Probably the first stupid thing that came to mind was “Whooppee!  I can shop for baby clothes!”  Followed by thinking about the feel of a tiny baby in my arms.  A mother never forgets, ever, the sweet feeling of a tiny baby cuddled in her arms.

Children have such power.  Power to bring out the softness in you and power to get you to act.  People change when they’re around children.  Children become the focus of your attention.

A long time ago, I was visiting people in a rest home on behalf of our church.  It was pretty low key.  I’d just go spend some time talking to them and listening when they wanted to talk.  Religion never came up unless they wanted to talk about it.

During that time I would sometimes bring my little daughter with me.  I talked to her about being old and what made old people happy.  I told her how much they missed children – well-behaved children, I’d add.  She was a great visitor.  She’d talk and she’d let them touch her.  They were so delighted to have this child visiting.

One time I was visiting an old blind woman.  She told me there was no sense talking to her because she was going to die tomorrow.  I thought that was close to the truth, but I sat and talked to her anyway.  She was really dwelling on dying the next day.  I told her that I’d make a deal with her.  If she could wait a while to die, I’d bring her something she liked, a surprise.

“Oh no,” she told me.  ”There’s nothing I want.  I’m just going to die.”

I told her “If you can wait until the next time I come to visit, I’ll bring you something.  Don’t die just yet.”

I could see she was intrigued.  I knew I couldn’t wait too long.

The next week I had my daughter with me.  I’d explained to my daughter that we were visiting an old woman who couldn’t see.   My daughter would be a surprise and would make the woman happy.  I’d told her about being blind and how the woman might want to feel her.  That’s her way of seeing you, I said.

So, we went to the room and sure enough, the woman was still there.  I knocked on her door and asked her if she remembered that I was going to bring her a surprise.

“I don’t need anything,”  she said.  ”I’m just going to die.”

“Don’t die just yet,” I told her. “I did bring you a surprise.”

I could tell that she was torn between telling me she was going to die and wanting to know what the surprise was.  I motioned to my daughter to be quiet.  We crept close and I asked the woman to hold out her hand.  She did and I placed it on my daughter’s long silky hair.

“What’s this?”  she asked puzzled and began feeling around more.  My daughter giggled.  ”A child!  You’ve brought a child?”  She was so excited.  I told the woman that my daughter knew she was blind and it was OK to touch her.

I’m not sure who was having more fun – my giggling daughter or the blind woman.  When she was finished “looking” at her she began asking my daughter questions.  How old was she?  Did she go to school?

We visited until the woman grew tired.  ”Thank you.” she told us.  ”That was just what I needed.”

I didn’t bring my daughter the next week because I suspected what I would find.  The old woman was gone.  She had died.  But I knew she had had one more happy day before she died.  When I told my daughter, she wasn’t surprised.  ”She said she was going to die.”

Today, I’m not thinking about death, I’m thinking about the new life growing inside my granddaughter.  I’m thinking of the fun of holding her baby and buying it gifts.  I think of the pleasure his/her parents will feel in this new adventure.  A whole new chapter is opening in the life of our family.  I’m excited.

That's me holding my brother Bill.

Marilynne

The man in the foreground wanted to dance out there to the music.

When I changed spam blockers, I was spam-free for a few weeks.  It was nice, but now the same spammers are back at it, except that they are coming in as non-spam comments.  They are driving me nuts.  I hope to change spam blockers again and get some peace.

I have two guesses where they are coming up with my blog:

1. From blogs I visit in a friendly manner.  I’ll hate to not leave my web site on their blogs, but clever spammers can get it from those blogs.  Usually these bloggers are a lot like me.  They’re just blogging for the fun of it and to make new friends.  It isn’t their fault I’m getting spammed, it’s just that spammers are very clever.
2. This last wave of spam came when I changed themes.  It was a cute scrap bookie theme, but the new spam wave coincided with my changing themes.  I’m back to an old theme, but I think it’s too late.  Since I use a free theme on my blog, I suspect some of them come with nasty things.  I wouldn’t want you to avoid free themes, just to be sure you’re getting them from a good site.

