Love Them Anyway

 

Rooted in God's Plan

 

Sensical Approach to Cultural War

 

Events — The Book Lady Bookstore

Sensical Approach to Cultural War

Stop Moaning

“This country was born in turmoil and conflict.”

 I’ve done a lot of soul searching since the pandemic when the world seemed to be turned upside down. In May 2021, my own neighborhood was invaded The Black Lives Matter organization. It was disturbing and thought provoking. I spent time wondering what I have missed and how maybe my own perspective is distorted. Then I found an article written from an interview with Annette Gordon-Reed. Annette is a Pulitzer Prize winning writer. This article was about her book The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family.  I think she covers it quite nicely.

As a child Annette loved to read, more specifically biographies. She read about George Washington Carver, George Washinton, Thomas Jefferson, Dolley Madison, etc. Jefferson was the most interesting to her because he loved to read, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence…but he was a slave owner. Sally Hemings’ children were fathered by Jefferson. Annette says that though they were enslaved people, bound by the institution of slavery, they were also mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts, friends, etc. They had different personalities, different ways of going through the world. Their opportunities were severely circumscribed because of slavery but she wants to view them as individual human beings.

She understands why people would not want to name something after Jefferson, but “we have to grapple with him, because he embodies the contradictions of this country, the good things and the bad things.” Members of the founding generation of our nation must be a part of the conversation. The statues and things named for them present an opportunity to talk about the way this country was born. Annette believes that we can’t take out those parts of history because they are less favorable, yet they make us who we are today.

Annette is optimistic about the young people today because they have grown up thinking there is a problem, and it’s a problem we must deal with. She believes that some don’t want to talk about history, and she thinks young people are resisting that. She plans to write more books about the Black progress that has been made.

In 1964, Annette Gordon-Reed was a child growing up in Conroe, Texas. She was part of the generation, just as I was, that lived during the integration of schools. It was intense because it was a big deal for a Black child to go to a white school. We lived during a time where we had separate waiting rooms at the doctor’s office and Blacks were seated in the balcony at theaters. We were part of breaking those barriers.

Today, we name things also for ALL people who have made a difference in communities, state, and nation. There are no barriers. The walls have crumbled, and we must be aware how much we have grown as a nation. A new school in Conroe was recently named Annette Gordon-Reed Elementary School. Let’s celebrate our successes and stop groaning about the history which led us to this place today.

KUOW - In 'On Juneteenth' Annette Gordon-Reed chronicles hardship and joy on the path to Black freedom

What Has Happened To Us!

 

                                                                freepik.com

 

Worthly posted on Facebook
15 reasons baby boomers feel out of place in today's world
Story by Bruno P
 
Face-to-face Conversations Have Been Replaced by Texts
Short texts and emojis have taken over, and for Boomers who value tone, eye contact, and real presence, it feels that something essential is missing. Communicating through screens doesn't carry the same warmth or meaning. I do like texting to get information and not get hung up on the phone, but it should not replace the ability to truly communicate with someone you love.
 
Manners Don't Seem to Matter as Much Anymore
We were raised on phrases like "please," "thank you," and "excuse me.” Showing respect to elders was expected, not optional. In today's culture of speed and casual everything, traditional manners feel like relics from the past. I feel the impatience around me as if I should hurry up and get out of the way.  Whether it's someone talking over you or not holding the door, the loss of respect makes the older generation feel invisible and brushed aside.  
 
The Work Ethic Has Changed Drastically
Boomers were loyal to one company for decades and our hard work was often rewarded. Now, job-hopping is normal, and remote work has blurred the lines between personal and professional life. Makes me wonder how they will feel at the end of their life…. never having established themselves in a community outside of their homes.
 
Everything Feels Overly Complicated with Technology
The younger generation cannot understand the confusion that technology can create for older people. What should be a short cut, most of the time becomes a nightmare of trying to navigate something that shouldn’t be so hard. Sometimes my finger hits the wrong button or I make the wrong choice of the next step and then spend time trying to get back to the place to make the correct choice. From smart TVs with endless menus to grocery store checkouts that need apps and codes, even simple tasks now require tech knowledge. We feel left behind in a world that expects us to understand constant updates, passwords and platforms.
 
Music and Pop Culture Feel Foreign
Boomers had bands whose lyrics meant something and concerts that felt like shared moments. Streaming services, auto-tuned hits, and viral TikTok songs, feels more like noise than connection. It’s not that we don’t like new music, but rather that we struggle to find depth in a world that moves so quickly to the next big thing.
  
Personal Privacy Seems to Be Gone
Boomers remember when they kept things private unless they chose to share them. Now, people post their every move online, what they ate, who they're with, even their personal struggles. This constant public sharing feels overwhelming to many Boomers, who were taught to value modesty and boundaries. It feels less safe and we wonder about someone’s values when there is no modesty or boundaries.
 
Handwriting Has Nearly Disappeared
Boomers grew up writing thank-you notes, passing handwritten letters in school, and learning cursive by heart. Digital communication has nearly wiped out those small but meaningful traditions. Seeing kids type everything makes the world feel less personal. It's not just about writing; it's about the care that went into something handwritten, and the loss of that simple, thoughtful touch is hard to ignore.
 
Instant Gratification Replaces Patience
Waiting used to be part of life—waiting for film to develop, letters to arrive, or shows to come on once a week. It gave us time to think things through and consider options. Today, everything is on-demand, and people expect answers, replies, and results immediately. This feels exhausting for Boomers, who learned the value of patience and planning. It’s hard for us to understand how someone feels entitled by self-gratification right now!
 
