Carol Cooke – Senior Scene Reporter

December 2011

Has this been a crazy weather year or what?  I’ve taken summer clothes out of closets, then put them back.  Same for winter clothes.  They’re all worn out, not because of wear but just because they have been moved from pillar to post once too often.

And now, heaven help us, we just had Thanksgiving, quickly followed by Advent and Christmas and of course in the blink of an eye it’s New Year’s, AKA 2012!

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Here are a couple of funnies to amuse you: 

• I don’t know about you but ordinarily I have our Christmas letter written and envelopes addressed by now.  But this year’s different. 

      Oh boy, is it different! 

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• Now here’s one of the jokes:  Three old men were walking.  First one says, “Windy, isn’t it?”.  Second one says, “No, it’s Thursday.”  Third one says, “So am I.  Let’s go have a drink.” 

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• Or how about “Money isn’t everything but it sure keeps the

      kids in touch!”. 

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Here’s another thing to think about.  Honestly now, what time do you get dressed for the day?  I had good role models but never copied them.  My  mother and aunt never appeared for breakfast until they were totally dressed and groomed and ready for the day.  As for me right now, it’s 10:30am and I’m writing in my pajamas.  Oh, I almost forgot—I  neglected to mention the pearls—a day without pearls is like a day without sunshine!! (according to my mother). 

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I’ll admit it—I don’t want anyone to see what I call my workroom.  This little room houses family scrapbooks and history and pictures, stamp albums for USA and many other countries, and my ironing board, and things to iron.  People say “What in the world are you ironing?”.  Well, just things.  Soon I must iron the damask napkins from last Christmas.  You get the picture.  How about your “stuff”—are YOU organized?  When I look at magazines and see what they’ve done to organize an office, TV room, etc., I’m envious but not to the point of doing something about it!  Well, that’s not quite true—I do make a periodic stab at it which makes me feel saintly but not saintly enough to finish the job! 

I didn’t get this ready for Halloween, but you don’t mind if it’s a couple of months late, do you? 

This is a true story about a five-year-old who left home for kindergarten.  Seems that was the day the kids were scooping out pumpkins with their hands.  All except one little guy who found this process disgusting and told the teacher, “The last thing my mother told me before I left home was ‘Don’t ever put your hands inside a pumpkin!!’”. 

UPDATE 

This little boy is now a father of two little boys.  Makes me wonder if THEY had to scoop out pumpkins! 

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A man was telling his neighbor, “I just bought a new hearing aid.  It cost me $4,000 but it’s state of the art.  It’s perfect.”  “Really?”, answered the neighbor, “What kind is it?”.  “Twelve thirty”, answered the first man. 

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PS – I promise no more old man hearing aid jokes!!

A Personal Prayer

Lord, I know I’m growing older. Keep me from becoming talkative and possessed with the idea that I must express myself on every subject. Release me from craving to straighten out everyone’s affairs.  Keep me from the recital of every detail. Give me strength to get to the point. Seal my lips when I’m inclined to tell of my aches and pains. They are increasing with the passing years, and the love to speak of them grows sweeter as time goes by. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.  Make me thoughtful but not nosey, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom and experiences, it does seem a shame not to use it all. But you know Lord, I want a few friends in the end.