fun

PEACE OUT

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Today, October 4th, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, our mother’s favorite saint. In her infinite wisdom, she left us directions to follow his prayer for peace. In her beautiful handwriting, the letter she prepared and sealed in an envelope was to be read by the priest at her funeral before we saw it, per her written request. It asked her children, her Magnificent Seven, to live our lives according to this prayer:

Note that the prayer asks that I am the one to be this instrument, not the other person. That’s the tough part, because most of us, myself included, think it’s the other guy who needs to work a little harder to make peace.

To make it more difficult, we cannot agree on a common definition of peace. What I think should be the standard of behavior in order to promote peace, may be the exact opposite of what someone else thinks. Taking a look at our divided nation is all one needs to confirm this. In spite of this, perhaps to understand instead of being understood is what we all need to work a little harder on, myself included.

I’ve got plenty of work to do there.

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Now that I’ve basically placed our mother’s expectations to live a life of peace upon you as well, let’s move on to something lighter.

Gail’s youngest daughter Lydia got married this weekend. It was a beautiful celebration of two people vowing to keep it going through thick and thin, good and bad, whatever life brings. They are a delightful young couple with a beautiful life ahead of them, and their unity is a testament of peace as well.

Gail’s other two daughters made the day special as well, we don’t get together enough.

Gail’s delightful family, her entire progeny and their families, were there to celebrate.

Our delightful niece Dawn and her family made the long trip. It has been far, far too long since we have seen them, and we have vowed to not wait so long next time.

Our parents were there in spirit. They are always with us, no matter where we go.

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On our way to Oakley, Kansas, where the wedding took place, my husband and I stopped along the way in Hays, Kansas, for the annual Oktoberfest. The college there–Fort Hays State University–is my alma mater, and my husband gets in touch with his German roots in grand style once a year.

It is always a surprise to see who is attending each year, and this year I was so excited to see my friend Michelle. She is not only an FHSU alumni, but also an alum of my high school. We have known each other since childhood, and without her, you may not be reading this blog. Nine years ago, she helped me with the technical assistance I needed, because I am very low-tech, and she already had her blog rolling on this platform as well. I am deeply indebted to her, and so grateful for her help. Her million-watt smile always makes me smile as well.

Another FHSU alum, and another friend named Michelle, was my classmate in grad school and is a speech therapist extraordinaire. This year, she won the Alumni Award, the highest annual honor bestowed on an alum who exemplifies the highest standards of not only educational achievements, but for their service with philanthropic efforts for the betterment of the community. She began, and now maintains a regional, one-of-a-kind Parkinson’s Disease program in Manhattan, Kansas, offering extensive therapy, support, exercise programs and education for people affected by Parkinson’s. I was honored to attend the awards banquet with her,

and to get a special wave from her in the downtown parade the next morning.

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In just eleven days, Gail and I will once again head west to Colorado for our annual fall trip, Suzanne can’t join us this time. I know Gail and I will have plenty of fun as we always do.

It is possible to follow the prayer of Saint Francis and still have fun, we do our best to do both. Hopefully our words and our mom’s words will help you do both as well.

Peace to all of you today and every day, and congratulations Lydia and Verlin!

IN MEMORY OF

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Monday, May 25th, 2026, is Memorial Day in America. It is the national holiday set aside to remember those we loved and lost, and to pay tribute to the veterans who have passed who bravely served our country. It is a solemn celebration, as most memorials are.

However, Americans also observe it in a festive way as the official beginning of the summer season, even though the calendar says it won’t be summer for another four weeks. We don’t care, we need our reasons to celebrate. As a country, I’d say we are pretty good at that. Then, just two weeks after the calendar says it’s summer, we will celebrate our country’s birthday on July 4th. This year is big; America is turning 250 years old. The “semiquincentennial,” as it is officially called. Being the word nerd I am, I am thrilled to learn this new word and I will use it frequently to add to the festive nature of this time of year. You’re welcome.

If, as we do for this holiday, we could find a way to create fun and joy when life brings us sadness, then I say that’s a good thing. Some occasions are purely joyous, like the two recent weekends we spent with Gail and her family in her small western Kansas town.

At the end of April, Suzanne and I headed west to celebrate with Gail and her daughter Lydia, who is getting married this fall. It was a splendid bridal shower for a beautiful young woman with a bright future ahead.

Last weekend, I soldiered west without Suzanne back to Gail’s house, she wasn’t able to join me for their small town’s annual “Rod Run,” a classic car show showcasing all models of vintage and unique vehicles. Gail kept me busy as a “Thirst Responder” on the patio of the bar/grill she manages, as she and other family and friends served up a delicious meal. I didn’t get any pictures of her in action, it seems she was running around in a blur all day so a picture was not possible. If you know Gail, you get it.

The car show is an annual hit, right down to the race late Saturday afternoon.