Customer Service Isn't What It Used to Be
Boomers remember when store clerks knew your name and companies stood by their products. These days, it often feels like you're just another number in a system, talking to chatbots or being put on endless hold. That personal touch is missing, and it makes people who value relationships and trust feel unimportant. Good service once built loyalty—now it's a struggle to even speak to a real person.
 
Shopping Has Lost Its Social Side
Going to the store used to be a chance to get out, talk to people, and feel part of the community. We feel that we’ve lost the small social moments that once made life feel warmer and it’s created a world filled with impersonal reactions to our fellow human beings. Though online shopping, self-checkouts, and home deliveries are convenient, we’ve lost the small social moments that once made everyday life feel warmer. The young people have no way of learning how to deal with others on a personal level. And COVID in 2020 changed the way we respond to others, I’m afraid, forever. Too many younger people now hide behind screens.
 
Attention Spans Have Shrunk
In a world filled with short videos, quick scrolls, and fast-forward buttons, deep attention seems rare. Boomers who enjoyed reading books, watching full movies without distractions, or having long talks now find that people tune out fast. The art of real listening or focus seems gone. Slowing down to really absorb something feels out of place, even though it's still deeply valuable.
The News Feels Overwhelming and Untrustworthy
There was a time when you watched the evening news and trusted what you heard. Now, with countless outlets, nonstop headlines, and sensational stories, it's hard to know what's real. Boomers often feel drowned in noise rather than informed.
With the lack of trusted resources, we KNOW that most people are ill-informed, including ourselves. Our views are lopsided and negative because we no longer reason with the truth.
 
Traditions Are Fading Fast
Holidays, Sunday dinners, even handwritten birthday cards— Today's world moves fast, and fewer people slow down for these old customs. While change is natural, losing those rituals feels unfamiliar. These habits were the glue that held families and communities together. Without all of them, things can feel very hollow.
 
 

Song of My Soul

                                                    The Common Poorwill

                                                                                    https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/2414290
                                                                                        Birds of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden

 
The whip-o-will remains a symbol of summer nights in eastern North American forests, celebrated in folklore, poetry and music for its haunting, continuous call.
 
Certain things bring comfort to your soul. Mother often called certain meals “comfort food”, food that is known as southern comfort. I think there are sounds that are comfort sounds, especially if they have been a part of your world for a long period of time.  Such is the sound of the whip-o-will for me. 
 
Over 40 years ago, when my husband and I purchased nearly an acre of land and built a home on the outskirts of Austin in the Hill Country (we have since been overrun with development). It was a beautiful piece of land, surrounded by much wooded area; however, the large space of land behind us was used as Felder’s Follies. We were lucky enough to back up to a beloved piece of land that was owned by the builder, L.A. Felder, and he used it to graze cattle sometimes or just to keep it naturally mowed. He fed the wild turkey, and he loved and tended to this property.
 
When we moved in, there was already a fence across the back to keep the new homeowners from his property. Being that it was a wire fence, we have an open view across the field and beyond to the wooded area on the other side where there is a dry creek bed with natural cool water some of the time. This makes for great wildlife viewing.
 
The first summer we were here we put up a wooden fence around the other part of the property to keep our dogs on our land. Our helper for that project was my husband’s younger brother, and after a long day of digging post holes, I prepared our dinner and afterwards, we sat on the porch overlooking the land as twilight set in. Then I heard a sound for the first time, which I said from the beginning sounded like a whip o will. Each and every following spring, I looked forward to the return of the comfort sound, as I knew the summer months were not far away. It was a sound that represented our comfort zone, a place filled with peace and a time to slow down from the busy work schedule. This bird never failed us as it came year after year.
 
I never knew what it really was, until we purchased property at Possum Kingdom lake. I began to hear the sound there, as well. Our beloved neighbor, Skip Cox, told me it was most likely a poorwill, as that is what we have in that area. He was correct, as always. Sadly, with development now out there, I no longer hear their song at night. They survived two fires, but they can’t survive man’s bulldozers.
 
We are lucky enough to still hear them at our Hill Country home, though development is closing in. Felder passed away close to 30 years ago and donated his land to his church, the First Baptist Church in Austin. The church kept the land until recently, keeping the tradition of mowing it once a year. Then the property went up for sale. I held my breath daily, praying that it would not sale to someone who would rape the land and develop it into a nasty backyard neighbor. God answers prayer. A wealthy lady who owns Whole Foods purchased it for nostalgic reasons as she used to ride horses there and now, she wanted to bring her grandchildren closer in, to enjoy space together.
 
I am fortunate, as the comfort sound of the poorwill continues and I still find peace in my own backyard.  It never fails to take me back to the moment in time when I first heard the now familiar Poorwill and remember our precious baby brother, who passed away in 2019.

NOTES
Populations have declined in parts of their range, likely due to habitat loss and reductions in large moth and beetle populations. Conservation efforts focus on preserving open forest habitats and monitoring population trends.
Often heard but rarely seen due to its camouflage

The Folly of Modern Life

 

The Folly of Modern Life

Reader’s Digest April/May 2026 p 21

“Don’t Trim the Azalea”

 
I found this quote in an article that struck a chord with me. Often on our mountain property, I have commented that our purchased land doesn’t belong to me, but to the animals that call it ‘home’ every day. I’m just the traveler moving through, as this land has been there for eons.
 
