Is One A Lonely Number?

One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do Whoa-oh, worse than two...

Remember that Three Dog Night song? It's pretty simplistic. I have several good friends who are single and they live wonderfully full lives. In fact, I was once single myself for almost a year. I liked it and planned to stay that way.

But then Dave came along. We're still trying to figure out this numbers thing.

Yesterday we had our photo taken for my church directory. We had to decide how we'd be listed and which last name would go first. Since it's my town and my church we decided on mine. We'll do it the other way at his church in Minnesota.

Besides my last name is at the front of the alphabet. His is toward the rear. I think there's an advantage to being close to the top when people are trying to look you up. Just ask the folks at AAA.

After we got home I filled out my census form. More decision making! Finally decided that I'm the #1 person in my household - and there is no #2. How sad. But Dave's primary address is Minnesota so he'll be the #1 (and only) person in his household.

Actually, at our age, we're fine with how things are. I love being called by his last name occasionally but I hardly ever sit around and scribble "Mrs. Dave" on my notebooks.


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The Simple Life

When Dave and I were taking our two mile walk today we got to talking about money and lifestyles. Fortunately we both have the same philosophy. We like living a simple life and not having more than we need - but having fun and giving generously.

And, as you know, I'm a big tipper.

To me, it's all about living a balanced life.

Last week I read yet another story about a woman who lived frugally her whole life, died at the age of 100 and left 7 million dollars to her college. In some ways it seems like a sad story. She never married, never had children, never had a car, bought her clothes at rummage sales and worked all of her adult life.

The money came about because of a $180 stock purchase she made in 1936. (Guess this proves out the buy and hold philosophy of investing.)

Dave and I don't want to be squirrely about this simple life. We just want to be sensible and responsible people. With that in mind we're taking off in a couple of weeks on a extended belated honeymoon. We're sailing from Ft. Lauderdale to Portugal, Spain, Monaco and Italy.

But don't worry. We won't do anything wild and crazy.

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If You Know Who You Are You'll Know What to Do

I've written about the book with the above title before. Now today's legal section of the paper has a pretty good example of how that works out in real life.

In an advice column a woman writes that her husband died and she's the executor of his will. During a bad time in their marriage he had an affair and fathered a child. She's wondering if she has to tell the attorney. In other words "Will my children and I be penalized for their dad's mistake?"

HELLO!!

Your husband's "mistake" is called a human being. I have a really hard time with people who are only interested in the conception part of parenthood.

Of course, this woman didn't make the "mistake." So, for her to make the right decision she'll have to dig down deep and figure out who she is and who she wants to be.

By the way, the columnists, Jan Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe, had an excellent, tough, kind and loving response to this woman's question.

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And What Time Do You Have to be Home to Fix Supper?

I was involved in a conversation the other day about job interviews. There are a number of questions that a potential employer can't ask. Some people think it borders on the silly.

On the other hand the kinds of questions being asked years ago - especially of women - bordered on the bizarre.

In about 1985 I was invited by a public official who knew of my gifts and skills l to do a series of Wednesday night business seminars for a local Chamber of Commerce here in Florida. But first I had to be interviewed by the council.

After the meeting I went to the car and wrote down some of their questions. Here they are exactly as stated:

What does your husband do?

How many children do you have?

What are their ages?

How many live at home?

Do you "use" religion when you work?

Does your church have Wednesday night meetings?

I would like to tell you that I responded in a business like manner. I didn't. I was flabbergasted. I lost it.

Needless to say, the seminars didn't happen.


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Discussing The Meaning of Life

Why was I born? Why am I living? What do I give? What am I getting?

Last Sunday I taught my SS class. We briefly touched on the question of how important it is to contemplate the meaning of life. Well, not exactly the general meaning but the specific meaning in my life right now.

I think about it a lot. So do my friends. Some might even say we obsess about it.

It's especially important now, during Lent. It 's the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being introspective.

When the class was over one of the men said that he doesn't think about the meaning of life at all. Dave said he didn't think much about it either. And so on.

These are all men who are living exemplary lives.

Don't want to stereotype but maybe most men don't care to get real introspective.

There was that episode on Seinfield where Jerry was thinking about getting married and Kramer said, "Don't do it! She'll try to make you sit around and talk about your feelings."

Sorry guys. Kramer was right.


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Encouraging Bad Behavior

Dave and I like to eat at a deli called Toojays. In fact, we shared a sandwich there this afternoon. They have the best corned beef ever. Steamed!

As I said, we shared a 6 ounce corned beef sandwich. That's 3 ounces of beef each. Along with coleslaw and Kosher dills. It was plenty for us.

But Toojays has a contest going. They have a sandwich called the Jaynormous. It's made with 1 and one half POUNDS - that's 24 ounces - of meat. If you can finish it you will qualify for the next phase which is an even bigger meal. Then the lucky big winner will get $10,000.

Today the man next to us ordered the Jaynormous. The waitress asked if he'd like to enter the contest and then explained the rules. I didn't catch them all but did hear her say that he didn't have to finish the sides - just the sandwich.

This, to me, is as bad as a drinking contest. Or a smoking contest. Nothing good will come of it. Besides, it encourages one of the 7 deadly sins. Gluttony.

We thought about waiting for the waitress to bring his Jaynormous Sandwich so we could get a gander at it but then decided not.

She did tell us that the meat part is 6 inches high!


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Job Training

We're learning that, in today's climate, we must be constantly learning new job skills and be open to unusual opportunities.

This morning, I read this inspiring story.

It's Bike Week at Daytona Beach so all kinds of unusual opportunities present themselves. It seems that Heather Spears has just won her ninth tournament in Coleslaw Wrestling. Not only that, she's also the champ in Pudding and Creamed-Corn Wrestling. (Apparently these are three altogether different events.)

How did she start? She used to work at the Veterans Affairs clinic and all day long she would "swing" (move) old men. So she thought she could hold her own in wrestling. She said the first time was such an adrenaline rush. She wasn't planning to do it but was inspired by her brother who said, encouragingly, "You ought to get in there. You could take those girls down."

As you can imagine, Heather is respected by her biker buds. But if a guy wants to wrestle she'll take him down right in the bar.

On a more serious note, Heather, who was a nursing assistant, is going back to school to become an RN. She hopes to start in August.

Good for you Heather.


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