Remembering those we loved and lost is something most of us do nearly every day, not just on Memorial Day. Moving on after loss is not an easy task; grief is the price we pay for love. I don’t know anyone who has loved and lost who feels the grief is not worth the love, they wouldn’t have missed the gift of loving that person despite the grief.

I turned 60 last month. I would say 60 years old, but old is a state of mind. So is young. They are just words, words not nearly as impressive as “semiquincentennial.” The trick is to not think about the number and keep living life to its fullest.

“Always have something to look forward to.” That is a piece of advice from Mom that I keep in mind and try to follow. Next weekend I will travel to Kansas City to celebrate the 60th birthday of a friend since kindergarten. Gail, Suzanne and I are scheming another summer trip, not sure what yet, but it will be fun, no doubt. I am holding these future adventures close in mind to see me through any rough spots.

Memorial Day is a sacred day to honor the veterans we loved and lost. Even if we didn’t know them, they deserve our honor for serving our country. My father-in-law passed several years ago, and he was a Korean War Veteran.

Thank you for your service, Marvin.

My hope and prayer for each of you is that your loved ones are with you, either in person or in spirit, or both. If they have passed, remember the love. Pay the price of love with your grief. Honor them by living your life to the fullest. Remember all the joy they brought you and the world. Remember none of us get out of here alive, so live every moment. Reconnect with those you need to see again. Forgive. Laugh. Find some joy in each day. As Mom said, always have something to look forward to. Find even a bit of joy in sadness. Your legacy will one day live on in other’s memories and in stone, so make it a good one.

We celebrated our parents with a beer and a burger at our hometown’s annual festival. We try to find the joy in sadness, even though it’s not always easy. We even put the ‘fun’ in funeral. If anyone can do it, we can. And if you need to, we hope you can, too.

FERRIS WHEEL FUN

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“Fun is good.” —Dr. Seuss

When we were kids, the edge of the world was just beyond Wichita, Kansas. At least for me, it was. That was as far as any of us ever were able to venture as kids.

Our grandparents–Mom’s parents–and several aunts and uncles lived there. Mom spent her high school years there, and came to the farm after she married Dad, the result of a blind date.

Wichita was the big city, the big time and big fun. Visiting there from our farm was a treat beyond compare, and I would marvel at how my dad could leave our farm and drive all the way to our grandparent’s driveway there without a map. How did he do that? He was such a brilliant navigator.

Not far from their home in the neighborhood known as College Hill was the Wichita equivalent to Disneyland. Except that we really had no idea what Disneyland was. Oh, sure, Suzanne still jokes that Mom and Dad took her–and only her–to Disneyland, but I see through that now.

Joyland was an amusement park located at 2801 South Hillside. It opened in 1949 and closed in 2006. I took my boys there once shortly before it closed. They, too, have memories of Joyland, but not as rich and varied as mine.

For us, as farm kids, this off-the-farm fun was as good as it got.

When they closed, several of their rides were sold and given new life, including the ferris wheel. Its new home is just down the road from Suzanne and me in Minneapolis, Kansas.

You may recall from previous posts that Suzanne has a thing for ferris wheels. If she is anywhere near one, she will be sure to take a ride. She rode one in Scheel’s Store in Colorado Springs recently when she and her husband were traveling through there.

We had yet to take a spin on the old Joyland ferris wheel, so I told her we need to be sure to ride it during the Ottawa County fair last week.

And we did. Our husbands even went along.

It was a Joyand all it’s own. Reliving the memories and making new ones was priceless. And, it was fun. Plain, simple fun. Something most of us don’t allow ourselves enough of.

I found pictures of the dilapidated remains of Joyland online. It was heartbreaking, and I don’t recommend it, but if you have childhood memories of Joyland, and you want your heart broken too, feel free to find them in the auction company’s listing online.

I remember this walkbridge, it’s the only picture I could find that elicits a colorful and warm memory from Joyland.

Because the sisters of The Sister Lode can’t always be together to have fun, there are times we must soldier on without one of us. Gail was in Wichita celebrating her grandson’s birthday this weekend, so she was not here to enjoy the ferris wheel, or to be our teammate in another spelling bee.

The Salina Public Library hosted their first adult spelling bee last night. Suzanne and I, along with Jordan–my neighbor who has been on our team for the other bees, and my other neighbor Angie comprised our team. It was a bracketed tournament style bee with single elimination. I didn’t get any pictures this time and it didn’t take much to eliminate us.

Tell me, before you look it up, how do you spell the ice cream with the three flavor stripes of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry? All four of us were wrong.

But, the most important thing was that it was indeed fun. There was a friendly spirit of competition among the eleven teams: cheering, well-wishing and laughter. Just not sure if I will ever be able to eat neapolitan ice cream again.

I have been devouring books this summer, a favorite fun thing for me year round. One of my most recent was this:

It made me think and dig a little deeper into how much fun I may or may not be having. I have since determined it’s not enough.

