The nice lady at the nursery assured me, “it’s impossible to kill an oleander.” I almost said, “wanna bet? Come by my house.” Instead, I just said “Maybe I can’t, but something sure is.” When we moved into this house over 30 years ago, the oleander hedge between us and the neighbor was well-established and thriving. In summer it was covered with bright pink flowers; the rest of the year the leaves were dark green and glossy. It formed a pleasant demarcation. It seemed independent and content, and I was perfectly content to let it be. In fact, I never gave it a second thought and only occasionally dragged the hose across the driveway to water it. Then a couple of years ago I noticed withering leaves and bare, dead branches. Oops. “So,” I said as I plopped a couple of smallish oleander bushes on the wagon, “how long do you… Read More »
Stop Changing the Dratted Color!
” Can I help you?” the perky young woman asks. I obviously look perplexed. I’m standing in Ulta — a large cosmetics chain store — holding my favorite color of nearly-used-up lipstick. “I’m looking for this color,” I say, extending the tube. She takes my old lipstick and quickly scans the display. “It’s right here,” she said, plucking up the tube I had put back a moment before. Triumphantly she hands me the tester. “That’s not it,” I told her. She looks at the bottom of both lipsticks. “Yes, it is. It says it right here.” “No, it isn’t,” I tell her. She looks at the labels on the bottom and then shows them to me. “Shimmering Brandy,” she says holding my original lipstick, and “Shimmering Brandy” she says, extending the tester from the display. “This is it.” She doesn’t actually roll her eyes, but I can tell it’s an effort. “No,”… Read More »
Dang those Clydesdales are big!
“It’s, okay,” my dad said. “they’re big, but they’re very gentle.” It was New Year’s Day and my parents had taken me to the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. It was years ago when nobody had thought to blanket the area with security guards. People like us were strolling around looking at the bands, floats and horses waiting for the parade to begin. And now I was standing close to a huge — massive — horse. A Clydesdale. The handler was standing nearby. “It’s okay,” he said, “you can pet him. This is Captain.” Pet him? How on earth was I going to pet this huge animal? I mean, even if I wanted to — he towered above me. Horses have always scared me and this one was mammoth — a super-horse. His feet were the size of a dinner plate. “Captain, say hello to the little girl,” the… Read More »
Disneyland Christmas Concert
This trip had been planned a long time in advance. My friend Shawn had invited me to go with him to Disneyland for their very special, once-a-year Christmas candlelight concert. We had the tickets, we had the rooms, the flight was booked … we were ready to go. Then I got sick. Really sick. In the hospital sick. Shawn assured me everything could be cancelled, no pressure. But I really wanted to go! I’d been out of the hospital for a week and was feeling okay, but then I did something that I normally would not do. I asked the doctor if it would be okay, and I promised myself that I would abide by his decision. “It’s a short plane flight,” I told him, “and we’re not going to be rushing around — this is going to be a leisurely, sit-on-the-bench and watch people kind of vacation.” He hesitated for… Read More »
Fun and games at the hospital
Okay — show of hands. How many of you have been in the hospital? No, not to visit, I mean, actually … oh, that many! Wow. So you already know about the not sleeping part and all that. Every two hours someone is there to give you medication or take your vitals. But … Here’s an adventure you might not have had … taking a shower. And in case, you’ve never done such a thing, (you peasant), they give you instructions. You don’t believe me? I took a picture … and in case you can’t read it all, let me help. But first this all came about because on the fourth day of my stay the CNA (nurse assistant) came in with a stack of towels, a bottle of liquid soap and a clean hospital gown just in case I would like to take a shower. Would I?? After four… Read More »
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