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We hear it over and over. Eat right and exercise to prevent obesity and improve health.

“The Today Show” reported this morning that even though gym memberships are up over the past ten years, there is also a 17% increase in obesity.

Why? Several reasons. Diet, for one. Research shows that only one out of ten adults eat enough fruits and vegetables. Americans eat too much fast food. No doubt we, as a nation, consume too many sweets.

Another reason: stress. We live in a fast-paced world. Jobs are stressful. Ask any teacher. Ask people working in the medical field. Ask people working in large corporations with huge assets and risks. Stress in relationships. Stress in families. I could go one and on.

The third reason: lack of sleep. Because our calendars are packed full, we let sleep slide. Adults require at least seven hours of sleep a night for maximum benefit, according to the experts. Teen-agers need even more, but most don’t get even eight hours a night.

Health care is big issue in our country. We don’t like paying the high premiums. High premiums are caused by high claims (and maybe greed by the insurance companies, but I am speculating there, just my opinion). Some of our health issues can’t be avoided. But some of them can. It has been proven over and over that being overweight or obese causes health problems. Heart problems, diabetes, and more.

The take-out from this report this morning is that exercise alone will not prevent health problems or being overweight. Exercise doesn’t give us a license to eat whatever we want.

We’ve heard it before, over and over. Exercise (at least 30 minutes five times a week, enough to increase your heart rate), eat right, get enough sleep, and take measures to decrease your stress.

Keep in mind that genetics play a role. Most of us will never have that ideal body shape. Some people have a slow metabolism and will never be as thin as they’d like. I will never the shape I’d like because of genetics. And overweight doesn’t necessarily mean unhealthy. A family member lived to be over 100, and I doubt she had a slim day in her life. But she exercised. She ate well. and, yes, she had great genetics. As far as I know, she didn’t have blood pressure problems until she was in her 80s. She was amazing.

This post isn’t about body shape or appearance. It’s about health.

I share this not to be preachy. I fall short in many ways. I share this because I maybe someone will take the time to read this short blog who might need a little motivation in their journey toward better health. Those who know me know that I am a faithful walker and have been for years. I do eat healthy, for the most part, although a daily Diet Coke is my guilty pleasure. (I’m trying to cut down, Kevin, really I am. And I have.) Chips and salsa are my weekly splurge. Eating healthy doesn’t mean you can never have the bad stuff. It just means make the bad stuff an occasional treat, not the norm in your life.

I have seen this work in my own life. Fifteen years ago I was diagnosed with elevated bad cholesterol (genetics here). I basically eliminated fried food and red meat from my diet. No cholesterol problems now. My triglycerides this past June were only 64. Last year they were 40. In 2001, I was almost 20 pounds heavier than I am now (students were wondering if I were expecting a baby, so that gives you an idea what my stomach looked like!). I kicked it in gear and made changes. I know it works. At 62, the only medicine I take is an over-the-counter eye vitamin for people with macular degeneration, AReds2. With my family genetics, I should be on blood pressure medicine, cholesterol medicine, and even diabetes medicine, but I’m not.

I attribute it to a basically healthy diet and exercise.

The report this morning said that a healthy diet and exercise can prevent certain cancers as well as the more obvious diseases.

Once again: a healthy diet, regular exercise, control stress, get enough sleep.

The result: A healthier you. A healthier me. A healthier country.

Maybe you and I will have diseases anyway, but if we can prevent even one health disorder, aren’t we better off? And who knows? Maybe our health insurance premiums will drop . . . Yeah, right.

 

 

 

Colder weather means soup meals at our house. Potato soup, vegetable soup, homemade chicken noodle with vegetables, stew, and of course, taco soup.

There are all kinds of recipes floating around for this super easy dish, but while I was working full-time, I made up my own simple and quick one.

You may be wondering about the photo. I discovered this gem a couple of years ago. Completely plant-based, lower calorie, and much healthier than ground beef. Fully cooked. I use the crumbles in soups, including chili, tacos, sloppy joes, and spaghetti. Very nutritious and great for weight loss. Easy on the kidneys (you’re not supposed to eat red meat if you have kidney disease). Warning: if you don’t eat much fiber, this could be a jolt to your system. It says 3 grams of fiber, but I guess with the beans and the crumbles, it is more potent than that.

Here is my easy soup recipe that is completely ready in 15  minutes (with the crumbles) or less than 30 if you go the conventional route.

