I learned how to drive in a Volkswagen many years ago and I loved that little bug it belonged to my sponsor, but I had many mishaps on the country roads where my brother lived. I didn’t pass the first time I took the test because I was the worlds worse parallel parker and was so nervous. I did manage to pass the second time though.

For some reason I always had it in my head that I wanted a pink convertible Mustang. My first car was a Mustang, but not pink it was teal and it wasn’t a convertible, but I loved it. I even had to have a car cover for it. It was used, but it was new to me and it ran great except in the Winter time all of a sudden it developed a squeak and you could hear me coming a mile away.

I really did baby that car and it looked so sporty. I have a couple pictures somewhere, but I don’t feel like digging them out right now. I finally sold it to my sister-in-law many years later and she still has it of course it’s 40 years old now, but still looks great according to my son. My son had visions of owning that car when I got old and feeble.

I have had so many junk cars over the years that I simply can’t remember them all, but I guess your first anything you remember the best. I still remember the first boy that put his arm around my shoulder, now that was scary because of how it made me feel, I was on the school bus in the 5th grade and he was older, but that’s another story.

The last car I owned was a Sunbird and I chose it because it reminded me of my Mustang, it was the same color and it didn’t squeak, but it made me feel the same way so I also remember my last, but nothing in between. I really hate driving now and we didn’t need 3 vehicles so I sold it, but now we are down to just the Jeep so we’re thinking about a 2nd car again encase I go back to work.

I have my scooter, but it’s just too cold in the Winter time, that’s basically for getting around in the Spring and Summer. Bill has his eye on a Grand Prix even though he dreams of a Corvette the same way I did about my pink convertible Mustang. I don’t dream about cars anymore.

The older I get the dumber I feel and I really hate feeling dumb. At one point in my life I thought I had all the answers, but I now realize I didn’t know diddly. I bet I’m the only person that doesn’t even own a cell phone and I certainly don’t know how to text using one. Bill has a Tracfone and we only use it for emergencies and it came in handy when I went to Kentucky by myself.

I am definitely not up on the latest gadgets and I really can’t see spending all that money for things I know absolutely nothing about nor actually need except something basic for emergencies. We do find the Tracfone very economic because we can add the minutes we need as we go and no service charges. Now that I like and you will never find a cell phone stuck to my ear anywhere or at any time.

I was going to get Bill the double minutes for the phone he has now, but I saw they had a camera phone with double minutes for the life of the phone package and the whole thing only cost 52 dollars so I ordered that instead so he can send pictures to his brother-in-law in Ohio when he’s at swap meets because they are always looking for a deal for their bikes.

So I guess I will inherit his old phone for my use so now I can say I own a cell phone, wow I’m moving up in the gadget world after all. I don’t even like talking on our land phone, but I can see that a cell phone can be very useful for emergencies and Bill gets a kick out of it. I just hope his new phone will last awhile since it is reconditioned, but I liked the double minute deal for the life of the phone so long as it lasts longer than a couple months.

I must be the only person that doesn’t have a cell phone stuck to my ear. It doesn’t matter where I go everyone is talking on their cell phone and many are so rude and inconsiderate especially the ones driving their cars and talking at the same time. They really should ban cell phone usage while driving there are way too many accidents because of them and no cell phones at check outs in stores it’s very confusing for clerks trying to do their jobs. Okay rant over.

Well, I hope everyone survived all of the Thanksgiving turkey and had a great time with family and friends. We had a very nice 5 days and since Bill was off I wasn’t online very much so I’ve really gotten behind, but it was a welcome break for both of us. It was too cold to ride the bike, but Bill did manage to get it started and filled it up with gas. I was ready to go with 3 layers of clothes, but he was afraid we’d get sick so he optioned out.

We also didn’t shop on Black Friday although Bill said we ought to pitch a tent at the dollar store and get on the news like many others at the big stores. I can’t imagine that people actually do that and miss Thanksgiving with their family, now that is diehard shopping. It was also very cold to be camping out just so you can be first in line to save money on Christmas gifts. I hope all those people got what they wanted, I know Bill’s daughter-in-law went very early with her sister which they do every year.

We were discussing Bill’s retirement and what he is going to do with his time which will be in a year or so from PA Stone. Since he knows all there is to know about cast stone and molds and pouring I thought we could open up a little shop and make those cute little things that people love putting in their gardens like gnomes, rabbits, frogs, benches, and all that other stuff. I would help of course and be the secretary and take care of the business end like ordering the promotional products we would need to get the word out.

Of course we would need a small business license and rent a small building somewhere plus numerous other things we would have to consider, but I think it could be fun for us. I know lots of people like to sell these items at those flea markets and of course I would try to get a contract with some of them as a supplier. He is very good at patch work also so he could even do that, like patching cracks in concrete steps and patios. I want him to stay active and occupied so he doesn’t get bored with retirement.

I’m sure it will probably be one big headache, but it’s something to think about of course maybe he would prefer being a greeter at Walmart because he does love talking to people. At any rate the little shop is one option we have been thinking about among others. Of course he could just cut his hours way back where he’s worked for over 40 years, that is if the company holds up and doesn’t fold within the next 4 years. I guess we’ll just wait and see.

It’s almost Thanksgiving, but I usually start out my day by listing everything in my life that I’m grateful for anyhow, but during holidays it reminds me of family and how dysfunctional mine actually are. I tend to remember back when we were young before life became so harsh after our parents died and often wonder how things might have been had they lived. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother left, but none of the sisters talk now and the sad part is we’re old.

I get along great with my brother however and see him often. At one time I was close to the middle sister and always took up for her because we were the most alike or at least I thought we were way back then. I’m not sure what happened to cause the separation, but it’s been like that for 20 years now. I thought when my oldest brother died a few years back that we were going to cross that bridge and become united again, but it didn’t happen.

I remember a lot of the fun times I had with my sister, of us giggling together and brushing each others hair, of sneaking my daddy’s cigarettes and smoking them, climbing trees and getting into trouble with Mama. It seems like what ever happened to me happened to Glenda, but worse. She was the only person with me when my baby was born and I was with her every day when she had uterine cancer and at one point I knew I could always count on her and she me.

She’s 3 years older than I am and when she became a teenager she had a really bad case of acne. I was lucky that I escaped that problem, I had the occasional pimple. She had acne so bad that she would try one acne treatment after another and nothing seemed to help her. Her face always looked so painful and I always felt sorry for her. People or rather kids were always saying ugly things to her and called her names which always ticked me off and I was always ready to fight for her.

I always wanted a close family because when it comes right down to living in this world family are the most important people because they’re the ones that know you and love you anyhow. I was reading a post that Patricia wrote over at Communication Exchange about communicating with your family during the holidays. Now that’s a great idea at any time, but sometimes it’s just not possible.

I consider myself very lucky though because Bill has a close family that I get to be a part of. I hope everyone has a lovely holiday with their family and friends.