Baby Praze

Did you see in today's Press that a West Olive woman had the flu so bad she doesn't even remember giving birth a month ago? She's been hospitalized and breathing on a machine for five weeks, but now baby and mom are doing fine. How's that for a big Praze? (and a side-Praze, the story is well written by Sue Thoms a former Press copy editor who has come out of hiding and into the byline limelight. She is also the former books editor for The Press and the author of two children's books. Good job on the story, Sue!)

Erase the Praze and Praze again!

Did you ever think about erasers? I just read in today's Writer's Almanac that Hymen Lipman of Philadelphia patented the first pencil with an eraser in 1858. To this day, the rubber tipped pencil is mostly used in America, the Almanac says. European pencils don't come with erasers. Guess they don't make as many mistakes as us. Or they don't correct them. All this reminds me of the little 4-year-old in the pew in front of me on Sunday. He discovered a pencil stuck in that little hole in the pew back. It's intended for filling out the visitor card or offering envelopes but works just as well to decorate the margins of the bulletin and entertain a young parishoner. He saw me watching him and pointed to the eraser on the end of the pencil as if he were the first to ever find it. He showed me how it would wipe away the marks he had made and he smiled at me as innocently as a young Christ taking away the sins of the world.

Waiting for wisdom

Had a wonderful lunch with Sylvia today. A nice sunny table in Rose's lakeside addition. I just felt like spring was springing while we ate. At 92 she's fighting with her hearing aid that seems to trouble her with all the ambient noise, but she's still as alert as ever, able to discuss the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Art Prize, Gaslight Village, Afghanistan. Nothing escapes her. And after lunch, she was going to drive herself over to the MAC to exercise. Thank God for Sylvia and only pray to be half that spry at her age.

Face the future

Whoa! Did you read that doctors in Texas have performed the first full face transplant? A man who had been so badly burned that he lost his face and sight, has received a new face from a dead donor. The man is a young father, who was burned when he touched an electrical wire while painting a church, so of course this is fantastic news for him and his family -- assuming the donor face isn't too ugly! But I'm sure thriller/suspense writers everywhere are rejoicing and rushing to put a new face on their next novel! Praze medical advances! (And good writers!)

Praze the past

Just read a great email from Pandora Dubose in Washington DC who was writing to tell members of our church about what a great impact one of our members, Sally Story, had on her life when she was growing up. Sally volunteered in an after school program and taught the kids to sew and cook and took them to dances on Friday nights. And, of course, she prayed for them and taught them about Jesus. Pandora is so thankful for Sally and sharing her story brightens everyone's day. Praze Sally, Praze Pandora.

Bring on the Sun

Everything looks better on a sunny day. Like the cat who finds a sunbeam shining in a window and lays down to make himself a comfy bed, I headed out with a smile on my face today because the sun was shining. There were a few disappointments ahead -- I discovered only 4 books sold at Civic Theatre the whole time I was in Florida and at the last minute I found out Kym would not be joining me for the play tonight at Actors' Theatre -- but still I'm smiling because the sun is shining. What more could I want?

The scent of spring

It hit 63 today. The lake is melting and the geese who were ice skating a few days ago are swimming in large puddles of open water. Julie and I went walking at Meijer Gardens where only the sculpture was in bloom, standing out among the bare branches. We also visited the butterfly exhibit which is like a tropical fantasy with colorful little spirits flitting around. Then we saw the Jim Dine sculpture exhibit which is also a fanciful approach to a variety of icons such as the heart, Pinnochio and Venus DeMilo. But in everything there is the faint scent of spring coming. You can't help but smile.

Good idea

Read a motto on Facebook that sounds like a good way to deal with all the negative chatter we find online and on radio and television. "Stop listening and start thinking." I don't know the woman who posted it, but I agree. You gotta ignore all that negative talk and start thinking good thoughts. T.O.T.T. (Think on These Things)

Hard to be Happy

Sometimes it is hard to think good thoughts. These past few days as we packed to leave Florida, and the news was on about the earthquake in Japan, I struggled to find anything to make me smile. It was even worse on the way home as we listened to George Bush's book Decision Points on CD. I found myself getting angry over things that had happened years ago. I had to conciously take control and look for good things. Is that a tree in bloom over there? Fantastic. The sun is shining. Marvelous. Something made me think of Habitat for Humanity and the last time I volunteered there, crouched in the basement in a small bit of light pulling stubborn nails from old oak trim. I was working with several other women I didn't know but when we would finally get a nail to come free we would shout Amen or Haleluja and laugh. It got to be a regular Amen chorus in that basement. The memory made me smile. Good thoughts. Think on these things.

