What I Heard This Week! 12-10-2020
Organization does not seem to come easily right now. I never seem to have any extra time, so things build up around me. In order to conquer my junk, my friends and I are having little garage sales in front of our offices. I am cleaning out closets and drawers and touching a lot of memories in the process. Today I came across a book, “A Bouquet of Flowers,” that Adelaide Thorpe (‘the purple lady’) had given to me “with love 1995” signed in purple ink, of course. The book was “sweet thoughts, recipes and gifts from the garden with the language of flowers.” Many years ago, Mrs. Thorpe and I bonded over our love of flowers. She would arrive at my office (in her purple car with flowers on the hood ornament) with a sweet card, a word of praise, thanks, and always sincere appreciation for the way I was raising my children. She was kind, gracious and all that was good in the world. Today, I went back and reread her obituary, then took the book over to the new resident of her home and shared this sweet memory. I can only hope that at some point, I have done something that will be a sweet remembrance that can be shared. That would be the sign of a very, successful life journey.
Note: Drought Contingency restrictions are still in place in LJ until December 15th, but my water started smelling much better last week.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. But most of all, reduce. Canada has a plan to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. They plan to ban only six commonly used items in 2021; plastic checkout bags, plastic straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food-ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics.
“Despite a heartbreaking early closure in 2020 and the difficult months that followed, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo remained committed to its mission of promoting agriculture and supporting Texas youth and education, and we hope today’s announcement is a bright spot in a challenging year,” said Chris Boleman, Rodeo president and CEO. “Thanks to the unwavering support from our community, and the resiliency of our dedicated 35,000 volunteers who share a passion for our charitable mission, we are able to reaffirm our promise to the youth of Texas and also lend support to charitable organizations that serve our great community and state.” The Rodeo’s 2021 educational commitment will award more than $14.1 million in scholarships, more than $5 million to junior show exhibitors, $2 million in educational program grants and more than $470,000 toward graduate assistantship programs.
“Dogs, for a reason that can only be described as divine, have the ability to forgive, let go of the past, and live each day joyously. It’s something the rest of us strive for.” Jennifer Skiff
Is an animal a thing or a person? It is a great question because we don’t normally think of animals as things. But if you are working within the context of grammar, then all animals are considered things or nouns. Therefore, dogs are possessions and are treated as property by the law. The following is a quote from Elizabeth Parker. “A dog is not a thing. A thing is replaceable. A dog is not. A thing is disposable. A dog is not. A thing does not have a heart. A dog’s heart is bigger than any “thing” you can ever own.”
Today, I put a note in the mail to my favorite Santa Claus, Mr. Ralph O’Henley. When my kids were little, Santa always showed up on Christmas Eve afternoon with his soft white beard, beautiful embroidered blouse, black belt, boots, and ‘shaking’ his sleigh bells. So much Christmas magic on that one evening. When Santa left to start his deliveries, they pressed their faces to the back window and listened for the bells, then looked up to the sky. Amazingly enough, they always heard and saw Santa in the sky on his way to the next house. They could unwrap one package under the tree – always new pajamas, the one thing that had them looking their best on Christmas morning. Hmmm. Yes, Ralph O’Henley, friend, and Santa Claus Extraordinaire. Thank you! Readers start making your traditions right now. The years pass too quickly.
RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Singer-guitarist Eric Bloom is 76. Blue Oyster Cult. Drummer John Densmore is 76. The Doors. Actor-singer Bette Midler is 75. Singer Gilbert O’Sullivan is 74. Actor Treat Williams is 69. Actor Charlene Tilton is 62. Dallas. Actor Cathy Lee Crosby is 76. News anchor Stone Phillips is 66. Bassist Rick Savage is 60. Def Leppard. Singer Britney Spears is 39.
Actor Mary Alice is 79. Effie Williams in the 1976 musical drama Sparkle. Actor Julianne Moore is 60. Game show host Wink Martindale is 87. Actor-producer-director Max Baer Junior is 83. Jethro Bodine. Singer-bassist Chris Hillman is 76. The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers. Actor Jeff Bridges is 71. Guitarist Gary Rossington is 69. Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rossington Collins Band. Actor Patricia Wettig is 69. Singer Jim Messina is 73. Loggins and Messina, Poco. Actor Frankie Muniz is 35. Malcolm in the Middle.
The story of Teller started in July, or August, I just do not remember exactly when. On several different occasions, leaving or coming to my office, I had seen a sweet looking, but terribly skinny and mangy dog hanging around downtown LJ. It was always from a distance, but I did not give it much thought, just huge amounts of sympathy for the way he appeared. He was so thin and sad looking. About the 4th or 5th time I spotted him, I decided to stop. He was close to the parking lot of Texas Gulf Bank and I needed to let him know that I was a friend. It was late afternoon, the 16th day of September, and he ended up following me down closer to Dollar General. I would drive my car a few feet, then get out and call, clap, and whistle for him to follow. He did, then we would do it all over again. He never got too close because you could tell he was scared. During this process, I met a young woman named Genesis, both of us bonding in the street over mutual concern for this sad little critter. She stayed with him on a grassy patch near the parking lot, keeping him in her sight while I went to the dollar store to buy treats and dog food. Genesis shared that she had called the city earlier to have him picked up. He ate chicken jerky out of my hand that night.
That evening when I left him on the street (with a water bottle in his mouth), I called my friend Cheryl that works with the SPCA and asked her what I should do. That was the start. It exploded from there. As it turned out the City of Lake Jackson had been trying to nab him for months with no success. He even had a name. He had been branded with the name Teller because…you guessed it, he hung around the banks, so the SPCA thought it was fitting. Cheryl told me to try and get a leash on him because there was a foster home available to take care of him. If we were able to catch him during the day, then we were to call the SPCA, and if it was at night, the police were willing to help us. Well, how hard could this be. He had just eaten chicken out of my hand. Surely, I could get a leash around a skinny dog’s neck. ha-ha. This was one street smart dog.
Teller was nowhere to be found for three days. Reports came in from friends spotting the humane officer downtown or seeing Teller here and there. I drove around downtown three times a day with fresh packages of food setting on my front seat. Every once-in-a-while I would find and feed him, but he never allowed himself to get any closer than eating out of my hand. I purchased several rubber balls because I believed I could teach him to play, then he would trust me, and I could get him the help he needed. When I would find him, he almost always had either a plastic water bottle or a piece of cardboard in his mouth, like those were his toys. This always made me super sad. So, it was just me in parking lots at night, playing ball with myself, since he never participated…to be continued next week…
I am sorry, but I have been puny this week with a sinus infection. I am going to send this short column back to Tina, then go home and climb in bed. Thank you for reading this and sharing it. We do appreciate you. Remember to Christmas shop LOCAL. They need you.
Lisa