I was in the car the other day with a friend and we drove past a cemetery. She asked me what I would like my tombstone to read, and without hesitation, I answered: She had fun.

We hope you are having enough fun in your life. If you’re not, get out there and find your own ferris wheel fun, or spelling bee fun, or whatever it might be. Life is meant to include fun, but it doesn’t often come knocking.

Price, Catherine. (2021). The Power of Fun. The Dial Press

Following is a montage of the Sisters of The Sister Lode having fun…

Now get out there and have some fun!

THE BEEKEEPERS

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As much as I would like to surreptitiously conceal the fact that we didn’t win the annual Neighbor-to-Neighbor Spelling Bee last night, I must acquiesce to this fact. Our temerity was perhaps part of our downfall.

However, as we always do when we get together, we had a simply scintillating time.

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Even though they covered our coiffures, our beekeeper hats created a brouhaha, winning us the Best Costume award. Gail, in her good-natured appreciation of all things audacious, bought us these accoutrements to wear (where, ware). We also wore our bright, almost fluorescent tee shirts Gail and her daughter made for us several years back.

My brilliant and beautiful neighbor Jordan joined us once again, rounding out and complementing our team. We have played together as a team before, acting as a buoy for each other. As you can see, her stomach is rounding out as well, with not just one, but “two bees in the bod,” as Gail so aptly stated. She has a pair (pear, pare) of joy bundles on their way. We will keep you apprised of the double–not quadruple–arrival in the next month or so.

While the “Spell-it Sisters” did reign (rain, rein) as champions two years ago, we will be back to try again next year. It is a sacrosanct night (nite, knight) for all of us.

I had the honor of auctioning the live auction items. Gail was the winner of the beautiful, Amish-made barn quilt. All proceeds from this fundraising eventbenefit Neighbor-to-Neighbor in Abilene, Kansas, an incredible community support service that does just that: neighbors helping neighbors.

The evening wrapped up, and I chauffeured Gail and Jordan back to our homes. The aesthetic crescent moon hung low in the western sky, the “fingernail moon” as Gail’s daughters used to call it.

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“Never, ever underestimate the power of having fun.”–Randy Pausch

“Fun is good.” —Dr. Seuss

As you may have noticed, having fun is a priority for the sisters of The Sister Lode. Fun comes in many forms, so whatever yours is, have it. Even when it seems that sadness is overcoming us, we must never forget this.

This past week in our country has been a tough one with so much tragedy in our skies. We must never forget the sacrifices our military has made throughout history and continues to make every day for our country.

One of our brothers is an airline pilot and a nephew is an air traffic controller. Their expertise and bravery allow us to travel the country and the world, and every person in every position in our airline industry and the FAA deserve our respect and gratitude. They put their safety and their sanity on the line every day when they go to work.

Today is Groundhog Day. I will celebrate tonight by watching the movie of the same name for probably the tenth time; it is one of my all-time favorites. If you haven’t watched it, I highly recommend it. If we could have a re-do of our mistakes until we get it right like he did, the world would be a much better place.

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Happy Groundhog Day. Happy day every day. Have fun every day, and hold your loved ones close, not in the periphery.

In loving memory of all who lost their lives in flight this week.

MRS. ROPER AND THE SPELLING BEE

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When the sitcom “Three’s Company” premiered in 1977, it crossed some TV boundaries that had never been challenged: two single women living with one male roommate. Our parents forbade us to watch it; it crossed their boundaries, too.

As a parent, I get it now, and I respect that they cared enough to set that limit for us. Now, however, as adults and parents ourselves, we realize social norms and mores have changed considerably in these last 47 years.

Perhaps that is why Gail chose to celebrate the landlady “Mrs. Roper” by joining an already established Facebook phenomenon known as “Mrs. Roper’s Romp.” Since Gail has no shortage of friends, and she was already a cogent influencer in her small town before “influencer” became a thing, she had no problem getting her friends to join her.

And, I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad are nodding their approval–and laughing–from above.

Gail and her daughter Lydia

One of the Mrs. Roper’s mothers saw the group romping down the street, and thought they were dressed as clowns. Good thing she doesn’t suffer from coulrophobia!

Apparently, this is sweeping the nation, at least for those women–and some men–who want to get in touch with their inner Mrs.–and Mr. Roper.

This, apparently was the first Romp for Gail’s group, but there will certainly be more. Stay tuned to her Facebook page for future Romps!

Suzanne and I engaged in lower-key fun yesterday. Being the spelling nerds we are, we took ourselves to the Kansas State Spelling Bee, the Scripps preliminary for the National Spelling Bee to be held in Washington DC. It was hosted right here in our small city; it is our understanding it had always been in our capitol city of Topeka, but this year, it was right in our backyard.

