Posted on August 13, 2024
I heard a yell from the laundry room but didn’t respond. Earl often yells for something that isn’t top priority in my book. But when we finally connected, he held a sapphire and diamond ring in his hand.
Turns out it went through the wash with the sheets from our bed. And . . . it was the cleanest, shiniest ring I ever saw. Amazing.
I have a machine for cleaning my jewelry and a special solution from a jeweler to put in the water. I pay particular attention to each piece when I clean it. But nothing I do equaled the sapphire and diamond ring that went through the washing machine.
My first thought is, “What a wonderful discovery.” But my second was, “Could the ring have left my life forever via the water filter?”
Do not use your washing machine to clean your jewelry.
See more 10 Minutes in category Personal Pleas
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Posted on August 12, 2024
I’ve known J for over fifty years. We met as young mothers, each with two boys and little else in common besides the babysitting club we both belonged to in the early seventies. Which tells you how old both she and I and our sons are now.
We babysat each other’s kids, although she did more of that work. We even owned a company together for a short time, and we’ve endured each other’s marital challenges. She is a political conservative, Italian, and vocal. I’m more liberal leaning, Irish, and vocal. Although she’s better at that than I am.
But here’s the thing. In spite of our political differences, she was the first person to help me and my young son when we were in an automobile accident years ago. She was there through my two divorces. She handmade a quilt for me when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. She would come if I called.
We chatted at length last night, and her plans for a birthday celebration extends through most of the week. She deserves it. She told me she had received a variety of cards, ours included, and that she was waiting until today to open them. I am sure they honor her as much as I do.
See more 10 Minutes in category Nostalgia, Special Events
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Posted on August 11, 2024
It’s Sunday which means it’s also laundry day. And it’s my job to sort the clothes according to whites, light colors, and dark. Earl is in charge of the actual washing, drying, and folding. Personally I don’t understand why he can’t sort too, but perhaps it’s an old dog-new trick thing.
Regardless, this morning found me evaluating some of my jeans and tops that are beginning to lose their shapes. Or maybe I’m the one who’s losing her shape. As I checked pockets for tissues and used pre-spot on clothes, I decided some of my clothing needed to be retired.
There were a couple slacks that I really don’t like and relegate to the days I garden. If they are muddied, then I don’t care. There were also some T-shirts that were past their prime. Still, I put them in the appropriate pile for washing and decided to check them again at the ironing stage.
I’m thinking that this time next week my closet will be less jammed, because I’m going to keep only the items I enjoy wearing. Will I replace the others? It remains to be seen.
See more 10 Minutes in category Me/Family
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Posted on August 10, 2024
I live in a condo development that is now old enough to begin replacing roofs on some of the older buildings. This past week, the building next to mine, which houses four homes, got its new roof. And it was quite a production.
On Monday, the dumpsters were parked in front of the various garages. (Yes, the residents were warned in advance to put their cars elsewhere.) Then about a dozen men showed up with ladders and pitchforks and elbow grease. They all must have had prior experience in a high wire act, because they walked around on the communal roof without fear. A couple of them actually ran back and forth as they stripped the shingles from the plywood.
On Tuesday it rained and the aerialists stayed home.
On Wednesday, they started installing the new roof; and I had no idea it was so involved. It reminded me of how to make a quilt with backing and piecing and then the actual quilting to create a work of art.
By Thursday, it was seventy-five percent done, and on Friday the crew finished in time for dinner. And did I mention that they cleaned away all the nails and debris that missed the dumpsters before leaving every single night.
The new roof matches all the others in color, but it is markedly brighter and better installed than the original. I don’t think my building is next, which means I’ll just have to live with roof envy.
See more 10 Minutes in category Special Events
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Posted on August 9, 2024
Just because yesterday was Earl’s birthday – and he is no spring chicken, whatever that means – doesn’t mean this blog is aimed at him. Rather, it’s something I’ve been aware of for a while now.
We are old. I don’t believe that eighty is the new sixty or that seventy is the new fifty. Eighty is simply a newer version than years ago. But it still means your body – which is really a machine – has been going constantly all that time. No wonder things wear out. And need replacement.
Fortunately, neither Earl nor I have a lot of chronic issues that plague others our age. Like COPD or diabetes or pacemakers. Like replaced knees or hips or shoulders. With the exception of my uterus, which left the building years ago, we have all our original body parts.
While I’m grateful for these blessings, there are still changes in our lives that we have made. We don’t get on ladders anymore; we don’t change the smoke alarms in our home with the vaulted ceilings; we don’t move furniture like we used to. Or paint or paper. Instead we wait for our cleaning lady or our handyman or even a younger neighbor to assist. And hire professionals for the painting and papering.
It’s frustrating at times not to be as agile as we once were. And that goes for our minds as well. We do crossword puzzles, the NYT puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles to keep our brains from atrophying. But I notice we’re not as fast as we were a decade ago.
That adage about old age not being for sissies only scratches the surface.
See more 10 Minutes in category Changing Scene, Things to Ponder
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Posted on August 8, 2024
Today is Earl’s birthday, and I finished the sweater in time. In fact, three days ahead of time.
About fifteen months ago, I told Earl I’d make him a sweater vest in the color of his choice. So we went to Joann’s together, found a royal blue yarn, and I set to work. Earl thought the sweater would be done by last year’s birthday. Then by Christmas. Then by Father’s Day.
