Thursday Thirteen

It's a Halloween Thirteen!

Here are 13 scary story ideas for the day!

1. The Unmarked Letter

A letter arrived with no return address. Inside was a single sentence: “I know where you’ll be tonight.” She laughed it off—until she saw her own handwriting on the page.

2. The Mirror’s Reflection

Every night, his reflection smiled back at him…until one evening, it didn’t. Instead, it mouthed words he couldn’t hear, pressing a hand against the glass as if begging for release.

3. Whispers in the Walls

New to the house, she started hearing whispers late at night. “Get out,” the voices urged. One night, she saw a shadow dart across her room, only to realize the whispers sounded eerily like her own.

4. The Forgotten Room

When they opened the old storage door in their new home, they found a fully furnished, dusty bedroom. Everything was neatly arranged as if waiting for someone to return—except for the footprints leading to the bed.

5. Nightly Visitor

For weeks, he felt a presence lingering over him while he slept. One night, he woke to see the shadow hovering, murmuring his name with a voice that sounded strangely familiar.

6. The Broken Clock

Every night at 3:15, the broken clock in her kitchen chimed once. She dismissed it until she checked the date on the clock's calendar: it marked the exact day her grandmother had died.

7. A Call from Nowhere

Her phone rang with no caller ID. When she picked up, she heard her own voice, older, weaker, saying, “Don’t go into the basement.” The line went dead, but the warning lingered.

8. The Locked Door

A locked door stood at the end of the hallway, forgotten by everyone but her. Curiosity won out one night, and she turned the key, only to find herself staring at her own empty house . . . from decades before.

9. The Photo Album

She found an old family album filled with strangers’ faces—but there she was in the background of every photo, staring directly at the camera, decades before she was even born.

10. Flickering Lights

Every evening, the lights would flicker once at exactly 9:00. When the electrician checked, he said the circuit was fine. Later, she found an old letter stating that a child had died at 9 p.m. each day for a month.

11. The Midnight Song

A soft lullaby echoed through the house at midnight every night. She brushed it off, thinking it was an old music box. One night, she found the box broken and rusted—but the song still played.

12. Footsteps on the Ceiling

He heard footsteps above him in his apartment, rhythmic and constant, even though no one lived there. One night, they stopped right above his bed, accompanied by a whisper: “I’ve been here all along.”

13. The Haunted Journal

She found an empty journal in an antique store. Every night, new entries appeared, recounting events from her day that no one else could have known—until the last page read, “Tomorrow, they come for you.”

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 881st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

A Little Bit of Fall, Y'all

 

Sunday Stealing

1. What’s your guilty pleasure?

A. I'm not sure I have one. Something chocolate, I suppose.

2. Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

A. I like breakfast foods. I could eat breakfast for all three meals.

3. What do you do when you want to chill out after a long day?

A. Watch TV with my husband.

4. How would you spend your ideal weekend?

A. I would be away from home, someone would fix all the meals, and I'd read, listen to music, take a stroll with my husband, maybe visit a museum.

5. Do you listen to podcasts, or mostly just music? What’s your favorite podcast?

A. I mostly listen to music. I do not have a favorite podcast at the moment, although I listen to "Fresh Air" from NPR probably more than I do anything.

6. Do you prefer to go to the movies or watch movies at home?

A. It depends on the movie. Most movies I prefer to watch at home; occasionally there is an outlier that I want to see on the big screen.

7. What was your favorite TV show growing up?

A. I was into The Rookies, Emergency, and Charlie's Angels.

8. What’s your favorite TV show now?

A. I don't really have one at the moment. 

9. How would you spend your birthday if money was no object? 

A. I would take a private jet to Ireland and spend the day there, and fly home.

10. What’s your favorite season? What do you love most about it?

A. I am partial to spring. It's a new time, new little calves, new flowers on the trees. And it's such a relief to the dreary winters we have in Virginia.

11. Do you prefer camping or going to the beach?

A. You do know you can camp at the beach, right? When I was a child that was how we went. I prefer a motel wherever I am that is not home.