Of course, we couldn’t miss it. And, of course, we were the only ones there who weren’t there to support their child/family member as they competed. We could tell, because everyone else in the small crowd had a nametag with a number for their participant.

We didn’t care. We own our spelling nerdiness; wear it like a badge of honor.

The words started out easy as they typically do, but quickly progressed in difficulty as the single-elimination error policy resulted in a quick exodus of many in the contestant group.

Pictures were not allowed during the competition, this was the warm-up round.

New to us was the Vocabulary Round, whereby the contestant is given a word with two possible definitions. The 50/50 odds didn’t prevail for a considerable number of contestants, and I found myself questioning my own ability. And I thought I was such a word and spelling nerd. Turns out that, perhaps as the late great Toby Keith sang, “I ain’t as good as I once was.” My temerity was now obvious to me. No longer can I continue to blandish myself as an ace speller. Even my lexicon isn’t what I thought it was, as the vocabulary round proved.

I felt the old familiar feelings of excitement and anxiety I once felt as the young spelling bee contestant, my stomach perhaps needed an antacid from the dyspeptic stress, but the truth is, my hips fared worse than my stomach from the four hours on the bleachers in that auditorium, reminding me more of my sciatica.

The words continued to increase in complexity and decrease in familiarity; they would vacillate between short and long words such as crith and hermeneutics. In the end, likely all but one of the contestants were mollified by their families in attendance, the rubicon from the wrong answer took them out of the game.

One excited young man took home the gold, and one disappointed young woman claimed second place. I felt her pain. I placed second in the Mitchell County (Kansas) spelling bee in the fourth grade and never placed again. Clearly, I have never recovered from that defeat.

Gail is a spelling nerd, too, as evidenced by our participation–and last year’s victory–in the team adult spelling bee we participate in. We missed it this year, as it was the same day my son got married.

Next year.

Perhaps all the brouhaha over Mrs. Roper’s Romping in Gail’s hamlet is misunderstood by some, but clearly they haven’t spent enough time with Gail and her friends. Gail, Suzanne and I see fun as a non-negotiable aspect of living a full life. Clearly all the other Mrs. Ropers do, too.

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My last post was Monday, March 4th. March Forth. We all did, as we continue to do. I continued my trip through Arizona, picking up my friend Marilyn in Flagstaff the next morning, then traveling to the sacrosanct and breathtaking natural wonder that she had not yet seen: the Grand Canyon. I had been several times including a day hike, but it never fails to inspire me and fill me with wonder.

We visited my dear friends Tana and Amy in Phoenix, then came home through Portales, New Mexico, where I went on an exchange program there from my university in 1986.

I hadn’t been back in 20 years; the good memories and nostalgia filled a place deep inside me.

Marilyn was able to connect with a college friend who lived in the area, she hadn’t seen her in about 25 years. It was a tearful and blessed reunion.

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The moral of Mrs. Roper’s Romp and the spelling bee is this: whatever your breed of fun is, HAVE IT! Get your weird on if you have to, or get your quirky self to the spelling bee. Or, get out and travel to see the people and places you want to see.

Keep your heart and mind open to new experiences, keep your head high and your arms open wide to capture all that is out there waiting for you. If you listen to your heart–and let yourself go, you will likely find yourself in a continuum of raucous joy, a recipient of a veritable cornucopia of beguiling fun.

THE GAIL EXPERIENCE

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The reviews are in: “Gail brings high energy and fun to all aspects of her life! I had such a fun time. Her garden is delightful, Lola is one of a kind, we got to meet her friends on their front porch, and had a great lunch at the bar/grill she manages. Camp Gail was highly entertaining. I give “The Gail Experience” 5 stars! –Shari

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It’s a real thing, The Gail Experience. I have lived it many times; I am one of the lucky ones. In the next breath just after I say that, I will also say this: there is no such thing as The Suzanne Experience. And that’s how they both want it. As the middle sister, I guess I am in the middle there, too. I guess, perhaps, this blog is part of The Kathleen Experience, if there is such a thing.

But I am not here to talk about that. This is about Gail, her aura and the gifts of her presence. And there are so many.

Shari, my friend since kindergarten, loves to hike like I do. We have long planned to take a trip to western Kansas to experience the natural beauty of several land formations there, as well as a new state park with hiking trails. We have tried two other times: first, my son was sick with Covid in my home, so we decided it best not to share that kind potential illness. Second, we were both available and healthy, but Gail was not going to be home at the time we planned to go, and this involved an overnight stay at her home. I told Shari, “We could go, but you wouldn’t have The Gail Experience. I will let you decide.” She decided to wait until Gail was home

Wise decision.

Last week, it finally happened. The stars and planets aligned, we were both able to get out of work responsibilities, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and Gail was home. So, Shari arrived from the Kansas City area at my home Tuesday evening, and we headed west Wednesday morning. The sightseeing and hiking was every bit as beautiful and enjoyable as we had hoped, but that’s not the point. Our home state boasts so many natural wonders that deserve more attention than most people give them, and more than I can put into this blog. It may very well be covered in a future post, because both Gail and our beautiful state deserve their own headlining coverage.

