RANDOM ACT OF AUNTINESS - WALKING LIKE AN EGYPTIAN

"Walk Like an Egyptian" was our niece's cue to dance. Tiny, already beautiful she moved in rhythmic motion across the floor with her hands held in various poses attributed to the Egyptian's. How do we know that they actually moved like that? Anybody know? Anybody at all?

She was her Papa's delight. Whatever he asked her to dance, or do, she performed without a word of complaint. The most fun was to watch her parent's proud faces. As we watched I thought about the woman she might become someday.

Someday is NOW. She is a beautiful woman, married, and gaining her education. I dont' know if she still "Walk's Like an Egyptian," but I see the same proud gleam on her parents face when they talk about her!

VALENTINE'S DAY

I dated a great deal in the years before I married. Yet somehow, most years I was single during that holiday of holidays Valentine's Day. At some point I determined to make the day less about romantic love, and more about love in general.

In addition it's not about who loves you as much as it is WHO DO YOU LOVE? The greatest of joy in my life is the privilege of loving others....and there are SO MANY to love!

I must mention that eventually I found my handsome prince. After 25 years, he's just more handsome and dearer. Yesterday in church he and our youngest girl sang a duet, "Be Still My Soul." They dedicated it to me (it is one of my favorite church hymns of all time).

Yet for all of those blessed ones in my life who have not yet reached that point in their life where the handsome prince arrives...find someone to give love to on this day of Heart's, candy, and flowers, and then eat some chocolate, take a bubble bath, and read a fabulous book....(did I mention the candles around the tub, and the light off?) VOILA....the day is grand!

WILHELMINA ELIZABETH - WOMEN OF THE DRIFTING ANCHOR RANCH

“It should be the happiest day in my life!” Beth thought to herself. Her mother was taking Beth’s hair out of rag curlers. Beth felt like she was distanced from her body watching everything that was happening. She wanted to say, “Stop, this can’t be right. I can’t marry anyone except Eric Calkin. STOP!” The moment that thought would hit she would look to her left. There was Angela being prepared for renewal of her vows to Eric Calkin.

Beth couldn’t accept that she would never have Eric. At the same time she felt that she if she hurt Eric, and Angela it would give her some comfort. She would marry Jamie, Eric’s half brother. Then when she broke Jamie’s heart it would hurt the entire Calkin family.

How could they have ruined her perfect plans? She was a much better match for Eric. He needed a woman of refinement, and breeding. He needed a woman who could help him move forward into a positive future.

Jamie was a half-breed. Beth was convinced that he wasn’t good enough for her. Beth would marry him just to make the Calkin family hurt. When she revealed her spite for Jamie, when she made him as miserable as he deserved, well that would show Eric, and Angela. It would wouldn’t it? Sometimes in Beth’s darker moments it seemed that the only person that would be hurt by her twisted, spoiled plans was herself.

STRAIGHTTALK IS CROOKED!!

I don't mean in the typical sense of crooked, being dishonest...well actually I guess I do. They tell you that they are a terrific month to month phone system. Instead it is impossible to receive service by phone...I spent 20 minutes telling that computer that my last name is SMITH....for heaven's sake who doesn't recognize the name of SMITH?

Then I went online. I have gone online many times to refill this service because the phone refill is impossible to navigate...and I worked with and on phones for 30 years! I still prefer working with HUMAN BEINGS as opposed to computers, call me crazy.

Anyway, after spending an incredibly frustrating 1/2 hour (which seemed MUCH, MUCH LONGER), I tried online to refill my service only to find that for some reason they were only going to give me unlimited minutes for the next 13 days instead of for a month, as listed. AARGH!

To any and all who read this post I have one phrase....RUN AWAY FROM STRAIGHTTALK! They are NOT customer friendly, even for a woman who spent 30 years of her life training about phones and phone systems, computers and computer systems.

If they actually do something positive I promise I will post that here as well. I really DON'T like listing the unpleasant parts of life but I needed to vent!