Random Thoughts

Anything we fully do is a lone journey.

When you go over your work, be a Samarain - a great warrior with the courage to cut out anything that is not relevant. Don't be sentimental.

Our rooms are indications of our state of mind. A little apparent disorder is an indication of the fertility of the mind and someone who is actively creative.

We are the sum of our experiences.
In search to belong. A long identity crisis.

Absorb what is useful,
Reject what is useless,
Make life your own.

Cut out paper clutter -
File it,
Forward it,
Fix it, 
Fill it,
Forget about it.
Only keep what you love.

The Dammit Doll II

I can use the Dammit Doll myself.

Tha Dammit Doll

It all started when I was having lunch with one of the residents. She has cancer and was having a bad day. I said to her that I had just the thing for her. I will make her a Dammit Doll. 

Some years ago, when I belonged to an Art club in Ada, Oklahoma, and we were having a Christmas Party. One of the members made a bunch of clothes dolls for everyone at the Party - A Dammit Doll for each of us. She said that when things did not go well for us, we should get hold of the doll and slam it and swear. A great stress relief Tool!

So I made the lady a clothe doll with button-eyes and yarn-hair. I thought my doll had character, and she did, too.
Soon, I made several of them and gave them away, asking the recipients to make a donation for our Annual Employee Holiday Fund. We are nor permitted to give tips to our employees. So once a year, we collected money from the residents and distributed to all those who serve us all year long. We have the front desk helpers, the behind the desk helpers, the drivers, the housekeepers, the maintenance people, the kitchen staff, the dining room staff, and so on. All 50+ of them.

People started asking for the Dolls. One day, someone I hardly knew, asked me to make her 8 dolls. I looked at her and thought, What Nerve!

She said that she would pay for them. I thought Why Not. It pays for my expenses. So it started. Pretty soon, more people were asking me to make some dolls as presents to their grand-children, for their friends, and so on. I ended up giving a bunch of them away and sold quite a few. People were also giving me scarps of materials and unused buttons and so on.

The dolls brought smiles to many and laughters to some.

When I gave some dolls to those who have issues with their health or feeling sorry for themselves at times, thinking that their families abandoned them, real or imaginary . . .

That made me feel good.

So it went on with the Dammit Dall saga.

ANOTHER YEAR

Well, here I am - into the fourth year of my life at the Conservatory.

   

I have not changed too much – except being another year older, not nearly as healthy as when I first came here (not doing too badly for an almost 91-year-old though), and a bit more impatient with life at times.

However, much has happened at the Conservatory. We have had two new Directors, three new Chefs (one only lasted a week), two new Maintenance-directors, and A Very Large Stone Fireplace in the courtyard, with all the trimmings. Now, I ask you, why do we need a fireplace in the courtyard? We are in Texas! Most of the time the temperature is such, we need the AC more than Heating. Aw, such is Life. There are many things that we have no explanations for. True?

Now, don’t get me wrong, the Conservatory, as far as being a facility goes, is not too bad. We are being fed and being taking care of by an Army of Staff – all 50+ of them. Aside from our Executive Director, we have a business manager, a group of front-desk workers and behind the scene workers. Not to mention the Kitchen and dining-room staff and servers, the maintenance staff, the gardeners, the sometime painters (wall-painters, that is), and so on. No Security persons, though. An oversight??? But then, it is definitely not easy to take care of some two hundred old and stubborn, very opinionated, and grouchy people. Don’t you agree?

Life is not too bad really? Life is what you make it, after all.

I try to keep busy – lest I fall asleep in front of the TV. I paint a little, I read, I tend to my plants, I play Games several times a week with my new friends, etc. And believe it or not, I have been making Dammit Dolls for the last few months – mostly for people who live or work here. It is a stress release tool. When It brought some smiles to some who live here, it made me happy...

All my three daughters, and their spouses, are well.

Cynthia, my optometrist, retired this year, and her husband, Steve, the attorney, will retire soon.  Cynthia’s daughter, Natalie (my delightful grand-daughter) is now in Seattle, WA. Melinda and Mark take time out of their busy life to take care of me, here in TX.  Cissy and Rick (the physical therapist) are super-busy with work and raising two teen-agers, my grand-children, Boone, and Edie.

Wishing you Happy 2020 and a less Crazy Year on the political scene, my old and new friends.

From Loretta