underwear section. If you’re guilty of any of that, are you offended that I’m calling you lazy? Go ahead and be offended. You’re right. I am calling you lazy. And socially irresponsible. Get over it and do a better job. So to the city officials, please have specific guidelines about maintaining property and fine the people who don’t comply. It doesn’t have to be super strict or overly invasive into their rights. Keep the junk out of your yard. Pick up the trash. Mow your hard. Simple.
2.   Sidewalks and better drainage systems. I live on a busy road, and I like to walk. I would walk to the post office and other places if I had a sidewalk on which I could feel safe. With distracted drivers at an increase, I don’t trust the cars coming at me. As far as drainage, this may go back to individual responsibility. When you mow, don’t throw the grass out to the road and leave it. Guess what–it’s going to clog something if a rain comes.

Now the individuals living in the town.

3.  Better housing options. In our town, everything is targeted to college students (which is partly the problem with codes enforcement). What about young couples, young professionals, older people, or any families who don’t want to maintain a yard? I have a friend who owns an apartment complex, and unfortunately, renters are not always easy to deal with. So what about reasonably-priced condos that can be purchased with a small HOA to take care of issues like yard mowing and sidewalk maintenance (yes, I want sidewalks)? Have you explored the possibility, done some marketing research, to see if your town has a need or interest? Can it be a financial plus for you as well as for the ones who are seeking that type of housing? OH, also–please locate these in a desirable spot, not in old parts of town. Not near the college.

4.  More entertainment options for young people. I have heard this ever since I was a teenager in McMinnville, Tennessee. If there were no ballgame to go to or a movie to see, we “cruised the strip,” and I know that happens in small towns everywhere. Parents posted to my page that a miniature golf course, bowling alley, skating rink, or similar places would give teens a safe outlet for entertainment. I’ll go beyond that. When we were in the OBX (Outer Banks, North Carolina) we went to a grass only miniature golf course that serious golfers could use. No boards or gimmicks. Just 18 holes of putting greens with challenges to help golfers. The man running it said there are very few in the U.S. So why not one of those? We seem to have enough golfers in the area.

5. A revival of a thriving downtown area. Shops centrally located downtown instead of spread all over town. My comment here: locals need to buy locally. I am guilty of not doing this as I should. Many times it is due to my frugality when it comes to clothes. I only buy stuff on sale, and it is so easy to go to Macy’s online and order something. But maybe if more of us supported the small businesses, the downtowns across America wouldn’t be drying up as they are.

I can see that our town could be promoted as a great place to retire. That’s another post, though.

Those are the main points brought up. Friends in a neighboring small town expressed the interest in soccer fields for their town, and a few mentioned more restaurant choices, etc.

I take pride in certain aspects of our town. The park. The downtown improvements with the street lights and more, the university, the farmer’s market, the proposed library (I know some are opposed to that, but I’m such a book geek, I love the idea. I remember when the new library opened at UTM, I walked in and teared up. Literally. It was a moving moment.)

But our town could be better, and it is not all up to our city government. It is up to us, the residents, to do what we can to make it better. Those of you with wealth and a means to do something in the business sense, please consider the suggestions. The rest of us, take personal responsibility. Sometimes we want the advantages of the city (shopping, entertainment, restaurants, medical care) with none of the problems (traffic, crime), but I think all of us that live in small towns know we can’t have it all.

But we can make it better. Wherever you live, make your town a better place. Kind of like President Bush’s Points of Light. Each one of us, doing what we can.

Look out City Hall. I’ll probably be attending your monthly meetings. I’m very curious to see what plans you have for our future.

 

 

 

 

 

Meet Presley. No, he’s not my dog. He’s a stray that appeared at my cousin’s house. I went to meet him and fell in love. Friendly, calm, a real sweetheart.

