The Painted Houses

Several times a week I drive by a house I really like. It's very architectural. Sharp lines. It's painted a deep mustard color. The trim is dark green. Oh yeah, it also has red doors. Sounds strange but it works. It's especially striking at Christmas time when they put poinsettias everywhere.

Then the traditional house right next door was painted a baby blue with white trim. It, too, is attractive. But, of course, they clash. It's like eating pickles and ice cream. They're both good, but come on.

Now the art deco house directly across the street has been painted a bright Easter egg yellow. With white trim. I'd be ashamed to tell you how I described it to Dave but it involved a description of food poisoning.

Don't these neighbors know each other? Don't they look at each other's houses? Don't they care about us?

I wonder what's next.


***

Angels in Disguise

We know that tragedy brings out the best in many people. In fact, it brings out the heroic in people. But the truth is that most folks are doing random acts of kindness every day.

We're still reading and hearing about those who've gone above and beyond since the Arizona tragedy.

The parents of little Christina-Taylor Green contacted a group of Trappist Monks in Iowa who hand-make caskets. But the monks didn't want to send an adult coffin. They wanted something special, something just for nine year old Christina-Taylor. They crafted a casket from red oak especially for her. The lid of the casket is inscribed with her name, date of birth and death - and a cross. They also sent five small keepsake crosses hewn from the same wood. They gave the coffin to the Green family free of charge after giving it a special blessing.

But the thing is, when any child dies it hits the monks especially hard. So they always give the child's casket to the family free of charge.


***

Rituals

We here in central Florida are proud of our hometown syndicated cartoonists, Ralph Dunagin and Dana Summers.

As you know, I'm amazed at political cartoonists who make us think deeply with only a drawing.

But Dunagin and Summers also have a syndicated comic strip called the Middletons.

I can totally relate to Sunday's strip featuring Grandma Middleton. Sometimes when I'm on the couch watching the TV, I feel really drowsy. But after all the gyrations I go through to get ready for bed I'm wide awake again.

Can't believe that, when I was a young woman, I'd eat popcorn in bed - and then go to sleep.! If I did that now my teeth would fall out for sure.

In her book "I Remember Nothing," Nora Ephron says that one of the things she won't miss when she dies is taking off her makeup at night.

Oh brother, that's just the beginning.

***

Happy Birthday

My good friend is going to be 70 years old soon. Sometimes, to cheer people up when they hit these alarming decade birthdays, I send them a list of celebs who're hitting the same age around the same time. They're always so great looking that it makes us feel better about ourselves.

For instance, Mary Tyler Moore was born close to my birth date but she's much older than me.

But the celebs I found that are hitting the big 7-0 around the same time as my friend are scary looking.

Of course, you recognize Nick Nolte to the left. If you look him up you'll find that most of his recent photos are similar to this one.

Then there's Dick Cheney. My friend has some health problems but at least she doesn't have a defibrillator permanently installed in her chest.

And then there's Sam Waterston. I love Sam Waterston. He played Jack McCoy on my all time favorite TV drama, "Law & Order." (Even though it's been cancelled you can still see "Law & Order" any time you want. Just turn on the TV. It will be there.)

Now Sam's doing commercials and I still like him, but - he looks really old!

So I guess I won't send my friend the usual birthday celeb photos. She looks a thousand times better than these guys.

***

I Remember Nothing

I went to my book club this afternoon. We discussed Nora Ephron's "I Remember Nothing." I was the only one who liked it. I didn't disagree with some of their comments. The book is light and probably a compilation of previously written columns and articles. The book club ladies where thinking that since her most recent book prior to this "I Feel Bad About My Neck," did so well, she probably threw this one together.

Come on, she's Nora Ephron. One of the finest writers around and part of a writing legacy.

The book is light but I found some meaning in most every chapter. The first one, specifically about memory, made me feel really good. I could relate.

By the way Nora, was the man you met at the party who had a neurological disorder and couldn't remember faces Oliver Sacks?

I love the chapter "My Life as an Heiress." (Even though I'd read it previously in the New Yorker.) Ephron gives us the three stages of inherited wealth: Glee, Sloth and Dissension.

I love the chapter "My Life as a Meat Loaf. Ephron is a cook. (After all, she wrote and directed "Julie and Julia.") Her friend opened a swanky restaurant and named the meat loaf after her. Nora's Meat Loaf. What an honor. But it wasn't her recipe in the first place, (she uses Lipton's soup mix and a gourmet restaurant would never do that) and, after chef changes, etc. it became unrecognizable and then was discontinued.

A lot of life is like that.

In the back she has a list of things she won't miss when she dies. The last one is "taking makeup off every night." I'm now compiling my own lists of things I'll miss and things I won't miss. My first list is longer.

As I said, the book made me think and is very smart and funny. My book club ladies are smart and funny too but they didn't like the book.


***

Are Boomers Bad?

This year the oldest Baby Boomers will turn 65.

An article by Marsha Mercer in the AARP Bulletin quotes TV commentator Paul Begala. Calling the Boomers "The Worst Generation," he says:

Boomers are the most self-centered, self-seeking, self-interested, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing generation in American history.

Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. My two oldest children are Boomers. I was born at the tale end of "The Greatest" generation. But how can we be so great if we parented these selfish Boomers?

The truth is that I don't agree with the negative portrayal of the Boomers. If they haven't been as self sacrificing it's because they didn't have to be. They went about experimenting, discovering, designing and building for the future. I don't begrudge the Boomers their creature comforts.

Mercer says that Boomers "haven't embraced civic engagement the way they have Botox and Viagra."

I don't know about that. Most of the Boomers I know are hard working volunteers and workers. And I expect that when they retire they will continue to make great contributions to society.


***

Move That Stuff

Our minister started a new series this morning called "Move That Bus" It will focus on the "stuff" we can move out of our lives to make room for God.

OK, I thought it was going to be about cleaning my the closet - but no, he started out this morning on a much deeper topic than that - as usual.

But you know how good I am about living simply. Dave too. We're constantly throwing out and giving away stuff right and left. Last week I cleaned my closet (again,) loaded up the car and drove it all to our local Goodwill Boutique. Didn't even buy anything while I was there even though they have some cool stuff.

Then last night I was getting ready for a fantastic birthday party for one of my favorite people and discovered I had no shoes. Whoops!

As you know, Dave and I try to go bagless. On Christmas morning I scored a large cloth diaper bag with my name embroidered on it. Well, it's my granddaughter's name as well. She outgrew it and I can use it, so what a great way to recycle. I now have a monogrammed shopping bag.

Even though Dr. Bob's message this morning was powerful I think, along with clearing the wrong thinking out of our heads, it's good to get rid of the tangible "stuff" we no longer need.

So this week we're cleaning the garage.