Ingredients:

1 large can of tomato juice

1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)

1 can of yellow or shoe peg corn, drained

1 can of black beans, rinsed well and drained

1 small can diced green chiles

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dip/dressing mix (for an extra kick, get spicy fiesta)

1/2 bag of Grillers Crumbles (size pictured), or 1 pound of ground chuck (browned and drained well) or small package of chicken tenders (boiled until no longer pink inside then drained, cooled, and shredded)

Directions:

In a large pot, add juice, corn, beans, onion, taco seasoning, and ranch mix. Bring to a boil, then lower temperature to medium. Stir occasionally while cooking.

If using ground beef or chicken, cook while soup mixture is thickening.

After about ten minutes, add the Grillers Crumbles (or ground beef or shredded chicken) and raise heat to medium high. Cook five minutes, stirring frequently. Add undrained green chiles.

Reduce heat and simmer until ready to serve. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread, top with grated cheese and/or sour cream if desired.

Note: I use tomato juice because my sons never liked the chunks in canned tomatoes. I, however, like the extra texture, so I sometimes add a small can of undrained diced tomatoes.

 

 

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Some people hesitate to share their personal experiences, and I definitely keep some things very private, but if I feel that my own experience can help someone else, I am an open book. The more support I can give and receive, the better.

See that photo on the right? That’s how my right eye sees the world, and it’s how I’ve been seeing it since I was 32. I have macular degeneration. Not caused by diabetes, because I’m not diabetic.

Nope, caused by being severely nearsighted. I started wearing glasses at the age of nine, and by the time I was 13, my vision without those lovely Coke-bottle thick glasses was 20/800 in my left eye (my good one) and 20/1000 in my right. Yes, you read that correctly. 20/1000.

Needless to say, I was determined to wear contacts, those hard things you had to start out wearing two hours a day then gradually add thirty minutes a day until you built up enough callouses to avoid feeling like you had sand in your eyes. But with those Coke-bottle glasses—well, I was determined.

Anyway, quick history. At 32, my right eye hemorrhaged. I woke up one morning and saw a brown, swirling blob in my central vision. Quick trip to my optometrist, who immediately sent me to a specialist on a Saturday in Memphis. Lengthy exam. Prognosis. Nothing we can do. Don’t know why this happened.

Fast forward to age 51. While cleaning my kitchen, I noticed the top of my stove wasn’t straight, it looked wavy (with my left eye, my good eye). Hmmm. That’s not right. Call my optometrist. Says “come in now.” I go. Guess what? Leakage in my left eye. This time I was able to go to Jackson as a retina specialist was now there one day a week (he’s there or in Paris all week now).

The leakage was sealed off with an eye injection, Avastin. I went every three months for a year until it was sealed and then was released.

But why was this happening? Wasn’t macular degeneration a condition for old people? Well, yes, mostly. But for the severely nearsighted, it is caused by the elongated eyeball that constantly pulls and stretches the retina, allowing blood vessels to form behind it. No, not for every nearsighted person. But for some, especially the severe ones. The blood vessels leak serum or even hemorrhage completely, with blood. The macula is the part of the retina where you have your central vision, the part that gives you clarity in vision.

In 2011 it started leaking again. More injections, every six weeks at first, then stretched out to three months. Everything under control until 2014 when my left eye hemorrhaged blood in the central part of my eye, the macula. I freaked out. Was I going to be legally blind, living a life with only peripheral vision? Remember, when I was 32, they couldn’t do anything.

But in 2014, they had a procedure that had been around for about ten years, a vitrectomy. Not sure of the spelling and too lazy to look it up this morning. Maybe vitrektomy. Doesn’t matter. A one and a half hour surgery in which they REMOVED the vitreous tissue in my left eye, replaced it with something else, and inserted a gas bubble (like with retina detachment) to push the blood out of my central vision. Had to keep my head down for a week. Had to sleep face down with my head hanging off the bed. Didn’t sleep much. Couldn’t watch TV for a week. Couldn’t read, because the gas bubble interfered with my left eye, and as far as my right eye—well, you see how I see with it. Boy, I wished for company and phone calls that week. It worked, but the gas bubble was like fertilizer to cataracts, so within six months I was unable to see well enough to drive (corrected vision at that point was 20/400) and I had to have cataract surgery.

Cataract surgery was the best thing that ever happened to me. For the first time in many years, I could actually see a clear world when I woke up in the mornings. I could see a clear world while swimming. When I went back for the follow-up checkup the day after surgery and I was reading the eye chart down to 20/50 without glasses, I literally cried tears of joy.

So everything was good, right? I still couldn’t read small print because of a permanent blind line left by the blood hemorrhage, but I loved Kindle which enabled me to enlarge the font. I still had to have the shots periodically to prevent new leaks.