So why did I name him Presley? Why did I name him at all? Well, if you have read my novella Can’t Help Falling in Love which is the first one in the book Smoky Mountain Brides, you know why. My post, however, is not about my book (but, hey, if you’re interested, it’s on Amazon and I have a few copies at the house!). It is about dogs.

I have always loved dogs. I never was allowed to have one as a child, but if I went to someone’s house who had one, I spent a big portion of my time petting and playing with the dog. My best friend Terrie had several dogs, and I was always so jealous! I read books like Beautiful Joe over and over. (Oh, I read countless horse books too.) I watched shows like Lassie, and I will never be too old to enjoy Homeward Bound. I can’t watch the last 30 minutes of Marley and Me, nor can I watch again that movie about the dog in Japan that went to the train station every day. Hachi, was that his name? And Old Yeller? Oh, my.

If you’re not a dog lover, you don’t get it. But if you are, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. Those eyes that look at you with such devotion. That companion who follows you around in the yard or in the house. The way he curls up at your feet while you’re reading or watching television. The way he comes to greet you when you come home, sometimes whimpering from sheer joy. The way he fears the vet or even getting a bath but still allows you to pick him up  and place him on that table (or spray him with that hose) because he trusts you. You are his master. You and your extended family are his world.

Maybe we can learn from dogs. Learn how to love without judging. Learn how to trust the ones who take care of us. Learn to remain devoted to those we love.

I don’t know what’s going to happen to Presley. Maybe his owner will come forward and claim him. Maybe my cousin will keep him. I would love to adopt him, but after losing our sweet Sable in 2011, I am not sure I want to go through the heartbreak of losing a dog again. Remember, I can’t even watch those movies. Besides, I have two grand dogs that like me and Barry pretty well. They might be jealous of a newcomer.

Yet, at the same time, it’s nice to think about having a dog all the time again. A dog to walk with me like Sable used to do. A dog to curl up at my feet. A dog to care for and receive unquestioning devotion in return.

I know what you’re thinking. I didn’t mention the vet bills, the cost of the food, the cost of the heartworm and flea and tick preventive medicines. The hassle of boarding them or finding a dog sitter at times.

Research suggests that having a dog may add years to a single person’s life. Read about it here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adopting-a-dog-could-lengthen-your-life-study-says/

Whether one lengthens someone’s life or not, there is no doubt dogs have enriched mine. That’s just who I am. I am a dog person.

 

 

 

 

 

St. Jude Marathon and Alzheimer’s? A strange title, I know. But there is a connection, albeit not obvious at first.

I have registered to run/walk (it will be more walk than run, I assure you) the December half-marathon in Memphis. I am not doing this to force myself to exercise more. I already walk regularly, use light weights, etc. I am participating in the half-marathon because I want to support my favorite charity and have the experience of the marathon atmosphere (I have heard that I will experience a myriad of emotions).

But what does this marathon have to do with Alzheimer’s? Exercise.

 The Today Show this morning had a feature on the prevention of Alzheimer’s. The research shows that many cases of Alzheimer’s may be prevented by lifestyle changes that take place at any age but especially in the twenties and thirties. According to the report, Alzheimer’s kills more people than breast cancer or prostate cancer.

I didn’t know that. For many, there is a genetic connection, but even for those with a genetic connection, maybe these steps will help delay or prevent completely the onset of the disease.

The steps:

1.  At least three hours of RIGOROUS exercise a week. Two-thirds should be cardio, one-third weight-training, depending on body type. Health experts have recommended thirty minutes of exercise at least five times a week for years, but this moves it up a notch or two. The cardio recommended is not a thirty-minute walk. Rigorous is walking or running or dancing or anything that gets your heart rate elevated.
2. Get at least 7 1/2 hours of QUALITY sleep each night. Not interrupted sleep (which I tend to have). We stay up too late and get up too early. The researchers recommend being sure you sleep in a darkened room, not one with the television running or other electronic lights interfering.
3. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits. The anti-oxidants help prevent the disease. Avoid unhealthy fats. Use olive oil instead of margarine or butter. Avoid processed foods. Don’t eat meats high in fat content like red meat.
4. Your job may contribute to Alzheimer’s. Work stress is a contributor. If your job causes you a great deal of stress, you might want to consider changing jobs or seeking other ways to relieve your stress.

