Day 77 ~ Go With the Flow Techno!

Day 77 ~ Go With the Flow Techno!

 

Mar 18, 2014

 

My first: I finally relented and bought a new laptop with 8.1 Microsoft, a blue tooth, and a new printer.

 

My almost 5-year-old laptop was dying a slow death…precious hours wasted continually rebooting after the “blue screen of death” and daily “hung up in a loop” syndromes. I was scared to death that I would lose all my “stuff”! It was time!

 

I went the day before to have my nephew Jeff take a look to see what he could do to cure my laptop’s annoying disease. He worked on it for a good part of the day and made some headway in speeding up response time. However, my gut still insisted that I end this madness and get a new “healthy” computer.

 

I went to Best Buy that next day with my old laptop and my external hard drive in hand, explaining to a young man in their “Geek Squad” that I wanted data transfers run so that I had my stuff backed up…just in case. I told them that I held no hope for my old laptop and did not want to settle for a band-aid fix. My frustration testified to them that I was in the market for a new device. The obliging “geek” escorted me over to the laptop department and introduced me to David. How knowledgeable can one 22-year-old be! After checking out several models in my price range, I chose THE one (typing on it right now!).

 

Now I am techno-ready for whatever comes my way…at least for this second. We all know how quickly technology is changing. I am probably behind the times with my new “toy” as we speak! Now, I don’t really want to spend all my golden/twilight year moments in front of the computer screen or any screen for that matter…but, ahhhh, it sure is nice to depend on it when I do.

 

The irony of it all, at least as far as I’m concerned, is that as I become older and less of a viable spoke in this cog called the human race, the world of technology ventures onward at warp speed. My flirtation with keeping up with it will be a fleeting memory tomorrow...

 

 

 

Day 76 ~ Memorial Moments

Day 76 ~ Memorial Moments

 

Mar 17, 2014

 

My first: I went with my mom to the war memorial in Smithton, IL to see my dad's name on the World War II plaque.

 

I had a day planned that was jam packed with errands to run and calls to make. Then my mom called at 7:30 in the morning to ask me to drive her to her hair perm appointment because she was feeling dizzy and did not feel safe driving. I had to be at her house in 15 minutes. Of course, I picked her up, drove out there and dropped her off. Then I quickly carried on to get some things crossed off my day’s docket before I had to pick her up to take her home.

 

About 3 hours later, I received her “take home” call and headed back to Smithton. She offered me lunch at the neighborhood Subway and I took her up on it! We ate and chatted. After we finished our sandwiches, she asked me if I would go with her so she could show me something. And the best part of her request was when she suggested “This can be your ‘first’ for the day, Mary!” I about fell out of the booth! My conservative mother was getting into my “firsts”! Now THAT is a “first”…for her! I jumped at the chance to honor her wishes and to take her wherever she wanted to go!

 

We made our way to the Smithton cemetery and then to the war memorial that was recently added to honor the veterans from all of America’s wars. We immediately walked over to the World War II plaque and she pointed out my dad’s name, Melvin Becker. She lightly brushed her fingers over the smooth, warmed-by-the-sun letters. I saw the longing look in her eyes that reminded me how much she still missed her husband.

 

I am so happy and blessed that I was able to share this with Mom that day. And even happier that she wanted to share it with me. I miss you too, Dad…

 

 

Day 75 ~ Communion Reunion

Day 75 ~ Communion Reunion 

Mar 16, 2014   

My first: I attended the Sunday service at the Apostolic Church in Belleville. 

I knew at some point during the course of this year of “firsts”, I was going to attend a service of a new church. And I always had in mind that this church would be THE one because I had met this nice young mother on a camping trip with my kids last year and she had encouraged me to give it a try. 

It was a blustery morning as I made my way from my car to the church. I arrived a little late and made my apologies to the two greeters at the door. I sat about mid-way up the aisle and began to acclimate myself to the nuance of this service. There was a band consisting of a woman on the keyboard, a man on a set of drums and another man playing the guitar...a nice trio! 
 

I can only assume that because of the nasty weather, the congregation seemed a little sparse. But I have no way of knowing this for sure since I have no previous visit from which to compare. Everyone was singing along with the three cantors in the front from the lyrics posted on the overhead screen. Being raised Catholic, this is something I have only seen in non-Catholic churches. Good idea ‘cause it keeps you looking forward instead of your head down in a book…perhaps even catching a wink or two!  
 

I peered around the room and discovered my cousin Bonnie and her husband in the front row and her son Nathan sitting more towards the back. I thought that odd that they were not sitting together, but when I witnessed Nathan’s “enthusiasm”, I understood.  
 

