Life in Geezerville: Charger Edition

When I was a kid, a charger was a large gold-colored plate that my mom would put under her "good china" when she set a fancy dinner table. The golden-colored chargers were never used for anything else, but when they came out we knew we were going to have a special feast. The golden-chargers were special. 

Today, I never think of those golden chargers when I say "charger." I think of all the gadgets I have that "stay alive" due to a charger. I have chargers for cell phones, tablets, lights, hearing aids, computers. Almost everything seems to come with a charger from golf carts to cars, vacuums to drills, screw drivers to wheel chairs, snow blowers to potato peelers...etc. Heck, even under counter lights have chargers...Isn't there a reindeer called Charger? 

When we go on vacation, we need to bring all the chargers (and cables) we're going to need...and hope we don't forget any because then our beloved gadgets won't work (and I hate to say this) we might not know what to do. Rue the day when we're out of power and can't find the right charger (and cable) to charge a cell phone.  

For some reason, every gadget seems to have a different charger too. What ever happened to interchangeable parts? Chargers don't seem to follow that rule. So if you have to gather up your chargers you have to gather ALL of them--for the last cruise we were on, one half of my carry on bag was filled with chargers and cables for the 2 of us...gees. What's wrong with this picture? In addition, I have a large canvas bag filled with out-dated chargers and cables that I'm afraid to throw away. I bet you have a similar collection of out-of-date chargers that you are keeping too, because "you never know when you are going to need them again."

So on this Eve before Christmas, think of all the gifts that you are giving that have a charger attached? In an effort to get away from the charger society, I'm thinking that next year, everyone on my list is going to be given a charger-free gift. One that works on imagination. What a concept! Remember, we're all in this together. 

BTW--Merry Christmas everyone!

Life in Geezerville: Christmas Music Edition

If you haven't been paying attention...Christmas is 3 days away. Where did 2024 go? How did it get to be Christmas so soon? I ask that question, but I know the answer. I've already delivered presents and there are a few more that I have to deliver. My Christmas cards were mailed 2 weeks ago. BUT, somehow, it's December 22 and I'm not quite ready for Christmas.

To get in the mood, we've been listening to Christmas music on the Telly. Our local PBS station seems to have an unending repertoire of Christmas choirs and ensembles and soloists. The best and brightest this year has been the Tabernacle Choir in Salt Lake City. The 2024 program might be their best yet. When that huge organ plays and the choir sings, I feel the spirit of Christmas down to my bones. If you've not seen it yet, look for it on your TV menu and record it on your DVR. But there are other musical programs too. We've listened to Sir Rutter and his choir and orchestra as well as the Concordia Navidad program and a few others. Gee...the music is incredible and if you are not quite in the spirit of Christmas now, these musical extravaganzas will help pave the way. We think Christmas music is some of the best music out there and this year there are a lot of home listening opportunities. I hope you get to listen and enjoy and feel the spirit too.  Remember, we're all in this together.

Life in Geezerville: Another Day in the 'hood

 

Another day in the 'hood...and what a 'hood it is! I delivered tiny Christmas bags to my neighbors--nothing big...just a home made item and a "something selected for each neighbor"...just to say "I love you and appreciate you and thank you for being my neighbors and Oh!  Merry Christmas." I love my 'hood.

The other day I was making muffins and I ran out of sugar...so I called a neighbor and asked if I could borrow the proverbial "cup of sugar" and she gave me a cup without a blink of an eye. Then, she called me the next day to ask if I had any parmesan cheese she could borrow and I said YES without a blink of an eye either. That's what the 'hood is about. Helping each other. Loving each other. Thanking each other. 

I love my 'hood and cannot think of a better place to be. Remember, we're all in this together.

Life in Geezerville: Musings Edition

I meant to write something on December 7--the day that lives in infamy--but I never got around to it. Sometimes, intentions and reality don't coincide. So--I'm writing now. 

I don't remember that fateful day in Hawaii in 1941 as I was not alive. I do remember a years later aftermath of that day. Sometime in my 8th or 9th or 10th year one of our neighbors who had served in WWII, hung himself. I was little and I did not know what that meant, so I asked my mom. She said "he was so sad he did not want to live anymore. He had shell shock. I guess we should have been nicer to him." Surviving with a burden is real, and we still do not know how to treat it.