“It’s a sad folly of modern life that we think we’re somehow separated from the natural fabric in which we live. It’s a perspective built on a calculus of artifice – brick by brick by technological advance, we’ve convinced ourselves that we live apart from the bird and the turtle and the fox. But it’s a perspective that diminishes the lives of both humans and wild creatures. In a world older and more complete than ours, animals move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.”   ~ Henry Beston The Outermost House.
 
The article goes on to say that in a lot of ways, how we live our lives is a matter of choosing how we wish to impact those “other nations.” A bird flushing from a side-yard Azalea is proof that those other nations aren’t “out there” in some abstract fashion: they live among us and with us and alongside us. Whether it’s a drive to the grocery store or an approach to lawn care, the act of everyday living has real-world impact on our furred, feathered, scaled and exoskeletoned fellow travelers. We either choose to ignore our impact on those other nations, or we choose to be as neighborly as possible.
 
There is an obligation that comes with living on the only planet we have. My little plot of land with huge pine trees and/or my neatly urban trimmed shrubs are not mine alone, nor is anywhere that I’ll ever plant a footprint in this life. The other nations are everywhere…and more reliant on harmony and benevolence than ever before.

Unlock Someone Else's Cage

 Unlock Someone Else’s Cage    

That’s my title for an article I found on FB

ALICE WALTON

Alice Walton: Billionaire Bridging Art & Community | Biography | Net Worth | Philanthrophy |

                She inherited a Walmart fortune that could buy a small country. What she did next shocked the art world—and changed thousands of lives. When Alice Walton inherited her share of the Walmart empire in 1992, she became one of the wealthiest women alive. Her stake in her father's retail kingdom would eventually grow to rival the economies of entire nations. Most people who inherit that kind of money spend their lives protecting it, multiplying it, treating wealth like a competitive sport with an ever-rising scoreboard.

                Alice saw something different in those numbers. She saw possibility.

Her father, Sam Walton, was the man who turned a single store in Arkansas into a global phenomenon. He was famously frugal - driving an old pickup truck even as his company became the largest retailer on Earth. When he died, he left his children more than money. He left them a choice about what to do with impossible wealth.

                While her brothers stepped into corporate leadership roles, managing the business that bears their family name, Alice walked a different path. Born in 1949, she grew up watching her father's relentless expansion, but retail never captured her imagination. While others counted profits, Alice was drawn to paintings.

                The question that defined her life became: What do you do when you have more money than a thousand lifetimes could spend? For most billionaires, the answer involves private collections, exclusive clubs, and the quiet accumulation of more wealth simply because the numbers can always go higher. Alice's answer was radical: she would give art away.

                In 2011, she opened the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas—a town of 50,000 people nestled in the Ozarks. She spent over a billion dollars acquiring masterpieces by Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Jackson Pollock. The art world elite laughed. Why would anyone bring priceless American art to rural Arkansas?

Then she made it free. Forever.

                Alice's vision was beautifully simple: a child growing up in a trailer park deserves the same access to culture as a Manhattan socialite. Art shouldn't require a trust fund or a coastal zip code. It should belong to everyone.

Since opening, over six million people have walked those halls—school groups, farm families, travelers who suddenly had a reason to stop in Arkansas. By eliminating admission fees, she eliminated the invisible wall that separates culture from the people it's meant to inspire.

                But Alice didn't stop at art. She turned her attention to something even more urgent: healthcare. Rural America is hemorrhaging doctors. Communities across the heartland watch their hospitals close, their clinics disappear, their neighbors drive hours for basic care. Alice saw this crisis and decided to build a solution from the ground up. The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine opened its doors to students in 2024, focused on whole-health medicine and committed to training doctors who will serve underserved communities. She created substantial scholarships to ensure students graduate without crushing debt—removing the financial pressure that drives new doctors toward wealthy suburbs instead of rural towns.

                Alice Walton's story isn't about building wealth from nothing. It's about something equally rare: deciding what existing wealth should build.

The debates around wealth inequality and labor practices remain complex and valid. But Alice's choices offer a glimpse of what intentionality looks like at the highest levels of wealth. She inherited an empire but chose to create institutions that outlast quarterly earnings reports.

                She brought world-class art to forgotten towns. She's training doctors for communities the healthcare system abandoned. She didn't build the fortune, but she's deciding what it leaves behind.

                In a world where most billionaires treat wealth like a high score in an endless game, Alice broke the cycle. She realized that money can be either a cage of endless accumulation or the key that unlocks someone else's cage.

Most people spend their entire lives chasing more - more money, more status, more security - trapped in a hunger that grows with every zero added to the balance. Alice proved that the escape isn't found in having more. It's found in deciding that something else matters more.

She understood that the true measure of a fortune isn't its size. It's what it builds after the numbers stop mattering.