Gleaming silver trophy

Once again I am beholding to the kindness of strangers, a darling girl working at the Hotel Marriott took off her shoes and socks and waded into the muck to fetch my silver sequin hat that had blown off into the mud flats near BayPointe. Kathy Longcore and I had gone out there bird watching on a chilly morning and a sudden breeze... well, the hat went flying and we sought this employee's help. She fetched a long handled net but it wasn't quite long enough and the next thing I knew she was rolling up her pant legs. I didn't even have my purse with me so I could give her a tip. Yes, this is the same sequined chapeau that went hiding under a hassock in a dressing room at Coldwater Creek and was missing for two days before it was found. And the same one that had someone in Gulf Shores calling me "the lady with tin foil on her head." The hat's a little limper now, but still shiny. Praze the employee of Marriott. May she receive many big tips from better prepared guests!

Showers of Praze

Oh, the glorious ecstasy of a hot shower! Some fragrant shampoo. A nice, fluffy, thick towel. All the tension goes down the drain. I bet we could ease MidEast tensions if everybody just took a nice, long, hot shower. A Turkish bath might work, too.

Small world Praze.

Jumped in the pool to swim a few laps. There was a lady standing there in a sparkly blue hat who looked vaguely familiar. "Where are you from?" she asks. Grandville? She's from Rockford. Rockford? Do you teach television at Rockford High? Yes, she does. I know you, I say, I just can't remember your name. Turns out I'm standing in the pool with Colleen Pierson who has done freelance writing for The Press and even attended a play with me once and gave me a necklace. What a small world, eh?

Praze from the Past

Had a great visit Sunday with Pete Tully and his friend Ann. Hadn't seen Pete in 45 years, not since we were in high school in O'Fallon, Ill. And yet there was something there in his eyes, his smile, that I recognized and connected with. It was so long ago and yet happy times are never forgotten, are they? Praze the memories.

Praze time!

• Yipes, I need to think on good things. I was working on genealogy, reading about the civil war in Missouri and my brain was filling with hateful thoughts. Enough of that! It's fat Tuesday. I've had my morning paczki. Enjoyed a nice visit yesterday with nephew Luke and his roommate Chris. They've been Spring Breaking. A lot of drinking but nothing too dangerous. Mostly fine young men. Sleeping in this morning. Safe and sound. Isn't that a good thought?

Live in the moment

Retirement isn't going as I had planned. I can't seem to accomplish all that I had planned, mostly because I spend my time walking the beach, lying in the sun, reading books, , visiting with friends. Enjoying life. I am learning to live in the moment, not worrying about what I will do tommorrow or what hasn't been done, but savoring what I am doing. At the risk of sounding as crazy as Charlie Sheen, I'm getting high on just being me.

Worship the Sun

Kathy Longcore says that research has shown 20 minutes a day of sun exposure will greatly reduce the pain of fibromialgia, that mysterious pain so many people -mostly women -- suffer. She says you need to get sun without sunscreen to get the benefits of the vitamin D. And here I thought the sun just made you feel good because it is so warm and wonderful.

My cup overflows

Today is just bursting at the seams. So much sun you have to seek a corner of shade. The surf is rolling and bubbling, practically exploding out of the gulf. Reminds me of the song "June is busting out all over." And it's only March. What a day!

Dolphin alert!

The dolphins came early today. Four of them headed west along the beach. Usually a pod passes the condo about 10 a.m. but perhaps they feel the same urgency I feel when the sun is shining. I want to hurry out there and enjoy because sundown comes too soon. I know the sun is always shining somewhere, but it is so glorious. Does that sound like a sun worshiper? I am.

Luke is coming!

Just learned that my nephew Luke is coming to spend a few days of spring break with me. It's been a tough year for him. His parents are divorcing. His May graduation has be postponed by a DUI arrest. I'm so excited to share a few days of sunshine and surf with him. It's a healing combination. Praze the beach!

Working it out

Steve did a great job this afternoon talking to a young wife about discussing finances with her husband. He claims he's not good at marriage but his advice seems sound. "You have to talk about it. Not argue. Sit down at the table and look each other in the eye. You have the same goals, to be financially responsible and to raise your two kids. Work it out." Praze for working it out.