12. Which phone app do you think you use the most?

A. I use the Libby app on my phone the most.

13. Would you rather cook, order delivery, or go out to eat?

A. I would rather order delivery or go out to eat.

14. How do you drink your coffee?

A. I do not drink coffee.

15. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose?

A. Just a dog would be great. I miss having a dog.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Me and Bobby McGee

Saturday 9: Me and Bobby McGee (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) The song begins with Janis telling us about a trip from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Have you ever visited Louisiana? If yes, where did you go?

A. I think I have been through Louisiana when my parents drove us to California in 1977, but I am not 100% certain of that.

2) She and her boyfriend Bobby hitch a ride with a truck driver and together the three of them sing "every song the driver knew." If you were to begin a singalong with strangers in a bar or at a party, what song would you confident everyone knows?

A. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. They'd know the chorus, for sure.

3) Janis had a painful time in her Port Arthur, TX, high school. She was ostracized for her looks and her taste in music. If you could give advice to your high school self, what would you say?

A. Don't worry so much, it'll all work out in the end.

4) She credited the blues and Bessie Smith, specifically, for getting her through her tough adolescence. After she became famous and mentioned Bessie in interviews, Janis learned Ms. Smith had been buried in an unmarked grave back in 1937. Janis rectified the situation by paying for a proper tombstone for Smith in 1970. If money were no object, what's something you would like to do for someone else?

A. I just learned today that there is a thing not only in the USA, but all over the world, called Period Poverty, and it means that there are thousands and thousands, probably millions, of women in this world who can't afford the things they need for their monthly cycle. This means that they end up missing school, missing work, or missing out on life stuff. In some countries, women on their periods aren't allowed to cook, or they are forced into isolation for the duration of their period and have to go live in a little hut specifically for this. This would require loads of money for education and supplies, but good heavens, this needs to be addressed. I was privileged; I never worried about whether or not I could afford what I needed (and I had a hysterectomy at 29 so it wasn't a problem for me after that). It never even occurred to me until today that this was an issue, but of course it's an issue.

5) Because of her party girl persona, people were surprised that Janis had a domestic side and enjoyed talking recipes. Thinking of cooking, what dish would you whip up for our Saturday 9 potluck?

A. Um. I'd bring chicken from the grocery store, a bottle of Dr. Pepper, and a bag of chips.

6) "Me and Bobby McGee" was written by the late Kris Kristofferson. Kris' life before hitting it big was varied, including time in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar where he focused on English literature, and serving as a helicopter pilot in the US Army. Which career path do you think you'd enjoy more: academia or the Army?

A. I am definitely an academic. 

7) In 1971, when this song was popular, the US Mint introduced the Eisenhower Silver Dollar. Think of the last thing you bought at a store. Did you pay with cash, plastic, or your phone?

A. I paid with plastic. I still haven't worked out how to do things like that on my phone. I'm not sure I want to.

8) England's Princess Anne turned 21 in 1971 and in honor of the occasion, she had an official portrait taken by fashion photographer Norman Parkinson. Who took the most recent photo of you?

A. A friend took a picture of me when I received my volunteer service award on October 13. My husband tried to take pictures too, but he is not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, bless his heart.

Hubby took this. I cropped it and straightened it.

9) Random question -- There's a knock at your door. Who do you expect it is?

A. It is probably UPS with an Amazon package.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen #880

Here are 13 great things about Botetourt County, VA, where I live:

1. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Botetourt County offers stunning landscapes and picturesque views. One can enjoy miles of hiking trails, including parts of the Appalachian Trail and the Andy Lane Trail. The James River is perfect for kayaking, fishing, and other water activities and the Blue Ridge Parkway, known as "America's Favorite Drive," offers breathtaking views and connects to many local attractions.