The farthest point of our trip took us to the northwest corner of Kansas, and even into the southwest corner of Nebraska. We turned around, and were at Gail’s house in the beautiful burg of Atwood an hour later. Gail had supper ready, and we were hungry hikers. As usual, it was delicious.

Shari’s reaction to Gail’s home was the same as mine when I first set foot in it over 20 years ago: it’s Gail. Her spirit and style are carried through in her decor, especially in Camp Gail, which I have featured in each of the five pictures at the beginning of the blog. We “camped” after our cruising, more on that later.

It was about 7:30 pm at this point, and it was a beautiful almost-summer evening, the kind that calls for cruising. So, as well The Gail Experience, Shari also got to have The Lola Experience.

Gail’s 1974 Nova, lovingly named after its last owner, always turns heads on the streets of Atwood.

We were privileged to meet a group of her friends, who were hanging out on the porch of the group’s senior member, 87-year-old Buzzy. Perhaps you could say, with the little squeeze that Buzzy added in this flanked pose, that Shari and I also had The Buzzy Experience. Or, perhaps more accurately, we got Buzzed.

We cruised some more, then headed to Gail’s house. It was a girl’s night, as her husband was out of town for a few days. Her daughter, Lydia, was there to enhance The Gail Experience. As is custom at Gail’s house, guests gravitate toward Camp Gail, which is where we spent the rest of the evening talking and reminiscing, but mostly laughing.

Perhaps it was the beautiful night, or the slight deliriousness from a day in the sun, or maybe since we were one or two beers in, everything was funny.

I’m pretty sure, though, it was mostly the company.

Among other visual treats in Camp Gail, Shari noticed a beautiful scarf Gail had as a decoration. She picked it up, and proceeded to find all the ways it could be used. With Gail’s encouragement, suggestions and goading, we laughed until our stomachs hurt.

Starting with the functional look to keep one’s hair tame in the Kansas winds–just like our mothers used to wear, Shari began the modeling:

Our mothers also wore scarves fashionably around their necks:

And to church.

Then, it started to get really silly.

She took the cue for this one from my Willie shirt, and it was followed by the do-rag:

And the blindfold…

And the bandit.

and the toothache/mumps wrap.

The turban was the finale; our stomachs couldn’t take any more laughing.

Shari and I had to hang it up and go to bed, but, as usual, Gail could have entertained us for hours more.

In the morning, we went for a brisk walk, followed by massages. We were relaxed and energized, and, of course, hungry.

Gail had some work in the office of her first full-time gig as an office manager for a chiropractor,

and then we enjoyed lunch at the home of her second full-time gig as the manager of Legends bar/grill. She wasn’t technically working, but she had already unloaded the food truck that delivered supplies earlier that morning.

As parties always are, it was then over. We fought the blasting south Kansas wind for the first 30 miles, and then I cussed it as I drove east for about the next 120 miles until it calmed. As usual, Gail loved the wind. Ugh.

But I still love her for that. It’s part of The Gail Experience. If there were a Suzanne Experience, it would include the love of wind as well. Definitely not part of Kathleen in any way. Our day of hiking/sightseeing in western Kansas couldn’t have been more calm and beautiful, with brilliant blue skies and a slight breeze. NO wind.

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I am not as pious as the picture of Shari praying in the scarf, but I say a prayer of thanksgiving every day for the gifts of my sisters, and for the “experience” of being their sister. They cry with me in the bad times, and laugh with me in the good times. And, we know the importance of having fun.

Special thanks to my dear friend Shari for making this trip with me. Her “Gail Experience” was a great one!

RED SUEDE COWGIRL SHOES

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RED SUEDE COWGIRL SHOES…and other necessary extravagances.

Greetings from the splendidly beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains. It is time once again for our semi-annual Go West, Young Women trek.  Sadly, Suzanne is not with us this time; she chose to stay behind rather than fight the altitude sickness.  While we completely understand and support her decision, it is never the same without her. 

But we must forge on without her, so we do.  She sends her blessings with us.

As we all know, the world has changed in the last seven months.  Cripple Creek, Colorado has changed as well since our last trip here in early March.  Social distancing and mask-wearing are the norm, which precludes some of our favorite activities, namely, table games in the casinos—Gail’s favorite.  Some slot machines are spaced with every other one out of commission if they are close to each other, and some are divided by plexiglass.  Still, we managed to have fun. 

“Fun,” as a noun, is defined as “enjoyment, amusement or lighthearted pleasure.”

Having fun, as we see it, is a priority in life.   We agree with the wise doctor:

In “Red Leather Cowboy Boots,” (June 7th, 2020), I wrote about the awesome cowboy boots I purchased after my quest to do just that.  This weekend, in Colorado, I broke them in.