GOOD FRIDAY

 

happy-good-friday-hand-drawn-illustration-with-christian-holiday-jesus-christ-crucifixion-design_2175-12519.jpg (626×440)

  

The readings are:
 
John 13:31-18:1 – Christ's last sermon, Jesus prays for the apostles
John 18:1–28 – The agony in the garden, the mockery and denial of Christ
Matthew 26:57–75 – The mockery of Christ, Peter denies Christ
John 18:28–19:16 – Pilate questions Jesus; Jesus is condemned; Jesus is mocked by the Romans.
Matthew 27:3–32 – Judas commits suicide; Jesus is condemned; Jesus mocked by the Romans; Simon of Cyrene compelled to carry the cross
Mark 15:16–32 – Jesus dies
Matthew 27:33–54 – Jesus dies
Luke 23:32–49 – Jesus dies
John 19:25–37 – Jesus dies
Mark 15:43–47 – Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus
John 19:38–42 – Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus
Matthew 27:62–66 – The Jews set a guard

Jesus Holds All of Our Tomorrows

 We Ought to Say – “If the Lord Wills”

James 4:13-15

God sees down the road and around the corner. He is always there before we even think about going. In theological terms we call this God’s omniscience and God’s foreknowledge, what comfort it is to know Jesus holds all of our tomorrows.

Surprise Attack

You know, snakes just do what they do. They sometimes will strike at you when you don't see it coming. If you are smart, you will keep your eyes wide open when on a hike especially in the spring, when new life is beginning and the warm sunshine begins to lighten your step after the dead of winter. Don't be surprised, though, because the snakes are there, too. You can be innocently walking along and your life will change instantly with a snake bite.

There is much to be said about that as an analogy of what happens in life. You can go along the path doing what you think is right and good and beneficial, trying to help others...and then WHAM...behold! the surprise attack from someone you love with no rhyme or reason. Maybe from their point there is a reason, but when you have been trying hard to help (when they will let you) and then you get slammed buy an accusation that you have no clue about, you should reevaluate the path you are walking down.

Most never die from a snake bite, but the memory of it pours through you long after the bite takes place. So....never let the snake bite you twice! Now that I have been bitten by a special person in my life, I hope to be more like the snake that sheds its skin. I am capable of letting them be them. I am capable of shedding that layer. I am also capable of shedding the layer of my assembled habits of trying to help. This will create space for me to call matters into question, whether it be within myself or with them. It's no longer acceptable for me to continue to be bitten by those I love the most!

Just as a snake sheds its skin, which I have done countless times in order to keep us all together, I will continue to shed my past over and over again....until my heart no longer hurts. I will also remember that no matter how many times a snake sheds its skin, it will always be a snake. These things must be remembered before letting people back into your life. 

Moral of the story: If you don’t check the grass for snakes it’s hard to complain about being bitten.

Beware of False Prophets

 Mother often said…BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

I found this snipped from the newspaper, Billy Graham column, in her stuff.

While the Bible cautions us against judging others (because only God is our judge), it also says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1)

What Gen Xers and Millennials Want - Part 4

Continued 

Newspapers

There’s just something sacred about the morning kitchen-table ritual: coffee in hand, newspaper spread out, the whole world delivered in crisp, ink-smudged pages. Boomers are still keeping that vibe alive—but for most people under 60, the “paper” is an iPad or a phone (and yes, we’re choosing to believe they’re reading headlines—not speed-running Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok).

This is a sensitive one for me because Daddy was the local Publisher and editor of the newspaper. He owned the business. He was tutored by one of the finest men in the field, Mr. Raymond Nichols. R H Nichols was even invited to a press conference at the White House under Dwight Eisenhower. I have long ago lamented the demise of the local paper. It held TRUTH because the journalist had to cover the stories with all the elements covered: Who, What, Where, When, Why and sometimes How. They didn't want to get it wrong because these were the people they rubbed shoulders with in the grocery store. As a journalist myself, we were taught how to avoid propaganda...just straight forward news. I believe that today, most people key in to only the side of the news that they fall on. There is such prejudice in our news media...yes, even the newspapers that are still there.  It saddens me greatly. We long ago stopped our subscription of the paper copy because a city as large as ours (over 2 million) sold off to another publisher in a DIFFERENT city to print the paper. SO, THE NEWS is a day old, and we have already heard the stories and sports scores. We miss the day of true reporting, which is something that the Millers will never understand. It came with core principles, avoiding slander at all cost.

A Job Means Everything  

For many boomers, their job was the most important thing. We can't imagine any boomer ever heard, let alone used the term work-life balance throughout their work lives.

You better believe it was everything and still should be. It is your bread and butter! It is a means to support yourself later in life. As far as balance, we weren't snowflakes, needing space to balance our mental health. Working was our mental health; learning to balance our lives around those we came into contact with. We learned to look people straight in the eye, shake hands and respect others. Then using our precious time outside of our work schedule to do the most important things, being with family and cherishing the time away from work, knowing we must return to work hard and be the BEST we could be. 

And while we're on the topic of jobs...

9-5 Workday We will always love the Dolly Parton song, but it probably won't be too long before the idea of working from 9am until 5pm every day is oh, so very antiquated for most people.

What's wrong with learning how to navigate this world with others. We were NOT secluded in our homes, in our pajamas, pretending that we were working.

Hats Off At The Table

Have you ever gotten an angry look from a baby boomer? Wear a hat to the dinner table and you will.

 We learned PROPER MANNERS...which has gone by the wayside and so has the respect for others and how you behave appropriately in public. 

Landlines

If you're wondering why forms still have separate fields for "mobile phone" and "home phone"—baby boomers are why.

What's the big deal? You've gotten your way. Things progress and we have, too. The landlines will be going away. Besides, copper is expensive and now the younger people are stealing the copper wiring. There is no way that the system will support these much longer. We GET IT! Right now, though, I find it handy not to give my cell number to everyone. 