2. Historic Towns: Explore the charm of Fincastle, Buchanan, and Troutville, each with its own unique history and character. The Lewis and Clark expedition started in Fincastle and Clark wed a local girl, Judith Hancock, back in the day (1800s).  Buchanan is a great spot for finding antiques and local art. We also have historic communities such as Eagle Rock and Blue Ridge that are not incorporated towns but have intriguing histories of their own. And we mustn't forget the historic Greenfield, now an industrial park but once a part of a large plantation owned by Revolutionary War hero Colonel William Preston.

3. Botetourt County Historical Society & Museum offers an opportunity to dive into the rich history of the area. The Fincastle Library has an excellent genealogy room that is a must-visit for anyone researching their ancestors from this area.

4. We have local festivals, artisan fairs, and outdoor concerts. Last weekend, for example, we had Open Studios, where artists invited the public into their workspaces to show off their paintings, photography, and woodworking skills.

5. The Botetourt Farmers Market offers up fresh, local produce and handmade goods from April until late October.

6. The TransAmerica Bicycle Trail (we call it Route 76) is a popular route for cyclists passing through the county.

7. The Botetourt Sports Complex is a hub for local sports and community events and is a major draw for many out-of-town ball games and competitions.

8. Much of the county is part of the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, which offers plenty of opportunities for fishing, hunting, and bird or animal watching. Outdoor sports enthusiasts should feel right at home here.

9. The Botetourt Golf & Swim Club is a great place for golf and relaxation and is open to the general public (along with memberships). The county has another golf course located at Ashley Plantation Golf Course, too, giving golfers plenty of challenge at either location.

10. We have a new brewery opening up in Buchanan! It joins three wineries: Blue Ridge Vineyard, Stoney Brook Vineyards, and Virginia Mountain Vineyards as another spot to enjoy local scenery and chill.

11. The local YMCA in Daleville serves as a community hub. You can pick up or drop off library books there and they have a children's area that is specifically designed to work with disabled youth. They also have a "stay and play" drop-in daycare. 

12. We have a few archeological sites in the county, especially in the northern end, but their location is mostly secret to keep vandals away.

13. Good schools keep our youth active and involved in learning. Botetourt County Public Schools is a highly rated public school district. It has about 4,500 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1. According to state test scores, 76% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.

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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 880th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Nothing But Blue Sky

I am trying hard to be more positive about everything, from the upcoming election to my personal life to local folks with whom I must deal with frequently.

My cashiers know me on sight at the grocery store. I am always polite to them. I smile and I compliment them on something. I say, "Thank you." I tell people I pass in the aisle that I like their jacket or their shoes. 

You never know what people are going through, and compliments are easy to offer up. But so few do it.

I am not by nature a positive person. I lean toward pessimism and depression. I look inward and overthink everything.

Stuff bothers me that other people seem to ignore. Maybe it bothers them, and no one speaks about it. People so seldom talk about anything other than surface discussion these days. Just, "Hi, how are you?" and then the answer is, "Fine," and then you ask back and they say fine, too. You might ask about the family and get the same answer. Fine.

Everyone's fine.

I don't think everyone is fine, really, because if they were, it would not feel so angry when I go out in public. I see so many scowls on the faces of unhappy people that it's a little scary.

The woman that cuts my hair for me talked about this yesterday as she snipped away. "Everyone seems to angry and mad," she said. "Such short fuses."

What's to blame? I'm not sure. Social media, probably. Bad news on TV. Worry about the future. We're an aging area, lots of older folks, and we all have aches and pains. 

Maybe we're just all old and cranky.

Hence my desire to smile and be positive. I smile even if I have a mask on, because I hope it reaches my eyes. (I still wear a mask sometimes if I hear someone sneezing or coughing in the store. I don't want their germs.)

Who knows when a small compliment will help? I like your purse. Your hair looks great. Thank you for working today and doing a great job at checking me out.

Maybe it helps.

Can't hurt, can it?

Something Is Eating My Correlle Dishes

I am not sure when I noticed that the edges of my plates were beginning to look odd, but it has been within the last year. It has only worsened as time has gone by.

These are Correlle plates that we purchased in 2010. I hadn't realized the things were 14 years old until I went back to my blog and looked at when we bought them.

