2018 A - Z Challenge - Reflection - Say Cheese!

Let’s be honest, after publishing your final A – Z Challenge post on the morning of April 30, 2018, who didn’t breathe a sigh of relief, dance a little jig, or flash an irresistible grin at your reflection in a mirror? I can’t think of a more enjoyable and satisfying way to sharpen your writing skills than through social engagement, can you?  And who, besides me, is already thinking about next year’s challenge?  Congratulations, Survivors!

Congratulations, as well, to everyone who attempted the challenge but for some reason didn’t finish. The challenge of writing every day can seem formidable; given life’s propensity for interference at times, but all it takes is a toe in the water to decide you want to get your feet wet. Next thing you know, you’ll be swimming!

My theme this year was Things We Appreciate, but in reflection, I’m compelled to mention the people behind the concept:  Arlee Bird (founder and blogger extraordinaire), as well as congenial and gifted assistants such as John Holton and J Lenni Dorner who do so much to make this annual event such a success!  

For anyone who may be harshly judging themselves by the number of visitors and/or comments they receive, I offer this (loosely) coined phrase by Ben Jonson (playwright and poet) “Happiness consists not in the multitude of friends but in a few well chosen.”  And while the Challenge has ended, the blogs (and bloggers!) remain – go visiting!

Personally, I find the timing of the A to Z Challenge to be an added bonus as nature provides an incentive in springtime inspiration to keep on blogging, keep on writing, don’t you? Were your fingers restless when it was over? Good! We’ll be seeing you around, then ;-)

In closing, I’ll share a fun fact I learned while camping with kids one year - Wintergreen Lifesavers visibly spark in the dark…but so does any hard (sugar) candy when crunched ;-)

Happy Trails this summer!

2018 A -Z Challenge - B

B       Things We Appreciate

Originally created by Earle Dickson as a means to treat the small wounds his wife frequently sustained in the kitchen, the idea was quickly embraced by Earle’s employer, Johnson & Johnson and Band-Aids have, for the most part, remained unchanged for the last century. However, when sales margins declined after the first few years, Johnson & Johnson then offered them free of charge to the Boy Scouts and overseas military as a (successful) publicity stunt and began decorating the product with childhood icons in order to appeal to children. I just replenished my requisite household stock of two (undecorated) boxes.

Mrs. Dickson (Earle’s wife) may well have appreciated the Blender as much as I do ;-)  First introduced as a “Liquefier” and primarily used in bar and soda shop settings, this handy kitchen gadget has come a long way from ice cream and citrus to include processing food and grinding coffee. There’s one such built-in gadget on my counter that frankly, scares me half to death. But I do appreciate its existence ;-)

We like our panoramic views of the Southwest, and we don’t care much for fencing we can’t see through. But in order to keep the cattle from wandering, something had to be done. Therefore, we run a lot of barbed wire.  If you’ve ever tried to step over, under, or through a barbed wire fence, you know why blue Jeans are a necessity. Oh, you still might feel a jab, but it’s nothing a good old Band-Aid can’t help ;-)

Of possible interest to anyone who’s ever worried about having too many jobs on their resume, there is one forever young woman who boasts over 130 different careers and has even traveled in space a time or two! She goes by the name of Barbie. Worth only $3.00 at her first ‘job’ in 1959, she now earns anywhere from $20 to $17,000.00, depending on date, condition, occupation, and retailer. How’s that for marketability?

Introduced initially as Beano until one excited player accidentally hollered ‘Bingo’,  96% of all players have won this game at least once, which might explain why I like it so much ;-) In the early 30’s, churches circumvented state gambling laws by offering Bingo (along with Potluck) as a way of fundraising; further increasing the game’s popularity.  These days, playing the game is encouraged in many retirement/nursing homes as a means of social and mental sharpness therapy. But alas, the availability of internet Bingo may be responsible for a shortage of Bingo Halls nationwide.

Fortunately, when we don’t require social therapy, there are always Books for intellectual enhancement, as well as immense enjoyment! Toss in the soothing sound of Bamboo chimes or birdsong, and I’m a happy reader ;-)

Any thoughts? Can you add to the list of things we appreciate that begin with the letter B?

2018 A -Z Challenge - A

A            Things We Appreciate

We once had a resident barn rooster who never crowed before noon.  The peacock could be counted on to alert us only when the mail truck bumped along the dusty road for special deliveries. The Alarm Clock was something I relied upon to get me up for the 45-mile drive to work each day. It didn’t even have a snooze button. Now there are clocks that will roll right out of your reach while screeching at such a pitch as to roust the dogs off the bed while you are chasing the clock around the room. Who could sleep after that? 

Whenever the phone rang we kids would battle to be the first to answer, while grownups would remain calmly seated and eye the ringing thing with mild suspicion. To not catch the call before the phone stopped ringing was cause for grave dismay. The invention of the Answering Machine changed all that. Now we all crowd around the machine to hear who called before we delete the message. 

It was not uncommon for beach towels to be spread across car seats, and the only window that ever got dirty was the windshield (and sometimes the rear window) because the rest were always left rolled down. But that was before Air Conditioning and power windows.  In the 1960’s nearly 80% of cars in the southwest were equipped with a/c – 60% elsewhere. How I ever survived until 1990 without it is beyond me, but now I’m spoiled! 

If not for the winds in Corpus Christi, Automatic doors might never have been invented to help us get out of stores with our goods –hands, and shoulders free, and keep the wind and rain out of stores and businesses. While I still feel the need to hurry through, lest the doors close too quickly, it sure beats those revolving doors that always deposit me right back outside ;-)

As a fan of Aromatherapy, I was thrilled to learn that researchers have found that the crisp scent of Apples may mitigate the pain and duration of migraine headaches. Macintosh is my favorite!

Any thoughts? Can you add to the list of things we appreciate that begin with the letter A?