Musings on hair

Went to the dentist yesterday. On the way to the procedure room, one of the hygienists remarked on the color of my hair. She said she really liked the color of it.
All my young life I hated the color of my hair. I wanted straight black hair. I had wavy red hair. I had one girl friend whose hair was a bit lighter than mine. Guess I identified with her.
For the next 50 years or so I permed it, colored it (wanted a brighter color) and often just let it do it's own thing.
Then as I neared 60 I started looking at my hair color in a different way. It is unique. You can't get this color from a bottle. It has pretty much stayed the same since my Mother clipped my first lock and put it in my baby book. I have some grey coming in now (actually, it looks more blond than grey). I'll probably not turn grey like others my age, rather the red will fade and get lighter (turn yellowish) until it becomes almost white (I'm told it will happen that way, anyway).
In the mean time I'll truely enjoy the color it is now. Just as I've come to appreciate my overall shape and general abilities.
Acceptance, yes. Appreciation, definitely.

October

The weather here turned cold rather fast. We had a lovely warm September then all of a sudden it was October and cold. But the cool-down was not gradual enough to produce the wonderful colors we had last year. I rather thought last year's trees were outstanding as compared to now, so I looked back on my site and sure enough. Those vibrant colors are not showing up this year. Maybe I am a bit early in my observations. I'll see what another couple of weeks bring.

Jerry & I, in preparation for the trip, received our flu and pneumonia shots yesterday. They were doing them for free at the Senior Center and I figured why not? I'm thinking all those hours in the closed ventilation system of the planes, all those little beasties just looking for new hosts, and who knows what we will run into in Israel, right? Yesterday I was fine. Jerry was a bit sore at the shot site. Today I feel like I've been "rode hard and put away wet" as my dad used to say. Meaning that I either am reacting to the shots or am really just tired. I'll relax this afternoon and do some yoga this evening and see what happens.

Maritha

Saturday I was finally able to go shopping with Maritha. It was quite an experience. We first went to Walmart where we picked up some tights, a couple of long sleeved t-shirts and a winter coat. Maritha was quite hesitant and shy about looking and picking out something.
OK, there really wasn't much to choose from anyway. A quick stop at Arby's and off we went to Kmart.
The girl learns quick. She marched right in to the girl's department and started looking at the dresses, pants, and shirts like a seasoned shopper. We found a couple of dresses, some cute jeans, warm snugglies and some snow boots.
When we got home she had to pull everything out of the bags and hold them up for everyone to see. She sure looked happy. I think we did just fine without a common language. Mostly I would sign. She watched my response about sizes and really tried to find the right tags. She picked mostly Pink. I pointed out purple and blue, she went back to pink. Guess she is a girly girl under all those boys cloths she has been wearing.

Musings on money

All my life I have felt like I have been scrimping along. When I started earning my own money babysitting, I would record every cent in a little accounting book - earned and spent. I could tell you what I bought or where it went. This habit carried from 5th grade through nursing school.
My first husband took charge of finances and had a good head for dealing with a growing family and small income. We did OK. No impulse shopping, no running up the credit cards. We would go on vacations IF we had saved up the money for it. Good, solid financial planning.
However, I felt like I didn't have "my own money" so I opened a savings account (behind his back) for my "pin" money. Why did women feel like they had to do that in those days? I wanted to feel like I could make a purchase without having to ask for money.
We split, and I had a terrible time getting a Shell Gas, JC Penny's, Liberty House or, Sears credit card in my name because all of our credit was in his name. My, how times have changed.
Husband number two dumped all financial responsibilities on me. He gave me his checks, I had to figure out how to pay the bills. He was good at running up the credit cards, I was diligent in paying them off. Because of this, we had no savings to use for vacations or planned out big purchases. I used training from my early life to work out finances in this union. I was in charge of all monies, but still felt financially poor because it was my responsibility to make ends meet.
Enter husband number three. He came into my life with a sound financial background, pays the bills, makes sure I want for nothing. But I can't break old habits. I shop for bargains, even in the grocery store I find it hard to purchase say, bell peppers at $1.00 each when I know I can get them for $.25 at the little outdoor produce shed down the road from us.
Why this musing? As I was doing my morning ablutions I was reflecting on how I always used to dream about having enough money to dump everything in my closet and buy all new. I can, financially, do that now. But, I can't. It would not be a good use of time or money. I pick up a shirt or blouse now and then. Don't feel guilty if I wear it a couple of times and it just doesn't do so I give it away. I don't think I could be happier if I had a LOT of money. Having some left over in my checking account at the end of the month makes me smile with gratitude for blessings uncounted.
I am glad I had the times of lean. It makes these times of plenty all the more sweet.