At any rate, it appears the dishwasher cleaner is to blame. From the Corning Museum of Glass:

"As of 2019, Corelle became a part of Instant Brands. According to the company, Corelleware can become weakened by repeated exposure to the abrasive detergents used in automatic dishwashers. Over time the glass may become rough or chipped along the edges. Previously, Corelle was made and sold by World Kitchen. When we contacted World Kitchen to ask about breakage in Corelle dishes, they recommended consumers use a less abrasive detergent."

I use Finish in my dishwasher. I do not plan to change detergents.

But maybe Santa needs to bring me a different kind of lightweight everyday plate.

The Hunter's Moon

 

While I was watching for the comet Friday night, which I could see with my naked eye but could never get a decent photo of, I realized the moon was rising behind me.

I whirled the tripod around to catch this shot of the nearly full Hunter's Moon as it came up behind the trees.

I have been trying to capture this shot for years. And here it is.

Sunday Stealing

1. What’s the best birthday party you’ve ever had?

A. My husband threw me a surprise birthday party the year I turned 50. He rented out a room at the local pizza joint and went into my phone and just invited everyone he could reach in my contacts. It made for an interesting mix of people. Good thing everyone liked pizza.

2. Where is your favorite place you’ve ever visited?

A. My favorite place is home. My favorite place to visit is unknown. 

3. How do you like to spend your free time? 

A. I like to play music, play video games, spend time with my husband, not necessarily in that order.

4. What’s one of your favorite bands?

A. The Eagles. I'm listening to them right now.

5. What is the cutest animal you’ve ever seen in person?

A. Baby calves are cute.

6. How would you describe your style?

A. It's just me style. I don't really have a style, although I suppose some people would say I dress rather conservatively.

7. If your wardrobe could only be one color, what would it be? 

A. Blue.

8. What was the first concert you ever went to?

A. I am not sure, but it may have been Loretta Lynn or somebody like that. The first one I went to that I wasn't supposed to go to was The Commodores.

9. What is the best book you’ve ever read?

A. I don't know. I like Annie of Avalon. I like Nancy Drew. I like Lord of the Rings. I like self-help books. Do I have to have a "best"? No, I don't have to have a best and so I don't have one.

10. What’s your favorite movie of all time?

A. Everyone knows it The Lord of the Rings trilogy. But I also like Under the Tuscan Sun, Steel Magnolias, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Replacements, and others.

11. What’s the stupidest movie or TV show you’ve ever seen?

A. It was some Adam Sandler flick.

12. If you could only have one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

A. A salad. That's not exactly a food but you can put a lot of stuff in a salad.

13. What are your biggest pet peeves?

A. Some of these repeated questions are heading in that direction today. I must be in a mood as I answer this. But not putting the grocery cart back ranks up there.

14. Are you more into brains or looks?

A. Brains.

15. Do you celebrate any holidays? What’s your favorite?

A. I celebrate a lot of holidays. I am partial to Halloween just because but it's not something I actually do much about.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Autumn in New York

Saturday 9: Autumn in New York (1947)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Frank Sinatra sings that autumn in New York is inviting. How are you enjoying fall where you are?

A. The leaves are just starting to turn here in the lower areas; I can see color on the mountain ridges.

2) He tells us the "canyons of steel" (aka skyscrapers) make him feel like he's home. What's something you love about your neighborhood?

A. I love the mountains. They feel like home to me.

3) Frank Sinatra was self-conscious about the scar on his cheek. The doctor used forceps to deliver him and left a mark. Tell us about one of your scars.

A. I have a scar on my left thumb that I made while I was helping my grandfather chop up a mulberry tree that had fallen in his backyard. I missed the limb with the hatchet and hit my thumb. The thing bled like crazy and probably needed a stitch, but my grandmother simply held my thumb together and wrapped it up tightly in a bandage.

4) Frank was a creature of habit. Every time he visited Patsy's Italian Restaurant in New York he ordered the same dessert: lemon ricotta torte. Do you enjoy trying new dishes, or do you prefer to stick with your old favorites?