It was indeed fun.

My friend Shari helped me find my perfect pair, and several weeks ago on our trip (Plan B:  Let’s Sea, October 4th) I helped her find her perfect pair.  While she was shopping in the vast western store in Oklahoma City, I discovered some western-themed footwear that I didn’t know existed.  These shoes sucked me in, and I was hooked.  Except that I couldn’t find the perfect pair that spoke to me, so my next quest was to find them online. 

And I did.  And they are fun. 

I broke them in this weekend, the day after I broke in the boots.  When I found these Ariat Cruisers, in the “Vintage Cowgirl” print online, they screamed fun, and then they whispered my name.  Needless to say, I couldn’t resist. 

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Among the various fun activities Gail and I engaged in while nestled behind Pikes Peak in this quaint little mining/gambling town, was simply relaxing in our room.  We stayed in our favorite inn, and, as always, we were welcomed back with open arms. 

Massages are not Gail’s jam, but once again, I received a fabulous treatment from Joanne, the in-house masseuse extraordinaire.  While I wouldn’t call it fun, exactly, it does help to free me up and relax me to enjoy the other lighthearted pleasures we partake in.

Gail rarely sits down to watch TV, but when she is away from home, she allows herself this lighthearted pleasure. We watched the good old favorite Saturday morning cartoons,

 The movie “Matilda” was showing later, and it caught our interest.

Matilda, the main character, is a little girl who possess extraordinary telekinetic powers, and generally tries to make life fun.  She struggles with the mean and nasty teacher/headmistress at her school, who had this quote on the classroom wall behind her:

“If you are having fun, you are not learning.”

We beg to differ.  Some learning, by nature, is not fun.  I recall not having a lot of fun in my high school math classes, but I did learn a lot, mostly how to persevere. 

We would argue that you can learn more by having fun.  These are the memories that stick; the memories that we carry with us because the memories of the fun we have is often a close second to the actual fun while we are having it. 

Above all, we have learned that having fun is a choice.  Fun, whether it is a simple picnic in the park, or a long weekend away—or perhaps a week away on vacation, is sometimes something we fight against.  Fun doesn’t have to cost anything, or take a lot of time.  Watching a good movie, having dinner with friends or playing cards is great fun. 

If your plans for fun, however, involve an expenditure of a considerable amount of money or time, then there are other factors that must be considered.  I hate to admit it, but I still wrestle with the guilt that tries to spoil my fun when I think about how I should be at work, and shouldn’t be spending money.  When I am with my sisters, I quickly beat down the little voice that reminds me “you are abandoning your family again,” because it always tries to be heard.  My children are grown and my husband is quite independent without me there—he was an ace bachelor for years.  They all encourage me to go, but still, that voice keeps trying.  Each time I shush it, it becomes a little more timid, a little more quiet the next time.  In time, I know, it will stop trying, because it knows that as long as it continues to lose each battle, it doesn’t stand a chance at the war.

Gail, on the other hand, is a seasoned pro, and reports only a twinge of this guilt for not being at work.  Her work ethic is strong, but her fun ethic is stronger.  Her family is independent as well, because she has trained them well.

We plan for our trips, we save year-round for them, and we have taught our workplaces that this is our priority, and that they will carry on fine without us.  

And they do. 

When our children were younger, it was more difficult to get away, but we made it work.

There has never been a time when our families and our workplaces approached us and said: “You deserve a vacation. Take some time off and go, and don’t feel a bit guilty about it.  And, here’s plenty of cash to make it all happen.  Go, and have tons of fun.”  Perhaps this has happened to someone, somewhere, but generally speaking, it doesn’t happen.  So, if you are waiting for this kind of special permission, accompanied by a bunch of money, keep waiting.  I would bet the entire cost of this trip that it will never happen to me, or you.

This translates into a simple truth:  you need to give yourself permission, and make it happen.  If your plans for fun involve considerable time and money, only you know what you can afford in terms of time away from your family responsibilities, time off work and money to spend on fun.  Sometimes, however, looking at these resources—time and money—from the fun is a necessity perspective may reveal that just maybe, you have enough of both to create some fun.

It’s your decision. 

The sisters of The Sister Lode, whether it is one, two or all three of us having fun, are here to tell you that it is worth the effort it takes.  The time you take for yourself is never wasted time.  And the memories of the fun you have will stay with you long after the time is gone. 

Or maybe it’s buying your own version of red suede cowgirl shoes…or both.

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As always, we never tell all from our travels, but we do tell some.  Here is a montage of the fun we had.

Neither of us won any money, but it was fun to try.

Where’s Gail?