The Good China

Not the country. We're talking about the fancy dishware sets that, like the formal living room, were only to be used when guests came over. For folks under 50, plates aren't for saving, they're for using.

It's nice to have special things for special occasions that we have with special people. I really don't know why we had such nice dinnerware, as I have not used it very much, and it is very expensive. It probably goes along with the 'wood furniture' that the young people scoff about. But IT'S GOOD STUFF. Quality that last, unlike IKEA products that are nothing more than particle board. And...it is just like us, Built To Last!

Movie Dates

Partly because there are fewer quality movies being made (there are only so many sequels and superhero movies one can take)—and partly because these days it's easier to just Netflix and chill.

The movie industry has gone WAY off track. And who's to blame for that? The younger generation has no concept of modesty, manners, nor putting a pure good look to something. They need too much gore and sensation for entertainment. Not just good quality character movies. And once again, the young people have no idea how to teach older people how to use all the new technology. I'm inclined to think that most of it is filled with trash anyway.  

Asking A Father's Permission To Marry His Daughter

A few Gen Xers still hang on to it, but at this point it’s been the rare exception—not the norm—for quite a while.

Who owned her first? It sure wasn't you, and most fathers need to hear that a man will take care of and cherish a father's most prized possession. 

Handwritten Letters

It's rare getting a handwritten letters via snail mail at all these days—but even rarer is getting one hand written by a person under 60 years old.

I pity those who don't understand handwriting, as you will no longer be able to understand the history that is preserved from long ago. And there is just something very special about getting something WRITTEN that restores your spirit. But how would you know? When most of the time, you don't even see the importance of responding even in text. You are on you own, buddy! Let's just disconnect from anything we see as a nuisance. Let's not see anything as a lasting treasured item, 

Owning A Home

Sure, there are plenty of Gen Xers, millennials, and probably even a few Gen Zers buying homes. But it isn't as important to the younger generations as it was to baby boomers. It was expected, it was what you did. And yes, housing prices are keeping a bunch of people from home ownership, but plenty are very happy to rent, even if they could afford to buy—many even see it as the smart financial move.

Well, it is special to have you own property. Something that shows that you have WORKED, been successful and something that others have no say over. I never thought it was expected of me. It was something I was proud of. And we don't live in debt, because we worked hard to pay off the mortgage and in retirement, we are not paying rent, just expenses. Hopefully, younger people will not regret having something to show for their lives and commitment to society. 

Having 2.5 Kids

1977 marked the last time the average American family had more than two kids—barely, at 2.01. By 1978, it slipped to 1.96, and it’s never climbed past 1.95 since, quietly cementing the two-kid household as a thing of the past.

No comment as this is totally a personal choice. I'm fine with that.

Retiring At 65

Go to school, get a job, work 9-5, by a house, have 2.5 kids, retire at 65. That was how it was for the parents of baby boomers and for most of the baby boomers themselves. We've already talked about the changing work landscape as far as work-life balance and the disappearing 9-5. Whether it's retiring early or having a few side hustles and lines of passive income—the traditional retirement structure is going away.

All I can say is...you may never know the joy of stepping back and enjoying the fruits of your labors, whatever that looks like to you. Good luck with not having a place of your own later in life when the challenges of living get harder. You may never be able to retire on 'side hustles and passive incomes'. We didn't stand around waiting for someone to hand us something. What we worked for, we earned.

I am disappointed in this, and truthfully offended, article that shows no respect for our generation and for what we stand for. It surely explains to me why young people today don't want to look me in the eye, or give anyone older than themselves any respect. Many are spoiled brats, always given things and not understanding truly where you came from. I pity that lack of compassion. At my age now, I'm seeking out those people who have wonderful children and who have taught them to honor others and be nice with good manners. There are many of you out there and I'm choosing YOU and the people to lead us into the future. I praise and thank God for you.

What do Gen X and millennials Want? Part 3

 THINGS I SEE FROM DAYS GONE BY THAT CAN NEVER BE THE SAME

I copied the article entries, and then addressed each category in bold green  

Photo Albums
No, not the Google photo album on your phone. We're talking real life physical photo albums with real life physical printed photos. Ya, we know—if you're under 30, none of those words make any sense.

It is important not to discard these old photos, especially those family portraits and the old photos from the 1800s and turn of the 20th century. It's your family history. Please cherish these as they cannot be replaced once they are trashed.

Phone Calls
Yes, younger people still make phone calls. However, a text or DM is often the first choice and if someone doesn't answer, you don't leave a message (they can see that you called on their phone).

What is more valuable than someone's voice wishing you a good day, especially someone who truly cares about you. We see it as rude to just hang up and let you guess why we are calling. Then again, we are the generation that will look you in the eye, greet someone openly and value the conversation. We truly were taught proper etiquette.  

Voicemail
Think about the last time you had a voicemail. Odds are it was either from a business confirming an appointment or from someone over 60. And let's not forget...
 We are sorry to inconvenience you with our voices. Same answer as above. 

Leaving Date, Time, And Name In Voicemail
"Hi, it's Dad. It's 1:30, Thursday afternoon..."
 This is not needed anymore, true. As the calls are time stamped. I, however, like to hear a greeting and/or to know if there is something that I need to be aware of. 

Wearing A Suit And Tie To Work
It started with casual Fridays and we've been adding more days of the week ever since.

Believe me, we were most excited when we were allowed to wear jeans on Friday. However, there are certainly professions that we expect to carry the formal protocol. It shows class. We don't expect this to be an everyday thing, but there is nothing wrong with making yourself the best that you can be.
 