A. We tend to eat the same thing most of the time, mostly because I can't stand to cook, and we can't simply walk to a restaurant.

5) "Autumn in New York" was written by New Yorker Vernon Duke during a hot summer vacation in Westport, CT. Have you ever been homesick?

A. I have been homesick. I think I get a little homesick every time we take a vacation, even though my husband is right beside me. I like my house and my view.

6) In 1947, when this recording made the Top 30, Daniel and Patricia were the most popular baby names. Are there any Daniels or Patricias in your life?

A. I know a Patty from college. She is not exactly in my life, but she sends me an instant message about once a year. 

7) Elton John was born in 1947. When you think of Elton John, what's the first song that comes to mind?

A. Daniel.

8) Radio was America's most accessible form of entertainment in 1947 and a mystery, The Adventures of Ellery Queen, was one of the most popular shows. Do you enjoy mysteries?

A. I like cozy mysteries. I am not much on guts and gory mysteries. I could not reach Patricia Cornwell because I found her books too gruesome, for example. But I like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series because the blood and guts are not overly done. Same with Louise Penny's Three Pines books.

9) Random question: What were you most excited about when you woke up this morning?

A. My husband is going to make breakfast!

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however. 

Thursday Thirteen

1. I received my Covid shot on Tuesday. I chose Pfizer and made a point of not taking the Covid and flu shots at the same time. Aside from a little tiredness on Wednesday, I noticed no ill effects from the vaccine.

2. Better safe than sorry. I know the vaccine won't protect me completely, and I may still catch Covid if I'm not careful, but I am doing my best to stay healthy.

3. That includes trying to eat better, which is always a struggle. Why is it that my body seems to crave the very foods I'm not supposed to eat? When I try to eat better, sometimes a salad makes me feel worse than if I'd eaten a candy bar.

4. Taking care of yourself is a full-time job, one that I wasn't taught to do well by my parents. They didn't exercise, or make a point of leisure. They worked. Hard. And I was brought up to do the same.

5. That said, my inability to "work hard" has a tendency to leave me depressed. My body let me down with its endometriosis and gallbladder attacks and now adhesions in my gut that cause pain during 90 percent of my day.

6. However, I am still sticking to the walking on the treadmill. I am stuck at 20 minutes a day for the moment, but that's 20 minutes of walking I wasn't doing but am doing now. Pats on the back to me for sticking with it in spite of the pain.

7. We have voted already. Early voting started in Virginia in September, and last week we went and cast our votes. I was voter number 1,555, according to the counter that a poll worker helpfully pointed out to me to ensure I could see that my vote was cast and counted by the machine. I do wonder if since I know that if my secrecy of my vote is secure. I'm assuming the vote papers land in a nice little pile. Couldn't a poll worker simply count to 1,555 and say, "Aha! I know how she voted now!" ?

8. I was writing about voting security back in the early 2000s, when this county switched to what they called Win voting machines. They were all electronic, no paper to see anywhere, and I did not consider them secure in the least. I wrote a couple of articles about it, though if I am remembering correctly, they were mostly, "Yes, the voting machines are safe" articles because the voter registrar said so. At the time using the Internet for research wasn't so predominate so it was difficult to find an opposing opinion. Without seeing the articles, I don't recall if I found one.

9. It wasn't that I was a voting conspiracy theorist, I just felt like paper ballots allowed for a trail in the event of something happening. What if the power had gone out? No one could vote. I wasn't concerned about "illegal voters" or anything like that. I was just concerned about the security of the machines themselves. So were other people.

10. I used to think some conspiracy theories were harmless. Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, for example. Now we have conspiracy theories that are detrimental to a lot of people and are causing harm to many. Now I don't think any of them are harmless.

11. Home is where the heart is, and it's where I spend way too much time. It's just easier. And hopefully here I can do no harm.

12. The recent flooding in the mountains from Hurricane Helene have brought back a lot of memories. These old mountains flood terribly when a tropical front stalls over them. I remember the flooding from Hurricane Camille in 1969, Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and the flooding from 1985 (which I don't think was associated with a hurricane, but the remnants of a tropical storm). It doesn't happen often, but when it does happen, it's bad. 

