Worry business for the concert

I don’t expect you to click here and read any more about this worry business.   It came to my attention when Mandy told me: “Don’t sweat it so much.  Everything will be OK.”  

We were going out for the evening, five of us, to a concert.  We usually have our excursions in the daytime, to places we can walk or take the bus or light rail.  This would be different, an after dark  event and even though the invitation said “casual,” it would be more dress-up than my usual shorts and pull-over tee-shirt.

Mandy did the arranging, tonight was her treat for us.  I usually help her with details, checking to make sure that all bases are covered.  Tonight I don’t think I went overboard.  And she didn’t give me this “quit sweating it business” until I had made the third phone call to her about the taxis.  If we didn’t get a van for five, if two taxies pulled up out front for us, I wanted to be prepared on where we would meet, how we would handle it.  Did I hear exasperation in Mandy’s voice when she replied “We all have cell phones, we will call each other.”  Oh, of course, but then another thought occurred to me about the weather. 

“Maybe I should call and tell everyone it might rain, and to bring a jacket.  Also, someone might expect food so we should tell the other girls to eat in advance.”  Mandy must have been in a hurry because she made her answer short.  “OK, go ahead if you want to.”  She had calmly mentioned earlier that all in this group are big girls and probably know how to handle going to a concert.   I just thought it important to make sure.

I only made one more phone call to her.  “I’ve printed maps, two of them, to give to the taxi drivers.  It’s a hard place to get back into; streets from Central don’t go through.”  Mandy was gracious.  “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

Since I had been so insistent about being on time, everyone arrived before I did.  When I strolled casually to the lobby, not showing I had been worried about anything, it became apparent that I was the only one concerned about the weather.  Everyone looked so glamorous, so dressed up for the evening.  I wore a turtle neck pullover and carried my rain jacket. 

One van pulled up, as Mandy had planned, (not the two taxies I had been concerned about).  We arrived at the theatre early enough to look around at the beautiful art work.  Soon we were sitting in the comfortable seats at an almost full house.

The “folk/easy listening” music of FEENEY/WINTHROP was absolutely wonderful.  Different selections, from comical to “Peter, Paul and Mary,” to out-of-this-world violin.  The musical tones, the harmony kept us entranced and the audience didn’t want to let them leave.  The next day we are still raving about what a wonderful experience. 

Golly, everything worked, Mandy was right about not worrying.  However, as we all know, what one worries about never happens.  So even though Mandy gave us this event, I made sure it went well by considering  all the things that could go wrong and thus they didn’t.  I did my job, but I am wondering if another concert comes up next month – I am troubled about whether or not I will be invited???

#MariamLewisCheshire   #The alternatesafeworldofSanctuary    #Myrt-ty-ky-ly

Time Travel: MYRT-TY-KY-LY

Time Travel: MYRT-TY-KY-LY: ANNOUNCEMENT MYRT-TY-KY-LY,  the beautiful sexy fierce dragoness from long ago, made her first statement this evening, a beginning ...

MYRT-TY-KY-LY

ANNOUNCEMENT

MYRT-TY-KY-LY, the beautiful sexy fierce dragoness from long ago, made her first statement this evening, a beginning to her autobiography, on www.taswos.com.

Time Travel: Ode to an 85 Nissan Pegasus

Time Travel: Ode to an 85 Nissan Pegasus: Ode to an 85 Nissan Pegasus To be read aloud    Brand spankin’ new, shining gold in the sun She became my work horse fo...

Ode to an 85 Nissan Pegasus

Ode to an 85 Nissan Pegasus

To be read aloud

  

Brand spankin’ new, shining gold in the sun

She became my work horse for business and for fun

Down to the riverbed, digging sand for yard

Count to 21, she was always working hard

We rolled down the windows when it got very hot

Chris learned to drive in the church parking lot

Kids to school and church and play

All in front, “shut up when I say”

Always faithful, always there

Through changes and moves and years of wear

Clinks and sputters, stop and wouldn’t go

Chris inherited, didn’t have to tow

Utility trailer added, service for nine  years

When it was stolen, lots of prayers and tears

Finally came home, had been treated not well

Put back together, Chris wouldn’t sell

Three T’s learned to drive, spread their wings to fly away

Didn’t go too far, all here for this day

Golden truck we love you, please no more tears

We want you to stay around for another thirty years.

March 22, 2015 

#MariamCheshire  #AlternateSafeWorldofSanctuary #myrt-ty-ky-ly

LETTER TO MOM

Letter to Mom

Mom – I was laying in bed enjoying the early morning sunshine on my legs and thinking about you and the magic of media and I’ve got the feeling that this letter will get thru to you.  When we lived in different states, I ALWAYS wrote at least once a week, even just a postcard, to let you know we were OK.  That was back when stamps cost three cents and we wouldn’t have dreamed of calling, we only used long distance phone for bad news or maybe really great news. 