How do these steps help prevent Alzheimer’s? They lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, all of which can contribute to the disease. Some people will have the disease in spite of their best efforts, but I think these things are worth considering.

We have so much information about how exercise, eating right, and other healthy lifestyle choices will improve health, give us better quality of life, and reduce health care costs, yet so many ignore the information. Millenials, you have this information now. My generation didn’t hear as much about it (although my generation can follow these principles), but you have no excuse for not making healthy choices now.

You may think old age is a long time away, but I guarantee you will be turning sixty before you know it. Time flies. Make your life now and your life then the best it can be.

The patients at St. Jude did nothing to cause their diseases. Too many of us, though, have health issues because of poor lifestyle choices. Shame on us.

Resolve today to make your life a healthier one. And while you’re at it, do what you can to help the efforts at St. Jude. I make no apologies for it being my charity of choice since 2004. Those kids and their families need our support. Do the 5K there or the half-marathon or the full marathon. Donate to someone who is participating (you can find the link on my Facebook page for my fund raising efforts). Become a Partner in Hope by making monthly donations.

I realize we are going to have health issues in spite of our best efforts, but if there are things we can do now to make our own lives better and improve the quality of life for our loved ones, shouldn’t we do so?

I guarantee if you told a patient of St. Jude that all he had to do was exercise, eat better, and get more sleep to be cured, he’d do it, no questions asked. We can all do better with our lifestyle choices, so let me encourage you, along with encouraging myself, to do better.

Preventing Alzheimer’s, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and more—great perks to some lifestyle changes. Join me on Dec. 1 in Memphis for an experience I am sure we will never forget.

Make 2018 your healthiest year yet.

 

 

 

I lost a special friend today. Not that we were super close. We didn’t talk on a regular basis. We didn’t go out for lunch. We didn’t even text each other — much.

But Sandra Robbins was, and is, special to me. We both worked in education together, but our paths seldom crossed. We knew each other in the way that most small-town people know each other, and I was privileged to teach her granddaughter and niece. Her cousin-in-law is one of my closest friends.

It took me a while to call her “Sandra.” She was born 16 years earlier than I was, and her oldest is just a few years younger than I am. She had been my youngest son’s principal. So I called her “Mrs. Robbins,” then “Mrs. Sandra” (that’s what we do in the south as a sign of respect to someone we want to show familiarity to but not too much familiarity), and finally “Sandra.”

Our relationship as it is now began about five years ago, when I learned that she was quickly becoming a successful writer of Christian fiction. I was at an administrators’ conference in Nashville, and while sitting alone in my hotel room one evening, I called her to ask what I could do to become a writer. She was eating dinner at the time and told me she’d call back. Which she did very soon after.

That began a writers’ relationship. She invited me to attend a Ken-Ten Writers meeting with her, a group that meets once a month in Mayfield. I became a regular member, and she and I took turns driving to the meetings. Our group expanded and became closer. We had Christmas luncheons. We got to know each other as individuals, not just writers.

Sandra read my first book prior to publication and gave me constructive criticism and encouragement. She read my Aimee book prior to publication and did the same. In recent months, she has been pushing me to write for the Love Inspired Suspense line, with which she has enjoyed tremendous success. It’s not exactly my genre, so I haven’t taken her suggestion to heart.

I’m not the only one she mentored. She presented at writers’ conferences, including one sponsored by our group. She was a judge in numerous writing contests. She critiqued books written by her friends — for free. She did all of this because she wanted to help others achieve their dream of becoming a successful writer, just as she did. She gave of herself, just as she had done in education for so many years.

