Crazy Life

What precisely is a valley? One definition: Low area of land between hills or mountains, typically a river or stream flows through it. It is a popular theme in poetry. The poet Theodore Roethke wrote, "Over every mountain there is a path although it may not be seen from the valley." Former President Richard Nixon said, "Only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be at the top." We all have valleys in our lives. Depression is kind of like a life of valley living. Once, while I was living in Colorado in my twenties I was driving home one night. I felt such despair. I could not remember a single happy event in my life. Now I assure you I had happy events but the darkness of depression covered everything good. Years later in my 30's I suffered post partum depression after the birth of my second child. My marriage was failing and we had big financial issues. Each day as I drove home from work it required superhuman...

Gonna tell you a story bout a man named Jed...I bet you sang the next line ...A poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed.. Actually the man I want to talk about is not named Jed. He is called Jeremiah. Once upon a time there was a nation, a mighty nation. It had 5 rulers over a 42 year period. Kind of like two term presidents. The first fellow was named Josiah in the 1620's and he wasn't too bad a fellow. But each one after him was wicked. So along comes Jed - I mean Jeremiah and he hears God talking to him. God tells him that he knew him even before he was in his mothers womb and that even back then he had chosen him to be a prophet. Jeremiah isn't all that happy to hear that, probably like some of us when we get a call to do something that requires sacrifice, like teach Sunday School or sing in the choir. So he says, "Who me? I am too young to know what to say!" But just like an earthly father Heavenly Father has an answer. "Don't say that. ...

When I was twelve, I couldn't wait to be thirteen. I had read the Trixie Beldon books and I was sure that I would turn thirteen and become a horseback riding detective.  That didn't happen. My neighborhood didn't seem to have a lot of crime. No jewel heists or smugglers and no horseback riding either. When I was fifteen I couldn't wait to turn sixteen. Nancy Drew solved mysteries and drove a blue roadster. I turned sixteen and got a cake. That was the first time I ran away from home, broke curfew and got driven home by the police who found me sitting on a park swing.  I was about three years into depression at this point but back then it was called, "Get yourself together cause you are in big trouble Missy" Many times life has not lived up to expectations. When I was young I had a lot of expectations about the future.  I was going to college and major in something spectacular. Then I would marry a missionary live in exotic locations and save souls. What ...

Dem Bones is a spiritual song that was recorded in the late 1920's. Although it shows up at Halloween the lyrics are actually straight from the Book of Ezekial. The Prophet visits the Valley of Dry Bones and prophesies that the dead shall rise again. As a child I loved autumn. It was so full of exciting things. First we went back to school and got new crayons and paper and clean fresh workbooks. Then Halloween, the decision of what costume I would pick out of the bag. We had a large garbage bag of handmade costumes made over the years by my grandmother and aunt.  The next event was my BIRTHDAY!  Now, I don't look forward to that as much these days but back then the excitement building up to it would nearly cause me to burst. I preferred banana pudding instead of cake (still do) and please if you attempt to surprise me do not put yucky meringue on the top. Then there was Thanksgiving. A day filled with visits from all the cousins. If it was nice we would play outside and ...

My husband and I were having lunch today, and a little girl who was obviously out with Grandma and Great-grandma was pointing out the Halloween decorations. She sweetly told them, "Don't be afraid of the skeletons, they aren't real" So in life we have to not be afraid of things that aren't real, and we have to figure out what they are.      If you are a sweet even tempered person I suggest you avoid Facebook.  I am neither sweet or even tempered, just tempered. Recently I have had a verbal falling out with two people. As much as I want to tell you all about it and prove that my anger is righteous you would only be hearing half of a story. Besides, I am thinking my anger isn't really righteous, but just a drive to be Right. Facebook has given a certain level of anonymity that allows people to become much less civil in conversation than they would be with a person standing face to face with them. When you are standing face to face with a good friend or a ...

One Halloween when I was about 7 my grandfather, Scooter was left in charge. My grandmother, Mommy, had to work late at Evans grocery store and she would bring home the candy to give out with her when one of her daughters picked her up and gave her a ride. I was costumed, oddly enough I don't even remember what my costume was that year. I remember the anxiety of having no one to take me out, and dancing foot to foot impatiently. I would ask every few seconds, which seemed like hours to me, if it was time yet. The magic hour back then was 6 pm. The first two trick or treaters arrived and my grandfather had to treat them out of his very personal and private candy stock. It was hidden in the end table drawer on his side of the couch, I knew to never touch it. Inside my anxiety was at a peak, positive NO ONE was going to take me out to score candy. I doubt if I complained much out loud. Scooter didn't play. If I had complained too much he would have just banned me from going at...

The last year or so I have been working in the antique business. I had a little booth and worked estate and auction sales. I see lots of beautiful things. When I am trying to price and  searching for the value of a piece I check a lot of different sources.  What I have learned is that it doesn't matter what I think something is worth. The value of any item is the amount a buyer is willing to pay. Some pieces I let go for what feels like below value, some are so beautiful or rare that if I can't get the price I want them I keep them. You can refer to an earlier blog of mine called Hoarders. So what is the value of a human? The mineral components in a body come up to less than $5. What if I needed some quick cash? I could sell my heart - legally even - for one million dollars.  Of courses I wouldn't be around to spend it. Liver? About half a million, same problem.  What about a private adoption? What value is placed on a child? In my state somewhere between fi...