Author: Donna Chandler

Could it be that an entire generation was not taught to ‘do unto others as you want done unto you’? Or could it be that each person is so wrapped up in themselves and their own personal needs that they forget little things like saying ‘please’ or ‘thank you’? The simple act of including the ‘loner’ in your conversation at a gathering has gone by the wayside.

I don’t think people forget their manners to be cruel. I think it is just not important to them. It’s not important to say ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ — after all we’re all friends here. Why be so formal? We don’t need to include everyone in our conversation because we really don’t know that ‘loner’ very well and we’re not interested in what he has to say anyway.

It is sad – the way we treat others, even the ones we care about. With the holiday nearly here – a time of giving, it would be nice to give a smile to that person you usually ignore. Ask the ‘loner’ how his day is going and is his family well? Start a conversation. Besides making someone’s day, you just might learn something. Remember the ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

It really doesn’t hurt. I promise.

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Gram use’ta say

“Never miss a chance to shut up.
You can’t listen and learn if you’re chattering.”

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By:  Donna Hale Chandler

Bennie the skeleton came to live in our home the day after Halloween, 2017. When my sweetheart spotted him among the sale items at a local store, he couldn’t resist that cute face —- actually it may have been the 50% off that attracted his attention. Whatever it was the skeleton came home with us where we discovered almost immediately that storing a full sized skeleton takes more than a little space. He couldn’t be folded. He’d have to sit or hang. Hang him in a closet and wet my pants every time I opened the door? No thanks.

Until we could solve this dilemma we sat him on a bar stool at the end of our kitchen counter. The more I looked at him the more I felt he needed a ‘drink’ in front of him – so a beer mug was added to this ‘conversation piece’. Yes, as soon as anyone walked into our home, conversation started, “Yikes, what is that?”

Christmas came and we decided to dress the skeleton for the holiday. Then it began. The Skeleton received a name, Bennie. We started shopping in the children’s section for cute outfits to go with each holiday. Bennie moved from the bar stool to a chair at our dining room table. We talk about him as if he’s a real person and he has quite a following on my Facebook page.

He is the BEST relative ever. He never talks back. He’s never unhappy or bored. He doesn’t complain about his outfit being out of style. And if he ever overstays his welcome, we’ll hang him in the closet.

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Gram use’ta say

“The heaviest thing you ever carry around with you
is a grudge.”

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By Donna Hale Chandler

Recently we remodeled our kitchen, making it bigger with more cabinets, etc. and I absolutely love it. I don’t even want to cook in it for fear of getting it dirty. (Any excuse for going out to eat, rather than cook, right?) One kitchen bonus that I didn’t realize we were getting is a super-size junk drawer. In the past we’d crammed our junk into the smallest drawer in the kitchen. But no more, ALL the drawers are wide and deep and wonderful.

I cannot wrap my head around the idea that some people don’t have junk drawers. Being that organized is beyond my comprehension. When they finish with that screw driver, do they actually take it back and place it in the tool box. Unbelievable! Having all types of odds and ends right at your fingertips in a special drawer is much more efficient.

Items in our junk drawer include a couple of different screw drivers, (we must have forgotten we had one in the junk drawer and went to the tool box for another) two containers of Gorilla Glue, ( each opened and half used) a pair of piers, water filters for the Keurig coffee pot, seven coolie cups ( you never know how many people will show up and need to keep their beer cold) four decks of playing cards, (we may have a poker tournament someday and should be prepared) two rolls of scotch tape, (one almost gone) a Halloween decoration that was left out of the Halloween box, (why drag the box back out of the closet when we have a perfectly good junk drawer). The list goes on and on, could easily fill a page but I’m sure you get the idea.

I don’t even know what a few of the items are or what they were used for, but throw them away? Never! We might have need for them someday. (If we remember where they are.)

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Gram use’ta say

“The heaviest thing you ever carry around
with you is a grudge.”

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By Donna Hale Chandler

Each holiday season I tell myself that this year I won’t worry if I don’t get everything finished that I plan. I won’t worry if only a portion of the decorations are in place – less is more, right? I won’t worry if that last gift doesn’t get purchased – receivers should be happy with what they receive, right? I won’t worry that family and friends will enjoy themselves at our annual holiday get together – if they’re not enjoying themselves, they can leave or not even show up in the first place, right? I will not worry about having enough food. When it’s gone, guests just stop eating, right? I will not worry about picking a date that is convenient for everyone. If an invitee can’t attend, the party will go on, right?

Wrong! I WILL stress about every one of those things and probably add a few more worries to the list.

No matter how hard I try my holiday plans somehow go awry. I tell myself that no one notices other than me but each year I am disappointed with the holiday and each New Year’s Eve I make the very same New Year’s resolution that I made the year before. And I know that this year will be no different.

I WILL NOT STRESS OVER THINGS I CAN’T CONTOL. (Wish me good luck on that one.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

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Gram use’ta say

“Love is more than words.
Love is action and attitude.”

By Richard L. King

People should learn to be more considerate when driving. Especially older people, I’m 74 and I consider myself to be one of them, but so many of them drive like idiots. Oh, I know that being an idiot is not restricted to us old farts, but when you start out as an idiot, then start getting older, you double your chances.

Here’s an example…. You’re driving down the boulevard (any divided two lane street) and traffic seems to be moving exceptionally slow. You’re running late and you’re in the left lane….. (The lane normally considered as being the fast lane) and there is a line of two or three cars in front of you, but you can see that it’s clear for a long ways in front of that lead car. The thing is,,,, this fast lane seems to be moving slower than the slow lane. You put up with the poking along for a while then you decide to slip over into the other lane trying to get around the slow poke. (I’ve never seen a statistic to support it, but it’s my belief that slow-poke drivers are responsible for more traffic accidents than any other single cause and it’s because everyone else overreacts.) Invariably, when you finally get around the jam up, you’ll find that it’s some old codger driving well below the speed limit without enough brains or consideration to get over into the slow lane.

PEOPLE!!!! They call it the FAST LANE for a reason!!! That sign saying slower vehicles stay in the right lane is there for a reason. If you’re going to poke ass along below the speed limit, it’s there for you!!! Please have enough common sense and courtesy to get over where you belong.

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #408

About: Respect
“You can’t buy, beg or borrow it…
It has to be earned.

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