Your picture is on the wall, right over my computer, and well, I just gotta tell you about what all is happening now and I think my letter will get thru to you.  Do you remember when I first got a computer?  I didn’t want to give up my typewriter.  And I durned sure didn’t want to bother about learning something new.  I had just retired, had books in my head to write, my wonderful IBM was so much better than the old manual portable Remington that I had used for years, leave me alone. 

When the big monster Epson machine with two slots for floppies appeared on my desk I wrote you my first letter on it.  I said, “Mom, don’t mind the mistakes, these keys are so much lighter to touch and I don’t know how to erase yet.”  Those were ftp days, before html and www.  Go back to the late 1980s, not even thirty years ago. 

It had to be magic.  I could send letters to my sister and brothers without buying stamps.  The family kept in touch so much better.  Now my computer has shrunk so small it can be hidden underneath a file folder.  And now these carry around telephones have cheap minutes.  And I just have to tell you what I did yesterday. 

Would you believe – I held my little phone in my hand and sent a picture to everyone.  With my telephone!  It’s called a cell phone.  Now this is really magic. 

Our great grand kids don’t  have the amazement that I do because they take all this new mystical stuff for granted. My son took away my IBM. My grandson insists that sending a picture thru space doesn’t need a miracle.  And my great grandchildren believe that what appears as voo-dooism to me is part of life. 

Well, here’s one for them.  Mom, last Sunday several of our “senior ciizens” went over to the Japanese Festival.  A friend took a picture of me and sent it thru space to me.  And I’m passing it on to you.  I know you would want to see it and somehow, with all these miracles I can’t believe, there has to be a way to send you my picture.

It always makes me happy when a penny appears in unexpected places and I know it is from you and you are being my guardian angel.   I  love you, Mom.  All is well here. sending lots of hugs and kisses, xoxoxoxo,  Mariam

#mariamcheshire  #thealternatesafeworldofsanctuary  #myrt-ty-ky-ly

www.taswos.com

  

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK

Here come the old ladies out on the town!  Tonight we are three.  Other times we might be four or five. It depends on who has the needed spurt of energy for leaving TV and the comfortable chair. 

First Friday Art Walk is the attraction tonight.   Roosevelt Avenue used to be crummy left over buildings and now has been turned into bright paint and sparkle. 

We don’t bother to wear sweaters on this February balmy summer evening in Phoenix.  It won’t cool off while we are out – when someone’s legs gives that little shaky warning, the time will come to turn around. 

We walk the four blocks to 100 year old Trinity Cathedral and admire a presentation of children’s exciting looking art work.  We accept a chocolate chip cookie.  That will hold us until we find a place to eat. 

The sun begins to disappear.  Many others have begun the stroll.  A pair of beautiful Malamute pups beg to be petted.  Of course we oblige.  We stop to admire paintings by an old lady (but not nearly as old as we are) who carries them in a basket.  Later we will see her sitting on a collapsible stool on the sidewalk instead of a booth.  She is with others who sell their wares rent free. 

We cautiously cross busy Central Avenue and need to decide which side of Roosevelt would be the most interesting.  Noise and lights attract us diagonally to an area of tented stalls. Barb has to maneuver her walker thru gravel,   We didn’t slow down at the “Head” signs, not too sure of what they would offer but knew we were past the years of finding out.

We continue on to stalls of hand-made pendants (maybe hand-made in China), carved colorful bowls, floating beads to go in the flower pot.  We window-shopped until our stomachs told us it was time to find food.  We crossed back to the other side of the street, but whoops, it was too late.  The little food places with tables and chairs were standing room only.  Although we had not reached the art gallery area, the time had come to head in home direction. 

Annette speeded up our progress when she caught sight of the woman in the tattoo shop window, all 500 pounds of her, with gaudy breasts uncovered, ready for the tattoo needle. 

Originally there had been only one plan for the evening.  Phoenix Chorale gave free Open Rehearsals at Trinity Cathedral tonight, come whenever you want, stay as long as you want.  We relaxed in that oh-so-beautiful Church, listening to voices that belonged in the peacefulness. 

Two and a half hours.  2.2 miles.  Not bad for the old ladies even though there had been much we missed.  Sometimes – well, a lot of times -- senior citizens will spend time together complaining of  the pains and problems.  Not tonight.  We talked happy words, grateful for all we have.  

We wanted to hug our downtown Phoenix.  Our much-loved low-income apartments give us the perfect style of living.  Good friendships grow here among personalities with different backgrounds and interests.

When other parts of the world are frozen, we walk in comfort.  We have areas to explore:  There was the evening we found slider hamburgers on sale at five o’clock and tap beer on sale at six.  Or maybe it was the other way around. Even though we each only had one beer, the young waiters kidded us about our ability to walk home.   Last week we saw the “26 blocks of Phoenix” art show at the Renaissance Hotel (formerly the Adams).  Always something to do, always something to look forward to. 

These old ladies are continually thankful for their blessings. 

 #PHXFridays   #MariamCheshire  #TheAlternateSafeWorldofSanctuary