But I am a slow crocheter and prone to taking out rows when I discover a mistake from several work sessions back. Besides, I’d never made any kind of fitted garment before. It was an on-the-job training sort of thing. Finally I promised to have it for his birthday. To which he replied, “It’s okay if you don’t finish it by then because it will be too hot to wear.”
Point taken. But I was determined to finish the project, and we have photos to prove it.
The sweater wasn’t the only sweet thing about Earl’s day. He’s not much for the hoopla of a big celebration, but friends and family called or texted. My son and his partner sent him a regulation Cubs baseball shirt. A fisherman friend stopped by with salmon he caught this morning, and some other relatives sang the standard Happy Birthday song over the phone for his listening pleasure. We went to an early dinner, and the 2024-25 football season began when we got home. I told him it was in honor of his birthday.
Currently, the day is winding down, and Earl is reading in bed as he is prone to do most nights. Me? I’m thinking he had a great day.
See more 10 Minutes in category Me/Family, Special Events
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Posted on August 7, 2024
I see signs in nature everywhere that it could be an early fall. It isn’t even the middle of August, but my mums are starting to bloom. My lettuce has bitten the dust. The herbs have gone to seed. And the geraniums’ leaves are turning brown.
It isn’t only in my garden. Driving around on country roads, I’ve spied an occasional tree turning color. Not vibrant yellow and red yet, but heading in that direction. Road crews are working feverishly; it’s an obstacle course to get to our home what with major routes being closed for repair.
I’m not savvy enough to tell if the animals are preparing in any way. Or the birds. I have seen school busses, empty for the moment, apparently practicing their turns and routes. (Actually the drivers are the ones practicing, not the busses themselves.) And back-to-school sales have already been eclipsed by Halloween, which is definitely not a summer holiday. The days are noticeably shorter too.
I’m not ready for this, because I’ve spent the summer in low key and want to stay that way until after Labor Day. Who do I contact about this?
See more 10 Minutes in category Changing Scene, Flora/Fauna
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Posted on August 6, 2024
I don’t know how 1440 came across my radar recently, but it is a free online newsletter that claims to pitch the news without opinions. Every day, subscribers receive an email detailing the essential news of the moment. The news events are very brief, but they have one or multiple links for the person who wants more in-depth information on a particular topic.
There are no editorials, no sensational stories, and no bull. Yes, there are ads, but they are not obtrusive. Well, not particularly obtrusive.
I’ve read only a handful of issues, but so far I’d say the publication is living up to my expectations. That is, it attempts to stick to the facts. One of its taglines e is “The best, fact-driven information, expertly curated and explained for the intellectually curious.”
There are a couple curmudgeons in videos who are not crazy about 1440, partially because of the topics that are chosen. These critics would have chosen different ones. But then someone else would have complained about those choices.
If any of this seems interesting, perhaps consider visiting the website for more pithy statements about the 1440 mission as well as where the title comes from. Then decide for yourself. After all, who doesn’t want to be intellectually curious?
See more 10 Minutes in category Changing Scene, Writing
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Posted on August 5, 2024
I went to the store today to purchase birthday cards, the old fashioned kind that require an envelope and a stamp. The particular store offered American Greeting Cards, which I have since learned is the most popular brand with Hallmark coming in second.
Since the pandemic I’ve resorted to online cards more and more. They’re convenient, reasonably priced (and some are still free), and don’t require a trip to the mailbox. But I received almost twenty snail mail cards for my birthday and enjoyed every one so much that I decided to respond in kind to the four people on my list with August birthdays.
There were several aisles of cards. And all kinds of birthday sentiments that ranged from sugary sweet to insulting to humorous to acknowledging one’s age. I saw more than one card suitable for sending to someone who is 100 years old, certainly a sign of the times. I saw cards in foreign languages, cards that played music when opened, cards that included games, and cards that were oversized (which means additional postage).
Even so I had difficulty choosing the right card for each of my recipients. That’s part of the process for me; I don’t buy a one-size-fits all box of ten cards, all saying the same thing. If I’m going to put the effort into sending an old-fashioned card, I want it to say something special. Potty humor, sexism, and agism don’t cut it either.
It took a while, but I finally found cards that met my criteria, and I headed to the check out counter. That was when sticker shock kicked in. It’s nothing for a card to cost six or seven dollars. And this doesn’t take into account one’s time, energy, or postage.
I haven’t decided how I feel about the experience. Perhaps it will depend on whether my friends enjoy their cards as much as I did.
See more 10 Minutes in category Changing Scene, Things to Ponder
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Posted on August 4, 2024
Author Malcolm Gladwell was an original proponent of the 10,000 Rule, which states that someone needs to practice a skill for that many hours to be a professional at it. From what I’ve read, Gladwell applied this theory particularly to musicians.
I think there could be more to it than 10,000 hours, and I offer myself as Exhibit A. I am now in my third decade of piano lessons, having taken my first one in 2003. Granted, I was fifty-eight at the time, so I didn’t have the benefit of early learning. Nor did I have any role models at home.
So, do I qualify according to Gladwell’s definition? Not anywhere near that level. At the same time, perhaps if one starts young enough, has an aptitude, and puts in the time, he or she can become professional. In whatever endeavor beckons.
In the meantime, I have never regretted purchasing a grand piano to call my own, paying for a gazillion lessons, and still getting confused when E is F minor.
See more 10 Minutes in category Things to Ponder
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