Checks
Think about the last time you saw someone write a check? How old were they? There are surely many people reading this who have never written a check in their lives. And never will.

Come on! Our generation didn't live on plastic. It can be a disaster as you rack up debt. When you use a check, you should write down and keep a record of your expenses. This younger generation does not seem to understand living within their means. NOT racking up a huge debt! It is also a way that I save some people, like my hair stylist, from having the expense of processing payments. Then honestly, we are not adept enough, nor trust our phones with our finances. 

Formal Living Rooms
For all you young people: A formal living room was a full room in the house that was only used when guests came over. It also usually had nicer furniture and accoutrements than did the regular living room that was used by the family 99% of the time. And not only was it only used when guests came over—you were not allowed to step foot into it at any other time. 

I pity those who find this as something to complain about. It is with pride that we have a room that represents us. When guest arrive, they don't walk into a room that is littered with our mess of the day. 
 
Couches Wrapped In Plastic
This one pretty much ended with the parents of boomers—but there were probably a few boomers who kept the annoyingly noisy and uncomfortable tradition alive.

No, we no longer live on plastic wrapped couches. But let me put it into perspective. My parents had nothing when they started out. Times were tough after WWII, and when Daddy began to make enough to start buying good furniture in the early 1950's, my parents had 1 toddler and 2 very young children. And NO, we didn't live on it for all that long. I can only imagine how Mother felt when she finally decided to take off the cover...and let go of the "newness".
 
Cable
The cord-cutting began years ago and with the proliferation of streaming services, it's only gotten worse (for cable companies, that is). From just under 100 million cable household subscribers in 2017, that number now sits under 70 million in the United States—not to mention the fact that close to 80% of cable subscribers are over 60 years old.

Instead of bashing us, maybe you should seek out an elderly couple who doesn't understand new technology...and help them out, setting it up with explanations. We live on a set income, and we prefer to do things ourselves, BUT hiring people to come in, takes money, time and trust. You will understand one of these days, when things seem to have left you behind. 

Organized Religion
No, we definitely aren't predicting the end of religion. That's not going to happen. However, we can point out that 68% of 18 to 49-year-olds are religiously unaffiliated—as compared to 18% in the 80s.

I'm speechless and heartbroken about this. I will go to my grave knowing that THIS is the main reason our nation is falling apart. We believe in the word of God. We understand that following His laws are difficult and that hard truths are buried deep in those laws. People now-adays want to change the narrative to make it easier to live with a clear conscience, so they set a new standard, rather than to live by the law. In the end, you will face judgement.
 
Cash
Again, like religion, we aren't predicting it will go away completely. But think about how often you tap and swipe as opposed to pull out cash from your wallet to pay for anything. You might've also noticed more and more businesses popping up with signs saying "Cash Not Accepted".

I have no words. The value of a dollar in your hand and understanding that when it is passed OFF in exchange for an item, it is NO longer in your hand. You have to build up the supply again before the next purchase. Just like recording and keep up with your paper checks. I addressed the PLASTIC world above and it is disgusting how people are living in debt because they want to be instantly gratified.
 

What do Gen X and Millennials Want? Part 2

Here is the article. It was the title that created unrest within me. The "Fingers Crossed" part. Like wishing my generation would just Go. Away! Again, Now I understand what my mother and my mother-in-law were thinking and feeling when they were my age. They both voiced concern about the direction we, as a nation, were going.

Everything that will disappear with the baby boomer generation (fingers crossed)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/parenting/everything-that-will-disappear-with-the-baby-boomer-generation-fingers-crossed/ss-AA1Vun1n?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=698463c3b2f34cecaab1d59890494c0e&ei=46#image=30

Here's the introduction to the article, "Born between 1946 and 1964, Baby Boomers are now in their 60s and 70s—and they’re still happily doing (and using) a bunch of stuff that younger generations mostly treat like urban legends. Which means as the Boomer era fades out, a surprising list of items, habits, and everyday rituals might fade out with it—possibly for good."

For good... yep! let's do away with them. That’s fine…but there are a few things that are deep core principles of human nature that are disturbing for the young people to ignore. I have decided to divide their complaints into two sections because, I don't use some of these things anymore, either. Which led me to the wording "urban legend". Let me clarify. The things listed in this article are HISTORY, not urban legend. As a schoolteacher, it was fun to teach urban legends. But that is not what these things are.

URBAN LEGEND - definition.  Urban legend (sometimes modern legend, urban myth, or simply legend) is a genre of folklore concerning stories about an unusual (usually scary) or humorous event that many people believe to be true but largely are not.

In this Part 2, I will address the things that I admittedly do not use anymore, just because life moves forward, things change and we adapt to that. It make me sad that these younger people don't realize that THEY are the ones leaving us behind. I was lucky enough to still be a teacher when the computer was introduced into the classroom and had training on how to use them. And honestly, it was fascinating to see how my students could quickly adapt and help teach ME. But now as a retired person, I DO feel left behind with some of the newer technology, and no one seems to care that these concepts are difficult for older people who don't have the capabilities to understand their usage. I remember how my mother-in-law felt "left behind". It's a situation where we don't have access to people who can teach us, help us, make these transitions. 

But anyway, here are the things on the list that I don't use. No need to cross your fingers in hopes that they will go away.