This past March, though, my left eye started having serum leaks again. The Avastin was no longer working, so the doctor (shout-out to Dr. Don Wright and Dr. Brad Priester, my heroes—oh, and Dr. Suni, too, who did the vitrectomy because Dr. Priester was out of town) switched to medicine called Lucentis. He had to give me a sample at first because, of course, he had to get insurance approval, and these shots are very expensive.

The Lucentis didn’t work, and the leakages worsened, along with my vision. The doctor tried to get one more option approved, which insurance denied because that medicine is only approved every three months, and I have to get the injections monthly. So in September, he simply gave me another Lucentis shot and hoped for the best.

And, almost miraculously, it worked. I have had the best vision this past month that I’ve had since March. I don’t know why it worked this time, but it did. Last Wednesday, I had another Lucentis injection, and we’ll keep with that as long as needed.

Okay, I said this would be quick, but it wasn’t. But I wanted to explain. First, understand my right eye has no hope. It has a macular hole. Next, in spite of seeing so much better, I still struggle in dim lighting. I struggle at church with the songbook. Whoever is at the front leading us, I can’t see well, and the blind line makes it look like the top of his head is missing. If you pass me in a car, I cannot see your face behind that tinted windshield. If you are far from me (like when I am substituting at school), oh, like 20 feet away, I can’t make out your facial features. Sitting in my living room at night, I can’t see the facial features of my family members or friends if they’re more than five feet away because the lighting is not bright enough.

But that’s okay. I am grateful for what I’ve got. And I’m sharing my story in the hopes that if you or someone you love is struggling with this issue, whether age-related or like mine, you will understand what they’re going through. And if you’re blessed with good vision, please don’t take it for granted. Believe me, the Helen Keller jokes I grew up hearing are not funny. For someone who loves to read and draw and paint, like me, my vision is my most valued sense.

If you notice wavy lines or see flashing lights that won’t stop, get to your optometrist. The sooner you catch it, the better. And the idea of eye injections sounds horrible, but they use numbing drops and a numbing shot, so you never feel the needle going into the white of your eye. You will see the medicine swirling around. No big deal, once you get used to it.

And hang in there. You could have smooth sailing from now on, or you could have a very bumpy road as I have had. Just do what the doctor tells you (eat those leafy greens, take those AReds2) and appreciate what vision you have.

I know I do.

 

 

 

These pictures were taken in 20l1. My fifth or sixth time to visit the Grand Canyon, my husband’s third. We walked down part of the Bright Angel Trail, the trail you see in the second photo. My picture was taken about 3/4 mile down the trail, at which point we, as casual walkers and not hikers, turned around and went back up. The trail itself is almost eleven miles long, I believe, and we encountered casual walkers like us as well as the serious hikers who actually stayed overnight in the floor of the Grand Canyon.

If you’ve never been, let me tell you what you’ve probably already heard: no photo does it justice. The Canyon is mystical, almost surreal. My youngest son, at 15 in 2004, complained about the 90 miles we had to travel from Flagstaff to get to the south rim, wondering what was “so special about a big hole in the ground.” When we stopped and went out on the first lookout point, he was silent for a few minutes then turned to me and said, “I get it.”

As a former Arizona resident who left part of my heart there, I hope you’ll visit the Canyon someday. And I hope you’ll go to the south rim. It’s much better than the north rim, in my opinion.

Some advice: stay in Williams or Flagstaff. Williams is 60 miles from the south rim and Flagstaff is 90. The famous highway Route 66 goes through Flagstaff. There is lodging closer to the canyon, but it is pricier. The El Tovar Hotel, a historic hotel, is popular and convenient to the activities, inside the national park and overlooking the Canyon, but once again, pricier. It’s pretty old, so don’t expect elegance. How to dress? Check the weather forecast, but be sure to pack a jacket, even if you go in the summer. Nights can get chilly, and Flagstaff is almost never hot. The best months to go are May through September. Williams and Flagstaff are at high elevations, and snow hits early. As a matter of fact, it snowed in Williams earlier this week. There are cabins you can stay in at the Canyon, but they’re not cabins like you rent in the Smokies. They’re rustic and very small, fit only for sleeping. My husband’s cousin and his wife did a white-water rafting trip on the Colorado. They had a guide, and their group slept under the stars–no tents–each night.. They ended up in the water once, and they said the water was very cold, so be prepared. I asked them if they’d do it again, and they both said “YES!” If you’re an outdoors type of person, you can enjoy the Canyon for days, but if spectator activities are more your thing, a one-day visit will be enough. Although there are numerous lookout points, there’s probably not much point to going to all of them. And that glass walkway that extends over the Canyon? I’ve not been on it, so I can’t give a testimonial. But, hey, if heights are your thing, go for it!

 

 

 

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.