Here's a video of the Flood of '85.

13. Mother Nature is vicious sometimes. But what would we do without her? I feel bad for the folks who were flooded out in various communities on the east coast. I also know that help arrives as quickly as it can. Sometimes all you can do is help yourself. Maybe most of the time.

*I really don't like these TTs where my brain just wanders all over the place.*

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 879th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

That Certain Slant of Light

 

Bucks Butting Heads

A quick little short video I captured of two bucks hitting their horns together. 

I Am Honored

Yesterday, the Botetourt County Historical Society, Inc. held its 16th Founders Day Dinner at Virginia Mountain Vineyards in Fincastle.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from one of the members telling me I should be there, and they were giving me two tickets to the event. I was receiving a recognition, I was told.

Actually, I received The Garland Stevens Award, named after one of the museum's founders. Mr. Stevens, who is no longer with us, was also my husband's cousin, and I knew him. I think I interviewed him at some point, but to be honest I have interviewed so many residents of Botetourt County that without going back through the newspapers I can't be certain of that.

I was greatly honored to receive this for my writing and for my other work to help preserve the historic nature of Botetourt County. Over the many years I wrote for the newspaper, I sounded the alarm on several structures that were up for demolition, and the Historical Society or others sometimes were able to step in and save these buildings. Not always, but not every battle is meant to be won.

Additionally, I served with Historic Fincastle, Inc., on its board for a number years and served as its president for two years. I also wrote the magazine that celebrated the county's 250th anniversary in 2020, and to be honest, because of Covid, that magazine (which is no longer in print) is about all the evidence that there was any notice of the anniversary at all. (My old editor, Ed McCoy, wrote a book called Chronicles of Botetourt that came out that year, and it was a 250th anniversary project, but it was not sponsored by the county.)

The event lasted 3 hours and much to my surprise, my father and stepmother came to see me receive my recognition. I was able to introduce my father to several people I know, including our representative to the Virginia General Assembly in the House of Delegates and the chairman of the county supervisors. I'm not sure my dad knew that I am on a first-name basis with these folks. I don't go around talking about it, after all. But I liked being able to introduce him to these dignitaries.

My close friend Teresa and her husband Robin also came (and they are important people, too, in our community), and I was so glad to be able to spend time with them. I saw many other folks that I haven't seen in at least 4 or 5 years.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Sarah McCartney, Assistant Teaching Professor, NIAHD, from The College of William and Mary. She spoke for about 40 minutes on the Battle of Point Pleasant, which is considered by some historians to be the actual beginning of the American Revolutionary War.

While the battle took place in what is now West Virginia, at the time it occurred in 1774, the land was part of Botetourt County.

We had a very nice time, although I was worn out when we got home. That was a long time for me to be out of my little nest here. 

Sunday Stealing

1. What do you hope your last words will be?

A. "I love you."

2. What do you spend the most time thinking about?

A. I spend a lot of time thinking about what I should be doing - and then not doing it.

3. What is something you can never seem to finish?

A. I do not finish novels or long short stories that I start to write.

4. What mistake do you keep making again and again?

A. I open my mouth.

5. What’s the best thing you got from your parents?

A. I received a strong work ethic from my parents.

6. What’s the best and worst thing about getting older?

A. The best thing about growing older is (hopefully) having a little more wisdom. The worst thing about growing older is the decay of the physical body (and I include the mind in that).

7. What do you wish your brain was better at doing?

A. I wish I could remember faces better. I run into people I am supposed to know at the store, and I seldom remember who they are until days or weeks later. Sometimes I never remember who they are. This is frustrating.

8. If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?

A. Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies.

9. What have you created that you are most proud of?

A. I am proud of the magazine I made for my county's 250th anniversary. I am also proud of this blog, because I have done it for such a long time.