Email Forwards
"It will be nice not to have our email filled with these kind of subject lines anymore: Re:fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd:fwd: funny"

I, too, hated these anyway. It cluttered my inbox and I would spend wasted energy reading them.
Fax Machines
"Raise your hand if you still have a fax machine? Put your hand down if you were born after 1964... we're just going to assume that very few hands came down."

We had these at school, and back in the day, that was the new way to get things quickly into the hands of someone else. It was part of the progress forward. 
Encyclopedias
"Honestly, we're not sure they even produce physical encyclopedia books anymore. Which means that most of the ones still in existence probably reside on bookshelves in the homes of Gen X and millennials' parents."

Again, part of history moving forward. I'm fearful that books are disappearing, another way to brainwash people and not read history as it was...only reading what is 'online' as the way someone wants you to see the story. Today, I do find it more accessible to get the information online. But let's not rewrite history. And yes, I do have my mother-in- law's encyclopedia set sitting on a shelf because when they moved out of state, she offered them to me. As a teacher, I hit a gold mine to have these in my home as reference. Remember, we didn't have things available with a click on a screen. PLEASE, remember history!

The Yellow Pages
"Really? We're pretty sure even baby boomers don't use those big yellow phone books anymore."

Well, article is correct. I don't see any way to place all the numbers anymore into one book like the phone book use to be. I miss it, as it was so much easier than clicking and clicking, trying to find the exact listing, and then finding ALL other kinds of information, not knowing who might be truly qualified. 

Harley Davidson
"Once a symbol of rebellion, Harley Davidson is now that really loud bike the old guy in your town drives around." It was a big deal back then, but hardly any of us rode motorcycles. Don't make it sound like we all had one. In actuality, it was only a few.
Having 2.5 Kids
"1977 marked the last time the average American family had more than two kids—barely, at 2.01. By 1978, it slipped to 1.96, and it’s never climbed past 1.95 since, quietly cementing the two-kid household as a thing of the past."  I don't blame young people for not wanting more kids than they can care for. If we look back into our history, though, when families worked the land and fed themselves properly off of that land, they needed more help to do ALL that work. It was okay for them to not have birth control. Loosen up, it was the way life was for them back then. No one is slamming you for your decisions today. 

What do Gen X and Millennials Want?

 The State of Affairs

Sometimes my heart feels saddened and deeply troubled by what I see going on around me in the world. Of course, I use to roll my eyes when my mother would say, “Things are going’ to hell in a hand basket.” She was a person who … watched a brother leave home to fight the Nazi’s in WWII and he was placed right in the thick of things for the Battle of the Bulge. She grew up during the Great Depression. They had hardly anything, and yet they had everything. They were loved. They had family who helped one another and mostly, they had faith in the good Lord; that He would provide. They had extended family living nearby, and they were surrounded by the love of that family and their community. It was a time when they relied on one another and lived in the moment. They went to the movie theater to see the introductory news clips to find out what was happening overseas.  Going to the theater was a treat, but a ‘must-do’ so they would know the news. They gathered around the radio to hear what was happening outside their bubble. My mother was a person who lost EVERYTHING in a house fire. All she had was the shirt on her back. Literally, they didn’t even have shoes on, as they played outdoors barefoot.  But they had family and community and Pappy provided what he could in the days to come as they rebuilt. All of that is a story of its own…but it leads me to today….

When I opened the computer to my home screen, there was an article that was creepy down to the core of my spine. I know that today’s generation would be rolling their eyes at me. I never thought that I would see our world deteriorate into the ideology of today; it’s unfathomable to me.

But here I go…all for nothing.

I open this “all knowing” computer screen where children can lose their innocence way too soon because they can access unthinkable things and are bombarded with ads for things that are far above where they are emotionally, desensitized by decaying values of morals on all levels. So…here I sit sounding much like my mother and my husband’s mother. I’m glad they are no longer here to see what is being shown in an instance to the world. The latest most appalling thing that I saw was a gown (if you could call it that) on the red carpet of the Grammies. I don’t think I could call it a dress, but rather nudity. The dress was attached to her nipples, then draping down to her midriff, revealing her breast not just her cleavage.

Then after being completely disgusted by the wording of the above said article (which I will address in the next Post), I decided to change direction and work with the music on my computer…to which I’m sure the above said millennials would be totally disgusted with me for wanting to have at my own disposal…my own music.  I opened iTunes and was once again blasted by things that are despicable and unacceptable:  Title of songs, names of artist and groups, horrifying graphics…. the things of nightmares. Following are a few of the headliners: Demon Hunters, The Great Satan, Megadeth, Mayhem, Liturgy of Death, Midnight Blitzy by Tailgunner (with skeletons), Engines of Demolition by Black Label Society.

I pity these young people who will be raising our next generation, as they will reap the benefits…or should I say, demise… of this type of culture. My eye fell on a title and I investigated, as it was an album titled Into Oblivion by the artist Lamb of God. Really? Here are the titles of the tracks on the album: Into Oblivion, Parasocial Christ, Sepsis, The Killing Floor, Blunt Force Blues, Bully, Devise and Destroy.

Man oh Man oh Man…. are we in trouble now. YES!

So, an introduction to address the article about what is offensive to millennials about my generation turned into a rant. The information about the article will be continued in the next blog or two because I am passionate about what I’m seeing as decay in our young people. It will not get better. I have faith that there are some great young people who will cleave to what is truly good and right in this world.

More Later…

Happy New Year!