I apologize in advance if you comment to this blog and I don’t acknowledge it.  I have a ton of spam to go through.  Don’t let it discourage you.  I do like comments.

Marilynne

1. Were you named after anyone?
My Mom named me Marilyn after Marilyn Maxwell, a movie star she liked.  My Dad wanted a biblical name, so my middle name is Ruth (which is also the name of my Mom’s friend).
2. When was the last time you cried?
Any time I see a weeper of a movie you’ll find me sniffing and looking for my hankie.
3. Do you like your handwriting?
I do.  I spent a lot of time perfecting all those neat letters.  I might as well enjoy it.
4. What is your favorite lunch meat?
Lin doesn’t like lunch meat and I don’t either.  However, my favorite sandwich is chunky peanut butter on wheat or good artisan bread.
5. Do you have kids?
I have three daughters of whom I am very proud.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you?
How could I possibly know that?  I think other people like me.
7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Who me?
8. Do you still have your tonsils?
No.  They came out when I was small.
9. Would you bungee jump?
No way!
10. What is your favorite cereal?
I do like cereal for breakfast.  Probably my favorite is whole wheat cereal (hot) cooked with fresh apples, raisins, and a lot of cinnamon.  Of course, you have to pour cream on it to make it really good.
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Sometimes
12. Do you think you are strong?
I am really strong for my age and so is my husband.  When you consider my health issues, that’s pretty startling.
13. What is your favorite ice cream?
Those little mini Drumsticks that are just like the big ones, but are so much smaller and have a smaller calorie bite.
14. What is the first thing you notice about people?
I want to know if they’re looking at me and if so, do they like what they see?  After that I want to know the inner person.
15. Red or pink?
I like them both, but today I’m wearing pink.
16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself?
I get to talking and forget to engage my brain.
17. Who do you miss the most?
I miss my kids.  None of them live close.
18. Do you want everyone to send (link) this back to you?
It would be nice, but you are free to do what you like about it.
19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
Grey sweat pants with a pink stripe, a pink T shirt, and no shoes – just grey and pink short socks with birds on them.
20. What was the last thing you ate?
Roasted almonds.
21. What are you listening to right now?
Just the click of my keyboard.
22. If you where a crayon, what color would you be?
I agree with Lin here.  I’d like to be plum – maybe plum with a streak of pink and another of cream.
23. Favorite smells?
Home, flowers, fresh air (my home often smells of fresh air), clean laundry, but not my dog.  He smells like dog.
24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
I have no idea.  Probably a telemarketer.  I’m not a phone person.
25. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
I surely do.
26. Favorite sports to watch?
Not a watcher of sports.
27. Hair color?
Grey so white people comment on it.
28. Eye color?
Grey blue.
29. Do you wear contacts?
No.  I feel that I rub my eyes too much.
30. Favorite food?
I like to eat.  It’s all my favorite.  However, my favorite for today is the fresh peach we ate last night.  I want more.
31. Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings.  I don’t see the point of being scared artificially.
32. Last movie you watched?
Salt.  It was scary.
33. What color shirt are you wearing?
Pink to top my pink and grey sweats.
34. Summer or winter?
I like fall here in San Diego.  Summer’s too hot and winter is cold enough to keep the windows shut.
35. Hugs or kisses?
Hugs AND kisses.  Why not have both?
36. Favorite dessert?
Angel food cake with strawberries and cream.  No icing!  I don’t like cake with icing.
37. What book are you reading now?
“Death in the Garden” by Elizabeth Ironside.  I’m reading it slowly because it’s an English novel.  They don’t approve of people who race through to the end.
38. What is on your mouse pad?
Lightning.
39. What did you watch on TV last night?
House Hunters International.  I wonder if I was as stupid when I looked for a house.
40. Favorite sound?
The birds singing in the morning.
43. Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Beatles.
41. What is the farthest you have been from home?
Australia.
42. Do you have a special talent?
I square dance, write mystery novels, paint in watercolors, and play the piano.  I wish I had enough time to do them all every day.
43. Where were you born?
Ontario, Canada.
44. What time is it now?
It’s almost 9 PM and I’m worn out.