She’s in there, I swear…

Watch for the rocks—and Gail

We took in the purple mountain majesty…

We shopped at our favorite store, and came away with more beautiful jewels…

And staged a little crisis on the way out of town…

I had to talk Gail back from the edge…

We had to stop for a photo op at this historic site with a great name:

And on our way in and out, in the last stretch of beautiful mountain hairpin twists and turns, we always crank up this classic and sing like no one’s listening:

And until next time, we had to leave this beautiful little mountain town behind.

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THE PARTY’S (NEVER) OVER

/ middlesisterkathleen / 3 Comments

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THE PARTY’S (NEVER) OVER

It’s easy to be excited for an upcoming event like we all were for Gail’s party. The anticipation built up for weeks ahead of time, but we couldn’t share the details with Gail. She had been talking about her Big Birthday for some time, and even though she didn’t know what the plans entailed, she knew it would be good. And she was excited. She was ready to plan her own party, but she didn’t have to.

She was not disappointed.

I have written before that anticipation is sometimes the greater joy; sometimes its actually more fun to look forward to something than it is to experience it. In this case, I must say that, at least for me, the joy of the party exceeded the joys of my anticipation.

Now, one week later, I am reflecting back on how much fun it was. Sometimes, like the anticipation, those reflections can be more exciting than the actual event. Again, I have to say the party was the greatest joy.

The post-party blues are trying to creep in all around me, but I’m not letting them in. Coming down after an event of that magnitude can happen with a crash, but not to me.

It helps that I am anticipating another trip in just four days. Something else to look forward to keeps me pumped up, keeps those blues at bay.

Gail and I are departing for Colorado Thursday morning. Sadly again, Suzanne will not be joining us. She gave it her all last fall when we went, but the altitude sickness left a bad aftertaste. We have her blessing to go on without her, but it won’t be the same. (We won’t be in our nun habits, either.)

We continue to celebrate our parents’ lives however we can, no matter how many of their children are gathered together. We will continue to March Forth, as we have done since March Fourth twelve years ago. Which is precisely what Gail and I will we will be doing next weekend.

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I cranked up some old 80’s CDs today, and just now The Cars told me to Let The Good Times Roll. I’ve heard that song hundreds of times, but I never before realized that the key word is let.  I think that for most of us—excluding Gail, of course, our default setting is not one that naturally lets those good times roll. I think for most of us—and these are strictly my observations and impressions—we tend to keep those good times subdued, feeling that perhaps it’s more important to stay busy, get our work done, and worry about inconsequential things. Again, Gail defies this. She manages to keep busy with important things, get her work done, NOT worry, and still, she regularly and routinely lets the good times roll.

I look up to Gail for so many reasons, but the older I get, the more I realize the importance of having fun however, whenever and with whomever we can. It does come easier for some of us than for others (think Gail), but I think we all owe it to ourselves to strive to find those good times, even if we have to use every tool in the shed to find them.

I highly doubt that anyone on their deathbed would reflect back on their life, and think I wish I hadn’t had so much fun. Unless, of course, their particular breed of fun is what brought them to their deathbed. That’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about enjoying any of the intended pleasures that the buffet of life has to offer, the joys that do no harm, and are meant to be enjoyed.

Fun and boredom don’t coexist very well. And when boredom calls, it can easily bring along its cousins, the blues. They seem to invite themselves in, put their stinky feet up on your best furniture without asking, and refuse to leave when you politely ask them to do so.

Like a good exterminator, I have found the best treatment for the blues: get up, get moving, and find something you enjoy doing. They hate it when you do that, and typically leave because there’s nothing left there for them.

Having fun on a tired Monday morning at work is much harder than having fun at a birthday party. Life can’t be a 24/7 fun-fest, but fun, of course, is best enjoyed when its counterpart is given its due, because without those tougher times, we don’t appreciate the lighter ones.

The day-to-day drudgery of work at our jobs and work at home can take a toll, but there are always ways to inject a little fun, if you just try.

I was thinking of small joys I take away from routine tasks, and I had one so seemingly strange, that was, until I told Gail about it. She does the same thing: when doing laundry—a task I really quite enjoy, we find a small thrill from matching the colored hanger to the shirt we’re hanging on it. Suzanne agrees that this is weird. We know, but whatever thrill one can find in the mundane is always a good thing.

I do enjoy vacuuming as well, and perhaps Gail enjoys this one a bit more than me: she likes to let the dust bunnies accumulate before she sucks them up with the vacuum for a greater thrill. I’ll have to let mine sit for awhile longer and report back to you—and Gail—on that one.

As farm girls , we learned the fine arts of playing in the rain and the mud after the rain.  These small joys are largely a part of our pasts, but we all continue to enjoy the thrill of cracking the thin ice on a small frozen puddle, crunching dried mud that has flaked and curled up, just waiting to be stepped on.  Walking barefoot through fine, silty dirt is a joy that has been with us since the farm, and will likely never leave.