Her health deteriorated rapidly in recent months, and this morning she gave up the fight. I will miss her in so many ways. Her gracious manner. Her wisdom. Her advice. Her encouragement. And, yes, her friendship.

May God comfort her family in this time of loss and may they know that Sandra was an angel on earth to many. I know she was to me. And you know what — I’m finally going to write that book for Love Inspired. It may or may not be accepted for publication, but it’s the least I can do.

And my dedication? For Sandra.

 

 

 

 

 

via Daily Prompt: Almost

Almost. A powerful word. A life-changing word, whether for good or bad. An overlooked word.

He almost died. Good result. She almost made it to the finish line. Kudos for effort, but a bad result. The drunk driver almost hit a pedestrian. Good result.

But perhaps the most significant connotation of the word is when choices are made—or not made—due to “almost.”

Why do we do that? Why do we almost apply for that job? Why do we almost connect with that attractive someone? Why do we almost send that song, book, script to an agent or publisher? Why do we almost accept a job transfer to another city, state, or even country?

No doubt there are a myriad of factors that affect our decisions, but maybe the most prominent is our fear. Fear of failure. Fear of the unknown. Fear of rejection. Fear of getting out of our comfort zone.

Making life-changing choices is not easy and should never be viewed that way. Sometimes the results of our decisions are worse than we expected, and we regret making them. Sometimes they’re better.

Perhaps a good resolution for 2018 is not to allow fear to prompt the “almost” in our lives. At my church, we sing a song Almost Persuaded. Part of the lyrics read “almost cannot avail, almost is but to fail.” The implication of the song is fear of acceptance leads to lost salvation, but the idea is applicable to the secular as well.

“Almost is but to fail.” Maybe, maybe not. But we shouldn’t let fear be the reason for the “almost” in our lives.

 

 

 

Okay, crazy title, I know. But I will explain.

I have received many wonderful gifts over the years, and for those of us who are older, we know it’s not the cost of the present, but the heart of the giver behind it. When I was a kid, though, it was all about the present. I was one of those kids who pretty much was excited and appreciative of anything I received, but now that I’m older, I look back and laugh a bit.

You see, my parents were all about giving me what they thought I needed or should have instead of what I wanted, at least some of the time. For instance, I wanted a Barbie house. When I opened it on Christmas morning and they saw it was made of heavy-duty cardboard instead of plastic (I’m sure they bought it because it was cheaper), they took it back. I don’t know what it was replaced with, but I was nine years old, and they convinced me I didn’t want it. (When I was seven, I received my one and only bicycle I ever had plus a bride doll plus a Midge doll–Barbie’s friend–a banner year for Christmas!). When I was ten, I received a desk and chair that I had never asked for, but somehow they convinced me it was a present I wanted and needed. (I asked for walkie-talkies that year, did not get them. I did get a plastic model horse to go with the desk. By the way, the desk was placed in the living room, not my bedroom.)

When I graduated from high school, I was given a sewing machine because Mom thought I needed one. Not that I sewed much, although I eventually did. But I never thought of asking for one. Or of receiving one. You get the idea.

As an adult, my husband and children (and new daughter-in-law) have given me wonderful gifts, from the homemade to the costly to the cheesy (they have indulged me in my Elvis fan-ship, bless their hearts).

This year, however, I am super-excited about something I’ve wanted for years. I’ve been into the family genealogy stuff, and I want to know more about my ancestors — who they were, where they lived, where they came from. Knowing about them lets me know more about me. I’ve always been told we had Native American blood coursing through our veins, but I’m not convinced. I know I’ve got ancestors from France (on my dad’s maternal side). But what else makes up my DNA? Who am I?

My sons gave me the kit. I’ve sent it off, and now I wait. I wait to find out if what I have been told is true, or if the person I thought I was is actually someone else.

I’m like a kid at Christmas, all over again. Our family Christmas celebration is over, but the actual present has not yet arrived. I can’t wait.