Thursday, September 28, 2006

Tidbits from Life

Last week, one of our favorite customers died. She was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 87. Someone had turned into the wrong lane of the divided highway, and despite people flashing their lights at him, he continued on his way, dooming himself and Marni. Please be at peace, Friend. We'll miss you so much!

This week, a writer friend of mine died after a long illness. Linda was the most valiant women I've met. She accepted her coming death with graciousness, equanimity, serenity, and yes, humor. She was able to gather with her six children before she went, and is looking forward to escorting her coming grandchild to the portals of life. Go forward with our love, Linda. Save us a place in line.

Last week, my daughter announced her engagement. Oh Happy Day! She has waited a long time for a man who would love her so wholly and completely, just the way she is. I am very thankful and grateful for this blessing to come into her life.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Voting

On Tuesday I voted for the first time in my new location. I went up the hill to a little bible fellowship church (one of two in my hamlet), clutching in my hot little hand several methods of identifying myself, including my driver license, my voter registration card, and two utility bills. This was necessary because two years ago a bill passed that makes it mandatory in Arizona to prove who you are beyond a shadow of a doubt, so no illegal aliens can vote. I understand that has happened, as a certain political party here allegedly recruits minorities, citizens or not, to register to vote. Tsk, tsk!

Anyway, this was the first election since I moved up here fulltime and re-registered. I entered the little hall, and was greeted by friends who worked with me in the melodrama that my church put on the past June. Even though they knew me, I still had to present my IDs. Having proven that I was indeed Marsha Ward, I got my ballot and went to my voting station, a sort of library carrel on stilts. Instead of the punch card I had grown to know and tolerate, the ballot was a sheet with bubbles that had to be filled in completely with the provided black pen. Hey, I thought I left bubble sheets behind in college!

A short time later, having mastered the oblong bubble-filling process, I put my ballot into a "privacy envelope" that neither provided privacy nor was an envelope. This I took to the next step in the voting process, a machine that sucked the ballot out of the envelope and into its bowels for safekeeping until the poll was closed.

Then I went outside and my friend Bill gave me my prize for voting, a sticker that had an American flag and the words, "I voted." I wore it all day, proudly.

When was the last time you voted?

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Sweet Summer

A few days ago, I saw the most spectacular sight as I rounded a curve. A sheet of weather hung in front of my mountain. At first I thought, Oh no! Smoke! Then I realized it was a "local rain shower." What a sight! Then, as I checked my mail, I noticed that my rainbow was back. I looked up again, and the rainbow was double! Whoa! I really will stay put. No more talk of moving for me.

I'll admit I've been hiding under a rock as far as popular music since the early 70s is concerned. Once I got married, I didn't listen to much radio anymore, except for the occasional children's program. Therefore, I never latched onto any single singers or "groups" since Neil Diamond and The Monkees. Yeah, I'm that old.

When I moved up here to the mountains, my radio choice was limited to one station. Very recently that has expanded to three (the original AM and two upstart FMs), but the point is, country and western music is the commonest fare here.

I know the names of the regulars: Alan Jackson (who is my favorite), Clint Black, George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, etc. A group name popped out of the radio a couple of months ago: Asleep at the Wheel. I was intrigued, but discovered that WalMart didn't carry any of their albums. I went online and researched the group, but didn't order any of their albums at that time.

Then a friend sent me an email with a patriotic song by Diamond Rio. The email lamented that the song--a standing-ovation favorite of audiences at concerts--wouldn't get any airtime being Uberpatriotic, and therefore wasn't released. I found out that it indeed did show up on their Greatest Hits II album (the email must have been making the rounds on the Internet for a while), and I had to have it.

Back online I went, and this time I ordered an album by Asleep at the Wheel as well as the album by Diamond Rio. AATW has been around for 31 years! How did I miss it? Great group! I don't know how long DR has been around, but I regret all my rock-hiding years.

One of the Diamond Rio songs I've been enjoying is Sweet Summer, which brings me to the whole point of this blog. Summer is winding down up here. Evenings are cooling off, and mornings are too. Fall is coming, and winter is right behind it. Soon I'll have to put away the fans, break out the flannel nightgowns, quilts, and space heaters, and make sure my gas fireplace is ready to go.

Next month the highway ice warning signs will be released from their summer prison, bolted up with blank faces. Word is going around that we're in for a wet winter (thanks be to God!), so I'll become more experienced in driving on snow or ice, which I don't particularly look forward to, due to the risk of accidents, but there you go. Ice and snow and accident risks come with the pleasure of living up here, and that can't be beat.

Which is your favorite season of the year? Do you love holing up in winter, greeting the newness of spring, getting out and about in summer, or enjoying the change of colors in fall?
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