The service continued with the all too familiar requests for money. Unfortunately, this congregation looked like they might lean more towards being on the receiving end of someone’s generosity.  Then the young pastor emitted a spirited sermon with intermittent “amens” and “halleluiahs” interjected from various parishioners.  Songs and exuberance were a big part of this Sunday’s agenda, as I imagine they are every Sunday in this humble little church in Belleville.  
 

I have to admit I did tear up a few times as I was filled with the purity of heart of these people. There was NO pretense, no fashion statements, no stares of judgment, at least not the negative kind. My cousin was so sweet when she finally saw me. She and I went up to the altar with so many others and prayed…just prayed. The pastor embraced us and gave me a special blessing of welcome and then guidance in my future life’s decisions…very appropriate for me and my new course for this year.

 

 

 

Day 74 ~ Parade Upgrade

Day 74 ~ Parade Upgrade

Mar 15, 2014

My first: I went to the St. Patrick's Day parade right here in my hometown for the first time.

It was Saturday. And like a new sprout in spring, this amazingly beautiful day appeared out of nowhere to spur anyone to get out there and soak it up. So why not chill out, witness, and “celebrate” St. Patrick’s Day with my hometown’s parade!

I called my friend Carol and, of course, “social Carol” was about to hop on the Camp Ondessonk float. I hightailed on up there to downtown Belleville and caught Carol’s float just in time. I WISH, I WISH I would have asked her if I could jump on there with her to throw beads and greet the enthusiastic crowd, but the old Mare (no grey here!) reared her ugly head and kept her requests to herself.

But it was okay! My neighbor Kathy called out my name and we talked for quite awhile. I proceeded to look for her husband Tony. I used to work with him. I didn’t find him, but I found my childhood friend Cindy and her sister Pam. We chatted and then I moved on to find my friends Mel and Cami after receiving a text from them that they were there. During my trek to catch them, my cousin-in-law Dale yelled out to me and I got to visit with him and his wife Donna, my cousin. They were there with their daughter Debbie and her two daughters. Old home week, for sure!

After the parade I went with Carol to The Abbey, a restaurant/coffee shop in West Belleville to meet her two friends Belinda and Gary. We sat on the outside patio in the sun for over 2 hours visiting, drinking and eating. Well, they did; I just had a latte.  I saw my cousin Marcia who I hadn’t seen in years and talked with her. Also I saw an old “Mothers Club” friend Mary. Of course, we had a lot to share about each other and our children. I met many strangers on that beautiful day. Everyone was so friendly and glad to be out enjoying life!

Then Carol and I went to my house so I could show her my newly-renovated master suite. She loved it. After that, yes there’s more, we went to St. Louis to a young people party, people that were my kids’ ages. What interesting conversations we had! The age difference had no voice in trying to segregate us. It was amazing!

Then Carol and I headed back to Belleville for a Pre-Pub Crawl. We were just a few blocks away when we saw this very inebriated young man. Carol stopped and gave him a ride to his house that was about 5 blocks away. God love her! I told him that an angel just delivered him to his house and her name is Carol.

On to Carol's friends’ house! Pat and his wife welcomed us warmly, as did so many people that were there. Corned beef and cabbage was on the menu, but again interesting interactions were the main course of the evening. I was relishing and embracing it all. Key note here: no alcohol passed my lips…remember my 2014 “on the wagon” pledge!

I will remember this day as a parade upgrade because I got so much more than floats and a neck full of beads. There are good, good people in this world and as the Irish would say, I was lucky to have been around so many of them that day and always.

And let me just say this one more thing…“Social Media” has NOTHING compared to what I experienced on this day. Where’s the “like button” when you need one?

Day 73 ~ I’m Hooked

Day 73 ~ I’m Hooked

Mar 14, 2014

My first: I went to a local parish fish fry to dine with my mom and two of her friends.

It was a Friday morning in Lent and I was on my way to work thinking of what my “first” could be today! I’m not sure what the thought process was that led to my choice, but I quickly decided to ask my mom if I could join her and her friends/cousins, Theresa and Agnes, to go out and eat fish that evening. I right away called Mom and “invited myself” to join her at the fish fry that evening.

We arrived at Cathedral Grade School and had to stand in line to order for about 20 minutes. The place was packed! Then we waited for our food for over an hour! Needless to say, we four girls had plenty of time to socialize.

