"Take Two Truths and Call Me in the Morning"

A book written by Psychiatrist, Gordon Livingston,

sounds interesting and a good read about life in general.

Thought this worth sharing~

To quote from an article in the Washington Post,

"We are not what we think, or what we say, or how we feel. We are what we do. Conversely, in judging other people we might need to pay attention not to what they promise but how they behave.....we are drowning in words, many of which turn out to be lies we tell ourselves or others."

The key to happiness, he argues, is looking at your life not as it should be but as it is. Only then, can you plan your future. So many of his essay titles are stripped of excuses or platitudes:

~ "The statute of limitations has expired on most of our childhood traumas."

~ "Any relationship is under the control of the person who cares the least."

~ "Our greatest strengths are also our greatest weaknesses."

~ "Only bad things happen quickly."

~ "The problems of the elderly are frequently serious but seldom interesting."

Stimulating thoughts, don't you agree?

iJune

Amanda Lee~ A GREAT GRANDMOTHER

My great grandmother was a Woman of Independent Means. She was born September 27, 1837 in the state of Virginia. For sure, she grew up being treated with excessive indulgence. As a teenager, she threw out tradition by driving her own buggy. No doubt, her father gave in to this precocious and head-strong young woman. She grew up to demand that indulgence from all.

Her desire was to care for and cure suffering. The year she was 18, she had been educated in medicine enough to be a Doctor...as much as was required for that day. (Standards and licenses for Doctors wasn't established for another 50 years.)

She was intrigued with stories about Texas and that became her goal. She wanted nothing more than to live in Texas and practice medicine.

Reluctantly, her father arranged for her to join friends on a Wagon Train bound for South Texas. The route took them through Tuscaloosa, Alabama where they encounter a situation that would change her life forever.

A wheel on one wagon needed repair before they could continue. The entire wagon train had to wait. While waiting for the repair, their Wagon Master became ill. The illness dragged on weeks and then months. The stranded Texas bound families began to look for land in that area. It is said that most of them stayed while a few waited to join the next wagon train going to Texas.

During this time, young Amanda spread her wings to check the countryside. She had, of course, brought her personal buggy and horse from Virginia and totally confident to venture out alone. One day, while traveling through the narrow dirt roads in her buggy, she caught the eye of George W. Richards.

Her buggy was a beautiful solid black buggy pulled by a very nice black horse. *

The story goes that on a sunny afternoon Amanda went for a ride. It is said, she was quite a site in her red bonnet, red gloves, and long dress that matched her very sharp looking black buggy. Driving along, around a curve stood three young men ahead. As she approached, she popped her whip which brought her horse to a quick trot. Speechless, they stepped aside and watched until she was out of site.

One of the young men let out a whistle and said, "Goodness gracious, there goes the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. One day, you wait and see, I'm going to marry her."

Her fate was to stay in Alabama forever.

Story to be continued~

June

* As a child, I actually saw her buggy. My cousin Clara and I were children playing around the out buildings at "the old home place." We were exploring and investigating when we opened the door to one of the sheds. There before our eyes appeared an amazing sight.
We were stopped in our tracks as there sat the finest carriage that our young eyes had ever seen.
The BEAUTY of the black buggy was magnified in contrast to the very simple plank shed housing the treasure. I can see it in my memory today. She and I for went to her mother for an answer. Aunt Ida's was in her kitchen. Being so young, we were satisfied with her answer, "Oh, that's Grandma's buggy."

Betty's Thanksgiving Tablecloth

I knew Betty years ago.

She was a lady who was easy to be around. Always soft-spoken, gracious and kind. She entertained with ease...the perfect hostess you could say.

Betty was about my mother's age. Each time we had the pleasure to be invited into her home, there was something new to learn from her.

I love personal style~and for Betty, it was a talent for entertaining with flare by creating the most interesting and thoughtful surprises for her guests.

I will never forget one visit that fell just before a Thanksgiving.

She invited a group of us in for Bridge. During the afternoon, the converstation naturally centered around Thanksgiving traditions.

Betty told us about her treasured Thanksgiving Tablecloth.

~IT WAS BRILLANT~

Years before, she had invited her guests to sign her tablecloth. During the year, she embroidered their signatures to create her Thanksgiving Tablecloth.

This was repeated year after year and soon guests were vying for a spot to sign.

Can you imagine what a conversation piece this must be?

Realizing I could never match her personal style, but I could have a

Thanksgiving Tablecloth.

Betty's Tablecloth lives somewhere on my list

of projects I never got around to~

June

Fabulous Costumes~It's CARNAVAL in Rio

Photos just sent to me from friends we knew from Brazil

Carnaval is a beautiful event ~ here are a few photos of costumes dancing through the streets of Rio.
They work all year for this event and fabulous creations.

Mardi Gras, Known as Carnaval in Rio

Today is "Fat Tuesday" ~ Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras,

the festival New Orleans, Louisiana,

is famous for.

"Gras" is French for fat and "Mardi" is French for Tuesday.

The most joyously unrestrained celebration is held in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Their celebration is call "Carnaval."

We were lucky enough to take our children to see this when we lived there.

For two centuries it has been an annual event, except during the two World Wars.