So I had me one.
I think the only things I did all day that even came close to being work were to wash up a few dishes and sweep the kitchen floor.
There was a novel that needed reading and a movie that needed watching and a few quilt pieces that needed sewing. And there was a long and luxurious afternoon nap. Can't forget the nap.
My phone rang several times during the day. Various and assorted kids and grands called to wish me a happy birthday. I don't do birthday celebrations any more, but leave that for the kiddos. And I don't need gifts - I have all I need. It is enough that they remember and call.
I talked to my youngest grandson, Jacob, who is 9 (I think. I can never remember for sure.). He wanted to know about the important stuff like did I have cake and ice cream. He thought it was just wrong that I didn't. I had to promise I would have cake later this week. And I might just do that. I have been hungry for an apple spice cake with caramel frosting.
I got to thinking about how much things have changed in my 71 years on this earth. Change can be good or sometimes, not so much. I have many more conveniences than my parents had - microwave, air conditioning, telephone that isn't on a 9 family party line. If I want to look up some information on any subject I don't need to go to the library because there is Google. If I want to watch a movie I can find one on my computer or just insert a DVD. I can communicate with people all around the world with just a keystroke or two. I know what is going on around me almost as soon as it happens.
But I think there is a trade-off. We don't sit on the front porch of an evening and just talk any more. Unless Dad has a really good job, Mom can't be home raising the kids because it takes both paychecks to afford all those conveniences. We live in a high stress, fast paced world rather than the slower one of years gone by. Lately, common sense and common decency seem to have vanished, at least in some circles. Vulgarity has become commonplace. We are expected to accept as normal behavior things that were once considered shameful and wrong.
I hope the trend toward rude and crude and violent behavior is just a passing thing. I know there are still good people out there. I know many of them. I just have to wonder what kind of a world my grands will find when they, like me, have lived 71 years.
I pray that by that time good manners and common sense will have made a comeback.
Opus 2024-396: Built-in
7 minutes ago
You are right about change. I pray every day my kids do the right thing, make the right choice, etc. There is so much negative influence due to social media too.
ReplyDeleteOh. Happy Birthday too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristina...I think that kids who have parents who worry about their offspring doing the right thing will likely be alright. We have raised children who know what is expected of them in society. They know there are consequences for actions. The core beliefs we give our children tend to stay with them. Not always, but most of the time. I am pretty sure that my granddaughter who spent a considerable amount of time writing in longhand, "I will not swear at my sister," 500 times will have a better grasp of the difference between right and wrong than those who are raised hearing their parents use four letter words as a matter of course. :)
DeleteHappy happy birthday. Sounds like you had the perfect day.
ReplyDeleteRain is here today as predicted. I'll run some errands and then hunker down. Cheers, SJ
Thank you, SJ...it was a perfectly lovely day. Sunny and warm here, but storms predicted for the weekend. I am afraid my lazy day mode has carried over to today. Waitin for my grocery delivery with not much planned after that. Perhaps ambition will return tomorrow. Or not. :)
DeleteIsn't retirement grand? We can chose our activity or nap. Cheers, SJ
DeleteYou made me laugh with that one, SJ. Probably because it is so very true. I just love retirement!!
DeleteHappy Birthday! It sounds like you had a nice relaxing day. Definitely have some cake!
ReplyDeleteI wonder the same thing about how the world will be for my 7 y/o.
Thank you, Jenn...I am waiting for my grocery delivery guy but once I get the groceries put away, I believe there might have to be a cake for dessert this evening. You just can't go wrong with cake. :)
DeleteI know that here in the states things are in a constant turmoil. We have increasing violence, the social justice warriors are doing their level best to make everyone believe as they do and we have politically lost our collective minds. I haven't heard much about that sort of thing in Canada, but I fear it will seep across the border and affect you all as well if it hasn't already. All we can do is raise our kids to know right from wrong and give them a solid foundation to build on. And pray. Mostly, pray.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to yoouu, happy birthday to you!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect day to me!!
Suz...Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are in fine voice!
It was a lovely, relaxing day.
I hear you on the common sense and common decency. Too many people seem to think they can do what they want with little regard for others and with no consequences.
ReplyDeleteRecently I heard someone say that the acid test for the question "should I do this?" is "if everyone did this, would the world be better or worse?" and if the answer is "worse" then don't do it.
Here in Canada I like to think we are still pretty decent toward each other but there are exceptions. I am not a religious person but I don't agree with using swear words in ordinary conversation and we have taught our kids the same. We try to teach them to respect others and leave the world a better place than they found it, and hopefully that will stick.
Steve, you are spot on with your comments here. It wasn't always like this. There was a time when the laws were enforced and if you broke those laws, there were consequences. Now it seems as though the thugs are in charge, burning and looting and the law just stands by. My friend who is a retired cop tells me the politicians tie the hands of law enforcement in the name of political correctness. I believe him.
DeleteThere are many here who still raise their children to respect others. The kids are taught to say, "No, Sir" and "Yes, Ma'am." They never call an adult by their first name but always address them as "Mr. Jones" or "Mrs. Smith." They are taught what is acceptable speech and what isn't. I always told my kids that I thought those who used profanity in every sentence were just too stupid to come up with better words.
But for the majority of our population, it seems that the word 'respect' is not included in their upbringing. It was a nicer place to live when it was.
Happy Birthday! I hope you had cake.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda...Nope. No cake. Too hot to bake one. But I did have ice cream and that's just as good. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't do birthdays either. They just don't make me feel good.
ReplyDeletePersonally, even with all the nice things technology gives us, I am pretty sure my mom and dad's generation had a much higher quality of life than we do today.
I was just over at Alissa's blog, and she had done a post on life today, and all the things about it that seemed worse, like both mom and dad having to work to make ends meet.
I feel lucky to be up here on the mountain, and to be my age. I'm out of the loop of "life in general" now. I just have to be concerned about my kids, who aren't.
Harry...I just don't feel the need to celebrate the number of years I have survived. Any morning I wake up is a bonus.
DeleteI'll have to take a look at Alissa's blog. I have been thinking along those lines lately. Maybe it is just my age showing where it is preferable to look back and remember than it is to look forward to what is waiting for us. It was a more gentle time for most of us where life wasn't so crazy. There were problems - there always are, but they didn't seem so bad as now.
My little apartment is a refuge for me like your mountain top is a refuge for you - except I don't have the beautiful scenery. But I can lock the world out if I want to. I don't mind being out of the loop. You are right about being concerned about our kids who are out in the world, but we raised them right. They have the standards and morals we taught them. It isn't my kids or grands that I worry so much about - it is the lunatics that surround them. That part can make me a little crazy.