Now remember one thing…all these gals have over 20 years on me. Oh, and remember one more thing…their lives have been very conservative and conventional.  My life, on the other hand, has been a little off course from most expectations…including my own! Consequently, our conversations were not what I have become used to for the past 25 years. My one goal was to keep it positive. I did kind of screw that up by sharing a “fact” (I heard it on Y98 radio station) that our government still makes pennies at a cost of 1.8 cents each and nickels at a cost of over 9 cents each. What is up with that! It bowled me over. Anyway, I had to share this newfound knowledge with them. Well, Ag immediately started with political negativity about our president. Oh my gosh, what have I started! Frantically, I searched for any tool in my humble brain to shut this “can of worms”. Success! From that moment on, I kept it light and positive.

All in all, I believe that they were glad that I joined them. My presence undoubtedly changed the dynamics of their little group. My only hope is that I left them with a little good stuff about the “now” in their life and that it wasn’t just all in the “good ol’ days”.

Day 72 ~ Cable Girl

Day 72 ~ Cable Girl

Mar 13, 2014

My first: I helped my neighbor to connect her two new digital cable boxes and her new router so her Kindle Fire will work...no charge!

My neighbor asked me a few days earlier if I knew how to hook up cable boxes and modems and routers. I was not jumping at the chance to help her because I doubted my expertise in this arena. We discussed the new digital cable boxes that we had to pick up from the Charter office to maintain our cable service. After our discussion, I asked her if she could let me figure out my cable box situation and then I would come to help get hers connected.

Tonight seemed to be as good a night as any to pick up my new cable box. I talked to the personnel at the Charter office about making the connections so that I would know what to do for my TV and my neighbor’s. I called my neighbor on my way home and said that I was coming over to hook her up because I felt I knew what to do. I connected her two TVs and then she made the call for Charter to activate the boxes. Once I put the batteries in the right way in the remote controls, I got it all working. I also connected her router to her modem so she can use her “new” Kindle Fire that she got over a year ago. I guided her a little about working her Kindle (even though I don’t have one) and finding the different screens to do what she wanted to do.

I left my neighbor’s house after 9:30 and still had to eat supper and hook up the new TV in my master bedroom. Then I had a problem that resulted in no connection. After doing some troubleshooting dealing with this issue, I called Charter.  I found out that they did not have me coded as having two boxes which explained why I could not get a picture. They changed my code which finally got the TV going after 11:30.

Tasks and tenacity…what a pair!  

Day 71 ~ Don’t Burn It, Cross It!

 Day 71 ~ Don’t Burn It, Cross It!

Mar 12, 2014

My first: I walked across the Eads Bridge over the Mississippi River in the wintry cold.

My daughter and my son-in-law walked across the Eads Bridge last Friday night when they were celebrating Ross’ birthday. The beautiful evening and their relaxation mode called to them as they made the trek over the bridge. The next day they had to tell me all about it and suggested that I should do the same thing as one of my “firsts” for the year. I immediately agreed that this was perfect to do.

As I was headed home around 6:00 this evening, I thought “tonight is the night that I cross that bridge”. I went home and got my camera and off I went to the Casino Queen. On the way, I was thinking “Is this crazy or what!” I had so much work to do at home and it was cold and windy. Along the way, I was actually looking for other options to pursue as my "first". A flock of large birds (not sure what they were) flew overhead to encourage me onward to my original goal. I even thought that it might be too dark by the time I found how to get to the bridge's pedestrian walk way.  I made no attempt to phone anyone about where I was going. Will they think I'm crazy? Who cares! This was my little getaway and it was nobody’s business.

I parked my car at the Casino Queen and headed up the stairs to the Metro Link that supposedly led to the ramp that led to the Eads Bridge pedestrian walk way.  I took the wrong set of stairs all the way up so I had to head back down and climb the opposite stairs. Pant, pant. I discovered a ramp so I figured that must be the way. Yeah! I’m there! I got my camera out and starting clicking away. The evening was perfect for photos because of the cloud cover and the sun beginning its journey to the other side of the earth.

I had a hard time taking it all in and believing that I was really doing this…alone. A girl could be murdered, ya know! I did see two guys during my cross over, but they were good guys. I was a picture takin’ fool. The photographer in me was unquestionably along for the walk. The evening was going from dusk to dark as I inched closer to the Missouri side and ultimately to St. Louis' city limits. There was almost too much to take it with the big city in front of me, the new Stan Musial Bridge to the right, the mighty Mississippi to the left and watching out behind me to insure this “first” was not my “last”.

When I finally made it back to where I started, I felt that this was a great thing to do anytime and the pinnacle of my “firsts”…so far.  I would recommend doing this to anyone! Do you want an adventure, a little romance, ponderin’ time alone, exercise with a view, a superb photo shoot, or braggin’ rights just to say you did it.

“I did it!”