Spring

Life has had felt "heavy" recently.  I find my mind is consumed with many things.  In the midst of it all God is bringing Spring.  I had the opportunity to enjoy it at Gibbs Gardens this past weekend.

The mission of the day was to see the Daffodil's in bloom.

Some of the daffodils weren't quite ready to pop out.

Some came out in large numbers.

Natural Born Leaders

Ever seen a tadpole sack?

Dare to be different.

The birth of a new country love song "A Lawn chair in the Sun"

These make me happy!

I forget the name of this one.  Not a lot to look at but oh the sweet aroma!

In the Japanese Garden

And we weren't alone!  Lots of folks came to capture Spring.

A selfie of the Traveling Trio - Heather, Tammy and Me

One person's to-do list, another person's treasure map

So we were playing outside at school today.  A child from another class was running around with a piece of paper in his hand.  He was talking about his Treasure Map and how he was looking for treasure. First I was amused at his imagination and enthusiasm.  Then I thought that treasure map looked somewhat familiar.  I made a comment to my co-work about what he had.  She said that it was a sticky note, someone's list.  I responded with "I think it is my to-do list."  She inquired if I was going to Publix?  Yep, the little fella's treasure map was my to-do list that had evidently fallen out of my pocket.  When asked if I needed to retrieve it, I said no.  So often I never actually look at the to-do list anyway.  Yet having my to-do list become a treasure map made for a good excuse if things went undone.  So I may not have gotten everything needed done today yet I can take heart in knowing that someone else did enthusiastically search for treasure.

"Me Time"

About a year ago, I received a pamphlet in the mail.  On the cover was the picture of a peaceful young women tossing a salad.  The caption says, "It's about time for some me time." Now doesn't that sound appealing?  What woman doesn't want some me time?  And if that isn't enough, the slightly smaller second sentence contains the highlighted words, a $50 gift card.  With an imagination quick as lightening, the words me time  and $50 gift card conjures up such visions of day spas, wonderful food, shopping and tranquil meadows. But then I read the entire second sentence.  It reads, "Get checked today, and get rewarded with a $50 gift card."  Upon opening the pamphlet, I realize that this pamphlet from my insurance provider is all about having a mammogram.  Some ingenious marketer, whom I doubt has ever had a mammogram, has come up with the notion of marketing a mammogram as me time.  And  perhaps knowing that such a notion would in reality be a hard sell, the marketing team has sweetened the deal with the promise of a $50 gift card.  I was amused and befuddled all at the same time.  Mostly I was just disappointed that my yearly mammogram was not due for another 9 months.  A $50 gift card sounded really nice. So I hung the pamphlet in my home office for humor as well as a reminder to claim my me time prize.  At last it came time to have some me time  in an awkward paper gown with a cold hard machine. But that is okay right, because I am going to get a prize.  Well considering that my place of work changed Insurance providers just a couple of months prior, the only prize I received was an "all clear" letter a couple of weeks later.  I know that such a letter is a prize that not everyone receives and therefore I am very grateful for it.  However I think that even I could have convinced myself that I had engaged in a some real me time that December afternoon, if I had received the $50 gift card!

Now Hiring

A local Dairy Queen has the following message
posted on its sign out front:

     Now Hiring

2 Tenderloin Biscuits

          $3

Know any tenderloin biscuits looking for work????

Senior Discount

That's me with the contorted facial expression trying to be appreciative yet at the same time not showing my horror.
I am completing my transaction at the Kohl's check out counter.  I have just bought Peter a pair of jeans.  My total is cheaper than I thought it would be so I look at my ticket.  I notice that there is a calculation for 10% off.  Yeah! But why?  I ask the young girl ringing up my purchase where the 10% off came from.  She cheerfully tells me,  "It is the Senior discount. Today is Wednesday, Senior discount day."   I am grateful to be saving a few dollars, really I am.  But I am aghast to think that at 44 years of age, I have been offered the Senior discount. Maybe she is so young she can't tell the difference.  Maybe it was the way I was wearing my hat.  Maybe it is the late nights I have been keeping and the bags under my eyes.  Maybe I need to start wearing some make up and restyling my hair.  I don't know!  I do know that I am not ready to be classified as a Senior but I am looking forward to those 10% discounts!