Geezers, by definition of our age, are survivors too. We have dealt with way too many stressful, hurtful situations--way too many health issues--and way too many of our friends and loved ones passing away. Non-geezers listen up. We cross the street more slowly than a you. Please don't run into us. We drive slower than the speed limit. Give us a break and when the time is right, pass us up, but please don't give us the finger. Be nice, as my mother used to say.

But I digress...maybe it's more than being nice to survivors...how about being "nice" to one another? I read the daily news and I don't see much "niceness" out there. We are always in some sort of conflict? Does conflict make the world go 'round? 

The first year I taught school, I had a 4th grade class with somewhere between 36 and 42 kids (the number fluctuated throughout the year). They were always sniping at each other and one day I got tired of it and in one "class discussion time" I said "Kids..quit arguing." And something weird happened...they stopped arguing. It seemed like a little miracle...but it worked the rest of the school year. I've said that line to other classes I've taught, and it has worked. The kids knew I did not like it and so they were "nice" to each other. 

I'm meandering in my musings...but what would happen if we were  "nice to each other." To put our differences aside and try to accommodate other points of view without yelling and arguing. Maybe my neighbor would have lived?  If we give folks some "tea and listening" things might be better...and maybe the geezer walking slowly across the street can be appreciated a bit more because that geezer is indeed walking. Remember, we're all in this together.

Life in Geezerville: December 1 Shopping Edition

Today we went shopping. We avoided Black Friday like the plague--and we avoided "black" Saturday too--thinking there would be huge crowds everywhere. So we went today. 

As usual for us, we did not leave at the crack of dawn--nor at the "crack of noon"--we left about 3:30. A much more comfortable time for us to shop. Our first stop was the grocery store. It was strange going into the parking lot because there were handicapped places available. We live in Geezerville where most of the geezers have handicapped parking permits (I exaggerate only slightly). Given that, it's always hard to find a handicapped parking place--yet there were 3. My first thought was "what is going on?" but, I did not think anything weird was going on yet.

In the store there were electric carts available for the other DrC --now this is strange. There are never carts available. What is going on? In the store, there are a few people shopping. There's always geezers shopping at Smith's but today it looked like a ghost town. It was easy to maneuver around the store and check out was a breeze because there were no lines.

Second stop was the post office. I did not expect anyone there and there wasn't. That was normal. 

Third stop was Walmart. Now Walmart is our BIG store. It has everything. It's always jammed  with shoppers and the parking lot is always full (except for the places miles from the door). Today I drove into my favorite aisle and there were 4 handicapped parking places. Now I know something weird is going on. The rest of the parking lot was not crammed with cars either. Are the geezers asleep this afternoon or what? 

Once in the store, there are NO electric carts by the door ..first "normal" thing we've seen in Walmart. BUT, DrC went to the other door and there were 8 carts, fully charged and ready to go. We took our carts and went shopping. We found what we needed in record time because again, not a geezer in sight. Where were the geezers?  They were not shopping...or driving. I'm guessing they were asleep or watching a game?

From this non-scientific study of one late afternoon the Sunday after Thanksgiving, I conclude that today was the best day to shop in Geezerville. It's not a big study but I went to all the important places in town and NO ONE was out. I don't know why there were no geezers out and about in Geezerville...but they weren't. This might be a good piece of information to know. Remember, we're all in this together.

Sayonara

 

Courtesy of https://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Posters/S/Poster%20-%20Sayonara_03.jpg

Last night I saw Sayonara and it was not what I expected. The ending was a complete surprise for me.

The film was made in 1957 and set in Japan right after the Korean War. Japan is ruled by MacArthur and lots of military men are stationed there...lots of single military men. Japan has lots of pretty single women. Now picture the idea that those men are not allowed to associate with those women. That's  a military rule that is almost impossible to follow and enforce.

Given the above, our hero, who is played by Marlon Brando falls in love with a pretty woman who is a professional dancer and she is not allowed to marry--ever. Brando has a friend who actually marries a forbidden woman. (BTW about 10,000 fellows have already taken Japanese brides, with full knowledge that they cannot bring their brides to the US.) When the friend is ordered back to the US, he knows he cannot take his wife...so they do the proper Japanese thing--commit suicide. 

When the movie ends...does Brando marry his love? Does she give up her career? Does he give up his military career? Do they commit suicide? I'm not going to tell you...it would be giving a lot of the plot away.

The setting for the film was gorgeous. Japanese gardens are beautiful, and there are many in the film. The music is good, including the theme song. The story of forbidden fruit is as old as mankind. If you get a chance to see it, do so. I think you will like it.