 HAKUNA MATATA

Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that translates to “no worries” or “there are no problems.” It conveys a carefee attitude and encourages people not to stress about things beyond their control. This is the perfect mantra for the new year.

As we age, we are faced with more life behind us than before us. We are faced with the loss of love and life. Yet there is space for new life, new love, and new beginnings.

I began my year with a new puppy .... yes, a puppy. I forgot what new energy that brings to your world. As I let go of the past pain and disappointments, may I look forward to new discoveries and new adventures; may I celebrate my victories and all that life has taught me. 

Hakuna matata...may I worry less about things I cannot change! AND may my new puppy, Miss Dixie Belle, lead the way.

Coo Coo Ca Choo

                                       

Wild About Texas: Mourning Dove

There are things that stir your memory.  Sometimes it’s a song, a place, or a special recipe, but for some reason, you are transported back into your past evoking strong feelings. I’m very much a nature person, and yesterday my memory was stirred by a sound…the sound a dove makes. I would call Mother every Sunday and she would often have her house open or even talk on her remote phone from her porch. She lived on a street named Mourning Dove, and the Mulberry trees in her backyard were often filled with dove. They would coo and coo, and I could hear them when I visited with her, either when I visited her home in Abilene or when visiting with her on the phone.

I had sometimes mused that it sounded like the Beatles song “I Am the Walrus”…goo goo g’joob,  But it was way better known from the movie “The Graduate” and a song sung by Simon and Garfunkel’s,  “Mrs. Robinson”.

Only here recently have I said that it sounds like the dove are saying coo coo ca choo. So yesterday when I was on my own back porch, a dove began to coo. Derek was with me and heard me say, “I love you, dovie.” (because they were making me feel close to Mother).  And in a few minutes he said, “ I love you, too,” because to him, that is what he could hear them saying in return.

 Well, this morning, I looked up this string of nonsense words…and in the urban dictionary, the meaning is derived from “Finding Nemo” and I connected with the urban meaning given…

“Everything is all right. No worries.”

Words for a Person in Mourning

 ~ 'Words' by Ullie-Kaye

~ Art by Jennifer Yoswa

Instead of saying, "I know what it feels like", let's say "I cannot imagine your heartbreak".

Instead of saying, "You're strong, you'll get through this, let's say " You'll hurt, and I'll be here.

Instead of saying, "You look like you're doing well, Let's say, "How are you holding up today?"

Instead of saying, "Healing takes time", let's say "Healing has no timeline".

Instead of saying, "Everything happens for a reason, let's say "This must feel so terribly senseless right now".

And when there are no words to say at all, you don't need to try and find some.  

Love speaks in silences too.

Losing Someone Who Is Still Living

 I've experienced this a few times, and it is just as hard as losing someone when they die. It may be on a different level, maybe even more difficult because they are still there, just not present.

Welcome Home Post on FB

February 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM  ·

When you hurt someone with a good heart, the reaction isn't always immediate or obvious. They won’t shout, won’t make accusations, and won’t cause a scene. They are the kind of people who carry their pain quietly, letting it settle within them like a shadow, while still showing kindness and compassion to everyone around them. It’s almost as if they continue on as if nothing has changed.

But deep inside, something shifts. The way they once trusted and valued you starts to erode, not through any dramatic event, but through a slow, silent realization that their trust has been broken. They begin to distance themselves, not out of anger or vengeance, but simply because they’ve accepted the painful truth—that they can no longer give the same love and trust they once did.

These are the people who have loved you without reservation, who have given you their time, their energy, and their heart. When that trust is betrayed, it doesn’t explode into chaos. It simply fades, quietly and inevitably, because they know that they can’t sacrifice their inner peace for someone who cannot value them the way they deserve.

They may still be kind, they may still be compassionate, but they will never look at you the same way again. The connection will no longer be the same. The loss of someone like this isn’t something that can be undone—it’s an irreversible change. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, and the space they leave is not easily filled.

So, if you have someone like this in your life, cherish them. Appreciate them. Because once their trust in you has been shattered, there’s no turning back. They will walk away, and they won’t look back.

Chipping Away

 Mother often spoke to me about how it feels when someone whom you love just keeps doing/saying things that are hurtful. (oh, how I loved that wise, common-sense person I called Mother), and they seem unwilling to help you understand or to bring you into the fold. Time and time again, you are left either in the dark or not being heard or valued...and soon you become numb to the fact that you feel you don't matter. You don't want to accept that...but you must.

Mother called it, CHIP, CHIP, CHIPPING AWAY" AT THE BRICKS IN THE WALL, UNTIL IT COMES CRUBLING DOWN, yes, I see it Mother, my best friend, ever so clearly now. There's not much more I can do...not many more hands that I can extend....as I always still walk away in the dark with no communication or anyone who calls and says Hey how are you doing today. So I pick up the pieces and stitch the cup together" and move on.

                                    

I've spent years giving it my all to my side of the family, what's left of it. And when they needed me the most, I had my "hands chopped off" when I was trying to help my sister with memory loss....and was actually told, I'm not part of the family. And then came the revelation that I was making everyone uncomfortable because they couldn't do what they want to do, i.e. imbibe in the drink. I will never back down from my stance of not using alcohol. And then it was turned on me, as if it was my fault. I've seen it time and again affect lives, and how families fall apart because of it. I most recently conducted a memorial service for my best friend's husband who lost his life at age 62 because of alcoholism. It was brutal. 

I never wanted to give up.....