I seem to be sending out signals to those in a constant state of bewilderment lately. I don’t understand why. Unless, it takes one to know one!

Yesterday, after leaving work, I had 45 minutes to kill before I got a haircut. So, I went over to Big Lots. I love to peruse the aisles and see what goodies I can find. I headed straight for the Christmas decor. Spying a big pile of rugs, I decided to see if there was one I could not live without. I parked my buggy over to one side and bent down…because, of course they were on the bottom row… when I heard a voice very close to my right ear. “Honey, let’s just open this one up out here. I can’t see when you are down on the floor,” it said. Oh, with the luck I have been having…I was terrified to look up at the face that was speaking in my ear. And, before I could turn my head to see who it was…it spoke again, “Now, don’t you bother bringing up any of those tacky rugs, I just won’t have them, I’m telling you. I won’t have them.” Scared of offending this demanding voice, I decided to just bring up the one I was looking at. It was not an expensive rug…just one of those that will last a season, and then get thrown out. We were at Big Lots, after all! (It was, however, in very nice colors…muted deep red and khaki, and brown…2 snowmen looking up at the snow falling.) I stood up and gazed upon a tiny, old er lady who couldn’t weigh more than 100 pounds, about 80 years old. solid white hair. “Whew!” I said to myself, “I can deal with her.”

Or, so I thought. She immediately started in talking to me, “That is a dumb rug. Who would have such as that in their house? Have you ever?” I knew better than to say that I was thinking I may take this rug to the Creek House to put in the entryway through Christmas. “What is it, Mam, that bothers you about this rug?” I said. “Well, what idiots bring snowman rugs to D*th*n? It don’t snow here…why would we want snowman rugs? Dumbest thing I ever saw!” she answered. “You would think a nice store like this would know better,” she continued. I was quickly folding it up, to move on out of the area, when she said, “Well, go ahead and bring out the rest of ’em…let’s see what other cr*p they have.” I did as she asked, and laid open another rug across my buggy. It showed a snowman, and a tree with a redbird in it. “There’s another old snowman…but at least it has a pretty bird on it,” she said, “What else you got?” (I was thinking that I don’t have anything, Lady, I don’t work here, or supply their rugs. All I want to do is leisurely look at the Christmas items…without having another ‘looney’ interaction) I figured I might as well play along…so I put on my best sales lady hat, and continued. “Well, here’s another one, Mam. How would this pretty rug look in your house? No snowmen here, just a birdhouse and a bird. Do you like it?” I asked. “Why is it in such dull colors? Christmas is supposed to be bright! Show me another one,” she demanded. “How about this one, it has lots of green holly and red berries…and its colors are brighter. I bet this one would work for you,” I said. “No, that is just not a purty rug, and you know it,” she said. I pulled myself up to my full 5 feet and still stared down on her. “I actually like this one with the snowman and the bird,” I told her, “You know, I think it is just fine to use a snowman rug even if we don’t have snow. It is sort of like having beachy things to decorate with even though we don’t live at the beach.” “Well, dear, the beach happens to be just down the road, but there shore ain’t gonna be no snow just down the road, now, is they? “she countered. “You’re right”, I said, “I don’t know what I was thinking.” “Just tell me, dear,”she said,”what am I supposed to do for a rug in my living room? You’d think you would have some Santy rugs, or those cute little teddy bear ones, but I ain’t see’d them no where.” “Oh, I know just what you need”, I said. Down near the end of the row they had those rubber backed vinyl door mats in a virtual plethora of Christmas glory. “Look down here,”I said. And, her tiny mouth started to smile. “Yes, Mam, that there’s what I’m a-lookin’ for. I know’d you had ’em”, she said with great excitement.

Now, if you thought this was the end of the story…you have obviously not read my last few posts. “Come on,” she called, “let’s have a look at these, now!” (there were about 75-80) Going against my better judgement, I followed her, and began to pull an assortment out of the huge piles. Her eyes began twinkling. “Yes, yes, yes”, she exclaimed, “here’s the good rugs!”