Mom left us so many important life lessons, but this one comes to mind, and I have written about it before: Always have something to look forward to. For me, when I don’t have anything bigger in the queue, I look for the simple things: waking up to a delectable cup of coffee, which almost makes me want to go to bed earlier so that I can enjoy it sooner. Or perhaps, having a good book to open when I do go to bed.

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In three days, I will depart from my home to arrive at Gail’s home on March Forth, where we will celebrate the lives of our incredible parents together. Suzanne and our brothers will be with us in thought and spirit.  Thursday morning, Gail and I will go west yet again. We will enjoy a leisurely drive that day, because we know that at least half of the fun of a trip is in the journey. We will make our usual stops, but we’re always open to new experiences. We will arrive Thursday afternoon/evening, and we will create our own kind of fun. We know how; we’ve had plenty of previous experience.

As a reminder of our previous fun, here is a photo montage.  

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For us, the party is really never over. We make it a priority, spending whatever time, money and energy we can to make it happen.

May you find your joys, both great and small.  May you find the fun in life.  May the party go on for you, too.

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Depending upon just how much fun we have next weekend, the blog about our trip may or may not be posted next Sunday night.  If not, stay tuned, and thank you for following.  

 

HOW TO BE FESTIVE

/ middlesisterkathleen / 4 Comments

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HOW TO BE FESTIVE

Festive:  having or producing happy and enjoyable feelings suitable for a festival or other special occasion.

I spent the weekend at our small city’s annual festival of the arts, music, food and fun.  Thursday evening through late Sunday afternoon–just an hour ago as I write, I planted myself, along with my family and friends, for as much time as I possibly could in Kenwood Park at the Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, Kansas.

I was too busy having fun to think much about what to write about this week, and I realized that fun is a topic within itself.  Many of us–myself included, at times, don’t allow ourselves to experience the sights, sounds, flavors and feelings that make us feel happy, if not just for awhile.  And just for awhile is much better than not at all. 

This annual festival brings a bevy of sensory experiences to the park, serving as a homecoming of sorts for many former residents, and an annual summer tradition for many families like us.

Because I spent my free time this weekend being festive, I am not spending much time writing.  And, because shorter is sometimes sweeter, I will keep it just that way.

I continue to realize more as I age, that festive fun is an important ingredient for successful aging.  I’m only 53, so I may not be the expert that those older than me are, but here is what I know for certain about the topic:

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1:  Music brings the spirit of fun out in most people.  It is a necessary ingredient in the mix for me.  The band is performing “Hey Jude,” one of my personal favorites.

 

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2:  Eating too much tasty food is good for you once in awhile–and great fun.

 

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3:  Artisans offer some of the most unique items for sale.  If you will regret leaving it behind, and you or your family won’t go hungry, then you probably should buy it.

 

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4:  Not everyone will agree on what constitutes fun, and that’s okay.  Have your own breed of fun.  As our mom used to say, “If it feels good and it doesn’t break The 10 Commandments, do it!”

 

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5:  Some sunshine is good for you.

 

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6:  Get your face painted, or get that tattoo, whatever makes you happy.

 

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7: Always be thankful for the liberty most of us have to exercise the right to have fun.

 

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8:  Fun is more fun with friends.  Suzanne was there with me Thursday night, and Gail wasn’t in town this weekend.  Find your tribe, whether it’s family and/or friends.

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Most importantly, you don’t need anyone else’s permissions except your own have fun.  Life is too short to NOT have fun, so get out there and have it!

GAIL AS GUEST BLOGGER

/ middlesisterkathleen / 6 Comments

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I wrote last week that my posts may be sparse in the next month or so, due to the many weekend activities, plus, I need a little breather.  I hosted Gail as she took her artwork down the road to a show in Abilene.  Along with a friend, I helped her there on Saturday.  The rest of the weekend was filled with Gail-time, which never fails to entertain.  This weekend was no different.  

Wanting to add her own contribution to the blog posts–however short and sweet, she wrote this for me in my hiatus.   Gail takes fun wherever she goes, as this post shows.

Kathleen didn’t write this time, but I decided to.  Yes, it was a busy weekend; but no matter how much work I have to do, I always make time for fun.  There really wasn’t much time for writing, what with the show all day, then coming back to her house with our friend for an evening of cooking and eating lasagna, which turned into a night of story-telling and laughter with her husband and son, perhaps a few drags on a cigar, dancing, and practicing on each other with a taser–it’s best to know how to use that thing before you actually have to.  (Kathleen didn’t partake of the last three.)

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She turned in early–like she always does–so she missed the 11:00 p.m. ACDC concert on DVD in the basement two floors below her.  She said she heard it loud and clear.

Fun was had by all, which, after all, is what it’s really all about.

Take care and make sure to have some fun of your own.  –Gail

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Thank you, Gail.  You’re an amazingly talented artist with your tin and wood, as well as your words.  Your ability to share fun and laugher is perhaps your highest art form.–Kathleen