10. What were some of the turning points in your life?

A. Turning points in my life include my marriage, my college graduation, and several health issues.

11. What song or artist do you like but rarely admit to liking?

A. I have no problem admitting to any of the songs or artists I like.

12. What small impact from a stranger made a big impact on you?

A. 

13. As you get older, what are you becoming more and more afraid of?

A. I am becoming more afraid of losing my health, and I have become more afraid that some of the benefits I expected to have, like Medicare and Social Security, are at risk.

14. What are some of the events in your life that made you who you are?

A. I had teachers who told me I could write, and that supported me. 

15. What could you do with $2 million to impact the most amount of people?

A. I would donate the $2 million to some charity, perhaps Feeding America, after much examination, to ensure that it would be the best place to put the funds to help the most people.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Catching a Comet

I have a few pictures of the Northern Lights from Thursday night, but I wasn't able to get out of the house to see them because my neighbor decided it was a good night to burn his brush pile. With my asthma I couldn't be out there, so what I have I took through a window.

But tonight, I caught the comet! This is comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, which hasn't been seen for about 80,000 years.

Just yesterday, right?

Anyway, I got lucky with the photo. There were clouds and I captured this just before the cloud cover rolled over the sky. It's a little blurry because I was having trouble focusing but it's the comet.

Saturday 9: Jolene

Saturday 9: Jolene (1973)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Dolly Parton sings about a woman with great hair, great eyes, a great smile and a great voice. OK, so Jolene has it all. Of these, which is your most attractive feature: your hair, your eyes, your smile or your voice?

A. I'll go with my eyes. I am told they are quite expressive, and my close friends can almost read my mind by looking in my eyes. They are hazel and look like cracked ice.

2) Dolly tells us her husband mentions in Jolene in his sleep. Do you talk in your sleep?

A. I talk, scream, yell, gurgle, laugh, etc. in my sleep. My poor husband has to listen to that at night. Fortunately, he is a heavy sleeper.

3) Dolly has said this song was inspired by a bank teller she caught flirting with her husband. That was in the 1970s. Today we can do our banking from our computers, our phones or a bank ATM. When is the last time you spoke to a banker?

A. I spoke to a banker just this past week. I went inside to order checks.

4) Dolly had a crush on Johnny Cash. When she was just a teen, she saw him perform at The Grand Ole Opry and called it "love at first sight." Are you crushing on anyone right now?

A. I am not crushing on anyone except my husband, who is not a crush but my longtime love. I might be crushing a tiny bit on Taylor Swift, who gave $5 million to help out the flood victims from Hurricane Helene.

5) Dolly is more than a singer/songwriter. She's an industry! Her Dollywood is a theme park, water park, hotel and spa. Looking back on the summer of '24, did you visit a theme park, water park, hotel or spa?

A. I am afraid we did not visit much of anything this summer.

6) A luxury stay at Dollywood can get expensive, unless you're the teacher who wins this year's Chasing Rainbows Award from Dolly. She treats a deserving teacher to a week at Dollywood. Tell us about a teacher who made a difference in your life.

A. Lots of teachers have influenced me, and I have written about most of them at some point or another. One of my college professors, Jeanne Larsen, had a big influence on my writing and gave me the courage to move forward with it.

7) Dollywood is in Sevier County, TN. Her ties to the community are strong, and in 2007, Dolly raised the funds to build a new hospital that opened there in 2010. When you were last in a hospital, were you a patient or a visitor?

A. The last time I was in a hospital was in 2022, when my husband had hip replacement surgery. So, I was visiting.

8) In 1973, when "Jolene" was popular, Elvis' "Aloha from Hawaii" concert aired. "Aloha" is the native Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting. Can you say anything else in Hawaiian?

A. I'm afraid not really. "Mali maliki maki" (sp) is the thing they say for Merry Christmas, maybe? There's some song about that.

9) Random question: Have you more recently eaten cold pizza or cold fried chicken?

A. I have not recently eaten either. I haven't had pizza in at least a year, and I do not eat fried chicken (I eat baked or roasted chicken). I do not eat either of them cold.

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