Inner Beauty

Sometimes, it is just so easy to make judgments based on how things look on the outside.  Some circumstances like age, residence, behavior, etc. could cause you to dismiss or give no more thought about the person.
People are often 'deeper' on the inside, and as we 'human beings' age...our talents are not so obvious. No where is this more obvious than in a nursing home.  My mom is certainly a mere 'shadow of the torch' she was and we who know her are well aware of her fine qualities.
In the dining room, I am on a first name basis with both staff and residents.  So when Mary [not her real name] burst into song, her dementia and unruly behavior  took a back seat to her beautiful voice.  She had sung in a choir and and was quite musical.  There is an organ in the corner of the dining room, and I asked her if she could play the organ. 
"Uh...I think so."
There was no sheet music. As those aged hands pressed on two rows of keys and her foot added 'pedal support', you could tell that the pleasant chords and sounds were 'right on' and beautiful.  It was a treat for me as I seem to have a connection with both ends of the rainbow:  the children and the elderly.
It prompted me to want to initiate conversation that would
shed some light onto the hidden talents that I know were present in the room!!

Way to go, Mary!!
Mary and I have launched into 'Amazing Grace' at the dinner table more than once which will usually bring on a comment from a resident along the lines of.
"There she goes again!!  She's singing again!"
To which I answer,
"Aren't you glad she has such a beautiful voice?"

Such a great kid!

I spent a couple of days with my son and his family, and it was great! Hugs, kisses and a delicious lasagna dinner greeted me.  The next day,  the unofficial "Take Your Mom To Work Day" began where I was delighted to watch the radio hosting process up close and personal.  Made my heart smile to see my son as a professional media man who was living his dream job with such confidence  at the top!!  And no, that is not a biased Mama Bear statement.
In the evening, I was able to be the audience for a round table sports TV talk show that was taped for Time Warner Cable.  There was no script or prompting, and again, I wondered ,"How does he know all of that current and ever changing info off the top of his head?"  And add humor to it, too.
We then went to see the hockey game of the year...No, not the NHL game on the TV and radio.  It was the 12 year old kids' playoff game where we were rooting for #4 and his team to win and they did!  Wahoo!!
What was the best part?
The thoughtfulness and caring shown to me all the time by everyone.  My arthritis caused me to be kind of slow-moving and it was never the issue [for them].  As I heard the recurring words,
"This is my mom!"
there was also the resounding internal joy of,
"This is my sun!!"
[ I know how to spell...My son is my sun!]

Thanks, Scout!!

Scout is the cat. She is definitely a character, and ultimately demands to speak her piece.  Sometimes Scout can be very, very vocal when she thinks it is time for breakfast. [5 AM??]
 Nuh-uh!!
She can make sounds that you would not believe could really come out of that little face. Her routine is pretty standard.  When I make coffee and the dog is using the facilities outside, Scout eats breakfast. Then she gets a drink and saunters to the bedroom where she stretches out for a nap while begrudgingly sharing the bed space with me and the dog.

This morning I was watching a taped show of Brian William's 'Rock Central' .  I made a trip to the bathroom and returned to our shared space, my computer, and the TV show.  But now, somehow, the TV was on a different channel and there was Jack Hannah hosting his show..."Into the Wild". It was a fascinating bunker view of a hundred elephants arriving at their watering hole where they drank, played, and swam in their natural environment. A mother had to help her young one get 'unstuck' and out of the mud.  Many trunks were flinging dust and dirt around as they enjoyed a ''dirt bath'.  I have seen birds and squirrels do that same behavior, but watching the elephants' version significantly  kicked it up a notch.  It was pretty amazing.  I know that I am an addicted 'Nature Lover'.  When the morning shows have an animal segment, or the late night talk shows bring on animals, it is always entertaining as well as informative.  As a kid, Mutual of Omaha's 'Wild Kingdom' was a Sunday night family event before 'Lassie'  and 'The Ed Sullivan Show'.
I would like to publicly acknowledge Scout's unsung capabilities.  I also have to wonder...

How does she do that?  How does she change the channel on the remote?  Does she watch David Copperfield and learn his secrets?  I do know that the next time the TV remote is missing, I will have to "Scout it out" with that four legged Houdini!!  It will probably be in her 'bag of tricks'.

PS.  This is a clip art poster...The last picture is not Scout and I never had a hamster!! I just thought it was funny!!!

Really?

The morning news spoke of a government Senator or Congressman making an impassioned plea in a speech to fellow members.  When the camera spanned the room, there were few people there listening.  Really?

The evening news last night showed our government representatives leaving for the weekend on Thursday the 28th of February before an important issue affecting many, many people was resolved.  Really?

I do not care what political persuasion anyone believes to be their voice.  This is ridiculous. 
Go back to work.  Get things done.  End the stupid childlike behavior that has become normal to them.  Give lobbyists their walking papers.  Stop making 1,000 page bills that have non related perks hidden on page 562.  They don't even read them before voting on them.  How do they justify this? 
Really?

The news also showed a house unexpectedly falling into a huge sinkhole. That might work in Washington.  Now, exactly how does one get in touch with Mother Nature?