And, so, we spent about 30 minutes pulling rugs out of piles, and laying them on the floor, and deciding amongst ourselves if they would match her house. She thought I had been there…and I did not bother to correct her. She settled on a group of snowmen holding hands around a fire. I decided not to point out to her the obvious danger in that. She also bought one with a jolly group of reindeer (acting like the Rockettes…complete with pink tutus). And finally, she chose one with Santy and Mrs. Santy sitting in their rocking chairs…Santy with his feet in a washtub.

And both with a bottle of questionable liquid refreshment in their hands. She was now a happy shopper.

“I used to have lots of rugs”, she told me. “And, I moved 8 years ago and I ain’t see’d ’em since.” I said, “Well, maybe you will find them one day.” “Ain’t nobody gonna find those rugs till I’m dead and gone.” Honey, if you ever move just plan on loosin’ half of yore things and you won’t never find ’em. That’s what happened to me. ” (No, I did NOT tell her that I would be moving very soon. I could feel a lecture just waiting to be passed along. And it wasn’t going to be to me…and it wasn’t going to be today.)

“I better get busy,” I said. “Honey, you’s the best help they got in this store. And I’m gonna tell the manager. What’s yore name, honey?” she asked. “Doris”, I replied. “What’s the last name?” she asked. “Just Doris”, I said, over my shoulder. And I beat a hasty retreat to the door without looking back. And, I did NOT buy myself a ‘tacky rug’!

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LESSONS LEARNED:

Let me just tell you that I have the best boys in the world! I am here to tell you that they look after their mother, and see that I have what I need.

Today, when I left school, I went to the Creek House to check in. It is all looking great! The landscaping has started, and the touch-up painting. They hung my mantle, and finished putting in the appliances. The pool and pool deck is nearing completion. I will try to post some pics for you tomorrow.

Anyway, while I was out, Alex called and asked me to come home because Adam needed to tell me something. After making sure they were both OK, I checked out of Kohl’s and headed home. My sweet, kind, thoughtful son, Adam, has figured out a way for me to use the Internet at home…even though I said I couldn’t. And, I still can’t in the way I once did, but he and Alex worked on it and did some kind of ‘hocus-pocus’…and viola! it works! Now, what they did, I do not know. I only know there are some things hanging out of the side, and I was told in no uncertain terms to be careful and not break them. And, I will be very careful.

Adam came to my rescue, and I didn’t even ask him. Well…actually, I did not know that I even COULD ask him…I thought service off meant service off. Thank goodness, my boys have never been entirely happy with taking ‘no’ for an answer. They have most always been able to find ‘another way’ to solve things that didn’t go their way. Now, this made raising them very difficult at times…but, now that they are grown…it is mighty handy!

So, I am thanking Adam for his resourcefulness, and for his desire to find a way to make his Mom’s life easier! It is a blessing that I do not take lightly, that God has blessed me with wonderful boys. They are good to Don and I, and respect us…and are a constant source of joy to us. OK, well, maybe not constant, but nearly constant!:) So, thank you, God, for my boys. Please bless them with as much joy as they bring to me.

So, I do not know if you are as excited that I am back among the bloggy living as I am…but I think that I can even survive without the TV and the land line phone just fine. By the way, as of now, the computer will not let me send e=mail. I receive it just fine however. And I can comment on your blogs.

Life has returned to some semblance of normal…if the fact that your underwear is packed up in a box next to the TV, and your shoes are in laundry bags behind the couch, dished stacked up on the kitchen table. And, I can only use 2 purse, because the others are packed up and to hard to get to. Yeah…sounds like our ‘normal!’

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Here’s a little more news to share with you today…

CHRISTMAS SHIRT DESIGNS….2008

Above are the Christmas Designs I did for our school. The gifts are in color and B/W, and the ornaments are for the children’s program shirt. I also had aprons and tote bags made with the ornament design.

This is a part of my job that I so enjoy. I have been able to satisfy the ‘artist’ in me by doing these shirts twice a year. Every one is so gracious and seems to really enjoy wearing them.

When I first started designing the shirts, I did a colored one for the children, and began doing the B/W for the adults. Only in the past year or so have I done a shirt with color for the adults. From the very first design, I have always included scripture. It is exciting to think that anyone who wears my shirts, will be sharing the gospel also. I like that. The colored shirts are nice, but I am still partial to the B/W.